Twenty-First Thursday of Ordinary Time

Now may God himself, our Father, and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.

We are constantly setting an example for others in everything we say and do. If we speak harshly or gossip, others will hear us and know us as hypocrites. If we always slack off, avoid what is right, or sin, then others will see what we do and know us to be wicked. If we set a bad example for others, then who are we to complain when others do evil to us? Worse yet, if our sins cause others to follow us into evil, then we shall be held accountable. So when we speak, our words should be formed and spoken in love. When we act, our actions should have their source, center, and summit in God’s Charity and Mercy. We should desire to be role-models for all whom we meet, leading them toward God’s good works and away from sin and evil deeds. We should seek to strengthen the faith, hope, and love of others, not weaken it so when we pass on God will know us to be true believers... blameless in holiness.

Are we role-models of faith, hope, and love? How can we increase and abound in love for one another and for all? What can we do to strengthen the hearts of others so they might be blameless in their holiness?

O Lord, help us to lead others to holiness.

Amen.

Twenty-First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory. And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.

We all have influence over other people in great and small ways. Paul recognized this and put his every word and work into making a good impression on those he served. He didn’t do this for selfish reasons of self-glorification, but rather for the glory of God and the good of others. He wanted to set a good example of conduct for those he served. He encouraged his spiritual children to become better people worthy of God and His Kingdom. He wanted them to grow in faith, hope, and charity and give their lives over to the Good News so that God could be made manifest in the world through them.

How do we exhort and encourage others on their own spiritual journey? What do we do to make a good impression on others so they might know we are Christians by our love? How do we spread the Word of God to the world around us?

O Lord, let us be like fathers and mothers to those who are in need of spiritual guidance.

Amen.

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God, who judges our hearts. Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed--God is witness--nor did we seek praise from men, either from you or from others, although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.

When we bring the Gospel to others, the best way to do so is not through trying to please or flatter them or to force or demean them, but rather to be truthful, gentle, and loving. This is why the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Spiritual Mother, is such an important role model for us to emulate. She shows us throughout the Gospel through word and deed how to magnify the Lord and proclaim His Greatness in all things. She does this through sharing herself with others. First, with her fiat to our Heavenly Father and her openness to the Holy Spirit with whom she conceived Jesus. Second, through the visitation of Elizabeth, whom she cares for. Third, with Joseph, whom she shares a life full of blessings and sorrows. Fourth, with Jesus, her Son and out Lord with whom she shared everything from conception to Passion to death to Resurrection. Last but not least, she shares herself with all God’s children by accepting God’s call to be our Spiritual Mother, who knows, loves, and serves us most perfectly in Heaven and desires nothing more than for us to fulfill God’s Will and join her in Heaven. So let us all be givers of our selves just as Jesus, Paul, and Mary gave themselves for us.

How can we become more effective preachers of the Gospel of God? In what ways can we share ourselves with our fellow children of God? Are we gentle in our approach to bringing the Good News into the lives of others?

O Lord, help us to share not only your Gospel, but also ourselves with all those we are asked to evangelize.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.

Faith, hope, and love. These virtues are at the heart of what it means to be Christians. We are called to the work of faith because it brings about the fruits of obedience, respect of God and others, and the desire to live holy lives. We are called to the labor of love because it is only by giving of ourselves through charity and mercy that we fulfill the golden rule. We are called to hope because it is only when we trust God completely that we are able to endure all trials, overcome all obstacles, and make the leaps of faith God asks us to make. God chose us to each grow in faith, hope, and love in our own unique ways and to express them through our own personalities.

How can we become better workers in the faith? What can we do to be more fruitful laborers of love? How can we cultivate a spirit of enduring hope?

O Lord, grant us the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The questions Jesus poses to his disciples are questions we need to ask ourselves. Who do we say that Jesus is? If we think he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, then that requires us to live our lives accordingly. He is our Lord and Savior and we need to recognize him as such. Our confession of faith in him is only as sincere as the thoughts, words, and works we think, speak, and do in his name. Our relationship with God also changes depending upon what we say He is... if God is our Heavenly Father, then we need to treat Him with the respect that is due to Him. If God is our Holy Spirit, then we need to cultivate our hearts so that they are fertile fields for the seeds of His inspirations. If God is our spiritual brother, then we are co-heirs to the kingdom and should act accordingly.

