The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

But you have the anointing that comes from the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.  I write to you not because you do not know the truth but because you do, and because every lie is alien to the truth.

As we stand on the verge of a new year, we are challenged by the Gospels to beware of the antichrists in our lives and to cling to the truth no matter what comes our way. The antichrists are all those people, activities, and things that take away from our time with God. They are the instigators of our selfish impulses. They promote sin and keep us from doing good. Each year we struggle against these worldly influences. Sometimes we fail and as we begin a new year we should make a fresh start by confessing our sins, doing penance, and avoiding sins. So too, we need to renew our dedication to living out the teachings of our faith, especially those we find most difficult because only the truth can set us free from selfish thoughts and lead us to the selfless lives we are called to live.

What are the antichrists in our lives? How can we overcome them? Do we follow the teachings of Christ, especially those that are most difficult?

O Lord, help us to know the truth and follow it all the days of our lives.

Amen.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

“Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, 
he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee.

Throughout the nativity story, Joseph listens to God’s messages and carries them out without complaint. He could have complained about how unfair his lot in life was. His plans for marriage and a family were high jacked by God’s plans. He could have complained about the public shame he must have suffered when Mary was found to be with child before his official marriage to her. He could have refused to raise a child that wasn’t his own. He could have grumbled about having to leave everything he ever knew and flee to Egypt. He could have protested about being told to come back to Israel only to find out someone just as bad as Herod had taken over. He could have whined about a lot of things, but he didn’t. He accepted God’s Will and took Mary as his beloved wife and Jesus as his beloved son. He did what he was told without hesitation. He took it on faith that everything his family was going through had a reason and a purpose. He might not have understood why, but he understood God’s Providence would provide and everything would make sense in the end. In the same way, we need to trust in God’s plans for our families and ourselves. We might want to complain or run away, but God gave us our parents, siblings, and other family members for a reason and a purpose. We would do well to remember that it is not necessary for us to understand our family to love them as God loves them.

Do we complain about our family or hesitate to help them? Are we willing to accept we won’t always understand why certain things happen to our loved ones or ourselves? How can we be more trusting of God’s Divine Plan?

O Lord, help us to be holier families.

Amen.

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The way we may be sure that we know Jesus is to keep his commandments. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

It’s not easy to walk as Jesus walked. Our sins can be constant obstacles and stumbling blocks along the narrow path to Paradise. We can let pride, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, greed, and sloth either lead us to do evil or cause us to forego an opportunity to do good. If we want to know, love, and serve God and His children, then we have to strive to be Christ-like in everything we think, say, or do. It is only by imitating Christ that we can be truly perfected in him. It is not enough to claim we are disciples. We also have to follow in his footsteps and become living sacrifices to God for the good of others.

Do we keep God’s commandments? Do we truly know, love, and serve God and His children? Are we united with Christ as we make our spiritual journey?

O Lord, we want to walk just as you walked from Bethlehem to Calvary, from cradle to grave.

Amen.

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.

We are not perfect. We all have our blind spots and our sinful inclinations. However, as long as we try to walk in the light, recognize our sinfulness, and seek to amend our lives, then God will be merciful. We’ll get lost along the way through pride, envy, lust, or some other sin, but if we are contrite and seek fellowship with God, then He shall lead us back to where we need to be. The trouble comes when we cannot recognize our sinfulness or think we are better than others. If we are unable to recognize our vices, then we need to pray for God to show them to us so we can address them with humility and allow God to cleanse us of every wrongdoing.

Are we in fellowship with God? Are we striving to follow the way of light? What sins do we need to overcome in our lives?

O Lord, forgive and cleanse us.

Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Word of Life lived among us and showed us the way to live. He showed us how to be forgiving, compassionate, merciful, and loving. He gave us a model of faith, hope, and charity and an example of what it means to make our lives into testimonies to God’s Goodness. He offers us an illustration of what it means to proclaim the Truth and follow it without complaint. Last but not least, he showed us how to know, love, and serve God and His children in a spirit of fellowship.

Are we living our lives according to the examples Jesus gave us? How do we testify and proclaim the Good News? How do we live out our fellowship with God and His children?

