“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. … These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mk 16:15, 17-18).

“And now, Lord, … enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30).

This is God's hour of power. On Faith-and-Reason Fridays, we focus more on understanding what we believe, using the natural and supernatural gifts given by God, the Holy Spirit, the fountain of all Wisdom. On Miracle Mondays, we focus more on praying in faith, using the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit, who “comes to us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings” (Rom 8:26).

Christianity is a miracle-based religion: “And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith” (1 Cor 15:14).

God's power has not lessened. Jesus is alive and well. He is doing everything in our own day that He did in His ministry on earth and in the apostolic age. “With God all things are possible” (Mt 19:26).

It's God's job to answer our prayers as He pleases.

“We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16).

We can't go wrong by praying. We learned how to walk by walking badly, how to talk by talking badly, and how to ride a bike by riding badly. We can learn how to pray by praying badly.

Prayer is like pizza: “It doesn't have to be perfect to be good.”

Like Peter, we need to get out of the boat in order to find out if it is Jesus walking on the water in the heart of a great storm (Mt 14:22-33).

Our faith is in GOD, not in our faith. That's why faith is always as small as a mustard seed. Our part is next to nothing compared to God's action in inspiring our prayers. “Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt 17:20).

The Spirit comes to us in our weakness and empowers us to say, “Abba, Father!”

“Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.”

We have a quorum for prayer: “Amen, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:19-20).

God looks at the secrets of our hearts. He is closer to us than we are to ourselves. He is paying attention to us 24 x 7 x 365. Any words will do–even just a look in God's direction is enough. That's how mothers respond to their children. God is the source of all mothers' love; He is at least as loving as a mother toward us.

We do not have to figure out in advance how God will react to our prayers. All we have to do is pray.

• Parable of the unjust judge: “Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary” (18:1-9).
• “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:16-18).

• “Not seven times, but seventy times seven!” (Mt 18:22).
• Robert Degrandis:
  • Forgive God (let go of resentments about what God could or should have done to protect us from suffering).
  • Forgive ourselves. Perfectionism breeds depression. We cannot hate ourselves into loving God and accepting His mercy. Our relationship with Jesus begins with His decision to forgive us our sins and to join us to Himself–just as we really are today, right now. The enemy of our human nature torments us as an “angel of light” (2 Cor 11:14).
  • Forgive those whom we know personally: family, friends, acquaintances.
  • Forgive all of God's public enemies.

• The thorn in Paul's side: ““Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).
• Jesus' agony in the garden: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Mt 26:39).

• Today's readings.
• Feast of The Holy Innocents, martyrs.
• Fourth day of Christmas (the 12th day is January 5th, the day before Epiphany).

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• Herod murdered two of his brothers-in-law, Mariamne (his second wife), his mother-in-law, and three of his sons (Alexander and Aristobulus from Mariamne; Antipater from his first wife, Doris). The Emperor, Caesar Augustus, is said to have said, “It is better to be Herod's pig than his son.” He had ten wives in all. Cf: "Herod the Great."

E-mail prayer requests:

• From Larry and his wife, Lisa: “I’m normally a private person, but struggling with an untimely loss of my younger brother who was shot to death outside of a bar, in front of his wife, in Durham, NC last night (Dec. 26) around 11:30pm EST. They did arrest the shooter and details are sketchy. Life is short, never miss a day to tell the ones you hold dearly how much you love them. Thank you in advance for your prayers for my Sister In-Law, my brother, and most of all their three children. I’ll take some, too.”
• From Marion in Florida: there was an explosion and then major fire in the condo building across the parking lot from us. Our building is fine, but 8 out of the 16 units across the lot, were occupied, and those folks are now going to have to find somewhere else to live for a while.

