Vision Tv

“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 29/05/26, (Friday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time of Year A. Also, Optional Memorial of Paul VI, Pope).

COLLECT: “GRANT US, O LORD, WE PRAY, THAT THE COURSE OF THE WORLD MAY BE DIRECTED BY YOUR PEACEFUL RULE AND THAT YOUR CHURCH MAY REJOICE, UNTROBLED IN HER DEVOTION. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.”

1Peter 4:7-13; Ps 99:1-5 and Mark 11:11-26.

In today’s portion from 1Peter, the author urges his listeners to “Be serious and soberly minded so that they will be able to pray. They should let their love for others be intense. People should use their God’s given gifts to serve others without complaining, but they should be aware of trials. In the portion of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus curses a barren fig tree. Then in Jerusalem he cleanses the Temple which the chief priests and scribes turn into a market square. Finally, Jesus stresses on the importance of faith when we are praying.

Both scripture readings today hint at the things necessary or conditions for a prayer to be effective and achieve its desired results. In other words, these recommend the right attitudes at prayer.

First of all, for any prayer to be effective and achieve its desired results, we should be sober in mind when we are at prayer.

Secondly, the one at prayer should endure all things, including trials and make his/her request to God in faith, because when we pray while doubting, we will never obtain anything from God. Indeed, in faith, the impossible will be possible for us.

Thirdly, our prayers should not be self-centred or selfish ones, or inward in attitude, praying for jealous or envious reasons or praying for something to use that against others. Rather, our prayers should be outward in attitude, aim at serving and benefitting the other person. In this light, there is the need to pray for one another or for other people. This should come from a heart that loves intensely and is hospitable.

There is also the need to confess our sins whole heartedly to be forgiven by God and also be ready to forgive others when we are praying. Please, do not pray while holding a grudge against a brother or a sister. Remember Jesus’ instruction that when we are going to offer sacrifices and at the altar, we member we have something against a neighbor, we should leave our offerings there and go back to settle matters with that person before we come to make the offerings.

Also, we should pray more when we encounter difficulties in life, especially when we are going through trial sufferings. Trial sufferings purify us, they purify our motives and intentions and they eventually bring out the best in us. In fact, when we are going through trial sufferings, we are like gold being tested in fire to get pure gold.
At prayer, we should give thanks to God and sing praises to Him, especially when we have every reason to do that.

Finally, when at/in prayer, we should let our hearts be in tune with God, direct all our prayers to God and be faithful to Him. In other words, we should concentrate when praying. Prayers will never be answered if we make them with distorted minds and at distracted and/or detracted places, especially at places that are like market squares. If prayers are also directed to something else rather than to God, they will not be answered. In fact, avoid detracted and distracted places when praying. Also avoid hypocritical attitudes (where you want people to see you at prayer) when praying.

With the above-mentioned attitudes at prayer together with some unmentioned, we are sure of wonders and miracles from our prayers. In other words, prayers with such attitudes will surely yield results and bear fruits; they will not be ‘barren’ prayers. Let us pray for such attitudes anytime we are at prayer to present our requests to God. Be prayerful and work hard and you will be surprised at the turnover of things and happenings in your life. It works. Try it. Stay blessed.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.

NOURISHED BY YOUR SAVING GIFTS, WE BESEECH YOUR MERCY, LORD, THAT BY THIS SAME SACRAMENT WITH WHICH YOU FEED US IN IN THE PRESENT AGE, YOU MAY MAKE US PARTAKERS OF LIFE ETERNAL. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: [email protected].