Thursday in the Octave of Easter

“Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

We are all witnesses to Christ’s sacrifice, resurrection, and the forgiveness of sins and as witnesses we are called upon to proclaim this Good News to all nations. How we do that is up to us. Sometimes we will proclaim the gospel through our thoughts, prayers, and inspirations. Other times we will proclaim the gospel through our words of encouragement, forgiveness, and love. We will also proclaim the gospel through our works of fasting, charity, and mercy. Even our daily activities and chores can proclaim the gospel when they are done in God’s name and in a spirit of love. Some of us will witness to the message of Christ by becoming priests or religious, others will become husbands, wives, and parents. Still others will live as single people devoted to God, but living in the world. Each of these ways of sharing our faith, hope, and love with God and others have their unique challenges and advantages. The important part is to discern which one God is calling us to and living it out with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

How do our lives proclaim the Good News of Christ’s life, the need for our repentance, and the forgiveness of sins? In what ways can we become better witnesses to these things? What lifestyle of witnessing is God calling us to take up?

O Lord, make us better witnesses to your Good News.

Amen.

Wednesday in the Octave of Easter

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Jesus makes himself known to us in a variety of ways. He makes himself known through the scriptures. He makes himself known through others. He makes himself known to us through the graces of the Holy Spirit and the sacraments of the Church. We are not alone on our journey to Heaven. Jesus is with us giving us thoughts of understanding, words of encouragement, and works to sustain us. He is always by our side ready to enkindle our hearts and make them burn within us with love, mercy, and grace. It is up to us to welcome him into our hearts so that we can bear him to others and proclaim that he is risen and alive within us.

Do we allow God to speak to us through the scriptures and the sacraments? Are we listening to Him and watching for Him in the words and works of others? How do our actions proclaim the resurrection and the salvation of souls?

O Lord, you are truly risen. Alleluia!

Amen.

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

Jesus’ Father is our Father and our God. It is from Him that we received Jesus, His Beloved Son and the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus’ Resurrection, the Holy Trinity has shown us a merciful love greater than anything else on earth. It reminds us of our personal and communal relationships with God and each other. After all, if God is our Father, Brother, and Advocate, then we are all part of a holy and eternal family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and co-heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven. All we have to do is profess our faith, live in hope, and act out of love for God and our spiritual siblings.

Do we spend time each day nurturing our relationship with the Holy Trinity? How can we come to know, love, and serve God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? In what way do our lives proclaim the Good News to our fellow children of God?

O Lord, you are our Father and our God.

Amen.

Monday in the Octave of Easter

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Fearful yet overjoyed is such a strange feeling and yet it isn’t an uncommon feeling in our lives. Whenever we receive new or unsuspected good news we can undergo these feelings of fear and joy. When we hear we have gotten into college, been hired for a new job, fall in love with someone, discover we are about to have a child, or any other life-changing event, we can be faced not only with a sense of joy, but also of questioning, doubts, and even fear. What a blessing all these events can be, but they also challenge us to die to our old and sometimes comfortable lives and risk living a life we don’t have a handle on. This is why Jesus’ first words are “Do not be afraid.” He is letting his disciples know that although their lives are about to drastically change, they have nothing to fear because he will go before them and prepare the way. He does the same for us when we are faced with these changes. We have only to trust that Jesus is going before us and making everything ready.

Have we ever been fearful yet overjoyed? Do we place our trust in God whenever we are faced with the unknown? Are we willing to risk the lives we know and are comfortable with in order to do God’s Will?

O Lord, we are not afraid because we believe you are always preparing the path before us.

Amen.

