Thirtieth Thursday in Ordinary Time

Save me, O Lord, in your mercy. Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake; in your generous mercy rescue me; For I am wretched and poor, and my heart is pierced within me.

There are moments in our lives when we just have to ask God to save us. We are lost in a sea of confusion. We are battered by storms of doubt and difficulties. We are crushed beneath a mountain of worries. We are pierced by sufferings and sorrows. We don’t have the strength to get back onto our feet without God’s Help. Thankfully, God is always listening and He will never give us a burden we cannot bear. He will always grant us graces, blessings, and strengths to overcome our trials. He takes pity on us, wretched and poor, and deals kindly with us. He tends to our wounds, guides us back to where we are meant to be, and shows us the way forward.

Do we ask God to save us or do we try to save ourselves? How can we learn to trust that God will deal with us kindly and rescue us from harm? What can we do to imitate His generous mercy in our own daily lives?

O Lord, in your generous mercy rescue us.

Amen.

Thirtieth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy. Look, answer me, O LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him”; lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.

Our hope is indeed founded upon God’s Mercy. It is not up to us if we are forgiven. It is up to God. We can only offer small penances and repayments to God for what evils we have done and what goods we have failed to do. We are not perfect and depend upon His Divine Mercy. It is only through Him that we have a chance at redemption. It is only in Him that we have any hope of triumph. He is the source of our good, the center of who we should be, and the summit of what we are called to become. He is the light that guides us where we need to go and shows us the way out of the dark valleys that surround us.

Does our hope reside in God’s Divine Mercy? Do we allow God to light the way when we are lost? How can we become what we are called to be?

O Lord, answer us and give us your light.

Amen.

Thirtieth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

The Lord has done marvels for us. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

God constantly offers us restoration. He provides for us a path to renewal and rejuvenation as His children. He gives us a way to shore up the foundations of our faith and rebuild areas of our spiritual lives that have fallen into disrepair. He wants our spiritual fortunes restored. He wants the roots of our lives watered and the branches of our lives to be fruitful. He wants us to sow no matter the difficulties so we can reap rejoicing. He wants us to prosper and the only way we can do that is to make Him the Source, Center, and Summit of our daily lives.

What marvels has God done for us? Do we thank Him for these graces and blessings? How can we learn to sow in tears so we can reap rejoicing?

O Lord, restore us.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles

You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Jesus is the capstone of our faith. He is the one who bears the weight of our sins and makes amends for them. He is the one who holds us all together. We cannot support ourselves without his strength. He is the one who upholds us when we are weighed down by worldly worries and cares. He is the one around whom we grow together as one Body, united through the sacrifice of His Body and Blood. It is through following his teachings and example that we are built together into a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. So, let us all lean on Jesus in times of joy and times of sorrow so we might make ourselves into living temples sacred to the Lord, our God.

Have we built our lives around Christ as our capstone? In what ways has Jesus held our lives together? What can we do to shore up our trust and whole-hearted dependence upon God?

O Lord, build us into a dwelling place for your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.  To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

There are times when we will feel abandoned by family, friends, co-workers, and others. We feel alone in the world and tempted to despair or even anger at those who have forsaken us. However, we must remember the people in our lives, no matter how much we love them are imperfect, like us. They will not always do what is good or avoid what is wrong. Thankfully, we do not need them by our sides in our darkest hours. We can instead put our trust in God and allow Him to lead us out of the night and into the dawn. When we trust God in such a way, we allow Him to sanctify and bless our lives so they bear good fruits even among the worries and woes of the world. We are given strength by these gifts to go forth and proclaim the Good News to all who will hear it. When we choose to believe in the promises of Jesus Christ, we will be rescued from every evil, resurrected in spirit, and brought safely to God’s Heavenly Kingdom where we will glorify God forever.

Are we willing to forgive those who abandon us in our times of need? How can we place our complete trust in God? What can we do to proclaim the Good News even in the midst of our own trials?

O Lord, to you be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? Or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.