O Lord, in you we find the only true and never-ending fellowship.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.  As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Martyrdom was constantly a reality for the early believers in Jesus. It is a less constant now, but there are areas in the world where Christians are being killed for their faith on a daily basis. Recently, there have even been terrorist threats against our places of worship. We might not appreciate how close to martyrdom we are just by choosing to follow Christ. Our persecution might not be as overt as that of the early Christians, but it is ever present. We might not be martyred in body, like St. Stephen, but our thoughts, words, and works might cause us problems and even put our lives and livelihoods in danger.

Do we appreciate the dangers that we face as Christians? Are we lending support to those Christians who are suffering for their faith? Are we willing to proclaim the Good News even if it causes us trouble?

O Lord, receive our spirits.

Amen.

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.

The Word made flesh. This is what we celebrate at Christmas. God’s gift of His Beloved Son to us for the revelation of the Truth, the teaching of the Way, and the granting of Life everlasting. From Jesus's birth to his crucifixion and resurrection has one goal in mind: to save us from sin and death. We all came into the world through the Word and we shall all pass out of it through Jesus. He shall judge us before His father for all we have done and failed to do. Under His enlightening gaze all will be revealed to us and we shall know what we did right and wrong and we shall be convicted to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell based on our words and deeds. We can only hope that we keep the light of Jesus alive in our hearts because alone we are nothing, but with Him we are made worthy to play in Paradise.

Do we listen to the Word of God? Do we thank God for our own beginnings, our own lives? What can we do to keep our eyes open to the light of Jesus?

O Lord, help us keep you always in our sight so that we might pass through the darkness and into your light.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Advent

“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in? “‘It was I who took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my people Israel.  I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.

David wants to build a house for the Lord, but God makes clear He doesn't need one. Sure, David had good intentions, but God reminds him God is not looking for a place to live outside the hearts and minds of his followers. He already lives in Heaven and wants us to join him there. He doesn't need an earthly home with us when He has already prepared a far better one with Him. It is up to us to prepare ourselves to join Him. We do this best by doing good, avoiding evil, trusting in God in our times of affliction, and ultimately resting in the palms of His Hands.

How are we preparing ourselves for Heaven? What can we do to help others reach the Promised Land, too? Are we allowing God to dwell within and work through us?

O Lord, give us rest with you in Heaven.

Amen.

Fourth Friday of Advent

The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.

By becoming flesh, Jesus consecrated all of mankind to His Father and made us the adopted children of God and heirs to His kingdom. Nothing can take this away from us. God loves us as Himself, He loves us in a way that completes us. We cannot find a greater love than this. We can try to substitute people and things, but no matter how much we love someone or something it is a mere atom compared to the universal love God has for us. The Incarnation is just one of the ways God expressed His boundless love for us and as we celebrate this Christmas Eve, anticipating the Birth of Christ, we should also keep in mind what that birth means: God is with us because He loves us as Himself.

How do we give thanks to our Heavenly Father? How do we make Jesus a central part of not only Christmas, but every day of the year? What does the gift of the Incarnation mean for us?

O Lord, we give our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths to you in praise of the gift of your beloved Son.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Advent

For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

God wants to refine and purify us so we are precious and pleasing in His sight. He wants us to be polished and shaped by the virtues of faith, hope, and love so we can more perfectly reflect His Divine Image. We cannot fulfill this purpose if we mar our souls with sins and muddy them with imperfections. Each time we do evil or fail to do good, we need to be refined and purified once again through the fires of contrition and penance. Then, once we are made clean in the eyes of the Lord, we will become an acceptable sacrifice to God.

Are we willing to allow God to refine and purify us through whatever means He decides is best for us? Are we willing to make our lives into living sacrifices to God? How can we be more pleasing to God?

O Lord, refine the metal of our souls and purify us of all our imperfections.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Advent

“Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” She left Samuel there.

