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<< Monday, May 5, 2014 >>

Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

WHY ME, OR WHY I?

"I assure you, you are not looking for Me because you have seen signs but because you have eaten your fill of the loaves." —John 6:26

The crowd asked Jesus: "When did You come here?" (Jn 6:25) They meant: "How did you come here?" However, Jesus answered neither of their questions. Instead, Jesus posed His own question: "Why did the crowd come here?" Jesus answered His own question by telling the crowd that they came for the self-centered reason of getting "perishable food" rather than the "food that remains unto life eternal" (Jn 6:27).

We frequently ask the Lord the questions "When?" and "How?". We even ask Him why He does what He does and why He permits evil. "Why?" is often a better question to ask than "When?" or "How?". However, instead of asking God "Why?", we should ask ourselves:

Why do we live, work, or pray?
Why don't we do everything for the glory of God? (1 Cor 10:31)
Why are we living in confusion, working in slavery, and talking to ourselves about ourselves and calling it "prayer"?
Why do we go to Mass on Sunday?
If we go in order to worship and love the Lord, then why wouldn't we go to Mass on other days?
Why are many of us keeping our faith to ourselves?

Ask the risen Jesus to search your heart (Ps 139:23) and tell you why you are what you are and do what you do.

Prayer: Father, "bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts" (1 Cor 4:5).

Promise: Stephen "was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders and signs among the people." —Acts 6:8

Praise: Jesus healed Ricardo of alcoholism and repaired a serious division in his marriage.

Prayer for Life

Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of Holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my prayer, offered with deep-felt confidence to beg this favor...

O Mary, conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful Mexican children who call to thee under the glorious Aztec title of "Guadalupe"--the Virgin who crushed the serpent.

Queen of Martyrs, whose Immaculate Heart was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Invoke the Holy Spirit of Wisdom to fortify my will to frequent the Sacraments so that, thus enlightened and strengthened, I may prefer God to all creatures and shun every occasion of sin.

Help me, as a living branch of the vine that is Jesus Christ, to exemplify His Divine charity always seeking the good of others. Queen of Apostles, aid me to win souls for the Sacred Heart of my Savior. Keep my apostolate fearless, dynamic and articulate, to proclaim the loving solicitude of Our Father in Heaven so that the wayward may heed His pleading and obtain pardon, through the merits of your merciful Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

One Bread, One Body

WHY ME, OR WHY I?