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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thirty-First Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’ But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’ The servant went and reported this to his master.

God is constantly inviting us to come to His heavenly banquet. However, it is a constant temptation to decline His invitation because we are too busy or have other priorities in life. But we should never be too busy to come to God when He calls us. No material possessions or person is more important than our Heavenly Lord. We should never choose a lesser good over the greater good of God. We are all called to do God’s Will and accomplish some part of His Divine Plan. We cannot do this if we are consumed by the problems, pleasures, and distractions of the world. We need to make time for God, to go where He needs us to go, and do what He needs us to do. This is why we are here and if we come when He calls us, we will be rewarded with eternal life and a never-ending heavenly banquet.

What is God calling us to accomplish? What temptations in our lives keep us from doing God’s Will? Do we make time for Him or do we make time for the world?

O Lord, give us the grace we need to accept your invitation and make time for you.

Amen.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

We all belong to God and He wants us to be with Him forever. He won’t reject anyone who comes to Him. As long as we keep the commandments of the Father, the teachings of the Son, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, then we will be raised on the last day. It is the will of the Father that those who believe in Jesus and act in accord with his good news will have eternal life. God wants us to be at His side each and every day and to act in His Divine Name. So let us go to God, offering Him everything in our lives, great and small, as a living sacrifice for His greater glory.

Are we spending our lives coming to God or running away from Him? Do we realize how much He loves us and wants us with Him in heaven? Do we offer God everything in our lives?

O Lord, we believe in you, shelter us with your love.

Amen.

Solemnity of All Saints

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

The Beatitudes are guideposts along the narrow path to Heaven. They point us in the right direction by reminding us of the important qualities we are supposed to cultivate within ourselves as Christians. These are not the attributes that the world honors, but rather they are the ones the world does not understand. Being poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry for righteousness, clean of heart, peaceful, and willing to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness… these are the things God asks of us. The world on the other hand wants us to be rich in materials things, uncaring, prideful, hungry for sin, impure of heart, wrathful, and judgmental of others. Every moment of the day, we make a choice between Jesus’ Beatitudes and worldly attitudes. It is up to us to make the right choice and to constantly incarnate the Beatitudes in everything we think, say, and do.

Are our thoughts, words, and works rooted in the Beatitudes? Which Beatitudes do we have the most trouble cultivating in our lives? How can we prune away our worldly attitudes so the Beatitudes will find fertile ground within us?

O Lord, bless us with the grace to become incarnations of your Beatitudes.

Amen.