Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory. The nations shall revere your name, O LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory, When the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer.

Whenever we are damaged, knocked down, or ruined by something, God is there to help us. He offers to mend our wounds. He reaches out to lift us up. He is ready to rebuild us, better than before. He does not want to see us destitute or despised or destroyed. The world may do this to us, but He does not. He will do everything in His power to raise us out of our poverty, whether it is physical or spiritual. He will grant graces and blessings to those who are mocked and persecuted by the worldly. Even if our enemies destroy us in some way, He will resurrect us and bring us to a better life.

What areas of our lives need to be rebuilt? How can we make ourselves more open to God’s constructive work in our lives? What can we do to help others who are in need of building up their bodies, minds, and spirits?

O Lord, build us up into living churches.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment.

Complacent is something none of us should ever be in this world. There is nothing in this world that can be truly satisfying. Only God can fulfill us and only spending eternity with Him in Heaven can make us happy. Earthly pleasures and goods might give us a false sense of enjoyment, but ultimately these moments fade and we are left empty. We might be wealth, famous, or full of pride but none of this will matter in the end. We can’t take these things with us and God will not look at them when He makes His Final Judgment. Instead, of resting on our laurels, gorging ourselves on pleasures, and devising our own entertainment, we should seek to do God’s Will and sing His praises for all He’s done for us.

Are we complacent? Are we misusing the time, talents, and treasure God has bestowed on us? How can we do a better job of nurturing and growing our relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of all satisfaction?

O Lord, grant us the grace to recognize when we are being complacent in weakness or sin and the strength to resist all temptations to be satisfied with the world.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Saturday in Ordinary Time

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.

God died for us through His Beloved Son to ransom us from sin and death. He sacrificed Himself for us, even though we are sinners and sometimes turn our backs on Him. He offered Himself once and for all. And the only thing we have to do is accept this truth and live our lives in accordance with God’s commandments. If we do this, then God will not only guard us from our foes, but raise us to Heaven as His beloved children and heirs to His Kingdom. He shall protect us from the wickedness and snares of the Devil and all his minions. He shall pour out His grace and blessings upon us and make us into a holy people, full of love, mercy, and joy.

Do we call upon our Shepherd to guard us from temptations and evil? Do we give thanks to God for ransoming us from sin and death? How can we make God’s Goodness known to all whom we meet?

O Lord, we thank you for ransoming us from sin and death.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God. Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me.

God is more than willing to stand beside us in our battles against temptation and sin and impiety. He will armor us with virtues and arm us with graces and blessings. He will lend us His Strength and shall not abandon us during our times of need. However, He will not do anything, if we reject His help. If we think we can handle our difficulties on our own, He will not force his protection on us. If we choose evil over good, He will withdraw from us until we make amends. This is not to say He will completely abandon us, He will always be within reach, but there are some sins that require us to go to confession and do penance so we might open our hearts more fully to Him. And even when we are in a state of sin, God will constantly offer us opportunities to make things right with Him and with others because He wants us to spend the rest of eternity with Him.

Do we place our trust and hope in God? How can we resist the temptation to sin and instead remain loyal to God in all things? What can we do to make amends with God after we do fall from grace?

O Lord, fight with me against my own faithlessness and the temptations of the deceitful.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Thursday in Ordinary Time

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

There are some people who keep themselves very busy, but don’t accomplish much. Others are never satisfied with what they have no matter how much they’ve got. Some are never exhilarated by their lives and are always on the lookout for something better. Many have everything they truly need in life, but are not warmed by their good fortune. All of these people are like bags with holes in them. They will never be full, never be happy, never be at peace. They let their desires rule them and never stop to enjoy what they have. They think amassing more of everything will solve their problems, but their greed only multiplies their difficulties. Instead, we should consider our ways and try to remember that God loves those who are poor in spirit. He does not weigh our toys at the end of our lives, but rather our good words and deeds. And it is only in these good things that we will find any satisfaction.

Do we consider our ways each day? How do we try to improve ourselves in body, mind, and spirit? What can we do to patch the holes in our spiritual lives so we can hold onto what is truly important: our relationships with God and His children?

