Sixth Sunday of Easter

I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

Each of our souls is a city. We build them up over the course of our lives. Some of us have straight and narrow roads. Others wide and winding streets. Some place God in the center of their souls. Others put money, fame, passions, and others things in the center of their lives. Still others never settle on a center and their cities are chaotic with no rhyme or reason to them. Hopefully, we are the ones who found ourselves on God... and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Holy Lamb. If we do this, then our lives will shine for all to see and give glory to God for everything He has done for us.

Where is God in our lives? Is He in the center of our souls or on the outskirts begging to come in? What can we do to build up a holy dwelling place for God within our hearts?

O Lord, enter into the cities of our souls.

Amen.

Fifth Saturday of Easter

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Alleluia. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends.

We are God’s flock. He watches over us like a Good Shepherd, protecting us from harm. He guides us to green pastures and feeds us with the Bread of Life and the Wine of Salvation. He guards us from all our foes and does everything He can to raise and nurture us. He wants us all to be holy and healthy. He calls us back to Him when we go astray and carries us on His shoulders when we are weak. We would do well to follow his example and imitate him in all these things as we tend to the needs of our brothers and sisters in this world.

Do we cry out with joy for all God has done for us? Are we willing to be led by our Good Shepherd where we need to go? How can we be good shepherds to others?

O Lord, tend us.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Easter

I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord. I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD, I will chant your praise among the nations. For your mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory!

Each and every day we should give thanks to our Lord and God. We should chant praises of Him for His Love and Mercy. We should be inspired by how faithful He is to us, who can be so unfaithful. We should exult our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We should give them glory for being such a Good and Holy Trinity to us in all things.

How often do we give thanks to our Lord? Do we praise and exult God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? What can we do to glorify Him?

O Lord, we give you thanks, praise, and glory.

Amen.

Fifth Thursday of Easter

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

We are all called to be prophets, proclaiming the Good News just as Jesus and his disciples did so long ago. It isn’t enough to just believe. We also have to act on our beliefs. We have to show our faith and hope through works of love. Our lives must pour forth marvelous works of charity and mercy. They must proclaim God through word and deed. Our entire lives should trumpet the glory of God and the promise of salvation through our Heavenly Father, who loves us more than we can possibly imagine.

In what ways do we proclaim God’s marvelous deeds? How do we announce His salvation? How do we tell of His glory?

O Lord, grant us the courage and grace to proclaim you and your marvelous deeds wherever we go.

Amen.

Fifth Wednesday of Easter

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD.

Like the city of Jerusalem, we are built with compact unity. We are united with God through His Scriptures and the Traditions of the Church He left for us. We are united with His children through the brotherhood of Jesus Christ. We are walled around with the protection of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. It is with Him that we are fulfilled and in Him that we find our source, center, and summit. With Him on our side, all things are possible. We should rejoice at this thought and be thankful for all God has done to keep us united with Him in body, mind, and spirit. Hopefully, we do the same for those whom we meet.

Are we united with God as we should be? Are we united with our brothers and sisters in Christ? How can we fulfill our calling to be one with our Lord and God?

O Lord, build up the unity of your Church through us.

Amen.

Fifth Tuesday of Easter

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might.

God asks all of us to be His friends. Think about that for a moment. Our Creator, our Redeemer, our Advocate wants to be our friend. He wants to know, love, and serve us as friends do. He wants us to be with Him as much as He is with us. He constantly builds our relationship up through grace and compassion. He does small and great things for us and our good just as a good friend would. It is only right and good that we respond in kind to Him and do what He calls us to do... to love Him and all His children as He loves us.

Are we living up to our calling to be friends of our Lord? How do we make God known to others? What can we do to become better prophets of the Word?

O Lord, make us into good and faithful friends to you and all your children.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Easter

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory. Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth. Why should the pagans say, “Where is their God?”

Everything we do should be for God’s glory, honor, or praise. Our every act should have Him as its Source, its Center, and its Summit. No matter what our status, occupation, or position in life is, we should find ways to imitate Christ. Our days should be filled with works of charity and mercy toward whoever comes our way, even our enemies and those whom we find most difficult to love. We should magnify God in our work and in play by having a charitable mindset in all things. Our lives should constantly point others toward God. And if we receive praise for what we do, then we should make clear God is the source of all our good.

Do we give glory to God as often as we should? Do our thoughts, words, and works magnify the goodness of our Lord? Do our lives reveal the presence of God to others?

