Sunday, June 30, 2019

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Living by the Spirit requires a great deal of trust in God. Letting go of our own desires can be very difficult to do. We are constantly tempted to gratify ourselves in various ways. We all have certain things we like to do and sometimes these things lead us away from what we are called to do. However, there is hope for us. We can overcome our flesh and weaknesses. We can moderate our passions and the things we enjoy so we do not become enslaved to them and are willing to give them up when they interfere with our spiritual lives. By recognizing that we can’t always get what we want and accepting that sometimes we are called to mortification and sacrifice, we can let go and let the Holy Spirit lead us to holier lives.

What desires of the flesh are leading us astray or distracting us from our true callings as Christians? How can we become more open to letting go of our wants and letting God give us what we need? What can we do to be more attentive to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we wish to live by your Spirit and not by our flesh.

Amen.

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.”

Although we might not be physically imprisoned like Peter, we are at times held captive by our doubts, fears, and sins. We can become chained by these things and paralyzed in our pursuit of holiness. Thankfully, God has given each of us a guardian angel to watch over us and help us when we are weak or in trouble. He has also given us the Good News to inspire us with hope and the Church to unbind us through the sacraments. He has provided us with every means of escape from our selfishness and our worries and our sins. We have only to get up quickly, put on our belts, sandals, and cloaks... and follow Him to release and salvation.

What are the things in our lives that are imprisoning us? Have we sought out God’s help in escaping from these things? Once we are free, what can we do to free others?

O Lord, we are willing to get up quickly and follow you to the ends of the earth.

Amen.

Friday, June 28, 2019

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

There is a temptation to grumble when things don’t go our way or when we are suffering in some way. However, if we truly believe God is our Shepherd, then we should not doubt that He will provide relief for us. We shall not want for anything as long as we remain true to Him and do not leave His Wounded Side. His Love, Mercy, and Grace will pour out upon us as long as we cling to Him. He will spread a table before us and provide us the refreshment and nourishment we need to grow strong in faith, hope, and love. If we follow Him, He will anoint us with holiness and fill us with saving grace till we overflow with it.

Do we allow God to shepherd us? Are we open to letting Him guide our thoughts, words, and works? How can we become better followers of His Good News, allowing Him to lead us where we need to be?

O Lord, anoint us with your Holy Spirit and make us overflow with your goodness.

Amen.

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Twelfth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD, or proclaim all his praises?

There are many ways we can give thanks to God. We can give Him thanks through our prayers. We can give Him thanks through our acts of almsgiving. We can give Him thanks through our moments of mercy. We can give Him thanks through our mortifications and sacrifices. We can give Him thanks through our daily chores. We can give Him thanks with a glance toward Heaven. We can give Him thanks through our work for and with others. We can give Him thanks by proclaiming the Good News through our every word and work.

How do we give God thanks? How can we tell of God’s mighty deeds and proclaim and praise Him to others? How can we be good as God is good to us?

O Lord, we give thanks for you are good.

Amen.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Twelfth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

The Lord remembers his covenant forever. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.

Serving God constantly isn’t easy. We are constantly bombarded by distractions and temptations that can take us away from God. Even when we are doing what is right, we can lose sight of why we do it. Sometimes in the busyness of everyday life we can forget to pay attention to God. It is easy to become so caught up in the daily grind that we let our spiritual lives suffer. We don’t remember to offer up our works. We eat and drink and don’t think of saying grace. We buzz here and there and forget where our priorities should be. We take time to enjoy ourselves, but don’t set aside time to be with God in prayer or meditation. Because of how absorbing the world can be, we have to be extra sensitive to God’s Divine Presence in our lives and allow Him to help us through our days. By doing this, we can find ways to make our daily works into holy ones that bring us closer to God and fulfill our calling as Christians of the New Covenant.

When others see us, do they know we are Christians? How can we become better servants to the Lord? What can we do to remind ourselves to be more aware of God in our lives?

O Lord, we seek to serve you constantly.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Twelfth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue... shall never be disturbed.

If we do justice, we will live in the presence of the Lord, but if we do not, then we reject God and all that He calls us to be. If we are truthful, then God is in our thoughts and words and works, but if we do not, then we deny the Word of God in favor of a worldly life. If we are good as our Heavenly Father is Good, we will bear abundant fruits, but if we choose evil, then we will reap destruction. If we are faithful then we will become more Christ-like in all things, but if we are indifferent, then we will become lukewarm and God will spit us out. If we hope in the Holy Spirit, we will be at peace no matter what happens to us, but if we doubt and fear, then we shall become lost. If we love, God will return our love a thousand-fold, but if we hate, then we will be judged according to how we judged others.