Easter Sunday

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

The empty tomb is a wonderful image for us to keep in mind as we celebrate the Easter season. Jesus has risen! He has conquered death with his sacrificial Life. He has conquered sin with his virtuous Way. He has conquered false teachings with eternal Truth. Sometimes we must undergo symbolic deaths of our own in imitation of Jesus. These may be deaths to certain sins, imperfections, or even good things that we sacrifice for God or others. We also undergo deaths when we move, change jobs, and during other instances of change in our lives. However, each of these deaths brings us to a new life and an opportunity to fulfill God’s Will in another way. This is why we are constantly reminded to “be not afraid” throughout the gospels. We should not be afraid of death whether it is literal or symbolic because if we die for God and the good of others, then we will rise with Christ on the last day and share in the paradise of Heaven.

How do we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ in our daily lives? How do we express our thanks for Jesus’ sacrifice and the saving grace he poured out upon us through His Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection? Are we willing to undergo the symbolic deaths that will lead us to a better life?

O Lord, thank you for giving us the saving grace necessary for us to lead holy lives and rise with you.

Amen.

Easter Vigil

“Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.

Jesus died so we might be raised. And through his example of ultimate sacrifice for others, he reveals to us how we should live our lives, too. We are not to be slaves of sin and death, but rather servants of love and life. In order to do this, we must not only lead faithful lives guided by hope and fulfilled through acts of charity, but also be willing to be handed over to sinners and crucified for our faith. And just like the holy women, we should remember Jesus’ words and proclaim the Good News to everyone in our lives.

How do we express our thanksgiving for Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection? Are we willing to suffer persecutions for the sake of our faith? In what ways do our thoughts, words, and works announce the gospel message of salvation to all God’s children?

O Lord, give us the grace to proclaim your life, death, and resurrection to all who will listen.

Amen.

Good Friday

After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Jesus was incarnated for us. He was raised by the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph for us. He was baptized for us. He was tempted by the Devil and prevailed for us. He was a preacher of the Good News for us. He performed miracles for us. He suffered persecution for us. He was abandoned, betrayed and bound for us. He was mistreated and found guilty for us. He was scourged and crowned with thorns for us. He was condemned and sentenced to crucifixion for us. He carried his cross and its humiliation for us. He was nailed to the cross for us. He was lifted up for all to mock for us. He was merciful even to his enemies for us. He granted mercy to the good thief for us. He bestowed his Blessed Mother Mary to all mankind for us. He felt abandoned for us. He thirsted for us. He accomplished everything for us. He sacrificed his body and blood for us. He handed over his spirit for us. He did all these things and more for us and we should make every effort to remember this throughout our lives and eternity.

Do we spend time every day recalling what Jesus has done for us? How can we use Jesus’ life of self-sacrifice as a model for our own lives? In what ways do we accomplish God’s Will through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, we thirst for your saving waters and the accomplishment of your will.

Amen.

Holy Thursday

“Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Jesus gives us the perfect example of what it means to be a servant leader. He shows us how to be obedient to God and charitable towards others. He is the teacher, master, and king of all, and yet he humbles himself in order to provide us with a model of modest service. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty while helping those in need of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. He is the king, who is willing to humble himself in service of others. He is the prophet, who is willing to proclaim the Good News. He is the priest, who is willing to sacrifice himself for the salvation of others. He is our Lord and our Servant.

Do we realize what Jesus has sacrificed for us? Are we willing to humble ourselves to love God and others as we ought to? How can we become better servant leaders in our families, communities, and parishes?

O Lord, help us to follow your model of service.

Amen.

Wednesday of Holy Week

“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”

We all betray God in one way or another during our lives. Sometimes we betray him through venial sins that cause us to stumble along the path toward heaven, but do not sever our ties to God. Other times we commit mortal sins and turn our backs on God and greatly harm our relationship with Him. No matter the sin we commit it is a betrayal to one degree or another. This is why it is so important to cultivate good habits that keep us from falling into vices. We also should avoid those things that lead us into temptation. We should try to visualize ourselves overcoming our temptations and making the right choice so that when we are faced with the choice, we will have trained our hearts and minds to choose the good over the evil. If we do sin, then we should seek to understand why we have sinned and do everything in our power to overcome the temptation next time. This includes going to reconciliation, confessing our sins, making a faithful act of contrition, doing penance, and firmly committing ourselves to sinning no more. We might not succeed in the latter, but it should be the ultimate goal of our lives because in the end we want to be faithful servants of God and not His betrayers.

