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World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Gospel Reflection | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
I have a question for us to consider: “Do we really believe in what God can do for us?” There are moments in life when we look back and realize that God was doing something in us long before we recognized it. Sometimes we think our past disqualifies us from serving God and those He places in our lives. We remember our mistakes, our failures, our wrong choices, or maybe the years when we were far from the Lord. But today’s readings remind us of something important: God does not define or constrain us by our past. Instead, He sees the person He created us to become. That’s how the Lord sees us. St. Paul gives us a powerful example when he says, “You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.” Paul doesn't hide his past. He remembers it honestly. Paul wasn’t simply indifferent to Christ; he actively opposed Christ and persecuted His followers.
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Guardian Angels | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
Some of you, when you were young, learned a simple prayer that began: “Angel of God, my guardian dear…to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. We probably prayed it at bedtime without thinking too much about what we were saying. But today’s Gospel helps us understand just how beautiful that prayer really is. The disciples ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” They’re thinking about greatness in the way the world often thinks about it: Who is important? Who has power? Who gets recognized?
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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.
Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
Today, we reflect on the well-known gospel text where the Lord asked his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” His disciples gave him all the public opinion that was out there on the streets. The disciples said, some call you John the Baptist, others call you Elijah, and still others call you one of the ancient prophets. The Lord asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Let me share a short story with you: I grew up in the Church, practicing the faith. We prayed at home. I went through all the instructions for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. I knew almost every prayer by heart. I was an altar server. I sang in the choir and played the drums. I was a Lector at Masses. I was in the youth group of our Church. I was the leader of our Church’s Boy Scouts Troop. I went to Catholic grade school. I volunteered for almost everything at Church. I was a “pretty decent and disciplined kid," as the Americans say. Watch Here
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Holy lives of inspiration | Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
I have a question for each of us to consider: What would happen if we really believed, if we really trusted that God would provide everything we need? What if we could let go of our need to control everything, simplify our lives, and just trust that the Lord will give us what we need for the journey all the way to Heaven? That’s really the question at the heart of today’s readings—and it is a question St. Pius of Pietrelcina, also known as Padre Pio, answered with his life. Watch Here
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Homily Video | Learn more about our faith | family prayer
Today’s first reading helps us to see that sometimes we simply need a reminder. For we can forget what God has done for us. Amid the busyness of life, fatigue, or even success, we can forget how many times God has been patient or helped us. All the times He’s forgiven us and given us another chance. And, at times, we can become discouraged by our failures and lose sight of God’s grace at work in our lives amidst the struggles.
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Homily Video | Learn more about our faith
Long before computer games, TV, and other sedentary indoor games came to dominate families, children in good-weather places used to play outside in the open. They acted out roles that were dominant in society then. They played policemen, soldiers, lumberjacks, builders, farmers, priests, teachers, and housewives. They acted out social events like funerals, and weddings. They climbed trees to look for fruit, they rode bicycles and they competed among themselves in soccer and sprints. It was an active, creative, and outdoorsy world for most children. Watch Here
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