Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 

God has made us worthy of our callings in this life. He has given us the graces we need. He has provided us with gifts and talents and treasures sufficient to accomplish the works He wants us to do. He has blessed us in ways seen and unseen all so we might fulfill His Will on earth. If we fail to do good or avoid evil, it is not because He did not help us enough. It is because we ignored our calling, settled for something less, or choose a sinful life over a holy one. It is our fault and ours alone when we fall short because we are weighed down by doubts, fears, apathy, or selfishness. However, if we are willing to shrug off these things and place our trust in God, then there is no limit to how far we can go. We will be able to make the leaps of faith we need in order to achieve God’s Will and the world, including ourselves, will be better off for it.

Do we bring to fulfillment every good purpose and effort of faith? Do our thoughts, words, and works glorify God? What can we do to live up to the calling God has given us?

O Lord, make us worthy of your calling.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Monica

You have searched me and you know me, Lord. O LORD, you have probed me and 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.

God knows us. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows our virtues and our vices. He knows what we want and what we need. He knows our thoughts and understands them. He knows what we are capable of, both good and evil. He knows what we could become if we put our minds to it. He knows the truth behind our every action. He knows us better than we know ourselves. This is why sometimes He takes things away from us or sends us a trial. It is all done for our benefit... to help us to discover and become the best version of ourselves.

How can we come to better know ourselves? Are we willing to search our motives and change our ways if they do not conform with God’s Will? What is God calling us to become?

O Lord, you know us better than we know ourselves. Show us the way to become more perfectly yours.

Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go.  By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. 

Sometimes we don’t know where God is calling us, but we go anyway. It is by faith alone that we set out along the way prepared for us. We trust Him even though we don’t have a clear picture of what the future holds. We intrinsically believe something better lies before us because God loves us. We understand we might wander for many years, get lost, be asked to make sacrifices, and undergo many trials, but if we believe in Him, He will lead us to the promised land. He will protect us from our enemies, including sometimes ourselves, and bring us to the place we need to be. And, once we arrive, if we do what is asked, He will welcome us into His Holy City with open arms and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants... Come, share your master’s joy!”

Where is God calling us? What is He asking us to do? How can we answer Him with the faith of Abraham, Mary, and all the saints who have come before us?

O Lord, grant us the faith to obey you whenever you call and go wherever you send us.

Amen.

Thirteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord for the Lord is good! Praise the name of the LORD; Praise, you servants of the LORD Who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.

God has chosen us to be His children. He has given us life through the Heavenly Father. He has given us His Love and Mercy through the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He has given us inspiration and guidance through the Holy Spirit. The promises He has made to us through the Word Made Flesh and the Good News cannot be taken back. The gifts He has given cannot be withdrawn. We can reject them through our own choice, but God is always with us offering us the best way to live fruitful, good, and eternal lives. All we have to do is accept the light yoke of becoming servants to Him and take up our place in His Heavenly Home.

What work is God calling us to do? Are we willing to put aside our own wants and dreams and become servants of the Lord? How can we let go of our desire to be masters of our own destinies and instead let God guide us?

O Lord, we praise you for you are good.

Amen.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son: this day I have begotten you; just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Although we might not all be called to be priests or religious or missionaries, we are all called to be Christ. In that way, we are all called to be the sons and daughters of God and to proclaim the Good News and participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Our every thought, word, and work should have the Gospels behind them so we might be living reflections of Jesus Christ, our high priest and savior. So too, we should place ourselves in the right mind before, during, and after Mass by offering ourselves as sacrifices upon the altar and giving God all our good works. In this way, we live up to our calling to be a priestly people and true sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.

What honors has God given us? How can we make them holy? In what ways can we live out our calling to be a priestly people?

O Lord, thank you for making us your sons and daughters through Christ.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Monica

We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

God makes us worthy of our calling through His graces. He gives us the virtues, goodness, and strength to be good and faithful Christians. He is the one who brings to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of our faith. We are His instruments, His living vessels and our primary purpose on this earth is to do His Will, to glorify Him, and love Him and His children. It is by doing these things with a humble and self-sacrificing heart that we are saved and eventually glorified. Moreover, we are not only responsible for ourselves, but also the faith lives of those around us. We are called to do everything we can in order to help our family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies to become instruments of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace.

