The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.

Jesus commands his followers to go make disciples of all nations in the name of the Holy Trinity and to teach them to observe the commandment to love God and our neighbors as Jesus loves us. But he does not send us on this mission alone. Our Father is with us, protecting us from evil. His Son, Jesus, is with us, loving us unconditionally. The Holy Spirit is with us, inspiring us to do what’s right. With the Holy Trinity for, with, and within us, we can do all good things.

Are we going forth and making disciples of the nations through our thoughts, words, and works? How often do we reflect on the role of the Holy Trinity in our lives? Do we thank the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for being with us always?

O Lord, help us make disciples of all nations, to baptize them in the name of your Holy Trinity, and to teach them to observe all you have commanded.

Amen.

Eighth Saturday of Ordinary Time

“By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘Of human origin’?”– they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.”

We cannot hedge our bets when it comes to God. We either believe or don’t. We might have doubts, but in the end we either choose to let God help our unbelief and allow ourselves to believe… or we turn our backs on God. Each of us must answer this question for ourselves: Was Jesus’ teachings and baptism of heavenly or human origin? If we believe the latter, then we set aside God and simply see Jesus as at best a decent man or at worst a charlatan. If, however, we choose to believe Jesus came down from Heaven, then we must also accept his teachings whether we agree with them or not. There is no cafeteria in Heaven where we can pick and choose our beliefs, there is only one banquet that everyone partakes from… made up of the fruits of the Truth, the Way, and the Life. We might not understand or like the taste of some of these fruits, but they are given to us out of love and we would do well to accept them because they come from God, Who loves us.

By what authority did Jesus live his life? What do we truly believe about the origins of his power? How can we show God that we believe in Him, even if there are certain aspects of the faith we have difficulties accepting?

O Lord, we believe, help our unbelief.

Amen.

Eighth Friday of Ordinary Time

Early in the morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”

If we are barren of prayers, witnessing to the gospels, and good works, then we will be cursed just as much as the fig tree. God will not accept a barren life, devoid of faith, hope, charity, and mercy. He wants us to believe in His Good News, proclaiming it from the mountain tops and living it out with all our hearts. He encourages us to believe in Him and trust that no matter how impossible the work He is calling us to do seems to be… He will make it possible. He will answer our prayers with graces.

What fruits have we produced in this life for God and others? How can we be more fruitful in love and mercy? Do we seek help from God to cultivate the soil of our souls?

O Lord, we have faith in you and wish to bear much fruit.

Amen.

Eighth Thursday of Ordinary Time

On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”

Even good people can sometimes try to dissuade us from doing the right thing. Like the blind man, there are times in our lives when we need to cry out to God or when we need to depend upon Him. There are times when we see some injustice and want to speak out. However, during these times there might be people who tell us to remain silent. They might tell us not to bother God with our silly concerns. They might say we shouldn't rock the boat. They warn us against doing what our conscience tells us. It is during these times that we must not allow others to pressure us into silence, but rather we should cry out all the more. God will hear us and give us the courage we need to do what is right and perhaps even give others around us a reminder that we should feel free to approach God with any issue and allow Him to lead us where He wants.

Are we the ones who rebuke others for depending too much on God or warn them against speaking up when their conscience dictates? Or are we the ones being rebuked by others? If so, then how can we remain patient and persistent in our calls for help?

O Lord, give us the courage to call out to you in all things.

Amen.

Eighth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The world tells us it is good to seek power over others, but that isn't what Jesus says. His Way is one of service and self-sacrifice. His Truth is that power in this world means nothing in the next. His Light is the only power that truly lasts because it is the Light of God's Eternal Love. God does not seek to lord it over us, but rather to serve as our Savior, Father, and Advocate. He sacrificed his Beloved Son as a ransom for many… for us. If we want a part of His Kingdom, then we must do the same. We must be the slaves of all, doing good to all whom we meet each day without hesitation or expectation of return.

Do we lord it over anyone? How can we become more faithful servants to God and others? What are we willing to endure and do to be of service to our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, we seek to serve you and all your children, now and forever.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.

Jesus constantly prays for us before our Heavenly Father and we glorify him by accepting God’s Mercy and living out our lives as an example of His Love for His children. By leaving us to do God’s Will, Jesus gives us a chance to become like him and think, speak, and do the right and good thing no matter the cost or suffering. And like him, if we act in faith, hope, and charity, we will one day be able to come to the Father. Till that day, we are called to be in the world, but not of it. Our actions should be focused on God and His children and then we shall know the peace that comes with acting rightly and well.

Do we reflect upon the fact that we are Jesus’ brothers and sisters? How do we glorify our Brother, our Father, and our Advocate? How can we be of God and not of the world?

O Lord, pray for us that we might glorify you through our every thought, word, and work.

Amen.

Eighth Monday of Ordinary Time

“Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement, his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Knowing, loving, and serving God isn't just about ticking off boxes on a list of commandments. It is a way of life that requires us to give of ourselves without reservation or hesitation. It is a way of life that requires good works as well as prayers. It is a way of life that means making sacrifices and being willing to mortify ourselves. These requirements move us beyond just fulfilling the letter of the laws to fulfilling their spirit. This is the most important thing: to go sell whatever worldly things we have and follow God to heaven.

Are we following the letter of the commandments, but not their spirit? What is lacking in our faith lives? How can we gain the strength to sacrifice what we have in order to follow God?

O Lord, may we be willing to sacrifice everything and follow you.

Amen.