Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go. If you would hearken to my commandments, your prosperity would be like a river, and your vindication like the waves of the sea; Your descendants would be like the sand, and those born of your stock like its grains, Their name never cut off or blotted out from my presence.

All of God’s commandments and teachings are for our own good. We might find them difficult to follow, but that doesn’t mean we should disobey them. We might not understand them, but that doesn’t mean we should turn a deaf ear to them. Instead, we should strive to do good and avoid evil because even though it might be hard, it is the right thing to do. Similarly, we should place our faith in God’s teachings in the hopes we shall one day come to an understanding of those teachings we have trouble understanding. By doing these things, we place our trust in God above ourselves. We say, “As you wish, Lord.” And He, in turn, will give us all the graces we need to prosper in our spiritual journey and have our names written in the book of life.

Do we trust all of God’s commandments and teachings are for our own good, even when they are most difficult to follow? Are we willing to follow God’s Will wherever it will take us? Are we willing to make the leaps of faith we need to in order to go where God is leading us?

O Lord, teach us what is good and lead us to the Promised Land.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.”

Every moment of our lives should be spent praising God and exulting Him above all else in this world. There is nothing in the waters, on the earth, or in the heavens that could ever compare to God. There is nothing we can think that would be more fruitful than to think of God and how to imitate Him. There is nothing we can say that would be more edifying and effective than to speak the Word of God and proclaim the gospels. There is nothing we can do that will bear better fruit than to do God’s Will in all things. Everything has its good beginning in God and will only find its best end in and through Him. There is no other path to salvation than the ones laid before us by God, who prepares the way for each of us according to our own personalities, talents, and needs.

Do we spend as much time praising and exalting God as we should? How can we find even more time? What can we do to bring His thoughts, words, and works into the world for His glory and the good of others?

O Lord, we praise and exult you above all forever.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word.

The pathways to Heaven may be narrow and fraught with peril, but they lead to glory and joy. This is why we must strive to be steadfast in the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Together they lead us to where we need to be as Christians and servants of God. They keep us from straying from the path and falling into the pits and traps that lay just off the edge of the trail. Our enemies wait for us to misstep and sin so they might attack us and drag us away to our own destruction. However, God is always listening and His Word will guide and protect us if we let it. Then, we shall know true happiness, which only comes from imitating God and magnifying His Holy Spirit within us.

Are we willing to turn our back on the wide road of destruction and instead follow the narrower road to salvation? How can we live in accordance with God’s Will? What can we do to imitate and magnify our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, help us to be steadfast in your paths.

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-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 Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

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

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

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

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

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

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

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

O Lord, how great are your works!

Amen.

Twenty-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 Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

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

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

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

Amen.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.

Trusting in the Lord means being willing to leave everything behind in order to follow Him. It means being willing to sacrifice our most precious earthly possessions. Sometimes it even requires us to walk away from family and friends. It means rejecting all idols and the falsehoods they represent. It means accepting God’s Will, no matter the cost. It means being willing to die upon a cross.

Do we constantly say to the Lord that we are here for Him? Are we truly willing to do God’s Will even if it costs us our goods, our relationship, and lives? How can we protect ourselves from the false idols that surround and tempt us?

O Lord, you are our trust.

Amen.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God.

The world teaches us to boast of what we have and what we have done. It tells us we should trumpet our own horns and let everyone else know how great we are. This is not what God wants. He wants us to boast of Him. He wants us to boast of His Goodness and Mercy. He wants us to boast of the cross He bore for us and the crosses we bear for Him. He wants us to humble ourselves through lives of sacrifice and love. He wants us to bring peace and mercy to all whom we meet, just as Jesus did in his own life.

Do we boast more of worldly things or Godly ones? What can we do to rid ourselves of our dependence upon the opinions of others and instead focus our lives on doing our Heavenly Father’s business? How can we humble ourselves so we can follow God’s commandments without feeling holier than others?

O Lord, we boast only of you and your cross.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Lent

Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people. Our fathers made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock.

If we are not careful, we too can make false idols in our lives. We can allow someone or something to become more important than our faith. We can allow the world to lead us astray and cause us to place our trust and energies into empty pursuits. We can convince ourselves that wrong is right and walk the wide road to spiritual ruin. There are many ways we can exchange the glory of God for the meaningless pleasures of the world. This is why it is so important to take time each day to pray and meditate... to ponder our lives and where we are going, and to examine our consciences.

Are we doing God’s Will or our own? What false idols have crept into our hearts? How can we destroy them and replace them with complete trust in and love of God?