O Lord, help us to consider our ways and change for the better.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Blessed be God, who lives forever. Praise him, you children of Israel, before the Gentiles, for though he has scattered you among them, he has shown you his greatness even there.

Even when we are in the midst of trials and difficulties, we should find it in our hearts to praise God. The world might look at our challenges and sufferings and mock us, saying, “Where is your God now?” But we know that even in the darkest of nights, our God is with us. Even when we are scattered and defeated, He is there to pick up the pieces and put us back together even better than before. We might not understand why we suffer or appreciate how our failures and defeats can lead us to better things, but they do if we allow them. Sometimes in order to make a jump, we have to step back from the edge and get a running start. These leaps of faith require great trust in God, but as long as we do believe, we will make it to the other side and once again to see the greatness of God and be able to show it to others.

Do we praise God even in the middle of our trials? How can we learn to trust God enough to go through periods of darkness and suffering without losing faith? How can we help others do the same?

O Lord, you show your greatness to us each and every day.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.

We should all go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. We should seek out our parishes and spend time in our churches not merely out of obligation, but because we want to be there. Although we might commune with God in many ways, such as prayer, meditation, and spiritual readings, we can only experience the true and full presence of God in the Eucharistic feast and in Adoration. When we partake in the Body and Blood of Jesus, we unite ourselves body and soul to God in a way we cannot achieve on our own. When we dwell in the presence of the monstrance that holds the Body of Christ, we make ourselves present to God in a way we cannot do anywhere else in this world. So, let us go to Mass and to our parishes and take advantage of the presence of God who waits for us there in a special and sanctifying way.

Do we go to church on Sundays? Do we go joyfully? Can we make time to go to church during the week for daily mass and times of Adoration?

O Lord, we give you thanks for your presence in our lives.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

The Lord has done marvels for us. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.

Gladness should be a core trait for us all. We have much to be happy about. God formed us in His Divine Image and gave us free will. He created us and gave us all our gifts and talents. He has provided us with graces and blessings beyond what we deserve. He has protected us from the wickedness and snares of the Devil and all those who would lead us away from Him. He has done marvelous deeds for us in great and little ways. He has adopted us as a Father. He has loved us as a brother. He has been with us in Spirit and in Truth, showing us the Way and the Life that will lead to salvation and eternal life. Yes, we have many things to be glad and grateful for and we should proclaim this to all who will hear us.

What are we glad about? How can we be happier people, even in our moments of difficulty? What can we do to spread the Good News of God’s marvelous deeds to all the world?

O Lord, you have done marvels for us and we are glad.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Praying for those in authority is something we all should do. Even if we do not agree with a person’s politics, we should still pray that they make the best decisions for the people they represent. We should pray that our leaders resist the temptations of office, such as corruption, pride, arrogance. We should also pray that our leaders build up the kingdom of Christ and not tear it down through their speeches, decisions, and laws. We might not be able to claim ultimate victory over the worldly in the realm of politics, but that doesn’t mean we should leave the field, either. Instead, we should treat our foes with love and mercy and try to show them the truth by being good citizens who are faithful to the Gospel.

Do we offer prayers for our leaders? How can we show love and mercy to our political foes? What can we do to make our country into one that respects the dignity of each human and our religious freedoms?

O Lord, we pray for those in authority.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

Their message goes out through all the earth. Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message.

We often talk about the world as if it is an antagonist to our faith, but there is a difference between the world and the worldly. The world as part of creation is good and reflects the glory and majesty of its Creator. It is the worldly, those who focus on earthly things rather than heavenly ones, that we are at odds with. There is beauty and wonder in the world around us, which we should celebrate and give thanks for. There are marvels on the earth, in the seas, in the skies, and beyond that we should appreciate because they reveal a God whose works are wondrous indeed. All throughout the earth the voice of our Creator resounds, reminding us that we are part of His Divine Plan and beautiful, too.

Do we take time to appreciate the world around us? How do we fulfill our calling to be good stewards of the earth? What can we do to listen more carefully to the voice of our Creator?

O Lord, your voice resounds through all the earth.

Amen.

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

Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs! Why should I fear in evil days when my wicked ensnarers ring me round? They trust in their wealth; the abundance of their riches is their boast.

