The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

The Word Among Us

Daily Meditation: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14

Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? (2 Kings 2:14)

From Esau and Jacob to the prodigal son, stories about inheritance run throughout the Scriptures. In this passage, however, the focus is on a spiritual inheritance and not on something like money or land. When Elisha asked the prophet Elijah for a double portion of his spirit, he was asking for the honor of being set apart as Elijah’s spiritual son. And by the end of the passage, we find Elisha stepping into this very role.

It seems simple, doesn’t it? Just pick up the prophet’s mantle, and miracles will flow. But that’s not exactly how it happened. Elisha was able to do all he did because he had spent many days, months, and years with his mentor, Elijah. He saw the man of God in action; he heard him preach; he prayed and fasted with him; he endured the same persecutions and challenges that Elijah did. In the end, when Elisha parted the Jordan River, it wasn’t because he had Elijah’s special cloak. It was because he had taken on Elijah’s heart.

In a similar way, you share in Christ’s inheritance. The Holy Spirit that lived in him lives in you. But just as Elisha learned to be like Elijah by walking with him every day, you need to walk with Jesus every day so that you can take on his heart. That’s what releases the power of the Spirit in your life!

Do you go to Mass? Pray for your friends and family? Read Scripture? Talk to the Lord at home or at work? Every second spent with him counts! That’s because as much as you are trying to please the Lord, he is working so much more in you. He always takes the little you give him and multiplies it immensely—just as he multiplied five loaves and two fishes!

You may not have received a physical mantle as Elisha did, but you have received a spiritual one. Now, every bit of time you spend with Jesus is making a difference in your life. So follow Elisha’s example and try to walk with Jesus today. Then watch him pour out his grace.

“Thank you, Jesus, for paving the way for me to share in your inheritance.”

Psalm 31:20-21, 24
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Homily of the Day

June 17, 2020

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Quite often, when we pray, we ask for petitions — solution to problems, cure for an affliction, a safe trip and so on. Our needs and desires provide us with a good starting point for prayer. When we “really” pray, we have to set aside quality time for God. It is always a struggle even to “find the time” to pray. We pray in our “inner room”, in the deep recesses of our hearts, to thank the God who has done infinitely so much for us as a manifestation of His intense love. And we realize that we cannot do enough to thank Him; we cannot equal what He has done for us. He is the God who loves us, the God who forgives us, the God who has done great things for us.

One Bread, One Body

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Wednesday, June 17, 2020

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2 Kings 2:1, 6-14

Psalm 31:20-21, 24

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

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Similar Reflections

the strongest desire

“Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha answered, ‘May I receive a double portion of your spirit.’ ” —2 Kings 2:9

All Christians have been baptized in the Holy Spirit (see Mk 1:8). We are immersed in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Blessed Trinity. We are filled with the Spirit and surrounded by the Spirit. We are preoccupied with the Holy Spirit, if we are living our Baptisms fully.
It is normal for Christians living their Baptisms to desire full life in the Spirit even more than Elisha desired to receive a double portion of the Spirit which was upon Elijah (see 2 Kgs 2:9). It is normal for those baptized in the Spirit not to quench (1 Thes 5:19) nor grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30). Therefore, the Lord commands us to resist these temptations. It is normal for the baptized to thirst for the living waters of the Spirit (Jn 7:37-38) more than we thirst for any pleasure or need, even breath itself.
May we learn from Elisha to do whatever it takes to receive the Holy Spirit in a new Pentecost (2 Kgs 2:2ff). May we learn from the apostles to pray for as many days as necessary to increase our desire for the fullness of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:14). You are baptized in the Holy Spirit. Desire accordingly.

Prayer: Father, may I want zealously what You want.

Promise: “Be on guard against performing religious acts for people to see. Otherwise expect no recompense from your heavenly Father.” —Mt 6:1

Praise: George has grown in his love for Jesus in the Eucharist and now spends hours per week in Eucharistic adoration.

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