How do we become more holy? By winning the battle for our minds we become more like Jesus, and in essence, more holy. Said another way—grow your gifts (putting on the new self) and get rid of the crud (putting off the old self) and you will become more holy.

What is the old self and new self that Paul talks about? The old self is made up of moodiness, anger, selfishness, lust, and all sin. The new self is the new creation we were transformed into at our baptism. Paul says that we (the old self) died with Jesus on the Cross, and when he rose, we (the new self) were raised with him to live a holy life (Romans 6:4-6).

Paul says this so well in Ephesians “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires and to be be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self, created to be like God” (Ephesians 4:22-23). In Colossians he says the same thing: ”take off your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed” (Col 3:9-10).

The call to holiness is made possible because Jesus died for our sins – all of them even the future ones. It is possible because when he rose from the dead he raised us with him, pure and holy, and able to live a new life.

Remember the slaves being set free by President Lincoln. Legally they were free but, experientially, they did not feel free. Experientially, they were tormented, abused, and even killed.  Likewise, we are legally free from sin—Jesus died for them all. Experientially, we do not feel free. Our moods, angers, selfishness lying, manipulation, etc., continue to bind us up. Our old self tricks us. Nevertheless, Jesus wants us to get rid of all the crud, and he has given us many gifts to do so:

• He sent his Holy Spirit—who lives in us and is constantly urging us and helping us to be set apart.
• He gives himself to us in the Eucharist – to strengthen us and help us be set apart.
• He removes our sins when we repent and gives us grace to sin no more.
• He knocks on the door of our hearts and asks to come in every day
• He sent angels to support and encourage us

Gift after gift after gift — all to help us die to the old self and live a new life; all to help us experience ever-increasing unity with him; all to help us see how much he loves us,  his people.

God is so good to us. So let us commit ourselves to doing the only thing we can do in return for all he has done, i.e., live a life pleasing to him.

• Let us be a people that wants, above all else, to be holy and to display holiness in our marriage and families, with friends, at work, etc.
• Let us do as Peter says, “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15-16).
• Let us take the gospel to the ends of the earth in the name of Jesus – especially to our family and friends—and to our city; to those who do not know Jesus, to those in need, to those who are confused. (Matthew 28:19).

Paul writes: “we live in the world, but we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish strongholds (crud). We want to demolish every arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against God, and we take captive every thought that is opposed to Jesus” (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).

Nothings is more fun and nothing makes Jesus more happy than to see our old self be less and less present in our life as each month goes by. Nothing is more fun than to see others come to know Jesus through our efforts.

Here’s a prayer you can say every day.

Lord Jesus, I am a new creation by the blood you shed on the Cross. I will not submit to the drives of my old self today or ever again. I am weak but I have the grace that comes from the Cross to help me fix my eyes on you and live as a new creation. Jesus help me and give me the grace to live for you and to say “no” to the desires of my old self that try to seize control of my life.

I believe that as we continue to pray this prayer, and live it, we will be transformed. The Holy Spirit will show us the marvelous grace bound up in the Cross of Jesus. The Cross has the power to put the old self to death and make us holy. On our own we can do some of this, and we all have much good in us, but only with the grace of the Cross can we truly be holy, can we truly die to ourselves (our old self),  and can we truly have our gifts multiply 30, 60, and 90 fold – lest Jesus died for nothing.

The Cross is exciting, the Cross is powerful. Lord, we pray that we will know and experience its power more deeply in our lives.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine (http://www.wau.org/). To contact him, go to his website at http://www.joedifato.com.

Scriptures

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:4-7)

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:21-24)

It’s pretty safe to say that there is no simple answer. If there were, people wouldn’t still be asking it so persistently. But even as we admit that there is a mystery here, we should not conclude that intercessory prayer is useless, or worse, that God is too remote to care about us. He wouldn’t have sent his Son to die for us if he didn’t care. The witness of countless saints and biblical heroes tells us that we should always pray when we face difficult or challenging situations. But it tells us also that our prayer should not be limited to asking God to take away the problem or to demand the solution that we think is the best one. Rather, in our intercessions, we should also ask God to soften our hearts and help us stay open to the mystery of the way he is at work among us.

In our world, the word “mystery” usually means a riddle that needs to be solved, as in a crime novel or a crossword puzzle. But this isn’t the kind of mystery we mean here. Rather, mystery here speaks about God’s eternal, all-encompassing plan and purpose. It has to do with a plan from our heavenly Father that is so vast that we cannot possibly grasp it in its fullness. It is something that we will never figure out-but something that God can reveal to us a little bit at a time.

So when we face a trying situation or dilemma, we should continue to pray for healing or a solution. But we should also ask God to shed some light on the mystery behind this situation and to give us the grace to embrace his plan, whatever that may be. We should always keep our hearts open to the Lord and repeat the words of the psalmist: “I trust in your faithfulness” (Psalm 13:6).

