Third Wednesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous deeds. And blessed forever be his glorious name; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Justice is meant to flourish and peace is meant to blossom. As caretakers of the vineyard of the Lord, our job is to make sure these things happen. We are called to nourish and tend to those who are under our care. We are asked to help them grow in faith, hope, and love. Whether they are family, friends, neighbors, fellow parishioners, strangers, or even foes, we are tasked with thinking, speaking, and doing all we can to cultivate their souls. We do this in hope that one day they will bear abundant fruit, even if we aren’t around to see it. Most wonderful of all, is that if we are good and faithful servants to God and His children, then we will yield a good harvest just by being holy. So, let us be blessings to all people and fill the earth with God’s Glory and Goodness.

What are we doing to help justice flourish in our time? In what ways are we trying to bring peace into the world? How are we helping others to become fruitful in spirit and truth?

O Lord, may your justice and peace flourish wherever we go.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. The mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice. He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor.

We all have the responsibilities of kings. We are called to protect the innocent and the weak. We are asked to defend the afflicted and save the poor, young and old alike. We are tasked with lifting people out of despair and giving them hope. We are to be an example of holiness to all those around us. We are to be just and merciful in our dealings with others. We are to bring peace and prosperity to all mankind, starting with our families, friends, and neighbors and then out to the rest of the world. We flourish and grow and produce good fruits when we act like kings should.

Are we living up to our responsibilities to be kingly servants to all? In what ways are we bringing justice and peace into our world? What can we do to defend the afflicted and save the poor?

O Lord, may our words and works yield peace and justice to others.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, the creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Justice and salvation are what God offers us each and every day. He created all the universe and everything in it in order for us to live in justice so we might be saved. He does not wish us any evil, He gives us every chance to do the right thing... to know, love, and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love others as He loves them. He wants us to be good fruits, nourishing the faith, hope, and love of others so they might join him in Heaven. He wants us to be fonts of His Mercy, pouring out His Grace upon all whom we meet. He did not create us to be a waste, but to be a living blessing, showing others that God loves them and should be at the center of all people’s hearts.

Are we leading just lives? What are we doing in order to lead others to God’s Grace and Salvation? Are we living our lives wisely and well or are we wasting them?

O Lord, give us the grace to live in you and not waste away in worldly pursuits.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Advent

The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

God doesn’t get tired of us. He loves us just as much when we are saintly and when we are sinful. He does not force us to do anything, but rather lets us choose. He wants us to be good and faithful servants because we love Him and He is willing to wait patiently for us to come to Him. His unwavering love does not grow faint or weary, but that doesn’t mean His Love and Mercy for us will trump His Justice. If we fall into sin, He is more than willing to forgive us. However, we need to be contrite for our sins and honestly desire to amend our lives. We might not always succeed, but we should not grow weary of trying to be holy. God gives us every strength and grace we need to overcome the temptations we face. He gives us spiritual vigor during our times of trial and will renew us after every battle with our sinful selves. If we let Him, He will grant us wings which will bear us to heaven and eternal life.

Do we give thanks to God for being so patient with us? Are we truly grateful for the love, mercy, and support He has given us throughout our lives? How can we express our thanks for all God has done for us?

O Lord, give us your strength and vigor.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land's afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

The Holy Spirit has many gifts to offer us and He does so with generosity and compassion. He desires for us to be wise, understanding, full of good counsel, strong in faith, knowledgeable, and fearful of letting the Lord down. He offers us eyes to see the Way, ears to hear the Truth, and hearts to live the Life of Christ. He gives us the guidance of our consciences to help us lead just lives and choose right over wrong. He wants us to be sealed to Him through righteousness and faithfulness and never leave His side. He wants only the best for us, but He will not force His Will on us. Instead, He lets us make our own choices to accept or deny His gifts of our own free will.

How can we strengthen the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us? How can we conform our lives to justice toward all and fidelity to God? Are we willing to bind ourselves to God, giving up earthly goods, in order to become good and faithful servants?

O Lord, send down your Holy Spirit and His gifts.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

The judgments of the Lord are true, and all of them are just. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.

There is a reason we are not called to be judges. We think, speak, and act imperfectly. Our knowledge is limited and incomplete. Our feelings can get in the way of justice and truth. God’s Judgments, however, are true and just for He knows, speaks, and acts perfectly. He understands our true motives and therefore what we truly deserve. He gave us His Commandments so we might follow His Will. He offered us His Son so we might imitate Him. He sent His Holy Spirit to all so we might be enlightened and grow into holy and good servants.

How can we resist the worldly temptation to judge others? What can we do to place our trust in God’s Divine Judgment? How can we live in accordance with God’s precepts and lead true and just lives?