Even when things seem the worst, we should not fear. Even when our enemies seem to have the upper hand, we should trust in God. Even when we are seemingly abandoned, we are not alone. Even when evil seems to be winning the day, we should know that the victory of the good will come. God may let us be tried by trials and sufferings, but if we remain true to Him, He will not allow them to overwhelm us. Others might show off their wealth, flaunt their fame, or revel in their desires, but ultimately these things will wither and fade. Such worldly people cling to these empty things, but in the end, they will leave this world with nothing to show for their lives. It is the poor in spirit who will bear abundant fruits and make a true and lasting difference in the world.

Are we poor in spirit and rich in kindness? Are we unafraid of the evils around us? Have we placed our trust in God as we should?

O Lord, with you at our side, we have nothing to fear from the wicked.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Thursday in Ordinary Time

How great are the works of the Lord! The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts, Reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity.

We are works of the Lord and as such we are all called to greatness. Some are called to greatness by becoming priests, deacons, and religious. Others are called to be lay faithful and ministers. Many are called to build domestic churches as husbands and wives. Still others are called to live the single life. We are asked to be preachers, teachers, servants, counselors, builders, homemakers, business people, athletes, writers, and all manner of occupations. And if we do them with faith, hope, and love, then the works we do, no matter how seemingly small, will be great indeed. So, let us be wrought in truth and equity, formed in faith, and justice, and become holy people in whatever we do.

Do we appreciate that God has created us for a purpose? How can we live up to the vocation God has called us to? In what ways can we become more reliable servants of God and others?

O Lord, how great are your works!

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

How great are the works of the Lord! He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations.

God does great and small works in our lives. Each and every day, He grants us the miracle of life and gives us the grace to live them fruitfully. He provides us with spiritual food that nourishes our souls and feeds our faith. He offers us the light of hope to warm and guide us. He loves us and makes known to us His Truth and His Will. He has adopted us as His own children and wants nothing but the best for us. He made a New Covenant with us to save our souls and give us a chance at eternal life. How great indeed are His works!

Are we mindful of the New Covenant? Do we live lives in accordance with God’s Will? What can we do to become worthy recipients of the inheritance God has laid before us?

O Lord, how great are your works!

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

I will walk with blameless heart. Of mercy and judgment I will sing; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise. I will persevere in the way of integrity; when will you come to me?

In order for us to have integrity, our every word and work must be aligned with the commandments of God the Father, the teachings of Jesus, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Before we speak or act, we must ask ourselves, “Is what we are about to do good or holy?” If we can’t answer yes to this question, then we should try to figure out what we could say or do instead that would give glory to God or help others. We should seize every opportunity to know, love, and serve to the best of our abilities. We should strive to preserve our states of grace whenever we are in them and if we are in need of cleansing, then we should seek out confession and make ourselves right with God. We cannot be blameless of heart if we do not seek to be holy in all things great and small. Even our leisure should be a living prayer to our Creator who gave us the chance to not only work in this world, but also rest in it. But our rest should not be meaningless or without thanksgiving. So, let us take time before everything we do and sing praise to the God who has made us and given us the chance to be good and faithful servants.

Is our faith integrated into our daily lives? How can we live in a more perfect union with God? What can we do to make our every word and work into a prayer to the glory or God?

O Lord, help us to live lives of integrity, united with you.

Amen.

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

Blessed be the Lord, for he has heard my prayer. Hear the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you, lifting up my hands toward your holy shrine.

Our prayers do not go unheard or unanswered. God is always listening to us, in our thoughts and in our words. When we petition Him, He knows the truth behind our prayers. He knows what is good for us and what would be bad. He gives us what we need to flourish as His children. He answers us in ways that will help us to become better Christians. He denies us when what we ask for isn’t what would be best for us, but He softens the rejection by giving us something better. He knows us and what we truly need just as a good father knows his children and gives them what is good even though his children might not understand and complain. God is confident that what He gives us will eventually be accepted and cherished. And for that we should all be thankful.

What petitions are we making to the Lord? Can we honestly say they are all for our good or the good of others or are some selfish? How can we make better prayers and petitions to God?

