Homily: January 16, 2023 Monday of the second week in Ordinary time

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 “In the days when he was in the Flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.”

Even Jesus, the beloved Son of God, prayed hard and fervently while He lived among us in this world.

I know of a parishioner who is from one of our refugee communities. I have seen him many, many times kneeling in church, praying deeply and reverently and at length. He always has with him little prayer books that he uses. His deep reverence and focus really inspire me and make me curious too.

Finally, I had to ask him about his praying. Each time he prays, he will say the rosary, meditate on the stations of the cross, pray novenas to saints. And his prayer list includes me, all his siblings, his cousins and friends.

Wow!

Blessed is every person in his prayer list, because he is a reliable prayer warrior interceding for them always. I am blessed. In every one of our communities, I know of at least one or more such prayer warriors. Their dedication to prayer is like Jesus.

In His Divinity, He is completely connected with God always, yet in His humanity, he is just like any other human person in flesh and blood, except sin. And if Jesus prayed, reverently and constantly, so must we.

Do you also have a list of people to pray for? Do you also pray so reverently for others? Or do you know someone you can rely on when you need prayers?

I hope we do not just pray for ourselves and our own intentions. We are all called to intercede for one another. Praying for others does not diminish the effectiveness of our own prayers for ourselves, in fact, we become better intercessors, better prayer warriors, better connected with God. Every time we pray to the Lord, we are in the company of angels and saints, and Mother Mary.

So let us offer our prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to God, in true sincerity and purity of intentions. No prayer is in vain.

God will hear and will pour down abundant graces through our prayers.

Amen.


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