Mark 6:56 (Touch of Faith)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed." ~ Mark 6:56 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: In today's Gospel, Jesus and His disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. While leaving the boat, they were immediately recognized, and people from all over gathered with their sick, determined to seize an unexpected opportunity for healing. The statement that "as many as touched even just the tassel on His cloak are healed" shows a mutual relationship between Jesus and the afflicted. What is involved here is not simply material contact with Jesus' clothing, but the touch of faith. Those who had faith that touching Jesus' cloak would heal them were healed. However, we do something much more intimate and powerful every time we receive Jesus in Communion. We not only touch His cloak's tassel, but we touch, and in fact, receive, the person of Jesus into our persons. By receiving Communion, we receive the ultimate intimacy, grace, and healing power of Jesus Christ. Lord, may I desire more every day to receive You in Holy Communion, and may this become the center of my life. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Desire an intimate communion with Christ. Make your relationship with Jesus a priority in your life.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: St. Paul Miki and Companions. St. Paul Miki was in such intimate communion with Christ that, as he hung on a cross dying, he spoke: "I hope my blood will fall on my fellow man as a fruitful rain."

Faith Quote: “Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will and His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (and family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 and Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers and re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

1 John 2:24 (Leaky Vessels)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.


"Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father." ~ 1 John 2:24 (full readings)


Rich's Reflections: When I experienced my metanoia (change of heart) in 2006, it was a powerful spiritual experience. I had a very strong craving for Jesus Christ, and I could not get enough of Him. Now it is 5 years later, and the feeling has slightly faded. I seek, but can no longer find the fire that once drew me so strongly. In the first reading today, St. John tells me not to let the memory fade with the feeling or doubt the reality of my first experience of faith. We are imperfect vessels (jars of clay, 2 Cor 4:7) and we leak; therefore, we need to be constantly re-filled with the Spirit. We must devote ourselves to the teachings of the Church and study the Scriptures daily, both of which helps us grow. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. How can we expect to remain in Him if we do not increase our faith? Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ, and if we are ignorant of Him, we cannot remain in Him. Lord, let me know You better through the Scriptures. Draw me closer to You and deepen my faith. Amen.


Faith Challenge: Read God's Word daily and remain in Jesus.


Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now. 

Feast Day: St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen


Faith Quote: "Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ." (Catechism, 133)


Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22


* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Mt 28:19.

Luke 1:38 (Christ within)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.'" ~ Luke 1:38 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: In today's Gospel, the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive in her womb, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary responded with unshakable faith that she is "the handmaid of the Lord." Mary must have been scared, but she did not lose hope. Instead, she recognized that Christ within her was hope, and she accepted her responsibility to bring Him to the world. As Christians we are also called to have the faith of Mary. We need to recognize Christ living within us despite issues in our life that bring us fear, and we need to share His message of hope with the world. Prepare the way of the Lord this Advent and have a "Mary" Christ-mas. Lord, I am Your servant, may Your will be done according to Your word. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Recognize Christ within you this Advent and share His message of hope with others.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life,Vatican,Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed and Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: Our Lady of Guadalupe (today's image by Nellie Edwards)

Faith Quote: "The conception and birth of Jesus Christ are in fact the greatest work accomplished by the Holy Spirit in the history of creation and salvation." ~ Pope John Paul II

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.

* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Matt 9:29 (Believe...and See!)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"Then He touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”" ~ Mt 9:29 (full readings)

Rosemary's Reflections: In today's Gospel, we hear about two blind men who are cured by Jesus. Let's take note about the question Jesus asked them-- "Do you believe that I can do this?" He's not asking them this to give Himself a pep talk. He is asking them about their faith--Do they truly believe He can heal their blindness or are they just hoping for a 50/50 chance? They answer him with a "Yes, Lord" and can now see. In today's skeptical society where "seeing is believing" through immediate results, it can be hard to be patient for the fruits of our faith. I have had people tell me praying for an end to abortion is a waste of my time. "Nothing's changed and nothing will," they say. But if we truly believe in Jesus, if we put our faith and trust in His ability to end this destructive crime against humanity, He will tell us, "Let it be done for you according to your faith." We can already see what our faith in Jesus Christ and the pro-life movement has done through every abortion mill closing, through every changed heart, through the tiny faces of those saved. It may not be enough according to the eyes of society, but as Christians, we believe this is only the beginning.

Faith Challenge: Are there times when we become a Doubting Thomas rather than the blind men? Don't fold under the pressures of society. Instead pray for strength and believe in His Word. "Blessed are they who did not see and yet believed" (John 20:29).

Sr. Francelle's Devotion: Change.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: Blessed Rafal Chylinski

Faith Quote: “May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.” ~ St. Therese of Lisieux

Through Christ Our Lord,
Rosemary

2 Tim 4:7

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Luke 18:42 (Believing is Seeing)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"Jesus told him, 'Have sight; your faith has saved you.'" ~ Luke 18:42 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: In today's Gospel, Jesus healed a blind beggar in Jericho, who showed tremendous faith in the power of Jesus. Jesus replied that his faith had saved him. The blind beggar was obviously aware of his blindness since it was physical, but unfortunately those who are spiritually blind may not be aware of their own blindness. Those who are blind to seeing the presence of human life within a mother's womb ignore the truth, because the truth does not agree with their plans, fit into their personal agenda, or match their desires. Like the blind beggar in Jericho, we need to bring ourselves closer to Jesus in order to be healed. As a result of our faith, our blindness will be healed to see the truth, because believing is seeing. Lord, I pray that those who are blind to seeing the life that You have created in the womb...will open their eyes and be healed. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Even if you are blind to being blind, by faith draw close to Jesus today and pray: "Lord, I want to see" and Jesus will answer: "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you."