Who do we say Jesus is to us? What about God the Father and the Holy Spirit? How can we grow in our relationship with all three persons of the Holy Trinity?

O Lord, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Amen.

Twentieth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him, "Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?" Boaz answered her: "I have had a complete account of what you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband's death; you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know previously."

We don’t always know how our actions affect others. Sometimes when we do something it goes unnoticed. Other times we are immediately recognized for what we’ve done, both good and bad, and rewarded or suffer accordingly. However, some of our actions do not bear noticeable fruits until later or they bear fruits we do not know of. Ruth cares deeply for her mother-in-law and does what is right by her and this catches the attention of Boaz and leads to their marriage. In a similar way, when we do good or evil, others see our actions and are affected by them. When we do good, we can bring out the best in people... perhaps not right away, but over time our persistent goodness comes to fruition. When we do evil, we can bring out the worst in others and ruin lives without even knowing it. Our words and works can have far reaching effects and this is why it is so important that we cultivate a spirit of faith, hope, and love which will be an aid to the spiritual growth of others and not a stumbling block. God wants us to lead people toward Him and this means doing what is right. Always.

Are we stepping stones toward heaven for those whom we meet or stumbling blocks to their faith? When we speak and act, do we think of the ramifications of our actions on others? How can we more firmly ground our thoughts, words, and works in God’s Goodness?

O Lord, help us to lead others to a deeper love of you and your children.

Amen.

Twentieth Friday of Ordinary Time

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. Naomi said, "See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!" But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Love is a powerful force. It can hold us together even in the midst of trials and tribulations. It can lead us to leave everything we know and follow the path it sets for us. Love is willing to sacrifice itself for its loved ones. If we want to become good and faithful servants of God, then we need to cultivate the virtue of love and abandon our attachments to worldly things. If we do this, then we will discover that our hearts will lead us to the Lord and we shall be with His people and He shall be our God in spirit and truth.

What are we doing in our faith lives to grow in love? Are we willing to detach ourselves from all worldly things? Where is God asking us to go?

O Lord, wherever you go, we will follow.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

"Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal.

The Church is the Bride of Christ and the wife of the Lamb. This relationship with God is mirrored in Mary, who is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Both Church and Mary have given their fiat to God. They have magnified Him, rejoiced in Him, and proclaimed Him through their thoughts, words, and works. Mary prefigures the Church. She is the model upon which the Church is formed. Her virtues are the virtues of the Church, her sacrifices are the sacrifices of the Church. It is through Mary that the Word was made Flesh and Jesus Christ was brought into the world. It is through the Church that the Eucharistic Feast is celebrated and Jesus Christ is made present to us today. Just as Mary gave her life completely to knowing, loving, and serving God, so too has the Church throughout the ages. Just as Mary was infallible in her faith, so too the doctrines of the Church are infallible, even though individuals within the Church are not. As Mary is the Seat of Wisdom who will never fail us, so too the collected Wisdom of the Church is something that cannot fail. Mary and the Church both guide us toward Christ in their own ways and we would do well to follow their lead.

Do we ask Mary for her help and guidance? Do we seek out the wisdom of the Church when we are in difficulty or doubt? How can we become more like Mary and the Church in our faith lives?

O Lord, guide us through Mary and the Church to your Divine Wisdom.

Amen.

Twentieth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!' But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

It is easy to ask God to watch over us and protect us... to be our King. It is much more difficult to uproot ourselves from worldly things and plant ourselves in the shade of God’s Sovereignty. We can only do this if we are serious about becoming His good and faithful servants. We can only do this if we are willing to humble ourselves in good faith and take refuge under the branches of the commandments of God, the teachings of the Scriptures, and the traditions of the Church. If we are not able or willing to pull up our ties to worldly things and plant ourselves firmly in the Kingdom of God, then we shall be burned away in the fires of Hell. It is only those who are willing to live under God’s Love and Mercy that shall find eternal life.

Are we willing to give up our will and allow God’s Will to rule over us? When we call God our Lord and King do we do so in good faith and full humility? What can we do to uproot ourselves from the world and plant ourselves in the good ground of heavenly virtues?

O Lord, come reign over us.

Amen.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us. Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ For now the LORD has abandoned us and has delivered us into the power of Midian." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you." But Gideon answered him, "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father's house." "I shall be with you," the LORD said to him.

