Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. 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.

We have life because of the gracious gift of the Holy Trinity. The Father gave us breath of life, the Son gave us the light of truth, and the Holy Spirit gives us inspirations that lead to holiness. When the Word of God became flesh, he sanctified our lives through his own life and redeemed us from death through his own death. He came down from heaven to dwell with us and show us the way, the truth, and the life we are all called to follow. Moreover, he gave us the light of his gospel and the sacraments of the Church to guide us along the narrow path to salvation. He has not abandoned us to darkness, but rather given us a bright light to lead us where we are called to go.

Do we thank God every day for the gift of our lives? Do we give him honor and glory for the graces he has offered us as we walk His Way, seek His Truth, and live His Life? Do we trust that the light of faith, hope, and love will guide us where we need to be?

O Lord, your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.  And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

We can learn a lot about how to live a holy life by following Anna’s example. We should spend more time in the presence of the Lord not only in church (via the mass, adoration, etc.), but also in fasting and prayer. We should also make a point to give thanks to God for every day He has given us in this life and speak to others about Jesus and the salvation he offers to all. It can be so easy to get caught up in the worries of the world and forget about spending time with God. We should seek out God’s presence in our lives and let Him speak to us through the sacraments and our daily reflections on the graces He has given us.

How can we better worship God, both day and night? How can we cultivate the habits of fasting and prayer? How can we express our thanks to God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, thank you for your redeeming graces in our lives.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “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.”

The thoughts of our hearts are revealed by how we respond to the gospel. Will we be righteous and devout, like Simeon, or will we ignore God’s call when it comes? As we live our lives, we shall have our metal tested in order that our faith (or lack thereof) might be revealed. If we do follow in Christ’s footsteps, then we also must expect to be contradicted by the world and be pierced by the sword of sufferings. We should be accepting of these times of trials because it is through them that we learn what it means to be truly faithful Disciples of Christ. It is through our difficulties that we discover our strengths and weaknesses. Without adversity, we would never know how strong our love for God and His children is. It is easy to love others when there isn’t a cost or when we benefit from the love, but how we react when difficulties arise is the true measure of our characters and the quality of our love.

What lies at the center of our hearts, the world or God? Are we willing to suffer in order to follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit? How does the way we live reveal the thoughts of our hearts?

O Lord, you have blessed us with the gift of your beloved Son, let us respond to your gift by bearing Jesus wherever we go.

Amen.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.

Most of us can hardly imagine what it would be like to have to flee our homes in fear of our lives, nor can we fully comprehend the sacrifices Joseph and Mary made in order to be the parents of Christ. Being a holy family for them was full of self-sacrifices. Joseph gave up his pride in order to take Mary as he wife in spite of her being pregnant. He also gave up his home to flee to Egypt where he had no contacts, no prospects of work, and no common language. So too, Mary gave up being close to her family and ultimately would see her beloved son scourged and crucified. Whenever we are tempted to complain about our lot in life or start to take for granted what we have, we should remember that Mary and Joseph suffered much more than we can imagine and though they might not have understood the reasons, they did accept that their trials were for God’s greater glory. Perhaps we should follow in their examples and be willing to trust God’s plan for us and whatever sorrows might come to us for the greater good.

Are we as trusting of God as we should be? How can we become more like Mary and Joseph when it comes to doing God’s Will? Are we willing to go wherever God leads us and do whatever He wants us to do?

O Lord, you called us, help us to rise up and do your will.

Amen.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, 
listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded 
at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, 
and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.

The holy family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph shows us all how to live our lives in relationship with God and each other. We, like Jesus, should always seek to do our Heavenly Father’s Will. So too, we should be like Mary and Joseph seeking to understand Jesus’ role in our lives and the messages God sends us through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. We might not always appreciate the tribulations we suffer, just as Mary and Joseph didn’t, but we can accept with humility that our sorrows can help us grow in wisdom and favor before God and man. This is why we should treasure our trials just as much as we do our triumphs. By doing so, we learn to appreciate not only what we have, but also the sufferings of Christ. In this way, we imitate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ by responding to our adversity in the same way as he did… by not letting it trouble our hearts or sour our souls. The holiness of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph’s family did not come from lack of hardship, but rather the selfless acceptance of God’s Will without counting the cost.

Do we ask God why He has done something to us? How can we learn to transform our anxieties into trust in God’s Divine Plan? How can we appreciate what we have and to be willing to suffer for the glory of God?

O Lord, we shall treasure all your words in our hearts in the hopes of one day growing in wisdom and favor with you and your children.

Amen.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

It is so tempting to talk back to someone who is pushing our buttons, to explain ourselves to others when they question us, or otherwise speak without thinking first. However, it is important for us to hold our tongues and give God a chance to speak through us. When we are in the heat of the moment, we can say or do things we might regret later and so it is important for us to bring God into our thoughts during these moments of trial. We need to learn to have patience with others, especially when they are persecuting us in some way. The best way to do this is by allowing God to form the words of our response with mildness and love. Of course taking a step back from these heated exchanges isn’t easy, it takes time and practice to foster a spirit of calmness in the face of our troubles. But when we succeed at letting God speak through us, we can see the grace-filled results in the reactions of those around us. So the next time we are tempted to speak without thinking, let us take a deep breath and let the inspiration of the Holy Spirit fill us with the right words.

Do we speak before we think? Do we bring the spirit of God into our conversations with others? How can we make God present in all of our relationships?

O Lord, speak through us.

Amen.

Friday, December 25, 2015

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

We should spend every day glorifying and praising God for all He has done for us. Like the shepherds, we should make haste to visit our Lord, especially in the Eucharist, and be ever thankful for the graces He has given us. We should keep all His blessings close to our hearts and reflect on them just as Mary did during her most holy life. Sometimes we can take God and the sacrifices He’s made for us for granted. However, if we set aside time each day to express our gratitude for everything He has done for us, then we will be more aware of His endless graces in our lives.

Do we give glory to God every day? Do we treasure all of the little and great things He does for us? What virtues can we learn from the story of the nativity and the holy family?

O Lord, we glorify and praise you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for us.

Amen.

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Fourth Thursday of Advent

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. 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.

