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

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, the creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Justice and salvation are what God offers us each and every day. He created all the universe and everything in it in order for us to live in justice so we might be saved. He does not wish us any evil, He gives us every chance to do the right thing... to know, love, and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love others as He loves them. He wants us to be good fruits, nourishing the faith, hope, and love of others so they might join him in Heaven. He wants us to be fonts of His Mercy, pouring out His Grace upon all whom we meet. He did not create us to be a waste, but to be a living blessing, showing others that God loves them and should be at the center of all people’s hearts.

Are we leading just lives? What are we doing in order to lead others to God’s Grace and Salvation? Are we living our lives wisely and well or are we wasting them?

O Lord, give us the grace to live in you and not waste away in worldly pursuits.

Amen.

Thirtieth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

The Lord has done marvels for us. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

God constantly offers us restoration. He provides for us a path to renewal and rejuvenation as His children. He gives us a way to shore up the foundations of our faith and rebuild areas of our spiritual lives that have fallen into disrepair. He wants our spiritual fortunes restored. He wants the roots of our lives watered and the branches of our lives to be fruitful. He wants us to sow no matter the difficulties so we can reap rejoicing. He wants us to prosper and the only way we can do that is to make Him the Source, Center, and Summit of our daily lives.

What marvels has God done for us? Do we thank Him for these graces and blessings? How can we learn to sow in tears so we can reap rejoicing?

O Lord, restore us.

Amen.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.  To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

There are times when we will feel abandoned by family, friends, co-workers, and others. We feel alone in the world and tempted to despair or even anger at those who have forsaken us. However, we must remember the people in our lives, no matter how much we love them are imperfect, like us. They will not always do what is good or avoid what is wrong. Thankfully, we do not need them by our sides in our darkest hours. We can instead put our trust in God and allow Him to lead us out of the night and into the dawn. When we trust God in such a way, we allow Him to sanctify and bless our lives so they bear good fruits even among the worries and woes of the world. We are given strength by these gifts to go forth and proclaim the Good News to all who will hear it. When we choose to believe in the promises of Jesus Christ, we will be rescued from every evil, resurrected in spirit, and brought safely to God’s Heavenly Kingdom where we will glorify God forever.

Are we willing to forgive those who abandon us in our times of need? How can we place our complete trust in God? What can we do to proclaim the Good News even in the midst of our own trials?

O Lord, to you be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Saturday in Ordinary Time

Rejoice in the Lord, you just! Light dawns for the just; and gladness, for the upright of heart. Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name.

When we think, speak, and act justly, our actions are enlightened by God. The Light of the Holy Spirit guides us along the right way and leads us to where we need to be. The upright of heart are given a spirit of gladness when they follow God and walk the Way of Jesus Christ. They go forth into the world secure in the knowledge that they are bearing the Good News to the world through their very presence. They make known God through their acts of charity, mercy, and justice. They produce good fruits by being firmly grounded in faith and nourished by hope. And for all these graces and blessings, we should be very thankful for without them we would be lost in the dark night of sin and death.

Do we rejoice in the justice of God? How do we uphold the tenants of our faith and show compassion to others? What can we do to be upright in heart and always thankful to God?

O Lord, light our way with justice and gladness.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

How great are the works of the Lord! He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations.

God does great and small works in our lives. Each and every day, He grants us the miracle of life and gives us the grace to live them fruitfully. He provides us with spiritual food that nourishes our souls and feeds our faith. He offers us the light of hope to warm and guide us. He loves us and makes known to us His Truth and His Will. He has adopted us as His own children and wants nothing but the best for us. He made a New Covenant with us to save our souls and give us a chance at eternal life. How great indeed are His works!

Are we mindful of the New Covenant? Do we live lives in accordance with God’s Will? What can we do to become worthy recipients of the inheritance God has laid before us?

O Lord, how great are your works!

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.

Twenty-Second Wednesday in Ordinary Time

I trust in the mercy of God for ever. I, like a green olive tree in the house of God, Trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

God planted us upon this earth to bear good fruit. He has nourished us with the Light of faith and the waters of His Love and Mercy. He has cultivated us with Hope and pruned us with the virtues of prudence, temperance, justice, and fortitude. He has weeded evil out of our hearts and protects us from the worms of temptation. We flourish under His care and grow in holiness and grace with each passing season. It is because of Him that we have good things and produce good works. And we should be thankful He has planted us in the fertile soil of His Divine Image, which gives us all we need to become fruitful Christians.

Do we trust in the Light of God’s Truth? Do we allow ourselves to be saturated with the waters of God’s Love and Mercy? What can we do to ensure we bear good and abundant fruits?

O Lord, we trust in your mercy.

Amen.

Twenty-First Monday in Ordinary Time

The Lord takes delight in his people. Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; Let the high praises of God be in their throats. This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia!

Our glory is determined not by our worldly fame or fortune, it is determined by how well we fulfill God’s Divine Plan for our lives. God delights in us when we manifest Him and do everything in our power to know, love, and serve Him and His children. He wants us to exult Him and His marvelous deeds and to encourage our fellow Christians to bear good fruits. We do this through the way we live our daily lives and the way we treat others, especially those most difficult for us to love. We sing His praises best when our voices are ones full of charity and compassion. We amplify God’s greatness most powerfully when we imitate the life of Christ, who is the most perfect example of holy goodness.

