x Close
World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Gospel Reflection | Sunday Mass | prayer
We live in a world of rules and protocols. Everywhere we look, there are guidelines, laws that must be followed, and traffic cops hiding behind billboards to enforce them. We are comforted, and kept safe, by laws. Yet sometimes laws that seem reasonable in one moment become self-serving in another. In yesterday's Gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23), the Pharisees are back in the game of trying to trap Jesus for His lack of strict adherence to Jewish law, this time as it pertains to the washing of hands and ritual purification before eating. As usual, Jesus doesn't mince His words. He calls the Pharisees hypocrites, citing Isaiah's prophecies as specific to them: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts."
Share
Lectio the Liturgy | Sunday Mass | family prayer
Let's Lectio the Liturgy with the Prayer After Communion for the 14th Week in Ordinary Time. The closing prayer of the Mass this week reminds us of the incredible blessings available in the Mass — if we want them. Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, having been replenished by such great gifts, we may gain the prize of salvation and never cease to praise you. Through Christ our Lord. Have you ever considered that when we receive Holy Communion, we are replenished by great gifts? In the Latin form of the prayer, we find the word repleti (Lat.) which means to fill again. When we receive the Eucharist, we are filled with great gifts. The next time we go to Communion, we are filled again. The great gifts are the consecrated Bread and Wine of our Lord. It sounds wonderful, however, there is a catch. To be filled and to be replenished is our choice.
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.