Like Gideon, we can be tempted to wonder why God lets certain things happen to us. We wonder why he doesn’t fix things. We feel abandoned. However, sometimes God wants us to fix things. He wants us to take up our cross, go out into the world, and trust in His Strength. At first, we might shrink away from this idea and wonder why He wants us to go forth. We don’t feel worthy or strong enough. We feel insignificant and powerless, but we should not be afraid because God is with us. He can lift up the lowly to the highest heights and give strength to the weak. He can do all things, if we let Him into our bodies, minds, and hearts... and allow Him to manifest His Divine Will through us.

Are there areas of our lives that we feel have been abandoned by God? How can we remember He is always with us? What can we do to prepare ourselves to go forth and do the Will of God?

O Lord, be with us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

Sometimes we can have a lot in common with the Israelites of old. We go through hot and cold periods of faith and sin. We are good for a while, but fall into the same sins over and over again. We can have times of great comfort and joy in the faith, but also dark nights where we get lost. We can feel abandoned by God in our times of trial. Yet, we can also champion the faith like the judges of old. We are sinners, struggling to be saints. God knows this better than any of us and that is why He does all He can to help us to overcome our weaknesses and become better servants to Him and all His children.

What sins are we struggling with? Are we keeping the faith to the best of our abilities, especially when we are in our dark nights of the soul? How can we better resist the temptations that surround us?

O Lord, take pity on us and help us to become better Christians.

Amen.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

Great faith is founded upon humility and the recognition we are not worthy to sit at the table with God. We are sinners. However, just because we are undeserving of God’s gifts and graces, we still beg for them anyway. We rely completely upon God’s Mercy. Just as the woman pled for the scraps, so too, we plead for our salvation in hope that God will be compassionate toward us and grant our request. Thankfully, God is full of love and wherever he finds humility and faith, He also gives the petitioner all they need to be healed and thrive in spirit and truth.

Are we humble in our petitions and prayers? Do we realize we are not worthy and should have no delusions that God owes us anything? In what ways do we recognize our complete dependence upon our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, give us humble and faithful spirits.

Amen.

Nineteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

But the people answered Joshua, "We will still serve the LORD." Joshua therefore said to the people, "You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD." They replied, "We are, indeed!" Joshua continued: "Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." Then the people promised Joshua, "We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice."

As his last act as leader of the Israelites, Joshua exhorted them to continue to serve God and the people answer that they will. In the same way, we must constantly answer that we will spend the rest of our lives knowing, loving, and serving God. We are our own witnesses and must keep ourselves accountable. We must keep the commandments of God and grow in virtues. We must admonish ourselves when we do wrong, correct our behavior, and do penance for our sins. We must put away those things that keep us from being totally devoted to God. We must turn our hearts to Him without reservation or hesitation. We must open our ears, minds, and hearts to listen to God’s Voice, understand His Will, and put the Word of God into action.

Do we renew our commitment to serving God on a daily basis? Are we willing to leave behind everything and follow God where He wants us to go? How can we learn to listen to and be faithful to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we will serve you and obey your voice.

Amen.

Nineteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

“Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, but I delivered them also into your power. And I sent the hornets ahead of you that drove them (the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites) out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow. I gave you a land that you had not tilled and cities that you had not built, to dwell in; you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.”

God does so much for us every single day and all of it for our own good. He wants us to prosper and succeed, especially in our spiritual endeavors. He wants us to follow Him into the Promised Land and will do everything in His power to guide and protect us. However, we need to remember our accomplishments are not our own, they are God’s victories… triumphs He has won for us. Without Him we would be utter failures in all we think, say, and do. It is not our brains, tongues, or arms that lead to our good fruits, but rather the Wisdom, Word, and Strength of God made manifest through us.

How do we thank God for all He has, is, and will do for us? What can we do to keep ourselves humble when we do have success be it worldly or spiritual? In what ways can we prepare our bodies, minds, and hearts to be vessels for God’s Goodness?

O Lord, it is when we allow you to work in and through us that we are most successful.

Amen.

Nineteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God. This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst, who at your approach will dispossess the Canaanites. The ark of the covenant of the LORD of the whole earth will precede you into the Jordan. When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, it will cease to flow; for the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank.

