Monday, August 31, 2015

Twenty-Second Monday of Ordinary Time

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

We are all called to be Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and works and here Jesus gives us an idea of how we can do this. We need to be bearers of the good news to those around us, especially the poor and those in need of God’s love, mercy, and grace. Through our words and works we can bring comfort and perhaps even joy into the lives of those who need it most. If we do this, we will become living scriptures, manifesting God’s Will in all things and bearing witness to the gospel with our daily actions. Let us proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord with our every breath and thereby summon others to know, love, and serve the Lord and each other.

How do we bring glad tidings to the poor or liberty to the captives? How do we free the oppressed and those in most need of God’s mercy? What can we do in our lives to proclaim the kingdom of God?

O Lord, help us to manifest your gospel message with our every word and work.

Amen.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.

Appearances do not necessarily reflect one’s spirit. Just because someone’s appearance or outward actions turn us off, does not give us the right to judge them harshly. We do not know their hearts or the reasons they do what they do. Instead, we should focus on our interior lives. We know better than anyone else (except for God) what is in our hearts and if our hearts are full of sin, then our thoughts, words, and works will be full of sin, too. We will manifest our evil inclinations in a myriad of ways great and small. So let us focus our attention on keeping ourselves spiritually clean and not on judging others for the faults we see in them.

Do we judge others? What are our greatest sins? How can we cleanse ourselves of them?

O Lord, cleanse our hearts of all sin and imperfection.

Amen.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him.

When we hear the truth, our hearts recognize it, but sometimes we fear the truth or are perplexed by it like Herod was because as sinners our ability to listen to God with open hearts has been compromised. We let our selfishness stop up our ears and keep us from hearing the word of God and living it out with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. Hopefully, we will learn from Herod’s mistake and not repeat it in our own lives. We should surround ourselves with and learn from those people who are righteous and holy in our lives.

Who are the righteous and holy people in our lives? Have we sought to surround ourselves with good people? Are our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths open to the good news?

O Lord, grant us the grace to listen to the righteous and holy people in our lives and learn who to live out God’s Word now and forever.

Amen.

Friday, August 28, 2015

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.

Jesus calls us to be a light for the whole world and in order to feed this light we need to keep our spiritual fires feed with acts of charity and mercy. We have to be ready for any chance to do God’s Will by loving him and his children. When our opportunities arise we must be prepared just as the wise virgins were to follow Jesus wherever he leads. Throughout our lives we will find ourselves spiritually asleep, but what is important is for us to respond when the call to do the right thing arrives.

How do we prepare ourselves for the opportunities to do good? How do we keep our spiritual fires lit? Are we ready to follow Jesus where he needs us to be?

O Lord, we want only to go out and meet you where you are.

Amen.

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Memorial of Saint Monica

Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property.

God gives us every opportunity in our lives to prove to him that we are faithful and prudent servants. Sometimes we might wonder where He is in our lives, especially when we are undergoing physical, emotional, or spiritual trials. However, as long as we keep feeding his children’s through our acts of love, mercy, and grace, then when our master arrives, he will reward us. If we fail in doing this, then we will be rightfully placed with the hypocrites and have no one but ourselves to blame when we are punished for our selfishness.

Have we built a habit of knowing, loving, and serving God and his children? Do we keep the faith even when we feel most abandoned by God? What areas in our lives do we need to become more prudent?

O Lord, grant us the faith and prudence we need to do your will.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Twenty-First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.

We are all sinners and we should remember that whenever we are tempted to take pride in ourselves or lord it over others. No matter how much good we do in this life, we will never have the right to look down on others and judge them. God is the only judge and in the end he will look at us through the eyes of those whom we most hurt or distained in our lives. There is nothing wrong with acting righteously, but we should never puff ourselves up and feel holier than thou. We must be true to the message of God as given to us through Jesus Christ and his gospel.

Are we judgmental toward others or hypocritical in regards to the gospel? If so, then how can we bring our lives into alignment with the model that Jesus has given us? How can we be a better manifestation of God for others?

O Lord, help us to live lives of faithfulness to your commandments.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Twenty-First Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

Sometimes we can become so focused on the little things in our lives that we lose sight of the bigger picture. These distractions can take many forms from daily routines to minor problems. The problem is that these little things add up over time and pile on top of us and unless we take the time to step back, we will eventually find ourselves buried beneath the little things with no time left for the most important things like discerning God’s Will in our lives, being merciful toward others, and being faithful to our Heavenly Father. We must strive to keep our prospective at all times because without it we will miss the opportunities to witness the graces God offers us and to do good in our lives. By the same token, we will be less judgmental of others, because we will be able to recognize them as fellow children of God, who are imperfect, just as we are, and struggling to live lives of truth and not hypocrisy.

