Twenty-Fourth Thursday in Ordinary Time

How great are the works of the Lord! The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts, Reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity.

We are works of the Lord and as such we are all called to greatness. Some are called to greatness by becoming priests, deacons, and religious. Others are called to be lay faithful and ministers. Many are called to build domestic churches as husbands and wives. Still others are called to live the single life. We are asked to be preachers, teachers, servants, counselors, builders, homemakers, business people, athletes, writers, and all manner of occupations. And if we do them with faith, hope, and love, then the works we do, no matter how seemingly small, will be great indeed. So, let us be wrought in truth and equity, formed in faith, and justice, and become holy people in whatever we do.

Do we appreciate that God has created us for a purpose? How can we live up to the vocation God has called us to? In what ways can we become more reliable servants of God and others?

O Lord, how great are your works!

Amen.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.

We were all created through and for Jesus. We were created through Him because He is the Word of God made flesh and it was from his mouth that we came into being as a race and as individuals. Each and every one of us is a member of His Spiritual Body. And we all have an important role to play in salvation. Some of us are called to be the mind of the Church, others its heart, still others its hands. Some are called to be eyes, others ears, and a few of us are called to be the mouths of God. We are also created for Jesus because all of us are asked by God to think, speak, and do all things for Him. Our time, talents, and treasures are supposed to be put to His Good Use, not ours. When we are united to God in this way, we become manifestations of Him, reflecting His Divine Image for all the world to see and glorify.

How do we embody the image of God? What can we do to be better images of Jesus Christ? What is God calling us to be as part of His Spiritual Body?

O Lord, may your image always be reflected in us.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord; in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Jesus Christ holds us together as Christians and human beings. He is what binds us to be loving and respectful to one another no matter the differences between us. He showed us time after time how he has called all men and women to become his disciples. He reminds us again and again that each of us has a role to play in God’s Divine Plan. We are not all the same, but we do fit together when we choose to be a part of His Spiritual Body, the Church. It is through the teachings and traditions of the Church that we are bound together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit, each in his or her own unique way. So, let us each allow ourselves to be placed where we are needed in the Church so it might be a strong, holy, and united family.

What role is God calling me to take up in His Holy Church? How can we fulfill this vocation with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? How can we help others to fit into the Body of Christ, too?

O Lord, build us into a living and united temple sacred to you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song.

Serving the Lord can be difficult at times. With all the anxieties and worries of the world we can sometimes forget our call to service or put it on the back burner. Health, finances, relationships can all get in the way of our vocations. Thankfully, the greatest vocation is to love God and one another and no matter what is going on in our lives, we should always have time for great and small acts of love. It is through these works of charity and mercy that we truly proclaim the Good News. It is through them that we sing to God with joy, bringing gladness to the people around us.

How can we serve God more faithfully? What can we do to make more time for God and others in our lives? How can we spread gladness and joy to the people around us?

O Lord, we hope to know, love, and serve you with gladness.

Amen.

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens.

Jesus is our high priest, our source of grace and love, our center of hope, and the summit of our faith. He showed us through his life, passion, death, and resurrection what it means to live out our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. He has given us an example of what it means to be holy, innocent, and undefiled. He has spoken the Truth to us so we might walk his Way and live his Life. Most importantly, he will not give up on us in this life. He will do everything in his power to lead us to the Promised Land of Heaven. He is our high priest and savoir and in him we can trust and hope and be brought to perfection.

Do we give thanks to God for giving us His Beloved Son as our High Priest? How can we become a more priestly people? How can we make ourselves into living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of all?

O Lord, make intercession for us and save us.

Amen.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

Through baptism, we have been united to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We have been given the vocation to walk the Way, speak the Truth, and live the Life of Christ. We have been asked to be willing to mortify ourselves and suffer for the glory of God and the good of others. We have been given the love, mercy, and grace we need to free ourselves from sin and death. All these things lead us into a deeper union with God and if we are willing to crucify our old selves for God, then we shall be made worth of a life with Him in Heaven.

How can we grow in union with God? Are we truly willing to crucify ourselves in meaningful and life transforming ways? How can we become more Christ-like in our lives so that we might overcome death and share in the resurrection?

O Lord, we choose to die for you so we might live with you forever.

Amen.

Tenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him. Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you." Elijah answered, "Go back! Have I done anything to you?" Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat. Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Sometimes God’s calling comes to us unexpectedly, when we are in the middle of something, or otherwise not ready. He places His cloak over us and leaves. It is then our choice to follow Him or not. Like Elisha, we should be thankful for our callings and do everything we can to start out on the right foot and stay on the narrow path to Heaven.

What is God calling us to do? How can we best respond to His call? Are we willing to leave everything we know behind and follow God into the unknown?

O Lord, help us answer your calling like Elisha… with thankfulness, sacrifice, and trust.

Amen.

