Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

We can learn a lot about how to live our lives from Scripture. We are shown time and again what it means to be a God-bearing person. We are given commandments to follow, teachings to live by, and guidance in leading holy lives. We are given corrections for our failures and trained in righteousness. If we live according to the Good News, we will be equipped for every good work. This is why it is so important to proclaim the Word of God through our every thought, word, and work. It not only builds up and reinforces our own holiness, but helps others to increase in faith, hope, and love. The life of Christian virtue is one we must live whether it is convenient or inconvenient so we can convince, reprimand, and encourage others in their own journeys toward God.

Do we take time each day to meditate on Scripture? How can we take what we learn from the Good News and put it into practice? What can we do to support others in their own faith journeys?

O Lord, help us to be persistent in living out the teachings of the Holy Scriptures you’ve provided us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

In the day to day of the world, we can get distracted by lots of things. We can lose sight of what really matters. We can forget what we really should want above all... to see God’s face in Heaven. However, with prayer, practice, and persistence we can bring this desire to the forefront of our lives. We can find ways to overcome our distractions, worries, and fears and instead focus on what is truly important... our relationship with God and with His children.

How can we rid ourselves of all those distractions that keep us from living the Christ-like life? What can we do to found our lives more perfectly upon God’s Presence within us? How can we improve our relationship with the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

O Lord, help us to establish our lives upon you so that one day we might see your face.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

There is a vast difference between being hearers of the Word of God and being doers of it. If we want to grow in faith, hope, and love, then we cannot stand idly by and do nothing. Our faith is an active one that requires constant and complete investment from the beginning of our lives to the very end. Our calling as Christians is to keep ourselves pure and undefiled, to do good and avoid evil, and to imitate Jesus in every way. We are asked by God to know, love, and serve Him and all His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. To do so means caring for others in their affliction, helping them in their times of need, and giving glory to God for everything He has given us.

Are we hearers or doers of the Word of God? How can we become more faithful to our Heavenly Father and our brothers and sisters in Christ? In what ways are we caring for those who are suffering or in need?

O Lord, makes us doers of your Word.

Amen.

The Third Friday of Lent

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus is our teacher, but he is also our model as well. He does not just tell us what is right. He also does it. He shows us how to lead an authentic and holy life, the Life we are all called to aspire to and put into action. However, it is up to us to recognize the Truth that Jesus has spoken and to follow the Way he has laid out for us. When we do these things, we too become living sacrifices to God and loving neighbors to all.

Do we try to imitate Jesus in everything we do? Do we put Jesus’ words into action in our lives? Do we love God and our neighbors with all our hearts, minds, and strength?

O Lord, you are our teacher show us how to become living sacrifices.

Amen.

The Second Sunday in Lent

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

These words are spoken by God the Father during the Transfiguration and we would do well to listen to them. God makes clear that the gospel message of Christ is one we must all hear and heed. Jesus’ words and works reveal how we should live. They give us a roadmap to salvation. They show us how to become manifestations of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to the world. They remind us that our purpose in this life is not glory, power, or material possessions, but rather to glorify God, become servant leaders, and build up a treasure house of spiritual blessings. This is what it means to listen to Jesus and it is the only way we can discover our true purpose, make the best use of our talents, and fulfill our promise.

Do we listen to Jesus’ message and put it into practice as best we can? What areas of the Good News do we have the most difficulty implementing? Are our lives glorifying God or ourselves?

O Lord, we are listening, speak to our hearts.

Amen.