Claiming God's Promises
Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:
share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.
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My Word for the Week is “prophesy.”
Last week, we couldn’t go to Mass again because of the quarantine. We had “home church” with our kids, instead. We sang songs, read the Mass readings, exchanged a sign of peace, and prayed to receive “spiritual communion.” Our kids behaved badly, for the most part. We ended up sending one of the kids into a timeout for a good portion of the “service.” Nonetheless, the prayer time was fruitful, and I felt a lot more peaceful the next day.
The word that stood out to me from the Mass readings was “prophesy.” It must have been in the first reading: our son really wanted to proclaim it straight from his own Bible, so I can’t even find the same translation now. It seemed throughout the week that the Lord wasn’t revealing much personal meaning to me from that word.
But then I noticed two things that helped draw out the good news. First, I saw Mercedes’ shadow on our back-yard wall. She was swinging from a tree branch, a picture of idyllic childhood. I realized maybe the Lord was calling me to be like Mercedes: more carefree, and without the need to understand His word on an intellectual level.
Secondly, the Lord helped me remember that all week I’ve been repeating the phrase, “God provides.” And He has! The past week was filled with inspiration, joy, peace, happiness, sufficient school work for the kids, all the food that we need, and even toilet paper. I realized that Mercedes is able to be so carefree in part because we as her parents continue to speak promises of faith--to prophesy!
What promises of faith do you desire today? The Catechism paragraph 104 says, "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them." If you need the reassurance of God’s Fatherly provision, like I do!, I’ll encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to claim these words:
“My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:19
“If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.” -Matthew 7:12
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.” -Ephesians 8-10
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