What little things are getting in the way of our seeing the bigger picture? How can we become more discerning, merciful, and faithful to God and his children? In light of our own failings, can we forgive those who have trespassed against us?

O Lord, constantly remind us of the bigger things in life, such as knowing, loving, and serving you and all your children, now and forever.

Amen.

Monday, August 24, 2015

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

“Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” 

In our lives we will see many works by the Lord, both great and small. These experiences constantly offer us the opportunity to undergo a deeper conversion of our souls. At first, we might respond to God like Nathan and wonder what good has come from him, but as he reveals his plan to us we will come to appreciate his goodness. We will recognize the great things he is doing in our lives and through them. If we are open to Jesus, then we will make present the heavenly kingdom through our every thought, word, and work. When people see us they will witness a Jacob’s ladder. Our prayers and good works will ascend to God and His inspiration and strength will descend upon to us. We will be instruments of God’s Will just as Nathan eventually becomes.

Are we constantly on the lookout for the daily miracles, great and small, that surround us? What revelations has God given us in regards to becoming better children of God the Father, disciples of Jesus Christ, and conduits of the Holy Spirit? Do we offer up our prayers, while at the same time opening ourselves up to the workings of the Lord?

O Lord, help us to witness to and embody the graces your heavenly kingdom.

Amen.

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

“For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.

When Jesus challenges his followers to partake in his Body and Blood, many of them leave him because his teaching is “too hard.” Indeed, following Christ is “too hard” for us to do on our own. This is why God has given us the example of the life of Jesus, the graces that follow from the passion and death of Christ, and the institution of the Church. These three things show us the way, the truth, and the life that are necessary for us to be true members of the Body and Blood of Christ. Those followers who left Jesus could not see the graces which he was offering them, but we, through the gospel, know that everything is possible in God if we are willing to trust in him and allow him to work through us in all things. So let us come to the Lord and accompany him along whatever Way he leads us, live our lives in accord with his Life, and uphold the Truth in all that we think, say, and do.

What is keeping us from wholeheartedly accepting the graces that flow from the Eucharist? How can we do a better job of not only preparing for, but receiving the Blessed Sacrament in a spirit of total surrender to God’s will? Are we ready to follow Jesus upon his Way so that we might live the Christ-like life and spread the Truth to all God’s children?

O Lord, we come to you for you have the words of everlasting life.

Amen.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.

We all know people who are hypocritical, in fact, we probably are hypocrites, too. Jesus warns his disciples to act in accord with the laws of Moses and the dictates of the Pharisees, but not to emulate their actions, which are preformed for their own glory and out of pride. The Pharisees may do “all the right things,” but they do them for all the wrong reasons. The fruits of their actions lay heavy burdens on others, are meant to be seen, and result in their honor. They are not merciful, done with humility, or for God’s glory. It can be easy for us to fall into a similar trap as we go through our daily lives. We can start to believe that we deserve honor and glory. We can come to see ourselves as better than others. We can even lay burdens on others because of our belief that our time, talents, or treasures are more important than theirs. This is not the kind of discipleship that Jesus is calling us to. He wants servant leaders, not overlords.

Do we practice what we preach? Does our every thought, word, and work have God’s greater glory as its ultimate end? Do we consider ourselves holier than others or as fellow sinners in need of salvation?

O Lord, conform our thoughts, words, and works so that we might live out the gospel message you preached.

Amen.

Friday, August 21, 2015

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.

Every commandment God has ever given us can be summed up in two commandments: to love our God and our neighbors. We are called to love God with all our hearts’ passion, all our souls’ will, and all our minds’ intellect. There can be nothing held back for ourselves. Everything we think, say, and do must be a gift of love for our Lord. We may offer him these things at the beginning of the day or the end or throughout it through prayers. In this way we make all of our actions a living sacrifice to God, no matter how mundane they might seem. We can offer him our work and our play. He does not look at the gift, but at the manner in which it is given and so we would do well to hold nothing back from him because in the end everything we keep to ourselves will be that much more weight keeping us from ascending to heaven and sharing in God’s banquet.

Do we truly love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds? What are we holding back from our Lord? How can we build up the habit of offering every thought, word, and work to God?

