Fourth Sunday of Lent

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.

Think about what it means to be an ambassador for Christ. Just like a worldly ambassador, we have many responsibilities to our God and King. We act on His behalf through our thoughts, words, and works. We are His representatives to those around us... to our families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. If we fail to live up to our duties, then we fail not only God but all those whom we were supposed to aid through our position. If we are corrupted or selfish, we give the world yet another reason to reject God. However, if we are true to our faith by spreading hope and love to all the nations, then we will become powerful testaments to God’s Goodness. We shall help others to be reconciled with God and guide them to salvation. We are all called to magnify the Lord in all things and help others to know God is With Us. It was for this that we were put on earth and hopefully we fulfill that purpose each and every day of our lives.

Are we good and faithful ambassadors for Christ? What are we doing to lead others to reconciliation and salvation? How can we manifest God’s Love for all and do all things with righteous hearts?

O Lord, we are your ambassadors send us where you will.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Lent

It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

God wants us to be merciful like Him. He wants us to be good like Him. He wants us to be compassionate like Him. He wants us to love like Him. He wants us to magnify Him for all the world through our thoughts, words, and works. All the almsgiving, prayer, and mortification in the world will avail us nothing if we don’t do it in His Spirit. We can do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. God wants us to do them for Him and Him alone. It isn’t easy choosing to be Christ-like. It is a hard and narrow path filled with hardship and suffering and sacrifice, but if we follow in God’s footsteps and accept our crosses, then we shall taste the goodness of the Lord and enjoy His Heavenly Feast for all eternity.

Are we merciful like God? Are we good and compassionate like Him? How can we magnify Him in all we think, do, and say?

O Lord, wash us from our guilt and sin so we will become merciful, good, and compassionate.

Amen.

Third Friday of Lent

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice. An unfamiliar speech I hear: “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I rescued you.”

When we are in distress, God will rescue us. He will listen to our cries and come to our aid. He might not answer our petitions in the time and manner that we want, but He will give us the grace to overcome all our fears, doubts, pains, and obstacles. He will lead us to a better place, if not physically, at least spiritually. He will relieve us of our burdens and free us from our slavery to sin and worldly things. And ultimately, He will bring us out of bondage to a land flowing with the milk of His Divine Mercy and the honey of His Love.

What burdens are weighing us down? How can we free ourselves of all that is enslaving us to sin and the world? How can we help God rescue others from their difficulties?

O Lord, relieve us of our burdens and free us from our sins.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Lent

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

We are all in danger of hardening our hearts. Some harden all at once because of some event in their lives that turns them against God. Others harden over time corrupted by the world and its distractions, worries, and trials. We have to constantly soften our hearts, souls, and minds through acts of sacrifice, humility, and love. Without doing so, our fields dry up and it becomes difficult for goodness to grow. We cannot bear fruits if our souls are burned up on rocky ground. If we want to prosper, then we have to hear God’s Word, understand it, and then put it into practice. We have to bow down in worship and allow God to shepherd us to greener pastures.

What are the things in our lives that are hardening our hearts? How can we rid ourselves of these things? What can we do to soften our souls so they are receptive of the Word of God and allow the seeds of faith, hope, and love to grow within us?

O Lord, soften our hearts.

Amen.

Third Wednesday of Lent

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word! He spreads snow like wool; frost he strews like ashes.

Each and every day we need to find time to praise God. It can be in little ways or great ways. It can be through how we treat others or how we treat ourselves. It can be through prayer, mortification, or almsgiving. It can be through acts of charity, mercy, or penance. Praising God can be done in many ways and at any time. A simple glance toward heaven in thanksgiving is sometimes all that is necessary to show our faith. A quick prayer of petition is all that we need to show our hope. A humble act of self-sacrifice can express our great love.

How often do we praise the Lord? What little or great ways can we show God that we are His loving children? What can we do to spread a love of God to others?

O Lord, we praise you for all you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Lent

Remember your mercies, O Lord. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

We can’t be taught if we don’t take the time to listen. We can’t be guided if we don’t accept the hand God offers us. We can’t ask for God’s Mercy, if we are not forgiving, too. All of these actions require some sort of sacrifice on our part. If we want to listen to God, then we have to sacrifice all those worldly things that keep us from listening to Him. If we want to be guided by our Heavenly Father, then we need to give up our willful pride and selfishness and trust that God knows what is best for us. If we want to be forgiven, then we must let go of our anger and pain and show compassion to those who trespass against us. None of these things are easy to do, but they are necessary if we want to have any hope of salvation.