We are all called to be prophets and to prepare the way of the Lord and bring the good news of salvation to others. We do this by following the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, living lives in imitation of Jesus, and giving glory to the Father for the great things He has done for us. We also do this by speaking comforting words to those in need of them and acting with compassion for all God’s children. In a way, we are the first fingers of dawn, heralding the radiant love of God for our families, friends, and neighbors. And if we do God’s Will and become instruments of His shining graces, then we will be like lamps in the darkness of the world, bearing the light of the gospels wherever we go.

 Are we preparing ourselves to be prophets of the Good News? Are we lights of God’s love in the darkness of the world? How can we become better prophets to God’s children?

O Lord, give us the grace to be prophets of your word. Guide our feet onto the way of your peace.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Fourth Wednesday of Advent

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.  When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”  But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

It is human nature to want to share our good news with family and friends, just as Zechariah and Elizabeth did with their relatives and neighbors. When doing so, we should give witness to God’s Goodness in our lives and thank Him for all He has done for us. We also shouldn’t let those who do not understand our faith to get in the way of celebrating our good news. Instead, our attitude of gratitude should be ever present in our thoughts, words, and works no matter who might question our faith. Like Zechariah, we should express our appreciation to God by doing His Will in spite of what others might think. We might not receive an angelic visitation to tell us what God’s Will is, but as long as we form our conscience wisely and well, we will know the right direction we should be taking in our lives. Then, when we do take those first few steps upon the narrow road to salvation, we too will have our mouths opened, our tongues free, and bless God for all He has done for us.

Do we invite others to share in the goods of our lives? Do we do God’s Will even when others might not understand it?  Do we bless God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, we only wish to be called your good and faithful children.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Fourth Tuesday of Advent

From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

God has not only done great things for Mary, but also for all of us. He has given us our lives and our free wills, gifts far greater than we can ever repay through any amount of good deeds. Even more, He has given us His Divine Mercy and offered to lift us out of our slavery to sin. He gave the gift of His Beloved Son's life to pay for our iniquities and cleanse us of our sins. And if we accept His Love, Mercy, and Grace, then we will be lifted up from our lowliness and brought into His Kingdom where He will fill us with good things and adopt us as His heirs.

Do we recognize the great things God has done for us? Do we not only fear disappointing God, but also hope He will lend us His Strength to overcome our weaknesses? Have we accepted the aid God has offered us and seek His protection in our times of need?

O Lord, you have done great things for us, give us the grace to love you as we should.

Amen.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Fourth Monday of Advent

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

After receiving the news that she was to bear the Son of God, Mary travels to visit with her cousin Elizabeth and help her with the final months of her pregnancy. This act of compassion is one which we would do well to imitate throughout our lives. No matter what is going on with us, great or small, we should always make time for others who are in need. We should never let an opportunity to do good pass us by because we are too busy being concerned about our own lives. Mary could have easily focused on her own pregnancy, but instead she chose to help her cousin in her time of need. Mary is blessed not just because she believed God and accepted His Will, but also because she acts with love, mercy, and grace toward others in a spirit of selfless humility.

How do our lives imitate the selfless compassion of Jesus and Mary? Do we make time to know, love, and serve others who are in need? Are we always on the lookout for opportunities to give of ourselves?

O Lord, let us travel to where you need us and do what you will for those in most need of your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Fourth Sunday of Advent

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “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? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Mary is blessed because she believed what God spoke to her would be fulfilled. We might not receive such direct revelations in our lives, but we should prepare ourselves to accept the messages we receive from God through the people in our lives. Elizabeth’s message to Mary is inspired by the Holy Spirit and in our own lives sometimes we say or hear things inspired by God. We might not always be able to understand or appreciate to these moments when God speaks to us through others, but we should try to keep our ears and hearts open to them. And if we do listen to these moments, then our souls will also proclaim the greatness of the Lord and rejoice in the graces that God, our Savior gives us each day.

Are we listening for the words and inspirations of God in our lives? What will we do if we hear them? Do our souls proclaim the greatness of God and our spirits rejoice in His saving graces?

O Lord, let our hearts leap for joy as we meet with Mary in prayer.

Amen.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Third Saturday of Advent

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”

We should never be afraid of doing God’s Will. The obstacles in our way may seem insurmountable or the sufferings unbearable, but God never gives us more than we can bear as long as we ask for and accept His help. If we live our lives in accord with the gospel, we too will have joy and gladness, many will rejoice at our birth, and we will be great in the sight of the Lord. We might not be called to such great things as St. John the Baptist, but what we are called to do in our lives will have the indelible mark of being founded upon Christ. So let us do God’s Will without complaint or hesitation and prepare the way of the Lord.

Are we doing God’s Will in our lives? Do we think, say, and do everything in accord with the gospel message of Christ? What can we do better to prepare the way of the Lord?

O Lord, help us bring joy and gladness into the world through our words and works.

Amen.

Friday, December 18, 2015

Third Friday of Advent

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Sometimes we are afraid to do God’s Will in our lives. We know what must be done, but delay, make excuses, or convince ourselves that other things are more important or we misunderstand what God wants from us. However, nothing is more important than doing God’s Will. We do not need to understand it, but rather to take it on faith that God is guiding us to where we need to be and what we are called to do. So when we discern God’s Will in our lives we should not be afraid, but rather act like Joseph and do what He has commanded us without complaint or hesitation. We can learn a lot about what it means to be a good and faithful servant from Joseph and his attitude of silent obedience to God.

Are we afraid of what God is asking us? Are we willing to be open to the inspirations God sends us? How can we build up the habit of holy obedience to God’s Will in our lives?

O Lord, give us the grace to be not afraid and do as you command us throughout our lives.

Amen.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Third Thursday of Advent

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Christ, fourteen generations.

Why is Matthew so interested in the lineage of Christ? It is to show that Jesus is the culmination of God’s covenant with Abraham and the fulfillment of the royal line of David. Jesus is the New Covenant and the New King and with him comes all the graces and authority of both. His covenant will be a binding one upon all people through every generation. His message of loving God with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and our neighbors as He loves us is at the core of His Good News. We are all called to live our lives in accord with these new commandments and if we do not, then we shall not have a share in the Heavenly Kingdom. However, if we do listen and put into action God’s Will for us, then we shall grow in faith, hope, and charity and one day we shall be able to stand before God and he will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

Do we live our lives in accord with the gospel message of the New Covenant? Do we accept Jesus’ claim to be the rightful king of our hearts? Do we strive to be good and faithful servants every day of our lives?