The Israelites left Egypt by the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and they enter the Promised Land by another miraculous crossing. These two miracles bookend the long road from slavery in Egypt to the reception of the commandments and the Law to wandering in the desert to freedom in the Land of Milk and Honey. This passage mimics our own spiritual journey. First, we must trust in God enough to accept His call to rise up and follow Him out of our slavery to sin. Then, we must learn our faith and manifest the commandment to know, love, and serve God and His children. We must also purify ourselves of our fears, doubts, and imperfections. Lastly, we must take the leap and march forth into the world secure in our faith, hope, and love. By following this Way, we prepare ourselves for a Promised Land not in this life, but in the next... the Heavenly Kingdom where we will spend eternity with God and the community of saints.

Do we trust in God enough to let Him lead us away from out temptations and out of our sins? How can we manifest the commandments and purify ourselves of all that holds us back from being good and faithful servants? Are we ready to confidently walk the Way God has prepared for us?

O Lord, you are ever in our midst no matter where we are in our journey.

Amen.

Nineteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

The LORD then said to him, "This is the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that I would give to their descendants. I have let you feast your eyes upon it, but you shall not cross over." So there, in the land of Moab, Moses, the servant of the LORD, died as the LORD had said; and he was buried in the ravine opposite Beth-peor in the land of Moab, but to this day no one knows the place of his burial. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated. For thirty days the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, till they had completed the period of grief and mourning for Moses.

In this scene, God gives Moses a glimpse of the Promised Land. He shows Moses what lies ahead for the Israelites, but because of Moses’ sin, he makes clear once again that Moses shall not cross over before his death. This might seem very harsh to many of us, but God’s punishment is just. Moses did anger God with his lack of trust in Him when he struck the rock at Meribah twice out of anger with the people of Israel. He let his own emotions override his ability to show others God’s holiness. As God’s representative, he needed to keep his feelings out of the message God wanted to send, but he let them interfere. Sometimes we do the same, we let our emotions and passions lead us astray. We fail to be good representative of God’s holiness to others when we let our negative emotions get in the way of doing God’s Will.

What emotions are getting in the way of our ability to be good and faithful servants to God? How can we rid ourselves of these destructive emotions? What can we do to make sure we are reflecting God’s holiness to all the world?

O Lord, give us the strength we need to avoid letting our emotions override our ability to show your love and mercy to the world.

Amen.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky; it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth.

The two images of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Satan, Prince of the World are polar opposites of each other. Mary is clothed in the lights of the sun, moon, and stars. She the model of what it means to be a God-bearing person. She gives birth to our Lord and Savior, bringing new life into the world. Her entire being brings glory to God. Satan, on the other hand, is clothed in bloody red scales and his horns are meant not for trumpeting God’s glory, but to do violence to the children of God. His tail sweeps away the light of God’s Divine Truth and brings darkness. Unlike Mary, who brings love and life to all creation, he knows only how to bring about sin and death. There could not be a clearer picture painted of the choice that faces us all. We can be like Mary and bear God into the world with pain and labor, but with the promise of everlasting life or we can be like Satan devouring the world in passion and violence, but leave ourselves empty inside and with no hope of eternal life.

How can we clothe ourselves in the light of God’s Goodness and bring love and life to the world? Are we willing to bear the pain and suffering that come with doing God’s Will? What can we do to prepare ourselves to flee from the temptations and wickedness of the Devil and all his empty promises?

O Lord, make us into signs of your love and mercy for all those we meet.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good?

Here we have a good road map of what it means to follow God’s Will. It means to fear disappointing Him. It means respecting God and following in His ways. It means to love and serve Him and His children with all our hearts and souls... with all our minds and strengths. It means to keep His commandments, to follow His teachings, and listen to and enact His inspirations. He asks us to do all these things for our own good because He loves us and wants only the best for us. Everything He does is for our good and the good of others and we would do well to remember that when we are undergoing trials and tribulations and are tempted to doubt His Love for us. He does not wish any ill upon us, but neither will He take away our free will to do good or evil. And if we suffer evil, we should rest assured that He will come to our aid.

Are we respectful of God and fearful of disappointing Him? How can we do a better job of knowing, loving, and serving Him with all our hearts and souls? In what ways can we learn to keep God’s commandments more faithfully?

O Lord, help us to follow your ways, now and forever.

Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “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 Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus will not let us drown. He will always stretch out his hand and catch us if we are willing to let him. He is always with us in our times of plenty and our times of need. This is why he tells us to take courage and be not afraid. This is why he asks us to come to him. We might falter along the way, frightened, and sink into doubts or sins, but as long as we cry out for help, Jesus will be there for us. He does not force his aid upon us, but offers it to us and lets us decide. He is willing to ask us to do great and small things for him... and equally willing to let us fail... in order to teach us about learning to trust in him, our Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Are we willing to take courage and follow the inspirations God sends us? How can we overcome our doubts and fears in order to take those great and small leaps of faith God asks of us each day? When we fail, are we humble and faithful enough to cry out, “Lord, save me?”

