A Prayer

The following is a prayer 

put forth by the Knights of Columbus, 

adapted from the prayer of Pope Francis.  

I encourage you to use these words of peteition 

in your daily prayer.

A PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

IN TIME OF PANDEMIC

O Mary,

you always brighten our path

as a sign of salvation and of hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,

who, at the Cross, took part in Jesus' pain

while remaining steadfast in faith.

O loving Mother,

you know what we need, 

and we are confident you will provide for us

as at Cana in Galilee.

Intercede for us with your Son Jesus,

the Divine Physician,

for those who have fallen ill,

for those who are vulnerable,

and for those who have died.

Intercede also for those charged with

protecting the health and safety of others

and for those who are tending to the sick

and seeking a cure.

Help us, O Mother of Divine Love,

to conform to the will of the Father

and to do what we are told by Jesus,

who took upon himself our

sufferings and carried our sorrows,

so as to lead us, through the Cross,

to the glory of the Resurrection.  Amen.

A New World

     I last posted 14 days ago.  Since then the world has changed.  Normalcy as we know it has given way to extraordinarily precautious restrictions.  All this due to the caronavirus that is afflicting the world community.  There is no way that you cannot have heard of or been affected by this pandemic.

     Nations are on lockdown and quarentine.  The tally of those who tested positive skyrockets and the death tolls continues to grow.  I just heard that Italy saw over 350 deaths in the last 24 hours, and they are not at the peak of the epidemic.  We are just at the early stages in this country, and drastic efforts are being taken to contain the spread of the virus, which is particularly dangerous to the elderly and those suffering from other chronic illnesses. These are frightening times.

     We even find that the public celebration of the Mass and our public prayer life have been suspended for the forseable future.  I cannot remember that ever happening before in my years of priesthood and even in my lifetime.  And yet, the time to pray has never been more vital.

     A part of me balks at these drastic restrictions to the living out of our faith life.  We do trust in the love and providence of the Lord in our lives.  Then why act as if we do not trust?  If it involved simply myself, things might be different.  But these precautions are meant to curtail the spread of the virus, and therefore are for the sake of others.  We must do our part.  And that includes intensifying our prayer and sacrifice, of sharing our love and concern, and of awaiting that turning point when life will once again return to normal and the new life of Spring will come again.  Meanwhile, nothing will be regular or the same ... not even our faith ... which must deepen with every harship and restriction placed before our lives.  

     Be strong!  Keep the faith!  Be careful and responsible!  And renew your deep friendship with the Lord of Life, Jesus the Christ!

How Should We Pray?

     As our Lenten journey continues, the Gospel for this Tuesday of the First Week of Lenrt is taken from chapter 6 of Matthew (Matthew 6:7-15).  

     Jesus speaks of praying.  He warns that praying is not simply the multiplication of words or "babbling like the pagans".  Still, I'm sure that you have heard someone, even a priest (maybe even myself) babble on in prayer.  We have a good priest in our house who is into brevity, and when the prayer chosen is the long form, or if the presider is expansive, will audible sigh (reminding us to cut it short).

     Jesus in today's Gospel gives us "the perfect prayer".  He shared it with his followers when they asked him to give them a prayer that would identify them to him.  This was a common practice among teachers - to share their charism or gift (the Chaplet of Saint Faustina ... the Prayer of Saint Francis ... etc).

     Jesus says, when you pray:
a) remember who you are addressing: Our Father in heaven, you are holy!
b) acknowledge God's plan and your place in it: Your kingdom come, here as in heaven!
c) place yourself before him in supplication: Give us what we need - our earthly needs of daily bread and our spirotual need of forgiveness!
d) willingly place yourself within his plan: We will share with others and we will forgive those who trespass against us!
e)  express your heart's desire: Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil! 

     To this perfect prayer we add our AMEN!

An arrogant enemy

     On this first Sunday of Lent we are reminded of our enemy, the serpent of Genesis, the reason for the Fall of Adam and the tempter of Jesus.  We see him for who he is: a self-obsessed lier and thief whose claim of lordship is of darkness and death.

     We know who he is, for we too are tempted by him to turn away from the Lord and stand on our own.  We know who he is, for we live a world touched by darkness and sin, embraced by selfishness and failure.  We know who he is, for he plants the seed of doubt and despair in our hearts.

     This lord of darkness is the devil who tempts Jesus in today's gospel of Matthew.  Filled with jealousy and pride, he declared himself equal to his creator ... on a par with God in those first moments of creation.  Not satisfied with his legions, he appears in the Garden to tempt those who are children and friends of God, leading them to step out of grace and favor.  Through him, humanity fell into personal sin which has led to a world of pain and suffering, bondage and despair.  He claims dominion over that which is not his, and is blinded by his arrogant selfishness.

    When he tempts Jesus today, his temptations are reflected in those temptations that continually confront us.  

     He tempts Jesus in his hunger, after 40 days and nights of fasting and prayer.  He does not give Jesus bread to eat, but asks him to "turn the stones into bread" … telling him to personally mistrust the blessings of the Father.  Jesus did not buy into the lie.  Our hungers are many, and he tempts us to trust in ourselves or others rather than the Father who has pledged us his loving care.

     He tempts Jesus with self-preservation.  "Throw yourself from the temple" ... God's angels will protect you!  It does not matter what you do, we are told, God will protect you and keep you from harm.  Like Jesus in the desert, we need to tell the evil one that we will not put the Lord to the test.  We will live in his love without compromising our safety or existence.

     And he tempts Jesus with all the power and riches of the world  ... which he mistakenly claims as his own.  The lord of darkness offers these things to Jesus (and us) if we but "bow down" in worship of him.  What arrogance!

     What the Lord created as we hear in Genesis was seen to be good!  And God was pleased!  We are the crowning moment of that creation!  We must not allow temptations and lies, sin and darkness, confound the vision of God.  Lent is our time of repenting of our sins, turning to the Lord, and embracing his merciful grace and live!