ONCE UPON A TIME ON THE MOUNTAIN, JESUS TEACHES MEN...

FATHER KNOWS ALL WE NEED BEFORE WE ASK. 

THE GOODNEWS:

"Jesus said to his disciples: “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.

“This is how you are to pray:

‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

“If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6: 7 - 15).

Tuesday 11 March 2025 in 8th Week in Ordinary Time. 

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus scatters the seed of His teaching on the all important subject of Prayer. In today's Gospel from the Sermon on the Mount, we get the concentrated solution. Everyone has his best line in this classic teaching on Prayer called Our Father or the Lord's Prayer. 

This is my best line:

"Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

From the time I wake up in the morning to the time I go to bed at night, I ask Abba Father a lot of gifts. It is like a child reminding his dad that his birthday is next week. Daddy, don't forget the bicycle. 

To pray to Abba Father with confidence, you must know and practice these simple core beliefs:

"I believe that You are a Father to me at every moment of my life, and that I am Your Child!

I believe that You love me with an infinite love!

"I believe Father that, in Your infinite Wisdom, You know better than I what is good for me. 

"I believe that, in Your infinite power, You can bring good even out of evil. Out of all my weaknesses." 

"I believe that You are watching over me night and day and that not a hair falls from my head without Your permission." 

At the heart of every prayer is a core belief in God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence. 

If God is not all powerful, then He cannot answer every prayer. 

If God is not all loving, He cannot answer the prayer of everyone. 

Prayer is the most powerful gift of God to His creation. Even animals pray. Scripture says that animals cry to God for their food. God grants them their daily portion in due time. (Cf Psalm 104: 27).

Lent is the time to deepen your prayer life. When you pray with the word of God, you learn the heart of God from the mouth of God. (Cf St Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Doctor of the Church). 

Ask St Joseph whom we honor in March to obtain for you the gift of Prayer. 

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

Memorare to St. Joseph:

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1 

THE LAST JUDGMENT PREVIEW.

PREVIEW OF THE LAST JUDGMENT. 

"Jesus said to his disciples:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. 

And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 

Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’

Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25: 31 - 46). 

Our Gospel for today is a preview of the Last Judgment. St Augustine teaches us a simple formula to prepare for the Last Judgment:

"If you pray well, you live well. If you live well, you die well. If you die well, all is well."

Prayer, along with fasting and almsgiving are the three pillars of the Christian life.

It is during Lent that you see the power of prayer. An ancient maxim of the Church says: Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi. Which means: The law of prayer is the law of faith and the law of living. You live as you pray. You will die and judged as you live.

St Teresa of Kolkata teaches that Prayer strengthens our Faith. 

Prayer is the Activator of Power. Prayer pushes desire to action. 

Does God reward those who pray, fast and give alms during Lent? Read for yourself:

"For he says:

“In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 

Brethren, Lent is the Acceptable Time for favors and graces. 

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12: 2).

Apart from prayer, how do we go about acquiring  graces during Lent? 

Daily PRAYER AND Daily WORD OF GOD HAVE POWER TO TRANSFORM THE MIND DURING LENT. 

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."

St Joseph is the man chosen by God to be the foster father and guardian of Jesus.

 Memorare to St. Joseph:

Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who implored your help and sought your intercession were left unassisted. Full of confidence in your power I fly unto you and beg your protection. Despise not O Guardian of the Redeemer my humble supplication, but in your bounty, hear and answer me. Amen.

For Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/05/devotion-to-st-joseph.html?m=1