Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (30 October 2016)

1st Reading

Though many are strong, you alone always overcome. And who will withstand the strength of your arm? For, like a tiny grain on a scale, just so is the world before you, and like a drop of dew before dawn, which descends upon the earth. But you are merciful to all, because you can do all, and you dismiss the sins of man because of repentance.

For you love all things that are, and you hate nothing of the things you have made; for you would not have created or established anything that you hated. For how could anything endure, except by your will? Or what, having been called by you not to exist, would be preserved? Yet you spare all things, because they are yours, O Lord, who loves souls. 

O how good and gracious, Lord, is your spirit in all things!
Therefore, those who wander afield, you correct, and, as to those who sin, you counsel them and admonish them, so that, having abandoned malice, they may believe in you, O Lord. Wisdom 11:22 - 12:2

Lesson: The Almighty created the universe, yet each one of us is always on his mind. Such is the unending love of the creator for his creatures. Everything he creates is perfect, but he knows how weak we are and that we easily fall into sin. So he chastises us to draw us back to him. The Lord loves souls and will doggedly pursue us until our last breath.

Meditation:

Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee,
Save Me, save only Me?
All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child’s mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come!’
Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
‘Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest! Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson

Amazing Grace

by John Newton

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!

Thro' many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Scriptural texts: Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor: The SacredBible, Catholic Public Domain Version, Original Edition.
Song retrieved from GodSongs.net..

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Here is Psalm 21 from my book, "Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child."

Psalm 21

Praise for Deliverance.
The Resurrection and Ascension

1O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad,
And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
2You have given him his heart's desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips.

3For You meet him with the blessings of good things;
You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked life of You,
You gave it to him,
Length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great through Your salvation,
Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
6For You make him most blessed forever;
You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.

7For the king trusts in the LORD,
And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.
8Your hand will find out all your enemies;
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger;
The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath,
And fire will devour them.
10Their offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.
11Though they intended evil against You
And devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12For You will make them turn their back;
You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
We will sing and praise Your power.

The Church praises the Father (Lord) for the victory of Jesus (king) in procuring our redemption (salvation) (21:1) The Father heard His intense prayers in the Garden of Olives and answered them (20:2). Jesus obtained that we be granted eternal life in heaven (20:4)³⁵ and the Father gloriously crowned Him as King of all creation (20:3,5). He will reign forever (20:6) and, supported by the Father (lovingkindness), will relentlessly root out evil wherever it hides and destroy it (20:7-12). And we will praise Jesus for His wondrous deeds (20:13).

Prayer for life: Heavenly King, we celebrate Your great victory over the devil and his angels. May we be instruments of Your will in exposing the evil of abortion and utterly destroy it wherever we find it. May our efforts to bring about a universal awe and respect for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death bring You praise forever and ever. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
John

³⁵ Reardon, Patrick. Christ in the Psalms. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 2000. 39. Print.

Scripture (Psalms 1-21) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

Lord, Like The Publican I Stand

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (23 October 2016)

3rd Reading

Now about certain persons who consider themselves to be just, while disdaining others, he told also this parable: 

“Two men ascended to the temple, in order to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

Standing, the Pharisee prayed within himself in this way: ‘O God, I give thanks to you that I am not like the rest of men: robbers, unjust, adulterers, even as this tax collector chooses to be.

I fast twice between Sabbaths. I give tithes from all that I possess.’

And the tax collector, standing at a distance, was not willing to even lift up his eyes to heaven. But he struck his chest, saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

I say to you, this one descended to his house justified, but not the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18: 9-14

Lesson: The sign of a truly repentant soul is a humble and contrite heart. Yet true repentance is only the first step to earning forgiveness from the Lord. The second requirement is to not commit the sin again; and the third step is to make amends: if you sinned against another, then an apology may be in order (if possible); or by restitution if you have stolen something. If repayment is not possible, then donate the funds to the Church or other worthwhile organization.

