"Endow, Derive, Bestow, and Bring About" — 17th Sun. in Ordinary Time, 7/30/2023

How do you pray? Maybe you've been praying for years and haven't thought about how you do it. Listen to today's homily to learn the value of beginning with a "pre-prayer" to help you get ready to pray. The "pre-prayer" of "Endow, Derive, Bestow, and Bring About" helps us lift our hearts and minds to receive God's inspiration in our prayers. It can also help us relax in understanding that the power of prayer is truly in God's hands and His plan for us. The full pre-prayer is, "Loving and wise God, endow and derive, bestow and bring about what you will with this prayer I'm about to pray. Amen." Catholic Mass Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 30, 2023: First: First Kings 3: 5, 7-12 Psalm: Psalms 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-130 Second: Romans 8: 28-30 Alleluia: Matthew 11: 25 Gospel: Matthew 13: 44-52