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

Blessed the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs! Why should I fear in evil days when my wicked ensnarers ring me round? They trust in their wealth; the abundance of their riches is their boast.

Even when things seem the worst, we should not fear. Even when our enemies seem to have the upper hand, we should trust in God. Even when we are seemingly abandoned, we are not alone. Even when evil seems to be winning the day, we should know that the victory of the good will come. God may let us be tried by trials and sufferings, but if we remain true to Him, He will not allow them to overwhelm us. Others might show off their wealth, flaunt their fame, or revel in their desires, but ultimately these things will wither and fade. Such worldly people cling to these empty things, but in the end, they will leave this world with nothing to show for their lives. It is the poor in spirit who will bear abundant fruits and make a true and lasting difference in the world.

Are we poor in spirit and rich in kindness? Are we unafraid of the evils around us? Have we placed our trust in God as we should?

O Lord, with you at our side, we have nothing to fear from the wicked.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.

God is ever-present in our lives. There is not a moment when He abandons us, even if we might sometimes feel that way. He is always beside us, even when we turn our backs on Him. He does not leave us alone, no matter how much we might push Him away with sin. He is a loving Father who is always waiting for us to return to Him when we go astray. And sometimes, He goes far out of His way to find us and bring us home. There is no place we can flee that is out of His reach and nothing we can do that He won’t forgive if we are truly sorry and contrite. So, let us not be afraid of Him, but rather embrace Him and make Him a central part of every day.

Do we sometimes think we can escape God? How can we embrace God as central to our lives? What can we do to make ourselves more present to Him as He is ever-present for us?

O Lord, you are always there for us.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Lent

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

When we live the Christ-like life, we have nothing to fear. There is no challenge, no enemy, no obstacle, no worry, no trial, no evil, no suffering that can truly harm us. When we have the light of Christ within us, we cannot go astray. God will lead us back to Himself, no matter where we are. When we rest in God, we can be at complete peace because He will water our souls with grace and refresh us with His Divine Love. When we allow the Lord to be our Shepherd, we will always have a home with Him and He will protect and guide us and lead us to the greener pastures of Paradise.

Are we unafraid to walk the way of the Lord? Are we willing to let Him shepherd us to where we need to go and what we need to do? How can we learn to rest beside Him and let Him refresh our souls?

O Lord, be our shepherd through dark valleys to verdant pastures and restful waters.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Lent

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

With God on our side, we have no reason to fear. There is nothing in this world that can harm our souls if we trust in God and follow in His ways. Yes, our bodies might suffer, our beliefs might be attacked, and our ideas shot down, but our enemies cannot touch our inner being if we do not let them in. God stands at the core of our spirits. He made us in His Divine Image and that foundation cannot be shaken or taken away from us. Yes, we might tarnish and disfigure it with sin, but God’s Image is still there... all we have to do is confess our sins, do penance, and amend our lives. Once this is done, we will rediscover God’s Presence in our lives and live more perfectly in His Holy Name.

Do we flee to God when we are in need of refuge? Do we pray for God’s help when we are undergoing trials? How can we remind ourselves to be not afraid and instead trust in our Savior?

O Lord, you are our stronghold and always with us.

Amen.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

We have nothing to fear as long as we are right with God. If we seek forgiveness for our sins with humble and contrite hearts, then He will show us mercy. If we trust in His Divine Plan, then He will lead us where we need to be. If we think, speak, and act like Christ, then we shall become co-heirs to the kingdom. If we believe God is at our side, we shall have the courage we need to face any challenge. If we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the glory of God and the good of others, then we shall find our reward in Heaven.

Are we afraid of things we shouldn’t fear? How can we overcome these anxieties and show God we trust in Him? What can we do to give others the courage to live out their faith, too?

O Lord, we fear no evil for you are at our side.

Amen.

Fourth Friday in Ordinary Time

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust.

No matter what happens to us, if we trust in God, then we will have nothing to fear. If we are having financial difficulties, but trust in God, we will be taken care of. If we lose our health, but trust in God, we will make it through our troubles. If we lose a loved one, but trust in God, we will be at peace. If our enemies persecute and mock us, but we trust in God, then we will triumph over them. If we go through any sort of difficulties, but trust in God, we will survive them all. If we make God our Light and our salvation, we will have nothing to fear.

Do we put our trust in God in our most difficult times? How can we be at peace even in the midst of trials? What can we do to resist the war waged against us by evil in the world?