May we never limit God or tell him exactly how he should intervene! Of course, we should feel free to tell him honestly how we feel about a puzzling situation-even to tell him what we wish he would do for us. But we should always make our prayers with the humility of children, acknowledging that our vision is clouded and our knowledge is limited. It won’t be until we are with the Lord in heaven that we will see the whole picture and understand exactly how “all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28). In the meantime, our best response is to pray fervently and to try our best to follow the Lord and live in his love.

We Can Change Lives! In all of our intercessions, be they for the sick, for an end to war or abortion, for the church, for healing in a marriage or family, or for our loved ones to come to know the Lord, we should never be anxious. Instead, let’s follow Paul’s exhortation: “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God” (Philippians 4:6). He is all-powerful, but he is also all-wise. And that means that we can rest in his provision, even as we try to work through difficult, challenging situations.

As we “stand in” for others and intercede, we will see our Father working powerfully among us. As incomprehensible as it sounds, we can change people’s lives with our prayers. It may not be exactly as we would wish, but we should know that whenever God’s people turn to him in prayer, he works marvels. So let’s never go a day without lifting up the needs that are on our hearts-both the large, global crises and the small, personal ones. He is a loving God, and he will hear and answer us.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The first paragraph of the article begins with the heading: “The Mystery of God’s Will.” It then poses the following questions:

• What about prayers that never seem to get answered?
• Why is there so much suffering-especially among those who are trying to obey the Lord?
• Why does God let good people die young?
• Why does he not intervene and stop all the abortions or put an end to war and genocide?

How would you answer these questions?

2. The article goes on to say that when we face a “trying situation or dilemma,” we should do the following:

• We should continue to pray for healing or a solution.
• We should also ask God to shed some light on the mystery behind this situation and to give us the grace to embrace his plan, whatever that may be.
• We should always keep our hearts open to the Lord and repeat the words of the psalmist: “I trust in your faithfulness” (Psalm 13:6).

If you have ever taken these steps, what were the fruits of doing them?

3. How have you seen Romans 8:28, “all things work for good for those who love God” answered in your own life?

4. The last paragraph begins with these words: “As we ‘stand in’ for others and intercede, we will see our Father working powerfully among us. As incomprehensible as it sounds, we can change people’s lives with our prayers.” Do you believe this? Why or why not? Share any examples of this.

5. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to lift up each others pressing needs, believing these words of Scripture: “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 7:11).

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

Faith and trust are the keys to intercessory prayer. Effective intercession does not depend on the holiness or maturity of the people praying. It may help, but it is no guarantee. Much more important are virtues like faith, trust, sincerity, humility, and persistence-virtues that we can all take up. As mentioned in a previous article, God simply wants us to turn to him with all that we are. It doesn’t matter if our faith is mature or immature, if we are newly converted or have been running the race for years. God promises all of us: “When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you” (Jeremiah 29:13-14). This is the kind of sincerity and persistence that brings us into God’s presence and releases his grace in our lives and in the lives of the people we are praying for.

When Bill was told that he had an aggressive case of prostate cancer, he sought out the members of his parish prayer group and asked them to pray with him for healing. After ten five-minute sessions of prayer-once a week-Bill returned to the hospital for more tests. Amazingly, his cancer levels were reduced to zero.

Of course, Bill was undergoing a course of chemotherapy at the same time as he was receiving prayer. He also made significant changes to his diet, under the supervision of his doctor. So on the one hand, we will never know for sure exactly what caused such a dramatic turnaround. On the other hand, Bill’s doctor was both excited and surprised by the results of the latest tests. He said it was very rare to see such a dramatic turnaround. Bill himself credits the power of God for his healing, and he has been sharing his story with anyone who will listen.

Fasting and Intercession. Throughout Scripture and church history, fasting and intercession have been intimately linked to each other. Over and over again people fasted when they wanted God’s help. Moses fasted for forty days before he received the Law (Exodus 34:28). Hannah fasted as she begged God to give her a child (1 Samuel 1:7-8). Nehemiah fasted for the restoration of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4). The entire city of Nineveh fasted in response to Jonah’s call to repent (Jonah 3:5). Daniel fasted as he prayed for insight from the Lord (Daniel 9:3). Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast prior to a battle (2 Chronicles 20:3). Jesus himself fasted before beginning his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-2). St. Paul fasted after his conversion (Acts 9:8-9). The elders of the church at Antioch were fasting and praying when the Holy Spirit told them to set aside Paul and Barnabas for their first missionary trip (Acts 13:1-2).

Logically, there is no reason why fasting should lead to an outpouring of grace, protection, or wisdom. But God does not always follow the limitations of our human logic. It’s not that fasting changes God, either. Fasting changes us. It humbles us and makes us more dependent on the Lord. By consciously choosing to deny ourselves, we are telling ourselves that we want to be more open to the Lord. We are saying that we want to be guided by his wisdom and his provision. We are saying that we don’t want to be content with our human ways of fulfillment and wisdom.

It’s not as if we are trying to convince God to do what we want. It’s more that we are taking steps to align ourselves with God and his ways. We are stating that we want to understand the situation we are praying about from God’s perspective. And we are also telling God that we want to empty ourselves so that he can fill us and use us as his instruments-whether of healing, comfort, guidance, or support-in this situation. More than anything else, fasting makes us more pliable and less self-oriented.

