Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Jesus Christ is our light and it is important for us to remember that no matter how dark it is, His Light is always nearby. We might be blinded to it by our sins, or distracted from it by our doubts and fears, but it is always there waiting for us to reach out to it. It is also important to remember that we are called to reflect the light of God’s grace to others.

What are the things that keep us from seeing the light of Christ in our lives? What are we doing to reach out to our Lord and his children? How can we be better beacons of God’s love?

O Lord, be our light and the source of all our good.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

We are all offered the chance to be filled with wisdom and favor of God. However, not all of us accept this offer or recognize it when we are faced with the decision between good and evil. This is why we must fast and pray as Anna did in her life. We are asked to build our spiritual lives upon these two pillars of faith. We also must remember that fasting does not have to be just from food, but it can also be from anything else that keeps us away from God, distracts us from Him, or would be a worthy offering to our Lord. Prayer too is just as important as fasting and is our means of communing with God on a personal level. It helps build up our relationship with him, just as our conversations with family, friends, and neighbors do.

What are we willing to fast from in the coming days, months, and years? How are we preparing ourselves to receive God’s wisdom into our lives? How are we building our relationship with God through our prayers?

O Lord, help us to fast from those things that keep us away from you and to pray that we might be drawn to you so that we might be filled with your Wisdom and Favor.

Amen.

Monday, December 29, 2014

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.

Peace. It is something all of us search for throughout our lives and our hoped for end. However, the peace of living forever with our Lord and God does not come without a cost. We, like Simeon, must be righteous, devout, and patiently await our heavenly consolation. These three things are easier said than done as there are many things which will tempt us away from them. In the end, we will be judged by how we fulfill the Word of God. Let us hope we will so that we might find the peace of a good life and death.

What are the things we do that stand in the way of our peace? What keeps us from doing God’s Will? If we were to die today would we be at peace with our God and ourselves?

O Lord, grant us your peace and the willingness to accept it into our lives.

Amen.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Jesus was a sign of contradiction for many in his time and in our own. He caused the fall and rise of many evil and good people and revealed their hearts. Being a devote servant to God offers us no consolation other than hope in our salvation and love of our God, both of which are impossible to see without the eyes of faith. These are not the rewards the world promises or offers us and it can be very difficult to live a virtuous life when all around you wonder why you have to be so contradictory. However, as Christians we are not meant to go with the flow or to walk along the wide road. No, we are called to cross against the current and take the narrow path to salvation. We often ask for signs to help us discern God’s Will, but perhaps we are meant to be signs to each other of God’s Love for us and His desire to lead us home to Him.

How are we signs of contradiction to the world? Are we really willing to allow a sword to pierce our hearts? In what way do we seek to reveal God to the hearts of others?

O Lord, make us a sign of your Love to the world, even if it means others will hate us for it.

Amen.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

St. John the Apostle was the only disciple to stay with Jesus throughout his Passion and he is the first one to arrive at the tomb after the Resurrection. He runs there after Mary Magdalene tells the disciples that Jesus has been take from the tomb. However, when he arrives he does not go in, but allows Peter to go in first. His love for the Lord is made plain by the simple act of running, while his humility is shown by his deference to Peter.

How do we express our love for God and humility towards His Church? What are the things we run for in our lives? Are they leading us toward God or away from him?

O Lord, give us the faithfulness of St. John so that we might run to you with feet grounded in humility.

Amen.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

As Christians we can sometimes fall into the trap of wanting everyone to like or love us. However, Jesus reminds us today that we will also be hated if we live according to His Word. Some people might not like that we put life before choice, social justice before personal profit, and faith before our doubts. Our faith sometimes requires us to be stoned for standing up for what we believe in and like St. Stephen we should be willing to sacrifice everything for the Gospel truths.

Do we place being liked or loved before being honest and truthful in our dealings with others? What are some of the ways we have been stoned or hurt because we stood our ground on a matter of faith? Are we willing to be hated and endure to the end even without the consolation of being liked or loved?