O Lord, with you at my side I have nothing to fear.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

The Lord is my light and my salvation. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

With the Lord as our light and our salvation, we have nothing to fear. He illuminates our lives, leading us out of darkness and sin. He guides our way like a lighthouse, protecting us from the hazards that can sometimes beset us. He is our refuge, too, providing each of us with a safe haven within His Sacred Heart. When we are wary, He gives us rest. When we are needy, He sustains us. When we are lost, He finds us and leads us back home to Him. This is why we should place our complete trust in Him. He will never abandon us. He will always do everything within His Power to bring us to the Promised Land and life everlasting.

Are our eyes open to the light of Christ? Are we willing to leave the temptations of the darkness and follow where God is calling us? How can we rid ourselves of the fears that keep us from seeking the light?

O Lord, you are our light and our salvation.

Amen.

Sixth Friday of Easter

One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, "Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city." He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them.

We all have fears and doubts. We wonder if what we are doing is the right thing. We wonder if the path we are taking will lead us to a better life. We wonder if our virtues and faith can overcome our vices and indifference. However, as long as we seek to do God's Will and go on following the Way, speaking the Truth, and living the Life, then we have nothing to fear. Nothing can truly harm us. Yes, the world can bruise us, mock us, and cast us aside, but God will be there through it all granting us His peace and protection. Our minds, our spirits, and our souls will remain untouched by the trials of the world and we shall know the tranquility that comes from knowing, loving, and serving God.

What fears, doubts, and sins do we have to overcome in order to be at peace? How can we trust in God's Love, Mercy, and Grace enough to speak the Good News? In what ways can we put God the Father, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit over our weaknesses and insecurities and let Him protect us from harm?

O Lord, help us to go on speaking the Good News and doing good works no matter the difficulties.

Amen.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

God loves us. This is a truth that should be at the foundation of our lives. No matter the difficulties or obstacles we face as long as we remember God so loved us He died for us through Jesus Christ... then we have nothing to fear. No trial or tribulation can compare to the sufferings of our Lord and Savior. If he can die for us, who have sinned against him, then we can die to ourselves and do God’s Will above our own. And isn’t true love the desire to give of ourselves for the good of others? And so, if we know, love, and serve God and His children as they deserve, then we shall find peace in this world and everlasting life in the next.

What can we do to remind ourselves that God loves us? How can we share His Love with others? How can we give thanks for His Love all the days of our lives?

O Lord, open our hearts so they might be filled with your love.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Lent

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who acquits us, who will condemn? Christ Jesus it is who died-or, rather, was raised-who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

With God as our guardian, we have nothing to fear. No person, no trial, no obstacle can overcome us with God at our side. God will do everything in His power to save us from the fires of Hell and lead us to eternal life with Him. If we know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths, then He shall remain with us throughout our lives. And when we do fall into temptation and sin, if we return to Him with contrite hearts and willing to do penance, then He shall acquit us and free us from our sins. Moreover, Jesus’ compassionate voice will speak on our behalf before the throne of God if we follow his teachings.

Do we realize God is always with us? How can we bring Him to the forefront of our minds at all times, especially when faced with temptations and trials? In what ways can we imitate God’s protection and compassion when dealing with others?

O Lord, with you at our side, we have nothing to fear.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." Fear not, O worm Jacob, O maggot Israel; I will help you, says the LORD; your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and double-edged, To thresh the mountains and crush them, to make the hills like chaff. When you winnow them, the wind shall carry them off and the storm shall scatter them. But you shall rejoice in the LORD, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

We might not be able to overcome every worldly obstacle on our own, but thankfully God is with us. He is more then willing to lend us a hand out of the darkness and into the light. He constantly tells us to, “Fear not!” After all, He is our Father and King. He won’t let anything happen to us unless we truly want it for ourselves. He won’t force faith or truth on us. He lets us make our own choice. Hopefully, we choose Him above all… even ourselves.

Do we realize God is with us? How can we live more mindfully of this truth? What can we do to make better choices that will lead us to eternal life with our Father and King?

O Lord, help us.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Monday of Ordinary Time

For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.

All of us experience death in our lives, whether it is someone we are close to (such as a family member, friend, or co-worker) or someone we only know in passing. No matter who it is, or how their death happened, it reminds us that there are no guarantees about how long our lives will be. Some of us will live to a ripe old age, others will pass in our youth. Some of us will be prepared for death’s coming, knowing our time here on earth is drawing to a close. More than a few of us will be taken at a time and place we never expected. Part of life as a human being is dying. Even Jesus died and we can learn a lot about both how to live and die from watching how Jesus did both. Jesus loved life and lived every moment to its fullest, but he wasn’t afraid to risk his life when the time came for him to take up his ministry. He was willing to die to himself so others might live and we see this most clearly in his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He did not have to die, but he chose to die because he wanted to show us passing from this life isn’t to be feared. Rather, for his good and faithful followers, it is simply a doorway to an everlasting life with God Our Father, Our Teacher, and Our Advocate.