As Christians we long to see God’s face. We strive to be good and faithful so one day we might be found worthy to join God in Heaven and spend eternity in the presence of the Beatific Vision. We want to join with all the angels and saints and sing our God’s praises forever and ever. We hope to ascend the mountain of the Lord and stand in the holy place of Heaven. This dream is only possible because of Jesus, who although sinless died for our sins and cleansed us all of our imperfections and iniquities. So, let us thank God for granting us such a compassionate brother in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Do we long to see God’s face more than anything else in this world? Do we strive to ascend to Heaven by following the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ? How can we more perfectly imitate our sinless brother, Jesus?

O Lord, we long to ascend to Heaven and see your face.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Friday in Ordinary Time

Lord, teach me your statutes. Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust.

God has given us commandments for a reason. He has provided the Scriptures for a purpose. He has provided us a Church and its Traditions for an end. They are there to teach us wisdom and knowledge. They are there to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They give us an example to follow as Christians so we might bear God into the world around us and produce good fruits. If we ignore or deny any of these, we do great harm to ourselves. We uproot our lives and leave them to wither from apathy and rot from sin. It is only by keeping the commandments, living the Scriptural teachings of Christ, and accepting the Traditions of the Church that we can achieve our full potential as servants of God and become the saints we are called to be. So, let us do so willingly and faithfully and live up to our baptismal vocation to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and others as God loves them.

Do we follow God’s statutes? Are we cultivating lives of holy wisdom and knowledge? How can we become more faithful to God’s commandments, Scriptures, and Church?

O Lord, teach us wisdom and knowledge.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Thursday in Ordinary Time

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. But what profit did you get then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sometimes we all fall into sin. We give into temptations and lose our way, but as Christians we are no longer slaves of sin. We are freed men and women and have the choice to make amends for our transgressions and to make ourselves right with God. We should indeed be ashamed of our failures, but we also cannot let them drag us into despair or keep us from seeking out God’s forgiveness. God is infinitely more merciful than we could ever be sinful and so we should not be afraid that He might deny us forgiveness If we seek it with humble and contrite hearts. When we return to God in this way, we declare ourselves slaves of His and allow Him to lead us toward holiness and salvation by whatever ways and means He decides are best for us. And it is up to us to remain in God’s service throughout our lives so one day we might be granted eternal life with Him.

Do we recognize there is no profit outside the service of our Lord and God? Are we willing to become slaves to God in all we think, say, or do? How can we rid ourselves of all those things that keep us from fully accepting the gifts of holiness and righteousness from our Heavenly King?

O Lord, free us from sin and accept us as your good and holy slaves.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Our help is in the name of the Lord. We were rescued like a bird from the fowlers’ snare; Broken was the snare, and we were freed. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

We are often beset by the wickedness and snares of the Devil and the world. We are bombarded with temptations and assailed by evil. We are undermined by imperfections and apathy. We are weakened and chained by worries, doubts, and fears. However, God is always here to help us. He will rescue us from the fowler’s snare. He will protect us from temptations and evil. He will make firm our foundations by building up our faith, hope, and love. He will strengthen us and free us from all anxieties. He is our great Lord and Helper and we would do well to call on His Holy Name whenever we are in need or suffering.

Do we call on the Lord? Are we willing to allow God to break our chains and lead lives free from sin? How can we help to break the snares that others are trapped in?

O Lord, rescue us from the wickedness and snares of the Evil One.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. “In the written scroll it is prescribed for me, To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”

Everyone who trusts in God will be protected by Him. He does not leave any of His faithful servants undefended. Those who live their lives according to His Divine Will shall be given graces, blessings, and gifts that will see them through all things. He will be our light in the darkest of nights and lead us to where we need to be. His laws are written in our hearts and if we live by their spirit, then He will grant us inner peace and abundant love.

Do we think, speak, and act in accord with the Divine Laws written in our hearts? How can we be there for God like He is there for us? What can we do to live in harmony with God’s Will?

O Lord, to do your will is our delight.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Monday in Ordinary Time

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people. He has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David.

