Saturday, September 30, 2017

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the LORD. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and they shall be his people and he will dwell among you.

God dwells with us. We might not see or hear Him directly, but He is always there for us. He is ready to help us in all our good works and to warn us against all our evil inclinations. With Him we can do great things. Without Him we can do nothing. Whenever we think, say, or do anything we should keep in mind God sees, hears, and knows what we are doing. We can’t hide anything from Him, nor can we explain away our actions or inactions. He knows exactly why we acted rightly or wrongly. We should live our lives with the sure knowledge God is with us and do everything according to God’s Will.

Do we rejoice at knowing God is with us? How have we joined ourselves to our Lord? What can we do to keep in mind He is always with us?

O Lord, dwell among us.

Amen.

Friday, September 29, 2017

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

Who can compare to God? This is what St. Michael’s name means and it is a question we should keep in mind whenever we are faced with a choice to follow God’s Will or our own. Whenever we are tempted to focus our attention on worldly things or put our trust in someone or something other than God, then we should remember the meaning of Michael’s name. The Devil and his followers forgot this and fell and so can we if we are not careful. Our sinful rebellions against God, whether great or small, might feel freeing, but all they do is bind us and weigh us down with wickedness. Thankfully, we have the hope of repentance and can cleanse ourselves of our sins and our attachments to false idols. And when we do this, we are truly freed, prevailing over all that sought to drag us down.

What are things in our lives that are distracting us from our true calling as servants of God and His children? In what ways have we rebelled against God’s Will? How can we make amends for our transgressions and transform ourselves into defenders of the faith?

O Lord, nothing can compare to you.

Amen.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Twenty-Fifth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.

It is not enough to spend our lives sowing, but never reaping. Or eating, but never being satisfied. Or drinking, but never being exhilarated. Or clothed, but never warmed. Or to earn wages, but just as quickly lose them. What God is telling us is we need to sow the seeds of faith in our lives so we can bear good fruits to offer God and feed others, spiritually. He wants us to eat His Body and drink His Blood because it is only through sharing in the Eucharistic Feast that we can be truly satisfied and exhilarated. He wants us to be clothed in him because it is only by putting on Christ that our hearts can be warmed by the fires of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to earn our wage as co-workers in His vineyard, cultivating consciences and souls, and not wasting our time, talents, and treasures on worldly endeavors. When our lives are built on temporary earthly successes they fall apart and fail. However, if we build an everlasting temple to God within ourselves and give God honor and glory in everything we think, say, and do, then our lives will last forever with Him in Heaven.

Have we taken time to consider our ways and how they match or deviate from the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ? What can we do to more firmly found our lives upon God? Are we spending our lives wisely and well?

O Lord, help us to consider our ways and amend them so they build up the faith within ourselves and others.

Amen.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

"My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you, O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads and our guilt reaches up to heaven. From the time of our fathers even to this day great has been our guilt, and for our wicked deeds we have been delivered up, we and our kings and our priests, to the will of the kings of foreign lands, to the sword, to captivity, to pillage, and to disgrace, as is the case today. And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God, who left us a remnant and gave us a stake in his holy place; thus our God has brightened our eyes and given us relief in our servitude.

We all go through periods of feeling unworthy or shame because of what we do or fail to do. When we sin, our consciences prick us with a sense of guilt which prods us toward confession of our sins and reconciliation with God. Our guilt is not meant to drive us away from God, but rather to drive us to Him. He wants us to cleanse ourselves of sin and return to Him. He wants to brighten our eyes and give us relief from sin’s chains.

Are we in a state of sin? If so, are we making every effort to confess our sins, do penance, resist temptations, and avoid the evil inclinations that can sometimes plague us? How can we keep ourselves clean in conscience?

O Lord, remove the scales of sin from our eyes and brighten them with the light of your love.

Amen.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Twenty-Fifth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion, sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Jesus offered one sacrifice for all of us on the cross. It is a sacrifice that we make present through the sacrament of the Eucharist and one we are all called to participate in. When we receive the Blessed Sacrament, we are asked to unite ourselves to Jesus as he united himself to us by becoming the Word Made Flesh. In a way, we are remade through our reception of the Body and Blood of Christ, becoming living sacrifices to God and for others. The surrender of self to God’s Will is a cornerstone of our faith and requires complete confidence in our Heavenly Father that our sufferings when united to Christ’s Passion and Death will lead to the Resurrection and eternal life.

