Twenty-Ninth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? Or who may stand in his holy place? He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain.

As Christians we long to see God’s face. We strive to be good and faithful so one day we might be found worthy to join God in Heaven and spend eternity in the presence of the Beatific Vision. We want to join with all the angels and saints and sing our God’s praises forever and ever. We hope to ascend the mountain of the Lord and stand in the holy place of Heaven. This dream is only possible because of Jesus, who although sinless died for our sins and cleansed us all of our imperfections and iniquities. So, let us thank God for granting us such a compassionate brother in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Do we long to see God’s face more than anything else in this world? Do we strive to ascend to Heaven by following the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ? How can we more perfectly imitate our sinless brother, Jesus?

O Lord, we long to ascend to Heaven and see your face.

Amen.

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church

Glorious things are told of you, O city of God. They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled: "This man was born there." And all shall sing, in their festive dance: "My home is within you."

Our ultimate home is in the City of God. It is the one and only place where we will find eternal peace and happiness. The worldly homes we live in pass away, but our Heavenly Home will never disappear. If we prepare ourselves to live in Paradise with God, then we shall be rewarded with a home that will never perish. A home filled with love and mercy and grace. A home where we can see the Beatific Vision every day for all eternity and experience everlasting bliss.

Are we preparing ourselves to live with the Holy Trinity in the City of God? What are we doing to make sure we get to Heaven? Do we truly appreciate what the Beatific Vision means and how important it is to bend our lives towards experiencing it for all eternity?

O Lord, help us to be worthy of living with you in the City of God.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.

Thankfully for us, God is merciful. Even if we sin and turn our backs on Him in thought, word, or deed, He will forgive us if we realize our errors, confess our sins, and do penance. We should take comfort in this thought and be thankful God is with us and not against us. He wants us to succeed in our spiritual lives and to become good and faithful servants. He wants us to be found worthy of eternal life and rewarded at the heavenly feast. We might only know Him now by word of mouth and blind faith, but one day we will receive the Beatific Vision of the Holy Trinity. Our eyes will rest on His Glorious Being and our hearts will be filled with a selfless love that reflects the outpouring of love God has given us.

Do we trust God can do all things? Do we repent of our failings in thought, word, and work? How can we prepare our minds, hearts, and bodies so we might one day be found worthy to partake in the Heavenly banquet?

O Lord, we disown our selfish feelings and desires and repent of any evils we have done.

Amen.