God comes to us every day, offering to set us free from our temptations, sins, worries, fears, doubts, and anxieties. He wants us to live peaceful lives full of love. He is a compassionate Father, who knows what is best for us and desires our good. He is a teacher, who shows us how to be faithful servants. He is a savior, who sacrificed Himself once and for all so we might join Him in Heaven. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and gifted us every grace. All so we might overcome the obstacles that try to keep us from being one in mind, body, and spirit with Him. So, let us make good use of all God has given us and allow Him to raise us up from the darkness of sin and into the light of holiness.

Do we welcome God into our lives each day? How can we prepare ourselves so we are open to God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations? What can we do to help set others free from their own trials and tribulations?

O Lord, come and set us free.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

We can learn a lot about how to live our lives from Scripture. We are shown time and again what it means to be a God-bearing person. We are given commandments to follow, teachings to live by, and guidance in leading holy lives. We are given corrections for our failures and trained in righteousness. If we live according to the Good News, we will be equipped for every good work. This is why it is so important to proclaim the Word of God through our every thought, word, and work. It not only builds up and reinforces our own holiness, but helps others to increase in faith, hope, and love. The life of Christian virtue is one we must live whether it is convenient or inconvenient so we can convince, reprimand, and encourage others in their own journeys toward God.

Do we take time each day to meditate on Scripture? How can we take what we learn from the Good News and put it into practice? What can we do to support others in their own faith journeys?

O Lord, help us to be persistent in living out the teachings of the Holy Scriptures you’ve provided us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

The Lord remembers his covenant forever. For he remembered his holy word to his servant Abraham. And he led forth his people with joy; with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.

God doesn’t go back on His promises. When He says He’ll do something, He does it. When He says He won’t do something, He doesn’t. His “Yes,” means, “Yes.” His “No,” means, “No.” Thankfully for us, God has promised to love us like His children and to be merciful to us. He wants what is best for us and will do all He can, short of forcing us, to lead us to everlasting life with Him. He helps us to be good and faithful and holy people. He lifts us up when we are down. He lights our way when we are in darkness. He leads us forth with shouts of joy. He has picked us as His chosen ones. To accept this great gift, all we need to say is, “Yes,” to Him and mean it with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Do we go back on our promises? If so, then how can we make our “Yes,” mean, “Yes,” and our “No” mean, “No”? What can we learn from the authentic life of Jesus, who showed us most perfectly how to be true to our words?

O Lord, help us to remember that you always keep your word.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

If we are friends to God, then we will make know the glorious splendor of His Kingdom. We will proclaim the Good News and strive to manifest His Love and Mercy in all our thoughts, words, and works. We will be just in all our ways and holy in our actions. We will not be afraid to stand for the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ. We will call upon Him in thanksgiving for all He has done for us and in petition for His help in our times of need. This is what we are all called to do as His beloved children and it should be our goal in life to meet the high standards God has set for us through the example of Jesus, our Lord, Savior, and Heavenly Brother.

How do we make God know in our lives? In what ways do we proclaim the Good News and manifest God’s Goodness to the world? Do we call upon Him with complete trust in His Will?

O Lord, help us to make you known to all the world.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption. I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the LORD more than sentinels wait for the dawn.

Trusting in God means that sometimes we have to wait for Him. We need to learn patience and allow God to work in His own time. He knows better than us when we need help and what help is best for us. We might have our own notions about how God can help us, but they are not necessarily the best ways He can aid us. We can often grow impatience and upset when God seems to fail to answer our pleas, but that is our own selfishness blinding us to God’s work in our lives. He will never abandon us, we have only to bear our crosses and trust in His Saving Graces, which will come when and where it is most needed.

Do we trust in God and His Word? Are we patient enough to wait for His Help? Do we recognize all God is doing for us even in the midst of our trials?

O Lord, we wait for you more than sentinels wait for the dawn.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Lord, you give back to everyone according to his works. Only in God is my soul at rest; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.

We will be judged by our works in this world. We will be weighed by our words, too. How we treat others will reflect on us and reveal to God how He should treat us. If our souls are in God and of Him, then we will do good and avoid evil and our souls will be at rest. However, if we are in and of the world, seeking earthly pleasures and acting out of vice, then our hearts will be greatly distressed when the time of Final Judgment comes. It is only in God that we will find salvation and eternal life. It is only by founding our lives upon Him that we can have any hope of withstanding the wickedness and snares of the Devil. God is our stronghold against the Evil One and when we think, speak, and act like Him, we are protected from spiritual attacks and our hearts remain calm because we know God is always there for us.