• Last week's calls
  • Chris Hanson from Ohio: prayers for her sister, Amy, and Morgan, her newborn child.
  • Kathy from Rochester: For healing from anorexia nervosa for herself, and healing from sexual abuse. Also for her father, who is recovering from heart surgery, not doing very well, his name is Robert. Also for her brother Matt, who started drinking again.
  • Patricia from Buffalo: For her and her brother Gene. For health, mental, physical, emotional, and end to harrassment. from neighbors and otherS
  • Keson from Rochester: For healing for him and also a miracle that he pass his GED exam.
  • Peg from Facebook. Prayers for me that my faith in Christ becomes THE focal point in my life and strengthens the bonds to Christ I have and that He has for me.
  • Bonnie from Springville: For Jerry from eyesight and heel pain; for his brother JIm, cancer; for her dad Keith, walking back and balance; for stepmother Evelyn, that blood levels improve; for uncle Stash, cancer; for friend PeeWee, his health; for woman friend Pat, her health; and for herself, her health and night vision.
  • Dorothy from Rochester: For 2 friends with cancer; Bernadette, has suffered with ovarian cancer and has left the Catholic church for a protestant church, that she will return to her true home; and for Lucille, just celebrated her 90th birthday in October and is suffering from breast cancer, prayers for healing.
  • Could we also pray for those who are ill, alone, or mourning during this holiday season?
  • Peggy from Clarence: For a young mother who has a drug problEm and may lose her children, prays for healing. Also for Peggy's children, who are not getting along, for healing, conversion and peace in her family this christmas.
  • Pete from Tonawanda: For his son's addiction and his wife and him in their marriage.
  • Sophie from Facebook: Prayer for me and my whole family to strenghtenn our faith in God..when Christmas looks so gloomy.
  • Julie from Facebook: Prayers for healing for my aunt Shirley and all of my family for the loss of my Uncle Joe. May he be at comfort with the good Lord.
  • Call screener's question: What is the difference is between a Church, a Cathedral, and a Basilica?

• Today's readings.
• Anniversary of the death of St. Peter Canisius, SJ, the Second Apostle of Germany.
• Prayer request called in early: for Amy and her newborn baby, Morgan, who was born by Cesarean section.

Last week's calls.

• Allen from Rochester: for wife, Diane
• Kathy from Rochester: for herself for healing from anorexia and sexual abuse and for her father who had heart surgery and for brother who started drinking again
• Anne from Rochester: for her children to return to Church
• anonymous from Amherst: for peaceful resolution to a VERY serious family matter (legal issue)
• anonymous: pray for all people who are going to be alone on Christmas
• Amy: Prayer of thanks for all of the trials in my marriage and for the rediscovery of my faith through them. St. Monica, pray for me!
• Joe outside buffalo: Son went into rehab yesterday for herione after being clean
• Jean from Niagara Falls: for 7 year old Brandon who was just diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that the doctors dont know how to treat
• Ralph from Rochester: Hi Fr. Marty, Please pray for Deb who is suffering with cancer

• Feast of St. John of the Cross.
• Today's readings.

“They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Is 40:31).

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:4-7).

The last word is joy.

• The Jesus Prayer; Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.
• Laying on of hands.
• Anointing with oil.
• Morning Offering (Priesthood of the Faithful).
• Agony in the Garden (Desolation; the Way of the Cross).
• “Lord, teach us to pray.”
• Ministry of the disciples (two-by-two).
• Good guilt (repentance and amendment) vs. bad guilt (feeling unaccepted and unloved).
• Chronic conditions (retardation, autism, mental illness).
• Addictions–one's own and those of others.
• “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed …”
• Watch out for browbeating by the “Angel of Light.” Perfectionism breeds depression.
• Pilgrimages
• It is our job to preserve our peace of mind. “Peace be with you.”
• “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice!” Yes, we suffer–but JOY wins in the end!

• Use of imagination in prayer.
• Realize the greatness of GOD: infinite, untiring, not surprised by our misfortunes, not driven by unconscious desires, needs, or brokenness, selflessly attentive, wise, just, beautiful, good true, ever-present, all-powerful, always ready to save. God is great!

Job's three friends told him that good people only get good things; they argued that Job's suffering was a consequence of sin and therefore recommended that he repent and get right with God.

Job blamed God for all of his suffering.

Job was right and the friends were wrong (42:8, 10).

It is wrong to think that no harm can come to good people. The fact is that God allows innocent people to suffer from others' sins, crimes, and mistakes, as well as from natural evils completely independent of human evil.\

Job was chosen to suffer because he was a good person. Because he did not sin against God in his suffering, he was rewarded with double for everything he had lost.

Bad things do happen to good people. It is all God's fault that this is so. It is He who created a universe in which the innocent can be crushed by natural or human evil. It is He who will reward all who cling to Him in their suffering.

Job's innocent suffering and restoration prefigures Jesus' suffering, death, and Resurrection. “Through the Cross, light dawns.”

There comes a time when we all must die. No saint has escaped the sentence of death by calling upon the Name of the Lord. We can and should pray for healing; we must also pray for the grace of a happy death.