Friday, June 30, 2017

Twelfth Friday of Ordinary Time

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said: "I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless." God also said to Abraham: "On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised."

Our covenant with God asks us to do a lot for God. We have to walk in His Divine Presence wherever we go. We must be blameless. We must circumcise our hearts, minds, and spirits. We need to follow His commandments and do everything for His sake so we can glorify Him and not ourselves. The covenant appears to be very demanding, but the thing we must keep in mind is that the covenant is a two-way street. It also makes a great demand on God. It asks Him to forgive us our trespasses and sins. It asks Him to remain with us forever. It asks Him to take us into His Heavenly Home and prepare a place for us. It asks Him to share eternal life with us. The promises we make to God seem a small price to pay for such amazing gifts.

Are we following the New Covenant as faithfully as we should? Do we realize how much more we gain through our relationship with God, then we lose through our sacrifices for His sake? How can we walk in God’s presence always and be blameless in His sight?

O Lord, help us to keep our covenant as faithfully as possible.

Amen.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Mass during the Day

Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.

There are times in our lives when we feel trapped or are tempted to despair, but if we place our trust in God, then no matter what happens we will be able to remain hopeful. However, hope also depends upon us answering God’s call when it comes and doing what God is asking of us without delay. God’s requests come through other people or from the inner voice of our conscience. It is important for us to listen to God in these moments and to respond quickly. When God asks us to follow Him, we should go willingly and without hesitation. This can be done best by building up the habit of acting upon the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and allowing God to lead us where we need to be when we need to be there.

Are there any areas of our lives where we feel trapped or tempted to despair? How can we cultivate the habit of trusting in God? What can we do to better listen to and act upon the inspirations of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, give us a spirit of hope and trust in you.

Amen.


Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

“See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to him: “No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir.” He took him outside and said: “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

There are moments in our lives when we might be tempted to complain about God not doing something for us. We might run out of patience and wonder if God will ever give us what we’ve prayed for. However, we need to remember God works on His own timetable... and orders all things for our betterment. He may not give us what we want when we want it for any number of reasons. Perhaps we might not truly need what we’ve asked for. Perhaps we wouldn’t appreciate the gift at the time. Perhaps we aren’t ready for it just yet. Perhaps receiving the gift would lead us astray. There are any number of God reasons for God to delay or deny the answers to our prayers. However, we should realize without a doubt that God always has our best interests at heart. He wants us to prosper and our graces and gifts to increase. He wants us to grow in faith, hope, and love by putting our trust in Him and acting with righteousness.

What are some of the things we have asked God for that we have not received? Can we understand or at least accept God’s decision to delay or deny our requests? How can we put our faith in God just as Abram did?

O Lord, grant us the patience we need to await the answers to our prayers and the humility to accept whatever you deem best for us.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Twelfth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“Look about you, and from where you are, gaze to the north and south, east and west; all the land that you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth; if anyone could count the dust of the earth, your descendants too might be counted. Set forth and walk about in the land, through its length and breadth, for to you I will give it.” Abram moved his tents and went on to settle near the terebinth of Mamre, which is at Hebron. There he built an altar to the LORD.

God gives us every opportunity to thrive in this world. He gives us gifts and graces that allow us to fulfill our unique role in His Divine Plan. His blessings cannot be counted... they are more numerous than the dust of the earth. He has prepared a place for us in this world that will lead to prosperity. Perhaps not in human terms of wealth and fame, but in heavenly terms of spiritual rewards and glory. And in return for all of this, He only asks us to know, love, and serve Him and His children as He knows, loves, and serves us. It is when we imitate Him that we are most uniquely ourselves. It is when we think, speak, and do His Will that we make our hearts into living altars to His Love, Goodness, and Mercy.

Have we looked around and really appreciated all God has given us? How have we given thanks for all the gifts and graces we have? In what ways can we make ourselves into living sacrifices to God?

O Lord, make our hearts into altars to you.

