"Let all the earth cry out to God with joy….. Hear now all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. When I appeal to him in words, praise was on the tip of my tongue." (Psalm 66)
Spiritual Principle: Praise must precede and go with the prayer of petition. The power of praise!
"The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, 'Set out at noon and go along the road that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road." (Acts 8: 26)
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of mission. The Holy Spirit is the main principle behind apostolic productivity and fruitfulness. Docility to the Holy Spirit is the key to empowerment.
"Father, in this holy season we come to know the full depth of your love. You have freed us from the darkness of error and sin. Help us to cling to your truths with fidelity…." (Mass Prayer in the Season of Easter)
How do we come to know the full depth of God's love for us? The Father loves us so much that He gave up His Son Jesus to save us. (John 3:16)
How does the Father free us from the darkness of error and sin? He frees us through His word and through the Sacraments. As we gird our loins in the truth of His word, we are freed from errors. As we come to Jesus in the Eucharist, we are freed from sin.
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"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, 5
or a snake when he asks for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
(Matthew 7: 7-11)
What promises does Jesus make in the above verses on Prayer?
In one phrase, the promise of the infallibility of Prayer. Awesome! Very few promises in Scripture have been guaranteed as Prayer. Few promises are misunderstood as Prayer. Even good Christians may be tempted to rationalize or dilute the promise on Prayer.
Prayer is a spiritual law like the law of the Beatitudes. If you want the type of happiness promised by Jesus in the Beatitudes, live the Beatitudes. Similarly, if you want the type of answers to prayers promised by Jesus, apply the laws of Prayer.
"Lord, may this celebration of our redemption help us in this life and lead us to eternal happiness……" (Mass Prayer)
Whenever we participate in the Eucharist, we celebrate the primary event of our redemption. The Eucharist renews our mind, our soul and our body. It destroys the hunger and thirst for anything that is not Christ.
"We can approach God with confidence for this: if we make requests which accord with his will he listens to us; and if we know our requests are heard, we know that the things we ask for are ours" (1 John 5:14-15)
This seems utterly reasonable. If somebody asks me something that I have and which agrees with my plan for the person, I give it. So it is important to ensure that our prayers agree with God's will for us. How do we know God's will for us? How do I find out God's will for me in the Enterprise?
The believer who is in fellowship with God will not ask anything that is contrary to God's will. The Holy Spirit will see to it that our desires and prayers accord with God's will for us.
"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it" (John 14: 13-14; Cf Matthew 7:7, 18:9).
To pray in Jesus' name, to pray as he prayed, is to offer perfect prayer. It is prayer that accords in His will. Such prayer is always answered, though the answer may be delayed and different from our expectations. The assurance that God hears and answers our prayer is for the Christian the final confidence in victory - that he is guarded by God and no power of evil can ultimately triumph over him. (THE INTERPRETERS ONE VOLUME COMMENTARY OF THE BIBLE.)
John sees prayer as having a wider scope for he speaks of asking for anything, but he immediately qualifies this "with accordance to his will." Prayer is not a device for inducing God to change his mind and do whatever we want. It must be offered in accord to God's will if it is to be effective. When it is offered in this way, God hears us. Elsewhere we learn that prayer must be in faith (Mk 11:24), in the name of Jesus (Jn 14:14), offered by those who abide in Christ (Jn 15:7), who have forgiven those who offend them (Mk 11:25); it must be accompanied by obedience (1 Jn 3:22), and it must not be for the gratification of one's passions (James 4:3). All this is involved in praying according to the will of God. From the thought that God hears us, we move to the consequences, namely that he grants our requests. (NEW BIBLE COMMENTARY R220.7N532)
John presents prayer as a privilege belonging to faith in Christ. The Lord Christ emboldens us to come to God in all circumstances. Through Jesus, our petitions are accepted by God. The matter of our prayer must be agreeable to the declared will of God. We may have confidence that the prayer of faith shall be heard in heaven.
The advantage accruing to us by such privilege, v15. To know that his petitions are heard or accepted is as good as to know that they are answered. (MATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENTARY IN ONE VOLUME - R220.7 H523)
When believers are so responsive to the guidance of the Spirit of truth that their prayers accord with God's will, God hears their prayers and grants their requests. (HARPERS BIBLE COMMENTARY - R220.7H215)
"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it" (Jn 14: 13-14)
Whatever: the scope of the prayer. Eg: To do God's will, faith, patience, wisdom, humility and courage.
Ask: The condition of prayer - Ask and keep asking.
In my name: The ground of prayer. This involves at least two things: praying in the authority Christ gives (cf Mt 28:19; Acts 3:6) and praying in union with Him, so that one does not pray outside His will.
That I will do: The certainty of prayer.
That the Father may be glorified in the Son: the purpose of prayer. (WYCLIFFE BIBLE COMMENTARY)
"Lord, restore us by these Easter mysteries. May the continuing work of our Redeemer bring us eternal joy…." (Mass Prayer in the Season of Easter)
The greatest of the Easter mysteries is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, we enjoy the real presence of the Risen Christ. In the Blessed Sacrament, we enjoy the comfort of His real presence on our altar. The Eucharist renews our spiritual vitality in a way that nothing else could come close to. It is our true Daily Bread. St. Ambrose, doctor and father of the Church asks, "Why receive once a year that which is offered daily?"
"I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst." (John 6: 35)
You cannot serve God and mammon. Both are mutually exclusive. If you pick up one, you drop the other. The Bread of life destroys hunger for mammon in our lives. Hunger for mammon destroys hunger for the Bread of life. It is either one or the other. Never the two at the same time. These words of Jesus in John 6: 35 is well a tested principle like the Beatitudes. If you ask, "Is it true?' You try it and see for yourself.
