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TODAY’S WORD…

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Then Jesus told His disciples a parable

to teach them that they should always pray

and never become discouraged.

“In a certain town there was a judge

who neither feared God nor respected people.…”

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– Luke 18:1-2 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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His parable of the unjust judge

was a lesson about the effectiveness of persevering, confident prayer.

If even an unjust judge ends up giving justice to the man who keeps on pleading his case,

how much more will God, who is infinitely just, and who is our Father,

listen to the persevering prayer of His children.

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God, in other words, gives justice to His elect

if they persist in seeking His help.

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QUOTE…

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“Prayer is in fact the recognition of our limitation and our dependence. […]

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Prayer…is first of all an act of intelligence,

a feeling of humility and gratitude,

an attitude of trust and abandonment

to Him who gave us life out of love.

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Prayer is a mysterious but real dialogue with God,

a dialogue of confidence and love.

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[…] The Christian knows that his prayer is that of Jesus;

every prayer of his starts from Jesus;

it is He who prays in us, with us, for us.

All those who believe in God, pray;

but the Christian prays in Jesus Christ: Christ is our prayer!

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[…] Do not stop praying!

Let not a day pass without your having prayed a little!

Prayer is a duty, but it is also a great joy,

because it is a dialogue with God through Jesus Christ!”

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– Pope John Paul II

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PRAYER…

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Oh sweet Jesus, my Lord,

come and be with me

as I crave for Your divine presence.

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Thank You, Lord, for the gift of prayer

and for always listening so gladly to my utterances

as they leave my heart bursting with love for You,

and filled with trust and with hope.

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Lord, I know that You accept my love

– imperfect as it is.

Lord, I know that You listen to my prayer

– inadequate and inappropriate as it may be.

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Forgive my weakness, Lord Jesus;

forgive my self-centeredness;

receive my prayer, my King,

and grant me whatever is good for my soul

and for my salvation.

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I love You, Jesus;

I trust in You, Lord;

may it be done according to Your will.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, whatever my prayer, Your will be done!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Where does prayer come from?

Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures,

it is the whole man who prays.

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But in naming the source of prayer,

Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit,

but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times).

According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays.

If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.

[CCC 2652]

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