Seventh Saturday of Easter

The just will gaze on your face, O Lord. The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his searching glance is on mankind.

We can scarcely imagine what it will be like to gaze on the face of God. What will we see? What will we feel? Will we find God smiling at or frowning upon us? Will He be happy or sad? What we will see is probably beyond our ability to envision, but one thing is for certain, God will look upon us lovingly as a Father, a Brother, and an Advocate. He will not excuse or overlook our failings, but He will temper His Justice with Divine Love and Mercy. He will look into us and search our minds, hearts, and souls for the truth. If He finds the Good News within us, He will rejoice at our coming and bring us into Heaven. If He finds imperfections within us, but hearts that strived to be good, He will send us to the purifying fires of Purgatory until we are truly ready for Paradise. If, however, He finds us empty of good words and works, then He will cast us away, not because He wants to, but because we chose to deny Him in our actions. So, let us hope God will find us to be good and faithful servants so we might come into His Holy Temple and see His Divine Face.

When God looks at us at this moment, what does he see? How can we show Him a better version of ourselves? What can we do to help others to be filled with love, mercy, and grace?

O Lord, make us just so we might gaze upon your face.

Amen.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

We believe in the resurrection of the dead. There is an afterlife and we will live it out according to how we lived this life on earth. We will go to Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell. There isn’t an end when we die. It is a beginning of eternity. Whether we suffer for that eternity or enjoy it is up to our actions and inactions while here on earth. This is a part of our faith that isn’t up for debate. It is both a comforting and uncomforting idea because it speaks to ramification for everything we think, say, and do.

Do we believe in the resurrection? If we do, then why to we forget this truth so often when we sin? How can we bring this truth to mind more faithfully so it can affect our decisions in this life?

O Lord, we believe you will raise us from the dead and lead us to life everlasting.

Amen.

Fifteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil.

The evil we do will be repaid. The only question is whether it is repaid through the sacrament of reconciliation and time in Purgatory or in the fires of Hell. These are our only options and, in the end, we will choose one or the other... and if we fail to choose, we will pay for our indifference with eternal torment. Therefore, let us choose what is right and good... to confess our sins with humble and contrite hearts, to do penance, to avoid temptations, and sin no more.

What evils have we plotted and done? How can we repay God and those whom we’ve harmed? Are we ready to amend our lives and be good and faithful servants of God and all His children?

O Lord, uproot our sins and purify our hearts.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Lent

Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.

God is preparing a new world for us after our lives in this one. This is why it is so important to remember that our time on earth is only a prologue to our eternity. It lays the groundwork for what comes in the next life. We either build up a strong foundation that allows us to build a bridge to Heaven or we fail to do so and find ourselves lost to Hell. These are the two destinations that await us after our lives on earth end. There is no middle, lukewarm path. We are either destroyed because of our selfishness and sin or we are renewed in the spirit of love and truth and unite with God forever. The choice is ours.

How are we preparing for the afterlife? Are we building a bridge to Heaven? What can we do to make better choices so we can be united with God for all eternity?

O Lord, let us be filled with joy and happiness with you forever and ever.

Amen.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.  And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

In the end, there are only two destinations for us: heaven or hell. Our thoughts, words, and works paired with our faith in the Holy Trinity determine where we go. If we know, love, and serve God and His children to the best of our abilities and with faithful and hopeful hearts, then we shall go to heaven. If we love ourselves more than God and choose worldly goods over heavenly ones, then we shall send ourselves to hell. If we are willing to suffer and sacrifice for the good of others and the glory of God, then we shall be rewarded with eternal life. If we sacrifice others for our own gain and seek only to exult ourselves, then we shall be humbled in infernal flames. If we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit to where we need to be and what we need to do, then we shall find the narrow path to God and enter the Gates of Heaven. If we ignore our consciences and make our own way, then we shall wander the wide road to our own destruction. The choice is ours... either we bend the knee to our Lord and King or we enslave ourselves to sin and selfishness. Hopefully, we choose the former.

Are we acting like God’s sheep or the devil’s goats? Are we willing to let go and let God be Lord and King over our lives? How can we give Him glory, honor, and praise through our actions?

O Lord, we are your sheep... lead us to where we need to be and show us what we need to do.

Amen.