O Lord, we wish to love you with all our hearts, souls, and minds.

Amen.

Thursday, August 20, 2015

Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, “My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?”

After being rejected by his first set of guests and then destroying them for their sin against him, the king sends his servants out to bring in whomever they find—bad and good alike. So then, why does the king single out this guest without a wedding garment? It is because he has come to the feast unprepared to celebrate it properly and show respect for the king. The guest could have taken some time to find proper clothing as all of the other guests did. In a similar manner, we all are invited to the heavenly banquet. We are offered a seat at the table with Christ. However, it is not enough for us to simply accept the invitation to faith. We must also allow the invitation to transform us into proper guests at God’s banquet, who put our faith into action. By seeking God’s forgiveness and loving our neighbor as God loves them, we are clothed in the graces of salvation and made worthy of the heavenly banquet.

How do we respond when God invites us to do something in our lives? Do we accept his invitation or deny it? How do we put our faith in God into action and clothe ourselves in the graces, which come from doing the right thing?

O Lord, you have invited us to your heavenly banquet. We humbly accept and come before you clothed in the garments of the graces we gain through our good works and repentance.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Twentieth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?

God offers all of his servants the fair wage of salvation. No matter how early or late in life we come to follow Jesus, at the end of the day we will all receive the same reward of eternal life. The envious reaction of those who had started work early in the morning is one, which we must constantly guard against. As pious people, the Devil only has so many ways to attack us. He can convince us that we are not worthy or make us feel holier than others. Imagine how those who were not hired until later on in the day felt? Perhaps they were despairing of ever finding work and being able to provide for themselves and their family. They were like those sinners who believe they are unworthy of God’s love. However, God comes to them in the end and asks them to work in his vineyards. Those who came earlier in the day are like those sinners who feel better than others. They have toiled long in life in the service of God and yet in the end they feel cheated because it seems like all their hard work counts for nothing. However, there is only one wage that really matters in the end. We are either saved or not. And make no mistake that if at the Day of Judgment we complain about the salvation of sinners who came to Christ late in life, we will be among the goats and not the sheep because we will be judged according to our own measure.

Are we satisfied with whatever God gives us in life? Who are the people in our lives whom we are envious of? How can we come to love them as we ought to?

O Lord, give us your generous spirit.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Twentieth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.

When we sacrifice for the Lord, we are always repaid. Perhaps not in this life, but certainly in the next. God does not forget our sacrifices, great and small, and as long as we speak and act virtuously, then God will remember our good words and works. When we give things up for God we imitated the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made for us upon the cross. We can never truly repay Jesus for his passion and death, but in so far as we mirror his sacrificial actions, God will see his son within us and his righteous anger at our sins and failings will be transformed into merciful love.

What have we given up for God? What are we willing to give up now? Are we open to the sacrifices that God is asking of us?

O Lord, you have sacrificed so much for us. Grant us the grace to imitate your sacrifice in all that we think, say, and do.

Amen.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Twentieth Monday of Ordinary Time

“All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

The young man tells Jesus that he has kept all of God’s commandments, including loving his neighbor as himself. Jesus does not dispute this, instead he talks of becoming perfect and points out that in order to be perfect in the eyes of God, the young man must not only follow all of the commandments, but also detach himself from the world and follow Jesus. This saddens the young man and challenges us because this is exactly what we are all called to do in our lives. Following the commandments of God and loving our neighbors are good starts, but to be a perfect servant of God we ought to detach ourselves from our material goods and follow Jesus. This may be hard for us to do in a world where success is measure by our material goods. However, we must be willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus and follow him where we might not wish to go.

Have we observed all of God’s commandments? Do we love our neighbors as Jesus loves them? Are we willing to give up our material possessions and follow Christ?

O Lord, we pray to that you might help us to become perfect and follow you wherever you want us to go.

Amen.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

Every day we have the opportunity to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist. If we work, we may not be able to do it every day in the morning, but at the very least we have an opportunity to do so during the Sunday liturgy. These daily or weekly feasts with the Lord infuse us with His Divine Life. Unlike the food we eat at our own tables, the Body and Blood of Jesus can consume us if we allow it to. We are blessed beyond all imagination through the Eucharist. This sacrament offers to us eternal life and salvation, if we are willing to let it transform us into Christ. What a gracious gift Jesus has given to us in His Body and Blood. May we never take it for granted or miss an opportunity to receive it.

