On Monday we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Let’s
all work to keep his dream of a much better world alive. As
we all know he preached non-violence. Let us pray for an
end to all violence.
Last Sunday with his baptOn Monday we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Let’s all work to keep his dream of a much better world alive. As we all know he preached non-violence. Let us pray for an end to all violence.
Last Sunday with his baptism, Jesus started his public
ministry. Today’s Gospel gives us his first miracle
according to John’s Gospel, the changing of water into
wine at the wedding in Cana. It is interesting the role Mary
plays in this miracle. She urges Jesus to do it and even
tells the servers to do what he says. The passage ends:
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in
Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began
to believe in him.”
Isaiah in our first reading tells the people things will get
better and even talks of this getting better in terms of God
marrying his people. We talk in the same terms when we
say the Church is the bride of Christ.
St. Paul in our second reading talks about the
consequences of this marriage by telling us that God gives
us all certain spiritual gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith,
healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits,
tongues, the interpretation of tongues. All these gifts come
from the Spirit and are to be used for the good of all.
We are in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity. Pray for the unity of all Christians.
Today the Church celebrates Blessed Basil Moreau, CSC,
the founder of the Congregations of Holy Cross. Please
pray for his canonization!
On Friday the Church celebrates the Conversion of St. Paul
and then his companions Timothy and Titus on Saturday.
Let us continue to pray for peace in the world. Let us also
pray for vocations to the church. Let us pray for the sick of
the parish. Let us pray that all will come to respect life. Let
us pray for one another and for the canonization of Father
Tolton. Let us also pray for those who are victims of sexual
abuse and mass shootings.
A Father Tolton Prayer: Father in Heaven, Father
Tolton’s suffering service sheds light upon our sorrows; we
see them through the prism of your Son’s passion and
death. If it be your Will, O God, glorify your servant Father
Tolton, by granting the favor I now request through his
intercession (mention your request) so that all may know
the goodness of this priest whose memory looms large in
the Church he loved. Complete what you have begun in us
that we might work for the fulfillment of your kingdom. Not
to us the glory, but glory to you O God, through Jesus
Christ, your Son and our Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are our God, living and reigning forever and ever.
Amen.