Once when the apostles were unable to deliver a demon Jesus said, “this kind” came out only by fasting and prayer (Mark 9:29). Likewise, there are serious needs-sickness, unemployment, broken relationships, depression-that require prayer and fasting. Either the situation is so desperate that we need to take desperate measures, or it is so confusing to us that we need to do something to make ourselves more available to God so that he can teach us and use us.

If you have a specific, pressing need or an important decision to make, consider turning to the Lord with fasting and prayer. If you are relatively new to this discipline, begin slowly. Maybe give up one meal and spend the time in intercession instead. You may want to try this once a week, and then slowly build up to a more rigorous fast. But always be careful to gauge your health and energy. It may also be a good idea to consult your doctor before trying anything too demanding. The goal, of course, is not to lose weight. And it’s not to prove yourself to God. It’s simply to make yourself more available to the Lord.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. In the article, we hear these words: “God promises all of us: ‘When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you’ (Jeremiah 29:13-14).” What do you think it means to seek the Lord with all your heart? How well are you doing? During this Advent and Christmas season of grace, what simple steps can you take to do better?

2. Are you a skeptic or a strong believer in the power of prayer to heal? In either case, the story of Bill’s healing of prostate cancer in the article can challenge our beliefs. In what ways are healings through modern medicine, lifestyle changes, and prayer compatible with one another? Are there any ways they are not?

3. The article gives several reasons “why fasting should lead to an outpouring of grace, protection, or wisdom.” How would you summarize those reasons?

4. What is your own experience with fasting? Have you ever fasted for “a specific, pressing need or an important decision to make”? If you have, what were the fruits of it?

5. What are some pressing needs in you, your family, or others that would benefit from focused prayer and fasting? Although the Advent or Christmas seasons are not necessarily seasons of fasting, why not begin praying for these needs now and follow it by prayer and fasting after the Christmas season.

6. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for the needs each of you have identified.

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

Bob, who is in his sixties, has had heart trouble for years. A few years ago, friends from church offered to intercede for Bob and pray with him for healing. He agreed, and they placed their hands on his shoulders and prayed. It lasted only about five minutes, but the effect was amazing. Bob could feel the love flowing from his friends, and he felt better physically as well. It was such a positive experience that Bob asked his friends to pray with him on a regular basis. He believes that the prayers have helped him both physically and spiritually. The medical results were also positive. Bob’s doctor reports that not only is his heart holding its own, it is even showing signs of improvement!

If you are praying for a particular intention, whether it is for a friend’s healing, for an end to abortion, or even for a job for yourself, don’t stop until you know that God has answered you. Don’t give up, thinking that your prayers are unimportant or “wrong.” Keep it up, and see how God acts. He may not give you exactly what you want, but watch and see: He will give you something very, very good.

Bargaining with God. In the Book of Genesis, there is a story about Abraham trying to bargain with God (Genesis 18:16-33). God came to visit Abraham in the form of angels and revealed his plan to destroy Sodom because of the wickedness of the people there. Abraham immediately thought of his kinsman, Lot, who lived there with his wife and daughters. Trying to turn the Lord’s hand, Abraham asked: “Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it?” (18:24). God agreed to spare the city for the sake of the fifty. But Abraham wanted to do everything he could for Lot, so he bargained with God: What about forty people? Thirty? Finally, he settled on ten, and with that, the angels left him.

God did not answer Abraham’s prayer in precisely the way Abraham asked, but he did spare Lot and his children. Genesis tells us, in fact, that God “was mindful of Abraham by sending Lot away from the upheaval by which God overthrew the cities where Lot had been living” (Genesis 19:29). This story tells us that we may not always get the answer we pray for but that God still hears our prayers and keeps us in his mind and heart as he unfolds his plan.

Don’t be afraid to bargain with the Lord. Many a soldier in battle has told God: “Keep me alive, and I will never miss Mass again for the rest of my life.” And they have kept their promise. Another fellow, a New York police officer who was on duty on September 11, 2001, told God: “Let me live through this catastrophe, Lord, and I will serve you.” Today he is running the RCIA program in his parish, is the president of the men’s club, and volunteers at the local food bank. Did these bargains really work? We will never know. But we do know one thing: They all believe that God answered their prayers, and it has profoundly affected their lives.

No Petition Is Too Small! Through intercessory prayer, we can touch people all over the world. We should feel free to ask God for anything, at any time, in any situation. Our prayers can penetrate geographical, cultural, and political barriers, bringing the healing, saving touch of the Lord into countless lives and situations. Through prayer, we can reach the men and women who are fighting in war as well as the children in the womb whose lives are at risk. We can help our children and care for our elderly parents. We can change the climate in a home and the relationship between alienated friends-all through intercessory prayer.

