Third Monday of Advent

Teach me your ways, O Lord. Remember that your compassion, O LORD, and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me, because of your goodness, O LORD.

We have a lot to learn from God. He is a loving Father, who shows us how to be good sons and daughters. He is a Good Shepherd, who leads us to holiness in thought, word, and deed. He is an Advocate, who inspires us to become better people. Everything we could ever want to learn comes from Him. He teaches us compassion, kindness, goodness, and love. He is the Most Perfect Teacher, giving us the Good News, the Scriptures, and the Church to guide us along our paths to holiness. He will always remember us and hopefully, we will always remember Him for all the wondrous things He’s done for us.

Do we remember God as we should? Do we allow Him to teach us His Way, His Truth, and His Life? How do we imitate His Compassion, Kindness, and Goodness?

O Lord, teach us your ways.

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-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.

Seventeenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

The Lord is kind and merciful. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.

Thank goodness God doesn’t deal with us according to our sins or requite us according to our crimes. If He did, we would all be destined to destruction. We are infinitely blessed to have such a kind and merciful God as our Heavenly Father, who not only gave us His Beloved Son, but also His Holy Spirit. He has provided us commandments to protect us, teachings to guide us, and inspirations to sanctify us. He is always ready to help those who fear disappointing Him. He will never abandon us as long as we seek Him out in our daily lives and strive to be good and faithful servants. Yes, we might stumble along the Way, we might forget the Truth, and we might lose sight of the Life we are called to live, but He will be there every step of the way to lead us back to where we are supposed to be as Christians.

Are we as kind and merciful as God is to us? How can we become more compassionate? What can we do to promote the compassion of others?

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

Amen.

Sixteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. At the breath of your anger the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea. The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them; I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them; I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!” 

God does not do what He does just to cover Himself in glory. He performs miracles like the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery and the parting of the Red Sea because He is compassionate. He doesn’t strike down His enemies out of malice, but because they leave Him no choice. He does what is best for us as individuals and as His Chosen People. He shows us His power and might, not to impress us, but to impress upon us His Love and Mercy. Everything He does is to give us a model of thinking, speaking, and acting that will allow us to be the best reflections of His Divine Image that we can be. And if we trust in His Plan, then our enemies will never overtake us. Instead, they will be divided from us by a great chasm that cannot be crossed and despoiled in the abyss of Hell. So, let us have faith in God no matter what trials face us and allow Him to lead us to the Promised Land.

Do we recognize how compassionate God is toward us? Are we as compassionate with others? How can we model our lives on the example of our Heavenly Father, His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, your compassion for us shall never be forgotten.

Amen.

Eleventh Tuesday of Ordinary Time

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

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

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

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

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Easter

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

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

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

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

Amen.

Third Saturday of Lent

It is mercy I desire, and not sacrifice. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

God wants us to be merciful like Him. He wants us to be good like Him. He wants us to be compassionate like Him. He wants us to love like Him. He wants us to magnify Him for all the world through our thoughts, words, and works. All the almsgiving, prayer, and mortification in the world will avail us nothing if we don’t do it in His Spirit. We can do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. God wants us to do them for Him and Him alone. It isn’t easy choosing to be Christ-like. It is a hard and narrow path filled with hardship and suffering and sacrifice, but if we follow in God’s footsteps and accept our crosses, then we shall taste the goodness of the Lord and enjoy His Heavenly Feast for all eternity.

Are we merciful like God? Are we good and compassionate like Him? How can we magnify Him in all we think, do, and say?

O Lord, wash us from our guilt and sin so we will become merciful, good, and compassionate.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Lent

The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion.

How fortunate for us that we have such a kind and merciful God! Just imagine how we might feel in His place when we see so many of our children turning their backs on us for various reasons. Imagine being betrayed by those whom we love. Imagine being taken for granted and ignored by the people we care about. Would we be as patient, loving, and forgiving as God? And yet, God pardons all our iniquities. He heals us of our ills. He redeems us from destruction. He even crowns us with kindness and compassion. Yes, we are blessed to have such a good God on our side.

Are we as kind and merciful as God is to us? Are we willing to pardon those who trespass against us? How do we repay God for all the kindness and compassion He has shown us?

O Lord, you are kind and merciful.

Amen.

Second Monday of Lent

Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.

We should count ourselves very blessed that God is loving and merciful. He offers us forgiveness for all our imperfections, weaknesses, and sins. He is willing to forgive and forget our iniquities and cleanse us of our sins. All we have to do is come to Him with humble and contrite hearts, confess our sins, do penance, and amend our lives. Then, He will show us His boundless compassion and lift us up from our lowliness, raising our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies back into His good graces.

In what ways have we sinned against God? How can we amend our lives so we do not sin in these ways again? Do we make time to confess our sins and do penance?

O Lord, remember not our iniquities.

Amen.

First Friday of Lent

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.

Sometimes we experience sorrow and misery in this life. We lose something that is precious to us. A loved one. Our health. Our wealth. Our occupation. Or any of a myriad of things. In these dark nights we can lose our way and feel completely helpless. In times such as these, we should not be afraid to call out from the depths and ask God to hear us. He will listen and in His Infinite Mercy, He will come to us in a way, a place, and a time that will be best for us and lead us closer to our salvation. We just have to trust in Him and allow Him to work His wonders in our lives.

When we are sorrowful or despairing, do we turn to God for consolation, comfort, and help? Do we mimic God’s Compassion in our own lives? If not, then how can we become as merciful to others as God is to us?

O Lord, we cry to you from the depths, hear our voices!

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.

