Monday, October 31, 2016

Thirty-First Monday of Ordinary Time

When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

We should make it a point to do everything we can for those who are in need. For the poor, we should enrich their lives with acts of mercy and love. For the crippled and lame, we should do what we can to help them succeed. We should give a hand to those who need it and go the extra mile for those who need someone to walk with them on their journeys. Our family and friends are important, but we should also remember that Jesus made others the focus of his life's mission and we are called to do the same.

In what ways are we enriching the lives of the poor and helping those in need? What can we do to invite others into our lives and help them? How can we make others the focus of our lives?

O Lord, may we always imitate you in how we treat others.

Amen.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

The Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."

If only we were all a little more like Zacchaeus and willing to go out of the way to place ourselves in Jesus' path. If only we would respond quickly to Jesus' call. If only we would be willing to give up everything for Jesus and repay him four times over for all our trespasses against him. This is what it takes to become a disciple of Christ and be saved. It is in seeking that we find. It is in answering the call that we become who we are meant to be. It is in sacrificing that we are enriched in love, mercy, and grace.

What can we do to place ourselves in the path of Jesus? What can we do to respond to the call of Christ? Are we willing to make amends for our sins and live charitable lives?

O Lord, let us come quickly when you call.

Amen.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Thirtieth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Humility is something we all struggle with. Pride has a way of sneaking up on us and creeping into our lives. It starts out small, just like many other sins, and slowly grows until we think we're better than other people or place an inordinate amount of value on the things we think, say, or do. It also causes us to depend more and more upon ourselves and less and less on God. We start to believe that our reasoning is always correct and if we pray we praise ourselves more than God. Pride leads us to make ourselves into false idols and turn away from God. However, humility keeps us from making all these mistakes because it opens our eyes to our faults and constantly reminds us of our dependency upon God in all things. It also inspires us to give thanks to God because it is by His grace that we are exalted.

Do we exalt God or ourselves? How can we learn humility? What can we do to rid ourselves of sinful pride?

O Lord, make us your humble servants.

Amen.

Friday, October 28, 2016

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles.

Before Jesus made the decision about whom he would name Apostles, he went off by himself and spent the night in prayer. This is how we should pray before making our own decisions, great and small. We should ask God for guidance and trust He will lead us to the best decision. We cannot secure salvation on our own, and we would do well to understand our dependency on God for this and for many other graces that get us through each day. It is by God's Love and Mercy that we are saved and we should recognize this in our prayer lives. We cannot become good and faithful servants without turning our lives over to God and allowing Him to lead us where we need to be and not necessarily where we want to go.

Do we turn to God in prayer before we make important decisions great and small? Do we allow God to lead us where we need to be? How can we make our lives more open to prayer and its fruits?

O Lord, call us to you and make us your good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Thirtieth Thursday of Ordinary Time

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’”

Jesus doesn't let the worries of others rule his actions. He does not let the threat to his life paralyze him. What the Pharisees tell him could've been said out of fear for Jesus' life, but also it could've been said to drive him away. And yet, Jesus does not waver in his mission. He says he must continue no matter what. We need to act in a similar way when it comes to proclaiming our faith. We cannot let the fears of others or our own anxieties drive us away from the calling God has given us. Instead, when faced with adversity we must continue to walk the narrow path to Heaven even if it means persecution or death.

What worries and anxieties are tempting us to leave the path God has made for us? How can we continue the mission our Lord has given us as Christians and individuals? If we are afraid of being persecuted for our faith, then how can we overcome those fears?

O Lord, give us the strength to continue on the narrow path you've prepared for us.

Amen.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Thirtieth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’”

Being a Christian doesn't guarantee us a place in heaven. We can't just say we believe, but not live it out in such a way as to make our very lives a proclamation of the Gospels and God's message of love, mercy, and grace. If we want to enter through the narrow gate to heaven, then we must strengthen our hearts, minds, and souls to do God's Will. When we fail to do this we make ourselves strangers to Christ and disfigure the image of God that resides within each of us. And so we strive to be better people, to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts so that as humble servants we might enter Paradise and enjoy the heavenly feast with our Lord and Savior.

