The Third Monday of Lent

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

We are all called to be prophets of the Good News and as such we should expect to be rejected by others who do not wish to hear what we have to say. However, we cannot let others keep us from spreading the Gospel. Just like Jesus, we cannot be afraid of speaking the truth. We might not be popular for it. We might even be persecuted. But it is the right thing to do no matter what. This is a difficult calling, especially in an age that preaches ambiguity over truth. Nevertheless, we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves by telling the truth and acting as Jesus would, even if it costs us our lives.

How can we be better prophets of God’s Love for His children? Are we willing to be rejected by family, friends and neighbors in order to proclaim the Good News? Are we brave enough to speak the truth even when others do not want to hear it?

O Lord, help us to be prophets of your sanctifying Gospel.

Amen.

The Third Sunday in Lent

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard,  and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree  but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

We are all called to bear good fruit for our Heavenly Father. Every day of our lives we make choices that determine if our fruit will be sweetened by holiness or rotted by sin. Each day that passes without us producing good works is another day that God finds nothing on our branches. The longer we go without a yield, the more God’s Justice cries out for us to be cut down. Thankfully, Jesus, the Gardener of our souls, pleads with our Father to have patience and gives us every grace and chance we need to become fruitful servants. However, Jesus cannot make us bloom without our acceptance of his aid and he cannot nurture our souls if we cut ourselves off from him through sin. In order to grow as Christians and bear good fruit, we need to allow God to cultivate our souls through our fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.

Are we prepared for the day when God shall come to us seeking a harvest? Are we willing to let Jesus cultivate our souls so that they grow in grace and goodness? What acts of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer can we make in order for our souls to flourish?

O Lord, at times we have been barren, but by your grace we will bear good fruit from now on.

Amen.

The Second Saturday of Lent

Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’

After we commit a sin, we have a choice to make. We can either continue to sin without remorse or we can come to our senses and repent. If we choose the former, then we will starve our souls of their spiritual food and eventually die. However, if we see the error of our ways, then we will return to our Heavenly Father with humble and contrite hearts, admitting our faults and failings. How do we know this? Jesus tells us repeatedly of God’s Compassion and Mercy, which is constantly offered to us and will never run dry. As long as we are willing to admit our mistakes, God is ready to accept us back into His heavenly home with open arms. He will cloth us in holiness, give us gifts of His grace, place our feet on the right path, and feed us on virtues. God rejoices over every sinner who reconciles with Him and returns to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Have we come to our senses in regards to our sins, especially those we have the most difficulty with? Are we willing to set aside our lives of sin and return to our Heavenly Father? Will we allow the graces of God to be poured out upon us so that we can come to life again?

O Lord, we have sinned against you and no longer deserve to be called your heirs. Show compassion to us, your prodigal children.

Amen.

The Second Friday of Lent

Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.

God the Father constantly sends His Beloved Son into our lives to plead with us for the harvest of the good fruit we owe Him. He has given us all the goods we have and in return He asks us to produce a harvest of holy thoughts, words, and works. And if we respect what Jesus Christ has done for us through his life, death, and resurrection, then we will bear good fruits. However, if we are like the tenants in today’s gospel and put our own selfishness above obedience to the God who gave us everything, then we shall perish in sin. This is why it is important to cultivate humble spirits so that when the temptation to see ourselves more worthy than others, we shall be able to set aside our pride and remember that God is master of all our lives.

Do we respect Christ? If so, then how do we show it in our dealings with Him and others? Do we spend time each day cultivating humble spirits so that they will obey you and produce good fruit?

O Lord, we respect you, help us to produce a holy harvest.

Amen.

The Second Thursday of Lent

There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

Although the rich man ends up in torment, it is not because of his wealth, but because of what he did and didn’t do with his riches. He spent his wealth on purple garments and fine linens, which would have showed off his worldly wealth and on sumptuous and wasteful meals. This lifestyle of excess and dependence upon money is contrary to the Christian life. As Christians, we are called to share our wealth with others through almsgiving and acts of charity. When we fail to do this, either through greed or worldly excuses, then we fail to fulfill our calling to be Christ-like. At the same time, Lazarus didn’t go to the bosom of Abraham because he was poor. He went there because he suffered without complaint and in a spirit of gladness. We might ask how anyone could be glad is such a state, but when our hearts are right with God we are more than willing to suffer for His glory and for the service of His children. So no matter what our economic situation, we should make sure our spirit is right with God and focused not on our wills and the things of the world, but on God’s Will and the things of Heaven.