Are we putting our time, talents, and treasures to good use? Are we making every effort to fulfill the purposes God has given us? What are we doing to help others fulfill their purposes?

O Lord, make us worthy of our callings.

Amen.

Tenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you." Elijah answered, "Go back! Have I done anything to you?" Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Sometimes God’s calling comes to us unexpectedly, when we are in the middle of something, or otherwise not ready. He places His cloak over us and leaves. It is then our choice to follow Him or not. Like Elisha, we should be thankful for our callings and do everything we can to start out on the right foot and stay on the narrow path to Heaven.

What is God calling us to do? How can we best respond to His call? Are we willing to leave everything we know behind and follow God into the unknown?

O Lord, help us answer your calling like Elisha… with thankfulness, sacrifice, and trust.

Amen.

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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 are all charged with proclaiming the Word with whatever gifts and talents God has given us. Some may proclaim the work through the vocation of being priests and religious. Others through being ministers and volunteers. Still more through parenthood, being care-givers, or their jobs. Some may proclaim the Good News through words of wisdom, consolation, love, faith, or hope. Others through good works and acts of mercy. Still others through ideas that give glory to God or help to the needy. No matter what the calling is, we are all asked to be persistent in our pursuit of God’s Will... whether it is convenient or inconvenient for us. This means convincing the difficult, reprimanding those whom we love when they do wrong, encouraging others to patience, and teaching everyone we meet that the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ is exactly what they need to thrive in this life and the next.

Are we proclaiming the Good News as we should? What can we do to bear God’s Divine Word into the lives of those around us? Are we persistent in our faith, hope, and love even when it is inconvenient?

O Lord, we accept your charge to proclaim your word.

Amen.

First Saturday of Lent

Today you are making this agreement with the LORD: he is to be your God and you are to walk in his ways and observe his statutes, commandments and decrees, and to hearken to his voice. And today the LORD is making this agreement with you: you are to be a people peculiarly his own, as he promised you; and provided you keep all his commandments, he will then raise you high in praise and renown and glory above all other nations he has made, and you will be a people sacred to the LORD, your God, as he promised.

Every Christian has entered into an agreement with God through our baptism. We have promised to worship Him and Him alone, to walk in His ways, obey his commandments, and listen to His inspirations. In return, God promises to hold a special place for us as His people. He will guide us through life, raise us from the dead, and grant us eternal life with Him in Heaven. All we have to do is live out our baptismal promises, doing His Will in all things by our own choice.

Are we living up to our agreement with God? Have we been harkening to His voice and following His commandments? Do we realize how blessed we are to be His people?

O Lord, help us to live up to our calling to be a sacred people dedicated to you.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Thursday of Ordinary Time

In Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.

Here we have a description of the various traits of Wisdom and we would do well if we aligned our lives to manifest as many of these in our own lives. For God loves those who are wise. He wants us to be intelligent, holy, and unique in our faith. He wants us to be manifold by magnifying Him through our thoughts, words, and works. He wants us to be subtle in how we lead others to the truth. He wants us to be agile in our response to the needs of others and clear in our intentions. He wants us to remain unstained by sin and never baneful towards our enemies. He wants us to love the good. He wants us to be keen in mind and heart, unhampered by worries or doubts. He wants us to be beneficent and kindly. He wants us to be firm, secure, and tranquil in our hope. He wants us to believe He is All-Powerful, All-Seeing, and All-Present for us. This is a daunting task, but it is what we need to do if we want to be considered one of the wise and not one of the foolish.

Are we living up to our calling to be wise? How can we grow in our wisdom? Do we take time to gather the knowledge and understanding we need in order to form our consciences and become wise?

O Lord, make us into embodiments of your Wisdom.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarch. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

No matter our failures, our stubbornness in sin, and our indifference to good, God is always there waiting for us to return to Him. He gives us gifts of goods and graces in hopes that one day we will hear His call and answer Him. He will not take back the gifts He has given us nor the crosses He is asking us to take up in His name. It may take some of us longer than others to turn to faith and place our hope in God, but He is with us always, patient and loving. We are His beloved children, formed in the image of Christ, and He will not give up on us. We should consider this truth the next time we are tempted to sin or find ourselves in difficulties beyond our feeble strength. For although we might be sinners, God’s Divine Mercy endures forever.