O Lord, grant us the courage to be a martyr for love of you, whether it be physical, intellectual, or spiritual.

Amen.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

We are all called to be shepherds to our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Like the shepherds of the Gospels we are given a chance to glorify and praise God for all we have experienced in this world, especially his love, mercy, and grace revealed to us through God’s choice to come to us as a Savior. He comes as an infant, totally dependent upon Mary and Joseph for His every need. It is through their daily duties and simple acts of love that they express their love for God.

How do we express our thanks for God’s works seen and unseen in our lives? How can we make our everyday chores and routines into meaningful prayers? What other things can we do to live a life that glorifies and praises God?

O Lord, help us to be a good shepherds of your children and to reflect upon all you have done for us in our lives.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Fourth Wednesday in Advent

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The Lord is like a lantern in our hands. He shows us just enough to take the next step on the way of peace. Sometimes we hide this lantern or do not follow the path he presents us. We think in our selfish pride that we can find our own way or make our own path, but these only lead to darkness and the shadow of death. God’s tender compassion for us all is the reason for the light He grants us and it is our humility and faithfulness that allow us to accept it. It takes a great deal of trust to walk the way of Jesus Christ. We cannot see where we are going and fear and doubt can creep into our hearts if we are not vigilant. However, if we let go and let God light our next footstep we will be rewarded with a Heavenly Dawn with our God.

Where is God’s Light currently leading us? Are we looking for it or patient enough to wait for it to shine a light on the way God wants us to go? What are the things in our lives which blind us to the light and what can we do to get rid of them?

O Lord, open our eyes so they can see the way of peace you have prepared for us.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Fourth Tuesday in Advent

What, then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.

When we were born we received a name from our parents, but the graces of our life from God. The people who witnessed our birth might have wondered what we might be, but God knows. Some might have seen us as an unexpected accident or a prayed for blessing, but all of us came into this world with the Lord being with us. His hand is there to support us in our trials, to raise us up when we fall, and to squeeze our hands when we are in need of consolation.

What will we be in the eyes of God? What can we do in light of our gifts, talents, and situations to be the best children we can be? How will we be remembered, not only by our family and friends, but more importantly our Savior?

O Lord, may we be willing to let you guide us with your Providential Hand so we can be your good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Fourth Monday in Advent

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

The Magnificat expresses in this one line what we are all called to do in our lives. We are asked to magnify the greatness of God through our words and works and rejoice in the salvation He is offering us through Jesus Christ. We are reminded by her words that our vocation whatever it might be needs to be grounded in God and have Him as its source, center, and summit.

Do our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord in our daily actions? Do our spirits rejoice in God our savoir even when things are most difficult for us? What are the things we do each day to remind ourselves of our vocation to proclaim and rejoice in the God News?

O Lord, we want to magnify your Greatness and celebrate your Saving Grace, inspire us to do so in the best way possible and according to our gifts and talents.

Amen.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Fourth Sunday in Advent

Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.

From the moment of our birth to our death, we are called to be humble servants of the Lord. However, we often forget this calling when faced with the trials and temptations of the world. We slowly but surely become servants of no one, but ourselves. This Sunday before Christmas God gives us a helpful reminder of what our vocation is supposed to be. He does this by presenting us with Mary, the Model of Humble Service to God and to all His children. She is the mother of Christ and our spiritual mother. She shows how to put our trust in God and live according to His Word and our Lord, Jesus Christ. If we think about it each day in our lives is a repeat of the Annunciation, only we are in the place of Mary. We have the free will to choose God’s Will or not… to make our lives a living fiat or not.

How do we respond to these moments? Do we wholeheartedly say so be it when God calls us to do something in our lives? Or do we say, no or not now and deny God’s Will in favor of our own?

O Lord, we want to be your humble servants and to live according to your Word. Please inspire us to become living fiats to your Will.