How can we give glory to God in all we think, say, and do? How can we sing His praises more meaningfully? In what ways can we grow in the glory of all God’s faithful?

O Lord, we exult you in glory and praise.

Amen.

Seventeenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

O God, let all the nations praise you! The earth has yielded its fruits; God, our God, has blessed us. May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him!

God has blessed us in many ways. He is the source of all our good. He is the center of all our joy. He is the summit of all we should strive to be. If we cultivate our relationship with Him, then we will grow in faith, hope, and love. We will blossom with kindness and bear good fruits as long as we drink from the font of holiness and let the light of truth sustain us. If we have deep roots into our faith, then when dark nights or dry spells come into our lives, we will continue to thrive on the holy waters within our hearts. And when good times come, we will yield thirty, sixty, and a hundred-fold.

How can we make God the source, center, and summit of our lives? What can we do to bear good fruits? How can we allow God to sustain us through the difficult times of our lives?

O Lord, help us to yield good fruits.

Amen.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. 

We often do everything possible to avoid shedding tears in this life. We steer clear of trouble whenever possible. We don’t rock the boat. We try to coast through life with the minimum of pain. However, sometimes we are called to make sacrifices so we can reap the rewards. There are moments in our lives when we are faced with a choice between doing with is right and suffering the consequences or choosing to remain silent and let an injustice go unchallenged. Sometimes these moments are easy to recognize. Other are more difficult, but they do occur and we should pray to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit when those moments arise. If we do this, then one day we shall stand before God and be filled with laughter and joy because we will discover all those moments of sorrow yielded marvelous fruits.

What is God asking us to sow in our lives? How can we grow in a willingness to suffer for the glory of God and the good of others? What can we do to become more aware of the opportunities to bear good fruit in our lives?

O Lord, help us to sow in tears and reap with rejoicing.

Amen.

Eleventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

God is constantly providing us with the chance to taste and see how good He is. He does this every day through the sacrifice of the Mass where we can share in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He has given us the other sacraments as blessings, too. Baptism gives us the purifying waters that wash clean and nourish our souls. Reconciliation allows us to root out the evils and imperfections inside us so more of God’s Grace can enter into our hearts and feed our spirits. Confirmation renews our baptismal promises and lets the Holy Spirit supply us with all the inspirations and guidance we need to grow as Christians. The Anointing of the Sick helps to heal us, if not physically, at least spiritually, so we can be strong for whatever trials and difficulties come our way during illness or injury. The other sacraments of Marriage and Ordination prepare us to serve others and help them prosper in faith, hope, and love, either as spouse or as priest or deacon. So, let us taste and see the goodness of the Lord through these sacraments and all the ways God reaches into our lives as the caretaker of the vines of our faith.

Do we make good and frequent use of the sacraments? When we do, do we prepare ourselves appropriately? How can we thank God for all the good things He has done for us?

O Lord, help us to taste and see your goodness and to bear good fruits.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent

And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

We all should pray for an increase in our ability to love. In addition, we need to pray for the knowledge and the perception to love wisely and well and to choose right over wrong. We need knowledge to understand what to think, say, and do to help others. We need the perception to recognize when and where we are needed. We need knowledge, perception, and love in order to follow the commandments and live holy and pure lives. When we have these three things, then we shall be fruitful in our faith and bear righteousness into the world. By doing this, we plant the seeds of love wherever we go, giving glory and praise to God and growing the faith of others.

Do we pray for love, knowledge and perception? How can we come to see what is truly of value in this world so that we might become pure and blameless? What can we do to increase in love and righteousness so that we can bear good fruits?

O Lord, increase our ability to love through knowledge and perception of your Divine Will.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Saturday in Ordinary Time

They will look upon his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, for the Lord God shall give them light, and they shall reign forever and ever.

If we are true to our faith, the name of God will be written on our foreheads. Our lips will proclaim the Word of God. Our hands will do the work of God. Our feet will follow the path God has set before us. Our minds will meditate on and contemplate God. Our hearts will be at one with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our lives will be fruitful and abundant with good works. God's Light will dwell within us and make us into shining beacons of faith and hope and love. And the Lord will reign within us and through us to the rest of the world.

Are we living fruitful lives? How can we grow in faith and become more Christ-like in all things? What can we do to bring the God's Light into the world around us?

O Lord, write your name upon our foreheads and our hearts.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud, "Use your sickle and reap the harvest, for the time to reap has come, because the earth's harvest is fully ripe." So the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.

In the end, there will be two harvests. One harvest for the good and fruitful. Another harvest from the evil and fruitless. One harvest will lead to joy and everlasting life. The other to suffering and destruction. We all face a stark choice in our lives. Will we be among the fruitful and the saved or the barren and the burned. Every thought, word, and work will weigh upon the scales of judgment for good and evil. If we want to be saved, then we must do everything in our power to bear good and abundant fruits and uproot the vices and indifference that strangle our good works before they can come to fruition.