Who in our lives has died? How have we dealt with their deaths or consoled others who have lost loved ones? What can we do to ready ourselves for our own deaths?

O Lord, we want only to die with you so we might rise with you on the last day.

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.

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.

Sixteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

“Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you this in Egypt, when we said, ‘Leave us alone. Let us serve the Egyptians’? Far better for us to be the slaves of the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” But Moses answered the people, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today.

How quickly we can forget all God has done for us! He does so much to show us His Love and Mercy. He gives us graces and consolations, and yet we find things to complain about. We wonder why He couldn’t do this or that for us and grumble about where He is leading us. How short our memories are when it comes to God’s faithfulness to us. He is always here for us, and yet we feel abandoned or anxious. We wonder why He couldn’t just leave us alone, let us rest on our laurels, and stay in our comfort zone. However, He has our best interests at heart. He wants us to grow in faith, hope, and love and we cannot do that without exercising our spirit and pushing ever onward toward the Promised Land. He tells us to, “Fear not!” because if we place our trust in Him, He will lead us to victory over sin and death.

In what ways do we remind ourselves of all God has done for us? How can we learn to accept whatever comes along the road to Heaven, rather than to complain about it? Are we willing to keep moving forward to the Promised Land in spite of the sacrifices we will need to make to do so?

O Lord, help us to keep in mind all you have done for us, especially when we feel most anxious and worried.

Amen.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

There is nothing in heaven or on earth that we should fear more than God. As such, the proclamation of the Good News and of God’s Love for the world is more important than anything else. We should speak the truth everywhere we go. We should not be afraid to be confronted by others for our beliefs. We should only be afraid of being led astray by the Evil One and brought to destruction in Hell.

Are we truly afraid of disappointing God? How can we do a better job of proclaiming God’s Good News? What can we do to protect ourselves from the temptations and destructive sins which are born from the Evil One?

O Lord, let us fear nothing more than disappointing you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest

One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, "Do not be afraid.
Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city." He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them.

Although we might not receive such a message directly from God, we should take God's message to Paul into our own hearts. We should not be afraid to go on speaking the Good News to others. We should not be silent when confronted with opposition to our faith because God is with us. None of those who attack us can truly harm us as long as we hold fast to the faith and trust in God. Yes, we might suffer for our faith, but God will never give us more than we can handle and the wounds we receive for his sake are ones we can wear proudly to the Judgement Day.

Have we put fear behind us in regards to proclaiming the Good News? So we truly believe God is with us everywhere we go? Are we willing to teach the word no make the opposition?

O Lord, we are not afraid of going forth and speaking the Good News.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Sometimes we can be afraid of what God is calling us to do. We try to hide ourselves away from the world or from God because we are anxious about the path that lies before us. The way ahead looks scary to us. We aren’t certain we can overcome all the obstacles in our way. Many times the destination is unknown or murky. We are faced with fears and doubts and choose to lock away our talents and treasures. Better to be safe than sorry. But if we want to be disciples of Christ, then we have to be open to him coming into our lives and sending us forth. We might not know how we will accomplish the mission he sends us on. However, if we allow his peace to be with us and trust that His Holy Spirit will always be by our side, then we have nothing to fear. We learn the important lesson that it is better to be saintly than sorry.

What are we afraid of? What is God asking us to do in our lives? How can we prepare ourselves to accept our calling with peace and joy?

O Lord, as your Heavenly Father sent you, so send us to where we are needed.

Amen.

Easter

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

After being told by an angel that Jesus has risen, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary rush off to bear the good news of the resurrection to the other disciples. They were overjoyed with the idea that Jesus was alive, yet fearful, too. Why were they afraid? They were bearing a message that might not be readily accepted by the disciples. After all, who would believe such a miracle after the sufferings of the last three days? They feared the doubt the disciples might express. They feared the are-you-crazy looks they might receive from the others. Similarly, when something happens to us that changes our lives in a fundamental way, it can be both amazing and frightening at the same time. We cross a threshold, we die to our former selves and enter into a new life. Whether it be changing jobs, moving, welcoming a child into the world, deciding on a vocation... all these things bring with them conflicting emotions. However, what Jesus told both Marys holds true for us. As long as what we are doing is out of love of God and His children, then we do not need to be afraid. We should instead, go tell others what has happened and meet Christ where he is calling us to be.

Are we bearing the good news of Christ’s resurrection to the world around us? How can we overcome our fears and focus on the joy of doing God’s Will? Are we willing to meet God where He is calling us?

O Lord, we will follow you to where you are calling us.

Amen.

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.