Amen.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Twelfth Monday of Ordinary Time

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So Abram built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country east of Bethel, pitching his tent with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He built an altar there to the LORD and invoked the LORD by name. Then Abram journeyed on by stages to the Negeb.

We should be building altars to God within our hearts just as Abram built altars in his own life. We should remember what God has done for us. We should remember to invoke God’s name in thanksgiving as well as supplication. And just like Abram, we shall continue our journey towards heaven in stages. The conversion of our hearts, minds, and souls usually happens in small steps along the narrow path, each step leading us closer to God and further along the way to holiness. Sometimes God may give us opportunities to grow in our faith and love by leaps and bounds, but other times we shall struggle inch-by-inch toward heaven with only hope keeping us going. However, as long as we keep our eyes on God and our thoughts, words, and works moving forward toward God, then we shall be given every grace we need to enter the Heavenly Kingdom through the narrow gate of Christ.

Have we made a spiritual altar within our hearts? In what ways do we give thanks to God for all He has done for us? How can we take the next step in our faith journey?

O Lord, may our hearts be an altar to you and our thoughts, words, and works a sacrifice of thanksgiving to you.

Amen.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

There is nothing in heaven or on earth that we should fear more than God. As such, the proclamation of the Good News and of God’s Love for the world is more important than anything else. We should speak the truth everywhere we go. We should not be afraid to be confronted by others for our beliefs. We should only be afraid of being led astray by the Evil One and brought to destruction in Hell.

Are we truly afraid of disappointing God? How can we do a better job of proclaiming God’s Good News? What can we do to protect ourselves from the temptations and destructive sins which are born from the Evil One?

O Lord, let us fear nothing more than disappointing you.

Amen.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory.

We are called from birth to be instruments of God’s Will. We are called to sharpen our minds, wills, spirits, and even our bodies so we can do what God asks us to do. He wants us to polish these things so that we can be intelligent, disciplined, loving, and mortified. Why? Because with intelligence, we gain understanding of the truths of our faith. With discipline, we learn to tame our passions, keep the commandments, fast, and pray each and every day. With love, we become selfless and sacrificial people, who give alms, act with charity and mercy, and do good works. With mortification, we learn to control our physical appetites so we become healthier and more effective tools for God. Taken together, all these things give us the graces and gifts we need to be good and faithful servants, revealing God’s Glory through everything we think, say, and do.

How can we sharpen our minds so we can grow in faith? How can we sharpen our wills and spirits so we might choose to live wisely and well and love with all our hearts? How can we sharpen our bodies so they are healthy and used in ways that increase our faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, may our lives reveal your glory.

Amen.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you, for you are really the smallest of all nations. It was because the LORD loved you and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers, that he brought you out with his strong hand from the place of slavery, and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed, the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant down to the thousandth generation toward those who love him and keep his commandments.

God didn’t choose to create us and offer us His blessings and graces because we are powerful, but rather because of our weakness. He wants to be our strength for goodness, for love, and for mercy. He wants to lead us out of our slavery to sin and our inclination toward evil to a better life founded on faith, hope, and love. He ransomed us from our sins because He wants us to love Him as He loves us with His Most Sacred Heart. He asks us to keep his commandments because they set our lives on the right path toward imitation of His Love and Mercy. All these things mold us into good and faithful servants shaped in His Divine Image, which is founded on the love between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

How do we thank God for creating and blessing us? How can we more faithfully follow Him? What can we do to make the Image of God manifest in our every thought, word, and work?

O Lord, thank you for your merciful covenant.

Amen.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Eleventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

I plundered other churches by accepting from them in order to minister to you. And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way. By the truth of Christ in me, this boast of mine shall not be silenced in the regions of Achaia. And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

As we go through life, we should strive to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of others. We should do everything we can to avoid being a burden on anyone. Will there be times when we are in need of help? Yes, and when those times comes we shouldn’t deny others acts of charity toward us, but once our needs are met and our challenges overcome than we should seek to be givers, not receivers. In this way, we imitate Christ who was the ultimate giver, sacrificing himself for our good and salvation. Let us remember, we become the most Christ-like when we perform acts of love and mercy.