Amen.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Third Saturday in Advent

Do not be afraid.

Although we might not want to admit it we are often afraid of something in our lives. It might be a bully, a bill collector, a loss of our health, the death of a loved one, or any other problems caused by our choices or out of our control. These anxious moments offer a choice whenever we are faced with them: fight or flight. We can let our fears overwhelm us and run away from the problem or we can stand up to them and face them down. This is much easier said than done, but if we truly believe in Jesus Christ, then we have no excuse to be afraid as long as we chose to do the right thing.

When was the last time you were afraid and what was it? Did you pray about it and seek strength from your faith? How can we learn to be not afraid from this and other moments of fear in our lives?

O Lord, we are fearful, make us brave in you. We are weak, make us strong by you. We are running away, make us stand with you.

Amen.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Third Friday in Advent

He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers toward children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.

This is the mission of John the Baptist as foretold by the angel Gabriel and it is a similar mission to the one we are called to undertake in our own lives. We are asked to turn hearts, to bring understanding of righteousness, and prepare a people fit for the Lord. We do this by our thoughts, words, and works and by living out our prophetic mission as Christians. Not forcing our faith on others, but rather being a model of Christian love, mercy, and grace for those we meet along the way. We should pray each day to be more prophetic in our actions, living sacramental signs of God’s Will. When we do this we too will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at our birth.

What are we willing to do today to live out our prophetic mission of bearing the Gospel to others? Do we live up to our Christian names when we are given the opportunity to go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah? Why is it so easy for us to talk about the mundane world and its distractions, but when it comes to giving voice to our faith we are silent?

O Lord, grant us the voice to speak your Words and do your Works so you might be known by our family, friends, and neighbors through our love of them.

Amen.

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Third Thursday in Advent

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

God is with us. In the midst of our trials this simple statement can be hard for us to accept as the truth, however, God is always there for us even in our dark nights when all consolation is lost to us. It is in these moments that our faith is tested the most by the temptation of doubt. We ask ourselves why God has allowed evil to befall us, especially when we try to be good people. What we fail to realize is that Jesus Christ is with us in these moments of suffering constantly offering us His Strength to bear us to the end. He does this precisely because he went through the same dark night on the Mt. of Olives. He is truly with us in our agony because He too has suffered evil in spite of leading a good and holy life. He chose to be with us in not only our joys and life, but also our pains and death.

When we are suffering do we suffer with Christ or do we selfishly suffer alone? When we come across someone else who is in pain do we give comfort to them even in the midst of our own trials or do we allow our pain to blind us? What are things we can do to remind ourselves that God is with us even when we are most tempted to think He is not?

O Lord, you are always with us, show us how to be with you and all your children whether we are in joy or suffering.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Third Wednesday in Advent

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

The lineage of Jesus Christ is laid out for us today from Abraham through Joseph, Jesus’ adoptive father. Family was and is an important part of what it means to be human and this recounting of his ancestors reminds us of both his humanity and his place in the Providential Plan of God. We see all the generations of men, both good and bad, who the Lord has used to bring about the Word Made Flesh.

How important is family to us? What are things we can do to show our family how much we love and appreciate them, even if they are sometimes hard to live with? Can you see God’s hand at work in your ancestors and how their choices have lead you to where you are today?

O Lord, help us to appreciate your providential plan in our lives and led us to where you need us to be.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Third Tuesday in Advent

Which of the two did his father’s will?

The two brothers in this reading reflect upon our relationship with God. Sometimes we are the first son and we tell God, I will not do this or that, but in the end we do it either out of a sense of duty or love. Other times we are the second son and we tell God, Yes, sir, but in the end we let our fears or selfishness stand in the way of doing what we know is right. What a marvelous grace it is to be able to answer Yes, sir to the Lord and do what God wills us to do.

Which of these two brothers are we most like? How often do we allow God to lead us where we do not want to go, but need to be? What can we do to make our Yes, sir mean yes?

