DAILY PRAYER

“Enter through the narrow gate.  The gate that leads to damnation is wide, the road is clear, and many choose to travel it.  But how narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it!”  (Mt 7:13-14)

Job had said: “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?  Are not his days those of a hireling?  He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages.” (Job 7:1-2)

Even during tribulation and pain, our existence continues to be a good and marvelous gift.

We do not consider it moral to deprive life even from advanced terminally ill patients.  We believe that life is a gift given from God and must be cherished until natural death.

This fragile and passing existence was given to us as an invitation to the true life: “I solemnly assure you, the man who hears my word and has faith in him who sent me possesses eternal life.  He does not come under condemnation, but has passed from death to life.”   (Jn 5:24)

The person who amasses wealth (or possessions), has to devote all their time, energy, sacrifices, and thought to the acquisition, maintenance, enjoyment, and conservation of those things.  There is time for little else.

“Narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it.”

‘Narrow’ and ‘rough’… because of the exaggerated sense of pleasure and need for the things we desire — while failing to respect the truly valuable gifts that we have received from the Lord.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 34:10 “Those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.”

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Birth of John the Baptist Read:  Is 49: 1-6   Acts 13: 22-26   Lk 1: 57-66, 80  (Pss Prop)

DAILY PRAYER

“’No. He will be called John.’  But they answered her, ‘There is no one among your relatives who has this name.’  So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, ‘John is his name,’ and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.”  (Lk 1:60-64)

Even when the two were still in the wombs of their mothers, Mary visited Elizabeth, who greeted Mary with the exclamation: “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”  (Lk 1:43-44)

When his time had come, John presented Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. He called on the people to repent of their sins and to do penance.

The first disciples were loyal followers of John the Baptist.  It was John who persuaded them to seek Jesus out: “John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God.’ The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.” (Jn 1:35-37)

John the Baptist is a model of piety, strength, and courage in the proclamation of the Lord’s message. The Baptist still calls the wayward for a conversion of the heart to Christ.

“You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.”  (Lk 1:76-77)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 84:12 “The LORD withholds no good thing from those who walk without reproach.”

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DAILY PRAYER

“A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up.  Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’” (Mk 4: 37-38)

Crisis and adversity are an integral part of life.   Accidents will happen.  Catastrophes will strike.  Natural and man-made disasters are just around the corner.  You are healthy, then you are sick and then you die. 

These skilled fishermen were in fear because of the unusually severe weather they were in and because of the effects of the storm, they were filled with angst. 

Yet Jesus could not appreciate their fear nor join in with them.  Rather, “He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ The wind ceased and there was great calm.” (39)

Jesus taught them their lack of faith would be to their detriment.  “Then he asked them, ‘Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?’” (40)

When we face life’s difficulties we have a choice: to trust in the Lord and know that He will take care of us — emotionally and spiritually resting in His divine Hands.  Or will we shout in panic “We are perishing! Don’t you care?” 

He cares.  Yet He also expects a mature response from us — A response He later modeled for us as He faced a terrifying situation:  “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”  (Mt 26:39)

“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”  (41)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 116:10 “I kept faith, even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted!’”

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Sts. Paulinus, John Fisher, Thomas More Read: 2 Chr 24: 17-25     Mt 6: 24-34

DAILY PRAYER

“No man can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be attentive to one and despise the other.  You cannot give yourself to God and money.”  (Mt 6:24)

When a rich young man asked Jesus for the secret of eternal life, the Lord suggested to him that he make himself poor:  that he sell all that he had and distribute his goods to the poor… to free himself from other commitments — and thus be able to follow Him. (Mk 10:17-26)    He was called by the Lord to be an intimate follower — yet he could not!  If he had responded generously to the Lord’s call, he might have been one of the Apostles…  but now we don’t even know his name.

The comfortable loose sight of the eternal in their hearts… The things of God unconsciously take second place.

Things, power, and pride put us in a position of exaggeratedly attending to ourselves; and they tend to minimize the fundamental commitment that we must have to know, love, and serve our God and our neighbor.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 39:5 “A phantom only, man goes his ways; like vapor only are his restless pursuits; he heaps up stores, and knows not who will use them.”

