DAILY PRAYERGUIDE
S A I N T P A T R I C K P A R I S H
This resource aims to help youinvite Christ into your home,week by week.
Each day will highlight a portionof that day 's Gospel reading,offer a brief reflection, andprovide a suggestion of how toact in response.
S T P A T R I C K P A R I S H . O R G
READ (Mt 13:31-32)
M O N D A Y , J U L Y 2 7 T H
REFLECT
RESPOND
"Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds,
'The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustardseed that a person took and sowed in afield. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yetwhen full-grown it is the largest of plants.
It becomes a large bush, and the birds ofthe sky come and dwell in its branches.’”
the Lord desires to use the gifts He hasgiven us to transform us into mirrors ofHeaven on Earth.
Make a list of at least 10 gifts and talentsthe Lord has given you. (Tip: if you havetrouble coming up with these on yourown, ask a close friend or family memberthat they've observed about yourgiftedness).
It can sometimes seem like we don't havemuch to offer. But the Lord invites andequips us to be mirrors of Heaven onEarth.
God can use us, even when we feel smalland insignificant, to draw others into adeeper relationship with Him.
Who is someone in your life that the Lordhas used to draw you closer to Him? Howdid they help you grow in yourrelationship with Christ?
READ (Mt 13:40-43)
T U E S D A Y , J U L Y 2 8 T H
REFLECT
RESPOND
"Just as weeds are collected and burned upwith fire, so will it be at the end of the age.The Son of Man will send his angels, and theywill collect out of his Kingdom all who causeothers to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,where there will be wailing and grinding ofteeth.Then the righteous will shine like thesun in the Kingdom of their Father."
We do not have an uninvested, passive God.Our Father is fiercely protective of us, Hischildren. It would follow, then, that He doesnot allow us to suffer needlessly; He onlyinvites us to endure that which is necessaryto our salvation and eternal joy. Whatever difficulty or suffering you'reexperiencing today, it is not pointless. OurGod is a God of intentionality and mercy.
What is one way you have experienced theLord use suffering/challenges for good inyour life?
Take a second to enter into a time of prayerwith the Lord. Close your eyes and take threedeep breaths (allowing your mind and heartto become calm.
Next bring to mind an experience of sufferingfrom your life.
Then take a moment to ask the Lord to showyou where He was in that difficult situation.Listen to His response and pay attention towhat He shows you in your prayer.
READ (Mt 11:25)
W E D N E S D A Y , J U L Y 2 9 T H
REFLECT
RESPOND
"When Martha heard that Jesus wascoming, she went to meet him; but Marysat at home.
Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you hadbeen here, my brother would not havedied. But even now I know that whateveryou ask of God, God will give you.'
"Even now," Martha says to the Lord. Evennow when it feels like all hope is lost, evennow when it seems like you have let medown, even now when I am in the midst ofgrief, "even now I know that whatever youask of God, God will give you."
Despite what she's going through Marthanever gives up hope, never ceases to trustin the Lord's power and goodness.
What is one way you have experiencedthe Lord showing up for you in the midstof situations that appeared to behopeless?
Cultivating the gift of hope can requireinvestment and intentionality.
Write down a situation that feelsfrustrating or hopeless to you. Theninvite the Lord to help you reframe yourperspective of that circumstance andshow you that situation from His point ofview. Write down what He reveals to you.
READ (Mt 13:47-48)
T H U R S D A Y , J U L Y 3 0 T H
REFLECT
RESPOND
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a netthrown into the sea, which collects fish ofevery kind.
When it is full they haul it ashore and sitdown to put what is good into buckets.What is bad they throw away."
Living a life with Christ looks different foreveryone. The tradition of Saints within theChurch reveals to us this beautifuldiversity.
Unfortunately, we can often fall into thetemptation of comparing ourselves toothers and how they live out their call toholiness. But today's Gospel serves as areminder that the Lord intentionallycreated us each uniquely, with our ownspecific set of gifts and talents.
What are three unique characteristicsthe Lord has instilled in you?
We often spend so much time focusing onour weaknesses, that we forget about thegifts and strengths that God has instilled inus.
Celebrate your gifts today! Take time todo something that you're good at. Go fora run, write something down, paint, sing,organize, work in your garden, whateverit looks like for you, take time to cultivatethe gifts the Lord has given you!
READ (Mt 13:54, 57-58)
F R I D A Y , J U L Y 3 1 S T
REFLECT
RESPOND
"Jesus came to his native place and taughtthe people in their synagogue...And theytook offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is notwithout honor except in his native placeand in his own house.' And he did not workmany mighty deeds there because of theirlack of faith."
In today's Gospel reading the Lordreminds us of the call to faith that He haslaid before us. It is the desire of our Lordto work powerfully in our lives, but He willnot force Himself upon us. Faith can act asan invitation for the Lord, revealing ouropenness to His miraculous love.
What is something you would like toinvite the Lord to do in your life today?
What we speak can influence what webelieve. So take a moment today to speakaloud this Act of Faith:
O my God, I firmly believe that you areone God in three divine Persons, Father,Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that yourdivine Son became man and died for oursins and that he will come to judge theliving and the dead. I believe these andall the truths which the Holy CatholicChurch teaches because you haverevealed them who are eternal truth andwisdom, who can neither deceive nor bedeceived. In this faith I intend to live anddie. Amen.
READ (Mt 14:6-12)
S A T U R D A Y , A U G U S T 1 S T
REFLECT
RESPOND
"At a birthday celebration for Herod, thedaughter of Herodias performed adance before the guests and delightedHerod so much that he swore to give herwhatever she might ask for. Promptedby her mother, she said, 'Give me hereon a platter the head of John the Baptist.'
The king was distressed, but because ofhis oaths and the guests who werepresent, he ordered that it be given, andhe had John beheaded in the prison. Hishead was brought in on a platter andgiven to the girl, who took it to hermother.
His disciples came and took away thecorpse and buried him; and they wentand told Jesus."
Today's Gospel reading is filled withdrama and may seem irrelevant to ourown lives. But if we dig a little deeper,we find a man who was so desperate forthe approval of those surrounding himthat he was willing to act against hisconscience.
Consider a time in your life when youallowed the opinion of others todetermine how you were going to act.
Say thank you to the people who haveimpacted your life!
The people we surround ourselves withcan lift us up as well as drag us down.Take time today to reach out and saythank you to the people in your life whohave influenced you for the better!
When it was evening, the disciplesapproached him and said, 'This is adeserted place and it is already late;dismiss the crowds so that they can go tothe villages and buy food forthemselves...Five loaves and two fish areall we have here.'
Then he said, 'Bring them here to me,' andhe ordered the crowds to sit down on thegrass. Taking the five loaves and the twofish, and looking up to heaven, he said theblessing, broke the loaves, and gave themto the disciples, who in turn gave them tothe crowds.T hey all ate and weresatisfied, and they picked up thefragments left over—twelve wickerbaskets full. Those who ate were aboutfive thousand men, not counting womenand children.
READ (Mt 14:15, 17-21)
S U N D A Y , A U G U S T 2 N D
REFLECT
RESPOND
Our God is a God of generosity andabundance. Often we can feel like whatwe have to offer to the Lord is notenough; but the Lord longs to multiplyour efforts, all we have to do is surrender.
How has the Lord revealed Hisgenerosity to you in your life?
Share a meal with people you love.
Spending time with those we love overfood can provide an opportunity for theLord to breathe abundance over ourlives. So make (or order) a meal and sitdown with your loves ones today!