Just as Hannah consecrated Samuel to the Lord, so does Mary consecrate us. Everything we are and have is God’s and it is in Him that we find our fulfillment. Both Mary and Hannah were willing to offer up their beloved sons to God and likewise we need to be willing to give up whatever is most beloved to us. We are all called to dedicate ourselves to God and let Him think, speak, and work through us. If we do this, then we shall become good and faithful servants living sacramental and prophetic lives.

Have we dedicated our lives to God? Are we willing to sacrifice our most beloved people, places, and things to know, love, and serve God? How can we repay God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, we give ourselves to you through the hands of your Holy Mother, Mary.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Advent

My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my dove, my beautiful one,
and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come!”

God is our lover. The Bible is the greatest love story ever told. Our lives are chapters in the never-ending story. Each one is different, but God wants the same ending for us all. He wants us to be with Him forever in paradise. He sees the beauty in all people and gives them every chance to grow in faith, hope, and love. He treats each of us as His beloved. He calls to us to come with Him, prune away our sins, to celebrate life, and bear good fruits.

Do we appreciate how much God loves us? What can we do to prune away our sins and imperfections? How are our lives an expression of God’s Love to others?

O Lord, you are our beloved, our beautiful one.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Advent

Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!” Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.

 At first glance Ahaz’s words might sound like a good idea. We shouldn’t test or tempt God. Instead, we should trust in Him. However, God was the one who wanted to perform a sign for Ahaz in order to reinforce his faith. Ahaz turned Him down because as long as no sign was given Ahaz was free to do as he wished, to trust in himself. But if he asked for a sign and received it, he would have given God power over his decisions. He would have had to live according to God’s Will and not his own. Sometimes we act like Ahaz. We trust in ourselves over God. We choose our own way. We close our eyes to the signs around us that are pointing us to a better way of living. Our only hope is to humbly put aside our self-reliance and accept that we need God’s help. Then, and only then, will we empty ourselves enough to be filled with the grace we need to live holy lives.

Are we open to God’s influence in our lives? Do we trust God more than ourselves? Can we learn to humble ourselves before God?

O Lord, we trust in you and the greatest sign you ever sent us, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

As followers of Christ, we should be guided by the Beatitudes in every aspect of our lives. When others hear or see us, they should hear and see the Beatitudes. We should be poor in spirit so that we can be rich with confidence in God’s Divine Providence. We should be willing to mourn with others so that God will comfort us during our own sufferings. We should be meek so that we will learn to be humble enough to go wherever God wants to lead us. We should hunger and thirst for righteousness because it is only in doing good and avoiding evil that our consciences can be satisfied. We should be merciful because by doing so we act as Christ did and obtain forgiveness for our own sins. We should have clean hearts because it is only by keeping ourselves unsoiled by sin that we can see the Will of God. We should be peacemakers because when we help others heal their relationships we become true imitators of Christ and heirs to his promise of salvation. We should be willing to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness because Jesus showed us in his life that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth suffering and dying for. We should be willing to suffer insults and persecutions in the name of Christ because when our souls are right with God no amount of difficulty can lessen our joy and gladness. If we do all these things, then our reward will be great in Heaven and our lives will be truly blessed.

Are we leading lives guided by the Beatitudes? How can we make our words and works more in line with these ideals? What can we do to bring these blessings into the lives of others?

O Lord, make us into living Beatitudes.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Advent

Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land.
In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: “The LORD our justice.”

Jesus is the Lord of Justice. His righteous life gives us the perfect model of what true justice means. It is founded on love, forgiveness, and mercy and its aim is not to punish people, but to save them from themselves. He wants all of His Father’s children to be good and faithful servants and to be with Him in paradise. He does everything in his power to lead us to live holy lives. And when we fail and fall into sin, he offers us the sacrament of reconciliation to cleanse us of our sins, strengthen our consciences, and give us the support we need to resist temptations and avoid sins.

How can we imitate God’s just and righteous nature? Do we seek Him out when we have need of being cleansed of our sins? Do we thank Him for His constant love, forgiveness, and mercy?

O Lord, in you are our justice and security.

Amen.

Third Friday of Advent

You, Judah, shall your brothers praise–your hand on the neck of your enemies; the sons of your father shall bow down to you. Judah, like a lion’s whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts–who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, While tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people’s homage.

Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise to Judah. He is the greatest fruit from the tree of Jacob, Judah’s father. He came into this world to be praised and so he is among his faithful. He came to conquer the enemies of man and he did conquer sin and death for us. He came to be worshiped as our Lord and Savior and we are all given the chance to do so as individuals and as members of His Spiritual Body, the Church. He is the King of Kings and we would be wise not to rouse His wrath by choosing vices over virtues. He is our Lord forever and though we might rebel against him for selfish reasons, we cannot escape his rule. And when we are caught by Him, we have only two choices: to refuse him and be cast into Hell or to pay him homage and enter eternal life with him.

Do we give God the praise that is due to Him for all He’s done for us? When we rouse God’s anger with us through sin do we confess our failings and seek to make amends with Him? What kinds of homage can we give God?

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

Amen.

Third Thursday of Advent

This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

God loves us and is merciful. He wants us to have peace in our lives, even in the midst of our trials and tribulations. He is not out to destroy us. He is not angry with us. He does not wish to turn us away at the gates of Heaven. He gives us every opportunity to obey His commandments, follow in His Son’s footsteps, and listen to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. However, He will not force us to obey, follow, or listen to Him. He wants us to choose to love Him and His children of our own accord and not because it is forced on us. It is up to us to accept His Love and return it to the best of our abilities. And if we do this, then we shall find Heaven not only open to us, but joyous at our coming.

Is our image of God one of justice tempered with mercy or do we fear He is too angry with us to forgive our sins? How can we thank God for the mercy He has shown to us? Do we live our lives knowing He will never abandon us?

O Lord, grant us your love, peace, and mercy.

Amen.

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

Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other! By myself I swear, uttering my just decree and my unalterable word: To me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, Saying, “Only in the LORD are just deeds and power. Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger against him. In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel.”

God is the source of justice, good deeds, and power. As long as we turn to Him, we will be safe. However, there are many things in this world that will tempt us to be unjust, to sin, and to trust in our own power before God. All those who allow themselves to be lured away from God will have to answer for their wrongs, while those who stand fast with Him will be vindicated and witness the glory of the Beatific Vision. So let us bend our knee to God and proclaim His Goodness all the days of our lives. This is what it means to be a disciple: to take God as our beginning, middle, and end and no other.

Do we turn to God in our times of need? Do we bend our knees and proclaim the greatness of God? Do we recognize God as the source, center, and summit of all our good deeds?

O Lord, in you we shall find our vindication and glory.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD: the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

As long as we are willing to admit our mistakes, ask God for forgiveness with contrite hearts, and do penance, then we shall have nothing to be ashamed of when we stand before God. All our rebellious actions will be washed away in God’s Mercy. The key to doing all these things is humility. We must be willing to prostrate ourselves before God and cast aside our prideful impulses. It is only then that we shall be able to live our lives based on the Eternal Truth and not our own opinions.

Have we sought God’s Mercy for our sins, great and small? Are we willing to humble ourselves before God so He can raise us up on the Last Day? Do we live our lives according to the Truth or our own desires?

O Lord, wash away our misdeeds and rebellious actions with your never-ending mercy.

Amen.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.”

Mary is the mother of our salvation. She is our Blessed Mother and Most Holy Mediator between God and us. She shows us through her Most Immaculate Life how to know, love, and serve God with all our hearts and minds. It was through her humble acceptance of God's Will that God's Saving Power, namely Jesus, came into the world. Her mildness gave birth to the greatest authority of all… the Son of God! This doesn't mean her life wasn't hard. Far from it! She ran into difficulties from the very first moment she accepted the angel's annunciation. However, she did not let her fears, anxieties, and problems keep her from doing God's Will. She found a way to overcome all the obstacles in her way and became the Most Faithful Servant of All. In the same way, we are called to become living vessels of God's Will no matter what stands in our way.

What are we giving birth to in this world? Are we imitating Mary's trust, love, humility, and mildness in our own lives? Do we turn to Mary and her beloved Son, Jesus, when we are trying to be good vessels of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace?

