Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!"

God is constantly trying to fill us with the fires of his faith, hope, love, goodness, truth, mercy, and grace. He wants us to be ablaze with Him from the moment we wake in the morning to the moment we close our eyes at night. When people see us, they should know we are Christians by the light of our lives shining in the darkness of the world. We should be beacons of faith, hope, and love. We are meant to be lights for all the world to see and constantly lead others to Him. So, let our lives burn bright in the night, praising, glorifying, and magnifying God in all we think, say, and do.

Are we keeping the fires of our faith alive even in the midst of the darkness of the world? How can we make ourselves into beacons of grace for all who see us? What can we do to enkindle the light of Christ in ourselves and others?

O Lord, fill our souls with your fire.

Amen.

Nineteenth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

The portion of the Lord is his people. For I will sing the LORD’s renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock–how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways!

We should indeed sing the Lord’s renown for not only what He has done throughout the ages, but also what He has done for us. We are merely specks in the grand scheme of His Divine Plan and yet He has become our Heavenly Father, sacrificed His Beloved Son for us, and given us His Holy Spirit. There is nothing on earth, under the seas, or in the skies that can satisfy us more profoundly and completely than God. He is righteous and good and loving beyond all expectations. He is the rock of our salvation and it is upon Him that we should all build our lives.

Do we understand what it means to be part of God’s Holy Family through the Church? In what ways do we proclaim the greatness of our Heavenly Father? How can we imitate Him and all His righteous ways?

O Lord, we will sign of your renown and greatness all the days of our lives.

Amen.

Nineteenth Monday in Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word!

Our hearts are like Jerusalem. They are cities made of virtues and vices. We have places of holiness and openness to God’s Will and we have our dark corners where it isn’t safe for us to go. But no matter what, we can be sure that like Jerusalem God will grant us peace in our borders if we have faith in Him, hope in His Goodness, and love as He loves us. He will wash away our iniquities and cleanse the places in our hearts that have grown dark from abuse and indifference. He will fill us up with His Grace and Mercy if we allow Him through our gates and welcome Him into our lives. He will bring great riches into us if we let Him. And He will dwell within us if we make ourselves into His living temples.

Are we willing to let God bring peace into our hearts? What dark places do we need to cleanse from our lives? How can we be more open to the spiritual food God offers us?

O Lord, grant us your peace and fill us with good fruits.

Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go.  By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. 

Sometimes we don’t know where God is calling us, but we go anyway. It is by faith alone that we set out along the way prepared for us. We trust Him even though we don’t have a clear picture of what the future holds. We intrinsically believe something better lies before us because God loves us. We understand we might wander for many years, get lost, be asked to make sacrifices, and undergo many trials, but if we believe in Him, He will lead us to the promised land. He will protect us from our enemies, including sometimes ourselves, and bring us to the place we need to be. And, once we arrive, if we do what is asked, He will welcome us into His Holy City with open arms and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants... Come, share your master’s joy!”

Where is God calling us? What is He asking us to do? How can we answer Him with the faith of Abraham, Mary, and all the saints who have come before us?

O Lord, grant us the faith to obey you whenever you call and go wherever you send us.

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.

Eighteenth Friday in Ordinary Time

I remember the deeds of the Lord. I remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I remember your wonders of old. And I meditate on your works; your exploits I ponder.

Every day we should take time to ponder the words and works of the Lord. We can do this through reading the Scriptures and going to Church and receiving the sacraments. We can also do it through quiet times of spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, and even contemplation of the mysteries of Christ. We can also remember God’s deeds when we act charitably and mercifully and treat others with dignity. It is a remarkable blessing to make Him present in our lives through imitation of Jesus, which is the best way to know, love, and serve God.

Do we take time to meditate on God’s works, not only in Scripture, but also in our lives? Do we remember everything He has done for us and try to imitate Him in the way we treat others? How can we put into action the commandments of our Holy Father, the teachings of His Beloved Son, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we shall always remember your deeds.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

God will provide. He always does. When the night is darkest, He gives us light. When the way is uncertain, He gives us a narrow path to follow. When we need spiritual food and drink, He gives it to us. When we are weak, He carries us. When we are alone, He is with us. When all the world seems to be against us, He stands by our side. He is the Rock of our Salvation and from Him flows all grace, love, and mercy. And all He asks in return is our faith, our hope, and our love.

Do we sing joyfully to God for all He has done for us? Do we acclaim Him as the source of our salvation? How can we provide for the good of others?

O Lord, we sing joyfully to you.

Amen.