Prayers for the week of November 30-December 6, 2008

For the intentions of Pope Benedict XVI...

For president-elect Barack Obama, may he be moved to enshrine a culture of life, defend the freedom and dignity of peoples everywhere, and remain safe from terrorism and harm...

For the people of Mumbai, and the victims of terrorism, may they know peace in death, may the survivors be comforted, and may the perpetrators of evil be brought to justice...

For our economy, may we learn the true value of money, spend wisely, and share our resources willingly with others out of love for Christ...

For the unemployed, may they find gainful, meaningful work...

For the emotionally and psychologically depressed and distressed, may they know the peace of Christ in their hearts and minds and find solace in communities of faith...

For persecuted Christians throughout the world, may God give them strength and fortitude to remain faithful in times of hardship and be glorified in heaven...

For religious freedom, may governments throughout the world respect the inherent rights of peoples to express their religious beliefs in public, and especially in political involvement, and protect religious persons from persecution, harassment, and unjust laws...

For an immediate end to abortion and a flourishing of the culture of life, may people everywhere respect their bodies and fertility, embrace life from conception to natural death, and may the rights of the unborn and women be protected with dignity, love, and assistance in times of crisis pregnancy...

For the disabled, the elderly, the infirm, the depressed, and all suffering with chronic or terminal illness, may they find dignity in their suffering, and a closer connection to Christ, and may our culture treat these people with respect, preserving and protecting their lives until natural death...

For persons dealing with addiction, may Christ strengthen them to defeat their addictions and may people of faith assist them in finding support and assistance to defeat addiction...

For missionaries both at home and abroad, may they be faithful witnesses to Christ, unafraid to speak the Truth of God's word and the works of Christ, and the teachings of the Christian faith...

For the victims of the priest sexual abuse scandal, may they find healing...

For the priests and bishops involved in the sexual abuse scandal, may they be brought to justice and repent of their sins...

For the Milwaukee Archdiocese and the Faith in Our Future campaign, may everyone involved prayerfully consider their contributions as they put forth time, talent, and treasure to ensure the continuation of the Catholic faith for generations to come...

For the protection of traditional marriage, may those caught in all sexual sin learn fully the beauty and dignity of God's design for our sexuality and live out that powerful, life-giving love in sacramental marriage...

For persons of other faith who face persecution for holding to traditional values and morality, may they find allies in Catholicism and Christianity who are willing to set aside theological differences for the sake of preserving religious freedom and morality...

For women persecuted and oppressed by terrorism and radical Islam, may they find freedom and peace in the protection of Christians...

For the repose of the soul of Leo Kitzke, Dorothy Leona Koretzky Martin, and for all the faithful departed, may they find peace and solace in spending eternity with Christ...

For the family and friends of the faithful departed, may they find comfort and healing in faith...

For the intentions of all in the blogosphere, may God hear the prayers they hold in the silence of their hearts...

For personal intentions...

Please feel free to e-mail any requests or intentions to oratefratres@yahoo.com.

December 2008 - Intentions of the Holy Father

From the Apostleship of Prayer

Culture of Life. That, faced with the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities.

Fraternal Witness. That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of kindness that the Child born in Bethlehem is the Hope of the world.

Lord, we bring these intentions of the most Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, your faithful servant and successor of Peter to you with sincere and humble heart. Grant that our world may turn away from death and destruction and embrace life from conception to natural death.

Grant that Christians everywhere - through faith, hope, and love - may be a witness of Christ and of God's unchanging Truth in every corner of the world, calling mankind to repent of sin and walk in holiness.

Readings for the First Sunday of Advent

Reading 1
Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

You, LORD, are our father,
our redeemer you are named forever.
Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,
with the mountains quaking before you,
while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for,
such as they had not heard of from of old.
No ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you
doing such deeds for those who wait for him.
Would that you might meet us doing right,
that we were mindful of you in our ways!
Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful;
all of us have become like unclean people,
all our good deeds are like polluted rags;
we have all withered like leaves,
and our guilt carries us away like the wind.
There is none who calls upon your name,
who rouses himself to cling to you;
for you have hidden your face from us
and have delivered us up to our guilt.
Yet, O LORD, you are our father;
we are the clay and you the potter:
we are all the work of your hands.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

R. (4) Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Reading II
1 Cor 1:3-9

Brothers and sisters:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always on your account
for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus,
that in him you were enriched in every way,
with all discourse and all knowledge,
as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you,
so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift
as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will keep you firm to the end,
irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful,
and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel
Mk 13:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,
whether in the evening, or at midnight,
or at cockcrow, or in the morning.
May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.
What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Advent

Advent begins Nov. 30 - that's when we'll be back on-line.

Lacking

Prayer is one of the most simple, yet most difficult things to do. Blogging prayers seems to be more difficult than it needs to.

