Of vows & commitment

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The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Friday, Memorial of Our Lady of the Way (Madonna Della Strada), 24 May 2024
James 5:9-12     ><))))"> + ><))))"> + ><))))">     Mark 10:1-12

Lord Jesus Christ,
on this 24th of May,
I join the Society of Jesus
in honoring Your Mother
they have affectionately called
Santa Maria Della Strada,
Our Lady of the Way;
thank You for introducing me
to her last year, a wonderful
title of Mary reminding me always
of You, Jesus, who declared Yourself
as "the Way, the Truth, and the Life"
(John 14:6).

Help me, O Lord,
along the way, 
to be faithful to You, 
keeping in mind the reminders
of St. James today to
"not complain about one another...
to persevere like the prophets...
and do not swear, either by heaven
or by earth or with any other oath,
but let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes' and
your 'No' mean 'No'" (James 5:9, 11, 12).

How timely are Your words,
O Lord, in this world where promises
and oaths are made only to be broken;
make us more sincere in our words,
to really mean what we say,
to be committed and persevering
always in standing by who we are
as children of the Father,
called to love and be merciful 
like Him.

We pray for all couples
as well as priests and religious
having crises in keeping
their vows to You, Jesus,
to lovingly serve You among
the people You have entrusted us;
through Mary Your Mother,
our Lady of the Way,
may we find You always Jesus
in every turn and stop we make,
to persevere especially when the
path is so narrow and difficult,
never to turn away when we find
the Cross looming in sight.

Forgive us, dear Jesus,
for the "hardness of our hearts",
especially in those moments
we refuse to listen and even stifle
Your tiny voice of truth and
compassion in our hearts,
when we insist on following our
own ways of pride and power 
than Your ways of
peace and justice,
kindness and care;
take away our stony hearts, Lord,
and give us natural hearts
that beat with firm faith,
fervent hope and
unceasing charity and love
in You like Mary,
our Mother.
Amen.