Devotion July 19, 2023

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Devotion July 18, 2023

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Sunday Sermon July 16, 2023

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Sunday Reflection (July 16, 2023)

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Despite our not being receptive to God’s Word revealed in Jesus Christ, God still casts God’s truth and love everywhere. Regrettably, we often miss it because we do not spiritually cultivate our hearts and minds (Matthew 13:18-23). Through the Holy Spirit we hear, understand, and respond to the truth and love of God.

God has chosen the Church, and planted God’s Word revealed in Jesus Christ within us and among us. When God’s truth and love become a greater part of our lives, we plant the seeds of God’s truth and love.  It may fall on hard or fertile soil. Who knows when a person will be receptive and respond and follow the way of Christ because we have made the way of Christ our way of life?

Prayer for the Week (July 16-July 22, 2023)

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Let us pray for the gift of spiritual growth: Almighty and merciful God, you have planted within us and among us the seed of your Word. Help us by your Holy Spirit to receive it with joy and live according to it, so that we grow in faith, hope, and love. Amen.

                                      Claretian Publications

                                                                                                                  

                         

Devotion July 12, 2023

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Devotion July 11, 2023

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Sunday Sermon July 9, 2023

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Sunday Reflection (July 9, 2023)

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The prophet Zechariah certainly lived in a time of violence. He longed for a time when people would put away war horses and bows and live in peace. Peace had eluded the ancient Judeans. We find ourselves in a comparable situation, looking for a time of peace, yet surrounded by weapons of all sorts. Zechariah’s hope is repeated in the Gospels of Matthew and John: “Behold, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.”
 
This is familiar to us because of its connection to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Later, Jesus would suffer at the violent hands of violent men and violent weapons such as whips and rods for beatings. Back to Zechariah: His world, like ours, was filled with weapons designed to main, injure, and harm others. As then, there is a fascination with weapons designed to injure and harm others. When the Messiah comes such weapons will be taken away indicating God’s judgment against the misuse of weapons (Zechariah 9:9-10). This text reminds us of God’s desire that we end warfare and violence and stop spending so much on weapons of warfare. When the Messiah comes, will we be found working for peace or fostering violence and investing in weapons designed to injure, maim, and kill other human beings?

Prayer for the Week (July 9-July 15, 2023)

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Let us pray for the gift of spiritual growth: Almighty and merciful God, you have planted within us and among us the seed of your Word. Help us by your Holy Spirit to receive it with joy and live according to it, so that we grow in faith, hope, and love.
Amen.
                                      Claretian Publications