O Lord, give us the courage to come to you wherever you are.

Amen.

Eighteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

"When the LORD, your God, brings you into the land which he swore to your fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that he would give you, a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, with houses full of goods of all sorts that you did not garner, with cisterns that you did not dig, with vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant; and when, therefore, you eat your fill, take care not to forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. The LORD, your God, shall you fear; him shall you serve, and by his name shall you swear."

What we have in life isn’t ours. It is God’s. He has given us our life, health, goods, family, friends, and homes. He has instilled within each of us gifts, talents, and graces, which find their source, center, and summit in Him. We should never forget that we are merely borrowing all these things for a time. We should always be grateful for the goods God has given us. He has indeed delivered us from the slavery of sin and offered us a Promised Land filled with good things. We should fear disappointing Him and do everything we can to repay His unfathomable kindness by knowing, loving, and serving Him to the best of our abilities.

What goods, gifts, talents, and graces has God given us? Do we thank Him for all the goods we have? How can we know, love, and serve Him better?

O Lord, let us thank you through humble and faithful service.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin

Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of? Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live? Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

God is personally involved in our lives, just as He was with the Israelites so long ago. All the goods in our lives come from Him. He constantly speaks to us through our conscience and through the inspired words of others. He ventures forth with us in all our endeavors and offers His aid in our times of trial and tribulation. By signs and wonders, great and small, he delivers us from evil and leads us to good. We might not always notice His Presence or the instances of His Divine Assistance, but He is with us... always. In return, we ought to do everything in our power to remember what God has done for us and to recognize His Presence in our lives... for there should be no doubt that He will remember us, the good and bad, when the time comes for our earthly journey to end.

Do we keep our eyes, minds, and hearts open to seeing, understanding, and appreciating everything God does for us? Are our ears and consciences open to listening to and putting into practice God’s Divine Word? In what ways do we recognize God’s Presence in our lives?

O Lord, thank you for all you have do for us.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

God gives us everything we need to succeed as Christians. He offers us guidance and graces. He supplies us all our good thoughts, words, and works. All He asks from us in return is a spirit of humble servitude and a faithful, hopeful, and loving life spent sowing the spiritual seeds He gives us. If we do this, then our acts of charity and mercy will sustain not only our souls, but the souls of many others. They shall multiply and increase the harvest of good and righteous fruits. God wants us to be active in our faith... to scatter it wherever we find good and fertile ground so that devotion and fidelity to God will grow in the hearts and minds of all those whom we are graced to meet.

In what ways do we thank God for the graces He has given us? How can we use these gifts and talents to increase the harvest of His righteousness? Where is God asking us to scatter the seeds of our faith?

O Lord, thank you for the graces you have given us and the harvest have entrusted to our hands.

Amen.

Eighteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

How long will this wicked assembly grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the children of Israel against me. Tell them: By my life, says the LORD, I will do to you just what I have heard you say. Here in the desert shall your dead bodies fall. Forty days you spent in scouting the land; forty years shall you suffer for your crimes: one year for each day. Thus you will realize what it means to oppose me. I, the LORD, have sworn to do this to all this wicked assembly that conspired against me: here in the desert they shall die to the last man.

After everything God had done for the Israelites, from freeing them from Egypt to dwelling with them in the ark, they still did not trust God. This lack of faith spurred by fears and doubts overcame their confidence in God. How easily we can fall into the same pattern in our own lives. We are faithful followers of Christ while things are easy, but the moment He asks us to risk something for our spiritual growth, we grumble and complain. He offers use a life overflowing with graces and good fruits, but we recoil from it because we are afraid of the obstacles in our way. We come up with excuses not to take the leap of faith and deny God our trust. And then, we wonder why our lives seem to be wondering aimlessly through the desert from suffering to suffering with no relief. It is because we turned our backs on the way forward and have chosen to oppose God’s Will. The only remedy for this is to purge ourselves of our doubts and fears and put our faith in God’s Providence.

What are the things we grumble about in our lives? Are our doubts and fears holding us back from where God is calling us? How can we learn to take the leap of faith when God provides us with an opportunity to follow Him into the Promised Land?

