Msgr. Roger J. Landry
National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies
Daily Reflection for July 27, 2025
Here is the video of today’s reflection:
The Youtube generated transcript for today’s reflection is:
I’m Monsignor Roger Landry, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. I’m here in Lagiewniki, Poland outside of Krakow at the Shrine of Divine Mercy. Right behind me is where St. Faustina Kowalska is buried. And on this Sunday, July 27th, we have a chance to reflect on the mercy of God. One of the great ways that God extends to us his mercy is making it possible for us to talk with him in prayer. And so this Sunday, he’s going to teach us about prayer. He’s going to teach us the Our Father. And one of the petitions of the Our Father is forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Give us your mercy just as we are merciful with others. Then he gives an extraordinary parable about this next-door neighbor who’s banging for the next-door neighbor to open up in order to be able to give some food to help out with a guest who’s arrived at night. We’ve all had those situations of desperation where we’re looking for somebody to help us. Jesus uses that parable to say that even if a neighbor would be reluctant to open up in the middle of the night and help, he’s going to be prompt because of his extraordinary love in hearing our prayers. And then Jesus tells us at the end, ask and you shall receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you. What father among you would give his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread or a poisonous eel when he asked for a fish? If you who are evil, he says with a wink in his eyes, know how to give your kids good things, how much more will your heavenly father give good things to those who ask him. One of the most important things of the church’s mission work led by Pope Leo across the globe is to teach people how to communicate with God. In other words, to teach them how to pray. Today, as we pray according to Jesus’ instructions, let us do so knowing that if we ask him for the new evangelization, if we ask him for the evangelization of the world, he wants to hear that prayer. So for all missionaries, we’re knocking today. God bless you.
The Gospel reading on which the reflection was based was:
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.”
And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you,
if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”