The Lord’s Prayer has shaped the lives of countless Christians over the centuries. May we find in this powerful prayer a way to articulate the needs in our hearts as we open our souls to the grace of God.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 27th Week of the Year
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The Lord’s Prayer is a powerful gift that we frequently use in many ways throughout life. Whether alone or with others, this prayer helps us draw close to God and one another. May we use it frequently!
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 11th Week of the Year (St. Aloysius)
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It’s a powerful prayer, and this gift from the Lord strengthens and directs our lives. Only 55 words in English; may we pray it with conviction and conversion of heart.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent
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Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 27th Week of the Year
Luke’s Gospel offers a condensed version of Lord’s Prayer from what we commonly pray in the Gospel of Matthew. Because of it’s brevity, we can clearly see the emphasis on the holiness of God the Father, the Kingdom, trust in God, forgiveness and protection from evil. May we keep praying everyday!
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Mass Readings – Thursday of the 11th Week of the Year
The Lord’s Prayer is a powerful tool for the Christian life. At 55 words this gift from Jesus provides us with key insights about how we follow the Lord with all our heart. Pray it today; pray it frequently!
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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 27th Week of the Year
The Lord’s Prayer in Luke’s Gospel is shorter than Matthew’s, yet this little prayer gets at the heart of our human need to connect with God and one another.
Study: Think about a best friend or cherished family member. What qualities do you find particularly precious?
Pray: Is there a relationship in your life in need of healing? Ask the Lord for grace, wisdom, and guidance to make it happen.
Serve: Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be renewed? What can you do to strengthen the connection?
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
A thumbnail sketch of the readings this week looks something like this:
In all of these readings we see the power of relationships at work touching hearts and changing lives. We are not meant to walk through this life (or the next) alone; rather, God calls us into communion and invites us to deepen the connections we have with the Lord and one another. Looking at it this way, the readings point out that a relationship with God makes many things possible:
Our relationship with the Lord is made possible through Jesus. For remember, God makes it possible for us to draw near, and God invites us to enter into this very unequal relationship to raise us up as the Lord’s sons & daughters. We’ve been “allowed in” to this intimate and tender connection with Christ.
And thus we are called to strengthen our relationships in two distinct ways – with the Lord and with the people in our lives. That means we are called to consider how we might spend a little quality time building and strengthening our connections. With the Lord that means Prayer, Sacraments, Service, and a Call to Holiness. With other people it means forgiveness, charity, “wasting time” with loved ones in wholesome recreation, and seeking to bring out the best in one another.
And if something is wounded or broken…if a relationship is in need of healing – then ask the Lord for the grace to make it happen! Remember: the Lord calls us into relationships. May we take the gift of today to strengthen these connections in our lives.