How can we make more time to listen to the Lord? How can we become more child-like and dependent upon our Heavenly Father’s Will? How can we be more merciful to all of God’s children, especially those who are our enemies?

O Lord, make your ways known to us.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”

Our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies should echo the words we hear in this psalm, “Here we are, Lord; we come to do your will.” The decision to let go of our will and choose to do God’s Will is one that shapes who we are. This is what Mary did when she said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” And these words should ever be on our lips, too. God wants our love, obedience, and good works and if we give Him these, then He will respond with His Love, Mercy, and Grace.

Are we doing God’s Will? How can we be more obedient to God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations? What can we do to make our lives into living sacrifices of love for God and all His children?

O Lord, here we are, help us to do your will.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Lent

Yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert. These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

The desire for evil things can seep into our lives and ruin the foundations of our faith. It can wear away the solid rock beneath us and cause us to fall. Sin, grumbling, indifference... all of these things tear down our spiritual lives. And we cannot say God did not warn us against these worldly vices. He has shown us again and again how wickedness leads to destruction. None of us should be so prideful as to feel secure in our salvation. It is only by the Grace and Mercy of God that we have any hope of eternal life despite how often we displease Him with acts of selfishness and sin.

How can we rid ourselves of the desire for evil? What can we do to amend our lives so we might avoid sin, grumbling, and other temptations? How can we do a better job of seeking our salvation rather than our self-satisfaction?

O Lord, help us to be more pleasing to you.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Lent

The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion.

How fortunate for us that we have such a kind and merciful God! Just imagine how we might feel in His place when we see so many of our children turning their backs on us for various reasons. Imagine being betrayed by those whom we love. Imagine being taken for granted and ignored by the people we care about. Would we be as patient, loving, and forgiving as God? And yet, God pardons all our iniquities. He heals us of our ills. He redeems us from destruction. He even crowns us with kindness and compassion. Yes, we are blessed to have such a good God on our side.

Are we as kind and merciful as God is to us? Are we willing to pardon those who trespass against us? How do we repay God for all the kindness and compassion He has shown us?

O Lord, you are kind and merciful.

Amen.

Second Friday of Lent

Remember the marvels the Lord has done. When the LORD called down a famine on the land and ruined the crop that sustained them, He sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave.

We all undergo trials and tribulations in our lives. Some challenges come early in life, others later. We never quite understand why they happen to us or where they will lead us. Often, we ask in protest, “Why me?” And yet if our hearts are open to God’s Will, we discover our sufferings have led us to a better place. We must pass through the famine to get to the feast. We must struggle in slavery before we can taste true freedom. We must see ourselves ruined before we rebuild a better life. These painful moments in our lives are not something to fear or shy away from. They are opportunities to join ourselves with the Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Instead of complaining, we should thank God for the difficulties in our lives and ask Him, “What do you want me to learn from this?”

Can we think of any times when we have suffered in some way and it led us to a person, place, or thing that helped us grow as a Christian? How can we unite our suffering with that of Jesus Christ? What can we do to transform our difficulties and challenges into opportunities to grow in faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, you have done marvelous things for us.

Amen.

Second Thursday of Lent

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.

If we want to prosper spiritually, then we have to prepare our souls to be good soil for the Word of God. We have to clear away the debris that doesn’t belong. We have to till the dirt so that it welcomes the seeds of faith. We must plant our fields near the running water of hope. We have to tend the vineyards and orchards of our souls with love. We have to protect ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil. We have to uproot the weeds of weakness, imperfection, indifference, and worldliness that try to choke off our growth. If we do all these things, then when the time of harvest comes, our souls will produce good and abundant fruits.

How can we place our hope more firmly in the Lord? What are we doing to prepare the vineyards and orchards of our souls to bear much fruit? How can we protect ourselves for those things that would destroy our faith?

O Lord, work within our souls so they might prosper.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Lent

Save me, O Lord, in your kindness. You will free me from the snare they set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.

The wickedness and snares of the Devil are all around us. We see it in the world, in people, in places, and in things. We are constantly tempted by evil or tormented by those who see good and want to tear it down. God is our only refuge in this dark valley. He is our light, leading us to safety. He is our shelter, protecting us from the storm. He is our help, freeing us from the snares. If we want to have any hope of reaching Heaven, then we must commend our spirits to Him and allow Him to shepherd us to the Promised Land along the Way He has prepared for us.

