Daily Gospel Reflection for June 2, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 11:11-26

I suspect that if St. Teresa of Calcutta commanded a mountain to be taken up and cast in the sea, the mountain would waste no time in getting going. Such was the faith of this amazing woman.

I learned about her flying novena when I led a small group of women through Fr. Michael E. Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory. It seems this novena - called a flying novena because she prayed the Memorare nine times in a row instead of nine days or nine hours in a row - was one of the more efficacious weapons in her spiritual arsenal. So great was her faith that she chased the ninth Memorare with a tenth of thanksgiving for the answered request. I can imagine her tiny self next to a giant mountain, praying the ten Memorares and the mountain getting up and dashing off to the sea.

I have experienced the power of the flying novena often, and I consider it the prayer that is always answered. I have learned that it is good to have this unwavering and childlike trust in God’s providence. It’s not presumptuous - it’s faith. Our heavenly Father is a generous God, Who loves to answer our prayers. We just need to believe that. We have it from Jesus himself in verse Mark 11:24:

“Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”

How could we ever doubt? Whether it is St. Teresa of Calcutta’s flying novena or a prayer from your heart, believe. Believe that God your Father desires to give you what you ask for. Believe in His generosity and faithfulness.

Ponder:

Do you believe Jesus when He says you will receive what you ask for in prayer?

Pray:

Jesus, please help me to believe in answered prayers.

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I suspect that if St. Teresa of Calcutta commanded a mountain to be taken up and cast in the sea, the mountain would waste no time in getting going. #DailyGospel

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