As we pray, let’s take up the attitude of the “watchmen” described in the Book of Isaiah. In fact, let’s paraphrase this passage and apply it to us: “Upon your walls the Lord has stationed watchmen. Never, by day or by night, should you be silent in your intercessions. No, keep reminding the Lord. Take no time to rest for yourself, and don’t give God any rest either. Keep praying until the Lord answers all your prayers and makes his church the pride of the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

No petition is too small for God, not even asking for a parking space on a crowded street or seeking relief from a little cold. Just be persistent. Ask your heavenly Father, and never stop asking.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article begins with two stories of men who experienced healing through the power of persistent prayer. Do you believe God can heal a person through prayer? Does the frequency and persistency with which you pray for and with people for healing match your faith in the power of prayer? If not, how can you change it?

2. Genesis 18:16-33 tells the story of Abraham trying to bargain with God on the fate of Sodom. The article also gives the examples of other men who did the same. Share a time when you tried to “bargain” with God. What were the results and what affect did it have on your life?

3. In the article, we hear these words: “Through intercessory prayer, we can touch people all over the world. We should feel free to ask God for anything, at any time, in any situation. Our prayers can penetrate geographical, cultural, and political barriers, bringing the healing, saving touch of the Lord into countless lives and situations. Through prayer, we can reach the men and women who are fighting in war as well as the children in the womb whose lives are at risk. We can help our children and care for our elderly parents. We can change the climate in a home and the relationship between alienated friends-all through intercessory prayer.” What steps can you take to put into practice these moving words?

4. The article calls us to be “watchmen” and exhorts us to “Keep praying until the Lord answers all your prayers and makes his church the pride of the earth.” During this grace-filled Advent Season, what are some ways you can answer this call to be a watchmen through “persistent” prayers?

5. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another for the grace to be watchmen who are never “silent in your intercessions.”

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

Paul made this request of his young friend Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul knew how critical it was to keep asking for God’s grace, both for ourselves and for those around us. He knew how important it is that we all continue to bring the needs of other people to God, “who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4).

Paul’s words are worth hearing today, since it can be tempting to minimize our need for God and the power that his grace can have on our lives and on the lives of the people around us. We all know how easy it is to take God out of the daily equation of our lives and turn to him only when things are in dire straits. But we also sense that this is not the right way for us to go.

At the heart of intercessory prayer is the conviction that God wants us to pray for our friends and loved ones every day: for good health, for strong relationships, even for the tests our children take in school. He wants us to bring every need and petition to him, confident that he is a good God who wants to help his children.

So let’s never miss another day of praying for our spouse, children, relatives, and friends. Let’s pray for our enemies and those who have hurt us as well. Let’s cast our nets wide and pray for our parish, our church, our city, and our country. Just as Jesus asked his Father to guide us and protect us at the Last Supper, let’s also ask for God’s guidance and protection today and every day.

Be Persistent. He told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. (Luke 18:1)

What was the parable? It was the story of a widow who persistently asked a dishonest judge to rule in her favor. Ultimately, the widow prevailed-not because the judge finally became just but because the woman’s persistence wore him down. If a corrupt judge will finally give in, how much more will God, who is perfectly just and merciful, hear and answer us! As Jesus put it: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7). So be persistent. Be bold. Be relentless. Don’t worry about wearing God out.

Another time, Jesus said: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence… . Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:5-10).

Jesus could not be more clear: God is not like a dishonest judge. Nor is he like a friend who doesn’t want to be inconvenienced. No, he is just, kind, and compassionate. He wants us to persist in our prayers. Why? So that we can push through any barriers of sin or unbelief that may be keeping us from receiving his blessings. He wants to show us that his plan and his provision are the best things we could ever have.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. How important is it to be faithful to this Scripture? “I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1). What steps can you take to be more faithful?

2. In the article, we hear these words: “We all know how easy it is to take God out of the daily equation of our lives and turn to him only when things are in dire straits.” In what ways do you find this happening in your own life?

3. The article goes on to say that “At the heart of intercessory prayer is the conviction that God wants us to pray for our friends and loved ones every day.” How strong is your conviction on this? How well are you living it out?

4. Reflect a few minutes on the two parables Jesus told on persistent prayer in Luke 18:1-8 and Luke 11:5-13. What do you believe the Lord is saying to you through these Scriptures?

5. The article ends with these words: “God is not like a dishonest judge. Nor is he like a friend who doesn’t want to be inconvenienced. No, he is just, kind, and compassionate. He wants us to persist in our prayers. Why? So that we can push through any barriers of sin or unbelief that may be keeping us from receiving his blessings. He wants to show us that his plan and his provision are the best things we could ever have.” If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another for the grace to be persistent in your prayers and to never give up hope.

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

Faith means that we believe that God has the power to answer all of our prayers in his wisdom and by his love and providence. It means that we believe that God wants to give us good things-in every form and in every way. It means that we trust that our Father would never forget his children.

Of course, there are reasons why we may not see our prayers answered in the way we want. But we need to be clear that indifference, unfaithfulness, or lack of love on God’s part have nothing to do with it. God always wants to give us good things, but sometimes the “good” we are looking for is not the “good” that God knows we need.