O Lord, may we be counted among your faithful children when the time of judgment comes.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Third Wednesday of Advent

“John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

When John’s disciples ask Jesus if he is the one who is to come, he points to his good works and miracles. His actions speak louder than any words he could have given in answer. Just as Jesus’ deeds revealed his compassionate nature to John’s disciples, so too should our actions reveal our compassion for others. We can say all the nice words we wish, but if our speech isn’t backed up with works, then they are empty and meaningless. Our faith should be seen as well as heard, not because we want attention, but because when we live Christ-like lives it is clear for all to see. We might not be perfect, but our neighbors can tell that we are striving to be good in spite of our weaknesses, flaws, and imperfections. So let us not only tell of our faith, but show it from this day forth.

Do our words and works match up? Are we a model of Christ for others to see? Do we strive to be the best Christians we can be?

O Lord, help us to speak rightly and well, but act even better towards God and our neighbors, especially those in most need of a compassionate hand.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Third Tuesday of Advent

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion? 
A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.”

It is better for us to do good without hesitation, but sometimes we hesitate, complain, or put off doing the right thing. However, if in the end, we do the right thing in spite of our hesitation, complaints, or procrastination, then at least we have done God’s Will… albeit belatedly. Worse than being slow to do good is promising to do good and then not following through on our word. This can happen when we become distracted, choose sin purposefully, or otherwise avoid doing the right thing in favor of some lesser good. In these cases, we fail to do God’s Will and compound the problem by not following through on our stated intentions. Our words have meaning, but our actions hold more weight. We can pay lip service to God through our prayers, but without works to back those words up, our prayers are like clanging cymbals with no real meaning.

Do our words and prayers mean something? What can we do to give our words true meaning? What actions can we take to make our faith manifest?

O Lord, let us go out into the vineyard and work without delay and without distraction.

Amen.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

“I shall ask you one question, and if you answer it for me, then I shall tell you by what authority I do these things. Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” They discussed this among themselves and said, “If we say ‘Of heavenly origin,’ he will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.” So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” He himself said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Where was Jesus’ authority from? This is the question the chief priests and elders put to Jesus, but it is also the question at the center of our faith lives. In our lives, we will eventually have to answer if we believe that Jesus’ authority is of heavenly or human origin. If we truly believe Christ's authority is heavenly, then we will choose to live our lives in accord with his gospel message and imitate him in everything we do. Without a faith in Jesus’ divine authority, we have nothing firm to hold onto in our lives. If Jesus is just a man, then there would be no Savior of the World and no life everlasting. Thankfully, we believe Jesus is not only man, but divine, too. His authority isn’t just a human one, but an eternal one. This is why we are called to trust in him, put aside our doubts, and live out his gospel message.

Do we believe Jesus’ authority is from heaven? If so, then how has that effected the way we live our lives? What do we do to live out the gospel message Jesus gave to us through the New Testament?

O Lord, your authority is divine. Help us to respect and bow to it always.

Amen.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

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.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”

Like Mary, our souls should proclaim the greatness of the Lord and our spirits should rejoice in God our savior. Our every thought, word, and work should declare that we are good disciples of Christ. Our faith should guide us through our daily lives. Our hope should sustain us through our trials and tribulations. Our love should be poured out to God and His children. In this way, we will imitate Jesus and Mary in their complete surrender to God’s Will. At the same time, we should be joyful servants no matter what obstacles get in our way or what sufferings we must undergo to do God’s Will. In this way, we imitate and unite ourselves to the passion, crucifixion, and death of Christ, which is the source of our salvation.

Do our words and works proclaim the greatness of the Lord? Do we rejoice in Jesus, Our Savior? How can we learn to be a good and faithful servant like Mary?

O Lord, help us to be more like Mary and live lives that proclaim your greatness.

Amen.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Second Friday of Advent

Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”

Wisdom is an important virtue to build up in our lives. When we have it, we know when to fast and when to feast. We do not mourn the loss of those things that keep us from doing God’s Will, nor do we feast upon those things which weigh us down with sin. Instead, we fast in order to purify ourselves of our attachments to worldly things and we feast to celebrate the graces God has given us to overcome our trials. Fasting is something that many do not understand the need for, but it is imperative that we cultivate the ability to fast and offer up all our sacrifices to God for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of souls. Feasting is also important because we should be thankful for all the goods we have been given by God. And in the spirit of graciousness, we should be willing to share all our gifts with our fellow children of God.

Do we know when to fast? Do we know when to feast? Are we cultivating the wisdom we need to live gracious and fruitful lives?

O Lord, grant us the wisdom to know when to fast and when to feast.

Amen.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Second Thursday of Advent

Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

In a way, we are all called to be John the Baptist in our lives. We are asked by God to become prophets of Jesus’ life, teachings, and sacrifice. This is not an easy task. Others will oppose us, but it is a necessary step along the way to our salvation. If our lives do not proclaim the coming of the Lord, then what good are they? We shall have nothing to show for our lives if we do not fast, pray, proclaim, and evangelize as John did, though a life of example to those around him. So let us be beacons on a hill, voices in the wilderness, giving glory to God and preparing the way of the Lord into the hearts of others.

Are we willing to be prophets of the gospel of Christ? What have we done to proclaim the kingdom of heaven in our lives and the lives of others? Have we prepared the way of God into our hearts and the hearts of others?

O Lord, make us into prophets of your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Second Wednesday of Advent

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 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.

Jesus’ Good News is an easy yoke to bear compared to the burdens of the Law. His commandments can be boiled down to two: Love God with all your hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and love your neighbor as God loves you. Some might find these two commandments difficult to do, especially if they have been mistreated by others or doubt God’s love for them. However, Jesus is telling us all the truth. If we all loved properly, there would be no burden in our lives, we would have the rest that comes from the inner peace of doing God’s Will. It is our own anxieties, worries, doubts, fears, sins, and imperfections that weigh us down and lead us astray. They shackle us to worldly things which run us ragged and never give us rest. The only way to find the rest we need is to be like Jesus, meek and humble of heart. We must be willing to put aside our pride and forgive those who persecute us so we can love them just as God loves them in spite of their faults. We, like Jesus, should give others every chance to do the right thing. We also need to realize we do not have a right to be free of suffering in our lives. Jesus, the sinless servant of all, suffered a thousand times worse than any of us have and yet we, in our pride, think we ought to be spared any evil. How can the metal of our souls be tested if we do not undergo periods of suffering in our lives. And when we do suffer, we should unite our trials with those of Jesus for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners (especially ourselves), and the salvation of souls.