Do we act justly toward God and His children? How can we be better bearers of the virtues and Good News God calls us to embody? What can we do to walk blameless before our God? 

O Lord, help us to be just and truthful in all things.

Amen.

Monday, June 24, 2019

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.

We are all wonderfully made. God created each of us to fulfill His Divine Plan. He created us with gifts and talents and insights that make us uniquely capable of saving souls and proclaiming the Good News. He knows what we were made for and so He knows what we are capable of and gives us the graces we need to succeed in our role in salvation. He knows our minds, hearts, and spirits and is familiar with our strengths and weaknesses. He knows everything we have been, are, and will be and scrutinizes our existence in light of what we are called to be. Let us hope that when all is said and done, He will find that we were good and faithful servants who fulfilled our vocations and wonderfully so.

Do we realize how wonderfully made we truly are? How do we live up to the gifts God has given us? In what ways are we fulfilling our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength?

O Lord, we praise you for making us.

Amen.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

"This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Our lives are meant to proclaim the life, passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord until he comes again. If we want to be good and faithful God-bearers, then we need to remember Him in every moment of our lives. We need to make Him present in our thoughts, words, and works. We do this best when we go to mass and receive the Blessed Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This spiritual food nourishes our souls and grants us the graces we need to do God’s Will. We should do everything in our power to prepare our hearts to receive God through the Eucharist. We should make our bodies into living temples dedicated to housing the Holy Spirit and bringing people closer to our Heavenly Father.

How can we prepare ourselves for the reception of the Blessed Sacrament? What can we do to receive God into our hearts as His humble servants? What can we do to remember and make present God in our everyday lives?

O Lord, help us to do all things in remembrance of you.

Amen.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Eleventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

God is constantly providing us with the chance to taste and see how good He is. He does this every day through the sacrifice of the Mass where we can share in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He has given us the other sacraments as blessings, too. Baptism gives us the purifying waters that wash clean and nourish our souls. Reconciliation allows us to root out the evils and imperfections inside us so more of God’s Grace can enter into our hearts and feed our spirits. Confirmation renews our baptismal promises and lets the Holy Spirit supply us with all the inspirations and guidance we need to grow as Christians. The Anointing of the Sick helps to heal us, if not physically, at least spiritually, so we can be strong for whatever trials and difficulties come our way during illness or injury. The other sacraments of Marriage and Ordination prepare us to serve others and help them prosper in faith, hope, and love, either as spouse or as priest or deacon. So, let us taste and see the goodness of the Lord through these sacraments and all the ways God reaches into our lives as the caretaker of the vines of our faith.

Do we make good and frequent use of the sacraments? When we do, do we prepare ourselves appropriately? How can we thank God for all the good things He has done for us?

O Lord, help us to taste and see your goodness and to bear good fruits.

Amen.

Friday, June 21, 2019

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

From all their distress God rescues the just. 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.

God will rescue us if we are just and good. He will not abandon us in our times of need. Nor will He forget what we have done for Him and His children. He will bless us with every grace we need to become the best Christians we can be. He will guide us through the Holy Spirit to lives of imitation of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He will protect us from evil and save us from the fires of Hell. He will listen to us and give us what is best for us.

Do we thank God for all He has done to rescue us from sin and evil? Do we bless and praise Him as we should? What can we do to let our souls glory in the Lord?

O Lord, rescue us from our distress.

Amen.

Thursday, June 20, 2019

Eleventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth. Majesty and glory are his work, and his justice endures forever. He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD.

God is justice and truth. He is majestic and glorious. He is wondrous in His deeds. He is gracious and merciful. As His children, we are called to be just in our actions and truthful in our speech. We are called to recognize God’s majesty and glorify God through our words and works. We are asked to proclaim His marvelous deeds to all the world. We are inspired to be gracious to all whom we meet and merciful to those who trespass against us. Our vocation in this life is to be the best reflections of God’s Divine Image that we can be so others can see God at work in the world and know we are Christians.

Are we just and truthful in our dealings with others? In what ways do we make known God’s Goodness to the world? How can we become more gracious and merciful?

O Lord, make us into instruments of your justice and truth.

Amen.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Eleventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just.

