First Sunday of Advent

May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen.

Jesus came into the world through the Incarnation as a little child. He came to proclaim the Good News, save souls, and prepare the world for his next coming. As this Christmas season begins, we would do well to keep in mind both the First and the Second Coming. The first because through it we were freed from sin and saved from death. The second because it promises everlasting life and the unfathomable experience of being in God’s Divine Presence forever. In both cases, God will increase us, strengthen our hearts, and make us holy. The Incarnation was the beginning of our Christian faith, the Second Coming will be its pinnacle. We can only hope the way we spend our lives will lead us to Hosanna in the Highest and a life full of spiritual blessings and saving graces.

In what ways are we preparing ourselves for the coming of Christmas? How can we also prepare ourselves for the Second Coming? How can we help others to prepare for and anticipate these spiritual events?

O Lord, strengthen our hearts and make them holy.

Amen.

Christmas Weekday

Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar by not believing the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever possesses the Son has life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not have life.

Jesus Christ needs to be in our thoughts, words, and works. We need to see the world through his eyes. We need to hear with his ears. We need to reach out with his hands. We need to contemplate with his mind. We need to love with his heart. The only way to possess him is to allow him to think, speak, and work through us. We are all called to be channels of his love, mercy, and grace. We are all asked to be fonts of his peace. Our lives should be founded upon Jesus and give testimony to him from the moment we arise in the morning to the moment we drift off to sleep at night. Just as the Word was made flesh through Christ, so we are asked to incarnate the Word through our own actions.

Do our lives give testimony to the Way, Truth, and Life of Jesus? How can our lives become more deeply rooted in the life of Christ? Are we willing to let God possess our lives so we might possess eternal life?

O Lord, give us eternal life in you.

Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life—for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us—what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

The Word of Life became flesh for us and just as he came into the world to bear the Good News, so too should we give witness to him and his teachings. Jesus’ incarnation is a reminder to us all that we are the sons and daughters of God and we are all called to manifest Him in our daily lives. We are asked to think His thoughts, speak His words, and perform His good works. We have the responsibility to make visible God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace for all. We do this when we proclaim the Gospels, live according to God’s commandments, and enter into fellowship with those around us. When we share our faith with others, we give them an opportunity to grow in their own faith and come to a deeper understanding and conversion of their souls. We are constantly giving witness to our faith in God because the people around us are watching... hopefully they see a God-bearing person, who leads them closer to their Lord.

How can we become incarnations of the Word of Life?  In what ways can we give witness to our faith? Are our thoughts, words, and works bringing others closer to God?

O Lord, make yourself visible through us.

Amen.

The Nativity of the Lord

When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Christmas is a time to remember the kindness, love, and mercy God has shown to us through the act of His Incarnation. The Word becoming flesh is a testament to God’s generosity. His willingness to become a man for us and experience the world through our eyes in all ways but sin speaks volumes about how much He loves us. God the Father not only sends His Beloved Son into the world to teach us the Truth and guide us along the Way, but He also poured His Holy Spirit upon us in order to inspire us to live saintly lives. The birth of Jesus Christ heralds the moment God became man so He might make us into heirs to the Kingdom and grant us the hope of eternal life with Him.

What are we doing to make Christmas a special day dedicated to God and all He has done for us? How can we become incarnations of God’s Will, pouring ourselves out in faith, hope, and love? Are we living up to our calling to be heirs to the Kingdom of God?

O Lord, you are kind, loving, and merciful. Help us to be the same.

Amen.

Tenth Friday of Ordinary Time

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Dying to ourselves isn’t easy, but it is necessary if we want to be good and faithful followers of Christ. This doesn’t mean we sacrifice our individuality, but rather than our individuality is practiced in a way that mimics Christ’s willingness to sacrifice himself for the good of all. God wants each of us to worship Him in the unique way that only we as individuals can know, love, and serve Him. We do this best by both dying to those things that are not of God and living for those things that are from God. When we persevere through afflictions, perplexing problems, persecutions, harm, and all the other trials, we make manifest the life of Christ in our flesh. We become an incarnation of our Lord and Savior, giving ourselves over to our Heavenly Father just as Jesus did in His Most Holy Life... as a living sacrifice for the salvation of souls.