St. Paulinus, d. 431; husband and father who gave his possessions to the poor; dedicated bishop and pastor, especially during the terrible invasion of the Visigoths.

St. John Fisher, d. 1535; chancellor of Cambridge University; bishop of Rochester; dedicated pastor of souls; beheaded for defending the primacy of Rome.

St. Thomas More, d. 1535; married layman, humanist, and chancellor to Henry VIII; wrote ‘Utopia’; beheaded for opposing the king’s divorce of Catherine.

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DAILY PRAYER

“Do not lay up for yourselves an earthly treasure….  Make it your practice instead to store up heavenly treasure, which neither moths nor rust corrode nor thieves break in and steal.”   (Mt 6: 19-20)

The desire to have things is a great obstacle between Christ and us.  The almost rabid desire for things that consumes our daily living in our society leaves little or no room for the spiritual.

We can all fall into the same ambitions.  The difference lies in that some can satisfy them and some cannot.

Those able to acquire the resources to satisfy their multitude of whims are at a severe disadvantage spiritually.  Jesus’ message will seem very foreign indeed. “I assure you, only with difficulty will a rich man enter into the kingdom of God.”  (Mt 19:23)

The riches of Heaven are not compatible with material riches.  Treasure in heaven is gained by the selfless sacrifice of worldly concerns.

“Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes less one; three times I was beaten with rods; I was stoned once, shipwrecked three times; I passed a day and a night on the sea.  I traveled continually, endangered by floods, robbers, my own people, the Gentiles; imperiled in the city, in the desert, at sea…” (2 Cor 11:16-33)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 49:15 “When a man grows rich, the wealth of his house becomes great, when he dies, he shall take none of it; his wealth shall not follow him down.”

St. Aloysius, d. 1591 at age 23 caring for the sick; renounced a princely inheritance to enter the Society of Jesus; patron of youth and students in Jesuit schools.

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Read:     Sir 48: 1-14      Mt 6: 7-15

DAILY PRAYER

“In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  (Mt 6:7-8)

Some of us pray almost automatically, letting the words slide off our tongues. Praying the Rosary while driving, checking the watch, email, WhatsApp, etc. Soon we’ll be able to pray and watch “As the World Turns” at the same time.

“Praying” mechanically — saying the words as though we were automatons — while our interest and imagination wander far away is not prayer. 

True prayer calls for external and internal silence.

External Silence is achieved when we find a peaceful place, far from the distractions and noise of modern living. We need external silence so that we can focus our attention on God.

Internal Silence is achieved when we can quiet our worries and reduce the static of our imagination so that we can concentrate on our relationship with God exclusively. 

When reading “Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours” we need to focus on the Psalms and consume what we read.  The same when Bible reading.  If you see you have advanced a paragraph or two, and there you find you cannot interpret what you have read, STOP, go back.  Reread.

Get away at least once a week, for at least half an hour, to a silent and solitary place of prayer. You will find that you will genuinely benefit from your prayer. Quality is greater than quantity.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 88:8 “Your wrath lies heavy upon me; all your waves crash over me.”

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St. Romuald, Abbot Read:    2 Kgs 2: 1, 6-14        Mt 6: 1-6, 16-18

DAILY PRAYER

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father… Do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them…”  (Mt 6:1-5)

Much of our giving is too easily denigrated into acts of self-adoration, social presumption, and haughtiness rather than opportunities to give alms, charitable works, sacrificial giving, and occasions to serve.  Rather than desiring to use our goods to serve our neighbor and to praise  Almighty God, we use our money and things to gain and build up our narcissistic selves.

Jesus used the symbol of the cross to invite us to love.  Each time we join the Lord and give up ourselves and our goods, we revisit the Passion of our Lord and join in His sufferings. 

To place ourselves at the center of attention and as a vehicle for our glorification seems to me to be almost diabolic.

