WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 7/22/16

July 22, 2016  /  Joe Parisi

Perseverance in Prayer

"For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."  Lk 11:10

In Sunday's Gospel from Luke a disciple asks Jesus to teach him how to pray and he responds with a basic, shortened version of the Our Father, a prayer most of us learned as children. Jesus goes on to teach about the attitude we should have in praying.  As St. Ignatius described, prayer is a conversation we have with God, as one friend speaks to another.  Jesus always insists that God is a loving and merciful parent who will give His children what is good for them. If we ask Him, He will respond. A good parent sometimes has to say No to their child for their own good but they always respond.  Jesus wants us to have that kind of confidence when we pray, when we speak to Our Father.

In Sunday'sResponsorial Psalm, we pray, "When I called you answered me; you built up strength within me." Ps 138:3  I find that is often God's answer to my prayer. He gives me the strength to face and deal with whatever reality is sending my way and challenging me to respond in a faithful and loving way.  God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is always giving us the grace we need to be a little more faithful, a little more hopeful, a little more loving than we know we can be by ourselves. Let us trust that inspiration for it always leads to our good.  We can add to our morning prayer, "Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen today that You and I can't get through together."

 

Fr. Ralph Huse, S.J.

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

 

UPCOMING RETREATS WITH SPACE:

Women: 8/4, 9/12, 10/3, 11/14

Men: 8/18, 8/25, 9/15

Co-Ed: 9/2

Co-Ed Recovery: 8/11

First Responders: 11/1