The Temple in Jerusalem, that Jesus called his “house of prayer,” was like a magnet that drew him there to pray and renew his challenging mission. Years earlier, his mother, as a baby, was presented there, as was he, when 40 days old. At age 12, Jesus was separated from his parents, staying there in the Temple for three days. He may not have been feeling lost at all but at home, as he claimed he was “in my Father’s house” (Luke 2:49). He likely assumed his parents would find him there!
No doubt Jesus knew and prayed Psalm 122:1: “I rejoiced when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord.” And then, one time Jesus went to his house of prayer and “cleaned house” of clutter. (See Luke 19:45-47.)
Do you have a favorite house of prayer? Are you drawn there to worship? To relax, meditate, walk and look around? Let it speak about your spiritual journey. Go often with your local congregation to express your love of God and neighbor in your house of prayer.
Is that interesting that most of us think of Temple being where God is?!?!?! *** Acts 17:24, “He is the God Who made the world. He also made everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth. He doesn’t live in temples built by human hands!” *** 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple? Don’t you know that God’s Spirit lives among you?” *** 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Don’t you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit? The Spirit is in you, and you have received the Spirit from God. You...
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There are too many places for me to name that are the house of prayer for me. One of the places that I will always remember is the Bahai Temple in Chicago, Illinois. That temple had so many stained-glass windows representing all the religions of the world. Looking up at the massive, tall ceiling. Feeling that peaceful presence of God was amazing. I would go there to meditate. Then I lived in Japan for 2 years and got another perspective of "house of prayer." The simple, open, horizontal shapes of the Buddhist temple (in the midst of Tokyo) to the...
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AMEN!
In the midst of nature, the outdoor Chapel at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Canyon Lake, TX. Dear Living Faith Family…as always, God Bless Us All And All Who We Love!❣️
It doesn’t have to be a church but somewhere you feel God present. Our church has a dedicated sewing ministry with its own room in our “center”. Every Friday ladies come and go between 10 am & 2pm to sew on projects that are distributed out to both our church family and the needy community such as our cancer centers where people receiving chemo tend to be very cold during treatment (quilts) or the women’s shelter who see women in and out with no way to carry belongings (pillow cases and small purses with prayer cards and a cross) and...
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Amen. :)
Amen Amen Amen God bless you all
Fr. James thank you for. your words. it has me thinking about that favorite spot and the feeling of peace when in the presence of God. I can't say I have one place, only the place where I can see God there and feel his loving hands. Those places seem so few and far apart in this society anymore. Blessings to all the LFF, especially those with extra needs these days. May the Holy Trinity fill the hearts of all and guide us to a heavenly earth.
The Cathedral of St. John The Evangelist in Milwaukee Wisconsin
Amen!
Amen... I love the beautiful church of St. Leonard featured today
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Originally from a city (I.e. New Orleans) with a large and faithful Catholic community, I’m fortunate to frequent too many beautiful churches to list. With that said….My favorite House of Prayer is hands down Saint James Catholic Church in Medjugorje, the Marian apparition place of pilgrimage. Along with all of the visitors from around the world on pilgrimage visiting Medjugorje, as well as, the amazing locals, I’ve never seen Catholicism practiced as beautifully as I’ve witnessed and experienced in Medjugorje anywhere else in the world. The locals in Medjugorje truly embody this undeniable spirit of peace, joy, and holiness which...
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