Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Twenty-Second Wednesday of Ordinary Time

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent."

After being rejected by his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus comes to Capernaum and is accepted to the point where the crowds there want to keep him from leaving. However, Jesus makes clear his mission is not just to minister to one town, but to proclaim the good news of the kingdom to others. In the same way, we are called to proclaim the gospel to others. We cannot let rejection stop us. Nor can we let the temptation of comfort keep us from following in Jesus footsteps. Jesus didn't stop his mission in Capernaum, where we would have been beloved by all and treated like a king. Rather he choose to continue his teaching throughout Judea. Jesus did not come into this world to be comfortable, but rather to speak the Truth, to show us the Way, and to give us the Life that never ends. We are called to follow in his footsteps, seeking neither rejection nor acceptance by man, but rather living our lives in accord with God's Will in the hopes that one day He shall smile upon us and call us to our eternal rest as good and faithful servants.

How can we overcome rejection in order to know, love, and serve God and His children more perfectly? How can we overcome the temptations to be prideful or rest on our laurels when we succeed at doing God's Will and helping others? For what purpose has God sent us into the world and how can we fulfill it?

O Lord, give us the words and works to proclaim the good news of your kingdom.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Twenty-Second Tuesday of Ordinary Time

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

We are often told in today's society that everyone is entitled to their opinion or truth is a matter of perspective, but this is not what Jesus taught us through his words and deeds. He proclaimed the truth with authority and so should we. We shouldn't be afraid of being persecuted, mocked, and misunderstood by those who don't believe in Divine Truth. They might ask us, "What is truth?" and challenge us to prove without a doubt that God exists, that He loves, and that He died for us so that we might join Him in eternal life. However, we should not be intimidated by those who cast doubts upon us or belittle us for our beliefs. As long as we believe in Jesus Christ, and him crucified, then our words and works will speak louder than all our critics. This is what Jesus did and it is what we are called to do. It is not any easy way, but it is the only Way that will lead us to the Truth and Life everlasting.

Do we believe in Jesus' authority? If so, then how has that changed the way we know, love, and serve others? Can we honestly claim that our lives are founded upon the authority of Christ?

O Lord, give our every thought, word, and work the authority that comes with your love, mercy, and grace.

Amen.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head.

We should never allow our sense of pride to overrule our judgement and morals. Herod knows in his heart that killing John the Baptist is the wrong thing to do, but he allows his desire to not lose face to overrule his conscience. He puts himself first and the truth last. He makes a foolish oath and instead of recognizing his foolishness and taking back his oath, he decides his pride is worth more than a man's life. We can sometimes do this in our own lives. We allow peer pressure to lead us astray. We can make bad decisions because we are more interested in protecting our pride than we are the truth and righteousness.

What areas of our lives are prideful? How can we put aside our pride and do what is right? Are we willing to stand up against peer pressure and stick to the truth no matter the cost?

O Lord, help us resist the temptations of pride and selfishness.

Amen.

Sunday, August 28, 2016

The Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

When we give, we should do so without thought of return. Instead we should do it because of a love of God and all His children. It is much easier to give our time, talents, and treasures to people who we know will pay us back in some way. It is much more difficult to do the same things with those whom might not return our favors or even completely reject them. However, true love is sacrificial. Jesus gave his life for all, even though he knew not everyone would accept him as their Savior and might even mistreat him and his followers. When we love people who cannot repay us in any way, then we act more like Christ. In a world that often asks, "What can you do for me?" It is a grace and virtue to constantly have upon our lips the question, "What can I do for you?" If we live our lives in such a way, then we will be blessed and our reward will come when God tells us that we are good and faithful servants and worthy of remaining with Him for all eternity.

Do we help others without thought of return? Do we treat those who might not be able to repay us in the same way as we would treat those who are always helping us? How can we be more generous with our time, talents, and treasures, especially for those whom we have difficulty loving?

O Lord, give us the grace to invite the poor, crippled, lame, and blind into our lives so that we can pour out your love for them.