Are we striving to be givers, while being open to help when we need it? In what ways do we take care of others? How can we become more self-sacrificial and less of a burden on others?

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

Amen.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.

God wants us to give our love and mercy to others without counting the cost. He wants us to give all we can and do so cheerfully without sadness or compulsion. He wants us to take the graces He has given to us and to do good works without expectation of return. He wants us to be givers and not takers. By giving to others, we imitate God, the Great Giver of Life, and learn to detach ourselves from worldly things. Those who are charitable discover that although they might give away much, they receive the greatest reward, which is the joy and peace that comes from doing God’s Will.

Are we sowing sparingly or bountifully in our spiritual lives? How can we become more cheerful givers? What can we do to become abundant in good works?

O Lord, you have given us every grace to sow and reap abundantly.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Eleventh Tuesday of Ordinary Time

I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

The genuineness of our faith, hope, and love is tested every day. We are faced with great and small opportunities to show our trust in God and our willingness to do His Will in all things. We meet people who challenge our faith, attack our hopes, and mock our acts of charity and mercy. We also meet people who are in desperate need for someone, anyone to be the light of Christ in their lives. Jesus became like us in order to show us how to be more like him in our daily lives. He shows us that sacrifice for the good of others helps us to grow in holiness and store up spiritual treasures.

Are we genuine in our faith, hope, and love? How can we make ourselves more like Christ? What can we do to become rich in virtue?

O Lord, make us rich in virtue.

Amen.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Eleventh Monday of Ordinary Time

We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonor, insult and praise.

Now is an acceptable time for us to live out our baptismal calling. It is an acceptable time to make ourselves into stepping stones to holiness and not into stumbling blocks. It is an acceptable time to commend ourselves to God and the proclamation of the Good News. It is an acceptable time to endure afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils and fasts in the service of God and His children. It is an acceptable time to purify ourselves, increase our knowledge, learn patience, grow in kindness through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is an acceptable time to love God and others with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strengths. It is an acceptable time to speak truthfully and powerfully of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. It is an acceptable time to arm ourselves with the weapons of righteousness that come from living out our faith with hope and love in spite of what glory or dishonor, insult or praise comes for doing so.

Are we stumbling blocks to the faith of others or stepping stones to Heaven? Are we willing to endure trials and tribulations in order to follow the teachings of Christ? How can we let the Holy Spirit sanctify us and enkindle the fires of love, mercy, and virtue within us?

O Lord, now is an acceptable hour for us all to become good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

“Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is the reason we come to mass. Gathering together as a community is important, but it is the Holy Communion that unites us in faith. Listening to the Scriptures is enlightening and uplifting, but it is the Blessed Sacrament that gives us the grace to fulfill God’s Will. The best way to meditate upon the mysteries of the Incarnation, Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is to receive the Divine Bread and Wine he blessed so long ago. The centrality of the Eucharist to our faith is undeniable. We must eat of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ if we want to be a part of God’s Kingdom and rise to eternal life with Jesus. It is also through this Blessed Sacrament that we welcome God into our lives. And if we are sincere in our reception of the Eucharist, then God will remain with us in a special way, providing us with many graces we can get nowhere else and that will carry us forth into the world.

Do we place our focus on the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ whenever we go to mass? How do we show God respect and sincerity before, during, and after our reception of the Blessed Sacrament? In what ways do we cultivate the graces of the Eucharist?

O Lord, you are our true food and drink. Remain with us forever and ever.

Amen.

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Tenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

The thought of being an ambassador of Christ can be one that slips our minds in the day-to-day business of our lives, but it is something we should do our best to keep in mind. Wherever we are, as Christians, we are called to shine forth the goodness, love, and mercy of our Heavenly Father. We are called to imitate Christ and bring him into the lives of those around us… no matter who they are. We are called to reconcile ourselves and others to God through our acts of kindness, love, and mercy. We are new creations in Christ and as such we should put on the spirit of Christ in our every thought, word, and work so we can be the best ambassadors of his message to the whole world.

