Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. Have you ever tried “praying the Scriptures?” If so, what happened? Was it helpful in making your times of prayer more fruitful?
2. If you have never tried “praying the Scriptures,” are you willing to try it at least once a week over the next few weeks? Why or why not? If you are in a men’s group, share the results of trying it at your next men’s group meeting.
A Special Note from the National Fellowship of Catholic Men:
The National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM) is pleased to offer 1) a free commemorative magazine on the life of Pope John Paul II and 2) a free copy of The Word Among Us devotional magazine with every order of resources from the NFCM website. The commemorative magazine honors the life and legacy of Pope John Paul II, and contains a picture essay, several articles, and a week’s worth of meditations that speak of his life, his teachings, and his heart. The Word Among Us magazine is a monthly devotional magazine that provides inspiring meditations on the daily and Sunday Mass readings, as well as articles on a monthly theme, special feature articles, and a week of meditations . The May Issue theme is “Eyes on the Prize, Dealing with Distractions in Prayer.” The National Fellowship of Catholic Men is pleased to partner with The Word Among Us (www.wau.org) to make these free offers possible.
[Editor's Note: This article is the sixth in a series on the theme “Being a Man of Prayer.” Click here to find the first article, second article, third article, fourth article, and fifth article]
Have you ever heard the term “praying the Scriptures?” More importantly, is it anything that we as lay Catholic men are even capable of doing? Well, the best way to find out is to try it. Over the next few weeks, try to spend about 10-15 minutes reading and reflecting on some Scripture passages, e.g., the daily or Sunday Mass readings. Then allow them to be a basis for your prayers. Don’t worry about whether they are well thought out. Just pray what’s on your heart. Your prayer can be in the form of a question or a concern, or they can be prayers of praise, thanksgiving, and worship to our loving Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, his beloved Son. To help you better understand this type of prayer, below is an example of praying the Scriptures using the readings for the Thursday, April 28, 2005 Mass (Ps. 96; Acts 15:7-21; Jn. 15:9-11).
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! (Ps. 96:1)
O Lord, how can I sing? Sometimes I feel so burdened with all of my worries; my mouth is not full of songs but of complaints. My eyes are downcast, or worse, focused on myself and my problems. It seems so hard to raise my eyes to you!
Declare his glory among the nations; his marvelous works among all the peoples! (Ps. 96:3)
Right now, Father, I fix my eyes on your marvelous works, and I open my mouth to declare your glory! You are seated in the heavens, but remain intimately involved in my life. You made the heavens and every living thing. You established the world and all that is in it. Despite what my fears and anxieties tell me, all creation remains in your hands. Neither can your love for me be shaken, no matter what I may face!
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice. (Ps. 96:11)
If the sea and all that fills it rejoice (and the fields and trees, and even heaven and earth) how can I not rejoice in you, my Father? I see the trees and flowers as they reach to the heavens to give you glory. I see the majesty of the mountains; the beauty of fields; the power of the ocean; and the grace of a gentle stream. All of these bring glory to you, Lord. How much more can I rejoice, I who am made in your image and likeness?
As the Father loves me, so I also love you . . . These things I have spoken to you that my joy might be in you, and that your joy may be full. (Jn. 15:9,11)
Jesus, you love me as the Father loves you! When you look at me, you rejoice — because you see past my problems and weaknesses. You see your life and the goodness you have placed in my heart, just as you see everything else that you created. You see the plans you have for me, and you eagerly anticipate all the ways you can work in my life. How can I keep from singing? How can I keep from joining all creation in rejoicing in you? How can I not be filled with joy?
“O Holy and Loving Father! O gracious and glorious Lord! I raise my eyes to you, and with my voice I will declare your praises. You make my joy full! I exult in your love for me, and rejoice in your grace and your mercy!”
(This article by Maurice Blumberg uses the daily meditation in the April 28, 2005 issue of The Word Among Us magazine. Used with permission. You may e-mail the NFCM at info@nfcmusa.org or visit the NFCM website.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