I will resume the blog again this weekend.

Prayers for the Week of August 11-17, 2008

For the intentions of the Holy Father...

For an end to all abortion and a flourishing of the Culture of Life...

For the intentions in all the blogosphere...

Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

At the mountain of God, Horeb,
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R. (8) Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Reading II
Rom 9:1-5

Brothers and sisters:
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.
They are Israelites;
theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

Gospel
Mt 14:22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Prayers for the Week of August 4-August 10, 2008

For the intentions of the Holy Father...

For an end to abortion and a flourishing of the Culture of Life...

For priests and all called to religious life...

For those facing threat from Tropical Storm Eduardo...

For all burdened by heat and extreme summer weather...

For a peaceful and successful Olympic Games...

For peace throughout the world...

For the hungry in the world...

For those who hate and despise the Church and her teachings...

For J., and all who seek gainful employment...

For personal intentions...

For all intentions in the blogosphere...

Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Is 55:1-3

Thus says the LORD:
All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!
Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what fails to satisfy?
Heed me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
Come to me heedfully,
listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
the benefits assured to David.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Reading II
Rom 8:35, 37-39

Brothers and sisters:
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel
Mt 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me, ”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.

Prayer request

From John, who writes:

Mrs. B who is dying of pancreatic cancer for strength to remember Jesus' love for her through the pain she will suffer; a young man who needs a great deal of spiritual help and who is lost in addiction to drugs that God will put in his path an angel to lead him to the Sacred Hearts; Mrs. S, widowed a year ago, for consolation and peace of mind and heart...

We pray for John's intentions.

We also extend prayers of sympathy and healing to the members of Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, who were the victims of a shooting. For the repose of two individuals - Greg McKendry and Linda Kraeger - and for the recovery of five others who were wounded.

We also pray for the shooter, Jim Adkisson, that he may find forgiveness and healing.

Prayers for the Week of July 28-August 3, 2008

For the intentions of the Holy Father...

For a conversion of souls...

For an end to all abortion and euthanasia, and for a flourishing of a Culture of Life...

For a respect for the disabled and their human dignity...

For an end to divorce and a strengthening of sacramental marriages...

For parents, may they find the strength to raise their children free from negative cultural influences...

For an increase in vocations...

For all intentions in the Christian blogosphere...

For J., and all who seek gainful employment...

For personal intentions....

Pray for PZ Myers Month

I'm extending this to a month of pray for all who hold Christ and His Church in contempt. Atheists, non-Catholics who despise or misunderstand the Church, and those who do not respect the Eucharist.

A special attention should be paid to Professor PZ Myers (Jimmy Akin has the details here), for his repentance and conversion.

The Month of Prayer begins Friday, August 1, and goes through until August 31. Pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, novenas, observe fasts and abstinence and offer up sufferings for the conversion of souls to the One True Faith.

More details, including the original source of the idea, here.

Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12

The LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night.
God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”
Solomon answered:
“O LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king
to succeed my father David;
but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.
I serve you in the midst of the people whom you have chosen,
a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart
to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.
For who is able to govern this vast people of yours?”

The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request.
So God said to him:
“Because you have asked for this—
not for a long life for yourself,
nor for riches,
nor for the life of your enemies,
but for understanding so that you may know what is right—
I do as you requested.
I give you a heart so wise and understanding
that there has never been anyone like you up to now,
and after you there will come no one to equal you.”

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130

R. (97a) Lord, I love your commands.
I have said, O LORD, that my part
is to keep your words.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Let your kindness comfort me
according to your promise to your servants.
Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
For I love your command
more than gold, however fine.
For in all your precepts I go forward;
every false way I hate.
R. Lord, I love your commands.
Wonderful are your decrees;
therefore I observe them.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, I love your commands.

Reading II
Rom 8:28-30

Brothers and sisters:
We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined he also called;
and those he called he also justified;
and those he justified he also glorified.

Gospel
Mt 13:44-52 or 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea,
which collects fish of every kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore
and sit down to put what is good into buckets.
What is bad they throw away.
Thus it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous
and throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

“Do you understand all these things?”
They answered, “Yes.”
And he replied,
“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven
is like the head of a household
who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

Prayers for the Week of July 21-27, 2008

For the intentions of the Holy Father...

For a conversion of souls to the one True Faith...

For those who hate and despise the Catholic Church...

For atheists and those who reject God...

For those who lead others to sin, may they turn from their ways...

For an end to all abortion and a flourishing of the Culture of Life...

For all who suffer in hopelessness and despair...

For peace throughout the world...

For the flourishing of families and sacramental marriages...

For all intentions in the Christian blogosphere...

For J., and all who seek gainful employment...

For those looking for a place to call home...

