Dearest Lord, please give us Your grace that we may
enter the narrow door. Forbid it, Lord, that I should ever hear You say,
"I do not know you. Away from me you evildoers!"( Luke 13:22-30) May
we, with the prophets and saints, one day rest in the safety and glory of Your
kingdom which has no end.
Rosary intentions:
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| Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us who have recourse to thee! |
For the homeless; St. Joseph, with the help of the Holy
Spirit you provided for Mary and Jesus even on that very first night in
Bethlehem when there was no room at the inns.
Please join me in prayer asking Jesus to have mercy and help those unfortunate souls
who are also struggling to find room at the inn to find accommodations,
especially as the weather gets colder.
For women who are considering abortion; Mother Mary,
Mother of all of God’s children, show those women who are considering abortion
the grace and blessings that are found only through motherhood, and help turn them away from the
evil one and towards the saving mercy and love of your Son.
For all who are sick; Lord Jesus, You have shown us
through Your Passion that the Father sometimes allows suffering to bring us closer to Him. Help those who are sick and those who are
caring for them bear their burdens purposefully for the sake of Your Sorrowful
Passion. Have mercy on us and on the
whole world. Amen.
Reflection
In Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Romans 8:26-30), he writes: “We know
that all things work for good for those who love God.” He seems to be saying that
by loving God we are promised only good things in this life. If one gives
oneself to God the Spirit will take over leading us step by step, from one good
to another good, and eventually to eternal glory. That would be the case if
Jesus had not added a final condition. “We know that all things work for good
for those who love God who are called according to his purpose.”
God doesn’t do things according to whim but with purpose. And He has a
definite purpose for each of us. By fulfilling His purpose we will experience
“all things working for good.” Notice, in this process of loving God He doesn’t
promise it will necessarily be for my personal good. It may well be for the
greater good of all who love God, which would ultimately include me.
For example, loving God “according to his purpose” could occasionally
include suffering. A man’s wife is diagnosed with cancer. That’s not good for
his wife or him. Yet they have always willingly loved God according to His
purpose. However, what if this tragedy might have such devastating effects upon
their grown children that they are motivated to reject their evil lifestyles
and return to the Lord. The ultimate salvation of their children might be the
good purpose why the Lord allows the mother’s illness.
For many of us our God is too small. It’s too easy to forget His purpose
for becoming man. It was not that we might be spared suffering but that we
might share in eternal happiness. And so reluctantly God is willing to allow
many things, even sinfulness and tragedy to be part of life, so that His
purpose for coming will be fulfilled. “God so loved the world that he gave his
only Son that whoever believes in him may not die but may have eternal life.”
(John 3:16)
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