Fear is often seen as something bad in the world around us. However, there are times when fear is helpful and good. One such example is fearing the Lord. This is not the scary fear we often think of, but rather a fear based in awe and reverence. It is the fear a child feels when they worry about disappointing their parents. It is the fear that comes out of a concern for someone or something else in our lives. This good type of fear isn’t paralyzing, but rather freeing. It enriches us and helps us to endure all things for God. It is a fear that sparks the fire of devotion within us that shines through the darkness and helps guide us to become gracious, merciful, and just.

Do we fear the Lord? How can we show our love and respect for Him? What can we do to become lights of God’s Love to the world?

O Lord, we fear disappointing you. Grant us the grace to never do so.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Eleventh Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord, my soul! Praise the LORD, my soul! I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live.

There are many reasons for us to sing God’s praises. From the moment we wake up in the morning to the moment we fall asleep at night, God is blessing us in one way or another. He may do so in small or great, hidden or obvious ways. He is constantly showing us how much He loves us through these acts of charity. He also reveals His Divine Mercy to each of us, offering forgiveness for our sins and helping us to resist temptations. It is only through His Strength that we can be strong. It is only through His Love that we can be loving. It is only through His Compassion that we can be merciful. And because of these things we ought to sing praise to God while we live so one day, we might join the choir of angels in Heaven and sing to our Beloved God forever and ever.

Do we take notice of all the good things God has done for us? How can we respond to God’s Grace in more meaningful and fruitful ways? What can we do to sing His praises to others?

O Lord, our souls will praise you all of our lives and beyond.

Amen.

Monday, June 17, 2019

Eleventh Monday of Ordinary Time

The Lord has made known his salvation. 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 has made known His Salvation in many ways. He made it known to the Israelites in the Old Testament. He made it know through the coming of Jesus Christ. He made it known through the life, passion, death, and resurrection of His Beloved Son. He made it known through the proclamation of the New Testament and the sacrifices of the early martyrs. He made it known through the institution of the Church and its traditions. He made it known from generation to generation through the guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit. He tries to make it known through us and through the way we think, speak, and work. He wants us to reveal His Justice and Mercy to all the nations. He wants us to show His Kindness to the world. So, let us be God-bearers, magnifying the Lord in all we are from the beginning to the end of each of our days.

Do we give God thanks for all He has done to save us from sin and death? In what ways are we making God’s Salvation known to others? How can we become better signs of God’s kindness and faithfulness toward all of mankind?

O Lord, make your salvation known to and through us.

Amen.

Sunday, June 16, 2019

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

As Christians, we shouldn’t be afraid to sacrifice and suffer. Jesus showed us that being willing to suffer for the good of others is not only good, but necessary to salvation. Yes, we can be good and do good without too much difficulty when it requires little or no sacrifice, but what happens when doing the right thing will cost us greatly? Will we have the same courage and fortitude to do good in the face of great sacrifice? Hopefully, we will be able to let go and give everything we have to God for His Glory and His children’s good. As today’s scripture says, affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, proven character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint. So, let us pour ourselves out in selfless sacrifices so we might be a sign to the world that proclaims... sacrifice is good and should not be run away from.

Are we providing a good and faithful example of what it means to sacrifice and suffer for God? How can we become more enduring, hopeful, and loving in all our endeavors? In what ways can we allow God to pour Himself out into the world through us?

O Lord, hope in you never disappoints.

Amen.

Saturday, June 15, 2019

Tenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

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.

It is truly humbling to consider how much God has forgiven us. Think about all of our imperfections, failures, trespasses, and sins. Think about what we have done wrong in this life and all the goods we have failed to do. And yet, God continues to love and forgive us. He pardons us of our iniquities and heals us of our ills. He redeems us from destruction and offers us everlasting life. He crowns us with kindness and compassion as a show of what we are called to do as Christians. Truly, He is kind and merciful and all He asks of us is to be kind and merciful to others and to love Him as He loves us.

Have we thanked God for being so kind and merciful to us? Are we kind and merciful to others like God is to us? What can we do to show our desire to be pardoned, healed, and redeemed?

O Lord, pardon our iniquities and redeem us.

Amen.

Friday, June 14, 2019

Tenth Friday of Ordinary Time

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my alarm, “No man is dependable.” 

When we are going through tough times, we can be tempted to lose hope and despair. However, as long as we remember God is with us in all things, we will be able to fight off this temptation to doubt and worry and instead choose to trust in God no matter what is happening to us. Yes, even when we are greatly afflicted, we can be calm and at peace with the knowledge that God is always by our side. He is there as a comforter, guide, and protector and as long as we let go and let Him work within our lives we will be rewarded, if not in this life, then in the next.