What things in our lives do we need to die to? What are the things in our lives we should be living for? How can we manifest Jesus more perfectly in our thoughts, words, and deed?

O Lord, make us incarnations of your Way, Truth, and Life.

Amen.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Our faith is bookended by the two comings of Christ. At the beginning is Jesus’ incarnation, which we celebrate at Christmas. It was the moment in time when God came down from heaven and became one of us. At the end of time, Jesus will come a second time, but instead of the focus being on him entering our world, it will be upon us entering into salvation. The second coming is what we pray for during mass and it is what we hope for with all our hearts, because the second coming will unite us with God in a joyful feast that will last forever and ever. Our faith is one of past, present, and future. It looks to the past for guidance from the Word Made Flesh. It is grounded in the present in the celebration of the Mass and the sacraments. And it gazes into the future with anticipation of the second coming and the fulfillment of our destiny to be ruled by Christ our King and Savior.

What can we learn from Jesus’ life that will help us to live holier lives? How can we celebrate God’s love for us today, tomorrow, and all the days that remain to us? Do we pray with all our hearts for the second coming of Jesus and look forward to what it will be like to remain in the presence of God forever and ever?

O Lord, take away our sins and bring salvation to us.

Amen.

First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Jesus was tested just like we are each day. He understands what it means to be human because he became human himself. The Incarnation gave him a unique perspective built upon the shared experience of what it means to toil and suffer in body and spirit on the earth. As the Son of God, his response to our condition was to love us and show mercy to us in spite of our sins. He wanted to help us and gave his life as an example of what it means to be a good and faithful servant. The cross is a sign of his sacrifice and triumph over sin and death. We might be tested by trials and tribulations and be tempted to sin, but Christ always stands before us as proof that with God’s grace we can overcome every obstacle and lead holy lives that imitate Jesus. All we have to do is follow Christ, becoming more like him as he once became more like us.

How do our own trials and temptations help us to be merciful toward others and more faithful to God? Do we turn to Jesus when we are being tested and seek his help through prayer? In what ways can we imitate Christ in our daily lives?

O Lord, help us who are being tested.

Amen.

Fourth Friday of Advent

The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his Kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.

By becoming flesh, Jesus consecrated all of mankind to His Father and made us the adopted children of God and heirs to His kingdom. Nothing can take this away from us. God loves us as Himself, He loves us in a way that completes us. We cannot find a greater love than this. We can try to substitute people and things, but no matter how much we love someone or something it is a mere atom compared to the universal love God has for us. The Incarnation is just one of the ways God expressed His boundless love for us and as we celebrate this Christmas Eve, anticipating the Birth of Christ, we should also keep in mind what that birth means: God is with us because He loves us as Himself.

How do we give thanks to our Heavenly Father? How do we make Jesus a central part of not only Christmas, but every day of the year? What does the gift of the Incarnation mean for us?

O Lord, we give our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths to you in praise of the gift of your beloved Son.

Amen.

First Sunday of Advent

Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

In this season of Advent, we are all called to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the coming of Christ into the world on Christmas. However, we are also preparing ourselves for the Second Coming of Christ as well. Both the Incarnation and Second Coming are central beliefs in our faith. They are the bookends to what it means to be Christian. It is our belief in the Incarnation that is the bedrock of our faith. It reveals to us a loving Savior, who was willing to suffer, die, and be buried for us so that we could rise again with him. It is the Second Coming that gives us hope in a merciful judgment at the end of time and the possibility of eternal life spent with God if we follow His commandments, teachings, and inspirations. Taken together these two revelations provide us with the greatest expressions of love we will ever experience. And it is this love we are all called to imitate throughout our lives by being there for God and others, acting with love toward God and His children, and showing mercy toward those who have trespassed against us.