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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 are all charged with proclaiming the Word with whatever gifts and talents God has given us. Some may proclaim the work through the vocation of being priests and religious. Others through being ministers and volunteers. Still more through parenthood, being care-givers, or their jobs. Some may proclaim the Good News through words of wisdom, consolation, love, faith, or hope. Others through good works and acts of mercy. Still others through ideas that give glory to God or help to the needy. No matter what the calling is, we are all asked to be persistent in our pursuit of God’s Will... whether it is convenient or inconvenient for us. This means convincing the difficult, reprimanding those whom we love when they do wrong, encouraging others to patience, and teaching everyone we meet that the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ is exactly what they need to thrive in this life and the next.

Are we proclaiming the Good News as we should? What can we do to bear God’s Divine Word into the lives of those around us? Are we persistent in our faith, hope, and love even when it is inconvenient?

O Lord, we accept your charge to proclaim your word.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Easter

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'  If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?" When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, "God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too."

We are all baptized with the Holy Spirit and through that baptism, we are given my gifts. We are given the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We are given the virtues of faith, hope, love, prudence, temperance, justice, and courage. We are given the love, mercy, and grace of God to see us through every moment of our lives. When we realize the treasures God has given us, we should have only one response... asking God what we are being called to do and then doing it to the best of our abilities. Even if we don’t understand why God is leading us in one direction or another, we have to trust in Him and let him lead us to where we need to be as Christians. We have to stop objecting, glorify God, and accept His Divine Will.

Do we give thanks for God for all the gifts He has given us through baptism? How can we lead Spirit-filled lives, embodying the Good News in all we think, say, and do? How can we be an aid to God’s Divine Plan and not a hindrance to it?

O Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

The imitation of Christ is the core of what it means to be a Christian. We are all called to do everything for the glory of God and for the good of all souls. We have a vocation to love God and our neighbors. We are asked to give no one any offense and to seek to please everyone in every way as long as it is right and good. We are called to seek the benefit of the many over our own benefit. We are tasked with leading others to salvation by being reflections of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. As imitators of Christ, we are meant to be exemplars of holiness to everyone whom we meet no matter who they might be. This isn’t always easy, but we do not live up to the name of Christians if we do not try to be a blessing to all.

How can we be better imitators of Christ? What can we do to live more holy, graceful, and loving lives? Do we seek the benefit of others even when it means sacrificing our own interests?

O Lord, help us to be a more perfect imitators of you in all things.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops

For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.

Paul’s description of presbyters is one that we all should take to heart. He describes the qualities that Titus should look for in those whom he appoints as presbyters, but also, he describes the qualities that we all should strive for in our lives. We should be blameless. We should be chaste, in marriage or in single life. We should raise children, our own or others, in the faith to the best of our abilities. We should rid ourselves of all arrogance, irritability, intemperance, aggressiveness, and greed. And instead, we should be welcoming, lovers of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled. We should hold fast to the commandments of our Heavenly Father, to the teachings of Jesus, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. We should proclaim the Good News to all whom we meet each day. We should be true and faithful servants to God so that we can exhort others to better lives and refute those who would lead us astray.

How can we become better servants of God? How can we live out our vocations in alignment with God’s Will? How can we rid ourselves of all the things that keep us from being holy people?

O Lord, grant us your grace so that we might set right what remains to be done.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Friday of Ordinary Time

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. A worker's wage is credited not as a gift, but as something due. But when one does not work, yet believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness.  So also David declares the blessedness of the person to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not record.

Believing in God’s Plan for us and following His Will lead to righteousness. Each time we choose to believe, we are credited and given the graces we need to fulfill our calling and perform our good works. Our faith leads to good works because it provides us with the perfect models of what it means to align our lives with God’s Providence. Both Jesus and Mary show us how to be righteous in our thoughts, words, and works. They are embodiments of love, mercy, and grace, ever-flowing with acts of charity and forgiveness. By conforming our lives to theirs, we grow in wisdom and the favor of God, becoming blessed in His eyes. By putting on Christ and imitating Mary, our iniquities are forgiven and our sins forgotten by our Heavenly Father, who sees them alive within us when we embrace our vocation to love Him with all our minds, hearts, and strengths and our neighbors as He loves them.

Do we believe in God’s Plan for us? How can we do a better job of following the vocation God has prepared for us? What can we do to conform our lives to God’s righteousness?

O Lord, we believe in your Divine Providence.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Monday of Ordinary Time

"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD.

Sometimes we are afraid of what God is asking us to do and we run away from our calling. We might do so out of fear or selfishness or any number of reasons, but in the end we flee. However, God doesn’t ask us to do anything without giving us every opportunity and grace we need to succeed. Often, when we run away, God gives us another chance to make things right. He asks us to take that leap of faith and trust we won’t drown. He will send us the help we need to arrive where we need to be in order to do what God wants to be done. We can try running away as much as we want, but in the end we will find our way back before our Lord and God... the only difference is whether we embrace our vocation to know, love, and serve Him and His children or if we flee from it in selfishness. Hopefully, in the end, we run to God and chose to do His Will.