What gifts has God given us? What is He calling us to do with them? How can we amend our lives in order to put our time, talents, and treasures to the use God intended?

O Lord, thank you for the gifts and callings you’ve given us.

Amen.

Solemnity of All Saints

After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb."

We are all called to be saints. Growing up, many of us may have seen the saints as otherworldly people. We might have said to ourselves, those people were special. We might even have believed we could never be like them. However, that’s not the right way to think of sainthood. Everyone who ends up in heaven is a part of the community of saints. Some people may get there faster than others or be recognized as being in heaven by the Church, but that doesn’t lessen the fact that all Christians have a vocation to sainthood. And even more important to remember is the fact that all of the saints were normal people, who by choice lived good and faithful lives. Some of them were missionaries, others cloistered. Some were ordained, others were lay faithful. Some were single, others married. Some were mothers and fathers, others had no children except those they chose to help. The important thing to remember is that each of us have been given the gifts and talents we need to become saints, but it is up to us to choose the path of holiness. And hopefully we do.

How can we live out our calling to be saints? What gifts and talents has God given us? How can we put them to use for God and for the good of others?

O Lord, from you comes salvation and holiness.

Amen.

Thirtieth Monday of Ordinary Time

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

As Christians, our relationship with God is more than just Creator and created, but Father and child. As long as we accept our dependence upon God and join our sufferings with Christ, then we are co-heirs to His Kingdom. By living Christ-like lives, we cast off the spirit of slavery to sin and receive the spirit of adoption by our Heavenly Father, who knows, loves, and protects us as His Own Beloved Son. However, being co-heirs with Christ doesn’t mean we won’t be faced with trials and sufferings. Instead, it means embracing our troubles out of love for God and a desire to do everything we can to make our Father proud of us. It means being willing to sacrifice ourselves to do God’s Will so that we might be glorified through glorifying Him.

Do we take seriously our relationship with our Heavenly Father? What do we do to prove our faith in, hope in, and love of God? How can we live out our calling to be co-heirs to the Kingdom?

O Lord, you are our Father and our hope.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Sometimes we can be afraid of what God is calling us to do. We try to hide ourselves away from the world or from God because we are anxious about the path that lies before us. The way ahead looks scary to us. We aren’t certain we can overcome all the obstacles in our way. Many times the destination is unknown or murky. We are faced with fears and doubts and choose to lock away our talents and treasures. Better to be safe than sorry. But if we want to be disciples of Christ, then we have to be open to him coming into our lives and sending us forth. We might not know how we will accomplish the mission he sends us on. However, if we allow his peace to be with us and trust that His Holy Spirit will always be by our side, then we have nothing to fear. We learn the important lesson that it is better to be saintly than sorry.

What are we afraid of? What is God asking us to do in our lives? How can we prepare ourselves to accept our calling with peace and joy?

O Lord, as your Heavenly Father sent you, so send us to where we are needed.

Amen.

Thirtieth Thursday of Ordinary Time

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’”

Jesus doesn't let the worries of others rule his actions. He does not let the threat to his life paralyze him. What the Pharisees tell him could've been said out of fear for Jesus' life, but also it could've been said to drive him away. And yet, Jesus does not waver in his mission. He says he must continue no matter what. We need to act in a similar way when it comes to proclaiming our faith. We cannot let the fears of others or our own anxieties drive us away from the calling God has given us. Instead, when faced with adversity we must continue to walk the narrow path to Heaven even if it means persecution or death.

What worries and anxieties are tempting us to leave the path God has made for us? How can we continue the mission our Lord has given us as Christians and individuals? If we are afraid of being persecuted for our faith, then how can we overcome those fears?

