The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We have life because of the gracious gift of the Holy Trinity. The Father gave us breath of life, the Son gave us the light of truth, and the Holy Spirit gives us inspirations that lead to holiness. When the Word of God became flesh, he sanctified our lives through his own life and redeemed us from death through his own death. He came down from heaven to dwell with us and show us the way, the truth, and the life we are all called to follow. Moreover, he gave us the light of his gospel and the sacraments of the Church to guide us along the narrow path to salvation. He has not abandoned us to darkness, but rather given us a bright light to lead us where we are called to go.

Do we thank God every day for the gift of our lives? Do we give him honor and glory for the graces he has offered us as we walk His Way, seek His Truth, and live His Life? Do we trust that the light of faith, hope, and love will guide us where we need to be?

O Lord, your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it.

Amen.

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

We can learn a lot about how to live a holy life by following Anna’s example. We should spend more time in the presence of the Lord not only in church (via the mass, adoration, etc.), but also in fasting and prayer. We should also make a point to give thanks to God for every day He has given us in this life and speak to others about Jesus and the salvation he offers to all. It can be so easy to get caught up in the worries of the world and forget about spending time with God. We should seek out God’s presence in our lives and let Him speak to us through the sacraments and our daily reflections on the graces He has given us.

How can we better worship God, both day and night? How can we cultivate the habits of fasting and prayer? How can we express our thanks to God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, thank you for your redeeming graces in our lives.

Amen.

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The thoughts of our hearts are revealed by how we respond to the gospel. Will we be righteous and devout, like Simeon, or will we ignore God’s call when it comes? As we live our lives, we shall have our metal tested in order that our faith (or lack thereof) might be revealed. If we do follow in Christ’s footsteps, then we also must expect to be contradicted by the world and be pierced by the sword of sufferings. We should be accepting of these times of trials because it is through them that we learn what it means to be truly faithful Disciples of Christ. It is through our difficulties that we discover our strengths and weaknesses. Without adversity, we would never know how strong our love for God and His children is. It is easy to love others when there isn’t a cost or when we benefit from the love, but how we react when difficulties arise is the true measure of our characters and the quality of our love.

What lies at the center of our hearts, the world or God? Are we willing to suffer in order to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit? How does the way we live reveal the thoughts of our hearts?

O Lord, you have blessed us with the gift of your beloved Son, let us respond to your gift by bearing Jesus wherever we go.

Amen.

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.

Most of us can hardly imagine what it would be like to have to flee our homes in fear of our lives, nor can we fully comprehend the sacrifices Joseph and Mary made in order to be the parents of Christ. Being a holy family for them was full of self-sacrifices. Joseph gave up his pride in order to take Mary as he wife in spite of her being pregnant. He also gave up his home to flee to Egypt where he had no contacts, no prospects of work, and no common language. So too, Mary gave up being close to her family and ultimately would see her beloved son scourged and crucified. Whenever we are tempted to complain about our lot in life or start to take for granted what we have, we should remember that Mary and Joseph suffered much more than we can imagine and though they might not have understood the reasons, they did accept that their trials were for God’s greater glory. Perhaps we should follow in their examples and be willing to trust God’s plan for us and whatever sorrows might come to us for the greater good.

Are we as trusting of God as we should be? How can we become more like Mary and Joseph when it comes to doing God’s Will? Are we willing to go wherever God leads us and do whatever He wants us to do?

O Lord, you called us, help us to rise up and do your will.

Amen.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, 
listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded 
at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, 
and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

The holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph shows us all how to live our lives in relationship with God and each other. We, like Jesus, should always seek to do our Heavenly Father’s Will. So too, we should be like Mary and Joseph seeking to understand Jesus’ role in our lives and the messages God sends us through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. We might not always appreciate the tribulations we suffer, just as Mary and Joseph didn’t, but we can accept with humility that our sorrows can help us grow in wisdom and favor before God and man. This is why we should treasure our trials just as much as we do our triumphs. By doing so, we learn to appreciate not only what we have, but also the sufferings of Christ. In this way, we imitate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ by responding to our adversity in the same way as he did… by not letting it trouble our hearts or sour our souls. The holiness of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph’s family did not come from lack of hardship, but rather the selfless acceptance of God’s Will without counting the cost.

Do we ask God why He has done something to us? How can we learn to transform our anxieties into trust in God’s Divine Plan? How can we appreciate what we have and to be willing to suffer for the glory of God?

