Sunday’s Readings: Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalms 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8b-10; Matthew 17:1-9
…from your Pastor’s Desk
Transfiguration
This week we have the wonderful gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus. For one brief moment, his disciples are allowed to see what lies ahead for all who follow his way.
We begin our own ‘transfiguration’ while still on earth, not so much achieving ‘glorified body’, but transforming our heart, our spirit, our soul into the Lord’s.
This is done by acts of charity and mercy, and also by spending time in conversation with God, in what we call prayer, in its many forms.
We may find that as soon as we set aside time for prayer, we can easily be distracted one way or another. So, this week’s exercise is:
Take a pad of paper and pen, or pencil, and write down any distractions that interrupt prayer. Maybe it’s a phone call you need to make, or an errand you have to run, or a document or item in the house you need to find. If it interrupts your prayer time, write it down and …deal with it later.
I suggest doing this each day of the week. Be prepared to have a running list. You might be surprised how long that list may be! But take the time each day to do it. Keep the list handy…and then pray.
SCRIPTURE FOR THIS EXERCISE: The Beatitudes are found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 1 and following.
Take one of these each day and pray for guidance as to what God is teaching you about your life specifically that day with the particular Beatitude.
May this be a week of ‘spiritual transformation’ for you!
God Bless You,
Father Ron
Great for the Young and the Young-at-Heart!
From Pope Francis:
Using the fingers on your hand, start with the thumb and pray these intentions in this order:
1.) The thumb is the closest finger to you. So, start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a “Sweet Obligation.”
2.) The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers.
3.) The following finger (the middle finger) is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those who have authority. They need God’s guidance.
4.) The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers.
5.) And finally, we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.