Two questions I frequently hear are, “How do I hear God speak to me?” and “How do I read the bible?” Fortunately, the Church efficiently answers both questions in the Mass. The Mass is our greatest prayer. As the Second Vatican Council tells us, the Mass is the Source and Summit of Christian life1 . We all need a daily routine of prayer. Prayer is our communication with God and communication must be about listening as much as talking. God speaks to us. The Word of God is always available, in the bible and Church Teaching. The constant teaching of the Church is that, “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture form one sacred deposit of the Word of God2 .” The Church, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives us that “sacred deposit of the Word of God,” along with the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, in the Mass.
A simple and powerful way to hear God’s voice in our prayer is to use the bible verses and prayers from the Mass. We can get the Scripture readings and prayers for the Mass of each day either on the internet or from periodicals such as, “Magnificat”, “Give us this Day”, or “The Word Among Us” also available as smart phone apps. A daily routine of prayer, 10 or 15 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day, keeps us connected to God. There are specific readings for the Mass of each day of the year. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the Church has organized those readings to help us grasp the messages they contain. We cover most of the bible in a two-year period in the weekday Masses and a three-year period for Sunday Masses. The Church also gives us the calendar of liturgical seasons, Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time, to keep us tuned into how God acts in history and in our lives. The prayers and scripture readings in the Mass follow and illuminate those seasons.
An extremely useful and time efficient approach is to make the first reading, the Gospel Acclamation (verse before the Gospel), and the gospel for the Mass, daily or upcoming Sunday, part of your prayer. Reading these attentively only takes about ten minutes. The first reading and the gospel always share a theme3 . The Gospel Acclamation highlights the main theme of the gospel4 . Working out that theme is an interesting way to embrace God’s message.
Communication is necessary for any meaningful relationship. Prayer is our communication with God. Using Mass texts in our daily prayer lets us hear His voice. God wants to hear from us, but we need to keep in mind that He has something to say to us. Praying with Mass texts also keeps us connected daily to Christ’s enduring presence among us in the Eucharist. Praying with the scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday deepens our participation in that Mass.
Our need for relationships, family, friends, coworkers, is the central reality of our lives. Healthy relationships require communication. The most important relationships in our lives, the ones where we really thrive and grow, strengthen through the years. The most important relationship in our lives is our relationship with God. Christ is here for us in the Eucharist and speaks to us in the words of Sacred Scripture and the teaching of the Church. He wants to reveal to us our inner nature and our supreme calling5 . Our commitment to prayer is our commitment to that relationship that gives meaning and direction to our lives.
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