O Lord, grant us the graces we need to show others that you are with us.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”

God’s dwelling is within us. Our hearts are supposed to be His Holy Temples. Our minds are called to be home to His Word. Our spirits are meant to be resting places for our Lord and God. He entrusted His Divine Image within each and every one of us. He has given us the Body and Blood of His Beloved Son to become a part of us. He wants us to be living tabernacles, bearing Him into the world through our thoughts, words, and works. However, in order to do this, we must prepare ourselves. We must be holy, loving, merciful. We must imitate the Holy Trinity in all things. We must be protective of the weak like the Father. We must be kind and compassionate like Jesus. We must be on fire with charitable love like the Holy Spirit. Only then will every tear be wiped away and the old order of sin pass away into the new order of salvation.

Have we prepared our hearts, minds, and spirits to be dwelling places for the Lord? What can we do to make ourselves more welcoming to God’s Divine Presence in our lives? How can we help others do the same?

O Lord, behold, our hearts are yours! Dwell within them always.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Easter

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.

God’s saving power is on constant display in the Scriptures and in the everyday life of His Church. He reveals his justice and compassion time and time again. From Adam and Eve to Jesus and Mary, God shows mankind an immeasurable amount of mercy. He mends our brokenness by allowing His Beloved Son’s Body to be broken for us. He washes away our sins by spilling His Most Precious Blood. His kindness towards us is infinite and inspiring. His faithfulness to us even in our moments of weakness and failure reveal the depth of His love for us and His willingness to suffer and die for us in order to give us a new, joyful life with Him. When we ponder all our failings, it is truly amazing to consider that God decided to give Himself as a sacrifice to heal us. Hopefully, we can follow His example and be as compassionate to others as He has been to us.

Do we believe in the saving power of God? In what ways do we make his power known to others? How can we keep in mind the kindness and faithfulness God has shown us?

O Lord, your saving power fills us with faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

Fourth Friday of Easter

You are my Son; this day I have begotten you. “I myself have set up my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.”

We are the children of God. This means we are unconditionally loved by our Heavenly Father. He cares for us better than any earthly parent ever could and will do everything in His power to help us to grow in faith, hope, and love. He wants us to succeed in life, but like a good father, He will not force us to become what He wants us to be. He wants us to choose to know, love, and serve Him on our own because He knows He can’t force us to be good and faithful. We must want to follow in His footsteps before we can walk with Him into Paradise.

Are we living up to the responsibilities of being a child of God? How can we become better sons and daughters of our Good Father? What can we do to help others to be better children, too?

O Lord, you begot us and love us, help us to be holy children.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Easter

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. "My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and through my name shall his horn be exalted. He shall say of me, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.'"

God’s faithfulness and mercy are always with us just as He is always with us through the presence of the Divine Image He has engraved within our souls. His presence is in us every step of our way through this journey called life. And if we tend and take care of the Divine Image within us, then we, too, will be exulted one day and enter into the kingdom. We, like David, will be able to say to God, “You are our Father, God, Rock and Savior. Thank you for all you’ve done for us.”

Do we remember that God is with us? How should we amend our lives so we do remember this truth, especially when we are most tempted? Are we able to sing the goodness of the Lord along with David and all our fore-bearers in the faith?

O Lord, you are our Father, God, Rock, and Savior.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Easter

O God, let all the nations praise you! May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide.

God guides us as much as possible while allowing us to have free will. He gives us every inspiration, gift, and grace to see us succeed. He has not set us up for failure, but rather for success. He wants what is best for us and does everything in His power to help us. His aid might not come at the time and place we want or in the manner we desire, but it come exactly at the right time and place and in the manner that will bring the most good upon us and to the world. So, let us praise and be glad in Him for He is good and equitable guide.

Do we allow God to guide us where we need to go? How can we be more open to His direction? In what ways do we exult Him for all the graces He has given us?

O Lord, we praise you and are glad for you are fair and loving to us, even when we sin against you.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.

God has asked all of us to be leaders in His Church. He wants us to follow in His Beloved Son’s footsteps. He wants us to be fishers of men and shepherds of His flock. We can’t do that if we don’t take up our crosses and lead by example. Each of us has a unique leadership role to play in the Divine Plan. We have gifts and talents that only we can give. No one else can do what we do for God and His children. We might not realize how unique we are in the plan of salvation, but we are special and we do everyone a disservice if we do not live up to our potential. So, let us accept the seat of leadership God has prepared for us and give it our all.