Are we striving to become holy people? Are our feet on the narrow path to God or the wide one to ruin? Will God be able to recognize us through our good works and virtues or be unable to recognize us because we've veiled ourselves in sin and selfishness?

O Lord, help us to strive to enter through the narrow gate.

Amen.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Thirtieth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

Little acts of love and mercy can have great effects on our lives and the lives of those around us. We might be tempted to believe that we cannot make a difference in this world. We might be tempted to disbelieve that what little we can do has the potential to raise people up to heavenly heights. However, God gives us gifts, talents, and graces for the very purpose of expanding His Kingdom on earth. We cannot do that if we are afraid, doubtful, or hesitant in regards to our faith. This is why Jesus constantly reminds his disciples to "Be not afraid." The Holy Spirit speaks these same words to us through our consciences and it is up to us to set aside our insecurities and trust in God's Plan. If we do this, then we can leaven the world, raise it up, and nourish the souls of those around us.

What little things can we do to know, love, and serve God and His children? What gifts, talents, and graces has God given us in order to do His Will? How have we used them in the past and how can we use them better in the days ahead?

O Lord, make us into leaven for the world and raise it up to heavenly heights.

Amen.

Monday, October 24, 2016

Thirtieth Monday of Ordinary Time

“Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

The best way to keep holy the Sabbath is not only going to Mass, but also doing good works. We should do good whenever the opportunity arises. This spirit of compassionate charity should be at the heart of our faith. Our religious observances shouldn't be the end of our faith, but only the starting point. Both faith and works are necessary for our salvation. Faith in God is founded on our trust that our Heavenly Father will provide us the graces we need to do good, avoid evil, and be saved. Acts of charity and mercy give God proof that our faith isn't just words or empty promises, but beliefs at the very core of our existence. In truth, every day should be a Sabbath day for us where we can rejoice in the Lord, proclaim our faith, and perform acts of almsgiving and prayer.

How do we celebrate the Sabbath? How do we express our faith beyond religious observances? How can we make charity the very heart of our Christian identity?

O Lord, may our lives be filled with acts of faith and love so that we can bring hope to all your children.

Amen.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

We should never allow ourselves to be convinced of our own righteousness. All of us are sinners is some shape, form, or fashion. So of us are prideful, others envious, still more wrathful. Some are lustful, greedy, slothful, or gluttonous. As such, we should never see ourselves as better than others. This does not mean condoning other people's sins, but rather to remember that we are all in need of God's Mercy and as such we should act compassionately toward each other. Part of acting compassionately is pointing out when someone is doing something wrong and trying to help them do what is right. It doesn't matter how many "good" works we do if we do not do them with loving hearts and for the right reasons. It should be our aim in life to recognize our sinfulness, humbly ask for God's Mercy, and then try to amend our faults, great and small, so we can do God's Will more faithfully.

Do we believe we are better than certain people? How can we learn to be more humble and to remember we are sinners, too? Do we call out for God's Mercy with humble and contrite hearts?

O Lord, be merciful to us sinners.

Amen.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Twenty-Ninth Saturday of Ordinary Time

There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.

God gives us every chance to bear good fruit in our lives. It is up to us to choose to be fruitful. God can't force us to do what is right. He can't make us love Him or others. We have to choose that on our own. God gave us this life to use it wisely and well and yet we so often refuse to bear fruits. We avoid opportunities to do good because we are too afraid, too lazy, or to blinded by sin. Instead, we choose evil, selfishness, and a sense of entitlement. However, all these things do are wither us from the inside out. In a state of sin, our spiritual growth is stunted and in some cases completely cut off. It is only when we cultivate the ground of our souls with virtues and fertilize it with the sacraments that we can truly blossom and bear good fruits. Otherwise, we shall be cut down and cast into the fire like dead wood.

What is keeping us from bearing good fruits? How can we cultivate and fertilize our hearts? What can we do to increase our spiritual growth?

