THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN LENT, MARCH 10, 2022

MASS READINGS

Responsorial Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,

for you have heard the words of my mouth;

in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;

I will worship at your holy temple

and give thanks to your name.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Because of your kindness and your truth;

for you have made great above all things

your name and your promise.

When I called, you answered me;

you built up strength within me.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Your right hand saves me.

The LORD will complete what he has done for me;

your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;

forsake not the work of your hands.

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

REFLECTION

"Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me."

Sometimes we are in a situation where we need the help of God and the Saints, but don't have a lot of time to say a long prayer.

We might be about to cross the door towards a job interview. Or started the car on our way to school or work. Feel scared of what the doctor might tell us of our lab results. Or just turn off the lights and about to close our eyes to enter sleep. Or even, God forbid, be involved in an accident.

There might not be too much time to say a long prayer. Just a few seconds. Or less to say a prayer. Still, in that fraction of time we can send a quick prayer towards Heaven.

In the English language these prayers are called "Arrow Prayers" or "Jaculations". The root of the word is: Pitching, Throwing, Hurling *. It could also be "Darting".

These prayers can be found all the way back to the Desert Fathers. Saint Gregory also used them. These quick cries to God are usually quick passages of the Bible:

• "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." (The Jesus Prayer)

• "My Lord and My God!" (Jn 20:28) (The prayer of Saint Thomas the Apostle)

• "God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me." (Psalm 69—Introductory Prayer to the Divine Office)

• "Vade post me satana!" (Mt 16:23)

• "Lord, I believe; help me in my unbelief." (Mk 9:24)

• "May the Holy Cross be my light." (Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict)

These quick prayers are not a way to "order" God or the saints around. They are a way to sanctify the moment we are living. Ora et labora, this is, to offer the hardships of labor as a way of sanctifying prayer.

We do have to be careful that our quick prayers don't become mere exclamations. Or even "bad words". How often in the English language the name of Jesus is used as an expletive. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Phil 2:11). Instead, His Holy Name is used as a curse word!

At PAPA we have the devotion to the Jesus Prayer. Saint Alphonsus explains the meaning of Jesus's Holy Name in a beautiful way. This can be found HERE.

To simply say this beautiful prayer, and pretty much for any occasion, just:

Inhale Jee

Exhale sus!

Do this many times during the day. Fill your heart with the Holy Name of Jesus. And don't be afraid to send those prayers of love, or of petition to Heaven. He awaits for us.

God bless y'all!

* Root: Merriam Webster