Do we unite ourselves with Christ’s sacrifice, especially when we receive the Eucharist? How can we become living sacrifices to God’s Glory and for the good of others? Are we willing to give our lives in order to bring about God’s Will?

O Lord, purify us so we might sacrifice ourselves more perfectly to you and for your children.

Amen.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Twenty-Fifth Monday of Ordinary Time

All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with free-will offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.

We are all charged with building temples to God within ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We do this in various ways through our virtues, our gifts, and our generosity toward others. Our every thought, word, and work should have building up the Kingdom of God as its aim or at the very least be offered up for this purpose through prayer. We build temples to our Lord and God through our acts of charity and mercy, through our choice to do what is right rather than what is wrong, and through following the teachings of Jesus in spite of what the world tells us to do. We build up the faith in others through spending our time, talents, and treasures ministering to them through great and small acts of evangelization and kindness.

Have we made our hearts into temples to God? What can we do to build up the faith in others? How can we become builders of the faith?

O Lord, help us to build a house to you within our hearts.

Amen.

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

He said to one of them in reply, 'My friend, I am not cheating you.  Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?' Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.

God’s generosity is the reason why we are alive. It is the reason we have been saved. It is the reason we are loved. He holds back nothing that can help us to become the best people we can be. He gives us exactly what we need when we need it. He gives us our just reward for knowing, loving, and serving Him and His children. If we see others who don’t work as hard as us or who do evil and yet succeed in the world, it is not because God is punishing us or treating us unjustly. It is because God loves everyone equally because we are all made in His image. He offers everyone the same payment for a good life... a life everlasting with Him. In His eyes, it doesn’t matter how late or early we come to the faith as long as we come to Him. So let us not envy others whatever good they have in this world or whatever graces God gives them because God is generous and free to do as He wills with His Love and Mercy.

Are we envious of others? How can we uproot our envy and replace it with love and mercy? In what ways can we reflect and magnify God’s generosity through our own thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, help us to be as generous to others as you are to us.

Amen.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

We are all called to dedicate our lives to God. And each of us are asked to live out that dedication in unique ways according to our own gifts and talents. Some of us give God honor through our thoughts, passing on ideas that add to the collected wisdom of the Church and lead others closer to God. Others give God honor through our words, spoken in evangelization and encouragement, fortifying the faith, hope, and love of others. All of us give God honor through our works of charity and mercy. The wonderful thing is that each of us have something unique which we and only we can offer to God and it is up to us to allow Him lead us to the times, places, people, and actions which will fulfill His Divine Will.

Are we dedicated to God or to worldly things? What can we do to give testimony to God’s Goodness through our own thoughts, words, and works? How can we make manifest the Light of Christ when, where, and how God wants us to?

O Lord, we dedicate our lives to you and offer to you all that makes us who we are.

Amen.

Friday, September 22, 2017

Twenty-Fourth Friday of Ordinary Time

Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

Religion with contentment is something we all should strive for and while doing so we should keep in mind the “religion” part. Contentment without religion is a false happiness based on worldly pleasures and gratifications. It is temporary and full of temptations, traps, and harmful desires, which eventually strangle us and pierce us with many pains. Although many people believe money can buy happiness, it never lasts and only leads us farther and farther away from the true contentment that comes from living out our faith. When we choose to let go and let God think, speak, and work through us, then we shall discover a joy and a peace which cannot be bought or sold. It is the calm that comes from being united with God in our every action and leads us toward the everlasting happiness of the Beatific Vision, which was purchased for us by the Body and Blood of Christ.

Are we living lives of false contentment based on worldly pleasures? Or are our lives founded first and foremost on being spiritually content? How can we grow in the joy and peace that comes from turning everything over to God and letting Him use it how He wills?

O Lord, lead us to a place of religious contentment.

Amen.

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

God wants us to be one with Him and all His children. He wants us to be united in our one faith through one baptism, living in a manner worthy of the call to be Christ-like. He wants us to be united in our humility before Him and gentleness with each other. He wants us to be united in patience and love and strive to live in peace with one another. It is through the One Body of Christ and the One Holy Spirit that we are united with our One Heavenly Father and our spiritual brothers and sisters. It is through our confession of one faith, our experience of one baptism, and our shared communion with God and each other that we are united in one Holy Family. And it is in this unity we find our fulfillment not only as unique individuals, but as one living Body of Christ.