Lord, let your flesh which is the Bread of life destroy in me all hunger and thirst for mammon. Amen!
"Once they had scattered, they went from place to place preaching the good news." (Acts 8: 4)
The persecution ushers in missionary activity. Like the crucifixion of Jesus, t he persecutors did not foresee the consequence otherwise they would not have persecuted the disciples of Jesus.
"All things work together for good to those who love God."
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 10)
"Father, you called St. Anslem to study and teach the sublime truths you have revealed. Let your gift of faith come to the aid of our understanding and open our hearts to your truth…." (Opening Prayer on the feast of St. Anslem)
God called St. Anslem.
He called Peter and Paul.
He called Augustine and Ignatius.
Is God calling me?
God called St. Anslem to learn and to teach the sublime truths of faith. What is my vocation? I love to learn and to communicate.
The gift of faith comes to the aid of our intellect and opens our heart to God's truth.
"Merciful Lord, hear the prayers of your people. May we who have received your gift of faith share forever in the new life of Christ…." (Prayer at Mass)
The gift of faith is one of the most important gifts we receive from our merciful Father.
"I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst." (John 6: 35)
Jesus is the bread of life. The Bread of life destroys hunger and thirst for material things. This is a promise that can be trusted.
"Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit…. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake, you will lead me and guide me." (Psalm 31: 6, 4)
God is my rock and my refuge. For the sake of your name, Jesus, lead me, guide me and use me.
"But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand." (Acts 7: 55)
Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. How does one come to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the source of apostolic excellence and productivity. Stephen's success is attributed to the Holy Spirit. Simeon's presence in the temple during the presentation of the Child Jesus has the Holy Spirit as the cause.
How much control do I wish to give the Holy Spirit in my life? If according to the locution, the Holy Spirit is the only thing I need in life, then it will be ridiculous not to give him complete control. O Holy Spirit, I surrender everything to You. Lead me, guide me and use me.
"If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them. Take care not to find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5: 38)
This scripture occurred to me early in the Obama campaign for the presidency of the United States of America. What I will call as from today 538 seems to be utterly vindicated today, November 5, 2008. Obama won the presidency last night November 4, 2008 with a convincing margin. I decided last night to offer the Eucharist and my prayers this morning for his intentions. My plan seemed to have been confirmed when Fr. Hugh who had led us in a Novena of prayer to elect a Prolife President offered the 6.30 am Mass this morning for the new President-elect. He started the Mass by saying that God new from eternity that Obama would be elected the President of United States at this hour.
Scripture urges us to pray for our leaders constantly so that we can enjoy peace and stability. I had prayed for President Bush every day and will continue to do so till the 22nd of January 2009.
On the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the first reading from Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6 is as follows:
1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, Subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, Opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred:
2 I will go before you and level the mountains; Bronze doors I will shatter, and iron bars I will snap.
I will give you treasures out of the darkness, and riches that have been hidden away, That you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.
For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
3 so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun men may know that there is none besides me. I am the LORD, there is no other;
The Gospel reading on this Sunday is equally relevant. Matthew 22: 15-21
8 Then the Pharisees 9 went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, 10 saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.
11 Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
12 Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's." 13 At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
What are we to make of these convergence of scriptures?
"Father, you open the kingdom of heaven to those born again by water and the Spirit. Increase your gift of love in us. May all who have been freed from sins in baptism receive all that you have promised…." (Prayer at Mass)
The Holy Spirit is the highest promise of Jesus Christ. It is also the greatest gift of the resurrection. The Holy Spirit makes us new beings, children of God and opens the kingdom of heaven to us. The power of the Spirit frees us from the compulsion of sin.
Lord, may we receive all that you have promised to us.
"Almighty and everlasting Lord, you restored us to life by raising Christ from death. Strengthen us by this Easter Sacrament; may we feel its saving power in our daily life….." (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)
The Eucharist strengthens God's hold on our life. How do we feel the saving power of the Eucharist every day? How do we form the habit of thinking of Christ's real presence in the Eucharist and in us?
Sow a thought and you reap a word.
Sow a word and you reap an action.
Sow an action and you reap a habit.
Sow a habit and you reap a character.
Sow a character and you reap a destiny.
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." (Matthew 25: 35 – 36 RSV)
When we give food to the hungry, we give it to Jesus.
When we give drink to the thirsty, we give it to Jesus.
When we speak on behalf of the immigrant, we speak for Jesus.
When we clothe the naked, we clothe Jesus.
When we visit the sick, we visit Jesus.
When we visit the prisoner, we visit Jesus.
"The Lord says, peace I leave with you, my own peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give, alleluia." (John 14: 27)
Pax Christi – Deep contentment in the heart. Trust in God at all times and in everything.
Awareness of the nearness of Jesus everywhere at all times no matter the condition. Awareness that Jesus is in control.
We appropriate this peace of Christ every day. You ask the question: "How about the peace I appropriated yesterday's morning?" Answer: "That was for yesterday." Jesus says: "My own peace I give you; not as the world gives." He gives His peace as we appropriate it day by day. The world pretends to give its peace once and for all. After we appropriate the peace of Christ early in the morning, we defend this treasure against all threats everywhere and at all times. St. Peter warns us that our mortal enemy, the devil prowls constantly seeking the ruin of this peace.
Similarly, early in the morning, we offer our entire life – time, talent and treasure to Jesus. In exchange, we appropriate His peace, protection, provision, power, pardon and purpose for the rest of the day. We place our entire life and fortune in His loving and all powerful providence. We remain vigilant against all threats to the trust we place on Christ in the course of the day.
"I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1: 6)
What God begins, He brings to completion. I am confident that God will complete what He started with the Enterprise.