Meditation: O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I fear the loss of heaven and the fires of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

LORD, LIKE THE PUBLICAN I STAND

by Thomas Raffles

Lord, like the publican I stand,
And lift my heart to Thee;
Thy pardoning grace, O God, command,
Be merciful to me.

I smite upon my anxious breast,
O’erwhelmed with agony;
O save my soul by sin oppressed,
Be merciful to me.

My guilt, my shame, I all confess,
I have no hope nor plea
But Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
Be merciful to me.

Here at Thy cross I still would wait,
Nor from its shelter flee,
But Thou, O God, in mercy great,
Art merciful to me.

Scriptural texts: Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor: The SacredBible, Catholic Public Domain Version, Original Edition.
Song retrieved from The Cyber Hymnal™ which lists over 11,000 Christian hymns with bios, midi files, and sheet music.

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Here is Psalm 20 from my book, "Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child."

Psalm 20

Prayer for Victory over Enemies.
Good Friday

1May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
2May He send you help from the sanctuary
And support you from Zion!
3May He remember all your meal offerings
And find your burnt offering acceptable!

4May He grant you your heart's desire
And fulfill all your counsel!
5We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.

6Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
7Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
8They have bowed down and fallen,
But we have risen and stood upright.
9Save, O LORD;
May the King answer us in the day we call.

The Church prays to Christ who offers Himself in expiation for our sins on Good Friday (in the day of trouble) (20:1). May the Father accept His offering and grant all His requests (forgive sinners and bring His own into glory) (20:2-4)³². We (the Church) will praise His saving work (20:5)³³. God will raise Him from the dead (saves His anointed) (20:6). Some put their trust in their own strength for victory (chariots and horses), but we trust in Jesus for our salvation. (20:7). Until final victory is achieved, we will continue to call on the King (Jesus) to save us (20:8)³⁴.

Prayer for life: Dear Lord, from the cross You begged for forgiveness for those who nailed You to that tree, for they did not know what they were doing. Forgive those, Lord, who, in their ignorance, are aborting millions of innocent babies each year. May they give up their arrogant belief that they know what's best for themselves and embrace what is right before God. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
John

³² Reardon, Patrick. Christ in the Psalms. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 2000. 37. Print.

³³ The Orthodox Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008. 693. Print.

³⁴ Reardon 38.

Scripture (Psalms 1-21) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

Fight The Good Fight with All Thy Might

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (23 October 2016)

2nd Reading

"For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close. I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith. As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon.

At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion. The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen." 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Lesson: We are never alone. The Lord is always beside us ready to defend us against the enemy, support us in our trials, and help us accomplish the job he wants us to do for him.

Meditation: How do we know we are doing what the Lord wants us to do for him? Judge the results of your work to promote the kingdom by its fruits. If you are drawing just one person closer to Christ, then you are working successfully. If not, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. He is quite capable of taking what we do imperfectly and and making it perfect for the Father. You are never alone!

Fight The Good Fight with All Thy Might

by John S. B. Monsell 

Fight the good fight with all your might.
Christ is your strength and Christ your right.
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Your joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God's good grace;
Lift up your eyes, and seek Christ's face.
Life with its way before us lies;
Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.

Cast care aside; lean on your guide.
God's boundless mercy will provide.
Trust, and your trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life, and Christ its love.

Faint not nor fear: God's arms are near.
God changes not, and you are dear.
Only believe, and you shall see
That Christ is all in all to thee.

Scriptural texts: Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor: The SacredBible, Catholic Public Domain Version, Original Edition.
Song retrieved from GodSongs.net.

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Here is Psalm 19 from my book, "Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child."

Psalm 19

The Works and the Word of God.
The Nativity

1The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Creation praises the glory of God as He reveals Himself in the Word (Jesus)²⁸, in the beauty of nature and in the wisdom of the law (19:1,7)²⁹. God's glory is revealed day and night, without fanfare, for it permeates the very structure of the universe (19:2-4). Jesus (bridegroom) is like the sun that crosses the heavens and warms everything it touches ("to bring salvation to the whole world") (19:5-6)³⁰. The Word of God (Jesus, the Truth and the Life) is also revealed in moral law and scripture³¹ (19:7-10). Let us always keep His commandments. They are more valuable than gold for they lead to eternal life (19:11-14).