For personal intentions...

Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Wis 12:13, 16-19

There is no god besides you who have the care of all,
that you need show you have not unjustly condemned.
For your might is the source of justice;
your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all.
For you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved;
and in those who know you, you rebuke temerity.
But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency,
and with much lenience you govern us;
for power, whenever you will, attends you.
And you taught your people, by these deeds,
that those who are just must be kind;
and you gave your children good ground for hope
that you would permit repentance for their sins.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16

R. (5a) Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are good and forgiving,
abounding in kindness to all who call upon you.
Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer
and attend to the sound of my pleading.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship you, O LORD,
and glorify your name.
For you are great, and you do wondrous deeds;
you alone are God.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.
You, O LORD, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity.
Turn toward me, and have pity on me;
give your strength to your servant.
R. Lord, you are good and forgiving.

Reading II
Rom 8:26-27

Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness;
for we do not know how to pray as we ought,
but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.
And the one who searches hearts
knows what is the intention of the Spirit,
because he intercedes for the holy ones
according to God’s will.

Gospel
Mt 13:24-43 or 13:24-30

Jesus proposed another parable to the crowds, saying:
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened
to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everyone was asleep his enemy came
and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off.
When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well.
The slaves of the householder came to him and said,
‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?
Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’
His slaves said to him,
‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds
you might uproot the wheat along with them.
Let them grow together until harvest;
then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters,
“First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning;
but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

He proposed another parable to them.
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed
that a person took and sowed in a field.
It is the smallest of all the seeds,
yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush,
and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

He spoke to them another parable.
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch was leavened.”

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables.
He spoke to them only in parables,
to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation
of the world.

Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
“Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”
He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the evil one,
and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Prayers for the Week of July 14-20, 2008

For the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI...

For all attending World Youth Day in Australia...

For those who hate, persecute, harrass, and bear false witness against the Church...

For our young people and a deepening of their faith...

For the repose of the soul of Nancy S., for her husband and all her family who mourn her loss...

For those in California affected by wildfires, mudslides, and other disasters...

For an end to all abortion...

For the victims of abortion...

For peace throughout the world...

For persecuted Christians everywhere...

For those afflicted with addictions to drugs, alcohol, and other vices...

For the intentions of all in the Christian blogosphere...

For personal intentions, and thanksgiving for intentions filled...

Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Is 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
and do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.



Responsorial Psalm
Ps 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14
R. (Lk 8:8) The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God’s watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.

R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows,
breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.

R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.

R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

The fields are garmented with flocks
and the valleys blanketed with grain.
They shout and sing for joy.

R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.



Reading II
Rom 8:18-23

Brothers and sisters:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation
the revelation of the children of God;
for creation was made subject to futility,
not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it,
in hope that creation itself
would be set free from slavery to corruption
and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.
We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now;
and not only that, but we ourselves,who have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
we also groan within ourselvesas we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.



Gospel
Mt 13:1-23 or 13:1-9

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.
Such large crowds gathered around him
that he got into a boat and sat down,and the whole crowd stood along the shore.
And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:
“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
The disciples approached him and said,“Why do you speak to them in parables?” He said to them in reply,
“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heavenhas been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich;
from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because
they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their hearts and be converted,
and I heal them.
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people
longed to see what you see but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
“Hear then the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one
who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it,
and the evil one comes and steals awaywhat was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky groundis the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soilis the one who hears the word and understands it,who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

Prayer Request

For R., who writes:

Please pray for my 83 year old mother, E.H., who is in agony due to a back injury. Please pray for the physicians' to have wisdom in treating her and that the procedure to relieve her back pain be successful. Also, please pray for her to not to give up. She is feeling hopeless from all of the pain. Thank you and Bless you.

Prayers for the Week of July 7 - 13, 2008

For the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI...

For an end to all abortion, and a flourishing of the Culture of Life...

For our armed forces, and for their safety...

For those affected by the California wildfires, and for those battling the blaze...

For persecuted religious persons everywhere, and a rebirth of free speech and free religious expression...

For the intentions of all in the blogosphere...

For personal intentions...

Readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Zec 9:9-10

Thus says the LORD:
Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion,
shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king shall come to you;
a just savior is he,
meek, and riding on an ass,
on a colt, the foal of an ass.
He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim,
and the horse from Jerusalem;
the warrior’s bow shall be banished,
and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion shall be from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

R. (cf. 1) I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading II
Rom 8:9, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
You are not in the flesh;
on the contrary, you are in the spirit,
if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.
Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
the one who raised Christ from the dead
will give life to your mortal bodies also,
through his Spirit that dwells in you.
Consequently, brothers and sisters,
we are not debtors to the flesh,
to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die,
but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live.

Gospel
Mt 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”