O Lord, you hear the sound of our pleading and answer us beyond anything we could hope for.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.  Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. 

We are all Paul is some way or another. Some are blasphemers. Others persecutors. Many are arrogant in their own unique ways. All of us have acted wrongly whether out of full-knowledge and consent to sin or out of ignorance. Thankfully, God is infinitely more forgiving than we could ever be sinful. No matter what we have done or failed to do, He has the grace to wash our stains and imperfections away and give us a clean start. After all, Jesus Christ did come into this world to save sinners and we all are sinners. Some of us foremost among them. However, God is compassionate and if we come to Him and confess our sins with humble and contrite hearts, then He will treat us mercifully. God is patient and kind. He will never use our admission of guilt against us. Instead, He will respect us for having the courage to admit we are wrong and in need of help and He will give us the graces we need to overcome our weaknesses and defend ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil and all the evil powers of the world. Then, one day, when the race has been run, He will welcome us into the Heavenly Kingdom and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.” And all the sins of our past will be left behind and forgotten.

In what ways are we like Paul before his conversion? Do we make regular use of confession to help us uproot our weaknesses and sinful tendencies? How do we mirror God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to others, especially those who tempt us to sin or who we have difficulty forgiving?

O Lord, we thank you for treating us with such infinite mercy.

Amen.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Do not forget the works of the Lord! Hearken, my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable, I will utter mysteries from of old.

God speaks to us in many ways. He speaks to us through our consciences, letting us know the difference between right and wrong. He listens to us through our prayers and gives us inspiration and solace through the Holy Spirit. He teaches us through the thoughts, words, and works of Christ and shows us what it means to be His children and heirs to His Kingdom. He offers us words of love and mercy and asks only that we listen to Him when He speaks to us and to put into practice what He tells us. He gives us the Scriptures and reveals to us eternal truths and mysteries through the parables and stories we find within. If we truly care about God, then it is impossible to forget His works. They are all around us as constant reminders that we are not alone in this world. We have a Heavenly Father, who cares for us and was willing to sacrifice His Beloved Son so we might have a chance to share in the bountiful harvest that awaits us all in Heaven.

Are we listening and living God’s teachings? Are our hearts open to the Scriptures and the teachings they offer us? How can we become more faithful followers of the wisdom of God?

O Lord, we will not forget your works.

Amen.

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

You are my inheritance, O Lord. Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.

God is our inheritance. He is both the promise and the gift. It is in Him that we will find the rewards of everlasting life and it is through Him that we will find our true callings in life. He is our refuge and our rest. He is our Lord and Savior. It is Him who allots our portion and fills our cups to overflowing. He holds nothing back from us and gives us exactly what we need to grow in faith, hope, and love. He is life giving, granting us the graces and blessings that will help us to live life abundantly. It is to Him and Him alone that we should hold onto in our times of need for He will give us all He can to help us to get to a place of plenty.

Do we take our role as heirs to God’s Kingdom seriously? How can we fulfill our callings to be His holy and good children? What can we do to help others to find their inheritance, too?

O Lord, be our inheritance and the cup of our salvation.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Thursday in Ordinary Time

Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the LORD in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his strength. Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him for his sovereign majesty.

Every moment of every day, we could sing the praises of the Lord. He has does so much for us from the moment we wake in the morning to the instant we fall asleep. He protects us through the night and sees us through each day. He pours His blessings and graces upon us and give us every chance to grow in faith, hope, and love and bear good fruits. He wants us to succeed in what is important in life and provides us every gift and talent we need to fulfill His Divine Plan for us. He is with us always, waiting for us to recognize His presence and allow Him to work through us for the salvation of souls. He does great and small things for us and for all of these things, we should be more than willing to praise Him.

In what ways do we praise God? How can we do so more meaningfully? What can we do to help others to praise Him, too?

O Lord, we praise you for your loving majesty.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works. 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.

In order to spread the Good News, we have to be willing to live and proclaim it. We cannot sit idly by and let salvation happen to us. Salvation comes to those who are willing to ask, seek, and knock for it. It comes to those who are willing to suffer and die for it. It comes to those who are willing to pray, give alms, and sacrifice for it. It comes to those who love God and show compassion to His children. Salvation comes to those who are active in their pursuit of God’s Will and willing to do whatever it takes to make His Will be done.