Praying in Faith. When Susan was diagnosed with cancer, she was at a stage in her life when her faith was at a very low point. Some people in her parish offered to pray with her, and as they did, they reinforced some simple, basic truths of our faith: God is alive, he loves us, and he knows what is going on in our lives. All the love and prayers she received from her brothers and sisters in Christ helped Susan’s faith to grow stronger. Every week, as people prayed with her, Susan grew stronger. Today, ten years later, Susan is still battling cancer. In fact, it has gone away and returned twice. But in all these ups and downs, one thing remains constant: Her faith continues to grow and remains stronger than her fears and anxieties. And it all started when a few people reached out to her ten years ago.

If we want to see answers to our prayers, we need to use all the faith we have. This doesn’t mean that we have to have heroic faith, and it doesn’t mean that only those with heroic faith will be heard. What it does mean is this: Each of us has a certain degree of faith. It may be deep and mature, or it may be more shallow and new. When we pray in intercession, it is vital that we use all the faith we have-no matter how much that is. A halfhearted effort is simply not enough. We need to seek the Lord with everything we have, according to the full level of our faith.

Each of us can choose faith over worry, doubt, and fear. Why? Because faith is a gift from God; it’s not something that we have to conjure up ourselves. It’s a powerful grace that helps us hold the ground when the difficulties of life-sickness, loss of job, family problems-come at us. So bring your prayers of intercession to the Lord with complete trust in him. And as you do, ask him to increase your faith.

Let’s Get Started. Intercessory prayer is not meant to be reserved for the toughest problems we face. Rather, we should be interceding every day. We should feel free to pray for our spouse and family every day. We should pray for the needs of the world every day. We should pray for our friends and neighbors, even our enemies, every day. This is what Jesus told us to do when he taught us to pray for our daily bread and to be delivered from all evil. So let’s begin today. Let’s put together a list of intercessory prayers. Let’s persistently pray for these intercessions every day. There is no petition that is too small or too unworthy.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The first paragraph of the article ends with this Scripture: “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Having faith should include believing:

• “that God is all-loving and all-powerful”
• “that God is our Father and that he hears all of our requests”
• “that God has the power to answer all of our prayers in his wisdom and by his love and providence”
• “that God wants to give us good things-in every form and in every way”
• “that our Father would never forget his children”

How strong is your faith in these beliefs.

2. The article goes on to say that “there are reasons why we may not see our prayers answered in the way we want.” Do you agree with the reasons given? What other reasons are there.

3. What do you think the following words from the article mean? “If we want to see answers to our prayers, we need to use all the faith we have.”

4. The article ends by saying we should be interceding every day in prayers, and it gives some examples of who we should be praying for. What would your list of intercessory prayers look like? Are you willing to commit to praying for these prayers every day – at least during the Advent and Christmas Season? If not, why not.

5. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another for the grace to be an intercessor, and to be faithful to praying for your list of intercessory prayers with expectant faith.

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles on the theme, “The Power of Intercessory Prayer.”

I pray for them . . . . I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word (John 17:9, 20).

Jesus spoke these simple words on the night before he died. He was sharing a Passover meal with his disciples, and just before going out to the garden of Gethsemane, he turned to his Father in prayer.

On the face of it, there is nothing particularly striking about this. Jesus was constantly at prayer. He always stayed close to his Father, keeping himself open to his Father’s will and immersing himself in the love his Father had for him. But if we look a little deeper, we would find something very important in Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper. It’s not that he prayed; it’s how he prayed that is so striking. Jesus actually prayed for his disciples—and he prayed for each one of us!

We don’t often think about Jesus as praying prayers of intercession. After all, he and his Father are one. So why would he feel the need to pray for us? If he knew God’s mind so fully, why would he have to petition God for good things to happen to us?

This article, and those that follow, will explore the way of intercessory prayer. We want to see how our own prayers of petition can unite with Jesus’ prayers for us to release God’s blessings on the people we are praying for. We want to see how our prayers of intercession can become just as powerful and effective as Jesus’ prayers. And along the way, we want to get a closer look at Jesus’ own heart of love and concern for us.

As Little Children. If we want to see answers to our prayers of intercession, it is important that we come to God in the same way that little children bring their needs to their parents. Who among us, when we were small, didn’t go to our parents and tell them every problem? We told them about our scraped knees, our fights with our friends, and our troubles with homework. In the same way, Jesus invites us to bring all of our needs to our Father, confident that he will not give us a snake when we ask for a fish, or a scorpion when we ask for an egg (Luke 11:11-12).

It’s interesting, however, that as much as children run to their parents for help, they also try to resolve things on their own. After all, isn’t that the cause of so many playground fights or brother-and-sister spats? As parents, we know that if they rely on their own too much, they will miss out on good solutions, and that’s why we intervene. At the same time, we know that if our children become too dependent on us, they won’t learn how to take responsibility for themselves, and they won’t learn how to become peacemakers with their friends.