O Lord, may your salvation and power come into the world through us as it did through Mary?

Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.

We might not give sight to the blind, cure the lame and lepers, heal the deaf, or raise the dead, but we can proclaim the Good News to the poor and recognize Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Sometimes we want everything a certain way. We have expectations for the future. However, we need to remember that God did not put us in this world to have everything our way or to meet all our expectations. We aren’t all called to live spectacular lives full of fame, glory, or wealth. No, most of us are called to live quiet lives. Ordinary in every way, except that as Christians we recognize the source of our goods and are asked to proclaim it by knowing, loving, and serving God and His children. In short, we are called to live our lives in anticipation of Jesus’ coming, not expectation of earthly rewards.

When people look at us, what do they see? Do we proclaim the good news to the best of our ability? Are we living lives of anticipation or expectation?

O Lord, bless us with a spirit of anticipation of your second coming.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Advent

In those days, like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!

Just like Elijah, our words should be like a flaming furnace. They should warm the hearts of others. Thaw the ice of indifference. Enkindle the fires of love. Call out to the Holy Spirit: Come! They should shatter misconceptions, prejudices, hatreds, and all those chains that keep us from loving God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. They should be willing to warn others when they are in spiritual danger and rebuke those who would lead others astray. Every word should speak to the awesome power of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace and come from a heart that is thankful for all the wondrous deeds He has done through us.

Are we fulfilling our calling to be prophets of the Good News? Do we let the enkindling flames of the Holy Spirit spread from our words and works? Do we recognize God as the source, center, and summit of all our good deeds?

O Lord, may the fires of your love be spread through us and into the world.

Amen.

Second Friday of Advent

I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea; Your descendants would be like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, Their name never cut off or blotted out from my presence.

God knows what’s good for us. He can teach us what is for our good. He can lead us where we need to go. However, it is up to us to recognize His Wisdom and let Him guide us. We cannot do this if our eyes are blinded by temptations, our ears clogged with pride, or our hands and feet chained to sinfulness. However, if we allow God to cleanse and heal us through confession and penance, then we will be able to follow God’s commandments and our lives will prosper at least spiritually because of it. It is only by living holy lives that we can be vindicated in the eyes of God and grow in faith, hope, and love.

Are we willing to let God teach us what is for our good? How can we become better followers of God’s commandments? What can we do to keep ourselves in the presence of God?

O Lord, lead us on the way we should go.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”

When we do something wrong, we have a tendency to look for excuses or blame others. This is exactly what Adam and Eve do. Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent. This temptation to fault everything and everyone but ourselves is one we have to struggle with throughout our lives, especially when we feel unfairly treated by people or wonder why things aren’t going our way. Instead, we should accept responsibility for the consequences of our sins, confess them with contrite hearts, and do penance with the joy that should come from being freed from our burdens.

Who do we blame for our problems? What are our excuses for sinning? How can we train ourselves to own up to our failings and strive to be better?

O Lord, we are naked before you. Clothe us in your mercy and grace.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

No one who trusts in God will truly fail in life. We might suffer setbacks and be seen as failures in the eyes of the world, but God looks beyond the outcomes of our words and actions and to the effort and spirit within them. As long as we think, say, and do things for the right reasons, we shall not falter, nor grow weary, nor faint even if everything seems to be going against us. Every setback is an opportunity to show God what we are made of. Our faith and perseverance will be rewarded, if not in this life, then in the next, which lasts forever.

Do we face our failures with hopeful hearts? Are we unbowed by our setbacks? How can we turn our troubles into opportunities to show God our faith and perseverance?

O Lord, grant us wings to soar over all the obstacles in our way.

Amen.

Second Tuesday of Advent

Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord GOD, who rules by his strong arm; Here is his reward with him, his recompense before him. Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.

God is powerful and His rewards are immeasurable. He feeds us with His Holy Word through the scriptures, the celebration of the readings at mass, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. He feeds use on His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. He gathers us into His arms from the moment of our birth in order to protect us and guide us. And we will lift us to His bosom on our last days as long as we are willing to be found and caught by Him. He also leads us through good times and bad ones with a care that is perfect. He wants only the best for us, but He will never force us to accept his gifts. It is up to us to recognize His Voice and follow in His footsteps.

