Father's weekly message
January 12, 2025 – The Baptism of Our Lord: Prayer as Conversation (2)
Last week’s reflection was focused on the necessary conditions for prayer- conversation. Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J. in his Theology of Prayer, pg.21 states the absolute need for prayer-conversation: Prayer is the sublime conversation we are mysteriously able to hold with the invisible world of God, angels, and saints. It is sublime because that is what we are preparing for during our stay on earth. Prayer is the one activity that will not be interpreted by death, but will continue in heaven, never to end. Of course, prayer on earth requires effort, but that is as it should be, since all other labor in this life has only as much value and as much meaning and is only as pleasing to God as it is enveloped by prayer. Those who pray now will pray in eternity, which is another name for heaven. No one else will get there. Prayer is the indispensable and infallible means of reaching our destiny. Our prayer conversation is primarily directed toward Triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because he is the source of our life and existence. We come from him, and we go to him. He is the alpha and omega – the beginning and end of all that is created. So, Jesus teaches us how to pray and what we must pray to God for. The Holy Spirit on his part, 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 intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). Secondarily, we must make our prayer-conversation with the angels. They are spiritual beings created by God and endowed with intelligence and will. They are created to praise and worship God (Hebrews 1:6). They are ministering spirits before God and to men (Hebrews 1:6,14). They always see the face of God (Matt 8:10) and bring the prayers of people before God like the incense offering (Rev 8:4 & 5:8). Each one of us has a guardian angel who protects us from all evil and offer our prayers before God. Therefore, we must have a good prayer-conversation with our guardian angel and all the angels in heaven, especially the Archangels Saint Michal, Gabriel, and Rafael. Finally, we must also pray to the Saints. They are men and women like us, God honors their faith, works of love, sacrifices, witness to the gospel by shedding of their blood. They also enjoy the face of God and worship him with angels. God grants certain favors to us through their intercession. They can pray for us and obtain graces for us because of their holiness and nearness to God. Saints are examples of faith, charity, and holiness. We must never forget that saints and angels are divine providence and assistance on our pilgrimage of hope toward heaven. — Fr. Jesu
Announcements for January 12th
Please join us next Sunday after the 9:00 a.m. Mass for the Holy Name Society’s delicious country breakfast.
Únase a nosotros el próximo domingo después de las 9:00 a.m. Misa para el delicioso desayuno campestre de la Sociedad del Santo Nombre.