O Lord, give us the strength to continue on the narrow path you've prepared for us.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Thursday of Ordinary Time

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Sometimes when God inspires us to do something, we can feel unworthy. We see our sinfulness and wonder how God could want someone like us to take on a new responsibility, to champion a cause, or take a leap of faith in our lives. However, God does not dwell upon our failures, sins, or imperfections. Instead He focuses on our potential for good. We can learn a lot from seeing ourselves through God's eyes and believing that although unworthy by ourselves, we are made worthy by the grace of God. It is for this reason that we should not be afraid to follow Christ and become fishers of men. Of course, this holy confidence also requires action and sometimes that action will involve giving up what's comfortable and familiar in life, to leave everything behind. This is perhaps most difficult when what we give up is good and joyful. However, we should be willing to take the next step upon the path to salvation even if it means detaching ourselves from good things and people because in the end everything good we give up for God will be repaid a thousand times over in Heaven.

What is God calling us to do? What is keeping us from doing His Will? How can we gain holy confidence in God's Will and following our calling?

O Lord, give us the grace to leave everything and follow you.

Amen.

Twenty-First Thursday of Ordinary Time

Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Part of being a follower of Christ is being vigilant not only in regards to guarding against sin, but also in regards to watching out for opportunities to do God's Will. These are the two tasks faithful and prudent servants will perform for their Divine Master. We cannot be faithful if we do not resist temptation and avoid sin. Neither can we be prudent if we do not distribute our good words and works at the proper times. To be Christian isn't just to strive to live without sin, but also to live lives of faith, hope, and love. By doing both we glorify God through our actions and reveal His Love, Mercy, and Grace to all whom we know, love, and serve.

Are we faithful and prudent? Are we doing what we are called to do as Christians? If we were to lose our lives today, would we be found doing God's Will or our own?

O Lord, give us the virtues we need to be faithful and prudent servants.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

Like the blind man, we too should cry out for Jesus’ pity in spite of whatever voices in our lives tell us to be quiet and suffer in silence. When our doubts, fears, and anxieties (or other people) try to shout down our appeals to God or seek to convince us to give up, we should keep calling out to Him. We should take courage that God hears us and wants to give us every possible chance to be healed of our sins and saved. And when Jesus does call out to us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we should heed his call, spring up, and come to him as fast as we can. Only then will we be able to stand up against those who persecute our faith. Only then will we be freed of those infirmities of spirit that keep us from seeing, hearing, and knowing the Truth.

Do we call out to Jesus when we are in need? Do we seek God’s pity and forgiveness? Are we willing to express our faith even when others tell us to be silent?

O Lord, have pity on us.

Amen.

Third Friday of Ordinary Time

This is how it is with the Kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.

God provides each of us the graces we need to grow in our faith and one day we will all be harvested and the fruit of our lives will be weighed out. Some of us will bear much fruit and some will have very little to show for their lives. As we go throughout our days, we should constantly be on the watch for opportunities to nourish our faith and grow as followers of Christ. These chances to do God’s work will come in various ways and in different places and times. Some will require small sacrifices of our time, talents, and treasures. Others will ask us to risk or change our lives for the good of others. Whatever God is calling us to do, we must prepare ourselves and be ready to go where God is leading us and do what He wants us to do. This fidelity to our Heavenly Father is the only way for us to flourish as Christians and yield good fruit.

What are we doing to grow in our faith? What opportunities for spiritual growth are present in our lives? What are we willing to sacrifice in order to bear good fruit?

O Lord, give us the graces to grow and yield good fruit throughout our lives.

Amen.

Second Friday of Ordinary Time

Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.

Jesus appointed the Twelve to preach and drive out demons. In a similar manner, Jesus calls us to preach his gospel message and help his children, including ourselves, to drive out the sins that possess our lives. We are not asked to be perfect, none of Jesus’ Apostles were, but what we are asked to be is passionate about bearing God into the world through our thoughts, words, and works. So like the Apostles, we have to answer the summons of our Lord and to come to him through prayer, the sacraments, and our good works. Some of us will be asked to be rocks for our friends, family, and Church, just as Simon was in his life. Others will be called to love unconditionally like John. Or perhaps we will be asked to be like the other devoted Apostles, such as Matthew or James. No matter what our calling is, we should remember that God will always give us the graces we need to do His Will. Hopefully, we will answer Jesus’ call with hearts full of faith, hope, and love and never betray him.

What is Jesus calling us to do? Have we cultivated a passion for preaching the truths of the gospel, not only through our speech, but also our deeds? How can we answer God's summons more faithfully?

O Lord, let our lives proclaim your gospel all the days of our lives.

Amen.