O Lord, help us to make our lives living Yes’s to your Divine Will.

Amen.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Third Monday in Advent

By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?

Authority has always been important for us as human beings. When we have questions that need to be answered, we do not ask anyone, but rather we ask those whom we believe have authoritative experience with the issue at hand. When someone of equal or lesser status tells us to do something we may or may not do it, but if someone of higher authority tells us to do it, we tend to drop what we are doing and take up the task. Even those of us who tend to buck authority still have the ability to recognize it when we see it. There is something about it which draws or repulses us like magnetic poles. When the chief priests and elders question where Jesus’ authority comes from they question everything about him, and so he turns the question back on them by asking if John the Baptist’s baptism was of heavenly or earthly origin. This is what they are asking of Jesus. Are you a heavenly prophet or earthly man? When they cannot answer about John, Jesus refuses to answer them because if they cannot recognize John’s origin, then how can they do so with Christ’s?

In what areas of our lives do we question Jesus’ authority over us? Do we spend enough time each day recognizing the heavenly origins of the people, places, and things around us? What authority has God given us and how do we use it to bring about His Will?

O Lord, you have authority over us all. Grant that we might not question this authority, but rather learn how to be humble servants to you in all things.

Amen.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Third Sunday in Advent

I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

How often in our lives have we been asked: Who are you? What do you have to say for yourself? These questions strike at the heart of our existence. They force us to evaluate ourselves and our relationship with God and others. John the Baptist says he is not the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet, he is a simple voice crying out to the world, Make straight the way of the Lord. We too need to realize that we are not called to be the Messiah, we cannot save ourselves. Only God can do that. The best we can do is to make ourselves into prophetic signs of the love, mercy, and grace the Holy Trinity offers to all His children.

Who are we? What do we have to say for ourselves? Have we spent our lives making straight the way of the Lord for others and ourselves?

O Lord, grant us the thoughts, voice, and works we need to bear you into the world even in the midst of its daily trials.

Amen.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.  So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.

Every day we come face-to-face with the Son of Man made flesh in our family, friends, and neighbors. We are given the opportunity to love and serve Him through the members of His Spiritual Body. We also are called to be Christ for others. It is especially difficult to be and recognize the Christ within others and ourselves when we are faced with troubles, but this is when we most need to open our eyes and the eyes of others. Otherwise the Son of Man will suffer at our hands.

Do we do whatever we please in our lives or do we become living Christs for others and ourselves? How can we be more aware of the Son of Man in our neighbors and treat them as they deserve even when it is most difficult to do so? What can we do to be a more perfect Eucharistic presence to all whom we meet?

O Lord, help us recognize you in others and do whatever pleases you, not just ourselves.

Amen.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

We are blessed to have a model of holiness in our Holy Mother who shows us how to bear the Word Made Flesh in our daily lives. Mary comes to Elizabeth to help her in her time of need even as she prepares for her own labor of love.  She seeks to be of service to her cousin just as she seeks to be a servant to us. She provides us with an exemplar of what it means to be a servant of others even in the midst of our own trials.

How do we recognize the mother of our Lord in our day to day actions? How do we imitate her servant presence in our own lives? Are we able to put aside our own concerns when someone is in need?

O Lord, make us into loving servants of your Divine Will and help us learn from our Holy Mother how to best make ourselves into eucharistic presences to all whom we meet each day.

Amen.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Second Thursday in Advent

There has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

It is difficult to think of ourselves as being called to be greater than John the Baptist, but that is exactly what God asks of us. John the Baptist could only proclaim the Kingdom of heaven according to the Law, but we are able to proclaim it through the lens of Jesus’ life. How blessed we are to have the gift of Christ’s sacrifice to model our lives on.

How do we strive to be greater than John the Baptist? Do we live not only by the laws of nature, but also of our Divine Master? Do we have ears that not only hear the Word of God, but listen to it, and then live it?