Do we offer up all our trials and tribulations as sacrifices of praise to God? How can we keep hope even in our darkest hours? What can we do to help others through their difficulties?

O Lord, we will always hope in you no matter what afflicts us.

Amen.

Thursday, June 13, 2019

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

The glory of the Lord will dwell in our land. I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD–for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.

The glory of the Lord dwells everywhere around us. We see it in creation. We see it in the mirror when we look into our own eyes. We see it in our family and our friends. We see it in our neighbors and strangers. We see it in those who do good and avoid evil. We hear it in the Gospels. We hear it in those who proclaim the Good News. We hear it in the songs we sing to God. We hear it in words of kindness and compassion. We feel God’s glory at Church. We feel it when we exchange the sign of peace. We feel it in the Body and Blood of Jesus. We feel it in the good deeds we do and those done for us. Near indeed is God’s salvation because it is all around us.

Are our eyes open to the glory of the Lord? Are our ears open to what God proclaims? How can we manifest God’s glory through our own thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, dwell within the land of our hearts.

Amen.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Tenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Holy is the Lord our God. Extol the LORD, our God, and worship at his footstool; holy is he!

Holy is our God, the font of all holiness. If we want to be worthy of heaven, then we have to take the time to drink in His holiness through reading the Scriptures, prayer, mortification, almsgiving, and works of charity and mercy. We worship God best when we are doing good and avoiding evil. God loves it when we listen to Him, but He loves it even more when we take His Divine Word and live it out with faithfulness.

Are we living holy lives? What can we do to grow in holiness? How can we pour that holiness into the world so those around us can grow in holiness, too?

O Lord, you are holy and we worship at your footstool.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

In the end God will be victorious. Good will overcome evil. Holiness will defeat sin. Life will destroy death. And knowing these things should give us a lot to sing about. We should sing a song of thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for all the amazing graces He has given us. We should sing God’s praises to the mountains and seas. We should march throughout the world as saints, proclaiming God’s Mercy and the promise of Heaven. We should sing joyfully to the world and bear the Good News with all our thoughts, words, and works.

How can we join our voices to those of the heavenly choir? What can we do to bring the music of mercy and love into our world? What joyful notes are we being called to sing for God and His children?

O Lord, we sing your praises on the harps of our hearts.

Amen.

Monday, June 10, 2019

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God. They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: "This man was born there." And all shall sing, in their festive dance: "My home is within you."

Our ultimate home is in the City of God. It is the one and only place where we will find eternal peace and happiness. The worldly homes we live in pass away, but our Heavenly Home will never disappear. If we prepare ourselves to live in Paradise with God, then we shall be rewarded with a home that will never perish. A home filled with love and mercy and grace. A home where we can see the Beatific Vision every day for all eternity and experience everlasting bliss.

Are we preparing ourselves to live with the Holy Trinity in the City of God? What are we doing to make sure we get to Heaven? Do we truly appreciate what the Beatific Vision means and how important it is to bend our lives towards experiencing it for all eternity?

O Lord, help us to be worthy of living with you in the City of God.

Amen.

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Pentecost Sunday

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD be glad in his works! Pleasing to him be my theme; I will be glad in the LORD.

The Holy Spirit comes into our lives in many ways. He comes in our moment of conception. He comes in our living. He comes in our loving. He comes in our holy thoughts. He comes in our words of peace and compassion. He comes in our works of charity and mercy. He comes to renew our faith in every prayer we pray and every mass we attend. He comes to us through the Blessed Sacrament. He also goes forth with us into the world. He goes forth with us to proclaim the Good News. He goes forth with us to be our companion along the Way. He goes forth with us to guide us to the Truth. He goes forth into our daily world to show us how to live the Life of Christ. He goes for with us to show us how to make our every moment into a good work that brings gladness to God and others.

Are our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies open to the Holy Spirit? What can we do to bring the Holy Spirit into every facet of our lives? How can we embody the gifts of the Holy Spirit and magnify God through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, send your Spirit to us so we might be able to go forth into the world and bear your Good News to all your people.

Amen.

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Seventh Saturday of Easter

The just will gaze on your face, O Lord. The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his searching glance is on mankind.

