x Close
World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Jesus | Learn more about our faith | faithfulness
Jesus presents us with two parables to illustrate the nature and growth of the Kingdom of God. He compares the Kingdom of God to a tiny seed that grows into a large tree where birds can build nests in its branches, showing us that the Kingdom has humble, insignificant beginnings yet expands into something that impacts many people. Jesus also compares the Kingdom of God to yeast mixed into dough that works its way into a loaf of bread, enjoyed by those who eat it. Jesus uses these two parables to highlight the subtle, internal, and pervasive influence of Jesus' teaching in our lives. God's Grace Works from Within We just had ordinations of nine young men in the Province of East Africa two weeks ago. I lived with them for the last four years as their director in a formation house. One of them, when he was being vested with the chasuble, just started crying, with tears streaming profusely down his face.
Share
Jesus | Learn more about our faith | faithfulness
Charity and love are core virtues of our Christian faith. They are foundational in helping us noticing those who tend to be invisible in society. Through kindness and love we can see and acknowledge individuals with whom society, daily routines or systematic prejudices routinely overlook. In today’s gospel, we have a woman described as having a spirit that crippled her for 18 years, leaving her bent over and unable to stand up right. Jesus notices her in the middle of teaching, interrupts himself, calls her to him, and lays hand on her and heals her. This woman was invisible to the religious structure around her, and yet Jesus stopped his teaching to see her, call her forward and even addressed her a daughter of Abraham in a way of restoring her dignity. Jesus’s love for this woman in her disability led him to heal her, setting her free from her infirmity, even when he knew that would make the religious leaders indignant, mad at him for breaking the sabbath law. While others walked past her or looked down, Jesus was able to notice her predicament.
Share
Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.
Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
Human history tells us that for years human beings relied on a reading and interpretation of nature for their own survival. People relied on reading nature for navigation, for agricultural work, for healthcare management, for military campaigns, for worship. For instance, parents knew that when the skin, the hair or the eyes of their babies changed in a certain manner, the babies needed to be treated with a specific herb to improve their health. Farmers knew that when birds started making their nests, or the squirrels started gathering nuts, it meant the end of one season and the arrival of new season. They acted accordingly. Humanity has survived over the years through careful reading and interpretation of nature.
Share
Catholic Faith | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | Scripture
On this day when our ministry is celebrating the blessing of our Global Rosary for Peace, our readings at Mass proclaim to us messages both uplifting in their affirmation and almost shocking in their challenge. Today’s passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians begins with a beautiful image of his prayer on behalf of humanity, united globally as one family: I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. And in today’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims the worldwide scope of His mission: I have come to set the world on fire!
Share
Gospel Reflection | Jesus | Learn more about our faith
We hear Jesus tell Peter and the disciples today to be prepared for an hour when they do not expect the Son of Man to come. Peter asks, “Jesus, does what you are saying apply to us or to everyone?” Jesus replies, “Peter, what I just said applies to everyone.” Jesus proceeds to tell a story about those who are prepared and those who are not, those who have oil in their flasks as they await the arrival of the master, and those who allowed the oil to run out and missed his coming. Faithfulness in Our Daily Responsibilities In telling us this story about the servants and their attitude toward the responsibilities entrusted to them, Jesus is actually moving us away from predicting when the Lord will come to considering how we live as we wait. The good news today is that if we are doing all that we can possibly do and are doing it faithfully, then we will be prepared. For some, it will be the daily responsibilities we have of raising a family, caring for elderly parents, or caring for a sick spouse. For others, more may be required of us if we have been blessed with more.
Share
Jesus | Learn more about our faith | faithfulness
“Faithfulness is not doing something right once but doing something right over and over and over and over.” — Joyce Meyer We all appreciate people who offer genuine, consistent support and prove themselves worthy of our trust. These are the people who keep their promises and fulfill their responsibilities. Perhaps many of us, if not all, have experienced the heartbreak of discovering that someone we depended on was unfaithful. When faithfulness is lacking in a marriage, a family, a friendship, or a relationship between an employer and an employee, the pain can be profound, and the damage can be widespread and long-lasting. Why begin with this? Because faithfulness is essential to our relationships. It gives us a sense of security, confidence, stability, and comfort. Like an anchor, it helps us remain steadfast through the challenges and uncertainties of life.
Share
