Prayers from a Discerning Soul

As I realized now, the three readings for today's Mass are verily appropriate to my current spiritual search. Let my prayers lead you to seek God's reassuring presence yourself. Let us pray together.

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Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
a feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
the web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from every face;
the reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

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My Lord and my God, how much have I put trust in You?

I have long told myself that I ought to offer my life to You, but sometimes, my feelings are giving me an impression that I am not in a good disposition to receive You.

When will I feel good about myself and being a discerner of Your Call?

At the end of the day, will I still be able to feel You? Your Presence sustains me, and nourishes my soul. When will circumstances be under my control so I may direct my time and effort to contemplate on Your love, virtues and revelations? Or when shall I be led by Your Spirit to see You in my own circumstances, not needing anymore extra time to meditate?

When shall I see You, in my everyday life?

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Phil 4:12-14, 19-20

Brothers and sisters:
I know how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.

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Lord God, you have revealed to me recently a business venture that You have introduced to me at a time when my soul was sorrily downtrodden and on the verge of giving up.

You have inspired me to build my own character and business in a Spirit that is acceptable to You.

I offer You my efforts at building this business, so that my family may be able to enjoy living in abundance and share the gifts of Your generosity.

This is all for the ultimate goal of leaving everything in the future to serve You wholeheartedly, while fulfilling the needs of my family for material sustenance.

If it is Your Will, let it be so in Your Name.

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Mt 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people
in parables, saying,
"The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who gave a wedding feast for his son.
He dispatched his servants
to summon the invited guests to the feast,
but they refused to come.
A second time he sent other servants, saying,
‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet,
my calves and fattened cattle are killed,
and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away,
one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants,
mistreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged and sent his troops,
destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready,
but those who were invited were not worthy to come.
Go out, therefore, into the main roads
and invite to the feast whomever you find.’
The servants went out into the streets
and gathered all they found, bad and good alike,
and the hall was filled with guests.
But when the king came in to meet the guests,
he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it
that you came in here without a wedding garment?'
But he was reduced to silence.
Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet,
and cast him into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Many are invited, but few are chosen."

When will I have to stress myself to get more time to meditate? When will I have the comfort of not worrying how much time I have left in my schedule? What keeps me from fully placing all my cares on You?

Will I be able to offer my life to You in full? Will I have to die and spill my blood for the love of You?

At that last day, will I have the grace to wear the wedding garment?

Will I be called? But Lord, above all,

Will I be chosen?

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Burn within us, holy fire, so that chaste in body and pure of heart, we may deserve to see God.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

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photo credits: http://www.eat-online.net/english/artistic/images/vermeyen.jpg, http://www.transgrowthinc.com/images/iStock_Mountaintop.jpg, http://www.personal-development.info/images/AbundanceAttractingEFT.jpg

Job's Doubts Answered

Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5

The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said:

Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning
and shown the dawn its place
For taking hold of the ends of the earth,
till the wicked are shaken from its surface?
The earth is changed as is clay by the seal,
and dyed as though it were a garment;
But from the wicked the light is withheld,
and the arm of pride is shattered.

Have you entered into the sources of the sea,
or walked about in the depths of the abyss?
Have the gates of death been shown to you,
or have you seen the gates of darkness?
Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all:
Which is the way to the dwelling place of light,
and where is the abode of darkness,
That you may take them to their boundaries
and set them on their homeward paths?
You know, because you were born before them,
and the number of your years is great!

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again;
though twice, I will do so no more.

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I am sometimes very annoyed at my own personality. Really I am.

There are times when I feel very disappointed for myself. I am usually known by people close to me as outgoing, noisy and very alive. But I am not always like this. My classmates tend to see a different side of my personality: usually reserved, quiet and wearing a pensive, sometimes even sad, face.

Today's first reading tells us of how Job tried to think about God's purpose for His life, and how God responded to his doubts. How will I approach God? How will I know the answers to my questions in life?

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Saint Ignatius of Loyola, help reveal to me the mystery of the purpose of life. Amen.