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Some of Jesus’s encounters can seem a bit harsh. Take his interaction with the Canaanite woman from the Gospel of Matthew.

“Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.” But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” And he answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

What should we take from this? I’d suggest it’s that God doesn’t always answer our prayer immediately. It was her third plea that was heard. We’re called to not only ask boldly, but to also persist in prayer. The answer may be, “yes,” it may be, “no,” but most often, it’s, “not yet.”

Let’s pray. Father of Grace and Mercy. Grant us the faith of the Canaanite woman, helping us to persist in patience in our prayer, trusting you hold what is best for our life. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2, two minute prayer reflections on the daily readings of the Church. Listen anytime at Prayfor2.com, or on the Redeemer Radio app. Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus Christ, God made man, was a great story teller. There are over 30 unique parables documented across the four Gospels. The science of story telling has shown that stories are more relatable than a lecture. Jesus, being the Divine Psychologist, understood this, and used it often during the three years he was with his disciples.

Today, let’s listen to the Parable of the Sower from the Gospel of Matthew.

”That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Let’s Pray.

Jesus our Savior. You sow many seeds of grace in our lives, including through your parables. May our hearts be rich soil for the truth of your love to spring forth and bear good fruit.

Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2, two minute prayer reflections on the daily scripture readings of the Church. Listen anytime at Prayfor2.com, or the Redeemer Radio app.

It’s important to remind ourselves that Jesus wasn’t a meek and mild pacifist. As the Way, the Truth and the Life, His word was likened to a sword, challenging us to admit our shortfalls and work to change. And humility and change don’t come easily for any of us.

Listen to this instruction from the Gospel of Saint Matthew.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household. …He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it. He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
In the book of Hebrews, we again hear of the sword of truth.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him.”

Let’s Pray.

Jesus our Messiah. You brought the fullness of truth to humanity. May we receive the sword of truth with humility, working in grace to make the changes necessary to live a life more fully in you.

Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2, two minute prayer reflections on the daily scripture readings of the Church. Listen anytime at Prayfor2.com, or the Redeemer Radio app.

The Bible says to, “fear not,” but also says “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” So which is it?
In its proper context, “fear of the Lord” is a sense of awe and wonder about a God that not only created all, but is love itself. And he’s a God that knows and cares for you intimately.

According to scripture, God knew you before you were born, counts every hair on your head, and holds you in the palm of his hand. And in love, you were created to reflect His love into the world.
Let’s listen to Jesus imploring us to “fear not,” in the Gospel of Matthew.

“So have no fear; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Let’s Pray.

God our loving Father. You created all, including us. Help us to fear not, and grant us the eyes to see you with awe and wonder – for the magnificence of your boundless creation, and for your intimate love of us.

Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2, two minute prayer reflections on the daily readings of the Church. Listen anytime at Prayfor2.com, or the Redeemer Radio app.

God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus also left us an enduring gift – his very body under the appearances of bread and wine. Jesus instituted the Eucharist in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Saint John.

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

Let’s Pray.

Jesus our Redeemer. Thank you for the life giving strength you give us in the Eucharist – your body, blood, soul and divinity. May it continue to be manna in our earthly desert, and strength for our journey. Amen.

This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2. Listen anytime at Prayfor2.com or the Redeemer Radio app.

Mary Undoer of Knots is prayer devotion based on a second century quote from Saint Irenaeus. He said, “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith.”

Pope Francis has a special devotion to an image of Mary Undoer of Knots, where she is holding a white ribbon, knotted on one side and completely smooth and untangled on the other.

Today, let’s pray a prayer he wrote in her honor:

“Holy Mary, full of God's presence during the days of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father's will,
and the Devil was never capable to tie you around with his confusion.

Once with your son you interceded for our difficulties, and, full of kindness and patience you gave us example of how to untie the knots of our life. And by remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order, and make more clear, the ties that link us to the Lord.

Holy Mother, Mother of God, and our Mother, to you, who untie with motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands our intentions, and to free the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks.

Through your grace, your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters.

Amen

This is Mike Kelly with Prayfor2. Listen anytime at Prayfor2.com or the Redeemer Radio app.