Do we pray for God’s Help in overcoming the wickedness and snares of the Devil? Do we turn to Him in our times of need and commend our spirits to Him? How can we train ourselves to seek His Grace, follow His Light, and walk His Way?

O Lord, save us in your kindness.

Amen.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The son of David will live forever. The promises of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness, For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

God’s kindness has been established forever. He expressed it through the creation of the heavens and the earth and all living things, especially man and woman. He showed it through His Mercy on the people of the Old Testament. He revealed it through His Beloved Son’s life, passion, death, and resurrection. He continues to prove it through the Holy Spirit, who guides His Church. O, how faithful God has been to us! We can only hope we can return a fraction of His faithfulness and sing His praises forever.

Have we been faithful to God? How can we become more faithful? In what ways can we reflect God’s kindness to the rest of the world?

O Lord, may your kindness be established in us.

Amen.

Second Monday of Lent

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.

We should count ourselves very blessed that God is loving and merciful. He offers us forgiveness for all our imperfections, weaknesses, and sins. He is willing to forgive and forget our iniquities and cleanse us of our sins. All we have to do is come to Him with humble and contrite hearts, confess our sins, do penance, and amend our lives. Then, He will show us His boundless compassion and lift us up from our lowliness, raising our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies back into His good graces.

In what ways have we sinned against God? How can we amend our lives so we do not sin in these ways again? Do we make time to confess our sins and do penance?

O Lord, remember not our iniquities.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Lent

Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

We are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven and as such we have rights and responsibilities to our Lord and God. We have the right to God's Love Mercy and Grace. We have the right to life, to liberty from sin, and the pursuit of spiritual happiness. However, these rights do not come without cost or responsibilities. The cost of being saved is being willing to conform our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies to the commandments of the Father, the teachings of the Son, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. In order to live, we must be willing to die to ourselves. In order to be free, we must be willing to become humble servants of God. In order to have happiness, we must be willing to face trials and sufferings for God's Glory and the good of others. If we want to be saved, then we must be willing to lose ourselves in the Love of God and stand firm with our Beloved, now and forevermore.

Do we act like citizens of the world or citizens of Heaven? Are we using or abusing our God-given rights? How can we conform ourselves more perfectly to God's Will so we can joyfully fulfill our spiritual responsibilities?

O Lord, change us so we conform more perfectly with your glorified body.

Amen.

First Saturday of Lent

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who observe his decrees, who seek him with all their heart.

Seeking God with all our hearts isn’t easy. There are so many things in the world that demand our attention, drive us to distraction, and try to lead us astray. However, if we follow the commandments of God, then we will be able to follow God more perfectly and be blameless in His sight. If we strive to know, love, and serve God and His children, then we will be blessed. God pours out His Grace upon those who seek Him and do His Will with all their hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. Yes, the way to salvation is narrow, but God’s arms are broad and He will draw us back to His path if we are humble enough to turn back to Him and take His Hand.

How can we become blameless in the sight of God? What can we do to become holier people? What changes is God asking us to make so we can walk in His Way, Truth, and Life?

O Lord, we seek you with all our hearts.

Amen.

First Friday of Lent

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.

Sometimes we experience sorrow and misery in this life. We lose something that is precious to us. A loved one. Our health. Our wealth. Our occupation. Or any of a myriad of things. In these dark nights we can lose our way and feel completely helpless. In times such as these, we should not be afraid to call out from the depths and ask God to hear us. He will listen and in His Infinite Mercy, He will come to us in a way, a place, and a time that will be best for us and lead us closer to our salvation. We just have to trust in Him and allow Him to work His wonders in our lives.

When we are sorrowful or despairing, do we turn to God for consolation, comfort, and help? Do we mimic God’s Compassion in our own lives? If not, then how can we become as merciful to others as God is to us?

O Lord, we cry to you from the depths, hear our voices!

Amen.

First Thursday of Lent

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name.

The Lord our God is listening. He is watching. He is with us now and if we are holy, He will be with us forever. There is no prayer that goes unheard or unanswered. There is no word that passes our lips that He does not hear. There is no work we do that He does not witness. He knows our good deeds. He knows our sins. He knows all. And yet, He loves us in spite of our flaws and our sins and chooses to come to our help whenever we call upon Him. This is why we ought to sing His praises and give thanks to Him.

What do we need help with? How can we make God more of a part of that area of our lives? How can we love God and His children as He loves us?