Are we carrying out our mission to be ambassadors of Christ? How are we bearing witness to the goodness, glory, love, and mercy of God? Are we making every attempt to reconcile ourselves and others with God?

O Lord, make us good and faithful ambassadors of your Divine Will.

Amen.

Friday, June 16, 2017

Tenth Friday of Ordinary Time

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Dying to ourselves isn’t easy, but it is necessary if we want to be good and faithful followers of Christ. This doesn’t mean we sacrifice our individuality, but rather than our individuality is practiced in a way that mimics Christ’s willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of all. God wants each of us to worship Him in the unique way that only we as individuals can know, love, and serve Him. We do this best by both dying to those things that are not of God and living for those things that are from God. When we persevere through afflictions, perplexing problems, persecutions, harm, and all the other trials, we make manifest the life of Christ in our flesh. We become an incarnation of our Lord and Savior, giving ourselves over to our Heavenly Father just as Jesus did in His Most Holy Life... as a living sacrifice for the salvation of souls.

What things in our lives do we need to die to? What are the things in our lives we should be living for? How can we manifest Jesus more perfectly in our thoughts, words, and deed?

O Lord, make us incarnations of your Way, Truth, and Life.

Amen.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Tenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit. Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged.

The Holy Spirit is a spirit of true freedom. When we give ourselves over to God through the Holy Spirit, the chains of our sins are broken and we become our best selves. We are transformed into Christ-like members of the One, Body of Jesus. Coming with this transfiguration is the ministry to charity and mercy. For just as Jesus showed us these things, so must we spread them to others. We cannot live up to the name of Christians, if we do not go forth and act like Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit for our Heavenly Father.

Have we accepted the Holy Spirit into our lives? Are we allowing Him to transform and transfigure us into more faithful, loving, and merciful reflections of Jesus Christ? How can we do a better job of living out our ministry to others?

O Lord, free us through your Holy Spirit so we can become you for all people.

Amen.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Tenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

Paul makes a clear distinction between the ministry of death, which came from the Ten Commandments, and the ministry of the Spirit. The Ten Commandments are mainly restrictions on our actions and focus on punishment for crimes against God, while the Golden Rule given by Jesus and enkindled in us through the Holy Spirit is life-giving. Paul isn’t saying the Ten Commandments should be ignored, but rather that their glory is surpassed by the Holy Spirit’s gifts. The Ten Commandments are good to follow, while the inspirations of the Holy Spirit are even more so.

Do we follow the glorious Ten Commandment’s? Do we follow the even more glorious inspirations of the Holy Spirit by knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities? Are we putting the gifts of the Holy Spirit to good use?

O Lord, let your glorious Holy Spirit inspire and guide us to become better servants to you.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church

As God is faithful, our word to you is not "yes" and "no." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not "yes" and "no," but "yes" has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.

Sometimes our plans change. Our honest “Yes!” to someone else’s request, might suddenly become an unintended “No.” The course of our lives is not always set by ourselves. There are times when God, outside forces, and even enemies pull us down a different path. This might cause others to be disappointed in us. We can even become disappointed in ourselves for not being able to fulfill a promise. However, no matter what happens in our lives, expected or unexpected, we need to recognize each situation as an opportunity to grow in the faith and become better servants to God and all His children. God will forgive us if our good-intentioned promises fall through as long as we tried our best to follow through on our word.

Do we try to follow through on our good promises? Do we realize how even the obstacles that pop up in life are opportunities to grow in faith, hope, and love? Are we trying our best in every good thing we do?

O Lord, let all our promises be founded upon bearing you into the world for all to see.

Amen.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Tenth Monday of Ordinary Time

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.