O Lord, we shall treasure all your words in our hearts in the hopes of one day growing in wisdom and favor with you and your children.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

It is so tempting to talk back to someone who is pushing our buttons, to explain ourselves to others when they question us, or otherwise speak without thinking first. However, it is important for us to hold our tongues and give God a chance to speak through us. When we are in the heat of the moment, we can say or do things we might regret later and so it is important for us to bring God into our thoughts during these moments of trial. We need to learn to have patience with others, especially when they are persecuting us in some way. The best way to do this is by allowing God to form the words of our response with mildness and love. Of course taking a step back from these heated exchanges isn’t easy, it takes time and practice to foster a spirit of calmness in the face of our troubles. But when we succeed at letting God speak through us, we can see the grace-filled results in the reactions of those around us. So the next time we are tempted to speak without thinking, let us take a deep breath and let the inspiration of the Holy Spirit fill us with the right words.

Do we speak before we think? Do we bring the spirit of God into our conversations with others? How can we make God present in all of our relationships?

O Lord, speak through us.

Amen.

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

We should spend every day glorifying and praising God for all He has done for us. Like the shepherds, we should make haste to visit our Lord, especially in the Eucharist, and be ever thankful for the graces He has given us. We should keep all His blessings close to our hearts and reflect on them just as Mary did during her most holy life. Sometimes we can take God and the sacrifices He’s made for us for granted. However, if we set aside time each day to express our gratitude for everything He has done for us, then we will be more aware of His endless graces in our lives.

Do we give glory to God every day? Do we treasure all of the little and great things He does for us? What virtues can we learn from the story of the nativity and the holy family?

O Lord, we glorify and praise you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for us.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Advent

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

We are all called to be prophets and to prepare the way of the Lord and bring the good news of salvation to others. We do this by following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, living lives in imitation of Jesus, and giving glory to the Father for the great things He has done for us. We also do this by speaking comforting words to those in need of them and acting with compassion for all God’s children. In a way, we are the first fingers of dawn, heralding the radiant love of God for our families, friends, and neighbors. And if we do God’s Will and become instruments of His shining graces, then we will be like lamps in the darkness of the world, bearing the light of the gospels wherever we go.

 Are we preparing ourselves to be prophets of the Good News? Are we lights of God’s love in the darkness of the world? How can we become better prophets to God’s children?

O Lord, give us the grace to be prophets of your word. Guide our feet onto the way of your peace.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Advent

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.  When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”  But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

It is human nature to want to share our good news with family and friends, just as Zechariah and Elizabeth did with their relatives and neighbors. When doing so, we should give witness to God’s Goodness in our lives and thank Him for all He has done for us. We also shouldn’t let those who do not understand our faith to get in the way of celebrating our good news. Instead, our attitude of gratitude should be ever present in our thoughts, words, and works no matter who might question our faith. Like Zechariah, we should express our appreciation to God by doing His Will in spite of what others might think. We might not receive an angelic visitation to tell us what God’s Will is, but as long as we form our conscience wisely and well, we will know the right direction we should be taking in our lives. Then, when we do take those first few steps upon the narrow road to salvation, we too will have our mouths opened, our tongues free, and bless God for all He has done for us.

Do we invite others to share in the goods of our lives? Do we do God’s Will even when others might not understand it?  Do we bless God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, we only wish to be called your good and faithful children.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Advent

From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

God has not only done great things for Mary, but also for all of us. He has given us our lives and our free wills, gifts far greater than we can ever repay through any amount of good deeds. Even more, He has given us His Divine Mercy and offered to lift us out of our slavery to sin. He gave the gift of His Beloved Son's life to pay for our iniquities and cleanse us of our sins. And if we accept His Love, Mercy, and Grace, then we will be lifted up from our lowliness and brought into His Kingdom where He will fill us with good things and adopt us as His heirs.

Do we recognize the great things God has done for us? Do we not only fear disappointing God, but also hope He will lend us His Strength to overcome our weaknesses? Have we accepted the aid God has offered us and seek His protection in our times of need?

O Lord, you have done great things for us, give us the grace to love you as we should.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Advent

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

After receiving the news that she was to bear the Son of God, Mary travels to visit with her cousin Elizabeth and help her with the final months of her pregnancy. This act of compassion is one which we would do well to imitate throughout our lives. No matter what is going on with us, great or small, we should always make time for others who are in need. We should never let an opportunity to do good pass us by because we are too busy being concerned about our own lives. Mary could have easily focused on her own pregnancy, but instead she chose to help her cousin in her time of need. Mary is blessed not just because she believed God and accepted His Will, but also because she acts with love, mercy, and grace toward others in a spirit of selfless humility.

