Third Tuesday of Lent

Remember your mercies, O Lord. Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

We can’t be taught if we don’t take the time to listen. We can’t be guided if we don’t accept the hand God offers us. We can’t ask for God’s Mercy, if we are not forgiving, too. All of these actions require some sort of sacrifice on our part. If we want to listen to God, then we have to sacrifice all those worldly things that keep us from listening to Him. If we want to be guided by our Heavenly Father, then we need to give up our willful pride and selfishness and trust that God knows what is best for us. If we want to be forgiven, then we must let go of our anger and pain and show compassion to those who trespass against us. None of these things are easy to do, but they are necessary if we want to have any hope of salvation.

How can we make more time to listen to the Lord? How can we become more child-like and dependent upon our Heavenly Father’s Will? How can we be more merciful to all of God’s children, especially those who are our enemies?

O Lord, make your ways known to us.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I put aside childish things. At present we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In many ways we can be childish in our lives. We can be selfish, inconsiderate, and temperamental. However, if we have faith, hope, and love, then we will grow into holy children of God. We shall become Christ-like in all things, see the world around us more clearly, and know God’s Will more perfectly. The difference between childishness and child-likeness is the difference between self-centeredness and God-centeredness, between prideful self-dependence and trusting dependence upon God. Yes, God asks us to put away the childish things in our lives, the ones that lead us away from Him, but He doesn’t want us to rid ourselves of the most important thing we have to offer Him... our child-like love.

In what ways are we childish? How can we overcome these selfish and prideful sins and imperfections? What can we do to become a more faithful, hopeful, and loving child of our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, help us to put away those childish things that keep us from being holy heirs to your Heavenly Kingdom.

Amen.

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

Old men and old women, each with staff in hand because of old age, shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem. The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Even if this should seem impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people, shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also, says the LORD of hosts?

Nothing is impossible for God. If He has plans for us and we accept them, then He will give us every grace we need to overcome the trials, sufferings, and obstacles in our way. If He wishes us to leave everything behind and follow Him, then we will have all we need awaiting us at our destination. If He needs us to say or do something for Him, then He will give us the words or the actions we need to accomplish His Will. If He asks us to leave behind what we know, then He will give us everything we need to embrace the unknown and thrive. We might not always understand why God is asking us to do something or how we are to accomplish it, but as long as we have child-like confidence in Him, then we shall always be given exactly what we need when we need it.

Are we open to the impossible? Are we willing to let God lead us to places, people, and works we have never dreamed of? How can we trust Him as we should?

O Lord, with you all things are possible.

Amen.

Nineteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Children are great teachers about what it means to love unconditionally. They do this in both their way of loving and annoying. They have the potential to love their parents, grandparents, and other family members without reserve. In addition, they can push all our buttons and try our patience to the breaking point. However, this stress test also helps us to understand what it means to love without expectation of return just as Jesus loves us. He died for all of us on the cross because he loved us, but he would never force us to return his love. Instead, he lets us make our choice to love others as he did or to selfishly pick ourselves over others. When a child throws a tantrum or refuses to give us a hug or kiss, then we have a small taste of what Jesus goes through when we deny him through our words and works and instead choose evil over good. So the next time we are tempted to sin, perhaps we should imagine ourselves as a child before Christ and remember that our choice is between love and selfishness. Hopefully, we shall choose wisely and well.

Are we childlike in our unconditional love of God and others? How can we be more Christ-like when we are faced with people who refuse to return our love? How can we encourage children to grow in their love of God and others?

O Lord, give us hearts filled with childlike love.

Amen.

Fifteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

If we want to know, love, and serve God and His children more perfectly, then we shall need to become child-like. Children depend upon their parents for their protection, their goods, and the provision of their needs. They truly understand what it means to have faith in someone, to hope in them, and to love them unconditionally. In the same way, we should be child-like toward our spiritual parents, God, Our Heavenly Father, and Mary, Our Holy Mother. Both of them protect and provide for us in their own way and show us how to be filled with charity and mercy towards all. They give us something greater than ourselves to believe in, to trust in, and love with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. In the end, we will be measured by how well we imitate them in our thoughts, words, and works.

Are we child-like in our relationship with God and Mary or do we pretend we do not need them? How can we become more faithful, hopeful, and loving children of God and Mary? What thanks have we given our heavenly parents for all they have, are, and will do for us?

