Inexpressible groanings

"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings." (Romans 8: 26)

How comforting it is to know that we have such a giant helper in our prayer. Not only does the Holy Spirit bless us with the gift of prayer, but He helps us to use this gift appropriately. Since I learned this truth, I never start any prayer without the invocation of the Holy Spirit. The good news is that we can get the light, guidance and courage to pray well if we ask the Holy Spirit.

Watchful in Prayer

"Father let the gift of your life continue to grow in us, drawing us from death to faith, hope, and love. Keep us alive in Christ Jesus. Keep us watchful in prayer and true to his teaching till your glory is revealed in us…." (Alternate Prayer, 16^th Sunday)

When God's gifts grow in us, we tend towards life. When we grow in negative gifts, we tend towards death. We either tend towards life or we tend towards death. When we grow in faith, hope and live, we become more like Jesus.

How do we wait on God? Like the disciples waiting for Pentecost. In prayer. Prayer gives us the power to wait from day to day. Prayer releases the power of perseverance to work for us. God is the first cause of all things. Prayer is the efficient cause of answers, favors and blessings.

Eagerness to serve God

"Lord, be merciful to your people. Fill us with your gifts and make us always eager to serve you in faith, hope and love….." (Opening Prayer on the 16^th Sunday)

Mercy is the most fundamental attribute of God. Asking for mercy is therefore our most fundamental prayer. This is because we absolutely depend on God for mercy.

Lord make us always to serve you always and everywhere. God will give us the eagerness to serve Him if we ask for this in faith and sincerity.

Not by might and power but..

"Look! My servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul delights, I will send my Spirit upon him, and he will present judgment to the nations." (Matthew 12: 18)

In the above scripture, the Lord God did not say: "I will send divisions of well-trained and armed soldiers to my servant so that he can easily impose his will on the nations." Instead, it is the Holy Spirit that is promised the Servant. The Holy Spirit is all that He needs. When Christ was baptized, the Spirit came down upon Him and confirmed Him in His mission.

What do I need to accomplish the mission given to me? The Holy Spirit. It will not be by might and power that I will succeed but by the Holy Spirit.

Liturgical Calendar

"The night when Yahweh kept vigil to bring them out of Egypt must be kept as a vigil in honor of Yahweh by all Israelites, for all generations to come." (Exodus 12: 42)

The liturgical calendar celebrates the timeline of the saving works of Jesus on our behalf. For example: Christmas, Easter and Pentecost.

Why can't I create my own liturgical calendar to celebrate God's wonderful interventions in my life?

Grace and Technology

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9)

Grace does for us in the supernatural order what technology does for us in the natural order. It extends our abilities.

My technology is sufficient for you

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12: 9)

Grace does for us in the supernatural order what technology does for us in the natural order. It extends our abilities.

My technology is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. God supplies a bunch of actual graces to help us make it through our day. These graces (technologies) are given irrespective of our standing with God. The same benevolence is extended to all living things. But more of the actual graces are provided to those who are ready and ask for them. Prayer for actual graces are answered in real time.

Our weakness is the optimal environment for the operations of the grace of God. In the environment of weakness, the grace of God delivers a solution which makes a clear difference in the before and after of the incident.