O Lord, your judgments are true and just.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Monday in Ordinary Time

Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Indignation seizes me because of the wicked who forsake your law.

The unfair treatment of others should fill us with indignation. It should light a fire within us. One that inspires us to bring love, mercy, and justice to the world around us. When we see wickedness, we should oppose it and try to show people there is another way. We cannot force goodness on others, but we can proclaim the Good News and show what it means to be Christians by living our lives in accordance with Scriptures. Most importantly, although we might hate the sins, we must also love the sinner. We must be able to separate the two from each other so we can treat people well no matter how ugly their actions are. God is the only judge and no matter how much we might be tempted to condemn another, we must only condemn their actions, not the person.

How are we fighting against the unfair treatment of others? How can we learn to love those whom we find most repugnant? What do we do to keep ourselves from being judgmental?

O Lord, help us to fight against the unfair treatment of others.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth. Defend the lowly and the fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the lowly and the poor; from the hand of the wicked deliver them.

God will bring judgment to the earth and we would do well to remember that. Each of us is given a role to play in the building up of the Body of Christ. Some will be called to be parents and guardians, others to be care-takers and educations, still others will be asked to be protectors and leaders. All of us are asked to bear God’s Love and Mercy into the world and to proclaim the Good News with our every action. We, like Him, are tasked with defending the lowly and fatherless, rendering justice to the afflicted and destitute, and rescuing the lowly and poor from the hands of the wicked. We are all meant to be manifestations of our Heavenly Father’s Will, the Son’s Word, and the Holy Spirit’s Heart. And if we wish to be found worthy of Paradise, then we must magnify our Lord by being His eyes, ears, lips, and hands.

Do we defend the lowly and fatherless? Are we just toward the afflicted and destitute? What can we do to rescue the lowly and poor from wickedness and evil?

O Lord, help us to bring your just judgment to the earth.

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.

Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

The Lord speaks of peace to his people. Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.

Kindness is necessary if we want to imitate Jesus. There wasn’t a moment in his life when he wasn’t kind. Even when he overturned the money changers tables, he did it out of kindness, namely to save souls. Kindness isn’t a passive virtue. It goes out from us and shows our love of God, of our neighbors, and ourselves. Truth is also needed if we want to be good and faithful servants to God. After all, if we do not proclaim and follow the truth in our lives, then how can we expect to share in the life to come? Justice, too, is a virtue we must cultivate in order to live up to the title of being Christians. We need to give God and His children what they deserve in thought, word, and work. Otherwise, we will have nothing to show when the time comes to make an account of our lives. Lastly, peace should be at the core of our being. The calm that comes from trusting in God’s Divine Will and Mercy and believing that no matter the trials we face, we will overcome them with God’s grace.

Have kindness and truth meet within our hearts? Have justice and peace kissed our cheeks? How can we make ourselves into true imitators of Christ, who embodied all these virtues and more?

O Lord, make us kind, truthful, just, and peaceful.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

We all have something we can give to others. We have an abundance of time, talents, and treasures at our disposal, which we can use to give glory to God and for the good of others. We might not be able to say, “Yes” to every request, but when we can, we should make time for those in need. Just as God is gracious with us, so we should be gracious to others, conducting our lives with justice, mercy, and charity for all whom we meet.

What do we have to give to God and others? How can we use our time, talents, and treasures to bear good fruits? In what ways can we be more generous with ourselves?

O Lord, give us the grace to be generous and just in all our thoughts, words, and works.

Amen.

Sixteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Offer to God a sacrifice of praise. “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?”

Sometimes we fail to offer God a sacrifice of praise. This happens when selfishness enters into our thoughts, words, and works. We might do the “right” thing, but for the wrong reasons. Our just and merciful actions might be tainted by self-righteousness and unforgiveness. We might put on a mask of goodness, but without addressing the evil within our hearts. We talk a good game about being followers of Christ, but in truth we fail to follow through on our talk and make it our reality, too. However, with God’s Grace all things are possible… even changing our fake praise and “good” works with the real things. We just have to let go of our selfish desires and grudges and let God step into these areas and purify them and make them holy.

Why are we selfish, self-righteous, and unforgiving? How can we rid ourselves of these things and become more faithful to the New Covenant? In what ways can we be more faithful in our praising of God?

O Lord, make us into truly just and merciful people, who praise you in through, word, and work.

Amen.

Thirteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. 

Just as Jesus became strong and filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him, so we are called to grow stronger in faith and wisdom so God can favor us. Our Heavenly Father wants each and every one of us to be good as He is Good. He wants to bless us and help us to observe and do what is right. He wants us to be just and merciful as He is Justice and Mercy. He wants to bless us and fill us with grace and give us every chance to become holy disciples. When we consider all He has done for us, we should be more than willing to give Him thanks and to bear His Good News to the ends of the earth.