Are we willing to take up the yoke of Christ and love God and our neighbors properly? What have we been doing to cultivate meek and humble hearts? Are we also willing to undergo our own passions so that a greater good can come out of them?

O Lord, we accept your yoke with meek and humble hearts.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”

Mary is full of grace and is always willing to intercede with God when we are in need of graces in our own lives. She has the unique experience of being born without original sin, but what we often forget is that just like Adam and Eve who were created in a state of original justice, she too would have had temptations. The difference between Mary and Adam and Eve is she chose to obey God and make her fiat to Him without reservation. She might not have understood what it meant to become Jesus’ mother, especially the trials and tribulations of his life, passion, and death. However, we can be confident she would have accepted them and the sorrows his suffering caused her, knowing the glory and salvation that would flow from Christ’s sacrifice would be worth the cost. Mary is also our spiritual mother and when she sees us suffering and struggling in our lives she will not abandon us. She will come to our aid if we call out for her intercession. So let us accept Jesus’ gift of his mother to all his disciples and allow her to comfort and protect us in our times of need and fill us with the graces we need to overcome all our trials.

Are we willing to make our lives a living “Yes!” to God just as Mary did? Do we seek her out in pray to help intercede for us in our times of need? Do we accept her as our graceful mother, who is always at our side?

O Lord, thank you for the gift of your graceful mother.

Amen.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set him in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle in front of Jesus.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”

We all need help on our way to following Christ. Some, like the paralytic man, need physical help to meet Jesus where he is. Others need mental, emotional, or spiritual help to find their way to Jesus. Sometimes the help we receive is from another person, who shows us what it means to be Christ-like. Other times, we have a sudden conversion of heart because of an event in our lives. Of course just because we realize that we need Jesus doesn’t mean getting to him will be easy. There will be obstacles in our way, built up over time by our bad habits and misguided relationships. But no matter what these hindrances might be, if we are persistent and willing to do whatever it takes to make Jesus present in our lives, eventually we will be able to find him and be forgiven. Along the way, we will probably need more help from others and further conversion experiences. This is why it is so important to surround ourselves with relationships that build up our faith because without good people to carry us when we are weak and direct us when we are lost, we might never make it to Jesus.

Who are the people in our lives that are helping us get closer to God? Do we listen to their council or to the council of more worldly people? Are we willing to persist in our pursuit of Jesus even if it requires us to give up everything else?

O Lord, forgive our sins.

Amen.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Second Sunday of Advent

John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

Advent is a time of preparation and one of the things we are called to prepare is our hearts. We need to make them ready to receive the Lord and make straight the paths of our lives. There are many obstacles in our way, the primary of these being our own sinfulness. Our pride, greed, lust, wrath, sloth, envy, and gluttony get in the way. The narrow road to salvation is surrounded by temptations that will lead us astray. If we truly wish to prepare the way of the Lord in our own lives, then we will need to overcome our sins by building up good habits and filling in our lives with virtues. Our road to heaven starts with God’s Mercy, but we also need to walk that narrow path with contrite hearts and spirits of repentance.

Are we preparing the way of the Lord in our lives? What are we doing to make straight our paths to Heaven? What are the obstacles, sins, distractions, imperfections, etc., which are keeping us from doing God’s Will?

O Lord, help us to prepare our hearts for you.

Amen.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

First Saturday of Advent

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.  Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

Jesus reminds us that without cost we have received his love, mercy, and grace and in order to be his disciples, we are to give these to others without cost. God’s love for us is unconditional. His mercy is inexhaustible. His grace is ever present. In the same way, we should be loving, merciful, and full of grace toward all whom we meet. We are all called to be laborers for the harvest of souls and although we might not have miraculous powers, we can be instruments of God’s Will in everything we do. We can go into the world and proclaim the kingdom through our humble words and self-sacrificing works. God has given each of us the powers we need to be Godbearers in this world. We have only to accept the mantle and do everything within our power to be good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

Are we willing to labor for the kingdom of God? Do our thoughts, words, and works proclaim the Good News? Do we give ourselves to others without counting the cost?

O Lord, you have given us everything. Let us give everything to others in the same spirit of generosity.

Amen.

Friday, December 4, 2015

First Friday of Advent

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!”  When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

After the blind men ask Jesus to have pity on them, Jesus asks them if they believe he can heal them. They both respond with “Yes, Lord.” This is the spirit of faith and hope we all need to have in the midst of the sufferings of our lives. We need to believe God is able to help us out of whatever trials we are undergoing. Our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths must say with one voice, “Yes, Lord, we do believe.” Then our eyes will be open to God’s love, mercy, and grace and we will be able to see His helping hand actively aiding us every day of our lives. What a comfort it is to know our God is interceding for us in our every need. He is ready to heal us of any ill if we but ask Him to have pity on us and believe He will respond to our pleas.

Do we ask God to have pity on us when we are in the midst of our trials? Do we believe He will help us? Have our eyes been open to the love, mercy, and grace God shows us every day?

O Lord, have pity on us and heal us.

Amen.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Jesus makes clear that to become wise we must listen to his words and act on them. We cannot simply sit passively by and never respond to the responsibilities the gospels place upon Christ’s disciples. When we hear Jesus’ message of love, we must respond to it by living charitable lives. So too, we must be forgiving and merciful just as Christ states in the Good News. We also need to be willing to suffer while proclaiming the gospels just as Jesus did. We cannot be servants of God if all we give Him is our ears and not our hearts. We must internalize God’s message of faith, hope, and charity and then manifest it through our words and works.

Do we not only listen to the Word of God, but display its truths in our daily lives? Are our lives founded upon the teachings of the gospels or on the shifting sands of worldly things? Have we given God all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths?

O Lord, help us to put your words into action.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

First Wednesday of Advent

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “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.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

After curing the lame, blind, deaf, deformed, and many others, Jesus shows compassion for the crowd and orders his disciples to feed them with what little they had on hand. This miracle shows not only Jesus’ concern for the well-being of his brothers and sisters, but also his ability to multiply the gifts we have. Each of us is like the disciples, we have a something to offer, but sometimes in our eyes it is not enough. However, Jesus does not look at what we have to offer and see a lack, but rather he sees the faith, hope, and love behind the gift. If we are willing to give God our time, talents, and treasures, He will multiply them a thousand fold and from our surplus He will feed His children body, mind, and soul.