If we are rich, then how can we cultivate a humble spirit of almsgiving and charity? If we are poor, then how can we nourish our spirits so that we trust in God’s Providence and do not despair in our times of trial? What are we doing today to make ourselves right with God?

O Lord, help us live our lives in spiritual poverty so that one day we will be carried to Heaven by your angels.

Amen.

The Second Wednesday of Lent

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

Jesus was a servant leader and he calls all of us to follow his example. We need to remember that our authority, talents, and accomplishments come from God and should be used in the service of Him and His children. We also have to cultivate a sense of humility so that when we are given authority over others we do not lord it over them. Our every thought, word, and work should imitate Christ and just as he became a slave to all so must we. Last but not least, we ought to develop a spirit of self-sacrifice and detachment from the world so that we can always be prepared and willing to lay down our lives for others.

How are we preparing ourselves to be servant leaders in the Church and to the world? Do we give God the glory for all our authority, talents, and accomplishments? How can we cultivate spirits of humility and self-sacrifice?

O Lord, we want to serve and give our lives for the many.

Amen.

The Second Tuesday of Lent

As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us we are following him not because we want to exalt ourselves, but to humble ourselves as God's servants. We can claim whatever authority or titles we wish, but in the end God is the only true authority. It is from Him that all the lesser authorities flow. He is the only Teacher we need to heed. He is the only Father we should seek to please.  He is the only Master we are called to serve. He gives us all we need to become His good and faithful followers. This is why it is so important to live our lives as servants of God and His children because it is the best way for us to imitate the loving service God has given us.

Do we listen to the teachings of Christ and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit? Do we seek the approval and protection of our Heavenly Father? Do we accept Jesus Christ as our king and seek to serve Him and all God's children to the best of our abilities?

O Lord, show us how to be good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

In this gospel, Jesus gives mankind one of the greatest gifts we have ever received from God. He plants the seeds of the Church and the sacrament of reconciliation. He gave us the former as a foundation for our faith so that we can weather the storms of the world and offered us the latter so that if we get lost upon the seas of temptation and sin we will be able to return to safe harbor once again. His guidance and mercy will always be with us, no matter the trials and tribulations that come our way. He knows we cannot overcome every obstacle on our own and so he left us the Church and its sacraments to protect and strengthen us in our times of need. And through participating in the Church and its sacraments, we also become rocks of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace for others so that they can weather the storms of their lives, too.

Are the Church’s teachings and traditions the foundation of our faith? Do we make regular use of the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation? How can we become rocks of grace for others in their times of trial?

O Lord, build your Church upon us.

Amen.

The Second Sunday in Lent

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

These words are spoken by God the Father during the Transfiguration and we would do well to listen to them. God makes clear that the gospel message of Christ is one we must all hear and heed. Jesus’ words and works reveal how we should live. They give us a roadmap to salvation. They show us how to become manifestations of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to the world. They remind us that our purpose in this life is not glory, power, or material possessions, but rather to glorify God, become servant leaders, and build up a treasure house of spiritual blessings. This is what it means to listen to Jesus and it is the only way we can discover our true purpose, make the best use of our talents, and fulfill our promise.

Do we listen to Jesus’ message and put it into practice as best we can? What areas of the Good News do we have the most difficulty implementing? Are our lives glorifying God or ourselves?

O Lord, we are listening, speak to our hearts.

Amen.

The First Saturday of Lent

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The world tells us to love our neighbors and hate our enemies, but Jesus gives us a new commandment. We are to love and pray for our enemies so that we can become true children of God. This is a difficult commandment to live with, but it is one that helps scrape away the imperfections of our hearts. If we can love those who hate and persecute us, then we shall be able to understand, if only in some small way, the feeling of rejection Jesus felt as all his followers abandoned him and the people of Jerusalem turned away from him. We can gain a tiny glimpse of the unrequited love he poured out upon those who struck, spat upon, scourged, and crucified him. And not just those people present during His Passion, but all sinners from the beginning of the world to the end. Each in our own way has been the enemy of Jesus at one point in our life or another. This is why it is so important for us to learn how to love our enemies because we will be treated by God in the same way as we treated them. So let us put aside our pride and be willing to accept the slings and arrows of our enemies and respond only with the love of Christ.

