delete
«
»

Daily Prayer

July 6th, 2010

“Out of their own silver and gold, they have made idols which are doomed to destruction”
Hos. 8 : 4

Though we may not have much silver or gold in our possession, we all have gifts of some kind which our Creator has given us in order to carry out all that he calls on us to do. These gifts are unique to each one and therefore precious in the eyes of God, for used properly, they will give beauty to our world and help ourselves and others to grow in self worth and all that God desires for all he has created. The trouble is that very often I take these gifts as my right—to do as I wish with them: to hoard them for my own use, to regard them as my own to raise my standing in society or overpower others. Used in this way, our gifts will not produce what God has asked of us.

What gifts do I recognise I have been blessed with in my life? Have I used these gifts for the well being and happiness of others, or are they idols which serve and profit only myself?

Prayer


Lord, I thank you for the gifts you have bestowed on me. Help me to use them to give you glory and sustain others, especially those in need of any kind.

«
»

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.”

Daily Prayers

    • Themes for Reflection

    Request a Prayer