O Lord, help us to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven with every thought, word, and work of our life so that we might one day join you at the feast of all your saints.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Second Wednesday in Advent

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.


What a fine thing it is to rest in the Lord. He tells us the truth when He says his yoke is easy and his burden light, but they are only so when we allow him to carry us. When we try to carry the yoke by ourselves and go our own way we find everything in this life heavier, more burdensome, and we stumble and fall into imperfection and sin. However, as long as we allow ourselves to be tied by bonds of love to our God he will bear us along the Heavenly Way of salvation.

Do we remember to bind ourselves to Christ each day through prayers and works? When we fall into sin do we struggle to lift ourselves off the ground or do we seek the helping hand of God? How often do we take a moment to simply rest in our God?

O Lord, help us to have hearts meek and humble enough to yoke ourselves to you and rest in your arms for ever and ever.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Second Tuesday in Advent

It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.

Our Father does not want any of us lost to sin. He constantly searches us out when we stray from him with our imperfections, sins, and failings. He offers to carry us as he carried the cross if we will but yoke ourselves to Him. How blessed are we to have such a Father, who is willing to forgive us our trespasses and rejoices when we allow Him to led us where we need to be.

How often are we lost, afraid, anxious, or doubtful in our lives? Do we take the time during these times of troubles to let go of our selfish worries and let God lead us through the darkness to greener pastures? What do we do in our lives to make sure none of God’s little ones are lost?

O Lord, you are our shepherd, find us when we are lost and weak with sin and lead us to life everlasting with you.

Amen.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.

What an amazing gift God gave to Mary and the whole human race! She is the New Eve and Mother of the New Adam. She is a model of what it means to say Yes to the Will of God. We can learn a lot from Mary’s life of humble service to her God, her son, and his disciples. We can take solace in the knowledge that she is our Spiritual Mother and our Gateway to Heaven.

How often do we turn to Mary in our times of need? Do we model our lives after her, who so perfectly modeled her most admirable life on the Living Gospel? When do we spend quality time with our Heavenly Mother as we would our own earthly mothers?

O Lord, you have given us a perfect mother and model in Mary. Grant us the fullness of grace we need to bear you into the world as your Most Holy Mother did before us.

Amen.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Second Sunday of Advent

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

Preparation is something we do each and every day of our lives. We prepare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We prepare for work and play. We prepare for family, friends, and neighbors. We prepare for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. However, in this daily preparation for things great and small we can often forget to prepare ourselves for the most important event in our existence: the second coming of Christ.

How often do we let our preparations for earthly things interfere with our preparations for the heavenly ones? Do we spend time each and every day preparing ourselves for the coming of our God? If the hour of His arrival came before this day was done would you be able to say to Him, I prepared your Way and made straight your Path, O Lord.

O Lord, grant us the grace to live our lives as John the Baptist and constantly prepare for your second coming by being good and faithful servants baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

First Saturday of Advent

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.

Jesus says these words to his disciples right before giving them authority over unclean spirits and the ability to cure every disease and illness. They were called by the Divine Master to be the harvesters of souls, just as we today are asked to be co-workers in His vineyard. If we will but accept His commission of us we too will be able to go out to the lost sheep of this world and proclaim along side the disciples of old, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Are we willing to go out into the world and labor beside our Lord? Do we not only pray for our own deliverance into the Heavenly Harvest, but also seek to cultivate the souls of others to join us there? How do we proclaim the kingdom of heaven in our daily lives?

O Lord, help us to be laborers in your vineyard of souls and to work tirelessly for you and the sakes of those whom you have sent us to harvest into your Kingdom.

Amen.

Friday, December 5, 2014

First Friday of Advent

Do you believe that I can do this?

This is the question God asks us to answer every time we petition Him. Hopefully, we answer as the two blind men did, Yes, Lord. This simple affirmation of our faith opens our eyes to the Will of God in our lives and grants us the opportunity to spread the Word of God in thanksgiving for all He has done for us seen and unseen.