Do we show compassion to and concern for others? What time, talents, and treasures do we have to offer God? Are we willing to trust God and give these things to Him so that He can give thanks over them and multiply them?

O Lord, we give thanks for all we have and offer everything to you so that you may do with it what you will.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

First Tuesday of Advent

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “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. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

We are blessed in many ways. We have the Word of God proclaimed to us in the Good News of the New Testament. In addition, we are able to see and partake in the Body and Blood of Christ every time we go to Mass. How many people do not get the chance to see the cross or hear Christ's message of hope? God also offers us the opportunity to cultivate child-like spirits, which will help us to know, love, and serve Him with fidelity and humility. In today’s world it is frowned upon to “need” someone for anything, but we all need our Heavenly Father and the love and protection He offers us each and every day. We can’t be servants of God if we do not first choose to be His children.

Do we have child-like spirits? If not, then how can we cultivate our spirits so we can be true children of God and heirs to His Kingdom? Do we keep our eyes open and our ears peeled for the Good News wherever it might be found?

O Lord, let us give praise to our Heavenly Father for all that He has revealed to us.

Amen.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

It sounds so easy for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave everything behind and follow Jesus, but how many of us would do the same? We have so many responsibilities, doubts, fears, and distractions that it’s almost impossible to think of leaving them all behind and starting over with Christ. However, sometimes in our lives God calls us to move out of our comfort zones and leave everything we known in order to do His Will. We can always deny Jesus by claiming we already do this or that, or have too much on our plates, or make some other excuse to keep ourselves from being led to where we do not want to go. These moments of selfishness tempt us away from God’s Divine Plan. We must recognize that in order to be true disciples of Christ, we need to be willing to follow him away from everything we know and hold dear. We must be willing to sacrifice ourselves. Otherwise we will never reach our full potential as Christians and we will be the lesser for it.

What is keeping us from following Jesus? Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves for God and His children? How are we preparing ourselves to be fishers of men?

O Lord, give us the grace to leave everything and follow you.

Amen.

Sunday, November 29, 2015

First Sunday of Advent

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

If we live our lives in accordance with Jesus’ teachings, we will have nothing to fear at the end of our lives or at the end of time. We will be able to stand erect and raise our head, confident in our redemption. What a wonderful gift God has given us in Jesus and his Good News. He has shown us the way to our salvation. It is by becoming more Christ-like that we will be able to prepare ourselves for the trials and tribulations of life and be able to come out of them with hearts forged in the fires of suffering and tempered with love and mercy. We do not need to be afraid of the end because it shall also be the beginning of our lives with God in Heaven as long as we have lived a good life.

Are we afraid of the end of our lives or the end times? If so, then why are we fearful and what can we do to change our fears into hopes? Are we willing to have our hearts tested, purified, and cleansed through whatever means God chooses?

O Lord, may we stand erect and raise our heads as we wait in hope for your coming.

Amen.

One Year Anniversary!!!

It's hard to believe I've been posting spiritual reflections for a whole year, but it's true!

Thanks to everyone who has visited this blog and followed along as I've walked this journey of spiritual reflection. I look forward to reading and reflecting on the gospel of Mark with you, just as we read the gospel of Luke this past year.*

I hope you will continue to enjoy my reflections and grow in faith, hope, and love as you reflect with me on the Good News.

*For those who don't know, each year's readings focus on a particular gospel: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John is used for special occasions, such as the Easter season. This way Catholics essentially read the entire New Testament every three years.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Thirty-Forth Saturday of Ordinary Time

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

There are many ways in which we become drowsy of heart. We can become slothful through our choice of how we live our lives. Some of us carouse or drink, others are caught up in the anxieties of daily life. Many of us choose entertainment and worldly distractions over knowing, loving, and serving God and His children. It is so easy to waste our time on meaningless things and never realize how many opportunities to know, love, and serve God and others are lost because we were too preoccupied with our own pleasures. If we wish to follow Christ, then we must be vigilant in our faith and pray for the strength to do God’s Will in all things. We are on this earth because we are called to be Christ-like, but we cannot do that if we lose ourselves in the diversions of this world.

What are the things in our lives that distract us from doing God’s Will? How can we build up the habit of vigilance in our spiritual lives? Are we living our lives as if Jesus is before us?

O Lord, help us to be vigilant and to pray for your strength in the midst of out trials and temptations.

Amen.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Thirty-Forth Friday of Ordinary Time

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.
When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

After Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the gentiles, he tells his disciples this parable because he wants them to know that although much suffering will be coming to Jerusalem his disciples should not misunderstand it and despair. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of his gospel will never perish because they are the truth and never changing. Each of us is called to found our faith upon Jesus’ message of love, mercy, and grace. Unlike worldly things and people, the truths of Christ will not pass away. They will not fail us. They will last now and forever. We can learn a lot from Jesus’ words. We have only to open ourselves to them, study them, and let them work through us from this day forth.

Are we afraid of suffering or the end of our lives? Is our faith firmly founded upon our beliefs in Jesus’ Good News? Do we allow God to work through us in imitation of Jesus Christ?

O Lord, your words will never pass away. Let them remain in our hearts, always.

Amen.

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Thanksgiving Day

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

As Christians, we should take time to be thankful for all the blessings we’ve had in our lives not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. Our thoughts, words, and works ought to be like the Samaritan’s by glorifying and thanking God for all He has done for us. In a manner of speaking, we should live lives of constant Thanks-living, recognizing every good we have has its source in God. By fostering such an attitude of gratitude, we are reminded that all our triumphs and joys come from God and it is to Him that all glory should be given for whatever successes we experience. He should be the center and summit of our lives, just as much as He is the source of them. Only by cultivating thankful and humble hearts can we hope to receive the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do we take time every day to be thankful to God? What are we thankful for today? How can we cultivate an attitude of gratitude in our lives?

O Lord, we glorify you and thank you for all you have done for us.