How can we prepare ourselves to celebrate the gift of the Incarnation at Christmas? Are we preparing ourselves for the Second Coming by living good and faithful lives? How can we give thanks to God for these great gifts, both past and future?

O Lord, help us to stay awake and prepare a place for you in our hearts.

Amen.

The Third Thursday of Easter

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. 
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.

Jesus gave his life for us. He sacrificed His Body and Blood for us. He has provided us with the Blessed Sacrament that lives at the heart of our faith, hope, and love. By participating in the Eucharist, we nourish our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. This is why it is so important for us to cultivate a devotion to the Bread of Life and Wine of Compassion. It is through the reception of these grace-filled gifts that we will nourish our spirits and be able to live forever. In turn, we are all called to incarnate Christ through our own thoughts, words, and works. When we receive His Body and Blood, we are asked to carry them with us into the world. Our hearts become living tabernacles wherein the spirit of Christ dwells for all to see. We would do well to remember this and keep ourselves clean so Jesus might find us worthy to be his resting place. Then, when we die, we shall find a resting place in Him.

Do we believe? Do we seek out the Bread of Life whenever we can? What can we do to prepare our hearts to receive and honor Christ’s Body and Blood?

O Lord, give us every opportunity to humbly and graciously partake in your Bread of Life and live forever.

Amen.

Good Friday

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Jesus was incarnated for us. He was raised by the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph for us. He was baptized for us. He was tempted by the Devil and prevailed for us. He was a preacher of the Good News for us. He performed miracles for us. He suffered persecution for us. He was abandoned, betrayed and bound for us. He was mistreated and found guilty for us. He was scourged and crowned with thorns for us. He was condemned and sentenced to crucifixion for us. He carried his cross and its humiliation for us. He was nailed to the cross for us. He was lifted up for all to mock for us. He was merciful even to his enemies for us. He granted mercy to the good thief for us. He bestowed his Blessed Mother Mary to all mankind for us. He felt abandoned for us. He thirsted for us. He accomplished everything for us. He sacrificed his body and blood for us. He handed over his spirit for us. He did all these things and more for us and we should make every effort to remember this throughout our lives and eternity.

Do we spend time every day recalling what Jesus has done for us? How can we use Jesus’ life of self-sacrifice as a model for our own lives? In what ways do we accomplish God’s Will through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, we thirst for your saving waters and the accomplishment of your will.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

What we believe about Jesus matters greatly in our lives. If we believe Jesus came down from heaven to be a model for us and to sacrifice himself to save us, then this belief demands we come to know, love, and serve God and His children as best as we can just as Jesus did. He reveals to us how to live our lives and if we do not put his words into action, then we are hollow inside and not hallowed. Who we believe Jesus to be makes all the difference in how we treat others and relate with God. His very incarnation challenges us to become manifestations of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to others.

So who do we say Jesus is? Is he our God-man Savior or just a man? Do we follow the teachings of Christ and put his words into action?

O Lord, you are the Christ, let our every action proclaim this truth.

Amen.

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Although today’s gospel speaks of the aftermath of the incarnation of Christ, we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary today because without her fiat there would have been no incarnation (at least as we know it). Mary, who was born without sin, is given a singular grace among all mankind. She is given the choice to bear the savior of mankind. She is not forced to bear Jesus, instead she freely accepts the gift of the incarnation into her womb. This acceptance makes possible the story of our salvation and this is why Mary is held in such high regard and venerated by Christians. Her assent to the our Heavenly Father opens the doors of grace to all of us and we would do well to remember her model and seek to learn from her virtues of faith in God, hope in His mercy, and love of Him and all His children.

Do we ask for Mary’s intercession in our lives? Do we seek to act in accord with God’s Will just as she did in her own most obedient life? Are we willing to say “yes” to our Heavenly Father just as Mary did?

O Lord, let us take Mary into our homes and our hearts.

Amen.