How do our lives imitate the selfless compassion of Jesus and Mary? Do we make time to know, love, and serve others who are in need? Are we always on the lookout for opportunities to give of ourselves?

O Lord, let us travel to where you need us and do what you will for those in most need of your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Mary is blessed because she believed what God spoke to her would be fulfilled. We might not receive such direct revelations in our lives, but we should prepare ourselves to accept the messages we receive from God through the people in our lives. Elizabeth’s message to Mary is inspired by the Holy Spirit and in our own lives sometimes we say or hear things inspired by God. We might not always be able to understand or appreciate to these moments when God speaks to us through others, but we should try to keep our ears and hearts open to them. And if we do listen to these moments, then our souls will also proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in the graces that God, our Savior gives us each day.

Are we listening for the words and inspirations of God in our lives? What will we do if we hear them? Do our souls proclaim the greatness of God and our spirits rejoice in His saving graces?

O Lord, let our hearts leap for joy as we meet with Mary in prayer.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Advent

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”

We should never be afraid of doing God’s Will. The obstacles in our way may seem insurmountable or the sufferings unbearable, but God never gives us more than we can bear as long as we ask for and accept His help. If we live our lives in accord with the gospel, we too will have joy and gladness, many will rejoice at our birth, and we will be great in the sight of the Lord. We might not be called to such great things as St. John the Baptist, but what we are called to do in our lives will have the indelible mark of being founded upon Christ. So let us do God’s Will without complaint or hesitation and prepare the way of the Lord.

Are we doing God’s Will in our lives? Do we think, say, and do everything in accord with the gospel message of Christ? What can we do better to prepare the way of the Lord?

O Lord, help us bring joy and gladness into the world through our words and works.

Amen.

Third Friday of Advent

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Sometimes we are afraid to do God’s Will in our lives. We know what must be done, but delay, make excuses, or convince ourselves that other things are more important or we misunderstand what God wants from us. However, nothing is more important than doing God’s Will. We do not need to understand it, but rather to take it on faith that God is guiding us to where we need to be and what we are called to do. So when we discern God’s Will in our lives we should not be afraid, but rather act like Joseph and do what He has commanded us without complaint or hesitation. We can learn a lot about what it means to be a good and faithful servant from Joseph and his attitude of silent obedience to God.

Are we afraid of what God is asking us? Are we willing to be open to the inspirations God sends us? How can we build up the habit of holy obedience to God’s Will in our lives?

O Lord, give us the grace to be not afraid and do as you command us throughout our lives.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Advent

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

Why is Matthew so interested in the lineage of Christ? It is to show that Jesus is the culmination of God’s covenant with Abraham and the fulfillment of the royal line of David. Jesus is the New Covenant and the New King and with him comes all the graces and authority of both. His covenant will be a binding one upon all people through every generation. His message of loving God with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and our neighbors as He loves us is at the core of His Good News. We are all called to live our lives in accord with these new commandments and if we do not, then we shall not have a share in the Heavenly Kingdom. However, if we do listen and put into action God’s Will for us, then we shall grow in faith, hope, and charity and one day we shall be able to stand before God and he will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

Do we live our lives in accord with the gospel message of the New Covenant? Do we accept Jesus’ claim to be the rightful king of our hearts? Do we strive to be good and faithful servants every day of our lives?

O Lord, may we be counted among your faithful children when the time of judgment comes.

Amen.

Third Wednesday of Advent

“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

When John’s disciples ask Jesus if he is the one who is to come, he points to his good works and miracles. His actions speak louder than any words he could have given in answer. Just as Jesus’ deeds revealed his compassionate nature to John’s disciples, so too should our actions reveal our compassion for others. We can say all the nice words we wish, but if our speech isn’t backed up with works, then they are empty and meaningless. Our faith should be seen as well as heard, not because we want attention, but because when we live Christ-like lives it is clear for all to see. We might not be perfect, but our neighbors can tell that we are striving to be good in spite of our weaknesses, flaws, and imperfections. So let us not only tell of our faith, but show it from this day forth.

Do our words and works match up? Are we a model of Christ for others to see? Do we strive to be the best Christians we can be?

O Lord, help us to speak rightly and well, but act even better towards God and our neighbors, especially those in most need of a compassionate hand.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Advent

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? 
A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.”