In what areas in our lives are we being called to leadership? What gifts and talents can we use to further the glory of God and the good of others? How can we become better stewards of the goods and responsibilities God has given us?

O Lord, we praise your name for giving us a seat at your table.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Easter

Athirst is my soul for the living God. As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O God. Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?

This Easter season is a constant reminder that our souls should be athirst for God. We should long to be with God in prayer, in communion, and through acts of charity and mercy. We should seek to behold the face of God through meditation on the mysteries of our faith, through visitation of our Lord at mass and in adoration, and through being good and faithful servants to His children. When given the choice between chasing after worldly things and heavenly ones, our first instinct should be to follow Christ. This requires each of us to cultivate a spirit of longing for God within us and then do everything in our power to seek God out in our daily lives.

Are our souls athirst for the living God? How can we use our longing to make better decisions in our lives? What can we do to prepare ourselves to go and behold the face of God?

O Lord, we athirst for you.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

God is a Good Shepherd. He is constantly looking out for our best interests. If we begin to wander away from Him, He gives us ample warning. If we put ourselves before others, He reminds us what is true important. If we get into danger, He guards us. If we are lost, He will guide us. If we are in need, He provides for us. If we are in sorrow, He comforts us. If we have fallen into sin, He offers us His Divine Grace to help us return to Him.

Are we good shepherds of those who are put into our care? How can we become better shepherds of others? Are our ears open for God to call us?

O Lord, with you, we will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Easter

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.

It is impossible for us to truly repay God for all He has done for us. He gave us the world we live in. He gave us His Divine Image. He gave us our lives. He has offered us His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy. He has given us more than we could ever return to Him. All He asks for in return is our faith, hope, and love so we might know, love, and serve Him and all His children to the best of our abilities.

Are we making a good-faith effort to repay God for all He has done for us? What can we do to build up the Kingdom of God on earth? How can we fulfill our baptismal vows?

O Lord, help us to be counted among your faithful ones.

Amen.

Third Friday of Easter

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

God is faithful and kind to us. In good times and bad, in sickness and in health, in sin and holiness, He will always love us. His love is unconditional. It does not weaken with time or out of anger. It endures all out of a deep love for His every child. He is our Heavenly Father and in Him we have the Promise of eternal life.

How can we become as faithful and kind as our Heavenly Father? In what ways can we go out into the world and tell the Good News? How can we strengthen our faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, help us to be kind as you are kind.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Easter

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Bless our God, you peoples, loudly sound his praise; He has given life to our souls, and has not let our feet slip.

Joyful spirits are something we all need to cultivate in this world. Having a joyful spirit can be the difference between optimism and despair. Without joy, faith weakens and withers. Without joy, hope drains and disappears. Without joy, love falters and fails. We must be able to rejoice in our triumphs as is right, but also remain joyful in the midst of trials. God loves a joyful spirit. He gives strength to those who cultivate joy in their hearts and spread its good seeds to others. He wants His children to have a contagious joy that can’t help but spread from person to person, bringing each person closer to Him.

Are we joyful people? How can we increase our joy? What can we do to bring joy to others?

O Lord, we cry out to you with joyful spirits.

Amen.

Third Wednesday of Easter

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.

The works of God are constantly on display for us. We see His works in the good deeds of others. We see them in the graces He gives us. We see them in the holy people we come into contact with. We see them through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. We see them in the acts of heroism that spring up in times of trial. We see them in the charity of others. We see them in the acts of sacrifice that people make in order to help one another. These acts, both great and small, are worth singing about. They are worth praising and encouraging and ultimately imitating.

 Do we sing God’s praises? How do we embody and manifest the goodness of God for others? How can we encourage others to do the same?

O Lord, we praise you for all your tremendous deeds and hope to imitate them in our own lives.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Easter

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. My trust is in the LORD; I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.

Trust is an important part of any relationship. We cannot be united with others without trust… be they God, family members, or friends. God wants us to trust in Him. The Devil wants us to doubt God. The world will tell us to trust in ourselves, but if we do that then we will fail to trust in God’s Will. Pride can creep into our lives and make us feel like we are masters of our destiny, but we are masters of nothing. Everything we are and all we have comes from God. He is the Source, the Center, and the Summit of our lives. It is in Him that we find true fulfillment. This is why we are called to commend our spirits to Him and trust He will lead us not where we wish to go, but where we need to be.

