Let the Children come to Me

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Lord, Jesus, fill us with the grace of understanding and humility, that we who long for the Kingdom of heaven in our hearts, will indeed come to you with the hearts of children; when the human heart is at its purist form. Amen.

Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

St. Maximilian (1894-1941) became a Franciscan and devoted his life to fostering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a priest, publisher, and founder of the "City of the Immaculate." Sentenced to hard manual labor at the death camp in Auschwitz, he offered his life in exchange for that of a family man. He is remembered for his prophetic words, "Hatred is not a creative force. Only love is a creative power."  

Consideration: This holy man offered up his own life that another man would live. There is no greater love than this act of total surrender, that he gave his life voluntarily for another man who had a wife and children. Amen!

Seventy-Seven Times

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." 

Consideration: This scripture passage is powerful. We have all been offended by others in one way or another. Jesus is clear when he tells Peter, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." Remember, we have also offended others as well; and we are in need of forgiveness. 

In this troubled and unperfect world, there is plenty of pain and difficulty. Forgiveness is the key to unlock the freedom of peace that every heart longs for. In the end, it will be the mercy of our Lord, Jesus, that will free us from the darkness of this life; to the freedom of the light when we enter into his light. Amen.

Prayer in the name of Jesus

Jesus said to his disciples: "if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses even to listen to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them."

Consideration: Jesus speaks to disciples about forgiveness, and community prayer. The power of praying together as a group reaches the heavenly Father; promising to grant our request.

Amazing Peace

 

The days there are no clouds in the sky, and the sunshine is magnificent and bright; not one ripple on the lake; the seashore takes your breath away.

The air is clean, crisp and fresh; the river flows with tenderness; the wind is calm, resting for a time; you realize how wonderful, and beautiful, is life.

Just for a time, it all goes away; mother nature in all its splendor on display; everything seems right; there is peace and quiet; birds in playful delight. 

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings of the day; magnificent in every way; this is how it was meant to be; today, your blessings glorify all things. 

In this moment, heaven is very near; everything perfectly clear; in an instant everything can change; that’s OK; now, and forever, we give you praise…thank you Lord, for another day of life; and this amazing peace!

Greatest in the Kingdom

The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me." "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go search for the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than the ninety-nine that did not go astray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost."

Consideration: To be childlike is truly a grace. The adult life brings many challenges and difficulties. Prayer is the way to maintain a close relationship with the Lord. When you talk with humility, you love; and when you love, you maintain the childlike qualities that are required to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. Amen.

The Hand of a Fisherman

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were overwhelmed with grief. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?" When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you." 

Consideration: Jesus is told by Simon that it was the foreigners who were to pay the census tax. So, Jesus, not wanting to offend the tax collectors, tells Simon where he would find the coin to satisfy the sum for Simon and himself. Of all places, in the mouth of a fish; to the hand of a fisherman.