Are we united to God and others in our faith lives? How can we become more unified with our faith community? What can we do in our lives to bring people together in the one Body and Spirit of our God?

O Lord, unite us.

Amen.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

Undeniably great is the mystery of devotion, who was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.

Jesus is the mystery of our devotion. He was manifested in the flesh for us. He was vindicated by the spirit before, during, and after his life on earth. He is seen and glorified by the angels in heaven and the church on earth. He is proclaimed and believed in throughout the world by his faithful followers. Jesus is the source, center, and summit of our faith and he should be at the core of all we do. Sometimes we fail to be as devoted to him as we should, but it is during those dark times of the soul that we most need to redouble our efforts to be truly devoted to him and his teachings.

Are we as devoted to Jesus as he deserves? What are we doing to manifest him in the world through our words and works? How can we become better proclaimers of his Good News and Glory?

O Lord, help us to have great devotion to you throughout our lives.

Amen.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Twenty-Fourth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

The word deacon means “servant” in Greek and indicates a special type of vocation to ministry. However, this list of qualifications for becoming a deacon also applies to our own lives because we are all called to be servants of God and each other. In light of this, we should all strive to be dignified, truthful, prudent, charitable, and ever faithful. We should expect to be tested in our faith by God, by others, and even by ourselves. We should be temperate and chaste, and manage our lives and the lives of our families wisely and well. If we do these things, then we will fulfill our purpose on this earth and find ourselves in good standing with God and confident in our faith because we will have chosen to live our lives as good and faithful servants.

Are we living our lives as servants of God and His children? What vocation is God calling us to embrace? How can we model ourselves upon the virtues of those who are called to the diaconate?

O Lord, help us to hold fast to the mystery of our faith with a clear conscience.

Amen.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Twenty-Fourth Monday of Ordinary Time

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

We all need to pray for our leaders. Our leaders from the local to national levels can have a great influence over our lives as well as the morals of society as a whole. The laws, decisions, and regulations made today will have far-reaching effects and we as a people of faith have the responsibility to not only elect people with well-formed consciences, but also to pray for all politicians in order to give them the strength they need to resist the temptations of public office and make policy decisions that lead to quiet and tranquil lives for their constituents. We also have to pray for our officials so that we will have an environment that leads our people greater devotion to God and dignity for all.

Do we pray for our leaders? How can we do a better job of supporting politician who have well-formed consciences? What can we do to ensure our local and national governments are guided by good people?

O Lord, guide our leaders and help them to be good and faithful servants to you and all your children.

Amen.

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

There is no limit to God’s Divine Mercy and there should be no limit for us as well. When we sin against God, we create a debt we could never repay. Recognizing this, God sent into the world His Beloved Son, to be a sin offering sacrificed once and for all time for all people and all sins. This single act of self sacrifice is the only one which could pay the debt we all owe as sinners. The models of Jesus’ Life, Passion, and Death are ones God wants us to imitate in our own lives so we might manifest God’s Love and Mercy more fully. This is why Christ tells Peter he must forgive seventy-seven times... an amount which speaks to the limitless mercy God wants us all to have for others.

Are we willing to be forgiving of those who have sinned against us, especially our enemies? How can we become more merciful in our dealings with others? In what ways can we manifest God’s limitless forgiveness to others?

O Lord, help us to be fonts of your mercy and forgiveness.

Amen.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

We are all sinners in one way or another. Some of us are prideful, others envious. Some of us are wrathful, others lustful. Some of us are avaricious, others gluttonous. More than a few of us are slothful. Because of our imperfections and sins, we are in great need of mercy and thankfully our loving God was willing to sacrifice Himself in order to save us. Jesus’ Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection bridged the gap between us and our Heavenly Father. The gift of God’s saving grace was poured out for us through Christ’s Blood and brought to us through the aqueduct of his cross. Jesus’ selfless offering makes manifest God’s Divine Mercy, which can atone for all our sins if we allow it. The Son of God came into this world for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of souls... our souls. And we would benefit greatly by remembering God wants to save us all from our sins, but we have to accept His Mercy if we are to have any hope of living in him forever and ever.

What are our sins? How can we learn to resist their temptations and avoid them? How do we give thanks to God for the mercy He has shown us?

O Lord, treat us mercifully for we are sinners.