Are we running away from God’s Will for us? How can we learn to trust in Him and make the leap of faith He is asking us to take? Are we willing to embrace our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children?

O Lord, give us the grace to trust in you, now and forever.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Similarly, deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain, holding fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. Moreover, they should be tested first; then, if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. Women, similarly, should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything. Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and their households well. Thus those who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

The word deacon means “servant” in Greek and indicates a special type of vocation to ministry. However, this list of qualifications for becoming a deacon also applies to our own lives because we are all called to be servants of God and each other. In light of this, we should all strive to be dignified, truthful, prudent, charitable, and ever faithful. We should expect to be tested in our faith by God, by others, and even by ourselves. We should be temperate and chaste, and manage our lives and the lives of our families wisely and well. If we do these things, then we will fulfill our purpose on this earth and find ourselves in good standing with God and confident in our faith because we will have chosen to live our lives as good and faithful servants.

Are we living our lives as servants of God and His children? What vocation is God calling us to embrace? How can we model ourselves upon the virtues of those who are called to the diaconate?

O Lord, help us to hold fast to the mystery of our faith with a clear conscience.

Amen.

Monday of the Third Week of Easter

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

Stephen, a deacon, was called to service in a special way among the early Christians. However, he not only worked great wonders and signs, but also proclaimed the faith with wisdom and the Spirit even though he knew it might mean his death. In a similar way, we are all called to be prophetic servants of God’s Word and His Will. We might not have a specific vocation to the deaconate or be called to be martyrs, but we are all asked to know, love, and serve God and His children in our own unique ways and be willing to suffer and die in order to fulfill our mission to evangelize the world. Our service and deaths might not be as dramatic as Stephen’s, but that doesn’t mean they are any less important in the eyes of God. He sees our good deeds and sacrifices with the eyes of a loving Father, compassionate Brother, and supportive Advocate. He only cares that what we do is done with great love and mercy.

How are we being called to be a sign of God’s Goodness? In what ways can we proclaim the Good News to others? What vocation is God calling us to?

O Lord, makes us prophetic signs of your love and mercy.

Amen.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

We are all witnesses to Christ’s sacrifice, resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins and as witnesses we are called upon to proclaim this Good News to all nations. How we do that is up to us. Sometimes we will proclaim the gospel through our thoughts, prayers, and inspirations. Other times we will proclaim the gospel through our words of encouragement, forgiveness, and love. We will also proclaim the gospel through our works of fasting, charity, and mercy. Even our daily activities and chores can proclaim the gospel when they are done in God’s name and in a spirit of love. Some of us will witness to the message of Christ by becoming priests or religious, others will become husbands, wives, and parents. Still others will live as single people devoted to God, but living in the world. Each of these ways of sharing our faith, hope, and love with God and others have their unique challenges and advantages. The important part is to discern which one God is calling us to and living it out with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

How do our lives proclaim the Good News of Christ’s life, the need for our repentance, and the forgiveness of sins? In what ways can we become better witnesses to these things? What lifestyle of witnessing is God calling us to take up?

O Lord, make us better witnesses to your Good News.

Amen.

First Saturday of Ordinary Time

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. 

Jesus calls all of us to follow him. Some of us have an easier time heeding his call than others because of our willingness to leave behind everything in the world to do God’s Will. Others have a more difficult time accepting our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children. No matter if we are righteous or sinners, we all are given the graces we need to be good and faithful servants. Jesus knows what ails us, what holds us back from being saintly people, and if we are willing to listen and let him work within our souls we will find the strength to act with devotion towards God and compassion towards our neighbors. We should never let an opportunity to prove our love and mercy pass us by because we are too busy with worldly things. We can make up excuses every day as to why we cannot meet the physical or spiritual needs of those around us, but in the end we can and should always make time to do what is right even if it costs us greatly.

Are we willing to follow Jesus where he is leading us? Do we seek out God’s aid in healing the ailments of both our bodies and souls? How do we mirror God’s Love and Mercy towards us in our dealings with others?

O Lord, we are sinners, heal us and call us to your side.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply,
“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.

What should we do? This is a question at the heart of our lives and our faith. It is a question we have wrestled with in the past, continue to struggle with at present, and will need to face in the future. The reason why this is such a difficult question to answer is because everyone is made with a unique dignity and calling that is all their own. As Christians, we understand that we are called to know, love, and serve God and His children, but how to do this is more difficult to answer because it requires us to examine ourselves and listen for God’s guidance. We can’t do this if we are constantly listening to the world and letting it define who and what we are. We need time alone with God in prayer, in fasting, and in almsgiving. We also should listen to the words of those whom are good influences in our lives because sometimes what they say can be a great help in discerning our vocations. We need to build a relationship with God in order to know how best to do His Will. So let us take the time to do so this day and every day of our lives.

Are we actively trying to discern our vocation or are we constantly distracted by worldly things? Are we building up fruitful relationships with God so we can better do His Will? Do we take time each day to spend with God in hopes of discovering our true callings?

O Lord, give us the answers we need to do your will.

Amen.