Thursday 2 September
Prayer is at the centre of our lives as Christians. Praying together deepens our relationship with our faith and brings forth new gifts of the Spirit. As Jesus taught us, “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am with them” (Matthew 18:20). 1. What the Word of God says: (James 5: 13; 16) “Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praise […] The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful”. 2. What Laudato Si’ says: (# 240) “The human person grows more, matures more and is sanctified more to the extent that he or she enters into relationships, going out from themselves to live in communion with God, with others and with all creatures. In this way, they make their own that trinitarian dynamism which God imprinted in them when they were created. Everything is interconnected, and this invites us to develop a spirituality of that global solidarity which flows from the mystery of the Trinity”.
3. Let us Reflect
St. James suggests that if anyone is in any kind of trouble, before doing anything else, we should turn to God in prayer.
Do we pray about the climate crisis? Do we pray for God’s mercy for people and places suffering devastating and catastrophic drought or flood, storms or erosion? Do we also pray for political leaders for a change of heart in helping them to understand difficult and unpopular decisions they may need to make regarding climate change.
The teachings of the Church, expressed by Saint John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and so many others, together with science, clearly show us the actions needed to reverse the climate crisis and its effects. But there is one thing that must always precede action: prayer.
4. Prayer for Today
“All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace. Amen” (Laudato Si’ 246)
5. Action for Today
Pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, either by yourself, in your Small Christian Communities, Ministry Groups or together with family and friends
DAILY MASS AND BIBLE READING LINKS
• Online Daily Mass (Daily TV Mass, Bryanston Catholic Church).
• Todays Bible reading and reflection from the Vatican.
• Parish Banking Details
• Blessed Sacrament’s Sunday Mass will be LIVE on Saturday evening and also recorded.
• Online Mass Booking Form