Amen.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Memorial of Saint Monica

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’

God gives us all exactly what we need to do His Will. He gives us gifts, talents, and opportunities to magnify Him by using these to their fullest potential. Unfortunately, we are often tempted to play it safe or to give up. These temptations lead us to bury our abilities and fail to do the good God wants us to do. Knowing, loving, and serving God and His children is not safe. It requires risking ourselves to do what is right even when the world tells us we are wrong or wasting our time. God will not accept us returning our gifts and talents without some return on His investment in us. He never sets us up to fail, but always to succeed in marvelous ways. However, we cannot succeed if we do not try. And if we do not try, then what little we have will be taken way and given to those who will use their talents to bring people closer to God.

Are we lazy or are we willing to risk ourselves for the love of God and His children? What can we do to multiply the gifts and talents God has given us? How can we become good and faithful servants, never afraid to do God's Will?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to multiply your love and mercy in the lives of all your children.

Amen.

Friday, August 26, 2016

Twenty-First Friday of Ordinary Time

The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

We all fall asleep from time to time, not just physically, but also morally. We have lapses of judgment, we fall into temptation, and then into sin. The foolish are those who after falling into sin are not prepared to relight the lamps of their souls. They fail to make ready their hearts to receive God's graces through acts of contrition, reconciliation, and penance. They do not see what they have done as wrong. Instead they try to cover up their faults or buy their way out of their problems. And in the end, they delay coming to Christ and discover the door to Heaven is locked and that they have made themselves strangers in the eyes of God. However, if we are wise, then we prepare ourselves for those moments when our light fails. We know we are sinners and so we make sure that the sacrament of reconciliation is close at hand so that we can refill the lamps of our souls with the graces of God's Love and Mercy. Once we do this, our light glows again for God and His children and our souls burn brightly for all to see and we will be ready to enter into the heavenly feast with God when He calls us to His side.

Have we fallen into sin? What can we do to relight the fires of our hearts? What can we do to stay awake once we have reignited the lamp of our holiness?

O Lord, make us ready to enter into your heavenly feast.

Amen.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Twenty-First Thursday of Ordinary Time

Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Part of being a follower of Christ is being vigilant not only in regards to guarding against sin, but also in regards to watching out for opportunities to do God's Will. These are the two tasks faithful and prudent servants will perform for their Divine Master. We cannot be faithful if we do not resist temptation and avoid sin. Neither can we be prudent if we do not distribute our good words and works at the proper times. To be Christian isn't just to strive to live without sin, but also to live lives of faith, hope, and love. By doing both we glorify God through our actions and reveal His Love, Mercy, and Grace to all whom we know, love, and serve.

Are we faithful and prudent? Are we doing what we are called to do as Christians? If we were to lose our lives today, would we be found doing God's Will or our own?

O Lord, give us the virtues we need to be faithful and prudent servants.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Twenty-First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

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

We are not called to appear to be righteous, but to be righteous. God knows our hearts and sees our every thought, word, and work in light of our true intentions. Even when we do good works, if we do them for the wrong reason they shall have no merit before God. He knows when we act out of virtue and when we act out of self-interest. He knows us better in that regard than we know ourselves. Sometimes we can fool ourselves into believing we are acting in accord with God's Will, but in truth we choose to blind ourselves to the reasons for our choices and do what we want regardless of what God might want from us. This is why we need to make a constant effort to understand ourselves, our strengths and weaknesses, so that we can make a good examination of conscience and overcome our temptations, imperfections, and sins. If we do that, then even though we might fall once in a while, we will have the tools to recognize what lead us to fall, try to avoid it in the future, and seek to amend our lives.

Are we hypocrites? Do we act out of righteousness or selfishness? What can we do to avoid hypocrisy and evildoing?