O Lord, cultivate the soil of our souls with your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Friday, October 21, 2016

Twenty-Ninth Friday of Ordinary Time

When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

It is easy for us to understand worldly things. We can predict a lot of what will happen to us each day and yet we don't use that foresight to lead holier lives. We use it frivolously. Many of us have regular schedules that we follow and yet how often do we schedule in time to just be with God and pray? If we are asked when our favorite TV show is on, we know immediately the day and time, but how many of us know when and where we can go to confession, daily mass, or volunteer opportunities with our church? We are so knowledgeable about the world and yet so blind to the Will of God. Perhaps instead of making worldly plans, we should open ourselves to letting God pencil Himself into our lives and helping us to know how to interpret our days.

Do we make time to spend with God each day? What can we give up to make time for Him? How can we open our hearts so that God can help us to interpret His Will?

O Lord, give us the grace we need to interpret what you are calling us to do.

Amen.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Twenty-Ninth Thursday of Ordinary Time

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

It can be tempting to never rock the boat and never challenge ourselves and others to be better than what they are. We can be tempted to avoid conflict with others and seek to appease them in spite of what our hearts, minds, and morals might say. We are tempted to cover our ears against evil words, but do not rebuke the person using them. We are tempted to turn our eyes away from evil instead of doing something about it. We are tempted to remain silent when we know the truth instead of speaking out against it. We keep the Holy Spirit's Fire at arm's length because if we let it into our hearts we know that it will set our lives ablaze. However, who benefits from our indifference, inaction, and fears? Not those whom God is calling us to confront, for without someone to give voice to the truth, how can they have a chance to know it? Not the people who are affected by our inaction. And certainly not us, because we prove time and time again that we are disciples in hiding, just like those who abandoned Jesus during his Passion, Crucifixion, and Death. But if we do open ourselves to the fires of the Holy Spirit, our hearts shall be enkindled and we shall blaze like the Son of Man. Then, and only then, can we fulfill God's Will and become signs of contradiction to the world.

Are we indifferent, inactive, or afraid of what it means to be signs of contradiction? Are we willing to let the Holy Spirit enkindle our hearts with the fires of faith, hope, and love? Who are the people in our lives who need to be contradicted, not out of a sense of superiority, but out of a sense of true compassion?

O Lord, set our hearts ablaze.

Amen.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Memorial of Saint John de Brébeuf and Saint Isaac Jogues, priests and martyrs, and their companions

That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

God asks us to follow His Will in everything we say and do. Sometimes this means that we have to sacrifice our own ambitions, desires, and plans and instead focus on what He is calling us to do. Some of us may be intimidated by what we think God is calling us to do. Others may think they are unworthy. Still more may ask God to postpone their vocation so that they can do something they would rather do. And more than a few don't really know what God is inviting them to do because they are too busy and too distracted to hear His call. No matter the reason, we must make every attempt to listen for God's appeal to us and keep our hearts open to His Will above all. If we do this, then not only will we grow in faith, hope, and love, but God will entrust us with more responsibilities and the graces to fulfill them and we shall become more and more like Christ.

Do we know what God is calling us to do but are too afraid or selfish to do it? Do we take time out of each day to listen to God with open minds and hearts? Are we willing to be entrusted with fulfilling the demands of God's Will?

O Lord, we want to be your entrusted servants.

Amen.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Feast of St. Luke, evangelist

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.

What Jesus says about his disciples also applies to us. We are to be like lambs among wolves. Our hearts, minds, and souls should be united with Jesus, who was the Ultimate Sacrificial Lamb. And just like him, we are called to live lives of sacrifice and not consumption. Pride, envy, wrath, greed, gluttony, sloth, and lust are the wolves of the world and they are constantly on the prowl to drag us away and devour us. When we lose our way, they are there waiting for us to fall into their traps. And if we do not cry out to our Heavenly Shepherd with repentant hearts, then we shall soon find ourselves in the belly of the beast. Thankfully, God is constantly protecting us from harm, calling out to us in our times of need, and gives us every grace we need to triumph over evil. All we have to do is to follow his commandments and we will reach the Kingdom of God.

