Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. “Blessed may you be, O LORD, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.”

What a wonderful blessing it is to have God as our Father. His Divine Love created us in His Divine Image. His blessings and graces are poured out for us constantly. Every gift, talent, and good we possess He has passed onto us through His Hands. He will never abandon or forsake us. He is always with us. He knows what is best for us, even when we don’t. He is our most perfect Father and will protect us from every evil as long as we let Him. So, let us praise His Glorious Name and thank our Mighty God for all He has done, is doing, and will ever do for us.

Do we accept and acknowledge God as out Heavenly Father? What do we do to be good and faithful children to Him? How can we show our appreciation for everything He has given us?

O Lord, our Father, blessed may you be.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Thursday in Ordinary Time

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. But what profit did you get then from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sometimes we all fall into sin. We give into temptations and lose our way, but as Christians we are no longer slaves of sin. We are freed men and women and have the choice to make amends for our transgressions and to make ourselves right with God. We should indeed be ashamed of our failures, but we also cannot let them drag us into despair or keep us from seeking out God’s forgiveness. God is infinitely more merciful than we could ever be sinful and so we should not be afraid that He might deny us forgiveness If we seek it with humble and contrite hearts. When we return to God in this way, we declare ourselves slaves of His and allow Him to lead us toward holiness and salvation by whatever ways and means He decides are best for us. And it is up to us to remain in God’s service throughout our lives so one day we might be granted eternal life with Him.

Do we recognize there is no profit outside the service of our Lord and God? Are we willing to become slaves to God in all we think, say, or do? How can we rid ourselves of all those things that keep us from fully accepting the gifts of holiness and righteousness from our Heavenly King?

O Lord, free us from sin and accept us as your good and holy slaves.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Saturday in Ordinary Time

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.

God died for us through His Beloved Son to ransom us from sin and death. He sacrificed Himself for us, even though we are sinners and sometimes turn our backs on Him. He offered Himself once and for all. And the only thing we have to do is accept this truth and live our lives in accordance with God’s commandments. If we do this, then God will not only guard us from our foes, but raise us to Heaven as His beloved children and heirs to His Kingdom. He shall protect us from the wickedness and snares of the Devil and all his minions. He shall pour out His grace and blessings upon us and make us into a holy people, full of love, mercy, and joy.

Do we call upon our Shepherd to guard us from temptations and evil? Do we give thanks to God for ransoming us from sin and death? How can we make God’s Goodness known to all whom we meet?

O Lord, we thank you for ransoming us from sin and death.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.

Trying to divine God’s Will is impossible for us. We can never truly know what God wants from us if we depend on our own interpretations of signs. It is only when we open our hearts and minds to the Holy Spirit through prayer and through spiritual counsel from trusted and holy people that we can begin to glean what God wants from us. However, knowing is only the beginning because often what God asks of us requires great sacrifices and risks on our part. Also, the world is such a distracting place that sometimes we can lose sight of our spiritual goals and settle for worldly ones that take us further away from where we should be. When we shelter ourselves in earthly things, we become trapped by worries and concerns. But this is not what God wants from us, He wants us to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News and do so without counting the cost or fearing the consequences. He wants us to be fearless in our faith, boundless in our hope, and generous in our loving. He wants us to bear good fruits for Him and all His children, and that is the true test... the yield of our labors.

Do we think we know what God wants of us? How do we know this? Are we bearing good and abundant fruits?

O Lord, make us courageous in our pursuit of your will.

Amen.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.

Trusting in the Lord means being willing to leave everything behind in order to follow Him. It means being willing to sacrifice our most precious earthly possessions. Sometimes it even requires us to walk away from family and friends. It means rejecting all idols and the falsehoods they represent. It means accepting God’s Will, no matter the cost. It means being willing to die upon a cross.

Do we constantly say to the Lord that we are here for Him? Are we truly willing to do God’s Will even if it costs us our goods, our relationship, and lives? How can we protect ourselves from the false idols that surround and tempt us?

O Lord, you are our trust.

Amen.

Fifteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

His mercy endures forever. Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, for his mercy endures forever; And brought out Israel from their midst, for his mercy endures forever; With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for his mercy endures forever.

God wants us to be free. He offers to break the chains of slavery to sin so we might have new lives in and with Him. He wants us to accept this gift of liberty and use it to make the right choices. He provides us everything we need for the journey through this life. He gives us grace to sustain us, hope to nourish us, and faith to guide us. He gives us His Love and Mercy so we might follow in the footsteps of His Beloved Son and be lights to the world. He wants us to choose the freedom of serving Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. It is up to each of us to accept this offering and use it to bring ourselves and others closer to the Promised Land.

What people, places, and things are enslaving us in this life? What is God offering us to help us get escape these evils? When we are freed from our sins, how can we avoid falling back into slavery and instead go forth into the Promised Land?

O Lord, bring us out of our slavery to new life in and with you.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.

God has asked all of us to be leaders in His Church. He wants us to follow in His Beloved Son’s footsteps. He wants us to be fishers of men and shepherds of His flock. We can’t do that if we don’t take up our crosses and lead by example. Each of us has a unique leadership role to play in the Divine Plan. We have gifts and talents that only we can give. No one else can do what we do for God and His children. We might not realize how unique we are in the plan of salvation, but we are special and we do everyone a disservice if we do not live up to our potential. So, let us accept the seat of leadership God has prepared for us and give it our all.

In what areas in our lives are we being called to leadership? What gifts and talents can we use to further the glory of God and the good of others? How can we become better stewards of the goods and responsibilities God has given us?

O Lord, we praise your name for giving us a seat at your table.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Easter

The Lord hears the cry of the poor. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

We are all called to be poor in spirit, which means to be humble before God and accepting of all the trials and sufferings we must bear in this world. It also means not lording it over others, but rather loving them as fellow children of our Heavenly Father. If we do these things, then we will be blessed and be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is in God that we gain glory, not in worldly successes. It is in God that we are lifted from our lowly places and given a place of honor at the Eternal Banquet. It is in God that we are made glad forever and ever.

Do we listen to the cries of the poor? How do we reflect God’s Glory to others? How can we cultivate humble and gracious hearts?

O Lord, hear our cries and help us to listen to the needs of others.

Amen.

Sixth Monday of Ordinary Time

Offer to God a sacrifice of praise. God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

God wants us to make sacrifices to and for Him, but He does not want us to make sacrifices in the mistaken belief that if we do this for Him, He will do whatever we want. That’s not how sacrifices are made. Just because we give up something for God doesn’t entitle us to anything. God’s Grace, Mercy, and Love are given to us freely without strings attached and so our sacrifices must be made freely without expectation of consolation or reward. This isn’t to say God won’t give us these things, but rather that when He does, we should consider it a bonus beyond what we deserve. God wants our obedience and sacrifices generously given. He wants our praise, honor, glory, and love above all.

Are our sacrifices done without hesitation or expectation? How can we put aside our pride and accept whatever comes in this life without complaint? What can we do to thank God when He does offer us a grace or consolation?

O Lord, we offer you an unconditional sacrifice of praise.

Amen.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord! Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in!

God will not force Himself into our lives. He may be a king, but He will not break down the doors to our hearts if they are barred. Instead, He will camp just outside our gates and patiently wait for us for as long as it takes for us to either let Him in or for us to ruin ourselves utterly. He brings with Himself gifts and graces. He brings with Himself acts of charity and mercy. He brings with Himself faith, hope, and love. He wants to enter into us to bring blessings, tidings of joy, and salvation. It is up to us to unbar our gates and let Him in with open arms and voices raised in thanksgiving and praise.

Are our hearts open to God? Are we ready for Him to come into us and set up His Kingdom? How can we be more welcoming to Him and His Divine Will?

O Lord, you are our king enter into our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.

Amen.