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, AFA,Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: St. Lawrence O'Toole

Faith Quote: Reflection from Saint Lawrence O'Toole: "I thank God that I have not a penny in the world to dispose of." Said on his deathbed when someone asked him if he had a will.

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.

* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Psalm 139:4 (God Knows Us)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners(FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all." ~ Psalm 139:4 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: It is so comforting to be around the presence of good friends. People who know you so well that you do not really even need to explain yourself, because they understand you. I find today's selected Psalm very comforting, because it reminds us that God is also a very good friend who understand us. God knows us intimately. He knows our desires, our thoughts, and our weaknesses. Not only does God know everything about us, but He also cares about us. He understands our side of the story without having to explain ourselves. He also knows what is best for us, because we are His creation; His children. This is why we need to place our faith in God and His all-encompassing knowledge. Lord, give me the courage to be intimate with You in prayer and have faith in Your knowledge. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Be intimate with God and make prayer a priority in your day.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: Saint Achillas

Faith Quote: "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.

* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Luke 14:12 (Preaching to the Choir)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).Guest Authors schedule.LIFE Minute radio.

"Then he said to the host who invited him, 'When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.'" ~ Luke 14:12 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: Even after two-thousand years, there are more than 4 billion people alive today who still do not know Jesus. This is because few Christians ever try to share their faith. For those Christians who do share their faith, they may be at the wrong place at the wrong time talking to the wrong people. Christians love sharing their faith with other Christians, but we may just be "preaching to the choir." Jesus tells us to focus our evangelistic efforts on the "beggars and the crippled, the lame and the blind" (Luke 14:13). We should intentionally put ourselves in situations where we can share our faith in Christ with the spiritually blind and morally crippled. This is where the Word of God will be most effective. An example of this is the LIFE Runners who go out into the streets with "REMEMBER The Unborn, Jer 1:5" on the back of their jerseys, sharing the Gospel of Life with thousands of other runners and spectators. Lord, help me to be in the right place at the right time so that I may be effective at sharing Your Good News to those in most need of Thy mercy. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Break out of your comfort zone and share your faith with those who do not believe.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life,Vatican,Project Rachel

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: Saint Quentin

Faith Quote: "One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody." ~ Mother Teresa

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.

* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Luke 11:29 (Don't Miss the Sign)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"While still more people gathered in the crowd, He said to them, 'This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.'" ~ Luke 11:29 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: The "sign of Jonah" that Jesus refers to in the Gospel today is the preaching of the need for repentance by a prophet who comes from afar. Jonah was a foreigner to the Ninevites, yet he became a sign to them. The wicked city of Nineveh listened to his message of doom and repented immediately, showing that even the worst sinners are capable of unimaginable repentance. With Jesus, "there is something greater than Jonah here" Luke 11:32. There is no need to demand any other signs or prophets. Jesus alone is our ultimate sign, because He is God. However, sin can blind us so that we do not see God. Without repentance, we can miss the sign and miss the opportunity to change our lives. Lord, give me the strength to repent of my sins so that I may have faith in You. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Don't miss the sign. Provide clarity in your life by repenting of your sins today.

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life,Vatican, Project Rachel

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: St. Francis Borgia

Faith Quote: "Weave in faith and God will find the thread." ~ unknown author

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!

* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.
* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.

Luke 7:6-7 (Faith and Humility)

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Guest Authors schedule. LIFE Minute radio.

"And Jesus went with them, but when He was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, 'Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed.'" ~ Luke 7:6-7 (full readings)

Rich's Reflections: Before receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, the Church leads us to pray: "Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed." This prayer is adapted from today's Gospel about the centurion who asked Jesus to cure his servant at home. When Jesus said he would come to the centurion’s home, the man responded that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his house. Jesus needed to “only say the word,” then the servant would be healed. Jesus praised the great faith of this gentile centurion and healed the servant. In realizing that we are not worthy to receive the body and blood of Christ, we get in touch with the reality of our humanness (humility) and acknowledge that all healing and grace ultimately come from God (faith). Lord, through my faith and humility may I recognize Your grace. Amen.

Faith Challenge: Do you have the faith and humility to recognize God's graces in your life?

Counter-Culture News: LSN, LifeNews, Priests for Life, Vatican, Project Rachel.

Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion, Spiritual Adoption, Alpha Center, Peters family (JP). Add Prayers on our website. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, LIFE Runners, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.

Feast Day: Most Holy Name of Mary.

Faith Quote: “What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it does to us; it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God." ~ Monica Baldwin

Through Christ our Lord,
Rich
James 1:22

* Pray/Fast: Prayer connects us with God’s will & His miracles, changing us & helping others. Fast from things that take your eyes off Jesus. Those who pray together stay together, and close to God!
* Save Unborn (& family): Abortion reality (images)…#1 death cause (22% pregnancies). Prov 24:11 & Jer 1:5. “A great poverty that a child must die that you might live as you wish.” Mother Teresa.

* Evangelize: Make room for unbelievers & re-evangelization of self, by way of prayer (relationship) and following Christ’s example of love (service/sacrifice/mercy). Matt 28:19.