O Lord, we are sorry for our grumbling and ask you to lead us where we need to be.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

“Now listen to the words of the LORD: Should there be a prophet among you, in visions will I reveal myself to him, in dreams will I speak to him; not so with my servant Moses! Throughout my house he bears my trust: face to face I speak to him; plainly and not in riddles. The presence of the LORD he beholds. Why, then, did you not fear to speak against my servant Moses?”

Jealously is a vice we all have to struggle against. Sometimes when we see another person who is prospering or blessed in some way, we start to wonder why they have all the luck. Worse yet, if the person who is doing well is someone we dislike we might feel angry that they are getting all the breaks. We start to grumble about our lot in life and covet what others have in life, love, possessions, and whatever else we see ourselves lacking. This envy of others worms its way into our relationships, making us more and more spiteful, hollowing us out, eating away at all the things we once took pleasure or solace in. When we fall into the temptation to be jealous, this vice slowly but surely whittles away at joys and we find no comfort in anything as long as others are doing better than us. This is why we must nurture within ourselves a spirit of kindness. We should find joy in the joy of others, even our enemies. We should celebrate the successes of others as if they were our own. This empathy for our fellow children of God will help arm us against the vice of envy which can only grow where self love overcomes charity.

Are we jealous of anyone? If so, then how can we ground our relationship with that person or persons in kindness and love? What can we do to keep ourselves from being jealous of others?

O Lord, rid us of our jealousy and in its place give us hearts full of kindness.

Amen.

Eighteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the LORD became very angry, he was grieved. “Why do you treat your servant so badly?” Moses asked the Lord. “Why are you so displeased with me that you burden me with all this people?”

There are times in our lives when we feel overwhelmed by what is going on. We might be ill, persecuted, sorrowful, fearful, or any number of things and pray to God for a way out. We might be upset with God because we are in a rut and don’t have a sense of progress in our lives. We might be angry that others are complaining to or about us. We might wonder why God is treating us so badly after all we have done for Him in our lives. We might even worry we’ve done something wrong and are being punished for it. All these feelings are part of being human, we know, love, and serve imperfectly and so time and time again we find something we can grumble about. However, if we trust God and prayerfully ask for His help, He will give it to us and we will eventually find our burdens lifted, the obstacles in our way removed, and our spirits renewed. We simply must be patient and let not our hearts be troubled by worldly things, nor should we allow our minds to become so prideful we mistakenly believe God owes us in some way. Whatever aid He gives comes as a gift, not a repayment.

What do we grumble about? How can we let go of our grumblings and trust in God’s Divine Providence? How can we remind ourselves doing God’s Will is not a burden, but an opportunity to grow in faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, protect us from the temptation to complain about our lives.

Amen.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

One like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Just as Jesus was transfigured before his disciples, so we must transform ourselves more and more into Christ, Our Lord. He is the one who should have dominion over our souls. He is the one we should give all glory to in our thoughts, words, and works. He is the one who should have kingship over our lives. We all are called to know, love, and serve Him, His Father, and His Holy Spirit. It is only by becoming manifestations of this Holy Trinity that we can fulfill our purpose, accomplish what God has sent us into the world to do, and return to God clothed in the Light of Christ.

In what ways are we attempting to transform ourselves into Christ? How can we get into the habit of thinking, speaking, and acting like Jesus? What do we do to express God’s dominion and kingship over us and give him glory?

O Lord, transform our souls into yours.

Amen.

Seventeenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when every one of you shall return to his own property, every one to his own family estate. In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee, you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines. Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you, you may not eat of its produce, except as taken directly from the field.

The Jubilee year is something we can learn a lot from. In this year slaved were set free, property returned, and the soil rested. First, the captives are freed. This reminds us of how each of us have been freed from the bondage of sin and death through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Second, property is returned. This reminds us God is the true owner of all our goods from our gifts and talents to our possessions and property. Even our lives are given to us on borrowed time and one day all we have and are will return to God. Lastly, the fields are rested and allowed to be picked by all Israelites. This reminds us sometimes we need to trust in God and let Him bring forth good fruits from us spontaneously. It also reminds us to share those good fruits with others, without counting the cost.

What can we do to free ourselves from our sins? How can we make a return of everything we have to God, the source, center, and summit of all our goods? Do we trust God will provide for us if we let Him and share the harvest He provides us with others?