O Lord, we give thanks to you for you have heard us.

Amen.

First Wednesday of Lent

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. 

It can be difficult to have a steadfast spirit in the world. We are constantly tempted by sins, bombarded by distractions, and struggling with our weaknesses. It can be very spiritually draining to fight off these things over and over again, especially our bad habits. Evil thoughts can weigh our hearts down and lead us astray. However, the beautiful thing about being Christians is the knowledge that God wants to forgive us and will do everything He can to save us. He will grant us mercy and graces to help us overcome every spiritual obstacle. Through the sacraments, He renews our spiritual reserves and makes it possible for us to avoid sins, ignore distractions, and conquer our weaknesses. He will not spurn us if we come to Him.

What sins, distractions, and weaknesses do we need to overcome? How can we do so with the help of the sacraments? What can we do to help others to conquer their obstacles to holiness?

O Lord, create a clean heart within us and renew our spirits.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Lent

From all their distress God rescues the just. Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 

When we have questions for the Lord, He does give us the answers we need. They might not be the ones we want or given to us in the way we sought, but He does provide them for us if we are willing to listen. Sometimes the answers will come in prayer. Sometimes they will come from other people. Sometimes they will come in opportunities or setbacks. However, no matter what happens God will rescue us from all our distress and deliver us from all our fears. We just have to have the openness and patience to listen to Him through the Holy Spirit and our consciences.

Do we seek God’s input into our lives? Do we take time out of each day to listen to Him? How can we be more open to the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, answer our pleas and deliver us from all distress.

Amen.

First Monday of Lent

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

If we live our lives in accord with the laws of the Lord, we will be constantly refreshed in body, mind, and spirit. If we follow the Word of God, we will lack for nothing in our faith lives. If we trust in the inspirations of the Spirit, we will not be disappointed. If we are open to His Will, then we will receive wisdom. If we have confidence in God, we will grow in faith, hope, and love.

Are we following the laws of the Lord? How can we place greater trust in God’s Divine Plan? What can we do to allow the words of God to guide our spirits and our lives?

O Lord, refresh our souls with your words of life.

Amen.

First Sunday of Lent

For, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the Scripture says, No one who believes in him will be put to shame.

There are many ways to confess Jesus is Lord. We can choose to use our free time to meditate upon the Scriptures and contemplate the life of Christ. We can proclaim the Good News through words and works. We can be charitable toward those who need charity and merciful toward those who need mercy. We can manifest God’s Love through loving our neighbors as God loves them. If we do all these things, then we will be justified and saved. If we do all these things, we will not be put to shame.

In what ways are we confessing Jesus Christ is Lord? Do we truly believe God will not allow us to be put to shame? How do we show this faith in our lives?

O Lord, we believe with our hearts and confess with our mouths that you are our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God.

God does everything He can to help us. He has given us the Scriptures and the Church to teach us how to imitate His Beloved Son. He leads us through the Holy Spirit so we might walk in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He listens to our prayers and answers them for our betterment. He helps us to overcome our afflictions and showers us with spiritual riches. He will keep our lives safe and reward those who trust in Him. He will never abandon us because He is our God and our Heavenly Father.

Do we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as well as God listens to us? How can we be more devoted to the God who has sacrificed and given so much for us? In what ways can we proclaim we are Christians to the rest of the world? 

O Lord, help us to walk in your truth.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

God will not spurn us if we come to Him with hearts that are contrite and humble. God wants us to come to Him and seek forgiveness for our sins and imperfections. He wants to shower us with His Mercy as an example of what we should for those who trespass against us. He wants to wipe out our offenses and wash away our guilt. He wants us to be cleansed of evil and filled with goodness and compassion.

How can we become humbler and more contrite in our hearts? What can we do to imitate God’s Mercy and Compassion in our own lives? How can we be as good as our Heavenly Father is good?

O Lord, grant us humble and contrite hearts.

Amen.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.

Our hope should rest in the Lord.  The world can’t promise us anything will last forever. Only God can give us eternal happiness. The wicked will promise us much, but all they can deliver is empty. The way of sinners may be easier to walk on earth, but after death it becomes a way of ruin and suffering. However, if we delight in the laws of the Lord and meditate on them, then we shall live good and faithful lives worthy of salvation.

Do we meditate on the commandments of the Lord? How can we be more faithful to them? What can we do to resist the temptations of the world and live holy lives?

O Lord, we hope in you.