When we partake of the Eucharist, do we truly appreciate the graces it gives us or the sacrifice within it? Do we give thanks to God for the gift of the Blessed Sacrament? Do we allow the Body and Blood of Christ to transform us into better people?

O Lord, we want nothing more than to eat of your flesh and drink of your blood so that we might have eternal life and be raised on the last day.

Amen.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

When we read or listen to the scriptures or contemplate them in prayer, God speaks to us. Deep within our hearts, we recognize His wisdom and hear Him whisper His divine truths to us. Like Mary, we are blessed when we do these things and open ourselves up to the quiet revelations of the Lord. When we believe what God speaks to us we are filled with the graces we need to fulfill our calling. If we do this, then we will magnify the Lord with our thoughts, words, and works and find joy in God our savior just as Mary did in her most holy life. As we continue to grow in our faith, let us model ourselves upon God's humble handmaid, Mary, who is our spiritual mother and the perfect mold for conforming ourselves to Christ.

Do we spend time each day listening to God through the Scriptures or prayer? Do we believe the inspirations He gives us? How do we magnify God in everything we do?

O Lord, help us to believe all you speak to us within the depths of our souls.

Amen.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh.” Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.

As Jesus discusses marriage with his disciples, he makes it clear that marriage is not to be entered into lightly and leaving a marriage can only be done if it was unlawful to begin with. Marriage for Jesus is not a contract that can be broke, but rather a covenant between the husband, his wife, and God who joins them together. The man and woman are made one flesh in the eyes of God and so it cannot be reversed. This covenant places a responsibility upon both husband and wife to live their lives in harmony with each other and with God. In a world that has come to see marriage as a secular contract rather than a spiritual covenant, it can be hard for us to understand the permanency of marriage, but those who enter into a lawful marriage are permanently changed by it and connected to each other in the eyes of God. The standards that God holds us to are high, but they are the ones worth living up to no matter what.

Do we believe in the covenantal nature of marriage? Are we prepared to recognize the permanent responsibilities of being married? Do we fully respect those who are married and give them the support they need to stay together?

O Lord, let us always remember that what you have joined, we should not separate.

Amen.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Nineteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.

When Peter asks how many times he must forgive his brother, Jesus makes clear that forgiveness should always be at hand for those who ask us for it. If we deny our brothers or sisters in God the forgiveness they ask for, then we will be like the wicked servant and God will rightly send us to torment. When we deny someone our forgiveness, we do both them and ourselves great harm. We hurt the penitent by denying them and perhaps leading them to anger or greater sin. We harm ourselves by acting in pride and judging others, which we should never do because only God has the right to judge the hearts of men. When we hold grudges against someone for any reason, be it great or small, we hold ourselves back from acting Christ-like. Loving our enemies might be difficult to do, but it is necessary if we want to be forgiven for our own failings.

Do we forgive those who have sinned against us? Even those who have done so many times? How do we build up the habit of choosing to love our enemies?

O Lord, give us the strength and humility to forgive our brothers from our hearts.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Nineteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the Church. If he refuses to listen even to the Church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

Just as we should always seek the forgiveness of God and those people whom we sin against, so too we should give others every chance to be forgiven. Jesus gives us the step-by-step process of forgiveness. First and foremost, when someone sins against us we should seek to heal our relationship in private. We shouldn’t make the harm they did us public. Instead we should try to work things out one-on-one in secret so that no public harm is done. If that doesn’t work then we should seek the help of family, friends, or trusted mediators who might be able to help us heal our division. If things still go poorly, then we should turn to the Church for guidance as to how to handle healing our relationship. If even that fails, and we can honestly say we have tried to heal the wounds within our relationship, then we should be willing to walk away. Perhaps in time the person who harmed us will come around and seek forgiveness. However, what we should not do is seek retribution or become upset with the person who has sinned against us. These actions do nothing but waste our energy and cause us to sin. Rather, we should be patient and humble and loving in our dealings with the person who harmed us and treat them how we would like to be treated. Perhaps one day they will repay us in kind and realize the errors of their ways.

Do we seek forgiveness from God and His children? Do we forgive when someone asks for our forgiveness? Are we patient with those who sin against us and never spiteful against them?

