From the Gospel according to Luke
9:18-22
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,
and the disciples were with him,
he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah;
still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
One of the most important lessons the Lord taught His disciples was the value of prayer — and He did so by leading through example. Faith and prayer are two sides of the same coin, and if we long for our faith to grow, there is no better method than daily prayer, cultivating a relationship of intimacy with the One who loves us and has given His life for us.
(After leaving Mass)
Michael: Laura, the Lord spoke powerfully to me in today’s Gospel. He asks me, “But who do you say that I am?”
Laura: How wonderful, Michael! You must take this into prayer tonight.
Michael: I cannot wait…
(That evening during their couple’s prayer)
Michael: Lord, I want to ask Your forgiveness for all the times I have failed to witness who You are to me. For the times I have kept silent out of shame or shyness when asked why I go to Mass or why I believe. For the times my actions have not reflected Your love. Forgive me, Lord. I know You are the Messiah, the Son of God, and I want to proclaim it to the whole world.
Laura: I, too, want to ask for Your forgiveness, Lord. I have spent so long asking You to increase my faith, yet I have done little on my part. Time and again in the Gospel You remind us of the importance of prayer. Today I wish to make the firm decision to increase my daily time of prayer — that will be the way my faith will grow.
Michael: What a beautiful resolution. I stand with you, and I too make the firm decision to grow in prayer.
Together: Help us, Lord, to persevere!
Mother,
No one knows better than You the importance of prayer and contemplation. Hand in hand with You, we long to grow in intimacy with Your Son and to enter into His Sacred Heart. Blessed be He forever!