O Lord, grant us the graces we need to overcome our temptations to hypocrisy and evil so that we can truly be righteous people.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Twenty-First Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

God calls us to be clean of conscience and heart. We cannot do that if we do not regularly examine our consciences and honestly evaluate our lives as Christians. If we are not reflective on our thoughts, words, and works, we can lose sight of what God is calling us to do. We can become hypocrites, just going through the motions of faith, but without any deeper meaning or motivation. Our outward acts of faith can become mere self-indulgence and self-glorification. This is why it is so important to cleanse ourselves of our selfishness and truly strive to do God's Will without thinking of how it can help us get ahead in life. Our faith and charity is not meant to make us look better in front of others, but rather it is meant to express our choice to follow God without counting the cost.

Are we hypocritical in our faith? Have we cleansed our insides so we can become better vessels of God's Love and Mercy? What can we do to ensure our thoughts, words, and works are done for God's glory and the good of others and not out of selfishness?

O Lord, cleanse us of our self-indulgence so we can be better bearers of your will?

Amen.

Monday, August 22, 2016

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter."

We are called to be stepping stones toward God, not stumbling blocks to faith. Our every thought, word, and work should have the increase of faith in God, hope in salvation, and charity toward others as their main goals. Our lives should lead others to God, not away from Him. The Pharisees burdened others, we should unburden them. We should be living signs of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace constantly calling all His children into a deeper conversion of heart, soul, and mind. We ought to be welcoming of others, not condemning them. This does not mean we should condone their sins, but rather, we should focus our energies on helping others overcome their vices because we want them to be with us in heaven.

Are we stepping stones or stumbling blocks to the faith of others? Are our actions rooted in the desire to know, love, and serve God and His children? How can we make our lives signs of God's Love?

O Lord, convert our hearts, souls, and minds so that we can give a deeper witness of your Unfathomable Love and Divine Mercy.

Amen.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

The Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough."

Reaching the Kingdom of Heaven is no easy task. It requires us to strive for it. We are not perfect. We have faults, temptations, and sins that keep us from obtaining our full potential. Thankfully, God does not require us to be perfect. What He requires of us is the striving for holiness. We need to pursue God's Will with patience and persistence, never allowing our fears, doubts, or selfishness to get in the way of what we are called to do. We might stumble and fall, we may even fail most of the time, but as long as we keep trying to do the right thing God will give us the graces we need to succeed in this greatest of quests. The strength of our character will be measured by our ability to not only overcome our faults with God's help, but also to seek His forgiveness. If we let His Divine Mercy be our strength, then we shall be strong enough to enter through the narrow gate.

What are we striving for in our lives? Is being with God in heaven our main goal or has something else taking its place? How can we align our hearts, souls, and minds toward what is truly important, namely doing God's Will and joining Him in life everlasting?

O Lord, we are not strong enough to save ourselves, but with you all things are possible.

Amen.

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

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.

Jesus teaches us both how to act and how not to act. First, he lays out what not to do by talking about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who do not practice what they preach, do not lift a finger to help others, and seek honor for themselves. Then, Jesus tells us what we should do. Instead of seeking honor for ourselves, we should humble ourselves. Instead of burdening others, we should be servants of all. Instead of speaking one way and acting another, our words and works should complement each other. God is our Father, our Master, and our Lord and we should do everything for Him and not for ourselves or some worldly idol like wealth, honor, etc. If we humble ourselves before God and others, then we shall be exalted.

How can we live lives that are in closer alignment with Christ's teachings? How can we more perfectly practice what we preach? What can we do to foster humble hearts, souls, and minds?

O Lord, we are humbled before you and ask only to be your good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Twentieth Friday of Ordinary Time

“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

When Jesus is asked to give the greatest commandment, he starts with loving God and ends with loving our neighbors. We can never love too much as long as our love is based on selfless charity, rather than selfishness. This is why it is so important for us to nurture the virtue of love on a steady diet of humility and perseverance. Not everyone we meet will love us. Some of them may come to hate us. However, as Christians, we can never allow their lack of love or hatred to sway us away from loving them as God loves us. If God, is willing to love and forgive them, then we must do the same. We might not like them, but thankfully love is a choice that we can make in spite of how we feel about someone else and how they treat us. Love is an act of free will that frees us from the chains of bitterness. It is our key to a happy life, no matter what we might suffer along the way.