First Saturday in Ordinary Time

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

If we want to have a good life, then we need to be open to God’s Word and Spirit. We have to be willing to live in accordance to the Scriptures and the traditions of the Church. We know and think imperfectly, but we can depend upon the Wisdom of God to overcome our failings. If we trust God, He will lead us to the best possible lives. He will give us wisdom and love and life. He will refresh our souls when they are thirsty and feed our spirits when they are hungry. He will prepare a banquet for us and lead us to life everlasting. All we have to do is listen to the Divine Word and act like Christ in all things.

Do we accept God’s Word and Spirit into our lives? Do we allow Him to refresh our souls and give us wisdom? Do we trust that God’s Plan will lead to our good, even if it requires great sacrifices?

O Lord, give us your wisdom and refresh our souls.

Amen.

Solemnity of All Saints

See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.

Jesus came into the world to make us all into the adopted children of God. He came to show us how to cast off our sinful selves and put on the spirit of the Lamb. He became our scapegoat so we might be washed clean of our sins by His Precious Blood. He become our food so we might be united to God through His Blessed Body. If we do these things, then the world will not recognize us and we will not become lost in its lures, temptations, and vices. By accepting our call to be children of God, we become more and more like Jesus and our eyes are opened so we can see God as He is and our fellow brothers and sisters as they are, too. So, let us make ourselves pure as Jesus is pure so one day we might join him in Heaven forever and ever.

Do we think, speak, and act like children of God? How can we purify ourselves so we are more like Christ in all things? What can we do to follow our calling to become good and faithful children of our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, we are your children now.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Saturday in Ordinary Time

May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come.

We all should pray that the eyes of our hearts might be enlightened by God. There are many areas in our lives where we are blind to what is right and good. Sometimes these blind spots are people, other times they are worldly things, and still more are evil inclinations. However, when our hearts are open to the hope that belongs to our calling to know, love, and serve God and His children, then we free ourselves from these blindfolds. Once enlightened, we can accept our inheritance as Christians and give glory to God for all He has done for us through the greatness of his power. What a wonderful gift God gave us through the Word Made Flesh! He united Himself to our lives through the life of His Beloved Son and raised us from dust and ashes to be heirs to the Kingdom. All we have to do is accept our roles as good and faithful children, who trust in their Heavenly Father and do His Will.

Do we pray to God for enlightenment? What can we do to become better heirs to the Kingdom of God? How can we thank God for all He has given us through His Son, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, may the eyes of our hearts be enlightened.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

We were chosen to be Christians. God, through His Infinite Mercy, brought us into the faith for a reason. He brought some by birth and others by conversion. He brought us together to do His Will so we might fulfill His Work. We exist for His praise and glory and for the good of all His children. We, who have heard and accepted Christ’s word, believe and hope in him and the promises he made to us throughout his life. His promise of salvation is one we have all been given, but it is up to us to strive toward it with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. We do this best when we are open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is constantly leading us toward redemption through His aid and inspirations. Yes, we are chosen and if we accept our calling, then we shall one day be welcomed into Heaven and spend the rest of eternity with our Beloved God.

Are we living our lives in accordance with God’s purpose and plan? What are we doing to praise and glorify God through our thoughts, words, and works? How can we be more open to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives?

O Lord, we thank you for the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life with you.

Amen.

Seventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit"–you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that."

There are no guarantees in this life beyond what the Lord wills. This is why we should focus on doing our best at this very moment. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring because we don’t know God’s Divine Plan. Our plans are not always aligned with God’s Will and if this is the case, then they will come to nothing in the end. Our future business and profit does not hold a candle to the here and now. Nor is it completely up to us how things turn out. God plays a role in every aspect of our lives: the past, present, and future. We should make sure we keep this in mind as we go through each day, letting go and letting God.

Are we too concerned for the future that we forget to live in the now? Are we willing to let go of our own plans and let God work through us in the present? What is God’s Will calling us to do?

O Lord, if you will it, we shall live to do your will.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Easter

It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.

God gives us many chances to follow His Divine Will, but if we reject it, then He will find another way. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses and plans accordingly. He won’t force us to do what is right, but He wants us to be good and faithful servants. Sometimes we fail in this regard, but it isn’t the end. God finds a way to spread the Good News and continues to offer us new opportunities to show Him we are truly His children. He gives us every chance to be a light of holiness in the world, leading people to Him. Hopefully, we, like the Gentiles, will accept that calling and become instruments of salvation to the ends of the world.