In what ways have we betrayed God? What can we do to overcome and make amends for our sins? Do we make frequent use of the sacrament of reconciliation and its graces?

O Lord, help us to confess our sins with humble hearts and seek never to betray you again.

Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Many things are easier said than done and following Jesus is one of the most difficult things we will ever do in our lives. When we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we will face many questions, obstacles, and dark nights of the soul. At first, we might believe we can handle whatever comes our way. However, if we depend upon ourselves and our false sense of security, then we will be tempted and fall into sin. And like Peter, we will also have a lapse in judgment and deny God by our thoughts, words, or works. Thankfully, we have the sacrament of reconciliation and can make amends for our failings by once again proclaiming our love for God and seeking His Divine Mercy. Then, we will be given another chance to be faithful followers of Christ and live out our lives as humble servants of His Divine Will.

Are we following in Jesus’ footsteps? What are the obstacles in the way of our spiritual progress? How can we make up for our failures and return to God’s good graces?

O Lord, give us the strength we need to lay down our lives for you and your children.

Amen.

Monday of Holy Week

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.

When we give witness to and share our faith, we risk being persecuted like Jesus and Lazarus. Some people do not believe in God and so our choice to live Christ-like lives will seem strange and irrational. Others do not want others to believe in God and will persecute those who try to evangelize the world. No matter how much resistance we are faced with, we are constantly called to be God-bearers. We do this through servant leadership, proclaiming the Good News, and by participating in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. When we do this, our every thought, word, and work become a perfume offered up to God for His glory and the hope of our resurrection.

Are we willing to risk persecution in order to evangelize the world? In what ways can we reveal God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to those around us? Do we offer everything, including our lives, to God?

O Lord, help us to lead others to a faith in Jesus.

Amen.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

When we are undergoing persecution or suffering, we are faced with a choice. We can either be like the first criminal or the second one. We can either question God, demanding that He prove Himself to us before we’ll believe in Him or we can respect God’s Will and ask Him to remember us. All of us will have times in our lives when we will have to bear our crosses and be crucified in one regard or another. Some of us will suffer in our minds, others in our spirits, and still more in our bodies. However, no matter what we suffer, we should put our trust in God and hope that at the end of the dark nights of our souls there will be a glorious dawn.

In what ways are we tempted to question and doubt God’s Will? How can we become more trusting of God’s Divine Plan, even in the midst of our sufferings? How can we transform our sufferings into stepping stones to Paradise?

O Lord, remember us and bear us into your kingdom at the ends of our lives.

Amen.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

As soon as God speaks to Joseph in his dream, he immediately does what he is commanded. This is how we all supposed to act when we are inspired by the Holy Spirit or asked to do a good work. This is what it means to be a truly righteous person and not just self-righteous one. God's instructions to Joseph are also relevant to all of us. Like Joseph, we are to be fearless in our pursuit of doing God's Will. We are supposed to take Mary into our hearts because she will bring us closer to Jesus, who will save us from our sins. Sometimes doing the right thing and listening to God's Will is difficult and requires a leap of faith on our part, but as long as we make that leap with hopeful hearts, and loving vigor, then we shall overcome all obstacles and make it to the Gates of Paradise and to our Heavenly King.

Do we do what God inspires us to do? What are the actions, people, or things in our lives that keep us from being righteous people? Are we willing to make a leap of faith when God asks us to?

O Lord, we are not afraid to do your Will.

Amen.