Do we love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds? Do we love our neighbors as ourselves? How can we overcome our dislike for certain people and come to love them as God does?

O Lord, we love you and all your children.
Amen.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Twentieth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Then the king said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

We are all invited to the heavenly feast, but not all of us accept the invitation. Furthermore, some of us may accept the invitation, but then do nothing to prepare ourselves for the wedding of our hearts with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If we do not have any good words and works to clothe ourselves in, then we will be denied a part in the feast. It is not enough to simply show up without preparing ourselves first and the best way to prepare is to cultivate the virtues of faith, hope, and especially love of God and our neighbors. Otherwise, when our time of judgment comes we shall be silent too because we shall have nothing to show for all the time God has given us to do His Will. Thankfully, God gives us every chance to join Him at the feast and show Him our faith through our works.

In what ways are we denying God's call to join Him in heaven? What can we do to prepare ourselves for participating in the heavenly banquet? What good works are we doing in our lives to lead others to the kingdom of God, too?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to respond to your call to holiness and unity with your divine will.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Twentieth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off.  And he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’

No matter when we come to Jesus, we will be welcomed. Some of us may have labored in the vineyard of souls since we first understood what it meant to know, love, and serve God and His children. Some of us may have just begun to do God's Will after many years of idleness. Others of us might struggle our entire lives with conforming our wills to God. However, in the eyes of God, all that really matters is that we accept His invitation to follow Him into the vineyard and do the work He assigns us. If we do this, then no matter when or how we came to work for God, we will be rewarded with eternal life. This is not to say that we can act immorally for all of our lives and then at the last moment seek forgiveness for our sins as a get out of jail free card. This will never work. The only way we can be fruitfully employed by God is to seek Him with truly contrite hearts and then do His Will in good conscience. Then and only then can we consider ourselves co-workers in the vineyard of souls and heirs to the kingdom.

Are we seeking to be employed in the vineyard of souls? What sins and imperfections do we need to overcome in order to do God's Will more perfectly? Are we serving God and others because it is the right thing to do or because we expect something in return?

O Lord, lead us into your vineyard and give us a just wage for all the works we do therein.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Twentieth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible,
but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.

We can't save ourselves, but thankfully God has chosen to give us every opportunity to accept the salvation He offers it to us through the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. All we have to do is to give up everything and follow Jesus. If we do these things, then we shall grow in faith, hope, and charity. We shall receive rewards more bountiful than any that the world can offer. Last but not least, we shall inherit eternal life. It is not easy to sacrifice everything. We will be tempted to doubt, fear, and run away from Christ, but as long as we stand firmly by his side, even in the midst of trial and tribulation, then we shall be rewarded for our fortitude and persistence.

Do we truly believe that all things are possible with God? Are we willing to give up everything and follow Christ? How can we cultivate a fidelity to God that can withstand the temptations of the world?

O Lord, we are willing to give up everything for your sake.

Amen.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Mary is blessed in many ways by God, but one we can share with her is the blessing that comes from believing in God and doing His Will. We might not be asked to bear Christ into the world physically as Mary did, but we can do so spiritually through our words and works. Every time we visit another person, we can greet them with love and help them as a humble servant. This is what Mary did for Elizabeth and it is what we can do for our friends, family, and neighbors. If we do this, then our hearts will be open to God's work, like Mary, and our presence will bring joy to His children.

In what ways do we model ourselves upon Mary? Are we as receptive to God's Will as we should be? Are we God-bearers, bringing joy into the lives of all we meet?

O Lord, open our ears to your calling and lead us wherever you will just as you did for Mary.