O Lord, help us win over our brothers and sisters in God.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Memorial of Saint Claire, Virgin

“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

In the eyes of our Heavenly Father, the greatest of us are like children. We trust in Him and depend upon Him for everything. When we are doubtful, worried, or hurt, we turn to Him for guidance, consolation, and healing. We are humble before Him and recognize His dominion over our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. When we act selfishly, we are punished, but when we do well, we are rewarded. Our smallest victories and virtues are magnified by God love for us. Our failings and sins are quickly forgotten when we say we are sorry and do penance. By being child-like, we reaffirm our dependence upon our Heavenly Father and constantly seek His approval for our every thought, word, and work.

Do we act in a child-like or selfish manner in our dealings with God and His children? Do we seek our Heavenly Father’s guidance, consolation, and healing? Do we recognize our total dependence upon God for all that we have been, are, and will be?

O Lord, we seek to become like children and enter your heavenly kingdom.

Amen.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.

It’s so easy to fall in love with our lives and the world around us. There are so many people and goods to enjoy. But in the end, none of these things last and we will have to give an accounting of all our time spent on worldly things. Not that we are called to reject people or good things, but rather we should not see them as our ultimate end. Instead, we should look to the Divine Persons of the Trinity and the Good they offer us. It is in them that we will find true happiness and everlasting life.

Do we place our ultimate happiness in worldly people or things? If so, then how can we learn to cleanse ourselves of these attachments so that we can know, love, and serve God and His children as we should? In what ways are we sacrificing ourselves for the glory of heaven?

O Lord, help us to lose our worldly lives, so that we can gain heavenly ones.

Amen.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.”

Just as the people murmured and complained against God and Moses in the desert, they also do the same to Jesus. How could he be the bread that came down from heaven? Don’t they know his family? What gives him the authority to teach his message? However, their grumbling deafens them to the underlying message of Jesus. He has come to feed the world with a gospel of love, mercy, and grace that promises those who partake in it everlasting life. We should keep in mind the muttering crowd whenever we feel like complaining about something to God. Jesus asks for us to accept his word with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. We cannot do that if we are focused on what’s wrong in our lives.

What do we complain about? How can we foster a spirit of resignation in regards to these problems in our lives so that they do not interfere with God’s message of love, mercy, and grace? What lessons have we learned from the life of Jesus?

O Lord, draw me to yourself and your teachings.

Amen.

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

“Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

Although his disciples fail to free the lunatic from the demon, Jesus rebukes it and sends it away. When his disciples ask him why they couldn’t drive out the demon, Jesus tells them that their lack of faith is the reason. This is a humbling moment for the disciples and also for us. After all, if the disciples of Jesus, who saw his miracles and performed cures of their own in his name, lacked faith, then how does our faith compare? However, perhaps we are more like the father in this account. The father shows more than enough faith in Jesus and because of this his son is cured. He trusts Jesus will succeed where his disciples failed. He realizes the surer source of healing comes from Jesus and so should we.

When our acts of love or mercy falter or fail, what is our response? Do we try to understand why we failed and seek God’s help in overcoming our shortcomings? Do we trust God will help us in our time of need?

O Lord, our faith sometimes falls short of where it should be. Help us to grow in faith with you.

Amen.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Eighteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct.

In the end, we will all be judged by Jesus. We will be repaid for every act of virtue and vice, for those things we did and those we failed to do. When we take our last breath we will receive a revelation about ourselves. Nothing we have done will go uncovered, the goods and evils we’ve forgotten will be remembered. In our heart of hearts, we will know what the just judgment should be for us. In that moment we will know how much God loved us and what we did and didn’t do to repay that love to Him and His children. We may end up in Hell (hopefully not), Purgatory (much more likely), or a few of us may go straight to Heaven (what a grace that would be!). However, no matter where we end up we will know we deserve every moment of torment, purification, or bliss. After all, we are the ones who made the choices that brought us to our place in the afterlife. Hopefully, we’ll make the right ones from here on out.

What virtues and vices do we have? How can we increase the good within us and decrease the evil? In what areas of our lives could we do a better job of being Christ-like?

O Lord, help us to live a good life so that when you come with your angels, you will repay us with the respite of Heaven.

Amen.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

If we truly want to witness God at work in our lives, we need to set ourselves apart from the world. We need to retreat from the business of daily life, so that we can be transfigured by the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. In order to do this, we need to go to a deserted place so that we can better see him in our solitude and listen to him in the silence of our hearts. When we take time for God, He will take the time for us and reveal Himself to us in new and challenging ways. He will transfigure us into better people, if we allow him to do so.

Have we set ourselves apart from the world or God? How often do we retreat from the world so that we can better see and listen to the Lord? Do we seek to be transfigured into better Christians?