Are we being good and faithful laborers? Do we act like lambs or wolves? Do we trust God to protect us from all those who would lead us astray and devour us?

O Lord, protect us from the wolves of this world.

Amen.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Greed is a deadly sin for a reason. It kills our sense of charity and selflessness and replaces it with a selfish desire to possess worldly things. The irony is that by seeking more possessions it is us who become possessed. We lose ourselves in our belongings. We want more and more and never are fulfilled. This is why it is so important to resist the temptations to greed. If we don't our lives will become nothing more than an accumulation of things. However, if we set our desires on God instead of the world, then we will grow in charity and heavenly treasures. We will build up a storehouse of merits and one day will be recognized as good and faithful servants who built up His Kingdom. So let us guard against all greed so that one day we will experience the true riches of being forever in our Lord and King's presence.

Are we greedy in any ways? If so, then how can we become more charitable with our time, talents, and treasures? What can we do to guard against the greed that seeks to possess us?

O Lord, help us to fend off greed and the empty possessions that seek to possess us.

Amen.

Sunday, October 16, 2016

The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? 
Will he be slow to answer them?  I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.  But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Persistence and patience are two important virtues we need to cultivate as Christians. There will be times in our lives when we will want to give up because everything seems stacked against us. There will be other times when we feel abandoned because our prayers seem to go unanswered. But with persistence we can overcome any obstacle and with patience we can learn to accept God's Divine Plan and trust that everything will work out in the end. In addition, these two virtues help us to enter more deeply into our faith by connecting us with Jesus, who was persistence and patience personified. Whenever we feel like giving up, we can look at Jesus and see how after his cross came his triumph. The same holds true for us.

Do we call out to God day and night whenever we are in need? Do we trust that God will provide us with the graces we need to overcome all things? Do we believe that God will see justice done for us, even if it is not in the way we might want it?

O Lord, grant us the persistence and patience we need to triumph over every cross.

Amen.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

Very few of us will ever outright deny Jesus, but all of us deny him in some shape, form, or fashion. We deny him when we sin. We deny him when we fail to do good. We deny him to our families, friends, and neighbors who challenge our way of Christian living. We deny him especially in those whom we have the most difficulty in loving. However, God understands that we will turn our backs on Him and fall and that is why He gave us His Beloved Son as an example of what it means to triumph over our human frailties. He shows us how to carry our crosses with confidence. He shows us how to show compassion even in the midst of our own trials. He shows us how to forgive those who trespass against us. He shows us what it means to give hope to the hopeless. He shows us how to persevere even when we feel abandoned by God. He shows us that he loves us like brothers and sisters by giving us his Mother to watch over and intercede for us. He shows us how to thirst for righteousness. He shows us how to accomplish God's Will. He shows us how to commend our spirits to God. And most importantly, he shows us how to pour out God's Love and Mercy to a world in need of them both.

In what ways do we deny Jesus? How can we transform our hearts so we can turn our denials of God's Will into whole-hearted acceptance of it? How can our lives show God's Love and Mercy to others?

O Lord, we acknowledge you as our Lord, our Savior, and our perfect Model.

Amen.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Twenty-Eighth Friday of Ordinary Time

There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.

There is no such thing as a private sin. God sees all. He knows exactly how, when, and why we sin. He sees beyond our flawed logic, our misguided reasoning, and our disordered passions. He knows that nothing we do in secret ever just affects us. Every sin has a cost beyond ourselves. It costs us in time, energy, relationships, and in many other ways. It is easy to overlook the cost of sin, but it is always there and it leaves behind a void that we cannot fill except when we seek God's Mercy. Every time we choose evil over good we harm not only ourselves, but everyone around us. We might claim our sin is harmless, but that is only because we do not see all the ramifications of our sinful acts.

How often do our sins keep us from being there for friends, families, and neighbors? How often do our sins keep us from knowing, loving, and serving God and others? What can we do to replace the sins in our lives with virtues that lead others to heaven?