The Fifth Friday of Lent

“Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, "You are gods"‘? If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and Scripture cannot be set aside, can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

We are all called to be God-like by making present His Love, Mercy, and Grace to all we meet. Part of living out the Word of God is accepting Him as our Heavenly Father, consecrating ourselves to Him, and performing His works. When we do all these things, we become God-bearers, incarnations of Christ, and embodiments of the Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reside within us and our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies remain with God. Becoming God-like is not easy. It requires a great deal of sacrifice. However, it is worth the suffering because if we succeed in aligning ourselves with God’s Will and go into the world as His children, then we will one day join the Holy Trinity in a never-ending spiritual banquet.

How do we try to make God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace present to others? Do we manifest God in all that we think, say, and do? Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves so that we have more room for God within our hearts?

O Lord, you are in me and I am in you.

Amen.

The Fifth Thursday of Lent

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”  So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’

Jesus makes a promise to everyone who listens to his Good News. If we keep his word, we will not see death. He does not mean physical death, but rather the spiritual death that comes from denying him and choosing to follow our own paths to destruction. We all are tempted in various ways to deny Christ. Sometimes in mind, other times in body, and even in spirit. We can put our own desires above God's Will and seek only to glorify ourselves and not our Heavenly Father. When this happens, we choose to live our lives for nothing, for empty pleasures. This is why it is so important to keep God's commandments in spirit and truth. They help us to remain in God's glorifying grace and help us to resist making ourselves into judges, like Adam and Eve did so long ago.

Are we keeping the Word of God? If not, how can we cast aside those things that are keeping us from following the Way of Christ? What can we do to lead others along with us to God's Grace?

O Lord, we wish only to keep your word and never see death.

Amen.

The Fifth Wednesday of Lent

“If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if the Son frees you, then you will truly be free.”

We are all sinners and slaves to sin. However, Jesus can free us if we listen to and live out his gospel message. This is why it is so important to manifest the Word of God through our words and works. It is only by doing what is right and good that we can come to not only know the truth, but be freed by it as well. We might not recognize our slavery to sin for various reasons. We might blind ourselves to our failings or convince ourselves that what we are doing isn’t wrong. However, if we want to break the chains that bind us and keep us from becoming saintly people, then we must examine our conscience and seek to amend our lives. True freedom is not just the ability to choose between good and evil, but rather the ability to choose good over evil. Our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies are liberated by our good deeds because they imitate Christ and ground our being in the Truth.

What sins are we slaves to? How can we break our bondage to these sins? How do we make present the truth of the gospels in our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, we wish to remain always with you, to know the truth, and be set free by it.

Amen.

The Fifth Tuesday of Lent

When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. The one who sent me is with me.  He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.

We are all called to be Christ-like in everything we do. Consequently, we will also be raised up in sacrifice in various ways. Some of us will need to give up our lives just as Jesus did. Others will be asked to forfeit our prosperity, wealth, or well-being. Still more will be required to surrender our time and talents in order to do God’s Will. When these sacrifices come, we would do well to remember that nothing is ours. We have no claim on God’s Love, Mercy, or Grace. He gives them to us out of pure charity. When we realize this, we come to understand God is the one who has sent us into the world and is always with us. He never leaves us alone and gives us every opportunity to do what is pleasing to Him.

Are we willing to be lifted up as a sacrifice for God’s glory and the sanctification of our brothers and sisters in Christ? Are we willing to let God lead us where He needs us to be? How can we do a better job of pleasing God through our words and works?

O Lord, lift us up as examples of your love.

Amen.

The Fifth Monday of Lent

You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.

It is human nature to judge by appearances. However, we should do our best to remind ourselves that our knowledge of others is imperfect. No matter how well we think we know someone we cannot know everything. We do not see their motives, their temptations, their secrets, or their moral struggles. As such, we should keep an open mind about our family, friends, and neighbors. They might do something that annoys or hurts us and tempts us to condemn them, but we should resist that temptation because it is not our right to judge others, but rather God’s. He knows the hearts and minds of men. This is not to say we should not blind ourselves to the faults of others, but rather that we should seek to help them overcome their failings with words founded in love.

