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The BreadCast


Daily Exposition of the Readings for Catholic Mass...

as well as Prayers to the Saints on the General Roman Calendar (for the U.S.).  

From the books Our Daily Bread and Prayers to the Saints by James H. Kurt - both with imprimatur.

Feb 25, 2022

(Jas.5:13-20;   Ps.141:1-3,8;   Mk.10:13-16) 

“Let my prayer come like incense before you;

the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.”

“The fervent petition of a holy man is powerful indeed.”  For indeed Elijah “prayed earnestly” and “no rain fell on the land for three years and six months.”  Then “when he prayed again, the sky burst forth with rain.”  And now greater things are accomplished by prayer, especially of “the elders of the Church,” our priests, who, in union with Jesus the Lord, “reclaim the one who is ill” and bring “forgiveness” to the sinful soul.  Redemption itself is at our hands through the Anointing of the Sick and Confession, and all the other blessed sacraments.  And prayer by all souls is a constant guard and reclaimer of lives gone astray.

And in our gospel it is made clear what our disposition should be when we pray, when we come to Jesus.  The Lord encourages the little children to come to Him and states unequivocally: “Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a little child shall not enter into it.”  We must always come to Him as children – with faith, in innocence, of truth – if we hope to gain a hearing in His sight, brothers and sisters.  If when we call upon Him we do not have the pure faith of a child, how can we expect to communicate with Him who dwells in absolute light?  If our prayer and our song fall short of the love and joy of innocent praise, then we fall short of reaching Him.  But if in such innocence and with such faith and of such truth we come to Him, know that He will treat us just as the children who come to Him today: “He embraced them and blessed them, placing His hands on them.”  Yes, then His holy hand will be upon our lives, and His great power we will find at work within us and through us.

“Toward you, O Lord, my eyes are turned.” 

Please “hearken to my voice when I call upon you.” 

“In you I take refuge; strip me not of life,”

but make me as your child of light.

Our prayer comes like incense before the Lord when it is united with the sacrifice of the Son.  Anointed by the Lamb’s blood, all our cries rise unto the Father of Life.

*******  

O LORD, as a child let us come to you,

in trusting prayer,

and you will hear and answer us.

YHWH, how powerful prayer is!  For it unites us to you and to your great power; it makes us as your children.  Let our prayer be sincere, that we might find your gentle embrace.

There is nothing we need fear, dear LORD, if we but turn to you.  If we ask, you will give, and cure us indeed of every ill.  And so, let us pray for one another in your NAME, desire the salvation of all souls by your grace, and the blessing of your Son’s Cross will reign here on earth and bring us soon to Heaven.  Let your will be done and your kingdom come.

Let us pray especially for your priests and the special power you give them to forgive men’s sins and make your presence known among us.  In your sacraments we take our refuge, LORD; let them always be celebrated in accord with your Word.

Let our prayer come like incense before you, O LORD; may it be acceptable in your sight.  Let it always come from an innocent heart.