Amen.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

In a way, we are all like Paul in that we have been arrogant and sinned against God and others. Thankfully, God is merciful in spite of our failings and instead of condemning us, our Heavenly Father gives us every opportunity to turn our lives around. He might not knock us to the ground and show us visions as He did Paul, but God does nudge us every now and then in the right direction and whisper in our ears in hopes that we will listen. Our God treats us mercifully, strengthening us and pouring out His abundant graces so we might grow in faith and love. He wants us all to minister to Him and His children through thoughts, words, and works. He wants us to answer the call and accept our mission to be priests, prophets, and servant leaders for His people. And if we do this, then we like Paul will be considered a trustworthy servant and worthy of the Kingdom.

How can we overcome our arrogance and sins and turn our lives around? Are we willing to allow God to guide us to where we need to be and to what we need to be doing just as Paul did? What can we do to put ourselves into position to answer God’s call when it comes?

O Lord, we are grateful for the strength you’ve given us.

Amen.

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

I can be tempting to complain about our lot in life, especially when we experience some difficulty or setback. However, we need to keep in mind life isn’t about getting what we want when we want it. It’s about accepting what God wants for us when He gives it. Jesus came into this world not to take away suffering, but to transform suffering into the reparations of sins and the salvation of souls. In a similar manner, our sufferings can be a source of glory for God and salvation for others, especially when we offer them up in unity with the Passion and Death of Jesus. Just as Jesus was lifted up as a sign of God’s Love and Mercy, so too we are asked to be signs of God’s Compassion for all we met each day.

Have we sinned by complaining about our lives or about God? How can we remain steadfast in faith even in the midst of our sufferings? What can we do to transform our sufferings into opportunities for grace?

O Lord, it is when we spend our lives looking upon you that we live most fruitfully.

Amen.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Because of these the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. By these you too once conducted yourselves, when you lived in that way. But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.

Everyone has parts of us that are earthly and that need to be put to death in order for us to live more fully as Christians. Some of us have immoralities and impurities, which have crept into and darkened our lives. Others have passions, evil desires, and greedy inclinations that lead us away from God’s Way, Truth, and Life. We have sins such as anger, fury, malice, slander, obscenity, and lying which harm ourselves and others in body, mind, and spirit. If we do not root out these evils from our souls, they will grow, choking our virtues and strangling our faith. This is why we must be constantly vigilant against the temptations of this world and instead focus our energies upon putting to death our sins so that we might put on our new selves. It is only when we do this that we are renewed and become more faithful images of our Creator.

What parts of us need to be put to death so that we might live in Christ? How can we cleanse ourselves of all those things that keep us from being remade in the image of God? How can we become more obedient to our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, help us to take off our old selves and put on you.

Amen.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Twenty-Third Tuesday of Ordinary Time

As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.

Walk with Christ Jesus. This is an image we all should dwell upon as we go throughout our days. If we constantly kept Jesus in our thoughts and imagine him with us, the likelihood of us giving into temptation and sinning against God and others would greatly decrease. We would also find it far more difficult to forget how our words and actions affect our relationships with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we have someone we love who is next to us, we speak and act in ways that are less likely to disrespect or offend them. This is why it’s so important to walk with Christ, to be rooted in him and built upon him. It is through him, with him, and in him that our faith is firmly founded upon love and mercy, rather than the seductive philosophies of the world.

Have we been seduced by worldly things? How can we root ourselves more firmly in Jesus Christ? What can we do to keep Jesus present in our daily lives?

O Lord, walk with us.

Amen.

Monday, September 11, 2017

Twenty-Third Monday of Ordinary Time

I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his Body, which is the Church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.

Whenever we are suffering, we have the opportunity to fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of the Church. This is not to say that Christ’s afflictions in his Life, Passion, and Death were incomplete, far from it! But rather that our sufferings can be united to his and bring salvation to others if we are willing to offer them up. Jesus died on the cross once and for all, but the manifestation of his saving grace is often brought to fruition through His Body, which is the Church. And we are members of that Church and therefore share in the call to make visible God’s Love and Divine Mercy. As Christians, we all have the vocation to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of our fellow man.

Do we unite our sufferings with those of Christ? What do we think, say, and do in order to turn our afflictions into opportunities to accomplish God’s Will? How can we manifest the Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus in our daily lives?

O Lord, help us to turn our sufferings into gifts for you and graces for others.