Amen.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Thirty-Forth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

“They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

We will be hated because of Jesus’ name. It’s a hard message to understand, but as we go throughout life, we experience various persecutions because of our faith. We might not be led off to prison or put to death for our beliefs, but we shall see the face of persecution in others. They might be our family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, or strangers, but we will know them by the hatred behind their words and works. We will be tempted to respond in kind, but when faced with these temptations, we should remember Jesus’ example and choose perseverance over revenge. Just as he forgave those who trespassed against him and put him to death, so too we must forgive those who trespass against us. One way we can do this is by following the advice of today’s gospel: to let God respond through us. We can do this by not being reactionary in our speech and actions. It is easy to be caught up in the heat of the moment and say or do something in defense of ourselves that we will regret later. Instead, we should prepare no defense, offer up our thoughts to God and seek His inspiration as to how we should respond. Sometimes taking those extra few moments to bring God into our response will be enough to keep us from seeking revenge on those who persecute us and instead transform the negative experience of maltreatment into a positive one of merciful forgiveness.

Who are the people who mistreat or persecute us? Do we respond to them out of love or hatred? How can we foster a spirit of mercy in the face of our persecutors?

O Lord, grant us your wisdom and perseverance.

Amen.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

“See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.”

As followers of Jesus, we pray for the end times to come and hope to be found among the good and faithful servants when it arrives, but we shouldn’t be so focused on the Day of Judgment that we lose sight of our chances to love God and His children today. Yes, it’s good to plan for the future, but we should never do so at the expense of doing God’s Will in the present. Our best laid plans cannot foresee everything that will come into our lives and so we should be willing to let go and let God lead us when the time comes. When things don’t turn out how we hoped or imagined they might, we should not lose faith, but rather see our trials and tribulations as opportunities to grow in our trust of the Lord. When the end comes, we will know it, so rather than worrying about when it will come, we should focus our energies on ensuring that if it does come, we will be ready for it.

What things have we hoped for, but never obtained? Do we believe God has a good reason for keeping these things away from us? Are we properly focused on being the best disciple of Christ today rather than tomorrow?

O Lord, we want only to follow you, not our own petty desires.

Amen.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Thirty-Forth Monday of Ordinary Time

When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

We all have different talents and livelihoods, but we are all called to offer what we have to God for His glory and the good of others. We can be tempted to hold something back in selfishness like the wealthy people in this reading, but we must not let ourselves be afraid to give God our all. Those who give everything to God, like the widow, will build up a treasury of graces for themselves in Heaven. They will be repaid by God with a thousand-fold interest for even the smallest act of love or mercy.

What talents has God given us to use on His behalf? How are we putting our livelihoods to work for the Lord? What small acts of kindness can we perform throughout our lives to build up a treasury of graces in Heaven?

O Lord, we give you our whole livelihoods.

Amen.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?"  Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here."  So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Jesus’ kingdom does not belong to this world and if we want to be part of it, then we cannot belong to this world either. We must foster within our souls a holy detachment from worldly things and people. Our trust should be in God and our energies should be focused on knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities. We are also called to listen to God’s voice within our hearts and testify to the truth even if doing so causes us to be persecuted or undergo other troubles in our lives. It is far more important to suffer temporary trials and tribulations and become a child of God’s heavenly kingdom, then to be worldly creatures and suffer eternal separation from God because of our selfishness. As followers of Christ, we should always choose life with God over death in sin.

Do we believe Jesus is our King and Savior? How do we make our beliefs known through our thoughts, words, and works? Have we formed a spirit of holy detachment from the things and people of this world?

O Lord, you are our King and we belong to you.

Amen.

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.  That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

The Sadducees tried to trick Jesus and call into question the concept of resurrection, but they fail because Jesus understood their tactics and responded in an unexpected manner. He did not give the Sadducees an answer that would trap him, but rather an answer that points to a deeper truth at the heart of their question. He makes clear that God is the Lord of the Living, not the dead. God is present in all times and so for Him all are alive. Only mortal sin can deaden us to God and that because we willfully choose to be cut off from God through our choice of selfish sin over selfless servitude to our Savior. Those who know, love, and serve God and His children will always be alive in God’s sight. As such, let us make a point to always have God as the source, center, and summit of our lives so that we too might one day be resurrected.

Do we live our lives as if God is always present? Do we think, say, and do everything in a manner worthy of life everlasting? What sins are holding us back from living lives dedicated to God?

O Lord, find us worthy to attain to your coming and the resurrection of the dead.

Amen.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Thirty-Third Friday of Ordinary Time

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, my house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Just as Jesus drove out those who were selling things in the temple area, so must we drive out all those things that defile the temples of our souls. Our sins, imperfections, distractions, worldly possessions, and unhealthy relationships need to be thrust away from us if we wish to make room for God within our hearts. However, the Devil will be on the lookout for ways to enter our hearts and defile the temple of our souls. We must guard against him and be willing to suffer whatever might happen to us because of our desire to do God’s Will.

What are the people or things in our lives that defile the temple of our souls? How can we cleanse ourselves of these evil influences? What do we do to guard against the temptations of the Devil?

O Lord, let us hang upon your every word and not upon the evil influences of this world.

Amen.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Thirty-Third Thursday of Ordinary Time

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace–but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Jesus always shows compassion to sinners, even those who are persecuting him. He wishes all God’s children would listen to his gospel message of love, mercy, and grace, but alas he knows this is not the way of the world. How many of us would take pity on those who were about to abuse, torture, and kill us? But a heart of compassion is exactly what Jesus wants from us. If he can forgive those who will crucify him, then how much more should we be willing to forgive those who trespass against us? However, this gospel is also a warning to those who persecute him or his followers. Those who do not recognize Christ as their savior will be punished for their offenses. But what does that mean for us who are Christians? Perhaps it means that when we are afforded the opportunity to do good by loving our God or neighbor, we should welcome the chance and do everything within our power to do God’s Will. Jesus may not be coming in the flesh to visit us, but he does come to us within the hearts of those who are in need of our love and mercy.

Are we willing to love and be merciful toward those who persecute us? Are we keeping an eye out for opportunities to welcome Jesus into our lives through others? Are our hearts open to Jesus' spirit of compassion?

O Lord, help us to have compassion on those who harm us.