Do we love our enemies as Jesus asks us to and thereby unite ourselves with his Passion? How can we do a better job of forgiving and even loving those who persecute and hate us? Are we willing to love others without the expectation of return?

O Lord, give us the grace to love our enemies.

Amen.

The First Friday of Lent

You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.  But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Jesus reminds us that verbal attacks can harm people just as much, if not more than physical violence. The sins of the mouth can be even deadlier than those of the body because they can harm a person’s spirit, causing them to sin and harm others. This is why we must guard against feelings of envy and anger and be careful in how we respond to others. We might be tempted to say something hurtful, especially to someone who hurts us, but the only way to break the cycle of suffering is to show restraint and forgive. There are also times when we injure others with our words and actions and in these cases we should seek not only God’s Mercy, but also the forgiveness of those whom we have harmed. No matter what the circumstances, it is invaluable to make a habit of turning to God before we speak and asking Him for the right words. More often than not, this simple act will be enough to keep us from speaking words that will harm another person.

Do we struggle with the sins of the mouth? How can we do a better job of not just holding our tongue, but also using it to build up people rather than tear them down? Do we seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit before we speak to others?

O Lord, forgive our sinful words and help us to only speak holy ones from now on.

Amen.

The First Thursday of Lent

If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

God offers us good things throughout our lives and it is up to us to accept them and imitate His generosity through our own thoughts, words, and works. He will not force us to take His gifts. If we want them, then all we have to do is have open hearts and a willingness to pass along our gifts to others just as God has done for us. This is why it is so important for us to follow Jesus’ example and do onto others as he did onto the people he met. When we do this, we manifest God’s Divine Grace to others and if their hearts are open, then they too will become more Christ-like. In this way, we weave a web of grace and support that can catch us when we fall and help us rise again.

What good things has God given us? Do we treat others as Jesus would? How do we follow Jesus’ example of giving of ourselves for the betterment of others?

O Lord, thank you for all the good things you have given us and help us to offer the goods of our lives to others in need.

Amen.

The First Wednesday of Lent

This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.  Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

The signs of Jonah and the Son of Man are both calls for repentance. Jonah proclaimed the destruction of Nineveh and this lead to the repentance of others. Jesus, on the other hand, proclaimed the salvation of man through his own life, death, and resurrection, which lead to the conversion of sinners. In a way, each of us is also called to be a sign of repentance to the world and remind our family, friends, and neighbors of the need for contrite hearts. We are meant to be beacons of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace and we cannot do that if we let our pride blind us to our faults or our fears to keep us from seeking forgiveness.

What can we do to overcome our pride and fears and become models of God’s Divine Mercy? How can we cultivate contrite spirits and hearts within ourselves? How do our lives lead others to redemption?

O Lord, makes us into living signs of your mercy.

Amen.

The First Tuesday of Lent

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The Our Father was handed down to us by Jesus and it is one of the central prayers of our faith. However, it also gives us a blueprint of how to live our lives. We should give reverence to God by recognizing Him as our Heavenly Father. We also should ask Him to bring about His Kingdom and to do His Will in our lives. So too, we ought to live in such a way as to bring about His Will on earth. Besides these things, we must hunger for the daily bread of life that God offers us through prayer and especially the sacrament of the Eucharist. We also need to ask for forgiveness for our failings while forgiving the failings of others. Last but not least, we should pray to be protected from the temptations of the world and evils that seek to lure us away from God. If we do these things, we will be able to lead Christ-like lives filled with faith in the Father, hope in His Providence, and love for God and His children.

Do we pray the Our Father every day? Do we take each line and meditate upon its deeper meaning? How can we put its precepts into practice?

O Lord, you are our Father, our Bread, and our Deliverer.

Amen.

The First Monday of Lent

“He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Eventually, we will either be sheep or goats. We will either fall on the right or left. There will be no middle ground for us to waffle on. In the end, we will either be wholly God's and bound to Heaven or wholly ourselves and doomed to destruction. And it all depends not only on how faithful we are to God, but also how loving and forgiving we are to others. Our acts of charity and mercy (or lack thereof) will define what we are and where we belong. Hopefully, they define us as loving Christians and faithful servants to God and His children.

