Today's readings especially the responsorial psalm, the gospel, and the feast we celebrate, Thomas Aquinas, OP, help in the journey through a life of prayer. St Mark's gospel mentions that a "kingdom divided against itself," will ultimately result in a kingdom that cannot stand.
Recently, reading through a few books of "Catholic prayers," I realized that I have not in a long time noticed what seems to prevail in most of these prayers: an obvious negativism, a heaviness that added more burden to a heavy heart.
When people pray, isn't it true that they wish to have a positive encounter with a loving God, a caring Father, a brother Christ and a guiding Spirit? There's nothing negative there, is there! If prayers are always weighted with guilt or negativity, it cannot be surprising that many people would abandon a use of "regular Catholic prayers." Is the house not divided against itself in the desire to know and love the God that many saints tell us is so loving and caring?
God gives us so much every minute of the day. In today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 89:20, we read that God has place "a champion to be a king (David) for the people. He is not simply saying he loves them. He gives them a "champion" to lead them. He cares. He loves. Isn't that the kind of God we want on our side?
Throughout Scripture you will discover how God, especially through the gifts of his Son and the Holy Spirit, truly blesses us. Through these gifts and their presence in your life, you have every reason to pray to God in thanksgiving, in hope and with the awareness that God loves you, loves you, loves you.
Today the Church celebrates the gift of the life and spirit of St. Thomas Aquinas, OP, a renowned scholar, writer and priest of the Dominican order of priests. While his writing may be a challenges to an ordinary mind, our Church was given the gift of this priest who helped establish more clearly a strong foundation for our faith.
In your prayer today, raise up your heart and mind in joy-filled gratitude for several specific blessings God has given to you. It is a wonderful experience to thank a friend for a present received. It is an experience that opens your heart to joy, and peace, and love. PRAYER SHOULD BE THE DAILY EXPERIENCE THAT LIFTS US FROM THE MUNDANE!