Amen.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

When Jesus says to treat a person who sins against us as a Gentile or a tax collector, we should remember how he treated such people... with love. He didn’t ignore them. He didn’t mistreat them. He ate, drank, and stayed with them. He listened to their cries for help and aided them. He forgave them and was merciful toward them. He even converted a few of them, including most notably Matthew. He gave them every opportunity to repent and even if they didn’t... he loved them, saying “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” It is this kind of treatment that Jesus speaks of here and we would do well to remember the need to love even those who sin against us.

Do we treat those who sin against us with love? How can we become more charitable and merciful to those who are unkind to us? When someone sins against us do we follow the suggestions Jesus has given to us?

O Lord, give us the grace to treat those who sin against us with love.

Amen.

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

You once were alienated and hostile in mind because of evil deeds; God has now reconciled you in the fleshly Body of Christ through his death, to present you holy, without blemish, and irreproachable before him, provided that you persevere in the faith, firmly grounded, stable, and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that you heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, am a minister.

We have all been reconciled with God through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus and the best way to remain so is to look to the Life of Christ, the Way he lived, and the Truth he taught. When we model our lives upon his and persevere in our faith, we grow in holiness and become unblemished and irreproachable before our Heavenly Father. Our bodies, minds, and hearts become firmly grounded in God’s Will and able to withstand worldly temptations. When we lead the Christ-like life hope protects us against fears, doubts, sorrows, and other feelings that might weaken our resolve and instead of eroding our faith, it becomes tempered through trial and more resilient.

How are our lives modeled on Christ’s life? How can we become more grounded in God’s Will? What can we do to build up and strengthen our faith and hope in Jesus?

O Lord, help us to persevere in faith.

Amen.

Friday, September 8, 2017

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

We are all called to be sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father by conforming our lives to the image of His Son through the Holy Spirit. From the beginning of time we were created in God’s Divine Image. Our own image may have been marred by Adam and Eve, but it can also be restored by the New Adam and Eve, namely Jesus and Mary. Both Jesus and Mary offer us perfect models of holiness, showing us how to think, speak, and work in the world, but remain virtuous. Their lives reveal to us how to know, love, and serve God and His children so we might be worthy coheirs to the Heavenly Kingdom. Jesus and Mary manifest and magnify God’s Will just as we all are asked to in our own lives. And if we do so by answering the call to love and mercy, then we shall be justified by our bonds to Christ, and ultimately glorified with him and his Most Holy Mother.

Are we acting like true sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father? How can we become more Christ and Mary-like in our bodies, minds, and hearts? In what ways is God calling us to manifest the His Divine Image?

O Lord, conform us to the image of Jesus as you did with regards to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Amen.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Twenty-Second Thursday of Ordinary Time

From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

The knowledge of God’s Will can be gained through many things. It can be gained through prayerful discernment. It can be gained through the support and encouragement of others. It can be gained through doing good works or seeing others do good works. It can be gained through inspirations from the Holy Spirit. It can be gained through reading the Scriptures. It can be gained through the traditions and sacraments of the Church. This knowledge brings with it wisdom, understanding, good works, strength, endurance, patience, joy, thanksgiving and many other blessings and graces. Most of all, it helps us to become God-bearing people, who manifest God’s Will in all we think, say, and do... making us into true holy ones and lights for the whole world.

How can we open our minds to the knowledge of God’s Will? How can we manifest our knowledge through our words and works? What can we do to become the best God-bearers we can be?

O Lord, make us fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.

Amen.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Twenty-Second Wednesday of Ordinary Time

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.

When we witness someone living out the faith, we should not be shy about it. We should let them know they are doing good and we are praying for them. It might not be something we think about, but just as we pray for those in need, so too should we pray for those who are doing God’s Will. Those who minister to people also need spiritual support to sustain them in their good works. Our words of encouragement can make a world of difference in the lives of those who spend themselves in knowing, loving, and serving others because it lets them know they are making a difference and are appreciated for manifesting the faith for all to see.

Do we actively support those who are doing God’s Will? What can we do to encourage them and help them to grow in holiness? How can we help others to know, love, and serve God and His children?

O Lord, thank you for those who live holy and loving lives.

Amen.

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Twenty-Second Tuesday of Ordinary Time

For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.

Our faith is one built upon vigilance. Vigilance in awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Vigilance in mastering our bodies and passions. Vigilance in doing good and avoiding evil. We can never let down our guard against temptation, sin, or selfishness. Our vigilance requires a great deal of self-disciple and grace from God. We gain these best through prayer, seeking guidance from trusted people, mortification, almsgiving, and all those spiritual practices that help us to be holy people and true followers of Christ.