Again, the similarity in our relationship with the Lord is clear. God gave us the gifts of intelligence and intuition so that we could grow and learn how to help ourselves and make this world a better place. He wants us to work hard to try to resolve the challenges we face in life. But at the same time, our heavenly Father wants us to bring these same issues to him so that he can offer us his help and guidance. Sometimes he will make everything right again. At other times he will let us work through the problem so that we can grow and mature.

Most of the time, however, the solution is a mixture of both our human work and God’s divine help. For instance, if we need a new job, we should ask God for help. But we still have to do the work of filling out job applications, putting together our résumés, and going on job interviews. The notion that I have to do it all and God can’t or won’t help me is wrong. But so is the notion that all we have to do is pray and then see what God gives us.

Our Great High Priest. In ancient Israel, it was the role of the priest to intercede for the people. His calling was to stand in, or to intervene, before God on behalf of the people. The priest performed his duties by offering the blood of sacrificial animals as a means of atonement and intercession.

Then, in the New Testament, the Letter to the Hebrews tells us that “Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be.” It tells us that Jesus “entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11,12). Jesus fulfilled the work of the Old Testament priests, and now he sits at the right hand of God, where he “lives forever to make intercession” for us (7:25).

How blessed we are to have Jesus as our mediator! He brings us, with all of our sins and needs, before our holy and perfect Father. With Jesus as our advocate, we can approach the throne of God with confidence and pour out our hearts. Because of who Jesus is, because of the redemption he won for us, all of us can now “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help” (Hebrews 4:16).

( Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com . Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/ ) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. In reflecting on how Jesus prayed, the article states the following: “We don’t often think about Jesus as praying prayers of intercession. After all, he and his Father are one. So why would he feel the need to pray for us? If he knew God’s mind so fully, why would he have to petition God for good things to happen to us?” How would you answer the two questions posed in this text?

2. The article challenges us with these words: “If we want to see answers to our prayers of intercession, it is important that we come to God in the same way that little children bring their needs to their parents.” What does coming to God as little children mean to you? Is this how you come to God in prayer? If not, what steps can you make to change this?

3. The article states that when we pray for specific challenges and problems in our lives, often “the solution is a mixture of both our human work and God’s divine help.” Why is this so?

4. The article says that Jesus now “sits at the right hand of God, where he ‘lives forever to make intercession’ for us (Hebrews 7:25). What impact does this reality have on your expectations as you pray?

5. The article ends with these words: “Because of who Jesus is, because of the redemption he won for us, all of us can now ‘confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help’ (Hebrews 4:16).” What are some areas of your life that need God’s “mercy” and “grace”?

6. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to “confidently approach the throne of grace” and pray for these areas. Also pray for others you know facing major challenges that they too would receive the mercy and grace to overcome them.

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/ ), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners , (http://www2.wau.org/partners/ ), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners . Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of articles on the theme, “The Power of Intercessory Prayer.”

Introduction. Just before he died, Jesus offered up a series of prayers to his Father on his behalf, on behalf of his disciples, and on our behalf. First he asked his Father to “glorify” him so that he could in turn bring glory to his Father. Then he asked his Father to guide and protect his disciples. Finally, he prayed that all of us would become one with the Father, with Jesus, and with each other (John 17). An hour or two later, when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus interceded again, saying, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). And again, just before he died, he prayed: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus knew how important intercessory prayer is. As the high priest of our new covenant with God, he lives forever to intercede for us, offering prayers to the Father on our behalf. This is something he will continue to do every day until he comes in glory to answer all the longings of our hearts.

The knowledge that Jesus is for us, always interceding for us and always blessing us, is so comforting and uplifting. But it also presents us with a challenge to our day-to-day lives. It calls us to join him in interceding—for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, and even for those who may not like us. Jesus wants us to bring all of our needs and wants to him—the big ones and the small ones.

Pray, and Never Give Up. In the articles that follow, we want to encourage you to increase your times of intercessory prayer. Why? Because persistent prayer brings amazing grace—grace that we need to live each day. I myself pray prayers of petition each day for the world—for a great outpouring of grace and for conversions. I pray for myself, my family, my friends, and for the whole Word Among Us family. I pray for the typical challenges and sufferings of life, as well as for small things like finding a parking space, resolving a computer glitch, having a meeting go well.

For the past twenty years, I have been praying for my daughter, Christine, asking that God would heal her blindness. This prayer has not been answered as I have asked, but I know that God hears me and is working in Christine’s life. She is a happy, well-adjusted young woman. She is not bitter about her blindness. And she is a tangible witness to the love of Christ. Maybe this is God’s full answer, but I am not going to stop asking for her sight. I still believe that all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

So as you read the articles in this series, I hope it helps you turn to the Lord and intercede every day. Make a list so that you don’t forget what you are praying for—and so that you can keep track of how God answers your prayers. And believe me, he will answer them!

( Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com . Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/ ) for allowing us to use his articles from their October 2009 issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article begins with examples of how Jesus prayed and interceded for others to his Heavenly Father. The article goes on to say that Jesus “lives forever to intercede for us, offering prayers to the Father on our behalf.” What impact does this truth have on how you live out your life as a Catholic man? What impact should it have?