O Lord, you know everything about us. Show us who you want us to be and give us the graces we need to accept your calling.

Amen.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Twenty-Eighth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.

Although faith and reason are not incompatible, we should be careful that we don't let our reason overrule our compassion for others. We can misuse reason to make excuses to do evil or avoid goods. When we do this we give others a poor example of what it means to be Christian. Our thoughts, words, and works can become stumbling blocks for other people's faith because they see us acting in un-Christian ways. Instead, we should do everything within our power to align our reason with our faith and make sure that it is guided by hope and love as well. When our minds are aligned with these three virtues, our hearts open up to heaven and lead others there by shining like the Son.

Is our reason guided by faith? Are our actions leading others toward God or away from Him? How can we align our hearts, minds, and bodies to doing God's Will?

O Lord, we want to be gateways to heaven.

Amen.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Twenty-Eighth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

“Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb, but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God. These you should have done, without overlooking the others. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”

We all have priorities in life, but the greatest one of all is to love God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. We can do all the right things and say all the right words, but if we do them for the wrong reasons, then we gain nothing spiritually from them. This is why we need to pay attention to our motives, too. God doesn't give us golden tickets to heaven just for completing a checklist. Loving God and neighbor is more than just going through the motions. True love goes above and beyond what is right to what is compassionate to others and glorifies God. We are not called to be angelic robots, following rules without having our heart guide us. Instead, we are called to be faithful bearers of God's Word and Mercy to all who will listen and accept the graces God has prepared for them through us.

Where are our priorities? Are our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths aligned with God or the world? How can we pay better attention to our motives and to loving God?

O Lord, help us to do your Will out of love and always have you as the center of our attention.

Amen.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Twenty-Eighth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”

It is tempting to get caught up in outward appearances and things of the flesh, but this is not the reason why God put us here. He put us on the earth to love Him freely and wholeheartedly. We cannot do that if we focus on worldly things. Instead, we should focus on the heavenly things we can do, such as praying, almsgiving, and fasting. Also by participating in the mass, not as an obligation, but as a celebration of our faith. In order to be a true disciple of Christ, we need to make God the source, center, and summit of our loves. Then, and only then, will everything be made clean for us.

How can we avoid getting caught up in worldly things? How can we cleanse our hearts, minds, and spirits so that they are ready to receive Christ? Is God the Alpha and Omega of our lives?

O Lord, cleanse us and inspire us to always do good.

Amen.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Twenty-Eighth Monday of Ordinary Time

At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.

Jesus is Wisdom Incarnate. We can learn a lot from what he said and did in his life. He has given us a narrow path to follow and we would do well to recognize it and follow in his footsteps. There is something greater than us that can only be found in Jesus. He fulfills us if we let him. He saves us if we seek him in faith. His wisdom is greater than all the philosophers ever to speak and his preaching is more potent than all the prophets. This is why we should listen to him and allow him to lead us wherever we need to be. He'll never lead us astray. We have only to trust in him and he will show us our calling and how best to live our lives so that when the judgment comes, we shall be found to be good and faithful servants.

How are we preparing for the Final Judgment? Do we meditate upon the Wisdom of Christ and try to understand how to become holier people? Do we repent of our sins?

O Lord, you are greater than all things. Help us to focus our lives on fulfilling your Will.

Amen.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

The Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"  Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."

There is a vast difference between living our faith as an obligation or as a blessing. The ten lepers came to Jesus to be healed, hoping he'd cleanse them, but when he sends them to show themselves to the priest nine of them do so, but never return to give thanks. Only the Samaritan returns to give glory to God and thank Jesus. He doesn't actually go to the priest as Jesus told him to, but rather he realizes once he is healed that there is something greater than the priest and returns to Jesus. The other nine did what they were told, but we know nothing else about them. They followed the regulations for lepers and proved to the priest they were clean, but they didn't return to Jesus. They might have followed his commandment, but they didn't take their healing to heart and respond to it as true disciples. This is why it is so important for us to view our faith as a blessing and not an obligation. If our faith is an obligation, then we never truly enter into its depths. However, if it is a blessing, then we will give thanks to God for it and never take it for granted. And then, when we meet Jesus at the judgment, we shall also hear the words, "Your faith has saved you."

