Family Scriptural Prayer

By Charles Cloud

During my years in pastoral ministry, I learned that two important things were being neglected. First, many Christians do not have a real familiarity with the Bible. Second, far too many families do not regularly pray together. I have written this prayer book to address both of these needs. There are 52 weeks of daily meditations, meaning that the book can be started at any point in the year and that it can be used again and again since the Bible constantly speaks to us in new and different ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles Cloud
• Release date: Sep 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370365456

Charles Cloud

I spent almost 25 years as a Catholic Christian pastor. After leaving ministry, I earned a Master of Science in Addiction Counseling and worked in that capacity for almost two years before health issues forced me to quit. I am currently on disability and spend my time writing or working around my home. Working in the yard has been a key means for me to maintain my mental health.

Book preview

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

During more than twenty years of pastoral ministry, I realized a couple of things that continue to concern me.

First, I realized that many Christians are not familiar with the Bible. The Bible, as we know, is the Word of God. It is God revealing Himself, making Himself known to us. One of the earliest Christian scripture scholars, a man named Jerome, went so far as to declare that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. In other words, if we do not know the Bible then we do not know Jesus Christ. It was not that long ago that the Bible was so well-known in Europe, England and other western countries that allusions to it can be found in a great variety of literature. Shakespeare, for example, used many biblical allusions in his plays. Even everyday language often contains allusions to biblical stories. This common familiarity with the Bible has been lost to an alarming degree over the past several decades.

Second, I realized that many families are not in the habit of praying together on a regular basis. Children learn a great deal from the example of their parents. If children do not see their parents praying, then they are less likely to establish a habit of praying in their own lives. How can somebody maintain a relationship with another person if there is no communication between them? More specifically, how can a person maintain a relationship with God if he is not in the habit of communicating with Him?

The book you hold in your hands is my attempt to address these two important concerns. Here, you will find brief daily comments on stories and teachings from the Bible. In addition to these comments is a suggestion regarding something the family might pray about together. The purpose is to provide families with an opportunity to speak to one another about a story or teaching in the Bible, then to pray together about what they have just shared. In this way, the members of the family will become more familiar with the Bible and they will also support and encourage one another to adopt a habit of daily prayer.

I realize that there are a variety of resources for daily scripture meditation and prayer. There are subscription services which provide booklets for daily meditation each month, for example. In this text, I have decided to do something different. You will find here 52 weeks of daily stories or teachings from the Bible. This format will allow you to begin at any point during the month or year, as the arrangement is not tied to the liturgical year. You may ask: What about next year? That’s a good question, and the answer may seem strange at first: Start the year again. Initially, it may seem that going through the same series of biblical stories and teachings every year would get boring. It won’t. One of the wonderful things about the Bible is its depth of meaning. As we journey through life, the same biblical story may speak to us in vastly different ways. Even if you read the same biblical stories and teachings each year for a dozen years or a dozen decades, fresh meaning will always speak to your heart. For those who want to know more, I have included the Scripture references for each day.

At the bottom of most pages, you will find some empty space. I encourage you to use this space to note any especially useful comments made by a member of your family. There is a larger space at the bottom of each Sunday, where you may note comments regarding the homily at Mass. For those using an ebook form of the book, you may want to keep a notebook handy to record such comments.

In an appendix at the end of the text you will find web links on how to pray the rosary and how to pray some of the more popular novenas. You will also find some prayers that I find particularly powerful. This appendix is designed to assist you in your family prayer times. After your family discusses the brief commentary provided for each day, some form of common prayer will provide a nice way to close your family prayer time. You might also decide to close your time together by listening to a Christian song, either traditional or contemporary in style. You will also notice that I have provided the same commentary for every Sunday – encouraging you to attend Mass together as a family. You might want to discuss the homily or readings together after Mass.

If you allow it, this book will set you on a journey that will end only when you see God face to face in Heaven. It is my heartfelt prayer that your family will set out on this journey together.

Week 1

Sunday – Mass

Gathered with the community at church to worship God and thank Him for all He has done for us, offer to God all of the good you have done during the week and pray for God’s continued blessings on your family.

Monday – Creation

Genesis 1:1-31

The Bible tells us that after God created the heavens and the earth, He looked at all He had made and declared that it was good. He celebrated the beauty, the harmony and the wonder of all creation. Often, we take our world for granted. How long has it been since you went outside to gaze upon the stars of the heavens? When was the last time you celebrated the small wonders of trees and flowers? This evening, please share with each other something beautiful you have seen recently. Afterwards, join together in a prayer of gratitude for God’s gift of creation.

Tuesday –

Adam and Eve

Genesis 2: 1-25

After God created Adam, He recognized that Adam was alone, and lonely. Therefore, He created Eve as a companion for Adam, somebody with whom he could share his life. None of us would want to live our lives alone. God provides us with a family to share our daily lives and friends with whom we can laugh and share our thoughts. Perhaps most precious of all, God has created marriage to unite two people in a lifelong sharing of life and love. As you gather together as a family this evening, spend a few minutes to give thanks to God for your family and friends.