Do we observe what is right? Are we just in the way we treat others? How can we be good as our Heavenly Father is Good?

O Lord, remember and favor us as we strive to do what is right and just.

Amen.

Twelfth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue... shall never be disturbed.

If we do justice, we will live in the presence of the Lord, but if we do not, then we reject God and all that He calls us to be. If we are truthful, then God is in our thoughts and words and works, but if we do not, then we deny the Word of God in favor of a worldly life. If we are good as our Heavenly Father is Good, we will bear abundant fruits, but if we choose evil, then we will reap destruction. If we are faithful then we will become more Christ-like in all things, but if we are indifferent, then we will become lukewarm and God will spit us out. If we hope in the Holy Spirit, we will be at peace no matter what happens to us, but if we doubt and fear, then we shall become lost. If we love, God will return our love a thousand-fold, but if we hate, then we will be judged according to how we judged others.

Do we act justly toward God and His children? How can we be better bearers of the virtues and Good News God calls us to embody? What can we do to walk blameless before our God? 

O Lord, help us to be just and truthful in all things.

Amen.

Eleventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth. Majesty and glory are his work, and his justice endures forever. He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD.

God is justice and truth. He is majestic and glorious. He is wondrous in His deeds. He is gracious and merciful. As His children, we are called to be just in our actions and truthful in our speech. We are called to recognize God’s majesty and glorify God through our words and works. We are asked to proclaim His marvelous deeds to all the world. We are inspired to be gracious to all whom we meet and merciful to those who trespass against us. Our vocation in this life is to be the best reflections of God’s Divine Image that we can be so others can see God at work in the world and know we are Christians.

Are we just and truthful in our dealings with others? In what ways do we make known God’s Goodness to the world? How can we become more gracious and merciful?

O Lord, make us into instruments of your justice and truth.

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.

Saturday in the Octave of Easter

I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just.

When we are in need of strength and courage, all we have to do is ask for them and God will provide. If we need joy or justice, all we have to do is seek them out in the Lord and He will grant them to us. If we desire mercy and love, then all we have to do is knock at the door of Jesus’ Sacred Heart and he will let us in. God is good and He will never ignore us. If our prayers are seemingly unanswered, then perhaps God is answering us in an unexpected and better way. Because He loves us, He does not always give us what we want. He knows better than us what we would do with our requests and sometimes we aren’t ready for our prayers to be answered.

Do we give thanks to God for not only when He answers our prayers, but also when He answers them in ways we don’t expect or might not even like? Do we ask Him for the graces to be strong and courageous in the faith? How can we be as just and merciful as God?

O Lord, we shout for joy for you have answered us with love and mercy.

Amen.

Seventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Not so, the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.

We are relentlessly tempted to wickedness by the world. The world tells us to do what feels good, when what it really is saying is do what is wrong and forget what is right. Worldly people do not care about giving glory to God or doing good for others. They are only concerned with themselves and what benefit they can get from doing this and that. Yes, they might be charitable, but for all the wrong reasons. They might be helpful, but only when they see gain for themselves. As Christians, we are called to do what is right and good no matter the cost to ourselves. We must be willing to carry our crosses in this world and suffer greatly. We must be willing to be mocked and persecuted for our beliefs. We must be willing to be rejected by everyone around us. God’s Will is not the will of the world. It is a harder road, but one worth traveling because the wide road of wickedness leads to destruction.

How can we resist the temptations of the world? What can we do to rid ourselves of all wickedness? Are we willing to suffer in order to do what is right and good?

O Lord, watch over us and lead us to live just and hopeful lives.

Amen.

Seventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

O Lord, great peace have they who love your law. Those who love your law have great peace, and for them there is no stumbling block.

Many in the world see the laws of the Lord as restricting. They are, but for our own good. God didn’t give us the Ten Commandments to oppress us, but rather to help us to be free from sin and death. When we follow and love God’s Laws, we become just and holy people. We show the rest of the world there is a path to peace and hope. We only need to let go of our selfish instincts and embrace the selflessness of Jesus Christ, who revealed to us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we are acting as Christians should, we experience an inner peace that cannot be shaken as long as we trust in God. There is no stumbling block that can cause us to fall if we depend upon God and follow in His Son’s footsteps. Even if the world is crashing down around us, we can have inner peace by simply loving God and doing what He leads us to do.

Are we at peace with God? Are we at peace with others? How can we become better lovers of God and His Divine Laws?

O Lord, we love you and your laws.

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.