OUR MOST LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF OUR EARTHLY FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS AND THOSE WHO BECAME FATHERS TO US IN MANY WAYS. WE ASK YOU TO BLESS + THE FATHERS IN EVERY HOME AND IN EVERY COMMUNITY. THROUGH YOUR WISDOM, GRANT TO THEM THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY TOOContinue reading PRAYER OF BLESSING FOR FATHERS
Jesus is about to leave physically in the world. But it does not mean that Jesus will abandon his friends. In fact, Jesus prays for his friends. “I pray for them,” said Jesus. This means that Jesus remembers his friends in his thoughts.
BEING IN THE THOUGHTS OF JESUS ALSO MEANS THAT JESUS MAKES HIS PERSON PRESENT IN THE LIFE OF HIS FRIENDS. IT IS A PROMISE OF FAITHFULNESS AND OF CONSTANT PRESENCE OF GOD IN OUR LIFE, IN EACH OF US.
Today, Jesus reminds us too, that he prays for us and with us. Jesus joins us in our prayer. The Lord is there every time we pray. The Lord makes himself ever present the moment we also dispose ourselves in prayer. We can say this confidently, Jesus prays with me because he remembers me and he is with me.Continue reading Jesus prays for me today, and so I pray for others too
Jesus’ last words are very powerful and compelling, I asked myself, why despite his agony, the humiliation he experienced, and unbearable pain on the cross, Jesus never blamed his Father. He instead uttered these words like a perfect prayer from the depths of his heart “Father into your hands, I commend my spirit.”
Oftentimes, when we are faced with problems and difficulties, when we are carrying heavy crosses, our human tendency is that we lose track of our faith. We rely much on our human capacities and strengths. We become too focused on our suffering and pain, on what we can do to the extent that our energies are depleted, and we become exhausted. We start to complain, self-pity, regret, become anxious about what the future holds, and perhaps blame others, or even blame God. Jesus has given us a glorious example of total surrendering to God. Continue reading Total surrender to God and putting our life in Him
We look back to the scene where Jesus uttered these words, Jesus at this hour was on the brink of death, nailed to the Cross with the Roman soldiers at his feet. As he addressed these men, we could picture how exhausting the scene was. By this time, these Roman soldiers had been executing many criminals and had seen death day after day. They are reduced to mere functionaries. They have no choice and freedom to do what is just and right at that moment as they were only following orders. Familiarity with violence and brutality causes these soldiers to be numb and deaf with their emotions. Their society has allowed them to be stripped of their dignity as human persons gifted with freedom and compassion. It is in this human frailty and desperate condition where Jesus uttered to them, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing?”Continue reading FORGIVENESS: A RADICAL LOVE
(This prayer may be used by families visiting their beloved dead in the cemetery. Anybody can lead this prayer as long as he/she can read and lead well the family.) (An appropriate song may be sung.) The prayer begins. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.Continue reading A Family Prayer in Visiting the Beloved Dead