It is better for us to do good without hesitation, but sometimes we hesitate, complain, or put off doing the right thing. However, if in the end, we do the right thing in spite of our hesitation, complaints, or procrastination, then at least we have done God’s Will… albeit belatedly. Worse than being slow to do good is promising to do good and then not following through on our word. This can happen when we become distracted, choose sin purposefully, or otherwise avoid doing the right thing in favor of some lesser good. In these cases, we fail to do God’s Will and compound the problem by not following through on our stated intentions. Our words have meaning, but our actions hold more weight. We can pay lip service to God through our prayers, but without works to back those words up, our prayers are like clanging cymbals with no real meaning.

Do our words and prayers mean something? What can we do to give our words true meaning? What actions can we take to make our faith manifest?

O Lord, let us go out into the vineyard and work without delay and without distraction.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

“I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Where was Jesus’ authority from? This is the question the chief priests and elders put to Jesus, but it is also the question at the center of our faith lives. In our lives, we will eventually have to answer if we believe that Jesus’ authority is of heavenly or human origin. If we truly believe Christ's authority is heavenly, then we will choose to live our lives in accord with his gospel message and imitate him in everything we do. Without a faith in Jesus’ divine authority, we have nothing firm to hold onto in our lives. If Jesus is just a man, then there would be no Savior of the World and no life everlasting. Thankfully, we believe Jesus is not only man, but divine, too. His authority isn’t just a human one, but an eternal one. This is why we are called to trust in him, put aside our doubts, and live out his gospel message.

Do we believe Jesus’ authority is from heaven? If so, then how has that effected the way we live our lives? What do we do to live out the gospel message Jesus gave to us through the New Testament?

O Lord, your authority is divine. Help us to respect and bow to it always.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.

What should we do? This is a question at the heart of our lives and our faith. It is a question we have wrestled with in the past, continue to struggle with at present, and will need to face in the future. The reason why this is such a difficult question to answer is because everyone is made with a unique dignity and calling that is all their own. As Christians, we understand that we are called to know, love, and serve God and His children, but how to do this is more difficult to answer because it requires us to examine ourselves and listen for God’s guidance. We can’t do this if we are constantly listening to the world and letting it define who and what we are. We need time alone with God in prayer, in fasting, and in almsgiving. We also should listen to the words of those whom are good influences in our lives because sometimes what they say can be a great help in discerning our vocations. We need to build a relationship with God in order to know how best to do His Will. So let us take the time to do so this day and every day of our lives.

Are we actively trying to discern our vocation or are we constantly distracted by worldly things? Are we building up fruitful relationships with God so we can better do His Will? Do we take time each day to spend with God in hopes of discovering our true callings?

O Lord, give us the answers we need to do your will.

Amen.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

Like Mary, our souls should proclaim the greatness of the Lord and our spirits should rejoice in God our savior. Our every thought, word, and work should declare that we are good disciples of Christ. Our faith should guide us through our daily lives. Our hope should sustain us through our trials and tribulations. Our love should be poured out to God and His children. In this way, we will imitate Jesus and Mary in their complete surrender to God’s Will. At the same time, we should be joyful servants no matter what obstacles get in our way or what sufferings we must undergo to do God’s Will. In this way, we imitate and unite ourselves to the passion, crucifixion, and death of Christ, which is the source of our salvation.

Do our words and works proclaim the greatness of the Lord? Do we rejoice in Jesus, Our Savior? How can we learn to be a good and faithful servant like Mary?

O Lord, help us to be more like Mary and live lives that proclaim your greatness.

Amen.

Second Friday of Advent

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

Wisdom is an important virtue to build up in our lives. When we have it, we know when to fast and when to feast. We do not mourn the loss of those things that keep us from doing God’s Will, nor do we feast upon those things which weigh us down with sin. Instead, we fast in order to purify ourselves of our attachments to worldly things and we feast to celebrate the graces God has given us to overcome our trials. Fasting is something that many do not understand the need for, but it is imperative that we cultivate the ability to fast and offer up all our sacrifices to God for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of souls. Feasting is also important because we should be thankful for all the goods we have been given by God. And in the spirit of graciousness, we should be willing to share all our gifts with our fellow children of God.

Do we know when to fast? Do we know when to feast? Are we cultivating the wisdom we need to live gracious and fruitful lives?

O Lord, grant us the wisdom to know when to fast and when to feast.

Amen.