So many people of seeming good will give “with strings (cables) attached.” They want their memorial plaque, applause, recognition, “thank yous”, reports, etc.  And to many, no sign of gratitude is enough. Yet Jesus says: “When you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Mt 6:3)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 22:24-25 “You who fear the LORD, give praise!  For God has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor wretch.” 

St. Romuald, d. 1027; Founder of the Camaldolese order.  He spent 30 years traversing Italy, founding and reforming monasteries and hermitages.

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DAILY PRAYER

“Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors.  This will prove that you are the sons of your heavenly Father, for his sun rises on the bad and the good, he rains on the just and the unjust.”  (Mt 5:44-45)

Jesus did not come to offer humanity a guarantee of worldly satisfaction, health, and wealth.

God made man with a perfect balance of desires — human and divine.  But the rebellious sin and moral disorder hampered our will and resolve to follow God’s designs.

Now, to aspire to eternal life, we must exercise great influence over our disordered will to choose the correct path that leads us to God (following His divine plan).

Knowledge of God’s Will can be found in a careful reflection on the Scriptures and the teachings of our Holy Mother, the Church.

This process of conversion to Christ’s plan is not painless.  Obedience and submission to the teachings of Christ and His Church are always costly — but the rewards are greater than the initial costs.  The happiness and satisfaction that comes from obedience to God’s Holy Will is lasting and fulfilling.

The price of an eternal life of happiness is to be paid for through our sacrificial living, moral order, and a renunciation of a disordered worldly ambition.

“Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  (Mt 16:25)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 18:27 “The lowly people you save but haughty eyes you bring low; you indeed, O LORD, give light to my lamp, you brighten the darkness about me.”

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Read:   1 Kgs 21: 1-16          Mt 5: 38-42

DAILY PRAYER

“If anyone wants to go to law over your shirt, hand him your coat as well.  Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him two miles.  Give to the man who begs from you.  Do not turn your back on the borrower.”   (Mt 5:40-42)

In Matthew’s gospel, chapters 5 through 8, Jesus gives us a new call to adjust our attitude and perform some major sacrifices.  He thereby made a threshold by which we must pass to be truly Christian. 

We would not feel the disadvantages of being a Christian and living the Gospel if we were willing to cooperate with the will of God.  If we could see things the way that God sees them and understand justice the way that God asks us to understand it — our attitude would be completely different.

The Christian life reminds us that the teachings of Jesus oblige us to lessen our ego and will (not an easy call by any stretch of the imagination) to the will of another (the person in need), and most importantly: to the divine will of God. 

“If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps.”   (Mt 16:24)

“Enter through the narrow gate.  The gate that leads to damnation is wide and the road is clear, and many choose to travel it.  But how narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it!”  (Mt 7:13-14)

We have to want eternal life to have sufficient courage to sacrifice our natural advantages to guard our true faithfulness to the love of Jesus.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 40:8 “To do your will, O my God, is my delight.”

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DAILY PRAYER

“This being so, we make it our aim to please him whether we are with him or away from him.  The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive his recompense, good or bad, according to his life.”  (2 Cor 5:9-10)

Many of us fear being reminded of our mistakes or bad acts.  Yet we love it when others remind us of the good things we have accomplished.

We would have nothing to fear, or be ashamed of, if we could answer truthfully to someone’s accusation: “I did not do it.”

Our actions, words, and thoughts count.  The meaning of our life is about collaborating with the Lord, doing his will and collaborating with the Lord, and helping others go there as well – winning souls for Christ.

Whatever it takes for us to get there, whatever sacrifice we must make, and whatever thing we must cease doing to put our lives in accord with the Will and plan of almighty God is worth it (our “heavenly reward”).

We must be careful of what we do, guarding our consciences, for we know that there are repercussions for our decisions and actions – for good or bad. These repercussions will follow us on into eternal life.

“Any man who gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ will not, I assure you, go without his reward.”  (Mk 9:41)

“I assure you, on judgment day, people will be held accountable for every unguarded word they speak.  By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned.”   (Mt 12:36-37; also see: Heb 9:27 and Lk 12:35,40)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 75:8 “God is judge; one he brings low; another he lifts.”

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