2. The article goes on to say that we should join Jesus in “interceding—for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, and even for those who may not like us. Jesus wants us to bring all of our needs and wants to him—the big ones and the small ones.” Do you do this on a regular basis (preferably every day)? What steps can you take to make intercessory prayer an even greater part of your life?

3. The author mentions that he has continued to pray for his daughter. “For the past twenty years, I have been praying for my daughter, Christine, asking that God would heal her blindness. This prayer has not been answered as I have asked, but I know that God hears me and is working in Christine’s life.” Are there any prayers that you are still asking God to answer?

4. Do you keep a list of those people and the various needs you are praying for? Take a few minutes now to create an intercessory prayer list that you can pray for each day. How does your list compare to the author’s list?

5. If you are in a men’s group, take some time at the end of your meeting to pray for one another using the intercessory prayer list you created.

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/ ), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for The Word Among Us Partners , (http://www2.wau.org/partners/ ), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners . Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

What Does God’s Love Feel Like? Imagine a married couple sitting together on the front porch of their home. They are together, but hardly a word passes between them. They are simply enjoying being together; that’s all it takes to make them happy. Perhaps they are holding hands, perhaps not. The look in their eyes is one of peace, contentment, and satisfaction. They know each other’s weaknesses, flaws, and annoying habits, but none of that matters at this moment. Their love covers all of them (1 Peter 4:8). Sometimes a full hour can pass while they sit together, but the couple doesn’t care. They have lost track of time.

This is the way Jesus wants to be with us. Sometimes we like to use words—prayers, petitions, or statements of love and gratitude—and that can be very good. Sometimes Jesus wants to lift us out of some turmoil that we are in—as he did when he lifted Peter from the stormy sea (Matthew 14:31) or when he stopped a funeral procession and raised up a widow’s only son (Luke 7:11-17).

But there are also times when Jesus simply wants to pour his love upon us, and there are times when we simply need to receive that love. Perhaps Jesus wants us to be like Martha’s sister, Mary, who sat at his feet and listened to his words (Luke 10:38-42). Perhaps he is inviting us to come to him as little children, so that he can take us into his arms and bless us (Mark 10:14-16). Or maybe he wants us to be like John, confident enough in Jesus’ love to lay our head on his breast (John 13:23).

Sometimes we forget that Jesus already knows what is on our hearts: our sufferings, our joys, and the pressures of life. Nothing could be further from the truth! Jesus knows what is happening in our lives. He knows how we feel about him far more than that couple sitting on the porch know how they feel about each other. He knows how much we love him. More often than not, the problem is that our minds are focused on too many things. Distractions—like the demands of work or housekeeping—would mar the peace that the married couple experience as they sit together. But they realize this, and they have learned how to put these distractions aside.

Likewise, distractions in prayer can keep us from getting to the point where we are enjoying the presence of Jesus. So we need to learn how to quiet ourselves and come to Jesus just as we are.

It Doesn’t Take That Much Effort. It’s not all that hard to see how much couples who are in love want to be with each other. The feelings of unity, affection, and gratitude are overflowing, and it’s easy for them to engage each other. Jesus wants to make it easy for us to come to him as well. He is always reaching out to us. He promised that he would give us a heart that understands that he is the Lord and that his love endures forever (Jeremiah 24:7). He wants to call each of us, and all of us as a whole, “my people, my renown, my praise, my beauty” (13:11).

As we let these kinds of words into our hearts and minds, they replace the distractions of life that cloud our vision of the Lord. And something special begins to happen inside of our hearts as a result. Our hearts and minds are lifted up, and we find ourselves in the presence of God.

Why not stop for a moment right now and use the words from the psalms to see if you can experience a moment of peace and love with Jesus? Begin by calming your mind, then just pray these words—or something similar—over and over again. See your heart and mind yearning for Jesus: “‘Come,’ says my heart, ‘seek God’s face’; your face, Lord, do I seek!” (Psalm 27:8). Tell Jesus, “With all my heart I seek you. My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord” (119:10; 84:3). “You have given my heart more joy than they have when grain and wine abound” (4:8). “My heart is set on fulfilling your laws. To do your will is my delight” (119:112; 40:9).

After just a few minutes, you just might find yourself being lifted up. You just might experience an overwhelming sense of peace and joy, of confidence and hope. All it takes is a few minutes. It doesn’t take that much effort at all. Why? Because whenever we lift up our hearts to the Lord, he readily comes and takes us to his side.

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus. Brothers, God is not far from us. He is very near, and he wants to draw us to himself. He wants to lift us up to be with him. He wants to shower us with his love—a love that we can feel, a love that gives us peace, a love that transforms. If we lift up our eyes to Jesus, we will see him.

So what do you think? Can you let the Holy Spirit teach you inwardly what the church teaches outwardly? Can you let the Spirit teach you about God’s highest intentions for your life—to lift you up so that you can be drawn closer to Jesus?

Let us pray together:“Come, Holy Spirit, and open the eyes of my heart. Lift me up to heaven so that I can see the hope to which I have been called. Show me my glorious inheritance in Christ. Holy Spirit, transform me and fill me with God’s great power!” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their August issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article uses the love between a married couple as a way of illustrating the Lord’s great love for us. In what way is this a good analogy? In what ways does it fall short?