What is our first instinct when God asks us if we believe He can do this or that for us? How can we make ourselves into a living Yes to the Lord of Life? Can we trust in the love, mercy, and grace of God even when His answers to our petitions are not exactly what we wanted or expected?

O Lord, open our eyes to the faith we need to be bearers of your Holy Word in the world.

Amen.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

First Thursday of Advent

Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

Jesus gives us a choice to make between living our lives according to His Word or according to our own. His Word offers us a firm foundation upon faith, hope, and love, while our words are changeable, unsteady, shifting with the winds and the rains that buffet us in life.

Do we build our lives upon the bedrock of the Word of God or upon our inconstant selves? How often do we mistake the quicksand of our selfishness for the bedrock of faith? When we hear the words of God do we act on them as Jesus asks us to do or do we follow our own good intentions off of the cliff of destruction?

O Lord, give us the wisdom to listen and act upon your words and to build the temple of our souls upon the bedrock of your Gospel. Let us not mistake our selfish desires for your Selfless Will.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.  I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.

Jesus recognizes the spiritual and physical needs of his flock. Like a good Physician He knows you must treat both body and spirit in order to heal someone completely. He also wants us to have the strength to carry His message into the world and do onto others as He has done for us. Just as He provides for our well being, He also asks us to do the same for our family, friends, and neighbors.

Do we care for the physical and spiritual needs of those around us as Jesus has taught us to do in His Holy Life? How often do we fail to live out the Gospel message He has given us and become the Living Bread of God for those around us? What do we do after Mass to express our gratitude for God’s gracious gift of His Word and Flesh?

O Lord, you have fed our spirits with your Word and our bodies with your Body and Blood. Help us to become a Eucharistic people proclaiming your Gospel through word and deed.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

First Tuesday of Advent

I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

There is a vast difference between being childish and childlike. When we let pride, envy, wrath, and the other deadly sins take over our thoughts, words, and works we are childish and self-centered. We place our trust in our own knowledge and wisdom and the hidden truths of the world, the ones which would lead us to the Truth remain lost in the darkness of our self-conceit. However, if we are childlike and place our faith in our Heavenly Father above all, then the Way, the Truth and the Life will be revealed to us. We shall be worthy of being called the sons and daughters of God and the true heirs to His Kingdom.

How often do we allow our childish self-interests get in the way of being a childlike follower of Christ? What truths have we blinded ourselves to by relying upon our reason alone and not faith and reason hand-in-hand? How can we reclaim our childlike simplicity and live a life of love in imitation of our Father?

O Lord, grant us a childlike confidence in you. Never let our childish impulses led us from your Pierced Side. Give us the strength to cling to you in a world where we are constantly encouraged to cling to ourselves.

Amen.

Monday, December 1, 2014

First Monday of Advent

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.

Humility and faith flow out of the centurion as he recognizes the sacred presence and divine authority of Christ. Face-to-face with Jesus, he realizes his unworthiness, and yet instead of fleeing in fear, self-doubt, or desperation he places his trust in the Lord and pleads for the healing of his servant. He does not let his insecurities and imperfections keep him from petitioning Christ, nor does he require firsthand experience of the miraculous healing. His confidence in God gives him the strength of true humility and the conviction that if God wills it all will be healed.

How often do we allow a false sense of humility get in the way of faithfully petitioning the Lord in our prayer life? Why do we convince ourselves that the God of Love, Mercy, and Grace could not possibly love us enough to see past our sins and unworthiness and help us in our times of need? Why, when we do ask for His help, do we need to see the miracle with our own eyes to believe He has answered our prayer?

O Lord, we are unworthy, but you have spoken through your Living Word and offer each of us your Healing Truth. May we be humble enough to accept this gracious gift of redemption and open our hearts to the hope the Word Made Flesh contains.

Amen.