Are we being vigilant in our faith lives? How can we improve our self-discipline? What can we do to encourage others to be vigilant in their lives, too?

O Lord, help us to stay alert and sober in our faith.

Amen.

Monday, September 4, 2017

Twenty-Second Monday of Ordinary Time

For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.

All of us experience death in our lives, whether it is someone we are close to (such as a family member, friend, or co-worker) or someone we only know in passing. No matter who it is, or how their death happened, it reminds us that there are no guarantees about how long our lives will be. Some of us will live to a ripe old age, others will pass in our youth. Some of us will be prepared for death’s coming, knowing our time here on earth is drawing to a close. More than a few of us will be taken at a time and place we never expected. Part of life as a human being is dying. Even Jesus died and we can learn a lot about both how to live and die from watching how Jesus did both. Jesus loved life and lived every moment to its fullest, but he wasn’t afraid to risk his life when the time came for him to take up his ministry. He was willing to die to himself so others might live and we see this most clearly in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He did not have to die, but he chose to die because he wanted to show us passing from this life isn’t to be feared. Rather, for his good and faithful followers, it is simply a doorway to an everlasting life with God Our Father, Our Teacher, and Our Advocate.

Who in our lives has died? How have we dealt with their deaths or consoled others who have lost loved ones? What can we do to ready ourselves for our own deaths?

O Lord, we want only to die with you so we might rise with you on the last day.

Amen.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

It can be so tempting to avoid sufferings and difficulties at all costs. However, our faith isn’t one of avoidance. Our hope isn’t to steer clear of trials and tribulations so we can live a long and peaceful life in this world. Our love isn’t based on doing good to those who do good to us or caring for others only when it is convenient. No, our faith is one of acceptance of the sorrows that come with consecrating ourselves to God. Our hope is to live a life grounded in God so when we die we will find a seat that the Eternal Banquet. Our love is one that opens our hearts to so wide we choose to know, love, and serve Him in spite of the sword which will pierce our hearts. Our faith, hope, and love give us the strength to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, engage the world with a spirit of confidence in God, and bear our crosses without compliant.

What temptations do we suffer from when it comes to Jesus’ call to pick up our crosses and follow him? How can we increase our faith, hope, and love so we have the spiritual strength to walk the ways of our own spiritual passions? Are we willing to engage the world with full confidence that God will lead us where we need to be?

O Lord, help us to think as you do.

Amen.

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Twenty-First Saturday of Ordinary Time

Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

In a world that is so busy, it is especially difficult to live a tranquil life. There are so many distractions and temptations around us. We can get sidetracked quite easily if we aren’t self-disciplined. Also, there are so many ways to be connected with other people that it can become very difficult to mind our own affairs. There is a constant temptation to talk with others continually, which if not carefully controlled can lead to gossip, bad-mouthing, nosiness, and all sorts of sins against others. In addition, all these diversions from TV to computers to cell phones can keep us from doing the work God is calling us to do. If we are persistently distracted from our responsibilities and relationships with others, we lose sight of what is important in life. We get nothing useful or important done. We put off what is necessary and good for what is unnecessary or evil. This is why it is so important to build up good habits and virtues and keep them strong by making them a core part of our daily lives.

How can we live more tranquil lives? What can we do to avoid the distractions that derail our good thoughts, words, and works? How can we do a better job of minding our own business and doing the work God has prepared for us?

O Lord, help us to progress in faith, hope, and love and aspire to live tranquil lives.

Amen.

Friday, September 1, 2017

Twenty-First Friday of Ordinary Time

Brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God—and as you are conducting yourselves—you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

In order to follow Jesus, we need to control ourselves. We need to have not only a well-informed conscience, but also the willpower to do good and avoid evil. We can have all the wisdom in the world, but if we don’t have the strength of character to choose what is right over what is wrong, then what good is our knowledge? Self-discipline is something we must work at constantly, strengthening it like a spiritual muscle. We cannot let ourselves become lax or we lose ground and weaken in our resolve and become more and more vulnerable to temptation and sin. The best way to build up our willpower is to recognize how living in accord with God’s commandments increases our ability to love not only God and others, but ourselves. This is because when we have control over ourselves in body, mind, and spirit, we love with our whole being.

Do we have control over ourselves? How can we become more disciplined in body, mind, and spirit? What can we do to build up our willpower in all things?

O Lord, we want only to conduct ourselves in a way pleasing to you.

Amen.