2. How would you describe the ways you have experienced Jesus love for you?

3. The article offers an approach to coming into the Lord’s presence. Take a few minutes to try this approach, using the following steps described in the article:

o  Calm your mind

o  Pray these words—or something similar—over and over again, while seeing your heart and mind yearning for Jesus: “‘Come,’ says my heart, ‘seek God’s face’; your face, Lord, do I seek!” (Psalm 27:8).

o  Tell Jesus, “With all my heart I seek you. My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord” (Psalm 119:10; 84:3). “You have given my heart more joy than they have when grain and wine abound” (4:8). “My heart is set on fulfilling your laws. To do your will is my delight” (119:112; 40:9).

4. What happened after trying the above steps?

5. The article goes on to say the following: “Brothers, God is not far from us. He is very near, and he wants to draw us to himself. He wants to lift us up to be with him. He wants to shower us with his love—a love that we can feel, a love that gives us peace, a love that transforms. If we lift up our eyes to Jesus, we will see him.” What steps can you take to make these words more of a reality in your life?

If you are in a men’s group, end your meeting by praying for one another for a new openness to “being lifted up in Christ.” Use the prayer at the end of the article as the starting point.

(The discussion questions were created by Maurice Blumberg, a Trustee of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (http://www.catholicmensresources.org/), and currently the Director of Partner Relations for Partners in Evangelism, (http://www2.wau.org/partners/), a Ministry of The Word Among Us to the Military and Prisoners. Maurice can be contacted at mblumberg@wau.org.)

We really can experience God’s love. Is it possible for us to be lifted up into the presence of the Lord? Yes, it is! Can we really experience God’s love in a way that makes us feel we’ve found heaven on earth? Yes, we can! Scripture tells us that Jesus stands knocking at the door of our hearts, with an invitation: “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

So as we ponder the hope of being lifted up into God’s presence, let’s look at two key considerations: First, God’s love is tangible; we can feel it. And second, if we want to be lifted up, we have to learn how to sense the presence of the Lord—and it is not all that difficult!

It’s Tangible. When we talk about being lifted up and experiencing God’s love, we are describing something that is invisible. We cannot point to it on an X-ray machine or find it with a CAT scan. But it is still something we can all know deeply. Just like the love between a husband and a wife or parents’ love for their children, the love of God is deep and strong, and the experience of it has the potential to be just as life changing.

How can we feel God’s love? Like all relationships, there has to be a connection. On one hand, love is a free gift, as seen in the way parents love a newborn baby. Think about Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son. The boy’s father was in a state of perpetual readiness, always waiting for his son to come home. In the midst of that “always,” the father’s love, compassion, and hope were constantly being poured out on his son, even though the son didn’t know it or experience it. In a similar way, God’s love is constantly flowing to us, even when we have turned away from him.

On the other hand, if we want to know the depth of God’s love, if we want to experience what it means to be lifted up, we have to put in some effort. Newborn babies experience their parents’ love without giving much in return. They may smile, squeeze our fingers, or calm down after we pick them up. But despite the beauty of these gestures, they are more superficial than the expressions of love that come from older children.

Think, for instance, about the expressions of gratitude that come from a teenager whose mother helps her work through relationship problems at school. Or think about the new father who finally realizes how his own father’s insistence on hard work, patience, and family unity have helped him be a disciplined and responsible husband and father. The more we become aware of the love that surrounds us, the more readily we will respond with our own expressions of love.

These are the kinds of responses that come to us as we discover more and more of what God has done for us. They are the responses that come when we find ourselves being drawn to Jesus, being lifted up by him, and being formed and shaped by his constant flow of divine love and providence.

In the next article, we will describe some of the tangible ways we can open ourselves more to being lifted up into the Lord’s presence and experiencing his great love for us.

(Joe Difato is the publisher of “The Word Among Us” devotional magazine. To contact him, go to his website at www.joedifato.com. Many thanks to The Word Among Us (http://www.wau.org/) for allowing us to use his articles from their August issue. Used with permission.)

Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men

1. The article opens with these two questions: “Is it possible for us to be lifted up into the presence of the Lord?” “Can we really experience God’s love in a way that makes us feel we’ve found heaven on earth?” How would you answer these questions?

2. What is your understanding of this Scripture quoted in the first paragraph? “If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

3. Have you ever sensed the presence of the Lord, e.g., at Mass, in prayer, or in a specific situation? How would you describe it? What impact did it have on you?

4. Many Scripture scholars think that “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” could also be called “The Parable of the Father’s Love.” Which one do you prefer and why?

5. In the article we hear these words: “The more we become aware of the love that surrounds us, the more readily we will respond with our own expressions of love.” Why is this true not only on a human level, but even more so when it comes to God’s love for us? Can you give some examples from your own life?

6. What do you think St. Paul meant by the following Scriptures, and how do you think they apply to your life?

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5:5)

For the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)