--> http://www.presentationministries.com/BST/latestBST.asp
Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth is designed as a bulletin insert which you can use at your local church to keep up to date on what the Holy Father is saying. You are free to reproduce it for this purpose.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Isaiah 55:10-11, Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19, Matthew 6:7-15
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/031511.shtml
RATTLE SNAKE
"In your prayer do not rattle on like the pagans." -Matthew 6:7
Jesus commanded us not to rattle on in prayer. Some people think that when we repeat prayers, we are rattling. However, repetition is often an expression of love. For instance, I hope you repeatedly say to your family: "I love you." Jesus Himself repeated His prayers. For example, the exact translation of Luke 23:34 and Mark 14:36 are "He kept saying." Rattling on is not mere repetition.
If we haven't forgiven those who have hurt us, we curse rather than bless ourselves when we pray: "Forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us" (Mt 6:12). If we haven't forgiven, we rattle on rather than truly pray.
The first word of prayer taught by Jesus is "Abba," "Father" (Mt 6:9). Prayer is a matter of relationship. Jesus said: "This people draws near with words only and honors Me with their lips alone, though their hearts are far from Me" (Is 29:13; Mt 15:8). Rattling on in prayer is the same thing as "lip service." We rattle on in prayer when our hearts are far from the Lord. Until we obey the first of all the commandments and therefore love the Lord with all our hearts, how can we obey Jesus' teaching on how to pray?
A hardened, closed, divided, unrepentant heart turns our prayer into a "death-rattle." However, "a heart contrite and humbled" God "will not spurn" (Ps 51:19). "A clean heart create for me, O God," so I can pray (Ps 51:12).
Prayer: Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like Yours.
Promise: "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it." -Is 55:11
Praise: Susanna prays the rosary slowly and meditatively.
(For a related teaching, order our tape, "Lord, Teach Us to Pray", on audio AV 57-3 or video V-57.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from February 1, 2011 through March 31, 2011
?Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July27, 2010
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2011 Presentation Ministries
To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp
To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r
No comments:
Post a Comment