God is constantly compassionate towards us. He is always encouraging us in our good works and when we are undergoing afflictions. He is the perfect model for us on how to be compassionate and encouraging towards others. Just as He is charitable and merciful, so are we called to be the same though imitation of His Goodness. Jesus suffered and died for us so we could be encouraged in the midst of our trials, overcome our temptations, and live lives of love. The least we can do to repay him for all he has done for us is to follow his example and be compassionate and encouraging.

Are we compassionate toward others? How do we go about encouraging others in their lives? How can we better imitate the love and mercy of our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son?

O Lord, make us compassionate and encouraging people.

Amen.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

The Holy Trinity loves us. The Father loves us enough to create us in His Divine Image and give us His only Beloved Son so that we might be forgiven of our sins and have eternal life. The Beloved Son loves us enough to create the Church as his bride and give us the Good News and the Holy Spirit so that we might follow his Way, Truth, and Life. The Holy Spirit creates the traditions of the Church and gives us every grace and inspiration we need to know, love, and serve God and His children. God did not create us, provide for us, or send us forth into the world to be sinners or to be condemned. He created us, provided for us, and sent us forth to be saints and to have eternal life.

How do we respond to the love the Holy Trinity has shown us? What can we do with the gifts He has given us? How can we live our lives in imitation of the love the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have for each other and for us?

O Lord, we believe in you and the mystery of the Holy Trinity.

Amen.

Ninth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them: "Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory. Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Honor and proclaim God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. A king's secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known. Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.

When good things happen to us, our first response should not be to congratulate ourselves, but to thank God. After all, every good thing comes from Him. He is the Source, the Center, and the Summit of all that is good and holy. We should never slack in praising God or His deeds. In a similar vein, we should do everything we can to be people of almsgiving. Almsgiving is one of the many ways we can imitate Christ and reflect God’s Divine Image into the world. It is though our acts of charity and mercy that we bring God into the lives of others and leave them better off. So let us make sure we are not only prayerful and fasting, but almsgivers, too.

Do we thank God for all He has done for us? Do we recognize Him as the Source of all our goods? How can we better imitate Him through our almsgiving?

O Lord, make us gracious almsgivers.

Amen.

Friday, June 9, 2017

Ninth Friday of Ordinary Time

"Blessed be God, and praised be his great name, and blessed be all his holy angels. May his holy name be praised throughout all the ages, Because it was he who scourged me, and it is he who has had mercy on me. Behold, I now see my son Tobiah!" Then Tobit went back in, rejoicing and praising God with full voice for everything that had happened. Tobiah told his father that the Lord God had granted him a successful journey; that he had brought back the money; and that he had married Raguel's daughter Sarah, who would arrive shortly, for she was approaching the gate of Nineveh.

There is always the chance of redemption for us if we are willing to pray for and seek it out. No matter how much we’ve sinned in the past, are sinning now, and will sin in the future… The Lord, Our God is willing to be merciful to us. We have only to seek Him our sincerely and come to choose him over ourselves and our selfish vices. If we do this, then we, too will be saved by God’s Mercy and have a successful journey in this world… one that leads us to eternal happiness with God in Heaven.

What are the sins we are being scourged for? Are we sincerely seeking God’s Mercy and trying our best to amend our lives? Do we realize that the only way to have a safe journey on this earth is to live prayerful and faithful lives?

O Lord, praise be to your name and your mercy.

Amen.

Ninth Thursday of Ordinary Time


Tobiah arose from bed and said to his wife, "My love, get up. Let us pray and beg our Lord to have mercy on us and to grant us deliverance." She got up, and they started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. And they began to say: "Blessed are you, O God of our fathers, praised be your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever. You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended. You said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; let us make him a partner like himself.' Now, Lord, you know that I take this wife of mine not because of lust, but for a noble purpose. Call down your mercy on me and on her, and allow us to live together to a happy old age." They said together, "Amen, amen," and went to bed for the night.


