God offers us forgiveness and an invitation to fellowship with God, and perhaps this is a concept of God that we Christians forget when we want to see someone punished by God. Yet, Jesus Christ gives us a better offer: Forgiveness, renewal, restoration, and fellowship with God (Hebrews 12:18-24). May we, in turn, offer others […]
Let us pray with humility and persistence: Almighty God, ever-loving Father, your care extends beyond the boundaries of race and nation to the hearts of all who live. May the walls which prejudice raises between us crumble beneath the shadow of your outstretched arms. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Sunday Missal)
Jesus tells us that he came to bring division (Luke 12:49-53). First, this does not mean that we go out of our way to create a division and a ruckus in the name of Christ. Second, it is not a badge of Christianity to say mean ugly things in order to rile others up. Yet, […]
Let us pray for trust in the promises of God: Lord God, help us to serve you faithfully in the present and to be ready to follow you in the future. Take us by the hand and guide us through all obstacles to the land of your promise. Amen. (Claretian Publications)
Isaiah received a God-given vision about what their society could have been if they indeed had been willing and obedient (Isaiah 1:1, 11-17). Their rebellion against God’s command to care for the most vulnerable in society brought disastrous consequences. God does not overlook any society’s injustice toward its most vulnerable citizens, including our own! Jesus […]
Let us pray that we use this earth’s goods wisely in the service of God and people: Father, you care, and so in you we trust. May greed not blind to pile up goods and neglect things that do not really matter. May we generously share what we have with the hungry and the poor, […]
Once there was a man living the American Dream in ancient Palestine (Luke 12:16-21). He was so successful that he had to build bigger barns to hold all his goodies, yet he neglected to think of God when his untimely death occurred. The parable is called “The Rich Fool” because he was not rich toward […]
Let us pray in all simplicity to our heavenly Father: God our Father, your Son taught us through the Holy Spirit to speak to you with all trust. Do not allow us to forget to pray for the needs of others and that we pray for the thing that really matters: Your will and your […]
Colossians tells us that our minds can be captivated by evil, corrupt ways of thinking. It also tells us of a vantage point from which to gauge the competing claims on our lives, and that vantage point is Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:6-8). May we not lose our focus upon Christ and become captivated by malice, […]
Let us pray that we gladly hear the Words of Christ: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming from God and reconciling us to him. Teach us to listen to your Words, and treasure them more than anything else. For you eternally dwell with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. […]