How do we show our trust in God? In what ways have we commended our spirits to His Will? What can we do to build up trust in God in others?

O Lord, into your hands we commend our spirits.

Amen.

Third Monday of Easter

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Though princes meet and talk against me, your servant meditates on your statutes. Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.

We should delight in the laws of the Lord. We should rejoice in fulfilling God’s commandments. We should be happy to walk in the way of our Redeemer and proclaim His Good News. Our faith should be founded on joy. Our hope secured by gladness. Our love should flow from cheerful spirits. We should be at peace in any storm. The world may try to shake our confidence in God, but if we remain true to Him, then nothing will harm what matters most: the inner image of God that dwells within each of our souls.

Do we strive to follow the laws of the Lord? Do we meditate on God’s statutes? How can we be more joyful in our way of living the Christ-like life?

O Lord, your decrees are our delight.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Easter

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”

Jesus was sacrificed for us. This is something we should ponder and take to heart. Imagine for a moment what Jesus gave up for us. How he who was without sin died for us who are sinners. He died to give us the power of the Holy Spirit and the riches of grace. He died to grant us wisdom and strength. He died to bless us who are in need of blessing. We should marvel at what Jesus did for us through his passion and death all so we might share in his resurrection and join the choir of angels in singing, “Worthy is the Lamb.”

Do we meditate and ponder the sacrifice God made for us? Are we as forgiving as Jesus was for us? How can we give God the glory, honor, and praise He deserves?

O Lord, you are the worthy lamb who died for us.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Easter

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

In order to be good and faithful servants of our Lord, we have to trust in Him. We cannot waiver in our duties. We cannot hesitate to carry out His commands. We cannot serve God and serve someone or something else. We cannot hold anything back. Our whole minds, hearts, souls, and bodies must be given completely over to Him. For He has held nothing back from us, even to the point of sacrificing Himself on the cross for our redemption. If such an act is not worthy of our trust, then what is? The sooner we recognize God as our Heavenly Father and King, the sooner we can become heirs to His Kingdom.

Are there things holding us back from putting all our trust in God? How can we uproot these attachments and distractions so we can be fully dependent upon our Lord and God? What can we do to show our thanks for having such a good and gracious God?

O Lord, we place our trust in you.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Their message goes out through all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day; and night to night imparts knowledge.

Creation itself reveals the glory of God and proclaims His handiwork. In creation we find good, for God created all things good. He made the day and the night good. He made heaven and earth good. He made the skies and the seas good. He made the plants and animals good. All good things come from God. They find through source, center, and summit in Him. It is no different for us for God made us in His image, which is very good. He wants us to follow Him, to walk His Way, to speak His Truth, and the live His Life. If we do all these things, then we shall overcome all obstacles and become good and faithful servants, now and forever.

Do we take time each day to enjoy the goodness of creation? How can our lives reveal God’s Glory and proclaim His handiwork? What can we do to lead others to good and faithful lives?

O Lord, let the message of your goodness go out through all the earth.

Amen.

Ascension of the Lord

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

It is important to wash clean our consciences on a regular basis. We all need healing from sins. We all need to come to God with humble and contrite hearts. We all need to make good confessions to free ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil. The sacrament of reconciliation is a great source of hope for all of us. There should be no fear of such a wonderfully freeing experience. Instead, we should go confidently into the confessional and speak to God from the depths of our souls and allow Him to wash away our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities. It was for this purpose that Jesus Christ came into the world and we would do well to make use of God’s Divine Mercy.

Do we seek God’s cleansing sacrament as frequently as we should? Do we allow God to work His Divine Mercy within us? How can we lead others to the sacrament of reconciliation?

O Lord, thank you for the cleansing waters that flowed from your wounds.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Easter

The Lord hears the cry of the poor. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

We are all called to be poor in spirit, which means to be humble before God and accepting of all the trials and sufferings we must bear in this world. It also means not lording it over others, but rather loving them as fellow children of our Heavenly Father. If we do these things, then we will be blessed and be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is in God that we gain glory, not in worldly successes. It is in God that we are lifted from our lowly places and given a place of honor at the Eternal Banquet. It is in God that we are made glad forever and ever.

Do we listen to the cries of the poor? How do we reflect God’s Glory to others? How can we cultivate humble and gracious hearts?

O Lord, hear our cries and help us to listen to the needs of others.

Amen.