Amen.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Many families are divided. The world encourages us to pick it over faith and many people make that choice. They decide to pursue their own earthly interests and set aside everything else including their parents, siblings, and friends. In this way, our faith can cost us many relationships. It can put strains on our family bonds, but God reminds us in this moment that He did not come to bring unity to the world, but rather division. It is a division that will make clear to Him where we stand… with Him or against Him. There is no middle ground in this. We are either all the way His or all the way the worlds. We are either willing to leave everything behind and follow Him or we put our families, friends, passions, or desires first.

Who or what comes first in our lives? Are we willing to be divided from those we love, but disagree with on faith? How can we more faithfully choose to live united with God above all else?

O Lord, may we always be united with you.

Amen.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Nineteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Children are great teachers about what it means to love unconditionally. They do this in both their way of loving and annoying. They have the potential to love their parents, grandparents, and other family members without reserve. In addition, they can push all our buttons and try our patience to the breaking point. However, this stress test also helps us to understand what it means to love without expectation of return just as Jesus loves us. He died for all of us on the cross because he loved us, but he would never force us to return his love. Instead, he lets us make our choice to love others as he did or to selfishly pick ourselves over others. When a child throws a tantrum or refuses to give us a hug or kiss, then we have a small taste of what Jesus goes through when we deny him through our words and works and instead choose evil over good. So the next time we are tempted to sin, perhaps we should imagine ourselves as a child before Christ and remember that our choice is between love and selfishness. Hopefully, we shall choose wisely and well.

Are we childlike in our unconditional love of God and others? How can we be more Christ-like when we are faced with people who refuse to return our love? How can we encourage children to grow in their love of God and others?

O Lord, give us hearts filled with childlike love.

Amen.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Nineteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

"Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery."

We are constantly tempted to make excuses for our sins. This extends not only to sins like choosing to divorce a spouse (without an annulment) and then remarrying, but also other sins such as lying, acting uncharitably toward someone in need, etc. Our minds can construct excuses out of thin air, but these pretexts are empty in the eyes of God. He is not primarily concerned with our thoughts, but rather with our actions: good and evil. If we do evil, then He shall remember it until we seek His Divine Mercy. If we do good from our hearts, then He shall reward us with the graces we need to bear any burden and to one day join Him in His never-ending heavenly feast.

Are we in the habit of making excuses? How can we overcome this temptation and instead do God's Will without hesitation? In what areas of our life are our hearts hardened and what can we do to soften them?

O Lord, make us open to doing your will without delay or excuse.

Amen.

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

"Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

Jesus is willing to forgive us our entire debt. He is willing to wipe our slates clean of all our imperfections, iniquities, sins, and omissions. And yet, how often do we hold grudges or debts against others over much smaller things? We let our pride and selfishness convince us that someone else owes us something: an apology, money, time, work, help, etc. Instead of having pity on those who we perceive owe us something or acting with patience, we often demand immediate payment. When we do this, we act not like Christ, but like the wicked servant who after being forgiven his debt only thinks about his own personal gain. He does not respond to forgiveness with forgiveness, but with avarice. As followers of Christ, we need to conform our lives to him and this means cultivating compassionate hearts. If we do not do this, then we shall suffer the same fate as the wicked servant. But if we forgive our family, friends, and neighbors from our hearts, then we shall be freed of our worldly concerns and discover the spiritual riches of being merciful.

Are we willing to forgive the debts of others? Do we show pity on others when they ask for it? How can we transform our hearts into the Merciful Heart of Christ?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to show pity to others and forgive them their debts to us.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

In order to live for God, we must die to ourselves. We must be willing to give our every possession, including our lives, in order to do God's Will. This is the only way to produce the good fruit God desires from us. We cannot yield anything but the weeds of sin if we do not tend to our souls and cultivate the virtues of faith, hope, and love. If we love ourselves more than God, then we lose the light of truth, our roots wither, and we put ourselves at risk of dying a death that we can never return from. But if we are willing to sacrifice everything we are and have for God's sake or for His children, then we shall preserve our lives for eternity with the Holy Trinity. We must follow in Jesus footsteps if we want to be saved. This means living a life that is sacrificial and loving and selfless. Then and only then can we claim to be servants of God and discover the honor that comes from being a humble disciple of Christ, His Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Are we willing to die to ourselves so that we can live for God and His children? How can we prune our lives of the temptation to selfish love? What can we do to be better followers of Christ?

