Tag: value of person

We Remember

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Red Wednesday in Memory of Persecuted Christians, 27 November 2019

Revelation 15:1-4 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 21:12-19

From Google.

Today, O dear Jesus, we gather as one nation to remember the 300 million Christians worldwide who are persecuted in various forms because of their faith in you: those who were denied of work, housing, liberty, and most especially, life.

We remember and pray for our Christian brothers and sisters who were unjustly tortured and murdered because of carrying a cross and confessing their love for you, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said to the crowd: “You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair of your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Luke 21:17-19

May those who have suffered and those still suffering be consoled with your love and peace, Lord.

Have mercy on their persecutors, let them realize that religion should bring us together and not apart.

Most especially, Lord Jesus, teach us to remember in carrying and embracing our crosses in the midst of these persecutions. Wash away our sins of indifference. Give us courage to follow promptings of your Holy Spirit in working for genuine peace and justice.

Empty ourselves of hatred and mistrust of one another to always remember we are all brothers and sisters in the Father. Amen.

Red Wednesday poster of Bacolod Diocese last year.

Prayer for those persecuted

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Friday, Memorial of St. Pope John XXIII, 11 October 2019

Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 ><}}}*> <*{{{>< Luke 11:15-26

Photo by author, Holy Family Chapel, Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches, 2016.

Dearest Lord Jesus Christ:

Today I thank you for consoling those persecuted when in the gospel episode after you have driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:

“By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”

Luke 11:15

Very consoling, Lord, because despite your exercise of divine power, some people still maligned you, accusing you of working with the devil?!

How could we not feel consoled when we have done nothing that can be compared close to your exorcism and yet we are also falsely accused of so many things?

I really wonder, Lord Jesus, what evil had possessed so many among us that they can fabricate so many lies, insist on their myopic views of things and events, and totally disregard the truth without any qualms at all?

From cbcpnews.net

From the ordinary verbal rumours spread by backstabbers daily everywhere to cyberbullying by trolls to spurious whistleblowers and state officials silencing those standing for what is true and just, more and more people are persecuted like you.

It is very disheartening, Lord, and we have no one to turn to except you whom the psalmist describes as the one who “would judge the world with justice”.

“Gird our loins, Lord, as we weep” (Joel 1:13), trying to bear these persecutions in your name. Help us to persevere for we know “the day of the Lord is coming” (Joel 2:1).

Through the intercession of St. John XXIII who helped so many Jews persecuted during World War II and called for world peace (Pacem in Terris) when he became the Pope in 1958, we pray in the most special way for those persecuted in our country especially our Bishops and priests, as well as professionals like doctors and teachers silently serving your flock.

Keep them close to your heart, Jesus, because you told us

“Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.”

Matthew 5:10-11

St. Pope John XXIII, pray for us. Amen.

From Google.

Prayer to value persons

The Lord Is My Chef Breakfast Recipe for the Soul

Wednesday, Week XXVII, Year I, 09 October 2019

Jonah 4:1-11 ><)))*> ><)))*> ><)))*> Luke 11:1-4

Photo by Mr. Jim Marpa at Otap, Carigara, Leyte. September 2019.

O dear God…

How could some people be like Jonah in our first reading today — prayerful and a man of God and yet be so mean not to see the value of every person?

Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out the evil he threatened against Nineveh. The the Lord said to Jonah, “You are concerned over the plant which cost you no labor and which you did not raise; it came up in one night and in one night it perished. And should I not be concerned over Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left, not to mention the many cattle?”

Jonah 4:1, 10-11

Forgive us, Lord, when things like money and gadgets, whims and desires blind our eyes not to see and recognize every person who must be loved and cherished.

Forgive us when there are times we forget all about respect, even civility especially when all we see are the sins and mistakes, weaknesses and shortcomings of people that make us speak ill them, judging them harshly with our words that we forget we never lose dignity and honor because we are all created in your image and likeness, Lord.

Please teach us, Jesus, like your disciples in the gospel today the right attitude of praying which is recognizing the value of every person so we can truly pray and say

“Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come.”

Luke 11:2

It is only when we value persons more than anything else can we truly mean our prayers to you, O Lord and God. Amen.