Do we judge other people? Do we recognize God as our one and only true Judge? Are we willing to forgive others and to help them overcome their sins through acts of love?

O Lord, grant us the humility and wisdom to not judge others.

Amen.

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

None of us is without sin. This is something we should always keep in mind when we are tempted to condemn, belittle, or turn our noses up at another person. The people in our lives will sin against us or do something we do not agree with. Some of these actions will be little things, while others will have greater substance. In all cases, we will be faced with a choice to either hold a grudge against or forgive the person and give them another chance. Like Jesus, we should not turn our backs on those who trespass against us, but rather show mercy. Might they hurt us again? Yes. But God does not ask us to live lives without suffering, rejection, or betrayal. Instead, He asks us to show compassion to others, just as we would want Him to show compassion to us in spite of our sins.

What can we do to resist and avoid the temptation to condemn others? Are we truly willing to forgive those who have trespassed against us and give them a second chance? How can we learn to love those who have done us harm?

O Lord, help us to forgive others.

Amen.

The Fourth Saturday of Lent

“Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?”

Sometimes we judge people even before we meet them because of gossip and second-hand knowledge. These opinions can color how we treat others and even cause us to mistreat them. This is one of the reasons why Jesus warns us against judging others. God is the only one who should judge another person's character. Unlike us, He sees everything and knows the context we don't have. He also knows the hearts of others whereas we only know what we can see and make assumptions based off of incomplete knowledge. This is why it is so important to be open to changing our opinions about other people, especially those we have the most difficulty liking or understanding.

Do we listen to or spread gossip about others? Do we prejudge people? How can we cultivate hearts that are not prejudiced, but rather loving and understanding?

O Lord, keep us from condemning others and instead find ways to love all your children.

Amen.

The Fourth Friday of Lent

“Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

People are constantly persecuting Jesus throughout the Gospels. They argue with him, belittle him, try to arrest and even kill him. They convince themselves that they are right and he is wrong. We act the same way when we sin against God. We make ourselves into judges of others and decide what is right and wrong for ourselves instead of trusting the teachings of the Church. The pride behind these thoughts can destroy our lives and the lives of others. This is why it is so important to remind ourselves that Jesus's example and teachings should be the guiding factor of our lives and not our self-interests because we too were sent to this world for a reason only God knows.

Are there areas in our lives where we belittle or push away God? How can we foster within ourselves a spirit of dependence on God and His Divine Truth? What can we do to ensure God's Will is being done through us and not our own?

O Lord, we come from you, lead us to where you need us to be.

Amen.

The Fourth Thursday of Lent

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

It is easy to get caught up in the praise of others and become prideful, but Jesus warns us against this sin. It is not the glory or gratitude of the world we should be seeking, but rather the praise of God. And the only way to win that praise is to testify to the truth and live in the light of the Lord. Throughout our lives we will hear people proclaiming they know the truth or preach with their own authority, but God is the only font of truth and if we want to join Jesus in heaven, then we will need to embrace his gospel message and all it entails for our lives. By this act, we prove our love for God and choose Him over everything else.

Do we seek the praise of others or of God? Do we live our lives as a testimony to the truths of the gospel? What can we do to bring our lives into alignment with Jesus' words?

O Lord, we love you and seek your praise.

Amen.

The Fourth Wednesday of Lent

Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.

Just like Jesus, we are called to be sons and daughters of God. As such, we should not do anything that is selfish, but rather do what we see our Heavenly Father doing. God shows us how to live through the Scriptures and as long as we have eyes that see God’s Goodness and ears that hear God’s Will, then we will be able to live our lives just as Jesus did. If we allow ourselves to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, our thoughts, words, and works will be life-giving to others. Then, everything we do will give honor and glory to God. Most importantly, we shall have eternal life and be able to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father. By doing these things, we become more and more Christ-like and seek to do the will of the Holy Trinity, who sent us into the world not to be condemned, but to be resurrected to everlasting life with Him.