O Lord, remember us and lead us out of bondage to sin and false idols.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”

Our minds, hearts, souls, and bodies should echo the words we hear in this psalm, “Here we are, Lord; we come to do your will.” The decision to let go of our will and choose to do God’s Will is one that shapes who we are. This is what Mary did when she said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” And these words should ever be on our lips, too. God wants our love, obedience, and good works and if we give Him these, then He will respond with His Love, Mercy, and Grace.

Are we doing God’s Will? How can we be more obedient to God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations? What can we do to make our lives into living sacrifices of love for God and all His children?

O Lord, here we are, help us to do your will.

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.

Fifth Monday in Ordinary Time

May the Lord be glad in his works. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.

We are the works of the Lord and He is glad in us when we do His Will. He created us to be co-heirs to the Kingdom with His Beloved Son and instruments of His Grace, Mercy, and Love. We are constantly blessed by Him with time, talents, and treasures that He means for us to share with all His children. He is a great Father indeed, clothed in majesty and glory. He is our Light and our Savior. He has done marvelous deeds for us all. It is only fitting that we know, love, and serve Him more perfectly by doing good and avoiding evil.

Are we allowing God to work through us? How can we be more open to allowing Him to use us as instruments of His Goodness? What can we think, say, and do to show others how great our Heavenly Father is?

O Lord, may we do your works and bring gladness to your Divine Heart.

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.

Third Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will. I have waited, waited for the LORD, and he stooped toward me. And he put a new song into my mouth, a hymn to our God.

Sometimes we are called to wait for the Lord... to be patient and listen for His call. We don't know the hour when He will summon us to Him, but we can be ready to do His Will. We are like instruments waiting to be played. One day God will have need of us and He will stoop toward us and pick us up. He will test us out and see if we will play the notes He wants. Hopefully, He will find us receptive to Him and willing to work the music He has planned. If not, He might put us away for a while longer and come back to us later in hopes that we will ready ourselves for the work ahead. However, if He finds us ready, then He will make beautiful music through us and with us and in us... a music that will proclaim His glory and lead to our salvation. So, let us keep our souls in tune by doing good and avoiding evil... by confessing our sins, doing penance, and striving to be holy.

Are we waiting patiently for God's call? How can we make ourselves more open to His invitations to holiness? What can we do to keep ourselves ready for the work God has prepared for us?

O Lord, we are ready for you to put a new song into our mouths so that we might fulfill your will.

Amen.

First Tuesday in Ordinary Time

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands. O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?

It is hard to imagine why God loves us so much. We have so little to offer Him other than our good works, sacrifices, and love. Compare these to the wondrous works, the ultimate sacrifice, and the unending love He has give us. And yet, God is mindful of us. He cares for us. He loves us. In fact, He is so in love with us that He made us in His Image. He has sacrificed His Beloved Son for us. He has given us His Spirit. Everything He is, He has given us even though we can never truly repay Him. He has given everything to us as a gift because He wants us to succeed in becoming holy people, who love Him and reflect His Image to all the world.

Do we appreciate all that God has done, is doing, and will do for us? What are we being called to do in response to God’s gracious gifts? How can we become more faithful, hopeful, and loving children to our caring Lord?

O Lord, we glorify your name over all the earth.

Amen.

Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice! Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name; announce his salvation, day after day.

Part of being Christian is announcing God’s salvation, day after day. We do this through our thoughts by constantly trying to keep them on what is right and good. We do this with our words by disciplining our tongues so they speak the Good News and the truth in ways that bring people closer to God. We do this through our works by offering them all up to God as sacrifices. Our entire lives should proclaim the goodness of the Lord by reflecting the life of Christ in all things. We should be welcoming gates through which others can glimpse the promises of God and be attracted to the Christian faith.

How can we align our thoughts, words, and works with the Lord’s? What can we do to proclaim the Good News wherever we go? Are our lives attracting people to God or pushing them away?

O Lord, we shall announce your salvation, day after day.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

When Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

The only sacrifice and offering God desires from us is for us to echo the words of Mary and say, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to thy Will.” All the almsgiving, mortifications, and prayers mean nothing if we do not do them in accordance and in respect of God’s Will. If someone needs help, but we say to them come back later I’m praying, then are we doing God’s Will? If we mortify ourselves in some way during Fridays or Lent out of obligation and not love of God, then how can we expect to grow in faith? If we give alms to the poor or needy, but do so only out of our surplus or to absolve ourselves from doing more, then are we truly being charitable? We can do all the right things, for all the wrong reasons. However, if we make our entire lives into sacrifices and are willing to give everything to God, then His Spirit will work through us and we will become not only a worthy offering, but a fruitful vine full of good works.

Are we willing to do God’s Will no matter what it might cost us in the world? How can we transform ourselves into living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of others? What can we do to ensure we are doing the right things for the right reasons?

O Lord, we come to do your will.

Amen.