Prayer is important to our faith lives. It sustains us in our trials, shows how much we trust in God, and gives us a chance to praise and glorify the Lord. Praying together with others is even more profound. Praying with our spouses, children, co-workers, neighbors, etc. helps us tremendously in growing into our vocation as good and faithful servants. The mere act of praying with others can help remind us that we are not alone on this spiritual journey toward heaven.


Is pray important to our lives? Are there people who we can pray with and grow with as Christians?Do we appreciate all that God has done for us?

O Lord, praised be your name forever and ever.
Amen.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Ninth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

"It is far better for me not to hang myself, but to beg the Lord to have me die, so that I need no longer live to hear such insults." At that time, then, she spread out her hands, and facing the window, poured out her prayer: "Blessed are you, O Lord, merciful God, and blessed is your holy and honorable name. Blessed are you in all your works for ever!" At that very time, the prayer of these two suppliants was heard in the glorious presence of Almighty God. So Raphael was sent to heal them both: to remove the cataracts from Tobit's eyes, so that he might again see God's sunlight; and to marry Raguel's daughter Sarah to Tobit's son Tobiah, and then drive the wicked demon Asmodeus from her.

Both Tobit and Sarah pray for God to end their lives. They are suffering greatly and don’t feel like they can go on. Sometimes the difficulties we face are so overwhelming we might be tempted to make the same prayer. However, the end of Sarah’s prayer is the best way to petition God for help. We should bless God for all He has done for us and be thankful for the many miracles, great and small that He performs for us. If we do this, then we will receive help from Him through the Holy Spirit and his angels.

Do we turn to God when we are undergoing trials? Are we faithful in our prayer lives? How can we appreciate what God does for us on a daily basis?

O Lord, help us so we can see the light of your love and have our own devils driven away from us.
Amen.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Computer Troubles

My computer ran into some problems so I'll be posting new reflections once I get that hammered out.

Have a Blessed Day!

-Joseph

Ninth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

I called to my wife and said: “Where did this goat come from? Perhaps it was stolen! Give it back to its owners; we have no right to eat stolen food!” She said to me, “It was given to me as a bonus over and above my wages.” Yet I would not believe her, and told her to give it back to its owners. I became very angry with her over this.  So she retorted: “Where are your charitable deeds now? Where are your virtuous acts? See! Your true character is finally showing itself!”

How quickly we can fall from grace! Tobit, who does so much good for others goes blind and spends years being taken care of by others. Just as he was charitable, so others are treating him with charity. And yet, he becomes suspicious of his wife and instead of dwelling on all the good she has done him, he casts doubt upon her character. He has become like those who mocked him, but worse. He has moved past indifference to envy and self-righteousness. How many of us fall into the same traps and temptations. We see evils in other’s charitable deeds. We see what others have and think they have no right to it. We can build up a treasure house of good works, but spoil them all by casting dispersions on others or not trusting them when they have give us reason to trust.

Have we ever blamed someone for something or thought ill of them and been proven wrong? Have we blinded ourselves with envy and pride? How can we cure our blindness and see others through loving eyes?

O Lord, open our eyes so that we might be charitable in thought, word, and deed.

Amen.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

And I wept. Then at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him. The neighbors mocked me, saying to one another: “He is still not afraid! Once before he was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has scarcely escaped, here he is again burying the dead!”

It takes courage to risk your reputation, well-being, or life to do what is right. This is what Tobit did and it is what we are called to do. Just as he went against the king and gave alms to the poor and burial to the dead. He knew it might cost him everything he owned and loved, but he would not sacrifice what was right for an easier life. His neighbors mocked him for doing good. They chose indifference to charity. They chose self-interest over love of neighbor. They refused to bury the dead or give alms out of fear... and it is their loss. They have their lives backward. They do evil and avoid good. But Tobit shows us the way to live. To be not afraid of doing what is right, even if it costs us everything in this world. For if we do good no matter what stands in our way, then we shall have our reward in heaven and our lives shall be secure forever.

