Weekend Wisdom, December 31st, 2023
Today we bid farewell to 2023 and look ahead to the New Year… 2024! Happy New Year! Regardless of the year, the day, or the hour, we are invited to pray always. Why? Because Jesus did and he invites us to do the same…“Ten Jesus told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” - Luke 18:1 - The Parable of the Persistent Widow
For me, the end of 2023 is a milestone, since it marks the completion of my resolution to pray with Holy Scripture and with the Catechism of the Catholic Church via a daily podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz, a priest in the Diocese of Duluth. I completed The Bible in a Year in 2022, and The Catechism of the Year in 2023. It’s amazing to me what can be accomplished with a manageable commitment of about 20 minutes per day!
As Fr. Mike often says in these podcasts, “It's not about transfer of information, it's about transformation!” It is part of our life journey to draw closer to the heart of Jesus, and through Jesus, to God our loving Father. I know that I’ve grown in my knowledge of our faith, and more importantly, I have grown in my relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
One of the many highlights of this two-year journey came in the past 30 days. It is Section 4 of the Catechism… “Christian Prayer”. I highly recommend it! If you would rather read than listen to a podcast, this section begins at paragraph 2558. (Available for free online at USCCB.org.) Here are a few highlights:
• “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” St. Thérèse of Lisieux (CCC #2558)
• Humility is the foundation of prayer. (CCC #2559)
• According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain. (CCC #2562)
• The Psalter is the book in which The Word of God becomes man's prayer. (CCC #2587)
• The drama of prayer is fully revealed to us in the Word who became flesh and dwells among us. (CCC #2598)
• The Eucharist is "the source and summit" of the Christian life. (CCC #1324)
• “The Eucharistic Celebration is the greatest and highest act of prayer…” - Pope Benedict XVI
Throughout this new year, I invite you to reflect on the words of St. Paul…"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
May God bless you and your family!
Deacon Mark