We can scarcely imagine what it will be like to gaze on the face of God. What will we see? What will we feel? Will we find God smiling at or frowning upon us? Will He be happy or sad? What we will see is probably beyond our ability to envision, but one thing is for certain, God will look upon us lovingly as a Father, a Brother, and an Advocate. He will not excuse or overlook our failings, but He will temper His Justice with Divine Love and Mercy. He will look into us and search our minds, hearts, and souls for the truth. If He finds the Good News within us, He will rejoice at our coming and bring us into Heaven. If He finds imperfections within us, but hearts that strived to be good, He will send us to the purifying fires of Purgatory until we are truly ready for Paradise. If, however, He finds us empty of good words and works, then He will cast us away, not because He wants to, but because we chose to deny Him in our actions. So, let us hope God will find us to be good and faithful servants so we might come into His Holy Temple and see His Divine Face.

When God looks at us at this moment, what does he see? How can we show Him a better version of ourselves? What can we do to help others to be filled with love, mercy, and grace?

O Lord, make us just so we might gaze upon your face.

Amen.

Friday, June 7, 2019

Seventh Friday of Easter

The Lord has established his throne in heaven. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.

God’s kindness toward us is beyond anything we can imagine. He is loving and merciful toward us in spite of our sinfulness, our indifference, and our failings. He is good to us even though we take Him for granted, abuse His trust, and desert Him. He is willing to forgive us no matter what we have done. Can we say the same in our dealings with others? Are we as kind? As loving? As merciful? Not even close, and yet, God doesn’t abandon us. He remains with us and does everything in His Divine Power to protect us from evil, guide us to better lives, and help us to be holy.

How can we be as kind and merciful as God is toward us? What can we do to make the world a more loving place? How can we help others to grow in goodness?

O Lord, help us to imitate your kindness, love, and mercy.

Amen.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Seventh Thursday of Easter

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Keeping God in mind can be difficult in a world that begs us for our undivided attention, but it is necessary if we want to have inner peace. Anchoring our lives to God will give us the stability we need to resist temptations, worries, doubts, and all those things that try to weaken our devotion to God and our love of others. We need God to be at the center of our lives so we can more easily hear Him above the constant noise of the world around us. We need to take time out of each day and simply listen to Him as He exhorts us to do good and avoid evil. If we do this, then we will be kept safe from evil and given hope in a better life with God in heaven.

How can we be better listeners to the Lord? What can we do to keep our hearts and minds open to His holy counsels and inspirations? Are we willing to make space for God in our lives so He can be at our right hand?

O Lord, counsel and exhort us to goodness and holiness.

Amen.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Show forth, O God, your power, the power, O God, with which you took our part; For your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts.

We all have gifts we should bring to God. Some of us have gifts of the body. Others gifts of the mind. Many of us have gifts of the spirit. No matter what these gifts are, we, like the Three Wise Kings, are called to bear them to God. We are to offer the gold of our good works to Him. We are asked to pay homage to Him through the frankincense of our prayers. We are meant to give him the myrrh of our acts of mercy. The wondrous thing about giving all our goods and gifts to God is He always returns them to us... magnified and glorified. He makes our poor offerings rich. So, we should be not afraid to offer up our little things to Him because He sees not that they are small, but that they are given to Him with great love.

What gifts and goods do we have that we can offer to God? How can we bring God into our daily actions both great and small? What can we do to prepare our gifts so they are given in the most humble and loving way?

O Lord, we bring you our gifts.

Amen.

Seventh Tuesday of Easter

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.

We are all needy in some way. We are imperfect and lacking. We are sinners, who are struggling to do right and avoid evil. We think wrongly. We say things that are hurtful. We don’t succeed at everything we do. We are failures in so many ways. But God loves us and because of His Love, we are given opportunities to fill our needs, be restored from our brokenness, fix our imperfections, and succeed in the most important things in life, namely knowing, loving, and serving God and His children.

What are our areas of need in mind, body, and spirit? How can we allow God into these places so He can amend our lives to be more perfectly aligned with His Will? What can we do to be better receptors of God’s Love and Saving Grace?

O Lord, provide for our neediness.

Amen.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. God arises; his enemies are scattered, and those who hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire. 

The enemies of God will never truly triumph. They might win battles here and there, but they are doomed. One day, they will be scattered and flee before Him. They will be driven away to the abyss and melt before the fire of His Divine Power. Whenever we are tempted to despair or worry or lose hope, we should recall this truth. We should arm ourselves with trust in God and shield ourselves with hope in Him for He will never abandon us to our enemies. He will always free us if we ask Him to release us. He will always drive away darkness and raise up the hopeful banner of the cross.