Are we courageous when it comes to doing the right thing in face of opposition? Are we willing to suffer in order to know, love, and serve God and His children? How can we become more charitable to all?

O Lord, grant us hearts that will give your love to others without counting the cost.

Amen.

Sunday, June 4, 2017

Pentecost Sunday

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Although we might understand the role of God the Father as our Creator and Patriarch and Jesus, the Son of God, as our Savior and Teacher... we don’t always appreciated the role of the Holy Spirit. We know we have been given the Holy Spirit by the Father through Christ, but do not fully comprehend what His Divine Mission is. We hear the words Advocate and Sanctifier, but do not quite understand how central the Holy Spirit is to our lives, especially if we wish to answer God’s call for us to become saints. As our Advocate, the Holy Spirit is called to our side, to remind us of all that God has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us. He reminds us that God is always with us, will never abandon us, and will uphold us in times of trial. As our Sanctifier, the Holy Spirit inspires our consciences, reminds us of the teachings of Christ, and gives us every gift of grace that we need to fulfill our calling as Christians. In light of this, we should make it a point to not only pray to God our Father and Jesus His Beloved Son, but also to the Holy Spirit... the Spirit of Truth and the Love.

Do we seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, words, and works? How can we remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit is always with us, waiting for us to turn to Him? Are we willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to sanctify us?

O Lord, send us your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Saturday, June 3, 2017

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

After coming to Rome, Paul continues his mission to proclaim the Good News and teach others about Jesus Christ. He doesn't let his house arrest stop him from doing God's Will. He could have grown anxious at being denied his freedom for two years. He could have wondered why he was being put through such a trial. He could've turned bitter and denied others a chance to learn about Jesus. But he understood that walking the path God had prepared for him was the greatest freedom there is. He knew that the trials he was facing were ones that would lead him and others closer to God. He chose to walk the narrow path to Heaven no matter that cost.

How can we be as courageous as Paul in our mission of proclaiming the Good News? Are we willing to choose the true freedom of following Jesus over the false freedom of choosing ourselves above all? Do we pray to God for the strength to walk the narrow path to Heaven over the wide road to Hell?

O Lord, make us courageous in following the path you have prepared for us.

Amen.

Friday, June 2, 2017

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.

Paul didn’t have to go to Rome. He chose to go because he knew it was God’s Will. He understood that by choosing to go to Rome he would be sacrificing his liberty and his life. However, he did so willingly because he wanted to bear witness to the Good News in Rome before the Emperor even though it would mean his death. Through this action, Paul shows us what it means to be a Christian and put God before all else. Paul could have complained that he was being forced to go to Rome when he had done so much already for God. He could have resisted the idea of going to Rome, thinking he was too important to spreading the word. He could have made any number of arguments against going to his death, but he didn’t. Instead, he accepted God’s Will and let God lead him where he needed to be. We should all be so willing and humble to let God lead us, sometimes where we do not want to go.

What is God asking us to do? Are we willing to leave behind all we know and go to where God is leading us? Are we willing to suffer and sacrifice in order to do God’s Will?

O Lord, lead us to where we need to be.

Amen.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

God doesn’t leave us out to dry. He doesn’t abandon us. He is always with us no matter where we go or what trials we face. He gives us every grace we need to overcome the obstacles in our way, to keep the faith, to remain hopeful, and to love Him and others with all our hearts. Because of this, we should all take courage. God is with us in good times and bad. He is especially at our side when we bear witness to Him and suffer for it. He sees in our willingness to be persecuted for His sake a reflection of Himself, of His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. It is when we imitate Christ that we bear the best witness to God’s Love and Mercy and live up to our calling to be good and faithful sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.

Are we courageous in our faith? How can we bear a better witness to God’s Divine Plan? In what ways can we more perfectly imitate Christ, who is the Perfect Witness to the Good News?

O Lord, grant us the courage we need to bear witness to your cause.

Amen.