Prayer for the Week (Sept. 8-Sept. 14)

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Let us pray that we follow Jesus consistently through the leading of the Holy Spirit: God our Father, we have accepted your invitation to follow your Son, Jesus, as his disciples. May the Holy Spirit give us the wisdom and strength to take our faith seriously and to accept our task in life with all its consequences. May the Holy Spirit guide us in the way of your Son without fear or discouragement, for we are certain that Jesus will lead us to you, our loving God forever and ever, Amen.

(Claretian Publications)

Sunday Reflection (September 8, 2019)

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We Christians have been far from perfect. Christians have justified slavery and segregation with Scripture. Christians have used the non-violent Jesus as a pretext for war. As an individual representative of Jesus Christ, I can say that I have been far from perfect, yet there is hope (Jeremiah 18:4).

Yet, through the Holy Spirit, God reshapes us and remolds us into beautiful instruments of his will, no matter our position or location! We become the people for whom we are destined in Christ Jesus.

Sunday Reflection (September 1, 2019)

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When we think of the Old Testament we may have the image of God on Mt. Sinai as was mentioned last week. The Israelites could not even approach the mountain and Moses trembled with fear. However, one aspect of the Old Testament that we may overlook is the Old Testament’s thorough emphasis upon fairness and justice in society (Psalm 82).

Jesus expressed the spirit of the Scripture in his teachings and manner of life, and part of this teaching and manner highlighted God rejection of the proud and arrogant in favor of the poor and dispossessed. Jesus encourages us to invite the poor, dispossessed, down and out, and the lame in body or spirit
(Luke 14:1, 12-14).

God our Father has welcomed us into a fellowship with God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. May we welcome others and invite others into our lives when the opportunity presents itself, but do not let that be an excuse because we may have to create the opportunity.

Prayer for the Week (Sept. 1-Sept. 7)

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Let us pray to God who forgives all who call upon him: Lord God of power and might, fill our minds with insight into love so that every thought grow in wisdom and all our efforts be filled with your peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Sunday Missal, alt.)

Prayer for the Week (August 25-Aug 31)

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Let us pray that we live as we believe: God our Father, you have given us Jesus, your Son, as the door through which we enter into your kingdom. May we learn to listen to his voice and to follow him without reserve. May our authentic Christian living bring goodness and joy to this world and lead us to you, our saving God.
Amen.

(Claretian Publications)

Sunday Reflection (August 25, 2019)

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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 forgiveness in the hope of renewal and restoration. May we present others with a better offer than what the world gives, when it comes to our treatment of others, including our enemies.

Prayer for the Week (August 18-Aug 24)

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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)

Sunday Reflection (August 18, 2019)

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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, what do these words of Jesus mean? The original readers of Luke’s Gospel were cast out of their homes and communities for following Christ. Thankfully, we do not face such opposition for being a Christian, but if you had been a Christian in ISIS held areas it was a reality. Being a Christian in some parts of the world may cost you a good job or a good position, or land you in jail; and, yes, betrayal by family and friends.

Being a Christian does carry some protests that cause divisions in that we protest what is wrong with society by living lives of compassion and kindness. Unfortunately and sadly, a few may react with vehemence against lives that bear witness against their prejudice, malice, and hatred. Yes, when you choose to the compassionate kind deed like Christ, you may find opposition.

Prayer for the Week (August 11-Aug 17)

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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)

Sunday Reflection (August 11, 2019)

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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 himself talks about judging the nations based upon their treatment of their society’s most vulnerable. Tradition has it that Isaiah was sawn into by the evil King Manasseh, and we know what happened to Jesus.

We have not arrived and we know we can do better. Until we reach the “other side,” God gives us the grace to be willing and obedient in order to set things right so that the present and future can be different (Isaiah 1:18-20). This fosters hope for a better world, both today and tomorrow.