Together!!!

Jesus promised to be with us whenever we gather together in His Name.

Today, people often say that it suffices to have a so-called “private” relationship with Jesus.  They pray on their own, sayng that this is a suitable alternative to coming to Mass, or praying the Rosary with another or with their family, or meeting with others for bible study or joining in any other form of common prayer.

It is true that we can and ought to pray on our own, but it is also very clear that Jesus greatly desired that we pray together.  When the disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray, Jesus told them to pray “Our Father…”, not “My Father, who art in heaven,,,”.  Obviously, Jesus wants us to pray this prayer with others.  Even during those times when we are praying the Our Father alone, Jesus wants us to think of others and for that reason, He continued His lesson on prayer with “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those…”  Jesus left heaven for earth to establish family…and His wish is that we live and pray like a loving family.  When Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the Gospel, He didn’t send them one by one, but two by two so that along the way of love, they would learn to grow in the sense of family, the sense of community.  

I hope that this reflection on the Word of God will help you see the immense value of coming together in prayer.

I am happy to be able to pray along with all of you.