Wednesday –

Serpent’s Temptation

Genesis 3:1-5

God created a universe of beauty and harmony. In the midst of this beauty, however, evil appeared. In the image of a serpent, evil approached Adam and Eve. Despite the countless blessings that God had showered upon creation, the serpent was able to trick Adam and Eve into thinking that God did not truly love them. Rather than remaining faithful to their relationship with God, they turned away from him and surrendered to pride. Do you ever doubt the love of the members of your family, your friends, or of God? Gathered in prayer this evening, reaffirm your love for one another and your trust in God’s love for each one of you.

Thursday -- Original Sin

Genesis 3:6-12

Adam and Eve lived in a relationship of love with God. The Bible tells us that God would walk with them in the garden during the evening twilight. He blessed them in countless ways and showed His love for them in a myriad of ways. They were commanded not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge and warned that if they did eat from the tree, then they would die. The serpent, however, convinced them that the Tree of Knowledge was actually something good. In other words, by forbidding them from eating of the Tree, God was keeping something good from them. Simply put, the serpent convinced Adam and Eve that God didn’t really have their best interest at heart. Doubting God’s love, Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge. This sin plunged Adam and Eve into shame, so that they hid when God came to walk with them in the garden. Do you sometimes wonder if your family and friends really do love you? Tonight, show your love for one another by joining together in prayer for one another.

Friday –

Adam’s Punishment

Genesis 3:17-24

Having turned away from their relationship with God, Adam and Eve found that they had damaged their relationship with one another and with all of creation. Rather than being equals, Adam would now dominate Eve. The ground, instead of freely producing food for humanity, would now bear thorns. Worst of all, Adam and Eve were exiled from the Garden. When we choose to sin, we turn away from God. When we repent, He forgives us. Even when we are forgiven, however, the damage done to our relationship with Him must also be repaired. The same is true when we harm our fellow human beings. They may forgive us, but our relationship with them may not be as strong as it once was. In your prayer tonight, ask of God the wisdom. to do what we can to renew our relationship with those we have harmed in some way.

Saturday –

We are All Guilty of Sin

Romans 3:9-20

Yesterday, we pondered the sin of Adam and Eve. Tonight, we acknowledge that we are all sinners. Just as the sin of Adam and Eve damaged their relationship with God, so our sins damage our relationships with one another. When we tell a lie, for example, we damage the trust that others have in us. When we steal, we deprive others of what is rightfully theirs. It is necessary for us to acknowledge the ways in which we have sinned against others if we are to repair the damage we have done. It is also necessary for us to reach out in forgiveness towards those who have harmed us if we are to restore our relationship with them. Tonight, acknowledging the ways in which we have harmed members of our family, reach out to them in mercy and forgiveness.

Week 2

Sunday – Mass

Gathered with the community at church to worship God and thank Him for all He has done for us, offer to God all of the good you have done during the week and pray for God’s continued blessings on your family.

Monday –

The Serpent’s Punishment

Genesis 3:14-15

The serpent, having sowed the seeds of doubt and sin in the hearts of Adam and Eve, was also punished. We are told that he would have to crawl on his belly and would be banned from the company of other animals. Later Biblical references indicate that the serpent was really a manifestation of Satan. In the Gospels, Jesus tells us that He saw Satan cast out of Heaven and the Book of Revelation tells us that the angel Michael and those allied with God conquered Satan and those allied with him. With this in mind, pray together the Prayer to St, Michael asking his help against the devil. This prayer is provided below for your convenience.

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL

St. Michael the Archangel,

defend us in battle.

Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,

O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,

thrust into hell Satan,

and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world

seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Tuesday –

Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1-8

The damage done to human relationships by the sin of Adam and Eve is made even more obvious by the story of their sons, Cain and Abel. Both offered sacrifices to God but, for reasons that are not clear, God accepted Abel’s sacrifice but not Cain’s sacrifice. Cain’s jealousy quickly grew into resentment and hatred, so that he resorted to murdering his brother. Surely our own jealousy and resentment do not result in murder, but they still damage our relationship to one another. It is important that we recognize the destruction that jealousy leaves in its wake. Rather than being jealous of somebody, we must choose to celebrate the blessings that come into the life of another. This evening, ask yourself if you are jealous of other members of your family, of friends, co-workers, or fellow students. If jealousy has entered into your relationship with another person, now is the time to let it go and give thanks for the good things that happen to others.

Wednesday –

Cain’s Punishment

Genesis 4:9-16

After murdering his brother, Cain was driven away from his family. Nonetheless, we are told that God marked Cain so that he himself would not be murdered by another. What was God’s reason for protecting Cain in this way? Perhaps God was providing him with an opportunity for repentance. This reminds us that we cannot simply reject somebody who has done wrong. We may give in to anger or jealousy or pride. This does not mean that there is not still good in us. We sometimes do bad things, but we also do good things. Perhaps a member of your family has hurt you in some way. Remember that they have also done good things. This evening, share with one another the good things you remember them doing.

Thursday – Enoch

Genesis 5:21-24

The story of Enoch is relatively unique in the Bible. We are told that Enoch walked with God and then he wasn’t there anymore because God took him away. In other words, Enoch did not suffer death but instead was simply taken to be with God. The closest similar story in the Old Testament is Elijah, who was taken to Heaven in a fiery chariot. Catholic tradition also holds that Mary was assumed into Heaven, but this is not recorded in the Scriptures. It seems that Enoch was faithful to God in an