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I thank you, Holy Spirit, for being with me at this moment. You have helped me to see something in the words of Jesus that I had not seen before. He spoke of how those instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven are like those who bring from their storeroom both…

Jesus, although the peace and wholeness characteristic of your kingdom is hidden, it can be found. That’s been the whole focus of all my prayer to you…to have you help me look beyond the ordinary and everyday things and see how it all ties together to bring us closer to…

My prayer today, my Lord, is very simple. Just two petitions. First, please help me to remember that the more I complain, the more I limit my ability to see the blessings in my life. Second – and I’m not sure how to phrase this – I really want to…

Jesus, I thank you for one of the great privileges and joys of my life, namely the ability to plant seeds that grow into extraordinary blessings for countless people. I think, for example, of the power of one well-placed and heartfelt “thank you.” It brightens the recipient’s day. That in…

Jesus, I just loved how you handled James, John, and their Mom. They were “oh great!” one moment, and “oh no” the next moment. Sure we can drink the cup, they said. Great! No problem. But then to hear that they would drink the cup, but not necessarily get the…

I find myself sitting back and thinking of your concluding words in today’s Gospel, Jesus. When I was growing up, all the readings at Mass were in Latin. We understood none of it. We were not encouraged to study the Bible. And this was the case for hundreds of years…

God, my Father, our Father, I never cease to be in awe at the miracle of seeds. Driving through the countryside, seeing the crops growing to maturity, knowing that from one seed comes many…the miracle of it all is sometimes too much to take in. Even more amazing to me…

What will it be like to hear my name spoken by you, Jesus? Given your immeasurable love for me, it has to be an experience totally unlike any other in this world. I remember those special instances in life where the sound of my name made my heart leap: the…

“Don’t confuse me with the facts, Jesus.” That’s the first thing I thought of as I pondered your word to us this day. I’m not speaking for myself…it’s just my reaction to those who kept demanding a sign from you. As if all your miracles weren’t enough?! But I should…

Jesus, I just do not know how you kept your cool with those who were always playing that game of “Gotcha.” Instead of listening to you, some chose to follow you around, on the lookout for any violation of the Law or any departure from “the official line.” What a…

Father, along with the Good Shepherd psalm and the Our Father, the words your Son speaks in today’s Gospel have immense power to bring comfort and peace. I so long to run up to Jesus, to have him put his arms around me and hold me tight. Yet my “adultness”…

Jesus, yesterday I prayed for your patience with us until we finally comprehend that your way is the only way to peace and wholeness. Today you pray for me, for us. In that prayer, you tell me exactly what is needed. Please help my ego to get out of the…

I just chuckled ruefully, Jesus. Been there, done that! Many have been the times when I’ve been in your position. Either it’s a feeling of “I just can’t win!”, or a feeling of “What’s it gonna take to convince you?” We are so slow – or maybe even unwilling —…

I never know how to respond to your words in today’s Gospel, Jesus, my Lord. They are so stark, so unrelenting, with no wiggle room whatsoever. I’m told that there is an element of Semitic exaggeration in your words, but still… I guess my prayer has to be this: First,…

You certainly have me pegged, Jesus. I certainly do worry about what to say at times. Not only that, I worry about what to do or not do, about the choices I make, the choices others make…and on and on and on. You know how I lie awake at night,…

Jesus, my prayer today ties in with what I prayed yesterday (“I pray that through word and action, I might be [passing on the faith to] other people, becoming part of that vast, mighty chain of divine life.”) When I look at your suggestions on how to do this, it…

I’m shaking my head. Twelve men. The ancestors of how many billions of Christians over the centuries?? One by one by one….down to my great-grands, my grandparents, my parents. And from me to…..? I give thank to you, my Lord, for all those who have passed on the faith which…

What did the mute man say to you, Jesus, when he spoke for the first time? What would I have said to you? What amazes me are the other words that were spoken. The crowds spoke words of praise and awe. The Pharisees spoke words of criticism and judgment. Oh,…

Y’know, Jesus, I often wish I had the faith of the synagogue official and the woman with a hemorrhage. The man’s daughter was dead, yet he asked you to touch her and “she will live.” The woman thought “touch his cloak and I will be cured.” Both of them had…

Jesus, I wish I could have been there when you called Matthew. A lot of jaws must have dropped to the pavement, including Matthew’s. And of course, at dinner, the jaws were flapping a mile a minute in self-righteous horror. I confess to the same reaction when “bad people” don’t…

Jesus, I so admire your patience with the disciples, and yet you also balanced it with truth. You understood where Thomas was coming from, but at the same time gave him a challenge. That’s what I love about you! You are merciful, compassionate, and fully understand our human weakness. You…

There are times, O Lord, when daily realities frustrate me. Sometimes one thing after another happens, and I feel overwhelmed. These are the times when I most yearn for your presence and your support, yet I don’t feel it or sense it. Please…..tell me what I can do! I need…

We are informed that some of the earliest followers of Jesus find that he asks sincerity of them before their wishes are granted. His follower must not be one who wishes only comfort and security, or one who puts other needs in a duty higher than that of following him….

The Gospel reading for today presents Jesus as one who freely gives healing and comfort to a man cursed with leprosy. Such a person could not live with his family, must leave his home, must wander and beg for food. He will ask the Savior not for money or food,…

Jesus warns us all that words, no matter ho pious they are, are useless in his service unless they are accompanied by examples of what we do. As he stated: “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,` will enter the kingdom of heaven” unless we do the will of…

False prophets, phony teachers, wolves parading around as sheep. This is the description of people who piously preach nonsensical or even detrimental messages to us. We are to judge them by what they develop. If only wealth and prestige result for them, then they are useless teachers. If evil behavior…

We are presented with some events that occurred at the birth of the one who was to announce to all of us the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The birth of John the Baptist was heralded by surprising items: none of his father’s relatives had the name “John”. His…

We are given a word of caution about judging and speaking unkindly about others. So often we wish to speak of the faults of others, criticize the motivation in what they do, pass judgment on their behavior. Jesus uses the example of seeking to remove a speck from another’s eye…

Jesus gives us today a simple, almost “home-spun” treatment of convictions in ourselves that should be part of our prayer. He speaks of treasure in our hearts that make life worth living, such as love, kindness, forgiveness, consideration, and the like. If these qualities are our real treasure, then our…

Prayer that asks the Lord for forgiveness, for assistance or blessing, can be brought to Him through private reflection and meditation. Jesus warns us not to carry on as do those who think they may be heard because of their many words. “Your Father knows what you need before you…