Amen.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Thirty-Third Wednesday of Ordinary Time

‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’

We are all given gifts by God and He asks us to use them for His greater glory. However, if we hide our time, talents, and treasures or do not use them as God intended, then we will suffer a similar fate to the fearful servant. We shall have nothing to show for all the gifts God has given us and at the end of our lives, He will take away all that we have and we shall be left with nothing but our regrets. We should know that God wants us to do more with our lives, then merely survive or succeed in our worldly endeavors. He wants us to bear good fruit, to bring in a spiritual profit, and be willing to harvest where we are needed. We cannot do that if we are afraid to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom of God. So let us be faithful stewards of the time, talents, and treasures God has given us, lest we perish at the point of God’s justice.

What are we doing with the time, talents, and treasures God has given us? What do we have to offer Him now? How can we make our lives a living gift to God and His children?

O Lord, help us to use our God-given gifts to bear much fruit.

Amen.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious

Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

If only all of us come be more like Zacchaeus in seeking out Jesus in our lives. It’s so easy to become distracted and discouraged by the world and to miss our opportunities to meet with Christ. However, we must be persistent and continue to try to know, love, and serve God and His children as best as we can so that when we do reach the place where Jesus is, he will come and stay within our hearts. When that day comes, we must also be able to let go of our possessions and make reparations for our sins. Then, God will give us the salvation we should be seeking and we shall be found in Him.

Are we persistent in seeking out God? Are we listening for His call? Are we willing to give up our possessions and repay all those whom we have harmed?

O Lord, we are seeking you. Help us to find our way to you.

Amen.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Thirty-Third Monday of Ordinary Time

“Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

The blind man addresses Jesus as the Son of David, a reference to his role as the Messiah. In response to the blind man’s request, Jesus heals him. This act of compassion leads the blind man to follow Jesus and give glory to God. It is the type of response that reminds us that whenever we have our prayers answered or succeed in life, we should always give God the thanks and praise He deserves for His role in our goods and successes. We, like the blind man, are afflicted with blindness, too. The darkness of sin covers our good judgment like a blindfold and we can wander for a very long time without knowing where we are going or remembering that there is a light out there trying to show us the way. However, we must cry out to Jesus to have pity on us and heal us of our sinful afflictions just as the blind man did so long ago. We can do this through the sacrament of reconciliation and after Jesus has opened our eyes to God’s goodness once again, we should follow Christ and give glory to God from that day forward and forevermore.

What are the things in our lives that are blinding us and keeping us from following Christ? Do we seek Jesus’ help in overcoming our interior darkness so that we can see God’s goodness once again? Do we seek reconciliation with God whenever we fall?

O Lord, grant us the sight of faith so that we might follow you where we need to go and give glory to God.

Amen.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Sometimes we hear the end is near, the Day of Judgment is coming, and many other warnings about the end of time. We should listen to Jesus’ advice and realize that no one knows the day or hour of the Second Coming and it’s not our job as Christians to guess at when it will come. Instead, we should be preparing for its arrival as if each day is our last one on earth. We should also be praying for the end to come. After all, when the Day of Judgment arrives Christ will come with it as well as our opportunity to spend eternity in the loving presence of God. If we live our lives in love and service of God and His children, then we have nothing to fear.

What can we do to keep ourselves grounded in doing God’s Will and not worrying about things that are beyond our control? Are we preparing ourselves for the end of our lives and spending eternity with God? Will we be able to honestly tell God we were good and faithful servants?

O Lord, we want to spend eternity with you in heaven.

Amen.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

Thirty-Second Saturday of Ordinary Time

“There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.  And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,  because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.  Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Persistence pays off, especially in our spiritual lives. Just like the widow, we shouldn’t give up on our desire for a fair judgment in regards to our hopes and our dreams. Sometimes God might not answer us in the way we desired Him to, but He will answer us and His judgment will be just and exactly what we need at the time. When we pray for answers or help from God sometimes we can grow impatient and wonder why He isn’t answering us, but perhaps we are missing His clues and walking past the answers right beneath our noses. Or maybe He is giving us an answer that we just don’t want to accept and so we ignore His judgment and cling to someone or something that keeps us blinded to what is right in our lives. It is up to us to be persistent in our prayer life, but God will be the ultimate arbiter of the answers we receive and as long as we accept them when they come, we will grow in faith and wisdom.

Are we persistent in our spiritual lives? Do we trust that God will answer our prayers to our benefit, even when those answers go against our initial desires? Will Jesus find faith in our hearts when he comes again?

O Lord, render a just decision for me in all that I pray for.

Amen.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.

We don’t know the day or the hour of the second coming of Christ, and because of this we should live every day as if it was our last one. We need to be detached from our possessions and willing to sacrifice them in love of God and His children. It is only by losing our lives through acts of charity and mercy that we can preserve our lives for the Lord. We will be constantly tempted away from God through our own selfishness, but we must take every opportunity to come to know, love, and serve God and His children as best we can.

Do we make time for worldly things or for heavenly ones? Are we possessed by our possessions or can we walk away from them? Are we willing to lose our lives through sacrifices of love and mercy?

O Lord, give us the strength to let go of everything that is keeping us away from you.

Amen.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

Jesus gives two answers to the Pharisees’ question about when the Kingdom of God would come. The first was publicly given and tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of Heaven is among them in the presence of himself. However, to his disciples Jesus talks about the second coming of Christ. He reminds them that they should not be like the Pharisees and wonder about the when of the second coming, but rather that they should be vigilantly focused on doing God’s Will until his return. He tells them to ignore all the signs because all they will do is distract them from their greater calling. Lastly, he warns them that he will suffer greatly and be rejected. Bringing the good news to others does not necessarily mean that they will receive it with open hearts and so we must be willing to suffer for God’s glory just as Jesus did in his life.

Do we realize that God is always with us? Are our lives focused on the Kingdom of Heaven or kingdom of the Earth? Are we willing to suffer in order to bear the gospel to others?

O Lord, we unite our sufferings to yours for your greater glory and the hope of Heaven.

 Amen.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed.  And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?”  Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

When someone does us a kindness, we ought to thank them for all they have done for us. How much more should we be thanking God for sending His beloved Son to sacrifice himself for us? But how much time do we spend thanking God for all of the graces in our lives? Or have we come to expect God to heal us physically, spiritually, and emotionally? Perhaps this is why the other lepers did not return. They expected to be healed and so when it happened they did not give thanks to Jesus. There is a fine line between hoping for something and expecting it. As disciples of Christ, we should never demand things of God because we have no claim over Him. All our good deeds have their source, center, and summit in Him and when we allow God to work through us through acts of love and mercy, we are merely doing what we should. This is why it is so important to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness and willingness to receive nothing in return for the good we do.