Do our souls rest in God or the world? How can we found our lives more perfectly upon the Rock of our Salvation? Do we give ourselves to others as we would want them to give themselves to us?

O Lord, in you our souls find rest.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”

We should never be ashamed of our faith or proclaiming the Gospel. We should be overjoyed to bring the Good News into the world through our thoughts, words, and works. We should want to embody righteousness for all we meet, friends and enemies. We should not be afraid to be criticized by others for our beliefs, nor should we apologize for our choice in faith. If we want to be worthy of eternal life, then we must choose to live the Christ-like life. A life founded on the commandments of our Heavenly Father, formed around the teachings of Jesus, and crowned with the sanctifying inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

Are we ashamed by our faith? If not, then what do we do to proclaim it in thoughts, words, or works? How can we become more righteous by faith?

O Lord, we will never be ashamed to proclaim the Gospel.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Monday in Ordinary Time

This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

The Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus is all the sign we should need in order to repent. Through Christ’s Life, we are shown the Way and the Truth that will lead us to the Promised Land. Through His Passion, we are shown what it means to mortify ourselves, accept our crosses, show compassion to others, and love our enemies. Through His Death, we are given an example of what it means to be willing to die for what we believe in. Finally, through His Resurrection, we are shown the promise of to everlasting life for all who proclaim the Good News until their final breath. Indeed, we have a great tome of wisdom set before us in the New Testament, which reveals what God is calling us to be as Christians. So, let us heed the Word of God Made Flesh and live as good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

In what ways do we imitate the compassionate Life of Christ? How do we deal with the sufferings and sacrifices that come with our own passions? How have we prepared ourselves for our death and eventual resurrection? 

O Lord, we seek and follow only the sign of your Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

God cannot deny the image of Himself that resides in each person. This is why He is so willing to forgive and bring us back into His good graces even after we have turned our backs on Him through sin or apathy. He wants us to be united to Him in body, mind, and spirit. He wants us to magnify Him through our thoughts, words, and works. However, He will not force us to be good and faithful children. He wants us to choose to know, love, and serve Him and the image of Him that exists in each person. If we deny Him, He will attempt to change our minds and give us every opportunity to atone for our transgressions, but in the end, He will deny us salvation if we refuse the offers of His Divine Mercy. But, if we persevere and die with Him, then we shall live forever with Him as co-heirs to His Heavenly Kingdom.

In what ways have we denied God’s Divine Image within us? How can we rid ourselves of these things that mar us so we can accept God more fully into our hearts, minds, and spirits? What can we do to persevere in our faith?

O Lord, we are willing to die for you.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Saturday in Ordinary Time

Rejoice in the Lord, you just! Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart. Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name.

When we think, speak, and act justly, our actions are enlightened by God. The Light of the Holy Spirit guides us along the right way and leads us to where we need to be. The upright of heart are given a spirit of gladness when they follow God and walk the Way of Jesus Christ. They go forth into the world secure in the knowledge that they are bearing the Good News to the world through their very presence. They make known God through their acts of charity, mercy, and justice. They produce good fruits by being firmly grounded in faith and nourished by hope. And for all these graces and blessings, we should be very thankful for without them we would be lost in the dark night of sin and death.

Do we rejoice in the justice of God? How do we uphold the tenants of our faith and show compassion to others? What can we do to be upright in heart and always thankful to God?

O Lord, light our way with justice and gladness.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Friday in Ordinary Time

The Lord will judge the world with justice. You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; their name you blotted out forever and ever. The nations are sunk in the pit they have made; in the snare they set, their foot is caught.