Do we thank God for all the gifts He has given us? Do we feed ourselves upon God’s Word and Body? Are we willing to let Him gather us into His Arms?

O Lord, press us to your heavenly heart and lead us with care to paradise.

Amen.

Second Monday of Advent

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

We all have weaknesses. Some of our weaknesses are in our bodies, others our minds, still others in our spirits. However, if we trust in God’s strength, then we shall have nothing to fear. Our weaknesses shall be fortified and we shall be able to overcome the trials before us. Perhaps not in the way we expected or planned, but in the way that is best for us. God will save us if we let Him. But we have to be open to His Will and accepting of His solutions. By doing so, we let Him into our hearts where He can do the most good for us. He can cure our blindness, physical, mental, and spiritual. He can heal our ears so that we can hear His guidance and inspiration. He can give us the confidence we need to take the leaps of faith that will lead us closer to Him and the voice we need to proclaim Him in word, prayer, and song.

What are our weaknesses? Do we pray to God for strength to overcome them? Do we thank Him for saving us from them when He does help us?

O Lord, you make us strong and fearless in our faith.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent

I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

We have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and the fire of love so we might not burn in the unquenchable fire of selfishness. Jesus has given us an example of what it means to be on fire for God and a light for the nations. If we do not repent or accept God’s offer of forgiveness, then our hearts will become like chaff. Dried out husks with no good fruits within them. However, if we allow God to nourish us on the waters of love and mercy, then grace shall grow within us and we shall bear abundant fruits. And at the end of our lives, Jesus will gather our good works into the heavenly storehouse and we shall be counted among His good and faithful servants.

Are we repentant? Are we willing to let the Holy Spirit enkindle our hearts, minds, and bodies? What fruits are we producing?

O Lord, baptize us with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would turn to the right or to the left.

We are faced with many challenges in our lives. Moments of doubt, fear, and sorrow. Moments of hunger and thirst. Moments of decision for good or evil. Our character is determined by the choices we make during these times. Our spirit is strengthened or weakened by whether we listen to Jesus’ teachings and follow his commandments. We would do well if we listened to the conscience within us and walk in the Way of the Lord. If we let His Truth guide us, then we shall be made worthy of His Life and never weep again.

Are we thankful for the answers God gives us? Are we grateful for the food and drink He gives us? Will we listen to His guidance and follow in His way?

O Lord, lead us where we need to be.

Amen.

First Friday of Advent

Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale. When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, They shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel. Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

As Christians, we have nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. As long as we keep our eyes opened and see the work of God’s hands in our midst. Every day of our lives, we are witness to miracles, great and small. Moments in which God does great things for us. Moments when He gives us a small grace to get us through the day. If we keep in mind how much God does for us, then how can we not keep God’s Name holy and reverence Him? We might not always understand what He has done, but if we trust in Him, we shall gain understanding. We may not be perfect, our faults might drag us down, but if we seek forgiveness, then we shall receive the instructions we need to do better.

Are we uplifted by and fearless in our faith? Do we keep God’s Name holy and reverence Him for all He has given us? Are we seeking understanding and instruction?

O Lord, we are in awe of you and all your gifts to us.

Amen.

First Thursday of Advent

A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith. A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace; in peace, for its trust in you.

The traits of the nation in this scripture should also be our traits. They are the traits God wants us to have because they reflect His Goodness and led us to holier lives. We are called to be just as the Heavenly Father is just. We are called to keep the faith, just as our ancestors did during good times and bad. We are to have a purpose, just as Jesus did. He came into the world to reveal the depth of God’s Love and Mercy and our lives should reveal the same. We are called to keep the outer peace just as the Holy Spirit provides us with inner peace. Last but not least, we are asked to trust in God and allow Him to lead us through the darkness and into the light of eternal life.

Are we dedicated to justice and keeping the faith? Do we have a firm purpose in our lives to know, love, and serve God and His children? Do our words and actions keep the peace?

O Lord, in peace, we trust in you.

Amen.