Do we ask God to have pity on us? If He does help us in some manner, do we give Him thanks and glorify Him? Are we hopeful and humble servants of God, rather than expectant and prideful servants of self?

O Lord, may our faith and hope in you save us.

Amen.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

Jesus reminds us that just because we know, love, and serve God and His children we should not expect to be given honors and compensation. We are merely doing what we should be doing as disciples of Christ. We also should remember that all of our good works have their source in God. We are merely His instruments and unprofitable servants. This can be hard for some people to accept, but just because we are good doesn’t mean we deserve anything from God. Instead, we should focus on serving Him as well as we can and do everything He asks us to do.

Do we recognize that all our good thoughts, words, and works have their source and inspiration in God? Are we willing to be unprofitable servants and serve Him always and in every way no matter the cost? Are we listening to God’s Will and doing as He commands us?

O Lord, you are the source of all good. Inspire us to be good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

The temple Jesus was talking about was his body, which was a living temple to his Heavenly Father. In the same way, our bodies are temples to God and we should take care of them and protect them from misuse. Just as Jesus drives out all of those who are misusing the temple, so must we drive out all of the sins and influences in our lives, which keep us from attending to our heavenly duties. We should not lose sight of our calling to be living temples of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. It is only by becoming Godbearers that we can fulfill ourselves and be found worthy of resurrection on the last day.

What are the things in our lives that distract us from fully embracing our calling to become living temples to God? How can we drive these worldly things, imperfections, and sins from our hearts? Are we consumed by zeal for our Heavenly Father’s house?

O Lord, consume us with zeal for you and your heavenly kingdom.

Amen.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."

Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t mean we should seek honor for ourselves or exult ourselves above others. Instead, we are asked to be more like the poor widow and give everything we have to God. We are not supposed to make our charitable and merciful acts for the specific purpose of having them seen, but rather because it is the right thing to do. Sure someone may see us doing good and honor us for it, but that shouldn’t be the point of our deeds. Like Mary and the poor widow, we should do God’s Will without counting the cost and without expectation of honor. We are not to become puffed up peacocks like the Pharisees, but rather to be little ones of God thinking, speaking, and doing what our Heavenly Father asks us to do through the Holy Spirit.

Do we seek honor and exultation or do we seek God’s Will? When we commit acts of charity and mercy, do we expect others to recognize or thank us? How can we learn to be little ones of God, always doing what is right without counting the cost or expecting anything in return?

O Lord, we give you all we possess. Do with it what you will.

Amen.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Thirty-First Saturday of Ordinary Time

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Jesus tells his followers to make friends with dishonest wealth so that when it fails them they will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. This message reinforces Jesus’ teaching that we should renounce worldly possessions in favor of heavenly ones. In the end, the dishonest wealth of the world will fail us all. However, if we cannot be honest in our dealings with worldly things, then how can we hope to be trustworthy with the true wealth of Jesus’ Good News? This is why Jesus tells his disciples to make friends of dishonest wealth. He is not telling them to be dishonest in seeking wealth, but rather to learn how to be honest in their worldly dealings so that those dealings do not lead them astray.

Are we trustworthy in worldly things? What about heavenly ones? Are we able to renounce our worldly possessions in favor of our heavenly ones?

O Lord, we only wish to serve you.

Amen.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Thirty-First Friday of Ordinary Time

He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’  He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.

The steward in this parable has squandered his masters property and is about to be removed from his position. However, instead of calling in the debtors and forcing them to pay him his usurious fees so that he might have money, he waves the fees and has each debtor write a new promissory note. These new notes are written for the amount owed to the master minus the steward’s normal fees. He does this to ingratiate himself with his master’s debtors giving up his fees for the gratitude of others. Jesus remarks about the prudence of this sacrifice and how we can learn from this steward about how to handle those in debt to us. We can either demand repayment plus interest for short-term gain and the animosity of those in our debt or we can forgive those who are indebted to us and perhaps gain their long-term admiration. Not that we should forgive others with the expectation of some later return. This would not be truly forgiving another’s debt to us, but rather changing the manner of repayment. Instead, we are asked to forgive and forget and then let the other person decide how to react to our generosity. Perhaps by our example, they too will learn to do the same to others in their lives and we will have been an instrument of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace.

What have we squandered in our own lives? Who are the people we believe to be in our debt? How can we forgive and forget their debt to us?

O Lord, let us be prudent in our dealings with others and be able to forgive the debts others owe to us without counting the cost or expecting anything in return.

Amen.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Thirty-First Thursday of Ordinary Time

“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”

It’s easy to love and relate with those whom we like. It is much more difficult to love those whom we do not like. However, this is what Jesus is calling us to do. He is asking us to go out of our way for those whom are lost in sin. We can’t do that if we judge the lost and decide they cannot be saved or are too much trouble to deal with. Instead, we need to love everyone as best we can and show them the mercy Jesus would if he was with us. We need to be willing to go the extra mile to know, love, and serve those who are in most need of God’s Love and Mercy. Thankfully, we are not alone. Jesus is with us and always willing to give us a hand.

Are we willing to search out those in need of God’s Love and Mercy? Do we make Jesus present to others through our thoughts, words, and works? Do we love everyone, even those we dislike, just as Jesus would?

O Lord, let us help you to find your lost sheep and bring them back into the fold.

Amen.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion?  Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.   In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

We are constantly tempted to become attached to people and possessions, to rush into things without counting the cost, or to force an issue out of pride. We need to learn how to renounce our attachments, passions, and prideful hearts. These can lead us away from God’s Will by blinding us to what God is calling us to do. We cannot be the disciples of God and still be followers of the world. We live in the world, but shouldn’t be so invested in it that we cannot put aside our relationships, possessions, and successes to follow God’s to wherever He is calling us. It is His Divine Plan, which should take precedence over our worldly ones, not the other way around. So let us be willing to let go of worldly things and let God lead us to heavenly ones.

Are we overly attached to a particular person or possession? Have we taken stock of our spiritual lives and made sure we have all that we need to build up Christ within us? Are we willing to set aside our passions and pride to do the right thing?

O Lord, help us to renounce everything that stands in the way of becoming good and faithful disciples to you.

Amen.