O Lord, we hand over our lives to you. Do with them what you will.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Nineteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.

When we lose something, we often spend a lot of time and effort looking for it. Whether it is something of great value or small, we still will look. We don't like the idea of losing things and so we, like the shepherd rejoice when we find what was lost to us… no matter how small. Even if the effort involved in finding the thing is out of proportion to what was lost, we are excited to find lost things. In the same way, God is overjoyed when one of his lost sheep is found and returns to His beloved flock. He sees each of us as worth every effort to save and in light of this, we all should look at each other as worth saving, too. This isn't to say everyone can be saved, but rather we should make the effort to save others when we have the chance.

Are we more like the lost sheep or the shepherd? How can we not only follow God, but also lead others back to Him? What can we do to ensure those who are entrusted to us are brought closer to God through our words and works?

O Lord, seek me when I am lost and help me to lead others to you.

Amen.

Monday, August 8, 2016

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said.  When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up.  Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”

When our faith is challenged in some way, we should do exactly what Peter did. We should go to Jesus and seek to understand what we should do and why we should do it. Whether it is paying a tax or choosing between right and wrong, we should always turn to Jesus first. By making this a habit, we shall grow in our faith and trust in God. He will provide us with everything we need to overcome the obstacles in our lives if we will believe in his Divine Providence. Then, like Peter, we shall obtain what we seek and fulfill God’s Will in everything we do.

What is our response to having our faith challenged? How can we give others an example of trust in God? What can we do to give thanks to God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, we trust that you will provide us with all that we need.

Amen.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

Jesus reminds us that God wants to give us the kingdom. He wants the best for us. He wants us to be not afraid. However, it is up to us to choose where our treasure is and to what our hearts belong. We can store up worldly riches or heavenly ones, but not both. One will always take precedence over the other. This is why Jesus tells us to sell our belongings and give alms out of the proceeds. He wants us to detach ourselves from the world so that we can attach ourselves to God. And when we do choose God over the world, we will be rewarded with a love that never wears out and no one can steal or destroy.

What are we afraid of? Where does our treasure lie? Are we willing to detach ourselves of all our worldly riches in favor of receiving our heavenly rewards?

O Lord, we treasure you and your kingdom over all our possessions.

Amen.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Once again Jesus gives us an example of how to pray. He goes to a deserted place on a mountain and there he communes with his Heavenly Father. While doing so, his appearance is transformed and he converses with Moses and Elijah, witnesses to the Law and the prophets. This reminds us that our prayer lives should also transform us and lead us to live in accordance with the Scriptures and Traditions of the Church and to proclaim the Good News in all that we do. Lastly, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah speak of Jesus’ exodus, namely his passion, death, resurrection, and ascension. In the same way, our own prayers should lead us to meditate on the life of Jesus as well as to contemplate the mysteries of God. If we do these things, then the roots of our faith will deepen, the branches of our hope will provide us with refuge, and the fruits of our love will nourish and sustain our family, friends, and neighbors.

How do we pray? What can we do to pray more like Christ? In what ways do our lives show others how to live in accord with God’s Will, the Church’s teachings, and our calling to spread the Good News to all the nations?

O Lord, transform us more and more into you in our prayers, words, and works.

Amen.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Eighteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.

God isn't telling us that seeking profit or gain is wrong. He is telling us that seeking these things to the point of forfeiting our lives, our morals, and our faith is what is wrong. Many people seek profit for its own sake, which is greed and leads to corruption. However, if we seek profit and gain in order to better know, love, and serve God and others, then we are less likely to go astray because our motives are not selfish, but rather focused on love and charity. God will repay us in kind for all we've done and failed to do, so we should do everything in our powers to do the good and right thing and seek spiritual wealth over and above earthly wealth.