What good fruits have we brought into this world? How can we magnify and multiply them? What can we do to be more fruitful in virtue, good deeds, and prayer?

O Lord, help us to bear good and abundant fruits.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Thursday in Ordinary Time

I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

If we pray to God, He will save us through His Beloved Son and strengthen us with His Holy Spirit. He will give us every blessing so we might grow in faith, hope, and love. He will help to build up and support our inner selves and give us the confidence we need to believe He is always by our side. His Love will pour out upon us so our souls might grow in fertile soil, rooted in His commandments, teachings, and inspirations. He will nourish our faith, hope, and charity, giving us every grace to bear good fruits for Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ. He will fill us with Himself so we might reflect Him more perfectly and magnify Him in all we think, say, and do. So, let us prepare ourselves for Him and welcome Him as our Heavenly Father, our Beloved Brother, and our Holy Spouse.

Do we act as if we are members of God’s Holy Family? How can we become more faithful children to our Heavenly Father? Are we willing to let God into our lives so He might dwell within us, strengthen us, and fill us with His Love?

O Lord, we kneel before you and ask that you might grant us your strength and comprehension.

Amen

Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot

Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you.

If we want to bear good fruits and be worthy of entering the gates of Heaven, then we need to sow justice in our lives. We need to make sure we give God what is rightfully His and treat others as we would want to be treated. Living piously is the only way to prepare our souls for the harvest. It is only by uprooting the weeds or sin and clearing the stones of stubbornness that we can make ourselves ready to live life abundantly and produce a thousand-fold the graces God has given us.

Do we seek to be just with all people, even those who are strangers and enemies? Do we treat others as Jesus would treat them? Are we willing to make the sacrifices that are necessary in order to bear good fruits?

O Lord, sow in us your justice so we might reap the fruit of piety.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Lent

Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.

When we sin, our souls can be like the Dead Sea, where very few creatures can live. Our failings, imperfections, and wickedness can cause our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies to be barren of good works. However, through the sacrament of reconciliation, we can be refreshed and renewed. Our vices are washed away and our virtues multiplied. We bear good fruits of all kinds and grow in faith, hope, and love. We are watered by the love, mercy, and grace God has given us through the life, passion, and resurrection of Jesus. We become spiritual food and medicine to those in need of it just as Christ did in his holy life.

How can we refresh and renew our souls? Do we make regular use of the sacrament of reconciliation and the graces it grants us? How can we become spiritual food and medicine to the souls of those we meet each day?

O Lord, help us to be refreshed in spirit and bear good fruits all the days of our lives.

Amen.

Second Thursday of Lent

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.

It is easy to say we trust in God when things are going well, but it can be more difficult to trust in Him when life takes a turn for the worst. However, this is exactly the time when we need to place our trust in God. It is how we respond to the trials of our lives that determines where our heart truly lies. Does it rest in God, secure in the knowledge that He will take care of us? Or does it quake in fear and seek to end its difficulties through selfish and sinful actions? Hopefully, we choose to rest in God and allow His Love, Mercy, and Grace to sustain us through every challenge. If we do, then our lives will be rooted in God and no matter the dryness of our spiritual lives or the difficulties the world throws at us, we will show no distress and bear good fruits.

Do we trust God to deliver us from every evil? Are we willing to root our lives in the living waters of faith in God, hope in His Goodness, and love of the Holy Trinity? How can we become more dependent upon God as our Father, Teacher, and Inspirer?

O Lord, bless us who trust in you.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Lent

Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

The Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us, not just to hear himself speak, but to have us listen and change our hearts. When we hear the scriptures read at mass or read them ourselves, our hearts, minds, and souls should be open to what God is telling us through the Good News. He pours out love, mercy, and grace through the words of Scripture, especially through those of Jesus and if we allow Him... he will fill us up with good things. The Word of God will make us fertile ground and help us to bear good fruits. He will give us the sustenance we need to thrive in spirit and truth. And if we allow the Word of God to take root in our hearts, then we shall achieve all the things He has planned for us.

Are we listening for God’s Word in our lives? How can we take more time to listen to the Good News and the teachings of Christ? In what ways can we bring the Word of God into the lives of others?

O Lord, grant us the grace to achieve the end for which you sent us.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Ordinary Time

The LORD was pleased that Solomon made this request. So God said to him: "Because you have asked for this not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right? I do as you requested.  I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like."

The gift of understanding isn’t something most of us would ask for if God offered to give us any one thing we prayed for. However, it should be first and foremost on our minds when we are praying for God’s intercession in our lives. We should ask Him for the grace to know right from wrong, to choose prudently, and to be good and faithful servants to God and His children. Many of our decisions each day would bear good fruit if we took the time to ask for understanding and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Our thoughts would be more blessed, our words holier, and our actions more pious and pure. And, like Solomon, we would find our lives spiritually richer because of our understanding of God, others, and even ourselves.

What areas of our lives are in need of understanding? How can we make it a habit to pray for this gift of the Holy Spirit? Are we willing to abide by the understanding God sends to us and not turn away from what we know is right?

O Lord, grant us wise and understanding hearts and minds.

Amen.