Second Thursday of Advent

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

In a way, we are all called to be John the Baptist in our lives. We are asked by God to become prophets of Jesus’ life, teachings, and sacrifice. This is not an easy task. Others will oppose us, but it is a necessary step along the way to our salvation. If our lives do not proclaim the coming of the Lord, then what good are they? We shall have nothing to show for our lives if we do not fast, pray, proclaim, and evangelize as John did, though a life of example to those around him. So let us be beacons on a hill, voices in the wilderness, giving glory to God and preparing the way of the Lord into the hearts of others.

Are we willing to be prophets of the gospel of Christ? What have we done to proclaim the kingdom of heaven in our lives and the lives of others? Have we prepared the way of God into our hearts and the hearts of others?

O Lord, make us into prophets of your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Advent

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

Jesus’ Good News is an easy yoke to bear compared to the burdens of the Law. His commandments can be boiled down to two: Love God with all your hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and love your neighbor as God loves you. Some might find these two commandments difficult to do, especially if they have been mistreated by others or doubt God’s love for them. However, Jesus is telling us all the truth. If we all loved properly, there would be no burden in our lives, we would have the rest that comes from the inner peace of doing God’s Will. It is our own anxieties, worries, doubts, fears, sins, and imperfections that weigh us down and lead us astray. They shackle us to worldly things which run us ragged and never give us rest. The only way to find the rest we need is to be like Jesus, meek and humble of heart. We must be willing to put aside our pride and forgive those who persecute us so we can love them just as God loves them in spite of their faults. We, like Jesus, should give others every chance to do the right thing. We also need to realize we do not have a right to be free of suffering in our lives. Jesus, the sinless servant of all, suffered a thousand times worse than any of us have and yet we, in our pride, think we ought to be spared any evil. How can the metal of our souls be tested if we do not undergo periods of suffering in our lives. And when we do suffer, we should unite our trials with those of Jesus for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners (especially ourselves), and the salvation of souls.

Are we willing to take up the yoke of Christ and love God and our neighbors properly? What have we been doing to cultivate meek and humble hearts? Are we also willing to undergo our own passions so that a greater good can come out of them?

O Lord, we accept your yoke with meek and humble hearts.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

Mary is full of grace and is always willing to intercede with God when we are in need of graces in our own lives. She has the unique experience of being born without original sin, but what we often forget is that just like Adam and Eve who were created in a state of original justice, she too would have had temptations. The difference between Mary and Adam and Eve is she chose to obey God and make her fiat to Him without reservation. She might not have understood what it meant to become Jesus’ mother, especially the trials and tribulations of his life, passion, and death. However, we can be confident she would have accepted them and the sorrows his suffering caused her, knowing the glory and salvation that would flow from Christ’s sacrifice would be worth the cost. Mary is also our spiritual mother and when she sees us suffering and struggling in our lives she will not abandon us. She will come to our aid if we call out for her intercession. So let us accept Jesus’ gift of his mother to all his disciples and allow her to comfort and protect us in our times of need and fill us with the graces we need to overcome all our trials.

Are we willing to make our lives a living “Yes!” to God just as Mary did? Do we seek her out in pray to help intercede for us in our times of need? Do we accept her as our graceful mother, who is always at our side?

O Lord, thank you for the gift of your graceful mother.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”

We all need help on our way to following Christ. Some, like the paralytic man, need physical help to meet Jesus where he is. Others need mental, emotional, or spiritual help to find their way to Jesus. Sometimes the help we receive is from another person, who shows us what it means to be Christ-like. Other times, we have a sudden conversion of heart because of an event in our lives. Of course just because we realize that we need Jesus doesn’t mean getting to him will be easy. There will be obstacles in our way, built up over time by our bad habits and misguided relationships. But no matter what these hindrances might be, if we are persistent and willing to do whatever it takes to make Jesus present in our lives, eventually we will be able to find him and be forgiven. Along the way, we will probably need more help from others and further conversion experiences. This is why it is so important to surround ourselves with relationships that build up our faith because without good people to carry us when we are weak and direct us when we are lost, we might never make it to Jesus.

Who are the people in our lives that are helping us get closer to God? Do we listen to their council or to the council of more worldly people? Are we willing to persist in our pursuit of Jesus even if it requires us to give up everything else?

O Lord, forgive our sins.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent

John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Advent is a time of preparation and one of the things we are called to prepare is our hearts. We need to make them ready to receive the Lord and make straight the paths of our lives. There are many obstacles in our way, the primary of these being our own sinfulness. Our pride, greed, lust, wrath, sloth, envy, and gluttony get in the way. The narrow road to salvation is surrounded by temptations that will lead us astray. If we truly wish to prepare the way of the Lord in our own lives, then we will need to overcome our sins by building up good habits and filling in our lives with virtues. Our road to heaven starts with God’s Mercy, but we also need to walk that narrow path with contrite hearts and spirits of repentance.