Do we talk to others about what God has done for us? How can we spread the Good News in our lives and the lives of those around us? How can we be compassionate toward others as God is compassionate toward us?

O Lord, we give you thanks by speaking of your glory and might to all who will listen.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Tuesday in Ordinary Time

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works. I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever.

God is compassionate toward all of us. He may be just in His punishment, but He is merciful, too. He gives us an example of treating others well and being good to them, even when they aren’t good to us. He shows us how to know, love, and serve Him and all His children, especially those who are most difficult to love. It is by His Holy Name that we are blessed and filled with grace and it is because of Him that we are called to become living sacrifices.

How do we treat others? Are we as compassionate as God is compassionate? What can we do to grown in mercy and love of God and others?

O Lord, be compassionate toward us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest

In God is my safety and my glory. Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from him comes my hope. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.

No matter how strong or wealthy or famous we are, we will never be truly safe until we put our trust in God. If we depend upon ourselves, we will falter and fail, but if we turn to our Heavenly Father, He will protect and guide us. The goods of this world do not last and cannot give us true comfort or rest. All things will turn to dust in the end, but our relationships with God will last forever. He is the one constant in our lives and if we want any hope for happiness, then we must build our lives upon Him and make Him our stronghold.

Do we depend upon God or ourselves when in need? How can we more perfectly place our hope in God? What can we do to build up a spiritual stronghold to the Lord within our hearts?

O Lord, you are our safety and our glory.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.

Trying to divine God’s Will is impossible for us. We can never truly know what God wants from us if we depend on our own interpretations of signs. It is only when we open our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit through prayer and through spiritual counsel from trusted and holy people that we can begin to glean what God wants from us. However, knowing is only the beginning because often what God asks of us requires great sacrifices and risks on our part. Also, the world is such a distracting place that sometimes we can lose sight of our spiritual goals and settle for worldly ones that take us further away from where we should be. When we shelter ourselves in earthly things, we become trapped by worries and concerns. But this is not what God wants from us, He wants us to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News and do so without counting the cost or fearing the consequences. He wants us to be fearless in our faith, boundless in our hope, and generous in our loving. He wants us to bear good fruits for Him and all His children, and that is the true test... the yield of our labors.

Do we think we know what God wants of us? How do we know this? Are we bearing good and abundant fruits?

O Lord, make us courageous in our pursuit of your will.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Saturday in Ordinary Time

God himself is my help. O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.

If our cause is worthy, God will help us. Even if we are weak and have all the world stacked against us, if we trust in God, we can move mountains. Even if we are poor, if we are willing to pay the price, then we will be rich in what truly matters. Even if we are lost, if we trust in the guidance of the Lord, then we will find ourselves at the right places and the right times to do the most good. God is our help. It is by His Holy Name that we are all saved and it is by His might that we are defended against the evil and wickedness of the Devil. It is to Him that our hearts, minds, and spirits should turn to in times of need. It is Him whom we should pray to and petition. He is our Savior and our Lord and we should be wholeheartedly His.

Do we seek God’s Help in our times of need? How can we make prayer and petition a central facet of our lives? How can we be a helper and defender of others?

O Lord, by your name we are saved.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Friday in Ordinary Time

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise; Give thanks to him; bless his name.

We should all seek to be in the presence of the Lord. We should strive to find ways to make Him present in our daily lives. We can do this in many ways. We can see God in the world around us and appreciate everything He has created. We can pray to Him in thanksgiving for all the graces and blessings He has given us. We can meditate upon His Divine Mysteries and contemplate Him in all His glory. We can read the Scriptures as a living book and imagine ourselves in the time of Jesus. We can be holy people, good as our Heavenly Father is good. We can imitate Christ and follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We can go to Church for adoration and mass. We can participate in the sacraments and grow in faith, hope, and charity. The important thing is to seek God out in whatever we are doing, great and small, in chores and leisure and everything in between.

What are we willing to offer in thanksgiving to God? How can we show our thanks to God? How can we make God present in our daily living?

