Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, February 25, 2010

My child, conduct your affairs with meekness, and you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
- Sirach 3:17

Reflection: The meek endure conflict and jealousy, rivalries that arise within families and among neighbors. They do not, however, passively accept situations of injustice. They are anything but indifferent, but they do not respond to violence with violence, to hatred with hatred.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, let me always fight injustice when I see it, but by being willing to die for justice, never to kill for it.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, February 23, 2010

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, le that person be anathema. Come, O Lord. -
1 Corinthians 16:22

Reflection: It is He, it is only He Who can quench the deep and mysterious thirst of your spirits. Jesus, Jesus; He is the light and salvation of the world and of each of us.
- Pope Paul VI

Prayer: St. Polycarp was so in love with You, Lord Jesus, that nothing else was important to him, not even his life, for he died a Martyr. Grant me that same single-mindedness and that same courage.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, February 22, 2010

Be Shepherds of Christ's flock that is under your care..., not lording it over those entrusted to you but being examples to [them].
- 1 Peter 5:2-3

Reflection: Authority is a duty, a burden, a debt, a ministry to others, to lead them to the life of God. It is a channel, and it is called the care of souls. This is the pastoral function.
- Pope Paul VI

Prayer: O Lord, protect and guide those who have been given authority in the Church, especially Pope Benedict XVI. Make them generous and courageous in the exercise of their ministry.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, February 19, 2010

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt, and cleanse me of my sin. For I acknowledge my offense.
- Psalms 41:4-5

Reflection: Only those persons who recognize that they are sinners, in need of salvation because they cannot save themselves, only they can extend their hands to Jesus as to their Savior.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, help me to admit that I need others in my life, that I cannot make it alone. And of all of those whom I need, I need You most, for You are my God and my all.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, February 18, 2010

My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.
- Matthew 26:42

Reflection: There is a higher wisdom: a wisdom that reveals the true meaning of our human weakness and our pain. That wisdom is revealed in Christ. He knows what it is to suffer; He experienced it on the road to Calvary.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, the wisdom of the world tells me to think only of myself. Teach me to enter into th emystery of surrendering to the Father's will. Let me say, "Not my will, but Your will be done."

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, February 17, 2010

So now, O children, give heed to me and do not reject instruction and wisdom.
- Proverbs 8:32-33

Reflection: Mary is the clearest and surest sign that God always comes to us with His love. She sings with all her being that whatever we receive from God is grace. The Virgin is our true teacher in the journey of faith.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, the seven founders of the Servites followed the example of Mary Your Mother in serving God's People. Help me to learn that same generosity and live it every day of my life.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, February 16, 2010

All the promises of God find their "Yes" in Christ; and therefore through Him also rises the "Amen" to God to our glory.
- 2 Corinthians 1:20

Reflection: In Christ we find hope, because He is the symbol of hope, friendship, unending love, and the Father's indescribable affection for every individual. We know that all the promises and hopes find their complete fulfillment in Christ, because in Christ God's very word has found its "Yes."
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: Lord Jesus, be the source and the goal of my life. Be my all, and lead me to the Father.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, February 15, 2010

Sing praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of horns sing joyfully.
- Psalms 98:5-6

Reflection: As a manifestation of the human spirit, music performs a function that is noble, unique, and irreplaceable. When music is truly beautiful and inspired, it speaks to us more than all the other acts of goodness, virtue, and peace.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: When I hear beautiful music, O Lord, it lifts up my spirit. May I always cherish things of beauty, music, art, nature, and anything else that can draw me closer to You.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, February 12, 2010

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if to live in the flesh is my lot, this means for me fruitful labor.
- Phillipians 1:21-22

Reflection: Welcome Christ into your lives. Without the experience of this interior meeting with Christ, life can all to easily be wasted on illusory and consumerist experiences. These obviously include the suicidal experience of drugs or the egoistic one of using our neighbor and rejecting solidarity.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: Clarify my vision, O Lord, so that I may see clearly Your truth and choose it with all my heart, my strength, and my love.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, February 11, 2010

Thus in the chosen city He has given me rest...I have struck root among the glorious people, in the portion of the Lord, His heritage.
- Sirach 24:11-12

Reflection: Lourdes is a prophecy of justice and peace, where there is no room for pride and hardness of heart. Indeed, Lourdes is where this hardness is dissolved by one's witness of charity, mercy, serene resistance to evil, human solidarity, and sincere and moving generosity.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Mary, you appeared to the humble young woman, St. Bernadette Soubirous, to call us to conversion. Help me to respond to that call with generosity.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, February 10, 2010

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me you can do nothing.
- John 15:5

Reflection: In a single word, be Saints! Holiness is the most powerful force that leads human hearts to Christ. Remember that verse of the Gospel about the vine and the branches. In the union of the branches with the one vine is the concrete source and the sure measure of one's apostolic activity.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: You are the vine, O Lord, and we are the branches. Keep me united to You and nourish me with Your love so that I may bear abundant fruit.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, February 08, 2010

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for that person...to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
- Matthew 18:6

Reflection: Children learn to do what they see others doing. For this reason, they should learn from you how to be strong, industrious temperate, happy, and devout, upright citizens and exemplary Christians.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: You taught that we should not give scandal to the little ones, dear Lord. Help me to conform my life to Your will so that whatever I say or do may be filled with Your truth.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, February 04, 2010

Even so let your light shine before other so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
- Matthew 5:16

Reflection: Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine brightly through your lives.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: Make my heart transparent, O God, so the light of Your love shines through me. May that light shatter the darkness of a world filled with fear and selfishness.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, February 02, 2010

When the eight days of her purification were fulfilled, the took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.
- Luke 2:22

Reflection: The origin, nature, destiny, and history of humanity are bound up in that Infant by the very fact of His birth among us. Without the knowledge of that history our human nature would remain an impenetrable enigma.
- Pope Pius XII

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Simeon and Anna greeted You when You were brought into the Temple as an infant by Mary Your Mother and Joseph Your foster father. May I be as anxious to recognize Your Presence in our midst.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, February 01, 2010

Therefore, you are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- Matthew 5:48

Reflection: "To be perfect" means to love God not a little, but a great deal. It means not to stop at the point at which we have arrived, but with His help to progress in love.
- Pope John Paul I

Prayer: Purify my intentions, O Lord, so that my love may be pure. Give courage to my heart, so that my love may be ever more perfect.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)