Amen.

Ash Wednesday

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

During the time of Lent, we are called to reexamine our lives and realign them with God’s Will wherever we have gone astray. We all have areas in our lives where we can do a better job of being Christians. Sometimes we fail in small ways. Other times we fail in big ways. Thankfully for us, we have a loving and merciful God, who is full of kindness and goodness. He is more than willing to forgive our weaknesses and wipe out our offenses. And if we come to Him in the sacrament of reconciliation and confess our sins with humble and contrite hearts, He will wash away our guilt and cleanse us so we are once again worthy of being His children.

Do we take time to examine our lives and our consciences to realign them with God’s Will? Do we take advantage of the sacrament of reconciliation whenever we need to? How can we be as merciful to others as God is with us?

O Lord, be merciful for we have sinned.

Amen.

Eighth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge.

God makes clear that if we want to make a covenant with Him, it must be through sacrifice. We can’t go through our lives without being willing to surrender our time, talents, and treasures to God. We must put God first and foremost in our lives and give Him priority over all else. We have to be willing to give up whatever He asks us to leave behind. We cannot live a Christ-like life if we aren’t willing to make every moment of our days into a sacrifice for His glory and the good of His children. If we want to be faithful and upright, then we must be prepared to suffer and do so joyfully and calmly. We must give of ourselves without complaint or counting the cost because Jesus never hesitated to offer himself up as an oblation to God for the cleansing of our sins and the salvation of our souls.

What sacrifices are we being asked to make? What can we do to make our lives into offerings for the reparation of sins and the salvation of souls? How can we become upright and just in our dealings with God and His children?

O Lord, we are willing to sacrifice everything we are and have to be a part of your new covenant.

Amen.

Eighth Monday of Ordinary Time

Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin.

A good confession can make a world of difference in our lives. It can clear the slate and give us new focus. It offers us an opportunity for true conversion of body, mind, and spirit if we allow the graces of the confessional to flow into us and help us to do penance and amend our lives. God gave us the sacrament of reconciliation because He knows our fallen nature and our desire to strive against it. Confession is a way for us to stand up against our selfish desires and acknowledge and proclaim we want something better.

Are we making use of the sacrament of reconciliation? What are the sins and guilts hold us back? How can we build up the courage to make a thorough examination of conscience and good confession?

O Lord, we acknowledge our sins and seek to amend our ways.

Amen.

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When this which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility and this which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then the word that is written shall come about: Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

Death has no victory over true believers. If we keep the commandments, do good, avoid evil, and love God and our neighbors to the best of our abilities, then death will have no sting. Death comes from sin and selfishness, but it cannot enter into the refuge of our hearts if we protect them with selfless love. Our corruptible flesh might wither and die and turn to dust, but our incorruptible spirit will live on and one day take on an immortal body in Heaven. We should do everything we can to remain in God’s Grace because we want to enjoy everlasting life with Him in Heaven.

What are the things in our lives that attempting to corrupt us? Where have we left ourselves open to death? How can we clothe ourselves with incorruptibility and immortality?

O Lord, give us victory over death.

Amen.

Seventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him, for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust.

God is compassionate to those who fear and respect Him. His kindness endures forever for those who love Him and His children. He treats us as a Father treats His offspring. He gives us every chance to know, love, and serve Him as He knows, loves, and serves us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and does everything in His Divine Power to lead us to good and holy lives. He will give us every opportunity to redeem ourselves and prove we are good and faithful people. And if we fall into sin, He is the first one to welcome us back into His Divine Grace.

Do we trust in God’s Mercy enough to not despair when we sin? Do we respect God enough to seek His Forgiveness when we choose what is wrong over what is right? Are we compassionate to others like our Heavenly Father is to us?

O Lord, your kindness is everlasting.

Amen.

Seventh Friday of Ordinary Time

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.

God has taught us everything we need to know to be holy people. He gave us the Scriptures to teach us. He gave us His Beloved Son to show us. He gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us. He gave us His Church to shelter us. We know His Commandments from keeping holy the Sabbath day to not coveting your neighbors’ goods. We know the Golden Rule to love God and one another as God loves us. If we keep His Commandments and love with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths, then we will be blessed and enter into eternal life with God, Our Heavenly Father.

Do we ask for and seek guidance in how best to live the Christ-like life? What can we do to better learn and practice the statutes of our God? How can we lead others to follow God’s commandments?

O Lord, guide us in the way of your commands.

Amen.