Do we feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty? Do we welcome strangers and clothe the naked? Do we care for the sick and visit those who are in prison?

O Lord, grant us the grace to be part of your faithful flock so that one day we might enjoy eternity with you in the pastures of paradise.

Amen.

First Sunday of Lent

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

The devil tempted Jesus in many ways. First, he tempted Jesus with the bodily need of hunger. Then, he tempted Jesus with worldly glory and power. Finally, he tempted Jesus with abusing his relationship with God. However, Jesus doesn’t fall for any of these temptations. Yes, he can turn stones into bread, rule over all the earth, and call angels to his aid, but he does not do so because these acts are not what he has come to earth for. He is not here simply to meet the physical needs of others, rule over them as a worldly king, or work miracles for personal gain. He has come into the world to convert sinners and save souls. And so he denies the Devil’s temptations because he knows that he has a greater calling than simple survival, worldly authority, or displays of divine power. He has a message of faith, hope and love that he wishes to impart to the world. We can only hope to imitate him in this dedication to helping others at the sacrifice of himself as ultimately expressed on the cross.

Are we able to overcome our bodily and spiritual temptations? Do we do the right thing for the right reasons or the wrong ones? Are we willing to answer our higher calling no matter the cost?

O Lord, give us the grace to overcome the temptations of the Devil and answer your summons to a life of sacrificial faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Jesus is our Heavenly Physician and the message of the gospels is our prescription. Through the words and works depicted in the scriptures, we are given an example of how to live our lives so that we are spiritually healthy. Jesus shows us how to give up our unhealthy attachments and harmful habits and follow him upon the narrow path to Heaven. He also gives us a model of how we are supposed to treat others, especially those whom we find disagreeable. Instead of excluding or ignoring them, we are called to minister to them and help them to lead healthier lives both physically and spiritually.

Do we follow the prescriptions of the gospel? Have we made a concerted effort to excise our unhealthy attachments and harmful habits? Do we treat others with the respect that Jesus would if they were before him?

O Lord, you are our physician, heal us of our afflictions.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Fasting is an important part of our faith. It reminds us of our need to be detached from worldly things, helps us cultivate spirits of contrition for our sins, and unites us with the sufferings of Christ. However, it also does something else which is just as important. It reminds us that we should be thankful and appreciative for what goods we have been given by God. Sometimes it can be easy to take the goods in our lives for granted, whether it is the people around us, our jobs, our health, etc. And so during this Lenten season we should take time to reflect upon everything God has done for us and also to rejoice in the graces God has blessed us with.

Are we cultivating spirits that are detached from the world, full of contrition, and united with Christ? Do we keep in mind all the goods God has given us and offer Him thanks and praise for it all? Do we take time every day of our lives to reflect on our blessings?

O Lord, may our fasting bring us closer to you and transform us into more grateful disciples.

Amen.

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?

We are all called to take up our daily crosses. Running away from or otherwise avoiding them gains us nothing. The crosses we are asked to carry are different for each person and in accord with what we can carry. God never gives us more than we can handle, especially when we accept His help. Some of us carry crosses that test our faith, others our hope, and still more our love. The weight of these crosses can feel unbearable and even cause us to fall when we are weak, but we should not be discouraged. Even Jesus fell. The important thing is to get back up and keep walking the path God has prepared for us. In the end, we might have to make the ultimate sacrifice just as Jesus did, but as long as we let God lead us to where He wants us, then our lives will be a triumph, too.

Do we deny ourselves even the goods of our lives in order to take up our daily crosses? Are we willing to lose our lives for our faith? What can we do to cultivate the habit of getting back up from our falls into sin and temptation so that we can continue down the road to salvation?

O Lord, give us the strength to bear our daily crosses.

Amen.