Prayer for Life: Dear Lord, Your glory permeates all creation. Your beauty is mirrored in the beauty of a baby's face; Your wisdom is reflected in the truth of Your eternal law. Yet there are those who seek to destroy Your beauty through abortion and corrupt Your precepts by enacting immoral laws. Yet I will follow Your precepts and cause no harm to my baby. For I know that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit make their home in me and in my baby. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
John

²⁸The Orthodox Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008. 693. Print.

²⁹ Kleist, James, and Thomas Lynam. The Psalms in Rhythmic Prose. 1st ed. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1954. 23. Print..

³⁰ The Orthodox Study Bible 693.

³¹Reardon, Patrick. Christ in the Psalms. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 2000. 35. Print.

Scripture (Psalms 1-21) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

God has been good to you. What have you done for him?

God has been good to you. What have you done for him?

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (23 October 2016)

1st Reading

"Give to the Most High according to his gifts to you, and act with a good eye toward the creations of your hands. For the Lord gives recompense, and he will repay you seven times as much. Do not be willing to offer corrupt gifts. For he will not accept them.

The Lord will not accept favoritism against the poor, but he will heed the prayer of one who has been harmed. He will not despise the prayers of the orphan, nor of the widow, if she utters a lamenting complaint. Do a widow’s tears not run down her cheek? And will her outcry not cause their downfall?" Sirach 35:12-14,16-18

Lesson: God has been good to you and he expects you to share your gifts with those in need. He promises a great reward to those who heed his voice.

The Lord does not play favorites, but he is especially attentive to the prayers of the oppressed, for they are without resource. Mistreatment of the innocent will lead to punishment of the ones who abused them.

Meditation: When we appear before the Judgment seat of Jesus, he will ask us, "Did you feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, provide shelter for the homeless, visit prisoners, comfort the sick, and bury the dead?" What will your answer be?

Lord Jesus Think on Me

by Synesius of Cyrene, Bishop of Ptolemais; translated from Greek to English by Allen Chatfield 

Lord Jesus, think on me
And purge away my sin;
From earthborn passions set me free
And make me pure within.

Lord Jesus, think on me,
With many a care oppressed;
Let me Thy loving servant be
And taste Thy promised rest.

Lord Jesus, think on me
Amid the battle’s strife;
In all my pain and misery
Be Thou my Health and Life.

Lord Jesus, think on me
Nor let me go astray;
Through darkness and perplexity
Point Thou the heavenly way.

Lord Jesus, think on me
When floods the tempest high;
When on doth rush the enemy,
O Savior, be Thou nigh!

Lord Jesus, think on me
That, when the flood is past,
I may th’eternal brightness see
And share Thy joy at last.

Lord Jesus, think on me
That I may sing above
To Father, Spirit, and to Thee
The strains of praise and love.

Scriptural texts: Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor: The SacredBible, Catholic Public Domain Version, Original Edition.

Song retrieved from GodSongs.net.

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Here is Psalm 18 from my book, "Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child."

Psalm 18

The LORD Praised for Giving Deliverance.

"I love You, O LORD, my strength."
2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.

4The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

7Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.|
15Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16He sent from on high, He took me;He drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all His ordinances were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23I was also blameless with Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

25With the kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.
27For You save an afflicted people,
But haughty eyes You abase.
28For You light my lamp;
The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
29For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.

30As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
33He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me upon my high places.
34He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.
36You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.

37I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.
39For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.
41They cried for help, but there was none to save,
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
42Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.

43You have delivered me from the contentions of the people;
You have placed me as head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.
44As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners submit to me.
45Foreigners fade away,
And come trembling out of their fortresses.

46The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
47The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
48He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
49Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
50He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.

