-Last Sunday's homily is available by email
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org
-check out this week's LinC Letter at www.parishlincletter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass at 5:30bon Sat, 11:00 and 6:00 pm on Sunday
Not what but how
I think Jesus is pretty clear about the format and the content of prayer. What is challenging is the attitude, the goal and the purpose of praying. Why do you pray? The how you are praying should reveal to you the Why.
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Prayer is the verbal communication between spouses. There are many interactions with our spouse (Christ) in everyday life but listening, dialogue, and intense communication is required for unity and a continually deepening relationship. Eucharist is our nourishment, mercy and service are essential and communication/ prayer intensifies our knowledge of each other. 45 years with my wife and still I must communicate yet I know her so well. My prayer is thankfulness,confession,submission, abandonment, and plea for wisdom, knowledge & mercy. The Our Father is so perfect as well as all Marian prayers.
Related to the homily for this particular week was a video that I saw right around the same time by Fr. Albert Haas - a Franciscan priest. He was reflecting on the significance of Jesus calling God "Abba". He said that God being "Abba" to Jesus catapulted Jesus into ministry. Jesus relating to God in this way motivated him to act - it was a fire raging in his life.
Fr. Haas went on to say that the most important aspect of our spiritual life is the image that we have of God. That image will determine how we approach our spiritual life - how we approach prayer - and how we treat and approach others. I was struck by the similarity of Fr. Haas' message and the Matador's actual homily on this 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Not too long ago I had read a reflection by Richard Rohr and he encouraged a breathing meditation exercise, using the word "Yahweh". Breathe in on "Yah", breathe out on "weh" and reflect on the goodness and fullness of God in life. Now, after hearing Fr Haas and Fr Estok in their reflection on the beauty of "Abba" in our lives, I've changed that breathing meditation to "Ab" - "ba". It has helped me to sense the love and comfort of the divine Father in my life - my dependence on Him - and my gratitude for all of the mercy and kindness He has for me.
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