God rebukes the wicked. He will not remember them if they do not amend their lives. He will forget them and blot them out forever when the time of final judgment comes. And He will do this not out of hatred, but out of disappointment with them. Those who have sunk into the pit of sin and apathy will be discarded like chaff and destroyed. Those who are evil and set snares for others will be punished for their crimes and caught in their own webs. They shall die irrevocable deaths, forgotten, just as they forgot about their duties to God and His children. So, let us pray we will always remember our calling to be Christ-like and to do all things in accordance with God’s Will. Let us hope we will not disappoint God so much that He no longer wishes to see us with Him in Heaven. Let us be humble, contrite, and merciful so He will see us as His beloved children and allow us to one day join Him in Paradise.

Do we reject sin and evil? Are we willing to rebuke wickedness when we see it, even when speaking up might cost us dearly? How can we be more courageous and just in all our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, help us to reject wickedness and live just lives.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Thursday in Ordinary Time

And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Our Heavenly Father is waiting for us. He wants us to ask for His Presence in our lives so He can give us all the graces and blessings He has prepared for us. He wants us to seek Him out along the narrow Way to salvation and to walk beside Him. He wants us to knock on the gates of Paradise and ask for entrance so He can welcome us into His Holy City. He is always within reach through our prayers and petitions and will never abandon us. And even when we abandon Him, He offers us a way back into His Good Graces through contrition, confession, and penance.

Do we ask God for what we need? Do we seek Him out in all we think, say, and do? Do we knock at the doors of Heaven and ask for them to be open to us?

O Lord, open the doors of Heaven to us, your humble servants.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Lord, you are merciful and gracious. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

When we are faced with difficulties or sadness, we should turn to God for consolation. We should set our hearts on Him and remember all the wondrous deeds He has done for us. We should recall His Goodness and think upon all He will do for us in Heaven. Doing these things, should gladden our hearts and lift up our souls because we know God will grace us with blessings beyond anything we can imagine in this life. He will come to our aid when we call to Him and grant us graces more numerous than the stars. He has the ability to turn our sorrows to joys and our worries into confident trust in Him.

Are we merciful and gracious like our God? Do we call on Him in our times of need? How can we let Him lift our souls out of darkness, doubts, and worldly cares?

O Lord, we call to upon your mercy and grace all the day.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Tuesday in Ordinary Time

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? If you, O LORD, mark iniquities, LORD, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.

Thank goodness God doesn’t mark our iniquities! Instead, He offers us forgiveness and mercy. He allows us to wash away and cleanse our sins though the sacrament of reconciliation. He allows us back into His good graces if we come to Him with humble and contrite hearts, confess our sins to a priest, and do penance. What a wondrously loving God we have! One who is willing to forgive and forget our sins if we are willing to be humbled before Him.

Do we appreciate how forgiving and merciful God is to us? Do we mark the iniquities committed against us? What can we do to be more forgiving of ourselves and others?

O Lord, may you be revered forever for your mercy and forgiveness.

Amen.

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord. Out of my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me; From the midst of the nether world I cried for help, and you heard my voice.

The rosary is a lifeline for us all. It is a prayer we can all benefit from. It is a prayer we should take our time with whenever we are inclined to say it. It is a pray that speaks to the mysteries of our faith and helps us to meditate upon and contemplate the life of Christ and the Beginnings of the Church. It is a powerful tool for good in the world, freeing people from sin and death, filling them with graces and blessings and guiding them to better lives founded on the Holy Spirit. We should all be thankful for such a fulfilling prayer, given to us by our Heavenly Father to celebrate His Beloved Son and Dearest Daughter.

Do we pray the rosary on a regular basis? Do we pray it purposefully and meaningfully? What can we do to live out the mysteries of the rosary?

O Lord, out of the darkness we call to you.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.  So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Our strength to endure all hardships comes from God. He is the source of our courage and resilience. He is the Father of all the gifts, graces, and blessings that help us to overcome our difficulties in our lives. He is the foundation of our power, love, and self-control. The Church stands before the world as a sign of God’s Holy Spirit, alive and at work in the world and we have a responsibility to magnify that Spirit through our own thoughts, words, and works. For it is through our acts that we give testimony to our Lord and it is through the example of how we bear our burdens that we show what it means to be Christians. So, let us to be strong in the Spirit and do whatever God is calling us to do without worrying about what we might suffer, but rather focused on how through our sacrifices we might give glory to God and do good for His children.