Ash Wednesday

When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are the three keystones to the celebration of the Lenten season. Each of them reminds us of what it means to be Christ-like. In almsgiving, we imitate the generous and compassionate spirit of Jesus by giving of our time, talents, and treasures. In prayer, we give God the praise He deserves through our acts of petition and thanksgiving. In fasting, we remind ourselves of the need to be detached from worldly things and to cultivate a spirit of reconciliation with God and others. And just like Jesus, we are supposed to do these three things not to be noticed or praised by others like the hypocrites do, but because it is the good and right thing to do. This doesn’t mean completely hiding our faith; after all we do place ashes on our foreheads as a public declaration of our shared faith and united desire for God’s forgiveness. But what it does mean is that when we proclaim our faith publicly, like Christ did during his ministry, that we should be doing it for God’s sake and not our own.

How will we be sharing our time, talents, and treasures during this Lenten season? What should we be praying for in order to help us become better bearers of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace? What can we fast from so that we can cultivate a spirit of detachment from the world?

O Lord, may our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting bring us closer to you.

Amen.

Fifth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”  He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

Although we might not be Pharisees, sometimes we act like them in our dealings with others. We fall into the temptation to see only the faults in others, to notice the differences between us and them, and to even believe we are better than this person or that person. However, Jesus does not teach us to judge others. That is not what we are called to do in this world. Instead, God calls us to be bearers of His Love, Mercy, and Grace to our brothers and sisters. We are all flawed or broken by sin and so we should not be so quick to judge others. Rather, we should seek to know, love, and serve them as Jesus would if he was standing in our place.

Do we judge others? What can we do to remind ourselves that we are not called to be judges, but rather to be messengers of God’s Providence? Do we recognize our own faults so that we can more easily forgive those who trespass against us?

O Lord, bring our hearts closer to you.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Ordinary Time

As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.

As word of Jesus’ healing powers spread, more and more people come to him seeking to be cured. They might not know Jesus’ message, but they recognize his authority from all his good works. We too should recognize Jesus’ authority and power and turn to him for help with our problems whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. And just like those who sought him out so long ago, we will be healed, too. We have only to come to him in faith, stretch out our hands in hope, and lovingly accept the graces he gives us.

Do we recognize Jesus’ authority in our lives? Do we come to him when we are sick or in trouble? Are there other people in our lives who we can lead to God’s healing powers?

O Lord, heal us of our afflictions.

Amen.

The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Just like Peter, we can sometimes feel so unworthy of God’s Love and Mercy we can close ourselves off to Him. We can become afraid that we are too sinful for God to forgive, but His Divine Mercy is endless and nothing we think, say, or do is unforgivable if we seek God’s forgiveness with truly contrite hearts. And when we do seek God’s Mercy, we have nothing to be afraid of because God loves us all. He proved that by sending His Beloved Son to us as our Savior and our exemplar. The net of Jesus’ grace is always ready to catch us. We have only to allow ourselves to be caught by him. Then, just as Jesus fished us out of our sinful lives, so we can become fishers of men with him and allow him to use us as a net to save other souls.

What can we do to welcome Jesus into our lives? How can we cast off our feelings of sinfulness and fear and follow Jesus’ example of virtue and courage? Are we willing to leave everything behind and become fishers of men?

O Lord, make us good and faithful fishers of men.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught.
He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When Jesus disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

We all need rest. We cannot work all the time. This is why God gave us the Sabbath as a feast day. We need it in order to reflect on our thoughts, words, and works each week. We also need time each day to do the same. Without rest and reflection, we can become overworked and lose sight of why we are here on earth. We forget that everything we think, say, and do should have its source, center, and summit in God. We cannot reflect on these things if we don’t set aside time to pray to God for guidance, meditate upon our actions, and evaluate the direction of our lives. We can become lost in our work, even good works, and become burned out if we do not take a break from time to time to recharge our spiritual batteries so that we can go back into the world as lights for all God’s children.

Do we rest and relax in the Lord when we are wary? Does our leisure time bring us closer to God or further away from Him? What can we do to keep holy the Sabbath day?

O Lord, let us rest in you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, 
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 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.

Sometimes we are like Herod. We recognize what we are doing is wrong, but don’t stop ourselves. We hear our conscience telling us to stop, but we don’t heed the warning. We know we are called to be righteous and holy, but we allow ourselves to be wicked and sinful. We listen to the world and all its temptations and they lead us further and further astray. Yet, there is a part of us that knows the truth of the gospels and wants to give ourselves over to it. And if we open our hearts, souls, and minds to God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace, then He will give us everything we need to live a more Christ-like life and show us the way we are meant to walk towards heaven.