Do we see our faith as an obligation or a blessing? Do we glorify God in a loud voice and fall at his feet when he helps us? How can we remind ourselves that our faith is a gift that we should be thankful for and not see as a burden?

O Lord, thank you for the blessing of our faith.

Amen.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Twenty-Seventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

We are blessed by God in many ways. Firstly, we are blessed with our lives, which God gave to us as a gift. However, we are also blessed in that we have the ability to freely choose to listen to the Word of God and observe it. It is this gift of a loving heart that we should be most thankful for. It is one of the things that sets us apart from other creatures. True love requires there to be a choice to love. Love cannot be forced, it must be freely given just as God gave us our lives without expectation of return of His Love. So too, our love must be without strings attached. Love is a freeing act, not a binding one. The union between two true loves is liberating in that both choose to give themselves completely to the other. They become one with another and thereby free themselves from the constraints of selfishness and instead bind themselves together in a common purpose: to love each other as they want to be loved. When we add our faith to this, then we take it a step further, we love each other as Jesus loves us and love God without reservation because we realize that it is only in uniting ourselves with God's Love that we can fulfill our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children.

Do we thank God for giving us the gift of life? Do we listen to the Word of God and observe it? Do we love God and others as we are called to love them, freely and unselfishly?

O Lord, teach us how to love you and your children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.

Just like the unclean spirit, our sins can return after a good confession and make our lives worse than before. Because of this, it is important for us to be vigilant and to never rest on our laurels. Just because we were able to overcome a temptation doesn't give us a reason to relax where our souls are concerned. Indeed, we must train ourselves to be ever watchful against the sins that always seem to crawl back into our lives. If we do this, we will build up a wall of good habits that will keep our bad ones away. God may be merciful and always willing to forgive us, but it is up to us to keep ourselves spiritually clean and do everything in our power to know, love, and serve God and His children faithfully. We cannot do that if we allow our sins to reenter our lives. But we can succeed with vigilance and dependence upon the aid of the Holy Spirit, who is always ready to provide us the graces we need to overcome any obstacle along our way to heaven.

What are the sins we need to kick out of our lives? What can we do to keep them away? How can we build up our good habits so that the bad ones have no place in our hearts?

O Lord, we want you to dwell within us and nothing else.

Amen.

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Twenty-Seventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

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.

Praying the rosary is just one of the ways we can ask and receive, seek and find, and knock and open. God the Father listens to His Daughter. God the Son listens to His Mother. And God the Holy Spirit listens to His Blessed Spouse. Who better to intercede for us than Mary? She knows the Holy Trinity better than any of us and because of her insights into the Holy One, she also knows God's Will better than we do. She knows when we ask for the wrong favors and instead she asks God to give us the right ones. She knows when we are seeking the wrong things and asks God to lead us to the right ones. She knows when we are knocking at the wrong doors and asks God to open the right ones. Her motherly love helps us to receive what we truly need, to find what we are truly seeking, and to open the doors that will lead us to heaven. We would do well to visit her often in our prayers and one of the best ways is through the rosary.

Do we pray for Mary's intercession in our lives? Do we thank her for the aid she gives us? How can we live lives that will make Mary proud to be our spiritual mother?

O Lord, we asked for your aid and you gave us Mary as our Mediatrix. We sought your Will and you gave us Mary as an example. We knocked at your door and you gave us Mary as the Gate of Heaven.

Amen.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Twenty-Seventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

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.

We can learn a lot from this simple prayer. It teaches us to call God, Father, and hallow His Name. It also reminds us that the purpose of our prayers should be to call forth the Kingdom. At the center of the prayer is the appeal for our Father to give us our daily bread, the Bread of Life, which is the Body and Blood of Jesus. It also makes clear that the forgiveness of our sins is tied to our own ability to forgive others. Finally, it asks our Heavenly Father to spare us from the final test. This prayer is a summation of our faith and a perfect expression of our trust in God and our willingness to participate in His Divine Plan for our salvation.