God will not spurn us if we come to Him with hearts that are contrite and humble. God wants us to come to Him and seek forgiveness for our sins and imperfections. He wants to shower us with His Mercy as an example of what we should for those who trespass against us. He wants to wipe out our offenses and wash away our guilt. He wants us to be cleansed of evil and filled with goodness and compassion.

How can we become humbler and more contrite in our hearts? What can we do to imitate God’s Mercy and Compassion in our own lives? How can we be as good as our Heavenly Father is good?

O Lord, grant us humble and contrite hearts.

Amen.

Seventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him, for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust.

God is compassionate to those who fear and respect Him. His kindness endures forever for those who love Him and His children. He treats us as a Father treats His offspring. He gives us every chance to know, love, and serve Him as He knows, loves, and serves us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and does everything in His Divine Power to lead us to good and holy lives. He will give us every opportunity to redeem ourselves and prove we are good and faithful people. And if we fall into sin, He is the first one to welcome us back into His Divine Grace.

Do we trust in God’s Mercy enough to not despair when we sin? Do we respect God enough to seek His Forgiveness when we choose what is wrong over what is right? Are we compassionate to others like our Heavenly Father is to us?

O Lord, your kindness is everlasting.

Amen.

Fifth Friday in Ordinary Time

Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Blessed is he whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile.

None of us are perfect. God knows this and that is the reason He gave us the example of His Beloved Son. Jesus showed us what true forgiveness is. He revealed to us the Divine Mercy of God through His life, passion, death, and resurrection. He showed us how to be just and compassionate. He showed to us how to forgive others, even those who we find most difficult to forgive. God also gave us the sacrament of reconciliation because He knew we would need it. We are not perfect in this life, but we can ask for forgiveness, do penance, and strive to be better people.

Are we just? Are we forgiving? How can we be more merciful like Christ?

O Lord, we rejoice in your just compassion toward all.

Amen.

Wednesday After Epiphany

 Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save.

Just as God rescues the poor and afflicted, so must we. We must be on a constant lookout for those who are in need or suffering and offer them whatever we can to help. We must be willing to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, house the homeless, free the captives, care for the sick and dying, bury and pray for the dead. Our every thought, word, and work should be guided by love and mercy. We should show others pity even when we dislike them or uncomfortable around them. God didn’t give us lives to be free from hardship and sacrifice. He gave us lives so that we might imitate His Son’s compassion toward others.

What is God calling us to do for the poor and afflicted? How can we use our time, talents, and treasures to help those in need? How can we cultivate a spirit of compassion within us even for our enemies?

O Lord, make us into a compassionate people.

Amen.

Tuesday After Epiphany

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king’s son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.

We are all called to be instruments of God’s Justice. Thankfully, God has given us many graces that help us to be just. He has endowed us compassion and mercy, prudence and wisdom. He wants us to be just to our family, to our friends, to our neighbors, and to all those whom we meet each day. He wants us to govern ourselves with justice, too. Not allowing our failings to discourage us or our gifts to make us proud. He wants us to make good judgments by being prayerful in our discernment of His Will. And when we don’t have time to pray, He wants us to trust our good conscience and let it guide our actions.

How can we become better instruments of God’s Justice? How can we grow in wisdom, prudence, mercy, and compassion? What can we do to govern our lives justly in the eyes of God?

O Lord, endow us with your judgment.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.

During this Christmas season, we should be more willing than ever to commend our spirits into the hands of our Lord and God. After all, He gave Himself to us through His Beloved Son, Jesus. He asked us, through Mary and Joseph, to take care of His Word Made Flesh. How wondrous is the Incarnation! Our rock of refuge transformed into a child in a manger. Our stronghold a babe in swaddling clothes. Our leader and our guide come into the world as a little one. This is why we trust in God's Goodness and Compassion... because He became one of us in all things, except for sin and so He knows our frailty and weaknesses and is willing to show us how to overcome them.

Do we commend our spirits to God on a daily basis? What can we do to prepare ourselves for God's coming into our lives? How can we let God lead and guide us along the way of salvation?

O Lord, we commend our spirits to you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness. I will extol you, O my God and King, and I will bless your name forever and ever. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.

We are truly blessed to have a loving and compassionate God. He is infinitely patient with us through our periods of sin, doubt, indifference, and selfishness. He is constantly helping us to overcome our weaknesses and to strengthen us in faith, hope, and love. He kindly extends His hand to us offering graces, blessings, and salvation to all whom will accept Him into their hearts. He is good to us all, even when we feel most abandoned and lost. Though we do not always see Him in our lives, He is always with us, waiting for us to open our eyes again and see Him next to us through thick and thin.

Do we recognize how blessed we are to have such a good God on our side? What can we do to express our thankfulness for His Graces, Love, and Mercy? How can we become more like Him, good and compassionate to all whom we meet each day?

O Lord, we extol you and bless your name forever.

Amen.

Thanksgiving

I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have a lot to be thankful for each and every day of our lives. We ought to be thankful for God’s gift of life for us and our loved ones. We ought to be thankful for the faith and hope He has sustained in us. We ought to be thankful for the love He has shown us. We ought to be thankful for the knowledge He has passed onto us and the ways He has enriched us through the Scriptures and the traditions of the Church. We ought to be thankful for the graces and spiritual gifts He has given us. Most of all, we should be thankful for His Divine Mercy and the compassion He has shown us by sacrificing His Beloved Son for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of our souls.

What else should we be thankful for? How can we show our thanks to God and to others? What can we do to live in a constant spirit of thankfulness?

O Lord, we give thanks to you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for us.

Amen.