Reflections on the Eucharist

Lord, I am eager to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as often as I am able! It is there that you give me yourself in the Eucharist! And when I am properly prepared and disposed to receive you, the grace that you offer is astounding!

It is equally awesome to think, that the Creator of the vast universe in which we live, the designer of the complexities of it all, and the one who keeps it all in perfect balance, even as we fail to take proper care of what you have given us, humbles himself to become truly present in the form of bread and wine in order that I may be nourished for my journey back to you, Lord! How can I thank you, Lord, other than to say, “I am yours, I want to do your will, use me for the purpose for which you created me!” Amen!

God Is Not A Genie!

In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus gives us the example of how we are to ask for our Heavenly Father’s help. As Jesus awaits his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prays the following prayer, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39 NAB)

Again in Matthew’s gospel we are given another example of how to ask God for help. This time the example is given to us by a leper who approaches Jesus asking to be healed. And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew8:2-3NASB)

The point is that God knows what is best for us and wants what is best for us, which means that He will sometimes choose not to respond to our requests for reasons that are beyond our understanding.

He may also choose to delay answering our prayers because immediately doing so would not conform to His divine plan of salvation.

When it seems that God has not heard our prayer, or that He is an uncaring God who ignores our pleas, we must remember to trust that He knows what is best for us!

It is truly unfortunate when people become angry with God when their prayers seem to go unheard, as if God were some genie who is under an obligation to grant our every wish and desire.

Trust in God! His love is eternal and perfect! He desires the best for us! Never allow yourself to stray from His loving care!

Fr. Larry Richards on Obedience to God!

Many people fall away from the faith because they're angry at God for a variety of reasons. We bring many of our problems upon ourselves by rejecting what God has planned for us!

Many extremely bad and sorrowful things happen to the best of people, and while we watch the innocent suffer, we must always remember one thing, and that one thing is that everything that is evil and unjust in this world is the result of sin, not God. Sin is man's disobedience to God. It is living outside of His will!

Don't be mad at God! Come home to Him!

The following is a video of Father Larry Richards speaking on Obedience to God: