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.

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.

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.

Fourteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. The LORD brings to naught the plans of nations; he foils the designs of peoples. But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations.

Divine Providence is something we cannot fight against. It brings low the best laid plans. It reminds us we are dependent on God and not in complete control of our lives. This is a good thing because all too often we want what is worst for us. We lose sight of what is good and holy in favor of what is evil and easy. We let our temptations lead us into sin and enslave ourselves to the world in various ways. However, God’s Divine Plan is one of true freedom. The type of liberty that leads us to become generous and loving people. People might say God forces us along His Way, but we still have the choice to accept His direction for our lives or fight against it. If we fight against it, we lose opportunities to be good and faithful servants. If we choose to accept God’s Will, then we will grow in holiness and bear abundant fruits. So, let us place our trust in God’s Divine Plan and decide to follow God where He wants us to go.

Do we struggle against God’s Plan for us? How can we become more faithful to the Way, the Truth, and the Life God is leading us toward? What can we do to design our lives in accordance with God’s Will?

O Lord, we place our trust in you.

Amen.

Good Friday

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.

We would be wise to echo the words of Christ and commend our spirits to our Heavenly Father. Entrusting our hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies into His hands is not always easy. It requires a great deal of courage to let go and let God. However, if we want to have a share in His Kingdom, then we must be willing to commit ourselves to God’s care and protection and allow Him to rescue us from all evil. If we do this, then He will pay whatever price is necessary to redeem us. He showed us this eternal truth through the Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. His Body and Blood are our refuge and each time we receive Him in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, we renew our desire to remain in the shelter of His Hands.

Do we commend ourselves into the hands of our Heavenly Father on a daily basis? In what ways do we show our trust in God and His Divine Plan? How can we imitate our Good God and become refuges to others?

O Lord, into your hands we commend our spirits.

Amen.

First Monday of Lent

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

If we live our lives in accord with the laws of the Lord, we will be constantly refreshed in body, mind, and spirit. If we follow the Word of God, we will lack for nothing in our faith lives. If we trust in the inspirations of the Spirit, we will not be disappointed. If we are open to His Will, then we will receive wisdom. If we have confidence in God, we will grow in faith, hope, and love.

Are we following the laws of the Lord? How can we place greater trust in God’s Divine Plan? What can we do to allow the words of God to guide our spirits and our lives?

O Lord, refresh our souls with your words of life.

Amen.

Third Friday in Ordinary Time

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord. Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your heart’s requests.

Our salvation comes from the Lord. It is a gift given to us freely and lovingly. However, it is a gift we can reject through sin and selfishness. This is why we must be on constant guard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. He wants us to distrust and ignore the Lord. He wants us to do evil. He wants us to delight in ourselves. He wants our destruction. Thankfully, God is patient and merciful and if we trust in Him and are good, He will lead us to salvation and protect us from all that would harm us. Moreover, He will grant us our hearts’ requests as long as they will lead us closer to Him.

Do we trust in the Lord’s Divine Plan for our lives? What can we do to guard against the temptations of the Devil? How can we do better with the time, talents, and treasures God has given us?

O Lord, grant our hearts’ requests if they are in line with Your Divine Will.

Amen.

Second Wednesday in Ordinary Time

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.”

No matter what challenges, worries, fears, disappointments, and enemies we face in life, we should be confident in the Lord. We should feel an unwavering hope in Him, trusting He will help us get through whatever difficulties we face. He will never abandon us, whether we are in times of plenty or times of need. He is our High Priest and is always watching out for us, sacrificing Himself for us, guiding us spiritually, and giving us every opportunity to do good, avoid evil, and repent.

Are we confident in God’s Divine Plan for us? How can we be more open to His guidance? What can we do to become a more hopeful people?

O Lord, thank you for being such a perfect priest to us.

Amen.

First Saturday in Ordinary Time

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

If we want to have a good life, then we need to be open to God’s Word and Spirit. We have to be willing to live in accordance to the Scriptures and the traditions of the Church. We know and think imperfectly, but we can depend upon the Wisdom of God to overcome our failings. If we trust God, He will lead us to the best possible lives. He will give us wisdom and love and life. He will refresh our souls when they are thirsty and feed our spirits when they are hungry. He will prepare a banquet for us and lead us to life everlasting. All we have to do is listen to the Divine Word and act like Christ in all things.