Do we ask for God’s strength when faced with the challenges of our lives? How can we open ourselves more to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit? How can we use the gifts, graces, and blessings God has given us to grow in faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, grant us a spirit of power, love, and self-control.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Saturday in Ordinary Time

The Lord listens to the poor. “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not. Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them!”

All will be made right in the end. This is what we believe as Christians. We hold firm to the conviction that goodness, truth, justice, mercy, and love with win out over evil, lies, prejudice, vengeance, and hatred. We have faith that God listens to His children. He will free us from temptations, sin, and death, if we will yoke ourselves to Him. He will bring gladness into our lives after the dark nights that can besiege our souls. He revives us and gives us new life in and through Himself. He pours our His riches upon the humble poor and the contrite in spirit. He will never spurn us, if we accept Him into our hearts and live according to His commandments, teachings, and inspirations.

Do we believe God will make things right in the end? How can we resist the doubts that might creep into this belief? What can we do to build up trust in God in others as well as ourselves?

O Lord, listen to us and revive our hearts when they are weak with doubt.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi

For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the corpses of your servants as food to the birds of heaven, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.

We will not always be triumphant in this world. There will be times when we are defeated. We might fail in our personal lives. We might fail in our careers. We might fail in our finances. We might be besieged by worldly worries, concerns, doubts, fears, and anxieties. We might fail to be good and cave to temptations and sin. However, no matter what happens to us, if we trust in God, He will save us and raise us up again. He will give us the graces and blessings we need to rebuild ourselves and become living temples that give glory to God and build up our brothers and sisters in Christ.

How do we deal with defeat in this world? Do we turn to God and ask for His help? What do we do to help others when they are overwhelmed by sufferings?

O Lord, deliver us from evil and build us into a good and faithful people.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Thursday in Ordinary Time

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. They are more precious than gold, than a heap of purest gold; Sweeter also than syrup or honey from the comb.

The commandments of our Heavenly Father should give joy to our hearts. The teachings of Jesus should be treasured more than gold. They inspirations of the Holy Spirit should be sweeter than syrup to our souls. There is not a moment of our lives when we are in a state of grace that we shouldn’t be joyful. No matter what our foes might do, no matter how difficult our lives might get, if we trust in God, keep His commandments, and live our lives according to them, then we will have nothing to fear. We shall win the race and enter triumphantly into Heaven.

Do the commandments give us joy? How can we lead lives founded on the golden rule of loving God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and loving others as He loves us? Are we willing to give up the empty promises of the world for the satisfying inspirations of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, your precepts give joy to our hearts.

Amen.

Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. On the aspens of that land we hung up our harps.

God will deliver us from all evil. This is something we never forget. Even when we are faced with great difficulties, even when our foes seem to have the upper hand, if we trust in God, He will save us. He will lead us out of the desert and bring us to the Promised Land. He will turn our tears into joy. He will give us harps to play so we might laugh and dance and sing his praises.

Do we let our trials in this life cause us to forget God? Or do we take those challenges and make them into opportunities to praise Him? Do we trust in God enough to walk through the dark valley to get to the Promised Land on the other side?

O Lord, may we never forget what you have done for us.

Amen.

Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin/Doctor of the Church

God is with us. I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those that know the LORD; Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: “This man was born there.” And of Zion they shall say: “One and all were born in her; And he who has established her is the Most High LORD.”

We are all born to become citizens of the City of God. We are all given rights and responsibilities by the mere fact of our conception. God is with us from the moment of creation and remains with us even through death to the final judgment and beyond. He wants us all to be good and faithful servants, willing to do our duty to Him and to all His children. So, let us come together as one and live out our calling to be God’s representatives on earth in hopes of one day enjoying the Heavenly banquet with our Lord and King.

Have we accepted our citizenship within the City of God? How are we respecting the rights of others and fulfilling our responsibilities as Christians? What can we do to build up the Kingdom of God?

O Lord, we will strive to be good and faithful citizens of your Kingdom.

Amen.