Word to the Wise
Monday, August 22, 2022 - Monday in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Thess 1:1-5, 11-12 and Matt 23:13-22]We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. [2 Thess.]
AUGUST 22 THE QUEENSHIP OF MARY [Also the 19th anniversary of the first WTTW]
I am known to be a "walker" on campus because I occasionally meet one of our student parishioners here at Texas Tech University. They know I have rosary in hand to pray for the many students and former students whose lives have enriched and continue to enrich my own life. The list has gotten somewhat long now so I carry a copy which requires that I pause at each "mystery" to look at it and make sure I have included everyone I need to. St. Paul's words to the Thessalonians in today's first scripture are "right on": We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling...." This daily reflection is also my prayer for my many subscribers!
Praying for someone can be a way of staying in touch with them even if geographic distance or estrangement divides us. God becomes the means of communication! Sometimes we enlist special spiritual figures like the Blessed Virgin to help. Other times we are like the lines in St. Paul's Letter to the Romans: [ T]he Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will." [Rom. 8:26-27] I count on that! I also think of St. Paul's words in Philippians: "I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now." [Phil.1:3-4] As long as we have other people in our lives, we have a reason to pray! AMEN