September 4, 2025 // Thursday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Colossians 1:9-14
Reflect on the Word //
Her veil delicately rested on her head, meeting her elbows, her floor-length dress sat comfortably on the top of her shoes, her smile was wide, and her joy was complete as she prepared to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist for the first time. I looked over at her parents who were beaming with pride, her grandparents who were equally in awe, and the whole row of people relishing this long-awaited moment. I snapped a couple of photos from my vantage point and remembered praying for this beautiful girl when she was in the womb and then holding her as a newborn in awe of the gift of her life.
The sea of girls in white dresses and boys in their suits was brought here through prayer. Many had received their Baptisms at the same spot they were now receiving the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. From their first Sacrament, when they were welcomed into the Church, these children have been loved through unceasing prayer by great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents.
Their actions echo Saint Paul’s words: “From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Colossians 1:9). The fruit of that prayer was now clothed in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
Saint Paul reminds us that we draw closer to Jesus through the generosity of the unceasing prayers of so many that have gone before us and walk alongside us on this pilgrimage journey. The community gathering to celebrate Sacraments reminds us of those prayers that call out from the depths of our hearts for the salvation of our loved ones. In these celebrations we welcome a family member back to the Church, receive with joy the newly baptized, and witness the grace being given to those whom we love through the communion of the universal Church expressed in our local community. And we look forward to seeing the full effect of our prayers when we are all in communion together in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Relate to the Lord // What community supports and celebrates you? Pray for them today.
Mytae Carrasco Wallace is Las Vegas born and raised and holds a Masters in Public Administration. She and her husband have the privilege of leading Pre-Cana retreats for their home parish. On the daily you can find her raising her three kiddos, choreographing dance moves to entertain her children, and doing her own version of carpool karaoke. She was a contributing author to All She Had. Find out more about her here. Mytae es creada y nacida en Las Vegas, NV. Tiene su Maestría en Administración Pública. Ella y su esposo tienen el privilegio de dirigir los retiros de Pre-Cana para su parroquia. Diariamente puedes encontrarla criando a sus tres hijos, coreografiando movimientos de baile para entretener a sus hijos y cantando su propia versión de karaoke en el carro. Fue autora contribuyente de All She Had. Conozca la mejor aquí..
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