Who are the enemies of God in our lives? How can we trust God will overcome them? What can we do to show them the love of God and offer them a chance to enter into God’s good graces?

O Lord, we trust in your protection.

Amen.

The 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.

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.

We should constantly pray to be open to the wisdom of God. It is through His precepts that we are brought to joy and holiness. It is through God’s Divine Laws that we are freed from the blindness of sin and allowed to see the world as it truly is. And once we see things clearly, we come to see how empty worldly pleasures are. It is only in God that we can find true fulfillment and everlasting joy.

Do we follow the precepts of the Lord? How can we do so more joyfully? What can we do to open the eyes of others to the joy of knowing, loving, and serving God, our Father?

O Lord, enlighten our eyes so they might see the joys of following your commandments.

Amen.

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.

The water of salvation is meant to be shared. We cannot receive the sacraments or go to Mass and refuse to spread the Good News to the rest of the world. As Christians, we cannot turn our back on the world. Instead, we must bear the Light of Christ into it to the best of our ability and bring as many people into the wedding feast as we can gather. We cannot do that if we are locked away from the world. We should be confident and unafraid to do whatever Jesus tells us to do. We should be willing to empty ourselves of all those things that keep us from being filled with the Holy Spirit so we might become living fonts of God’s Grace. We should strive to pour out the good wine of salvation to all whom we meet and give it to all who are thirsty for salvation.

Are we confident and unafraid to bear the Good News into the world? Are we willing to empty ourselves of our own desires and wants so we can become better bearers of God’s Divine Grace and Mercy? What can we do to bear the light of Christ into the lives of those around us?

O Lord, you are the fountain of our strength and courage.

Amen.

Sixth Thursday of Easter

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 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 constantly reveals His saving power to the world. Throughout the ages, He has proved again and again how compassionate He is. He forgave Israel over and over. He sacrificed His Beloved Son for our salvation. He sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us. He is with us through every trial and tribulation from birth to death to the afterlife. He is a just and merciful God, who remembers each of us with kindness and faithfulness. And all He asks from us in return are humble and contrite hearts that love Him and His children as much as He loves us.

Do we appreciate God’s saving grace and its role in our lives? How do we reveal the saving power of God? How can we be as merciful and loving as our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, make us into instruments of your saving power.

Amen.

Sixth Wednesday of Easter

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all you his hosts.

Praise is an important part of our faith. How could we not praise God for all He has done for us? We should praise Him for all of creation. We should praise Him for making us in His Divine Image. We should praise Him for the Old Covenant. We should praise Him for the New Covenant. We should praise Him for giving us a Blessed Virgin Mother. We should praise Him for His Beloved Son. We should praise Him for Jesus’ life, passion, death, and resurrection. We should praise Him for the resurrection of the dead and for the sending of the Holy Spirit. We should praise Him for enkindling goodness, mercy, and love within our hearts. And this is only a drop of what God has done for us... how greatly loved we are!

Do we praise God as often as we should? How can we praise Him more perfectly? What can we do to lead others to praise Him?

O Lord, help us to praise you now and forever.

Amen.

Sixth Tuesday of Easter

Your right hand saves me, O Lord.  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.

God is constantly trying to save us. He saves us from temptations. He saves us from evil influences. He saves us from sin. He saves us from immorality. He saves us form the wickedness and snares of the Devil. He saves us from eternal darkness and death. He saves us from our enemies. He saves us from ourselves. He saves us in great and small ways each and every day and for this we should give thanks with all our hearts and sing His praises.

Are our eyes open to the moments of saving grace that surround us? How can we make God’s mission to save us easier for Him? What can we do to amend our lives today?

O Lord, save us.

Amen.

Sixth Monday of Easter

The Lord takes delight in his people. Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory.

We are imperfect, but God loves us perfectly. We sometimes disappoint God and others in our lives, but God still delights in us. We are sinners, but God sees the potential for saints. We aren’t always good or faithful, but God believes we can be good and faithful servants. We worry, but God believes our hope in Him is stronger than our doubts. We fail to love as we should, but God loves us anyway. We are weak, but God trusts the graces He gives us will make us strong. Our Lord adorns us with every blessing so we might overcome our failings and become victorious and holy.

Are we willing to let God heal us of our sins and weaknesses? What can we do to prepare ourselves so we are open to God’s blessings and graces? How do we show our delight in God, who is so good to us?

O Lord, adorn us with victory over all our imperfections.

Amen.