Are we preparing the way of the Lord in our lives? What are we doing to make straight our paths to Heaven? What are the obstacles, sins, distractions, imperfections, etc., which are keeping us from doing God’s Will?

O Lord, help us to prepare our hearts for you.

Amen.

First Saturday of Advent

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.  Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Jesus reminds us that without cost we have received his love, mercy, and grace and in order to be his disciples, we are to give these to others without cost. God’s love for us is unconditional. His mercy is inexhaustible. His grace is ever present. In the same way, we should be loving, merciful, and full of grace toward all whom we meet. We are all called to be laborers for the harvest of souls and although we might not have miraculous powers, we can be instruments of God’s Will in everything we do. We can go into the world and proclaim the kingdom through our humble words and self-sacrificing works. God has given each of us the powers we need to be Godbearers in this world. We have only to accept the mantle and do everything within our power to be good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

Are we willing to labor for the kingdom of God? Do our thoughts, words, and works proclaim the Good News? Do we give ourselves to others without counting the cost?

O Lord, you have given us everything. Let us give everything to others in the same spirit of generosity.

Amen.

First Friday of Advent

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!”  When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

After the blind men ask Jesus to have pity on them, Jesus asks them if they believe he can heal them. They both respond with “Yes, Lord.” This is the spirit of faith and hope we all need to have in the midst of the sufferings of our lives. We need to believe God is able to help us out of whatever trials we are undergoing. Our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths must say with one voice, “Yes, Lord, we do believe.” Then our eyes will be open to God’s love, mercy, and grace and we will be able to see His helping hand actively aiding us every day of our lives. What a comfort it is to know our God is interceding for us in our every need. He is ready to heal us of any ill if we but ask Him to have pity on us and believe He will respond to our pleas.

Do we ask God to have pity on us when we are in the midst of our trials? Do we believe He will help us? Have our eyes been open to the love, mercy, and grace God shows us every day?

O Lord, have pity on us and heal us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Jesus makes clear that to become wise we must listen to his words and act on them. We cannot simply sit passively by and never respond to the responsibilities the gospels place upon Christ’s disciples. When we hear Jesus’ message of love, we must respond to it by living charitable lives. So too, we must be forgiving and merciful just as Christ states in the Good News. We also need to be willing to suffer while proclaiming the gospels just as Jesus did. We cannot be servants of God if all we give Him is our ears and not our hearts. We must internalize God’s message of faith, hope, and charity and then manifest it through our words and works.

Do we not only listen to the Word of God, but display its truths in our daily lives? Are our lives founded upon the teachings of the gospels or on the shifting sands of worldly things? Have we given God all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths?

O Lord, help us to put your words into action.

Amen.

First Wednesday of Advent

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

After curing the lame, blind, deaf, deformed, and many others, Jesus shows compassion for the crowd and orders his disciples to feed them with what little they had on hand. This miracle shows not only Jesus’ concern for the well-being of his brothers and sisters, but also his ability to multiply the gifts we have. Each of us is like the disciples, we have a something to offer, but sometimes in our eyes it is not enough. However, Jesus does not look at what we have to offer and see a lack, but rather he sees the faith, hope, and love behind the gift. If we are willing to give God our time, talents, and treasures, He will multiply them a thousand fold and from our surplus He will feed His children body, mind, and soul.

Do we show compassion to and concern for others? What time, talents, and treasures do we have to offer God? Are we willing to trust God and give these things to Him so that He can give thanks over them and multiply them?

O Lord, we give thanks for all we have and offer everything to you so that you may do with it what you will.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

We are blessed in many ways. We have the Word of God proclaimed to us in the Good News of the New Testament. In addition, we are able to see and partake in the Body and Blood of Christ every time we go to Mass. How many people do not get the chance to see the cross or hear Christ's message of hope? God also offers us the opportunity to cultivate child-like spirits, which will help us to know, love, and serve Him with fidelity and humility. In today’s world it is frowned upon to “need” someone for anything, but we all need our Heavenly Father and the love and protection He offers us each and every day. We can’t be servants of God if we do not first choose to be His children.

Do we have child-like spirits? If not, then how can we cultivate our spirits so we can be true children of God and heirs to His Kingdom? Do we keep our eyes open and our ears peeled for the Good News wherever it might be found?

O Lord, let us give praise to our Heavenly Father for all that He has revealed to us.

Amen.