ABOUT THIS EPISODE

In this episode: we are still on the theme of Holiness – where we take a deep dive into Prayer. In particular, How does Prayer fit into the grand scheme of Holiness? How can we be Perfected in Love?

These are the 2 main areas we shall unpack in this episode…

The main takeaways are as follows:

• Communication is the foundation of any relationship. Prayer is how we communicate with God in a conversation ... to be in communion with Him.

• When we consistently have a conversation with anyone, we have a relationship. And so Prayer is about our relationship with God.

• And in order to Love God deeply, i.e. to keep the 1^st commandment to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.,” we must be deeply rooted in Prayer.

• To be “Perfected in Love,” we gotta have a solid relationship with Christ.

• To truly fall in Love with Christ, is to be Mindful of Christ. To get to know Christ is to get to know the Word of God.

• We can get the ball rolling by doing something tangible – like starting a conversation … by lifting our thoughts and our heart to Christ.

• Then we open our Heart to hear the living Word of God by reading Holy Scripture. And we embrace ourself in His presence through Contemplative Prayer.

Looking ahead in Part 3 of the Introduction, I will take a closer look at Baptism as it relates to our call to “holiness.”

Show Notes

Reflection Questions

1. How do you communicate with God?

2. How often do you have conversations (dialogues) with God?

3. When was the last time God has spoken to you?

4. Do you miss God if He doesn't speak to you for a few hours?

5. What kind of relationship would you like to have with God?

6. Are you putting God first?

7. What are you going to do about it?

References made in this episode

Bible Verses ( in the order of citation)

• 1 Jn 4:19

• 1 Th 5

• Mt 22:37

• Jn 14:21

• NMI 33

Catechism of the Catholic Church

• #2559

• #2653

Other Resource/Adaptation Links

• Agape Catholic Bible Study

• Catholic News Agency

• Dr. Brant Pitre, Distinguished Research Professor of Scripture at the Augustine Institute, Graduate School of Theology.

• Luigi Gioia, Touched by God: The Way to Contemplative Prayer

• Novo Millennio Ineunte, Jan. 6, 2001 (henceforward cited as NMI) – Apotolate Letter from Pope John Paul II

• Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sinapore

• The Catholic Encyclopedia