In what ways have we failed to do God’s Will? How can we become more faithful to the proclamation of the Gospels? What can we do to prepare ourselves to be lights to the world and instruments of salvation?

O Lord, command us.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

All that we had in the past, have now, and will have in the future is a gift from God. Our lives are a gift. Our families, friends, neighbors, and even the strangers we meet are a gift. Our time, talents, and treasures are a gift. Our consciences, virtues, and faith are a gift. There is nothing we think, say, or do that is good that hasn’t been given to us as a gift. God even has given Himself to us as a gift through Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh. He gave us His Body and Blood as a gift and the source of our Eucharistic feast. He offers us eternal life with Him as the ultimate gift. But as with all gifts, they have to be accepted. And that is where we come in... we have to say, “Yes” to all the gifts God is offering us. If we do this, then we will become gifts to the world, pouring out God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace wherever we go.

Do we thank God for the gifts He has given us? How can we put those gifts to good use? How can we become living gifts to God and all His children?

O Lord, we accept your gifts with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.

Our bodies are not our own. This is something many of us have trouble accepting, especially in a world that encourages us to do whatever we want... whenever we want... however we want. However, if we believe God is with us... If we believe we are members of the One Body of Christ... If we believe we are temples of the Holy Spirit, then we can’t simply think of ourselves when it comes to our bodies. We must consider how our actions effect the dwelling place of the Lord that rests in our hearts. We must realize we should act as if we are living tabernacles of the Body of Christ... because we are. And as such, we must do everything in our power to lead holy lives because our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies are sacred ground meant to glorify God... always and in every way.

Are we willing to accept our bodies are not our own? How can we make our hearts into more perfect temples of the Holy Spirit? In what ways can our bodies glorify God?

O Lord, dwell within us like living temples.

Amen.

First Thursday of Ordinary Time

"Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the LORD from Shiloh that it may go into battle among us and save us from the grasp of our enemies."

While God has promised to always be with us and has offered us a chance to be saved from sin and death, He has not guaranteed us worldly success. When we pray for earthly goods, we should not expect God to provide them to us unless they will lead us to do His Will and bring about a greater good. If we suffer defeat or suffer a setback in our lives in spite of our prayers this doesn’t mean God has abandoned us or does not love us. Rather it is because He wants to always be with us and loves us that He sometimes denies us the things we want in this life. It isn’t because He wants to disappoint us. No. He just wants what is best for us and sometimes we need to be humbled in this life so we don’t grow prideful and over confident in ourselves. God is not with us to solve all our problems with a wave of His hand. Nor is He here to simply give us what we want when we want it. He loves us too much to spoil us. Sometimes that might be hard for us to accept, especially when we think we deserve something. However, we need to remember the only thing we truly need is God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Do we treat God as if He is our personal genie or Santa Claus, rather than our Heavenly Father? How can we learn to accept that not all of our prayers will be answered and sometimes what we are praying for is the worst thing for us? Are we willing to let God provide us with what He wills and not what we will?

O Lord, let us always respect your will above our own.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Monday of Ordinary Time

"Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me." But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD.

Sometimes we are afraid of what God is asking us to do and we run away from our calling. We might do so out of fear or selfishness or any number of reasons, but in the end we flee. However, God doesn’t ask us to do anything without giving us every opportunity and grace we need to succeed. Often, when we run away, God gives us another chance to make things right. He asks us to take that leap of faith and trust we won’t drown. He will send us the help we need to arrive where we need to be in order to do what God wants to be done. We can try running away as much as we want, but in the end we will find our way back before our Lord and God... the only difference is whether we embrace our vocation to know, love, and serve Him and His children or if we flee from it in selfishness. Hopefully, in the end, we run to God and chose to do His Will.

Are we running away from God’s Will for us? How can we learn to trust in Him and make the leap of faith He is asking us to take? Are we willing to embrace our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children?

O Lord, give us the grace to trust in you, now and forever.

Amen.