What are the failings, imperfections, and sins that hold us back from doing good? How can we cleanse ourselves of all those things that keep us from being more Christ-like? Are we willing to let God into our hearts, souls, and minds so that He can make them clean?

O Lord, let us not only listen to your words, but also put them into action in our lives.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick–no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

Although Jesus sends his disciples out into the world without food, sack, or money, he makes sure they are not alone. He gives them someone else to lean on, talk to, and share the experience with. God does the same for us in our lives. He never leaves us without help. He might ask us to make great and small sacrifices, but He always gives us someone to help us through our trials. Sometimes it is a family member or friend. Other times it is a neighbor or stranger. We have only to look around us to see who our companions are. But most of all, God is always with us. He is with us in the Eucharist and in our prayers. He is with us in our moments of self sacrifice. He is with us when we need the strength to carry our crosses. He is with us in the people whom we know, love, and serve. We might not see Him, but He is always there at our side.

Are we willing to go into the world and proclaim the Good News? Are we willing to trust in God’s Providence and give up those things that are keeping our hearts away from God? Do we remember that God is always with us, even in the midst of our greatest trials?

O Lord, send us forth to proclaim your message to all the nations.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

“Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Yet again, the gospel gives us another account of Jesus being rejected by the people who know him best. They do this in spite of recognizing his wisdom and the might of his deeds. They simply cannot get past their own opinion of Jesus. Sometimes we do the same thing in regards to others in our lives. We make a judgment about them based off our first impressions or a long-lasting relationship with them. However, we must always be open to changing our opinions of others as we learn more about them, especially those people we find most difficult to like. Our perception of their motives, personality, etc. can be colored by a variety of things and often we do not have the whole picture about why a person acts a certain way towards us or others. The people in Jesus’ native place probably saw him as overstepping his authority and puffing himself up with false claims. Perhaps someone in our lives appears to be something they are not. It is up to us to be open to seeing them with new eyes so that we can come to know the real person behind our opinions of them.

Who are the people we don’t like in our lives? Have we made an honest attempt to get to know them? Would we be willing to change our opinions of them if we found out who they truly are?

O Lord, let us be open to changing our hearts towards others, especially those whom we find most difficult to love.

Amen.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God…

Just like Simeon, we are called by God to be righteous, devout, filled with the Holy Spirit, and willing to wait for consolation. In order to be righteous, we need to reorder our lives so that knowing, loving, and serving God and His children come first. We also are asked to be devout in our faith, not letting anything discourage us from doing God’s Will. Additionally, we are challenged to invite the Holy Spirit into our every thought, word, and work so that we can better manifest Christ in the world. Last but not least, we need to cultivate a spirit of patient perseverance in our lives. Not everything will turn out how we imagined or hoped for, but if we remain faithful to God, then He will console us when we need it most and throughout eternity.

Are we righteous and devout like Simeon? Have we emptied ourselves of worldly things so that the Holy Spirit can fill us with grace? Are we willing to wait for our consolations no matter how much we might suffer along the way to Heaven?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to be righteous, devout, holy, and patient.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Ordinary Time

As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

After Jesus drives the demons out of the possessed man, we are told of two very different reactions. First, the swineherds and people in the area are struck with fear at the sight of what happens. Although they could have focused on the miraculous cure of the demoniac, they instead focus on the drowning swine and beg Jesus to leave. These people miss out on an opportunity to welcome Christ into their lives because they are frightened by what he might do next. Similarly, some of us are afraid of what Jesus will do in our hearts if we truly let him in. He might drive out all the distractions, imperfections, and sin we have grown accustom to over the years. However, this is exactly what all of us are called to do. If we do not let Jesus into our hearts, then we allow ourselves to be possessed by worldly things and acts of sin. Instead, we should be like the man who has been freed from the demons. We should ask to follow Christ and then do what he tells us to do, proclaiming his gospel all along the way.

How do we react to God when he enters our lives through inspiration or the counsel of others? Are we willing to make our lives a proclamation of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace? Are we willing to go and do what God is asking us even if it isn’t what we expected or asked for?

O Lord, give me the grace to proclaim all you have done for us.

Amen.