SHOOT THEM

WITH PRAYERS

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. – Luke 24:31

I was reading about the late educator and Philippine missionary Frank Laubach. He liked to “shoot” prayers at strangers he saw along the way—prayers of good will, encouragement, or wishes for health and happiness.

I tried his prayer technique in a taxi bay one day. I observed the people waiting in line with me. There was a pregnant lady (Lord, may she have a safe delivery); a balikbayan family (Lord, may they have a great vacation); and a worried-looking senior citizen (Lord, may her troubles be resolved quickly). I prayed that we reach our destinations safely.

It’s usually tiring to wait in a long queue. But I felt energized after shooting prayers at others. Two or three people smiled at me and a lady chatted with me a bit. I felt happy to do something positive and meaningful even in a small way.

When we recognize the divine in others, we put aside our egos to accept their humanity. Caring about another’s welfare over our own is pleasing to the Lord—it’s our gift to Him because we love and care for our heavenly Father. Gina J. Verdolaga (mgjver@yahoo.com)

Reflect: “To give life is to open (our) heart, and to care for life is to (give oneself) in tenderness and warmth for others, to have concern in my heart for others.” (Pope Francis)

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to return Your love when we do good to others.

St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr, pray for us.

Peter and John offer the lame man the greatest gift anyone in the world can receive—a personal relationship with Jesus. He comes at the bidding of Peter and John, and the lame man is healed. More importantly, the man is given the option of becoming a disciple of Jesus. What do you think the lame man did after his healing?

Acts 3:1-10

1 Peter and John were going up to the temple area for the three o’clock hour of prayer. 2 And a man crippled from birth was carried and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms. 4 But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.” 7 Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong. 8 He leaped up, stood, and walked around, and went into the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with amazement and astonishment at what had happened to him.

Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R: Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name; make known among the nations his deeds. 2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. (R) 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! 4 Look to the Lord in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. (R) 6 You descendants of Abraham, his servants, sons of Jacob, his chosen ones! 7 He, the Lord, is our God; throughout the earth his judgments prevail. (R) 8 He remembers forever his covenant which he made binding for a thousand generations— 9 which he entered into with Abraham and by his oath to Isaac. (R)

GOSPEL

I have experienced my heart burning within me many times as I reflected on the Word of God. This is the power of the Sword of God. All we need is a Bible and some free time. God wants us to know Him; He wants us to understand His love for us. God wants us to receive the gift of salvation through faith. Let us open our hearts and listen to His words.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it.

Luke 24:13-35

13 That very day, first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, 14 and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. 15 And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, 16 but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19 And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. 22 Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. 24 Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. 29 But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. 31 With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. 32 Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them 34 who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

think: Have you ever experienced your heart aflame as you read the Scripture? What was God’s message to you?

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T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST 

 

Read the Bible in one year - Numbers 10-12 

 

 

CO-JOURNEYERS ALONG THE WAY

I have been a vocation director for almost twelve years now. My responsibility is to accompany young people who are discerning particular vocations in life. In the past three years, I had the joy of journeying with a number of youth who saw where God was calling them to be. It takes an open heart to listen to their stories of struggles and joys. I am happy to have this experience of walking with others.

Emmaus was not only a destination for the two disciples. The road towards it was a sign of what journeying with others could bring about. The disciples struggled with the sad news of Jesus’ death. They felt helpless. Everything seemed hopeless for them. Although they knew where they were going, their hearts were lost—until Jesus walked with them. He began by going through what He taught and promised. He tried to understand what they felt. Then He gave them hope and led them to rediscover what they believed in.The disciples followed where God was leading them only because they journeyed with one another.

We need other people to journey with us. This will help us realize where we are being led to go. We might get lost if we try to walk alone. We are journeyers with each other in this life of faith. Fr. Joel Victorino

-------- REFLECTION QUESTION -------

Do you always journey through life alone or do you let others, especially Jesus, accompany you?

 

Jesus, go with me in my life’s journey. I believe that with You by my side, I will reach my heavenly destination. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________