Jesus, the Messiah-King and descendant of David, thanks His Father, a tower of strength (horn of salvation), for helping Him defeat the devil (18:2-5). Surrounded by evil, He cries for assistance to the Father (18:6). God explodes with anger, summoning the very forces of nature to procure the deliverance of His Son from danger (18:7-18). Jesus was saved because of His holiness, innocence, faithfulness, kindness and purity (18:19-30). God prepared Him for battle (18:31-35) and, under His Father's protection, Jesus destroyed His enemy with sure-footedness and strength (18:36-42). His foes fled in fear and God made Him King of all nations (18:43-45). Jesus will praise His Father who, in His great mercy, freed Him from the evil one (18:46-50).²⁷

Prayer for Life: Dear Lord, I feel overwhelmed by the culture of death that puts convenience and license above the sacredness of life. Come to my aid and help me to deal with the rejection by those who are offended by my decision to have my baby. They feel that I am naive and misguided. They do not understand my need to do the right thing, my need to accept this baby as a gift from God to be nurtured and protected. But You are my rock, Lord, the source of all my strength. You will always be by my side to support me during the difficult times ahead. And I will I praise You for it all the remaining days of my life. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
John

²⁷Kleist, James, and Thomas Lynam. The Psalms in Rhythmic Prose. 1st ed. Milwaukee: The Bruce Publishing Company, 1954. 20. Print.

Scripture (Psalms 1-21) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (16 October 2016)

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (16 October 2016)

2nd Reading

"Yet truly, you should remain in those things which you have learned and which have been entrusted to you. For you know from whom you have learned them. And, from your infancy, you have known the Sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you toward salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice, so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.

I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom: that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine." 2 Timothy: 3:14-4:2

Lesson: All Scripture is inspired by God, and we must persistently preach it to correct and instruct others so that they may become perfect as the Father is perfect.

Meditation: How do we talk about God to strangers? Try this simple question: "God has been good to me today. How about you?"

Faith of our Fathers

by Frederick William Faber and James George Walton

Faith of our fathers, living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword;
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear thy wondrous voice!

Chorus:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death,

Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free.
And blest would be their children's fate
If they, like them, should die for thee.

Adapted third verse:
Faith of our fathers, we will strive
To win all nations unto Thee;
And through the truth that comes from God,
We all shall then be truly free.

Faith of our fathers, we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife;
And preach Thee, too, as love knows how
By kindly words and virtuous life.

 Scriptural texts: Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor: The SacredBible, Catholic Public Domain Version, Original Edition.
Song retrieved from GodSongs.net.

____________________

Here is Psalm 17 from my book, "Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child."

Psalm 17

Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.
Jesus prays to the Father during His Passion²⁶.

1Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.
2Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with equity.
3You have tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have tested me and You find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the paths of the violent.
5My steps have held fast to Your paths
My feet have not slipped.

6I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
7Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
8Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.
10They have closed their unfeeling heart,
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.
12He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

13Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low;
Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14From men with Your hand, O LORD,
From men of the world, whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babes.
15As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

Hear my prayer for justice, O Lord (the Father), for I speak the truth (17:1). Decide my case, for You judge fairly (17:2). You have freely searched my heart and found me innocent; I will not utter anything sinful (17:3). I have followed Your laws and avoided violence (17:4). I heed Your commands unerringly (17:5). I call upon You, O God, because You will not ignore me. Therefore hear my petition (17:6). Show me Your wondrous mercy, for You save those who seek Your protection from the wicked (17:7). Keep me as Your favorite and place me under Your protection (17:8) against deadly enemies who surround me and seek to deprive me of my life (17:9). They are hard-hearted and boastful (17:10). They surround us and plot our destruction (17:11). Evil is like a lion that is hiding and waiting to attack its prey (17:12). Come to my aid, Lord (Father); deliver me from evil and destroy it with your mighty power (17:13). Save me, Lord (Father), from those who only seek earthly pleasures and material success (17:14). But I, who have always done what is right and just, will behold Your face in heaven when I awake from death (17:15).

