Daily Prayer
September 17th, 2010
"Jesus went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God"
Luke 8 : 1
In spreading his kingdom, Jesus was always surrounded by people he had called to follow him. They were his disciples; people, men and women whom he had called especially by name, and others who latched on to him, intent on hearing what he had to say. That was two thousand years ago, but the same is happening today in our age, and in spite of the many, who though they say there is no God, still cannot stop trying to denounce him, follow eagerly what is being said and done in Christian circles. So it was in Jesus’ time, but the people who remained close to him managed to spread the good news. As Christians, this is our calling today. Just as Jesus invited people to follow him, so, he has invited each one of us, who call ourselves Christians, to continue spreading the good news throughout our towns and villages in the way we live our lives, give example and show care for others, even those who do not agree with the faith we profess.
Prayer
Lord, you have called me to be your disciple; to spread the Good News of your teachings by word and example. Continue to send your Spirit into our lives to enlighten all who call themselves your disciples. Amen.
The prayer for each day has been prepared by various members of the Holy Family Association. All who visit our website are remembered in prayer. If you would like us to pray for a particular need, simply complete and submit the form on the right hand side of this page. You may wish to leave a comment in the space below.
Just a Thought
How the Holy Family prayer: A Reflection by Pope Benedict XVI
“I would like to invite you to reflect on the place of prayer in the life of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The home of Nazareth, in fact, is a school of prayer where we learn to listen, to ponder and to penetrate the profound meaning of the manifestation of the Son of God, drawing our example from Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
Pope Paul VI during his visit to Nazareth said “we come to understand the need for a spiritual discipline, if we wish to follow the teaching of the Gospel and become disciples of Christ.” And he added: “First, it teaches us silence. Oh! That there would be reborn in us the esteem for silence, that wonderful and indispensable atmosphere of the spirit: while we are deafened by so many noises, sounds and clamorous voices in the frantic and tumultuous times of modern life. Oh! Silence of Nazareth, teach us to be resolute in good thoughts, intent upon the interior life, ready to listen well to the secret inspirations of God and the exhortations of the true masters.”
We can glean several insights on the Holy Family’s prayer and relationship with God from the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ childhood. We may begin with the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. St. Luke tells us that Mary and Joseph, “when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, brought the child up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord”(2:22). Like every observant Jewish family, Jesus’ parents go up to the temple to consecrate the firstborn son to God and to offer sacrifice. Moved by fidelity to the law’s prescriptions, they set off from Bethlehem and go up to Jerusalem with Jesus, who is now forty days old. Instead of a one-year-old lamb, they present the offering of simple families; that is two young pigeons. The Holy Family’s pilgrimage is one of faith, of the offering of gifts, a symbol of prayer, and of encounter with the Lord, whom Mary and Joseph already see in the son Jesus.”