In what ways do we imitate God the Father? How do we live our lives like Jesus? How do we open ourselves to the influence of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, show us how to become living saints.

Amen.

The Fourth Tuesday of Lent

“Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”

After we are healed of our sins through the sacrament of reconciliation, we are given a new opportunity to live our lives as incarnations of Christ. Once we are forgiven, it is up to us to take the initiative and avoid temptations, sin no more, and do good works. If we do not, then we shall fall back into bad habits, lead lives of sin, and fail to do good when we have the chance. A worldly life of wickedness paralyzes our souls and sickens our minds, making it more and more difficult to cleanse ourselves as we either blind ourselves to the truth or sink into despair. So let us take the mercy and graces God gives to us through the sacrament of reconciliation and make them pillars in our lives. Then, we shall be able to rise up from our imperfections, failings, and sins and walk the narrow path to Heaven.

Do we receive reconciliation on a regular basis? If not, then why do we hold ourselves back from God’s Infinite Grace? After we are cleansed of our sins, do we strive to avoid temptation, sin no more, and do good works?

O Lord, you heal us through your sacrament of reconciliation. Give us the graces we need to sin no more and walk your Way, speak your Truth, and live your Life.

Amen.

The Fourth Monday of Lent

Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left.

Sometimes God answers our prayers of petition, but He only does so when what we request is both good for us and in alignment with His Divine Plan. He will never give us something that will harm us or lead us away from Him. This is why when we pray we should not just ask for something from God, but also be open to listening to Him so that we can know what He is asking us to do with our lives. Prayer is meant to be a two way street. If all we do is flood God with requests, but never listen to His inspirations, then we lose out on opportunities to grow in our relationship with Him. If we open our ears to Him, He will speak to us through our conscience and our thoughts. He will give us the wisdom to live our lives in accordance with His Will without having to seek signs and wonders. The only sign we need is the cross. The only wonder we need is to know Jesus died for us and by his death he has given us all the opportunity to live with the Heavenly Father forever and forever. All we have to do is believe and follow the Way Jesus laid out before us.

How do we pray? Do we listen to God during and after our prayers so He can speak to us through our thoughts? Are our hearts, minds, and ears open to God’s inspirations?

O Lord, you are the only sign we need.

Amen.

The Fourth Sunday in Lent

A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, “Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 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.’”

We don’t normally get our inheritances until after someone dies, but here the younger son demands the share that should come to him after his father’s death. By doing so, the younger son is essentially treating his father as if he is already dead. He breaks off all ties and sets off to do whatever he wants, squandering his inheritance on a life of decadence. When we choose sin over God we do the same thing, we treat God as if He is dead and go off on our own path. And in the end, like the younger son, we lose everything and find ourselves in dire straits. Our souls starve on the empty pleasures of the world and we hire ourselves out to uncaring masters. However, God is always willing to take us back. All we need to do is come to our senses, admit our sins, and be willing to do good works for our Heavenly Father in reparation for our transgressions. If we do these things, then God will welcome us back with open arms and celebrate our return with an everlasting feast.

In what ways are we like the younger son? Are we willing to admit our sins and return to God? How can we imitate the forgiveness of the Heavenly Father in regards to those who trespass against us?

O Lord, we have sinned against you. Forgive us and welcome us back into your heavenly kingdom with open arms.

Amen.

