Reflection: Today we see Queen
Esther throw herself down before the Lord in prayer, pleading for the desires
of her heart. She, a woman of great
power, humbled herself and laid her life before God. She prayed to Him day and night. She recognized her human weakness, that she
could not conquer the things of her life without God. She shows us that she knew of God’s power
through a knowledge and understanding of His sacred scripture. She pleaded with God for His help and His
guidance. We too must lay our life
before God, recognizing that we can do nothing without Him, that we are His
child, and that He will care for us. We
come to God with a knowledge of His sacred scripture, we come to Him with a
relationship that we have built, and we come to Him with an understanding that
only He can provide us with all that we need.
“If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who
ask him.”
Reflection
for younger saints:
Today we read about Esther, who is a great and powerful queen, coming to
God in prayer. She recognizes that she
cannot live her life on her own, and she needs God’s help. God assures us that He will provide us with
all that we need, all we must do is ask.
Big
Picture: Lay your
needs at your Father’s feet
Discussion
Starters:
Younger saints: What does it mean to be a queen and to be powerful? Do people who have earthly power need God’s help in their lives? (Yes, we all need God’s help and guidance in our life.) How do we ask God for help? (We talk to God in prayer, we spend time with Him in Mass and in adoration, we share our needs with God.) Will God always provide us with what we need? (God tells us that He will always give us all that we need. This is different, though, from giving us everything that we want.)
Older saints: Slowly read through the reading from the book of Esther. Try to picture a stately queen, dressed in royal garments, lying prostrate on the floor with her handmaids, pleading to our Lord for help. It is a humbling picture to envision. Have you ever come to our Lord in such a humble and pleading fashion? Do you tend to come to God and tell Him your wants and ask why He isn’t giving them to you? Reflect on the fact that God will provide for us all that we need….but wants are different than needs…what is it that you truly need in your life, and what are really just wants?
Younger saints: What does it mean to be a queen and to be powerful? Do people who have earthly power need God’s help in their lives? (Yes, we all need God’s help and guidance in our life.) How do we ask God for help? (We talk to God in prayer, we spend time with Him in Mass and in adoration, we share our needs with God.) Will God always provide us with what we need? (God tells us that He will always give us all that we need. This is different, though, from giving us everything that we want.)
Older saints: Slowly read through the reading from the book of Esther. Try to picture a stately queen, dressed in royal garments, lying prostrate on the floor with her handmaids, pleading to our Lord for help. It is a humbling picture to envision. Have you ever come to our Lord in such a humble and pleading fashion? Do you tend to come to God and tell Him your wants and ask why He isn’t giving them to you? Reflect on the fact that God will provide for us all that we need….but wants are different than needs…what is it that you truly need in your life, and what are really just wants?
Fun
Fact: The good
angels are in heaven to love and adore God, to pray for us, and to serve as
guardian angels (St. Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism No. 1, 2008, p. 24).
Saint
of the day:
Name: Saint Peter Damian
What they are remembered for: St. Peter Damian held a special place for the poor in his heart. He devoted his life to prayer and service of the poor. He was a monk, became an abbot that founded 5 hermitages, and was later named a Cardinal-Bishop. He was called upon by the Pope at multiple points in his life to settle disputes and to guide his fellow priests.
Feast day: February 21
Daily Notes:
Name: Saint Peter Damian
What they are remembered for: St. Peter Damian held a special place for the poor in his heart. He devoted his life to prayer and service of the poor. He was a monk, became an abbot that founded 5 hermitages, and was later named a Cardinal-Bishop. He was called upon by the Pope at multiple points in his life to settle disputes and to guide his fellow priests.
Feast day: February 21
Daily Notes:
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