Do we recognize God as our Heavenly Father and give him the respect He is due? Do we make a prayer of spiritual communion with God whenever we cannot receive the Eucharist? Are we as forgiving of others as we ask God to be forgiving of us?

O Lord, you are our Heavenly Father. May your kingdom be made manifest on earth through our every thought, word and work.

Amen.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

We can all understand where Martha is coming from. We constantly see people around us who aren't pulling their weight. We feel like we have to do everything and it feels unfair. At the same time, we are anxious and worried about certain things in our lives to the point where it can drive us to forget what is important. However, no matter how busy we might be or how unappreciated we feel, we should constantly remind ourselves that this life is passing away. Its only worth is that it gives us the opportunity to express our love for God and His children. Everything else is just a distraction that keeps us from choosing the better part. So the next time we feel overwhelmed by life, perhaps we should take a moment and place ourselves at the feet of Jesus and listen to him speak to us. Then, renewed in the Holy Spirit, we shall be able to return to our responsibilities with the vigor of Martha, but the faith of Mary.

Are we anxious about many things? Do we spend more time keeping ourselves busy or listening at Jesus' feet? How can we replace our worldly worries with the joys of hearing the Word of God and then doing His Will?

O Lord, we are anxious and worried, but with your help we will choose the better part.

Amen.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Twenty-Seventh Monday in Ordinary Time

But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’

Being a disciple of Christ means not only loving God with all our hearts, beings, strengths, and minds, but also loving our neighbors as God loves them. It is not always easy to do this, but if we want to be Christ-like, then we must be compassionate toward others. The priest and the Levite passed by the robbed man for unknown reasons, but no matter their reasoning, they ignored their higher duty. They might have been busy. They might have wanted to avoid becoming ritually unclean. They might have decided to not get involved out of fear. No matter why they didn't help, they failed to be neighborly toward the robbed man. However, the Samaritan goes above and beyond what many others would have done. He not only aids the victim, but also carries him to an inn, cares for him, and then provides money to the innkeeper to take care of the victim. He shows us how to respond to the opportunities God gives us to do His Will. And just like the Good Samaritan, we should be willing to set aside our excuses and love God through loving our neighbor to the best of our abilities.

Are we compassionate toward those in need? Are we willing to put aside our worries, excuses, and fears in order to love God and our neighbors? How can we prepare ourselves to act like Christ even when we are at our busiest?

O Lord, make us instruments of your compassion.

Amen.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

The Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you."

We often ask God to give us faith, strength, perseverance, etc. However, if we trust in God, then we should not doubt that He will always give us exactly what we need, when we need it. We might not get what we want, how we want it, but God will provide for us. When we give God our confidence, He will give us the grace that will see us through any challenge. Faith in God uproots us from worldly things and plants us in the sea of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace. It is only when we believe with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths that we can move mountains and mulberry trees that we will discover the strength of faith within us.

Do we trust God? How can we cultivate a faith that will uproot us from worldly things and plant us in the sea of God's graces? Are we willing to sacrifice our worldly wants for our spiritual needs?

O Lord, give us a faith that can move mountains and mulberry trees.

Amen.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

The gifts, talents, and authorities we have in this world are meant to help us get to heaven, not to make us powerful or popular. Our names are not written in heaven because of our abilities or power, but because we live the Christ-like life. We need to cultivate a humble spirit so that we don't get caught up in our successes and start believing more in ourselves than in God and His Graces. So let us trust in God, who gives us everything good and rejoice not in ourselves, but in the fact that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to give us the gifts, talents, and powers we need to overcome every obstacle and produce good works.

What are the gifts, talents, and powers God has given us? Do we rejoice in what He has given us? Do we thank God for everything He has done for us?

O Lord, we rejoice in being your good and faithful servants.

Amen.