Archive for February 27th, 2008

It is true that God’s power triumphs over everything, but humble and suffering prayer prevails over God Himself.

February 27, 2008

When: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:00 AM to Thursday, February 28, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of these do you stone me?" The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we stone you but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, make yourself God." Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, `I said, you are gods'? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came (and scripture cannot be broken), do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."

John 10:24-38

It is true that God's power triumphs over everything, but humble and suffering prayer prevails over God Himself.

— St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Abba, Father, Lord God, find favor with and for me and my love ones, for I am Your willing servant; living faithfully, praying hopefully and interacting lovingly. Not that it is easy, but I know it is what pleases You and as I have learned only in and with You can I find true rest and peace. So for me it has become logical to be obedient and seek Your will; again not that it is easy, but I know that without You I can do nothing and never be anything that would please You. For I have learned that it is my relationship with You through Jesus that pleases You. O Lord God that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me to keep me from evil and from causing pain. For the sake of His sorrowful passion have mercy on me and on the whole world. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Deut&ch=4&bv1=1&ev1=1&bv2=5&ev2=9>

1 "And now, O Israel, give heed to the statutes and the ordinances which I teach you, and do them; that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, gives you. 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, `Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day? 9 "Only take heed, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children —

Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=147&bv1=12&ev1=13&bv2=15&ev2=16&bv3=19&ev3=20>

12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your sons within you. 15 He sends forth his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; he scatters hoarfrost like ashes. 19 He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!

Matthew 5:17-19<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=5&bv1=17&ev1=19>

17 "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>

…let us speak what we are bound to speak and do the deeds we are called to do. No empty time is allowed to any of us.

February 27, 2008

When: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 12:00 AM to Wednesday, February 27, 2008 12:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Words of Jesus

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."

Matthew 18:21-22

When death comes, and we stand before God, no king can command Him, no authority can restrain Him, no riches can hire Him to wait past his appointed time even one moment of an hour. Therefore let us speak what we are bound to speak and do the deeds we are called to do. No empty time is allowed to any of us.

— St. Thomas More

Abba, Father, Lord God, grant me favor in all I do, let my actions, words and thoughts serve You first. Give me a discerning mind and liken my heart to that of my Lord Jesus, so that I may walk in love, quick to forgive, never remembering or seeing but the good of all Your creations. For knowing what I know about myself; who I am to think that I could seek or hold back that very thing that I myself ask and pray for in all I do. From this perspective it is so easy to see the needs of others, what is difficult is to walk in the moment with the awareness to put aside my needs and serve the needs of those before me. So I call upon my Lord Jesus to strengthen my faith, renew my hope and fill me with love so that I will not find myself unable to respond in that moment to one who needs that which I also need. For I know that in that moment when I serve the need of another, I meet my need. For this is the secret to my being Your child, and as Your child I must liken my heart to that of Jesus so I will see through His eyes, speak in His image and feel one with Him, as I know He is one with You. This I ask in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Daniel 3:25, 34-43<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Dan&ch=3&bv1=25&ev1=25&bv2=34&ev2=43>

25 In the fire Azariah stood up and prayed aloud: 34 For your name's sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. 35 Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, 36 To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. 37 For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. 38 We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. 39 But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; 40 As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. 41 And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. 42 Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. 43 Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord:

Psalm 25:4-9<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Ps&ch=25&bv1=4&ev1=9>

4 Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long. 6 Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness' sake, O LORD! 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Matthew 18:21-35<http://www.ewtn.com/vbible/search.asp?abbr=Matt&ch=18&bv1=21&ev1=35>

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. 23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; 25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

Lenten Reflections<http://origin.ewtn.com/faith/lent/>

Pope Benedict XVI Encyclical Letter<http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html>