Fifth Thursday of Easter

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

We are all called to be prophets, proclaiming the Good News just as Jesus and his disciples did so long ago. It isn’t enough to just believe. We also have to act on our beliefs. We have to show our faith and hope through works of love. Our lives must pour forth marvelous works of charity and mercy. They must proclaim God through word and deed. Our entire lives should trumpet the glory of God and the promise of salvation through our Heavenly Father, who loves us more than we can possibly imagine.

In what ways do we proclaim God’s marvelous deeds? How do we announce His salvation? How do we tell of His glory?

O Lord, grant us the courage and grace to proclaim you and your marvelous deeds wherever we go.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs

He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Jesus makes clear who he considers as his family. It is those who hear the Word of God and act on it. It is actually easy to hear the Word of God. It is in the Bible we read. It is in the readings and sermons we hear during mass. Sometimes it is whispered to us by other people in our lives. Other times it is shouted at us. However, it is much more difficult to act on the Word of God. Actions as the saying goes, speak louder than words. Even the most subtle, loving action proclaims the Good News more convincingly than some of the greatest preachers in the world. God wants our actions to reflect Him and His Loving Light into the world. This requires us to first listen, but then make the choice to do what is right and good even if it might cause us problems. So let us be open to the Word of God and make it the source, center, and summit of our everyday words and works so that when we see Jesus face-to-face he will call out to us as his beloved spiritual family.

Do we listen to the Word of God? After we listen, do we act on it? If we don't act, then how can we become better fulfillers of the teachings of Jesus Christ?

O Lord, make us doers of your will and worthy members of your spiritual family.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Saturday of Ordinary Time

But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

Jesus outlines what we all must do in order to bear good fruit in our lives. We must not only hear the word, but also embrace it with generous and good hearts. This means that we listen not only to the commandments of God the Father, but also the teachings of the Son and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Then, having listened to these things we should put them into practice generously and in a spirit of charity toward all. When we do this, we may discover that we are opposed, persecuted, and mocked by others and the world, but this should not discourage us. Instead, we should bear our fruit through perseverance. If we do this, then we shall be rewarded with a treasure house of merits in heaven and an eternal life to enjoy them with our Beloved God, the Holy Trinity.

Are we listening to the word of God? Have we embraced the Good News with generous and good hearts? What can we do to prepare ourselves to persevere in this life and bear good fruit?

O Lord, help our hearts to find rich soil of your graces and thrive in the light of your love and the waters of your mercy.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Saturday of Ordinary Time

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.

There is a world of difference between listening and acting. We can listen to God through scriptures, homilies, other people, and even our own consciences, but if we do not act on these messages, then we choose to ignore God in favor of something else. The Word of God is constantly being spoken to us, but it is easy for us to disregard it as we are exposed to the siren's call of the world: money, power, sex, and other earthly things constantly clamor for our attention and for our actions. If we want to be a follower of Christ, then we have to choose to close our eyes, ears, and hearts to these things and instead focus on the Father's commandments, Jesus' teachings, and the Holy Spirit's inspirations. By doing so, we will be able to not only listen to the truth, but act upon it in faith, hope, and charity. Instead of our wills being at the center of our words and deeds, it shall be God's Will speaking and working through us.

What worldly things are distracting us from doing God's Will? How can we build our lives on the solid foundation of God's Will, rather than on our own? How can we dig deeply into our faith so that when we suffer through the storms of life, we shall come through triumphantly?

O Lord, you are our foundation. May we always listen to you and put your word into action.

Amen.