O Lord, transfigure us so that we can live out your gospel message in the midst of the world.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Eighteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”

The Canaanite woman’s faith, persistence, and humility pay off in today’s gospel. She does not let Jesus refuse her request, but she does so out of faith in him and in a spirit of humility. She does not demand that Jesus heal her daughter, instead she begs for Jesus to help her. We can learn a lot about how to approach God with our petitions from the Canaanite woman. When faced with a trial or suffering, we should have faith that things will turn out for the best, but we should also persist in our prayers for God’s help, while retaining a humble heart. We should never expect to be aided by God, but rather hope He will grant us His help. In this way, we will always be thankful for whatever help, great or small, He lends us.

When we ask for God’s help, do we truly believe He will come to our aid? When help does not come immediately, how do we respond? Do we continue to petition Him in a spirit of humility or complain about how He has not helped us?

O Lord, please take pity on us and help us in our times of need.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

When we seek to do God’s Will, we will have both moments of triumph and defeat. One moment we will be walking on water, unable to do anything wrong and then a strong wind will blow against us. This resistance may come from family, friends, neighbors, or other causes, but whatever the source we will doubt, sink, and become frightened of God’s plan for us. During these times of weakness, we must join Peter in crying out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus will stretch out his hand, help us to rise again, and remind us that we needn’t have worried at all because with faith in him all things are possible.

Are we afraid of what God is calling us to do? When have we failed to follow His Will, have we asked for Jesus’ help? Do we accept the hand of Jesus when he offers to lift us up again?

O Lord, save us!

Amen.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Eighteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.

Sometimes when we want to be alone, we cannot get away from others. We are forced by circumstances beyond our control to put our retreat from the world on hold and take care of others. Jesus does this in today’s gospel and models for us the proper response when things don’t go to plan. Instead of complaining about the crowd ruining his plans or running away from them, he takes pity on the crowd, cures them, and even feeds them. We, too, need to cultivate a spirit of compassion within us and be willing to set aside, even good things, for the better things in life, namely loving our neighbors.

What is our reaction when our plans don’t go well? How do we treat people who interrupt us? How are we building up the virtuous habit of compassion towards others?

O Lord, help us to be messengers of your mercy, especially to those who distract, hound, or annoy us as we attempt to know, love, and serve you.

Amen.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?”

It is ironic that the crowds following Jesus ask him to give them a sign so that they will believe. They had just witnessed a miracle that feed them and here they are asking for another one, just to be sure. Isn’t that the temptation we all have in life? We want certainty. We want everything handed to us on a silver platter. We avoid risks and leaps of faith. We avoid those things which might require us to sacrifice or suffer. We are blind to the Will of God and timid in carrying it out when we are faced with it. No matter how many signs God sends us we always have the final choice about whether we will follow Him or not. We can always come up with excuses as to why we can’t accomplish His Will. In the end, these excuses lead us nowhere just as the excuses and complaints of the Jews resulted in their wandering in the desert for forty years. We are faced with the same choice as the Jews and if we are obstinate and only seek certainty and comfort, then we will never reach the Promised Land because to know, love, and serve God and His children is to risk everything for them without excuse or complaint.

What signs are we asking for from God? Do we really need them or do we already know in our hearts what He is asking of us? How can we open our eyes and ears to the daily miracles that surround us and show us how to live Christ-like lives?

O Lord, we believe in you and want only to accomplish your will.

Amen.

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.

Herod promises to give Herodias’ daughter whatever she asks for after she dances for him and when she asks for the head of John the Baptist, he gives it to her in spite of knowing that what he is doing is wrong. Like him, we can sometimes convince ourselves to do something evil by rationalizing it. We come up with excuses that make sinning “not so bad” because we “had to do it.” We let others talk us into sinning because of peer pressure or a misplaced sense of owing them something. Sometimes we even convince ourselves it’s the right or only thing we can do. However, we always have a choice to do good or evil. We are never forced to sin, we allow it. Worse yet, we make excuses for it, try to hide it, or fail to recognize our failings. We must be on constant guard against giving in to temptation and sinning. And if we do fail, then we should seek forgiveness for our sins with contrite hearts. Then, with the help of God, we should do penance, avoid temptations, and sin no more.

Are we being pressured into doing anything evil? How can we avoid and resist the temptations or tempters we face? What can we do to keep ourselves from rationalizing our sins?

O Lord, we are distressed by the constant temptations of the Devil. Help us to overcome them and do Your Will more perfectly.

Amen.