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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
I attended a picnic recently and felt I could have been among the walking dead. I do not say this to disparage anyone. It had been several years since I last saw some of the attendees and people who I once knew to be vibrant were now wrinkled and some bent over. They did not appear to be people like the ones Isaiah described today, people with hearts that trembled as trees of the forest tremble in the wind. At one point, I had to ask myself to what extent had my own appearance changed.
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Celebrating family life | Why pray?
Today’s gospel is one that gets a reaction. For some, it’s a justification to say God is unreasonable. For others, it’s a reason to look more deeply into our relationships with God, our families, and our friends.
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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.
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. They will see his face." (Revelation 22:1-4)
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Holy lives of inspiration | Strengthening family unity
Today’s gospel continues Jesus’ instruction to His Apostles for their mission. Jesus wants to prepare them and us for the real world, which will involve persecution. He compares the Apostle’s situation to sheep being sent out among wolves. However, Jesus doesn’t want them to have the passive posture of sheep.
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Healing the family | Strengthening family unity
Some people read their horoscopes, others go to Facebook and see what their five hundred friends are up to. I look at the obituaries every morning and inclined to read the death notices of younger people, their educational background, their religious affiliation, and burial plans. There was a sad obituary the other day of a young man who was in his thirties. He lost his battle with addiction.
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I’d like to invite you to close your eyes, if you feel comfortable, and imagine this scene: a beautiful summer day, like it is at this time of the year here in Massachusetts. You are in a beautiful countryside, as is Galilee, with other disciples. Jesus is teaching and leading you all in prayer. Then He chooses the 12 apostles … Simon, Andrew, James, John, Philip …. You know something important is going on and you have a sense that nothing will ever be the same. Sending the 12 is just the beginning. Eagerly you wait your turn soon.
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