O Lord, make us child-like in spirit.

Amen.

Seventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Jesus makes it very clear that the Kingdom of God belongs to the child-like. He rebukes his disciples to make this point because they are acting like Jesus is their possession, instead of them being Jesus' disciples. Their possessiveness over Jesus isn't what Jesus wants from them. He wants them to be more like the children, who seek to touch him. It might not seem like much, but a child's touch shows trust and acceptance. Children don't touch things they don't like. Jesus knows this and he uses the children's actions to remind his disciples that they, too need to be child-like in their trust and acceptance of not only him, but other people. They should let everyone who wishes to take that leap of faith and believe come to Jesus. Lastly, Jesus embraces and blesses the children who come to him. It is the same for us, too. He wants to hold us in his arms and give us every spiritual blessing. All we have to do is approach him with child-like trust, reach out with acceptance, and receive his blessing in our lives.

Do we act like the disciples, deciding who is worthy to approach God and who isn't? How can we be more child-like? What can we do to show God our trust and acceptance of Him?

O Lord, may we be child-like in our love and dependence upon you.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

We are blessed in many ways. We have the Word of God proclaimed to us in the Good News of the New Testament. In addition, we are able to see and partake in the Body and Blood of Christ every time we go to Mass. How many people do not get the chance to see the cross or hear Christ's message of hope? God also offers us the opportunity to cultivate child-like spirits, which will help us to know, love, and serve Him with fidelity and humility. In today’s world it is frowned upon to “need” someone for anything, but we all need our Heavenly Father and the love and protection He offers us each and every day. We can’t be servants of God if we do not first choose to be His children.

Do we have child-like spirits? If not, then how can we cultivate our spirits so we can be true children of God and heirs to His Kingdom? Do we keep our eyes open and our ears peeled for the Good News wherever it might be found?

O Lord, let us give praise to our Heavenly Father for all that He has revealed to us.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Monday of Ordinary Time

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.  Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

Jesus reminds his disciples and us that following him is not a question of greatness, but rather a quest for humility. If we want to be great in the kingdom of Heaven, then we must be the least in the world. We must be receptive of others, compassionate toward them in their times of need, and always listening to those who are in need of a friendly ear. In short, we must be a servant to all of God’s children. We must be willing to sacrifice everything we have to do God’s Will by knowing, loving and serving as Jesus did in his life.

Are we willing to sacrifice worldly success to do God’s Will? How are we cultivating a spirit of humility in our lives? Do we receive others like little children?

O Lord, let us receive others like little children.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Claire, Virgin

“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

In the eyes of our Heavenly Father, the greatest of us are like children. We trust in Him and depend upon Him for everything. When we are doubtful, worried, or hurt, we turn to Him for guidance, consolation, and healing. We are humble before Him and recognize His dominion over our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. When we act selfishly, we are punished, but when we do well, we are rewarded. Our smallest victories and virtues are magnified by God love for us. Our failings and sins are quickly forgotten when we say we are sorry and do penance. By being child-like, we reaffirm our dependence upon our Heavenly Father and constantly seek His approval for our every thought, word, and work.

Do we act in a child-like or selfish manner in our dealings with God and His children? Do we seek our Heavenly Father’s guidance, consolation, and healing? Do we recognize our total dependence upon God for all that we have been, are, and will be?

O Lord, we seek to become like children and enter your heavenly kingdom.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.

There is a vast difference between being childish and childlike. When we let pride, envy, wrath, and the other deadly sins take over our thoughts, words, and works we are childish and self-centered. We place our trust in our own knowledge and wisdom and the hidden truths of the world, the ones which would lead us to the Truth remain lost in the darkness of our self-conceit. However, if we are childlike and place our faith in our Heavenly Father above all, then the Way, the Truth and the Life will be revealed to us. We shall be worthy of being called the sons and daughters of God and the true heirs to His Kingdom.

How often do we allow our childish self-interests get in the way of being a childlike follower of Christ? What truths have we blinded ourselves to by relying upon our reason alone and not faith and reason hand-in-hand? How can we reclaim our childlike simplicity and live a life of love in imitation of our Father?

O Lord, grant us a childlike confidence in you. Never let our childish impulses led us from your Pierced Side. Give us the strength to cling to you in a world where we are constantly encouraged to cling to ourselves.

Amen.