O Lord, make us into living jubilees, celebrating your mercy, generosity, and charity to all your children.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest

Speak to the children of Israel and tell them: When you come into the land which I am giving you, and reap your harvest, you shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest, who shall wave the sheaf before the LORD that it may be acceptable for you.

We are all called to give the first fruits of our labors to God. We do this because all our goods and works come from God. He is the Alpha and the Omega of everything and it is from Him that we receive the gifts which sustain our lives and help us to grow and thrive as Christians. As such, it makes sense we should return some of what He has graced us with to Him. We do so when we give our time to God in prayer, spiritual reading, ministry, and other works of charity and mercy. We do so when we give Him our talents, by offering up our physical, mental, and spiritual works to Him and using our gifts to do good and glorify God. Last but not least, we do this when we give our treasures to God through tithing, almsgiving, and fasting.

Do we give our first fruits to God? If not, then how can we learn to trust that giving up our time, talents, and treasure will not impoverish us, but enrich us? What can we do to recognize God as the beginning and end of all our goods and works?

O Lord, we bring you our first fruits in hopes that they will be acceptable to you.

Amen.

Seventeenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Then the cloud covered the meeting tent, and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling. Moses could not enter the meeting tent, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the Dwelling. Whenever the cloud rose from the Dwelling, the children of Israel would set out on their journey. But if the cloud did not lift, they would not go forward; only when it lifted did they go forward.

Our bodies, minds, and hearts should be like the Dwelling Moses built for the Ark of the Covenant. They should be places where God is made present through our thoughts, words, and works. God should be able to settle within us and His Glory shine through us. His Holy Spirit should lead us on our faith journey, inspiring us to do good and avoid evil. We cannot make ourselves into a Dwelling of the Lord without being faithful, hopeful, and loving. We also must be humble enough to allow Him to fill us with His Will so that we might go forth into the world and bear Him to those in most need of His Love and Mercy. We cannot be resting places for the Lord, if we do not do our best to cleanse ourselves of imperfections, weaknesses, and sins. God understands we are not perfect, he does not expect us to be so, but He does expect us to be welcoming of Him and to desire to make our hearts into places worthy of Him just as Mary and Joseph did their best to prepare the humble manger for the arrival of this son and Savior.

In what ways do we prepare ourselves to be Dwellings for God? What can we do to cleanse ourselves of those things that keep us from being worthy resting places for our Heavenly Father? Are we willing to let God determine how we proceed in our lives?

O Lord, settle upon our hearts and fill them with your glory.

Amen.

Seventeenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the LORD. When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become, they were afraid to come near him.

Although we might not have radiant faces after speaking to God in our prayers or when we celebrate the sacraments, we should have glowing minds and hearts. Our time spent in conversation with God should leave us with the commandments written upon the two tablets of our intellect and will. Our faith should radiate for all to see. Our hope should be a light for all to enjoy. Our love should shine on everyone we meet. We all have the choice to either know, love, and serve God and become a light for the whole world or serve ourselves and fall into darkness. It is up to us to make the right decision, God doesn’t force His graces on us, but if we accept them, we shall reap the rewards and grow in holiness.

Do we seek out God and converse with Him? How can we prepare our minds and hearts to receive His commandments and live them out faithfully? What can we do to radiate God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace for all to see?

O Lord, we wish to converse with you and radiate your goodness for all to see.

Amen.

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

“If I find favor with you, O LORD, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own.” So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights, without eating any food or drinking any water, and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.

We are a stiff-necked people, too. We have imperfections that we do not seek to rid ourselves of. We have wickedness and sins we constantly fall into. We fail to do good when opportunities present themselves. We fall short in our faith. We falter in our hope. We lack in our love of God and others. And yet, God is still with us, He still loves us, He is willing to pardon our wickedness and receive us as His Own Children. He wants to be our Heavenly Father, Beloved Brother, and Holy Spirit, writing His commandments, teachings, and inspirations upon our hearts. All we have to do is accept Him into our lives by bending our stiff necks and dying to our sinful selves so we can rise as holy and unique incarnations of Christ.

 What are the imperfections, wickedness, and sins we need to be pardoned for? How can we rid ourselves of these failings and become more perfect children of God? What can we do to ensure that God’s commandments, teachings, and inspirations stay with us always?

O Lord, come along in our company and receive us as your own.

Amen.