Prayer for Life: Hear my prayer, O Lord, for You answer the prayers of the innocent. You have searched my heart and found that I only want to do Your will. Protect me against those who counsel destruction of my baby. They seek my child's life, not out of their feigned concern for me, but out of a need for more power and financial gain. But I, under the wings of Your protection, will do the right thing and have my baby. And one day I will see the beauty of Your face as it shines upon me and my child in heaven. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
John
²⁶Reardon, Patrick. Christ in the Psalms. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 2000. 32. Print. 

Scripture (Psalms 1-21) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (16 October 2106)

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (16 October 2106)

1st Reading

And Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua: “Choose men. And when you go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” 

Joshua did as Moses had spoken, and he fought against Amalek. But Moses and Aaron and Hur ascended to the top of the hill. And when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed. But when he released them a little while, Amalek overcame.

Then the hands of Moses became heavy. And so, taking a stone, they placed it beneath him, and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur sustained his hands from both sides. And it happened that his hands did not tire until the setting of the sun. 

And Joshua put to flight Amalek and his people by the edge of the sword. Exodus 17: 8-13

Lesson: We must be persistent in our prayers when we seek God's assistance.

Meditation: In fervent prayer, I lift my eyes up to the Lord who created the universe. I will not rest until he answers me. 

All Ye Who Seek a Comfort Sure

translated from the Latin by Edward Casswall

All you who seek a comfort sure 
In trouble and distress, 
Whatever sorrow burdens you, 
Whatever griefs oppress.

Jesus, who gave Himself for you 
Upon the Cross to die, 
Opens to you His Sacred Heart; 
Oh, to that Heart draw nigh. 

You hear how kindly He invites; 
You hear His words so blest: 
"All you who labour, come to Me, 
And I will give you rest." 

O Heart adored by saints on high, 
And hope of sinners here, 
We place our humble trust in You 
And lift to You our prayer. 

Jesus, who gave Himself for you 
Upon the Cross to die, 
Let there His Heart for love be pierced: 
Oh, to that Heart draw nigh!

Scriptural texts: Ronald L. Conte Jr., translator and editor: The SacredBible, Catholic Public Domain Version, Original Edition.
Song retrieved from Godsongs.net.

____________________

Here is Psalm 16 from my book, "Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child."

Psalm 16

The LORD the Psalmist's Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.

Holy Saturday
Jesus intercedes for us to the Father²³ and speaks of His coming Resurrection²⁴.

1Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
2I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You."
3As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
4The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

7I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8I have set the LORD continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Watch over me, O God, for I look to You for safety (16:1). I said to the Lord (the Father), "You are my Lord; there is no other good I desire (16:2)." As for the faithful who live among us, these holy ones are my delight (16:3). Those who worship false idols will suffer many sorrows; I will refuse their sacrifices and think of them no more (16:4). My inheritance is heaven; You are my salvation; My future is in Your safekeeping (16:5). I enjoy the blessings You have bestowed on me; my future is beautiful (16:6). I will praise the Lord (Father) who guided me; who instructs me even as I sleep (16:7). I will always focus on the Lord (Father); He is my strength, I will not fail (16:8). I am glad and rejoice in my glorious future (Resurrection); my body will not decay in the grave²⁵ (16:9). You will not abandon me to Hades; You will not allow the body of Your Holy One to know corruption (16:10). You will raise me from the dead and bring me into Your presence where I will bask in glory at Your right hand (16:11).

Prayer for Life: Watch over me, Lord, through this difficult time in my life. I know You bless those who worship You and I love You, Lord. I thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, especially my precious baby. I place myself and my baby in Your safekeeping, trusting in the wonderful future that You have planned for us. You strength fills me with hope. Stay with me, Lord, during this ordeal and for the rest of our lives until You see me and my little one safely in heaven. Amen.

Have a blessed day!
John

²³The Orthodox Study Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008. 690. Print.
²⁴Reardon, Patrick. Christ in the Psalms. Ben Lomond, CA: Conciliar Press, 2000. 30. Print. 

²⁵ The Orthodox Study Bible 690.

Scripture (Psalms 1-21) taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.