Are we focused on building up a spiritual treasury or a worldly one? Are we forfeiting our lives in the pursuit of selfish interests? How can we conduct ourselves in a manner that will lead us to eternal life rather than death?

O Lord, let our profits and gains be ones that lead us closer to you in spirit and truth.

Amen.

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord!  No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

No matter how much we might want to avoid it, doing God’s Will requires a sacrifice on our part. Jesus sacrificed himself for the salvation of souls, Peter had to sacrifice his worldly attachment to Jesus in order to think more like God, and we will have to make similar sacrifices in our own lives. We might not be asked to become martyrs for the faith in the respect to our body and blood, but we are all called to be martyrs for the faith in regard to our minds and spirits. When we are tempted to say, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall happen to him or her or me,” we should keep in mind that the purpose of our lives is not to fulfill our own wills, but rather to empty ourselves so that God can fill us with Himself. It is only when we do this, that we shall receive the graces we need to overcome all the obstacles we face in regards to our faith.

Are we willing to suffer greatly for our faith? Are we willing to detach ourselves of our worldly attachments to people, places, and things? What can we do to empty ourselves of selfishness and fill ourselves with grace?

O Lord, help us to think as you think and sacrifice ourselves as you did during your life, passion, and death.

Amen.

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Eighteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

We would do well to keep in mind the persistence and words of the Canaanite woman whenever we are faced with difficulties. We should not be so prideful that we do not seek God’s help first and foremost. None of us is perfect. We are all sinners. However, we should also never feel so unworthy of God’s Love that we fail to ask for His Mercy. God loves both saints and sinners, those who are worthy and unworthy, and He will not rest until He has given all His children every opportunity to love Him in return. It is in the virtue of humility that we find the sense of worth that we need to approach God, persist in our faith, and the willingness to accept any graces, great or small, that God might offer us in our times of need.

How often do we ask God to have pity on us? How often do we turn to God for help? Are we willing to do what it takes to cultivate the virtue of humility?

O Lord, give us the faith to seek you out constantly and with humble, persistent hearts.

Amen.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Eighteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” 

After Jesus tells Peter to come to him, the disciple walks upon the water, but soon he becomes frightened and loses faith. In the same way, many of us call out to Jesus, but when he answers us and asks us to come to him, we hesitate. We let all our worldly worries weigh us down until we sink into a sea of anxiety and sin. However, just like Peter, Jesus always stretches his arm out to us to catch us when we fall. All we have to do is accept his help and let him help us up again. Then, we can begin to rebuild our faith and reaffirm our belief in Jesus as the Son of God and our Savior. If we do this, then we will be given the graces we need to proclaim Jesus to the world, to help the sick, and be healed in body, mind, and spirit.

Do we trust Jesus enough to come to him when he calls? How do we respond to Jesus’ offer of help when our faith fails us? How can we express our belief that Jesus is the Son of God in such a way to bring others to belief in him and to strengthen our own calling?

O Lord, heal us of our indecision, worries, and all those things that keep us from following you.

Amen.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Eighteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

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

After John the Baptist’s death, Jesus goes to a deserted place to pray. Sometimes when something sorrowful happens to our loved ones or to ourselves, we need to take time to spend with God and work through our suffering. In order to do this, we need to find a place of solitude and rest there, listening to God. Then, once we are ready, we should return to our mission renewed in the Spirit with eyes filled with compassion for others who might be going through their own trials. It is in this way that prayer and works move us forward in life toward our own Jerusalem and our own passions where we shall be faced with the same choice Jesus was given in the garden: to do our will or God’s Will.

How can we overcome our sorrows through prayer and works? What can we do to show our compassion for others even in the midst of our own trials? Are we doing our will or God’s Will?

O Lord, may our lives be filled with renewing prayer and fulfilling works.

Amen.