Jesus Teaches Us to Pray

Mathew 6: 5-13
Our Father
Jesus Teaches Us How to Pray
"When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray int he synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.  Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret.  And your Father who see in secret will repay you.

In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them.  Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

This is how you are to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your Name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and do not subject us to the final test,
but deliver us from the evil one.

If you forgive others their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

30 Words: Nine Words

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life,”
So you said, and so I believe.
I walk in Your footsteps.
I follow Your lead.
Unending Love You Give Us.

Thoughts on the Eucharist

I Hear the priest consecrate, “This is My Body.”
I Hear the priest consecrate, “This is My Blood.”
I Hear the person behind me whisper, "My Lord and My God."

I See the priest elevate the Sacred Host.
I See the host, our Brother Jesus!
I See My Lord and My God!

I Taste the Bread, now Jesus, on my tongue. 
I Taste the sweetnesss of the Lord, our God.
I Taste the gentleness of My Savior.

I Smell the wine as I am offered His Cup. 
I Smell the Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I Smell the fragrance of Jesus, the Lord.

I Touch the pew as I kneel in prayer.
I Touch my hands clasped in prayer.
I Touch my heart now one with the Lord.

Where do you meet Jesus Each Day?

Starbucks?  Mass?  The Park?  On a Walk?  At the Adoration Chapel?

We each need a place, a physical place, to meet Him.  As Catholics, we should meet Him and see Him in everything we do and in every word we say, thus we are evangelists, and we serve Him.  Yet, even Jesus went up to the mountain or to a quiet place to pray to the Father. 

I have a special place where I meet Jesus daily.  Yes, I go to Mass daily, except, like today, when I couldn't get out of my drive way because of yesterday's storm, but it's not there that I meet Jesus in "Our Place." I am an adorer at Church when Jesus gazes at His children from the Monstrance, but that's not where I meet Jesus.

The place I meet Jesus daily is in my living room, on the love seat, across from the couch that my dog occupies.  I meet Jesus in this spot everyday.  Even if I'm sick, I seem to find my way down to this love seat.  It's here that I open my heart to have a conversation with Jesus, our brother and Savior.

Jesus hears things that I could never say to my best friend.  He hears things that I need to confess.  He hears things about which I am worried.  He hears me, and He listens.

I sip my tea, my homemade fruit water, or my diet Coke. Jesus hears me.  I weep or cry.  He comforts me.  When I am worried, Jesus gives me peace.  I play Christian music and sing.  He listens, even as I sing.  (He is a good and loving God!)  It is on this love seat that I ask Jesus to speak to me through Sacred Scripture.  Can you imagine?  A love seat!  I meet Jesus here daily for our conversations. 

Where do you meet Jesus?

Morning Prayer

Good Morning, Lord!

Thank You for the good sleep I had last night.  I feel refreshed this morning.  Thank You for that.  I just wanted to tell You that I love You, and I'm looking forward to this day.   I trust that You will be with me all day.  Thank You for that gift, too.  You do send some interesting challenges to me.  I know that without You I could not get through my day.  There was a time when I wasn't sure that You even cared about me.  My days were so challenging then!  Thank You for the peace I have received. 

Father, Jesus my Brother, Holy Spirit, I thank You for the gift of You.  You are our triune God!  We praise and bless You!  I thank You for the way You have worked in my life.  I thank You for the way You continue to work in my life.  I thank You for the way You work in my children's lives.  I thank You for the blessings You have given me through my children.  Father, we are all Your children.  We praise You and bless You for this gift.  Jesus, my brother, thank You for all that You have done for us!  You suffered and died that we might have eternal life.  Thank You.  Holy Spirit, we need You.  Pour out your blessings and graces on our very troubled world.  Thank You, our Triune God!

Father, I need to ask You for some things.  Please hear my prayer.
Bless our troubled world and send Your Holy Spirit to rekindle the flames of Your love and peace. 
Bless my children.  Manifest Your love in their lives and let them recognize this gift from You.
In the greatness of Your love for us, send the graces of salvation to those who are living lives outside of Your graces.  Grant them peace and love and the gift of a beautiful death, especially if they are going to see You face to face today.
Bless the Souls in Purgatory.  Bring them some relief from their sufferings and release souls to be with You.
Bless my family and all of our friends.  Let them be blessed with the gifts of the Spirit that they might become Your Apostles.
Bless all of Your priests.  Embrace them with Your love.
Bless all of those people who are suffering.  Relieve their sufferings and strengthen them.  Give them hope.
Bless all of those people who are grieving.  Relieve their sense of loss and strengthen them.  Remind them that with each new dawn their loved ones are enjoying the vision of You and that they are happy.
Bless all of the homeless and hungry of our world.  Bless all those kind and loving people who minister to them. 
 Bless all of those people, both living and dead, who have no one to pray for them.  May their prayers be heard by You, and may they be blessed.

Thank You, Father.  Thank You, my brother, Jesus.  Thank You, Holy Spirit.

We praise and honor You.  Help me to walk in Your path today and everyday.  Help me to see the face of Jesus in all that I meet and realize that these people are a blessing of love to me.  Praise to You!  Thank You!  I love You! 

Amen.

St. Therese on Adoration

St. Therese of Lisieux on Holiness