Do we accept God’s Word and Spirit into our lives? Do we allow Him to refresh our souls and give us wisdom? Do we trust that God’s Plan will lead to our good, even if it requires great sacrifices?

O Lord, give us your wisdom and refresh our souls.

Amen.

The Epiphany of the Lord

It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:  that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

We are all coheirs in the promise of Christ Jesus. We are all members of the same body. The Three Wise Men came to the Christ child, led by a star and in hope of meeting the Messiah. They brought him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the same way, we come to Christ, too, and give him our time, talents, and treasures. We know all our thoughts, words, and works find their source, center, and summit in God, who is our Father and our King. He has adopted us as His own children through the sacrifice of His Beloved Son and the love of the Holy Spirit.

Do we act like coheirs to the promise of Christ? What are we doing to be co-partners in God's Divine Plan of salvation? What gifts do we have to give to the King of Kings and our fellow children of God?

O Lord, make us co-partners in spreading the Good News.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the Church to the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.

After his imprisonment, Paul could have been plagued by doubts and worries, but instead, he trusts in God’s Divine Plan. He firmly believes he was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles, spread the Good News to them, and bring to light for all God’s Divine Plan. As such, his faith is not shaken by his captivity. He knows sometimes doing God’s Will requires sacrifices from us. Just as Jesus sacrificed himself for us, so we must be willing to do the same for him and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Are we willing to suffer for God’s Glory and for the good of others? How can we put the graces God has given us to better use? How can we be bolder in speech and confident in our relationship with Jesus and all of God’ children?

O Lord, we place our confidence in you and your Divine Plan.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Friday in Ordinary Time

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for everything under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

God’s Divine Plan for us does not always match up with our plans. However, He knows what is best for us and if we trust in Him, then no matter what happens to us, we will know it is for our good and the good of others. We were born for a purpose and will die for one, too. We will have to die to ourselves in some ways so we can live in others. We must be willing to tear down ourselves so we might be rebuilt in God’s image. We must be willing to suffer loss so we might gain in spirit. We must be willing to defend ourselves from the attacks and snares of the Devil so we might have eternal peace with God. Just like Jesus, our lives will not be without suffering and loss. We will need to be able to accept the sacrifices being asked of us and know in our hearts that if we commend our spirits to God, He will take care of them.

Do we trust there is a divinely appointed time for everything under the heavens? Are we willing to trust God will see us through our trials and tribulations to a deeper peace in Him? How can we become more patient with God’s Divine Plan?

O Lord, not our will, but your will be done.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.

If we want to have a place in the Kingdom of God, then we cannot be stingy with our time, talents, or treasures. We have to use them all to sow the Way, the Truth, and the Life in the lives of others. We cannot shrink from the sacrifices that are asked of us or worry about the cost of doing what is right. If we do God’s Will, then He will give us everything we need to accomplish His Divine Plan. Whatever we lose in time, talent, or treasures, God will return to us through grace... and a thousand-fold. We cannot let our fears, doubts, and anxieties about life keep us from living as God wants us to live. We cannot put off till tomorrow what God has given us to do today. We have to embrace the challenges and do as God has determined, without sadness or compulsion... but as cheerful givers of body, mind, and heart.

What is God asking us to sow? How can we become better reapers of good works? What can we do to become more cheerful givers?

O Lord, grant us the grace we need to sow and reap bountifully.

Amen.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

We all exist for the praise of God’s Glory and to fulfill God’s Will in all things. We are called to become manifestations of His Goodness, Love, and Mercy to everyone we meet. We are asked to be His hands, doing His Work. We are asked to be His feet, walking His Way. We are asked to be His ears, listening to others so we might be of service to them. We are asked to be His tongues, proclaiming the Good News, consoling others, and giving good and holy advice. If we do all of this faithfully, then we shall be sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit and become more perfectly God’s possession... a true slave of Christ.

What do we do each day to give God the glory and praise He deserves? How can we become good and faithful manifestations of God’s Will? How can we align our lives more perfectly with God’s Divine Plan?

O Lord, seal us with the promise of your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Seventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit"–you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that."

There are no guarantees in this life beyond what the Lord wills. This is why we should focus on doing our best at this very moment. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring because we don’t know God’s Divine Plan. Our plans are not always aligned with God’s Will and if this is the case, then they will come to nothing in the end. Our future business and profit does not hold a candle to the here and now. Nor is it completely up to us how things turn out. God plays a role in every aspect of our lives: the past, present, and future. We should make sure we keep this in mind as we go through each day, letting go and letting God.

Are we too concerned for the future that we forget to live in the now? Are we willing to let go of our own plans and let God work through us in the present? What is God’s Will calling us to do?

O Lord, if you will it, we shall live to do your will.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Easter

When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.

Many of Jesus’ first disciples hadn’t expected the Gentiles to accept the Good News and become Christians. This wasn’t necessarily part of the plan they’d envisioned. However, even in death Jesus was reminding them God’s Plan isn’t limited to an earthly kingdom, nor is it limited to one ethnicity. Rather, His Divine Mercy is for all of His children, no matter their upbringing. His Forgiveness can’t be contained to one people and so it goes forth and spreads like a wildfire to all the nations. Sometimes our own ideas about our faith are limiting, but we need to remember God’s Divine Plan is bigger than just us. It touches everything in Creation and though we might not understand it, our own difficulties and sufferings might be leading to a greater, unseen good we will only understand when God reveals Himself to us on the Day of Judgment.

What in our lives hasn’t gone to plan? How can we learn to let go and let God lead us to where we need to be? How can we live up to the name of Christian?

O Lord, help us to see the grace of God in our lives and follow where you lead us.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Easter

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'  If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?" When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, "God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too."

We are all baptized with the Holy Spirit and through that baptism, we are given my gifts. We are given the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We are given the virtues of faith, hope, love, prudence, temperance, justice, and courage. We are given the love, mercy, and grace of God to see us through every moment of our lives. When we realize the treasures God has given us, we should have only one response... asking God what we are being called to do and then doing it to the best of our abilities. Even if we don’t understand why God is leading us in one direction or another, we have to trust in Him and let him lead us to where we need to be as Christians. We have to stop objecting, glorify God, and accept His Divine Will.

Do we give thanks for God for all the gifts He has given us through baptism? How can we lead Spirit-filled lives, embodying the Good News in all we think, say, and do? How can we be an aid to God’s Divine Plan and not a hindrance to it?

O Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Easter

"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

We each have a role to play in God’s Divine Plan. Some of us are called to proclaim the Good News through our thoughts. Others through our words. And still more through our actions. Each of these ways is important and can lead others to God. Our thoughts can inspire others to live good and holy lives or do something good for others. Our words can give voice to the truth and set people freed. Our actions can bring charity and mercy into the lives of those around us. And each of us is given the gifts and talents we need to succeed in our callings. All we have to do is trust that God will provide and devote ourselves to what He wants of us.

Are we neglecting God in any way? What can we do to make more room for Him in our lives? How can we devote ourselves to what He wants of us?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to devote ourselves to you completely.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Friday of Ordinary Time

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due. But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.  So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.

Believing in God’s Plan for us and following His Will lead to righteousness. Each time we choose to believe, we are credited and given the graces we need to fulfill our calling and perform our good works. Our faith leads to good works because it provides us with the perfect models of what it means to align our lives with God’s Providence. Both Jesus and Mary show us how to be righteous in our thoughts, words, and works. They are embodiments of love, mercy, and grace, ever-flowing with acts of charity and forgiveness. By conforming our lives to theirs, we grow in wisdom and the favor of God, becoming blessed in His eyes. By putting on Christ and imitating Mary, our iniquities are forgiven and our sins forgotten by our Heavenly Father, who sees them alive within us when we embrace our vocation to love Him with all our minds, hearts, and strengths and our neighbors as He loves them.

Do we believe in God’s Plan for us? How can we do a better job of following the vocation God has prepared for us? What can we do to conform our lives to God’s righteousness?

O Lord, we believe in your Divine Providence.

Amen.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away, and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Christ already appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.

The call to repentance and conversion is a constant one in our lives. This is because Satan is relentless in his attacks against our spirits. The temptation to sin is a persistent challenge to us. We can only overcome the seductive song of sin by listening to God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations. Our consciences must be attuned to hear the Word of God and not the babbling tongues of the world. We will not find refreshment or restoration in earthly things. Only heavenly ones can satisfy the longings of our hearts and lead us to eternal life.

Are we repentant for our sins? How can we be more deeply converted to the way of Christ? What can we do to realize the fulfillment of God’s Divine Plan for our lives?

O Lord, we repent of our sins and ask for you to grant us a deeper conversion.

Amen.