The Third Saturday of Lent

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity greedy, dishonest, adulterous or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

Jesus warns his followers against becoming convinced of their righteousness and despising others. This is not to say that his followers shouldn’t be righteous, because we all should seek to do what is right, but rather they shouldn’t consider themselves holier-than-thou. Our piety is under constant attack by the Devil and one of his weapons is pride, which worms its way into our hearts by convincing us that we are better than others and encouraging us to despise them. However, the truly righteousness will never be convinced of their superiority, nor will they look down on others. Instead, they will do what God asks them to do and cultivate the virtues of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Most importantly, they will recognize themselves as sinners, seek God’s Mercy, and be compassionate toward their fellow sinners. When we live in such a way, we give glory to God and will be exalted before Him for being good and faithful servants.

Do we believe ourselves to be better than others or recognize we too are in constant need of God’s Mercy? What are we doing to ensure our piety is not corrupted by false pride? Are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving the pillars of our lives?

O Lord, be merciful to us sinners.

Amen.

The Third Friday of Lent

The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

Jesus is our teacher, but he is also our model as well. He does not just tell us what is right. He also does it. He shows us how to lead an authentic and holy life, the Life we are all called to aspire to and put into action. However, it is up to us to recognize the Truth that Jesus has spoken and to follow the Way he has laid out for us. When we do these things, we too become living sacrifices to God and loving neighbors to all.

Do we try to imitate Jesus in everything we do? Do we put Jesus’ words into action in our lives? Do we love God and our neighbors with all our hearts, minds, and strength?

O Lord, you are our teacher show us how to become living sacrifices.

Amen.

The Third Thursday of Lent

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Jesus’ love for us is stronger than any trials we will ever face in our lives. With him at our side nothing will conquer us. However, if we turn away from him and believe not in his strength, but in our own, then one day we will be scattered. In life, we shall face sufferings that reveal how weak we really are and if we do not accept Jesus into our hearts, then we shall experience true poverty. In death, we shall have everything we own stripped from us and distributed to others. How much easier will that day be for us if we have developed a spirit of holy detachment from all our possessions? We cannot take things with us, but we can take Christ with us wherever we go if we have made him the source, center, and summit of our lives. Then, as we stand before Paradise, Jesus will lift us up to our Heavenly Father as one of his faithful servants.

Do we admit our weaknesses and seek God’s strength? Are we possessed by our possessions or free of material attachments? Have we committed ourselves to gathering with Christ and having him as the heart of our lives?

O Lord, you are our strength.

Amen.

The Third Wednesday of Lent

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

We have been given many commandments by God, but in the end they boil down to those two commandments given to us by Jesus. We are to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths, and love our neighbors as Jesus loves us. Whenever we break one of these laws, even in the smallest of manners we damage our relationship with God and His children. We add to the suffering of Christ’s Passion. We also show our ingratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross when we turn our backs on him to follow our own way. This is why it is so important to practice the virtue of obedience to God and the teachings of the Church. By aligning our freedom to God’s Will, we become more perfectly free and increase in holiness. We also sanctify ourselves whenever we proclaim and teach the truth to others. We do this best when we put the truth into practice in our lives. In this way, we become living gospels to all we meet.

Do we follow the commandments of God in both great and small matters? How are we bringing our wills into union with God’s Divine Plan? In what ways do our lives teach others how to live in accord with God’s commandments?

O Lord, help us to obey and teach your commandments through our every thought, word, and work.

Amen.

The Third Tuesday of Lent

That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

The Heavenly King is always showing us His compassion. He forgives our sins and imperfections when we seek reconciliation with Him. He pardons our failings, great and small. However, if we are not truly contrite, do not do our penance, or are cruel in our dealings with others, then He will hand us over to the torments of Hell. He expects us to treat others as He treats us, with mercy. This is why it’s so important to have forgiving hearts, especially in regard to those who try our patience and impose on us the most. Whenever we are tempted to anger by someone’s actions, we should remember we too are sinners and find a way to forgive the person who harmed us.

Do we seek forgiveness with contrite hearts? How do we treat others, especially those who harm us in some way? What can we do to cultivate spirits of compassion?

O Lord, help us to be patient with others and forgiving of their faults.

Amen.