O Lord, we thank you for being with us and bless your holy name.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Thursday in Ordinary Time

The Lord has made known his salvation. 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.

God makes known His salvation in various ways. Sometimes He does so through great signs. Other times He does so in a whisper. He brings salvation to us through people, places, and things. He leads us to holiness through the guidance and inspirations of the Holy Spirit. He gives us perfect examples to base our lives on in Jesus and His Mother, Mary. He protects us from evil and calls us to good in numerous ways that we are free to accept or ignore. However, one thing cannot be ignored, His Love for us, because it is clear, constant, and never waivers, even when we take it for granted or deny it. So, let us be thankful for the Lord, for He is merciful, kind, and always offering to save us.

In what ways do we sing the praise of the Lord? How often do we raise our hearts up to Him in joy? How can we make our lives into a living song of glory and praise?

O Lord, we praise you with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Wednesday in Ordinary Time

I trust in the mercy of God for ever. I, like a green olive tree in the house of God, Trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

God planted us upon this earth to bear good fruit. He has nourished us with the Light of faith and the waters of His Love and Mercy. He has cultivated us with Hope and pruned us with the virtues of prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude. He has weeded evil out of our hearts and protects us from the worms of temptation. We flourish under His care and grow in holiness and grace with each passing season. It is because of Him that we have good things and produce good works. And we should be thankful He has planted us in the fertile soil of His Divine Image, which gives us all we need to become fruitful Christians.

Do we trust in the Light of God’s Truth? Do we allow ourselves to be saturated with the waters of God’s Love and Mercy? What can we do to ensure we bear good and abundant fruits?

O Lord, we trust in your mercy.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.

We should strive to see the good things of the Lord in this life as well as the next. We should see the world through the lens of faith. We see should see the good in others, in creation, and do our best to bring out the good in our every thought, word, and work. This is how Jesus approached the word, knowing that we are sinners, but being willing to look past that to the holy people beneath. He tried to free everyone of the shackles of sin and we should do the same to the best of our abilities and according to our talents. And if we do these things, then we will join the Holy Trinity in the house of the Lord and spend the rest of eternity with God, contemplating Him and the good things He has done for us.

Are our eyes open to the good things of this world? How can we magnify those things that lead us closer to God? What can we do to diminish those things that lead us away from Him?

O Lord, we seek to dwell with and contemplate you always.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Monday in Ordinary Time

The Lord comes to judge the earth. For great is the LORD and highly to be praised; awesome is he, beyond all gods. For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the LORD made the heavens.

Everything in this world is nothing compared to God. We are nothing. The earth is nothing. The universe is nothing. And yet, God has given us His all though the sacrifice of His Beloved Son. He died for us because He loves us in spite of our nothingness. He gave each of us His Divine Image to bear into the world. Not to hide it, but to reveal it through our thoughts, words, and works. He gave us the Holy Spirit to guide and inspire us so that we could magnify Him and rejoice in His Goodness. And in the end, we will be judged by how well we manifested God to others because we are all called to be God bearers and without Him we are empty vessels, devoid of substance and meaning. But with Him, we are His children, and worthy of spending the rest of eternity with Him in Heaven.

Do we recognize our nothingness without God? How can we allow God to fill us with His Divine Image? What can we do to magnify and manifest Him to all the world?

O Lord, all is naught before you.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

Jesus’ body and blood speak eloquently to all of us of what it means to be a good and faithful servant. It means being willing to give up everything in order to know, love, and serve God and all His children. We might be intimidated by this radical call of self-sacrifice, but it is a vocation none of us can ignore if we want to be a part of God’s Kingdom. We cannot deny what God is asking of us and share in the inheritance He offers us. If we accept His adoption, then we must accept the sufferings that come with becoming His heirs. The only way we can become enrolled in Heaven is to sprinkle ourselves with the blood of sacrifice.

Are we willing to be sprinkled with the blood of suffering and sacrifice in this life so we might join in the feast of the next one? What sacrifices are we being asked to make in order to fulfill God’s Will? What are we doing to prepare ourselves to be God’s good and faithful servants?

O Lord, sprinkle us with your blood.

Amen.