Today's Readings - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122311.cfm
God answers prayers! He does. I remember my sister-in-law, Mae, when she was single, we tried to introduce guys to her, many times she just smiled. A lot of our friends were getting married back then and having kids, she was one of the few friends we have that were still single. What I admired about her is her faith in the Lord. She did not go desperate, she did not go to online dating, she did not go to random dates, or chat rooms, or go to a bar, or go to any locations to meet guys. She held her own, she kept her dignity, she kept her faith in the Lord. Instead, she did a 9 day novena to St. Therese of Lisieux. For nine days she faithfully prayed for the intercession of St. Therese, and boy she was demanding too. She asked for an orange rose as a sign from St. Therese. She prayed like a child and ask for a rose that is very rare to see on a daily basis. So one day after the nine day novena, she was working at a hospital back then, she went into a room of a patient, and there it was in full glory an orange rose! Her prayers were answered and she is now married to the man prepared by God for her, Eric. And they now have a wonderful daughter named after St. Therese. What a glorious way to glorify the Lord!
How does this story relate to the readings today? I don't know either, but allow me to continue typing down.
Elijah, was the promised messenger to prepare the way of the Lord, and he did mighty things in the name of the Lord, he put all the prophets of Baal to shame. He is like a refiners fire or like a fuller's lye. Let me ask you this, when you are in the presence of a holy person, don't you feel like you just want to be still? or tremble? or fearful? or at peace? I think it feels that way because the presence of the Lord is upon that person. Elijah did mighty things, and it was done through prayers! answered prayers from God!
Now John the Baptist was the answered prayer of Hannah, he was also the return of Elijah that the Israelites could not see (Matthew 11:11-15). And God though He punished Zechariah by taking his voice, promised that He would restore his voice when the child is born and name him "John". And so it happened. God answers prayers, He answered Hannah's prayer and He was faithful to His promise to Zechariah.
I think God is speaking to me today through my writing. I have been suffering with acid reflux for years, if I remember correctly since 2000. I have been praying to God, and have been to several healing masses, and including Fr. Suarez' healing mass. But for some reason, its still there. It is painful at times, and sometimes I cannot function properly. Thankfully, I was given medication, and now that medication is over the counter. You see, I want to have the same faith that my sister-in-law has. I want to totally rely on God, in everything! I want to glorify Him in me. And so through my suffering and pains, I offer it up to Him, and He has humbled me many times, and reminded me that I am nothing with God, and that I am human. And so in total reliance on God, I started my nine day to St. Therese last week. Along with my request for healing, is my prayers for other people, and for the souls in purgatory. I pray that God will answer my prayer, just like He answered, my sister-in-law, Hannah and Zechariah.
Please pray for me.
Let us also pray for those people in the southern part of the Philippines who were affected by Typhoon Sendong.
Jesus loves you!
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