Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

We can learn a lot about how to live our lives from Scripture. We are shown time and again what it means to be a God-bearing person. We are given commandments to follow, teachings to live by, and guidance in leading holy lives. We are given corrections for our failures and trained in righteousness. If we live according to the Good News, we will be equipped for every good work. This is why it is so important to proclaim the Word of God through our every thought, word, and work. It not only builds up and reinforces our own holiness, but helps others to increase in faith, hope, and love. The life of Christian virtue is one we must live whether it is convenient or inconvenient so we can convince, reprimand, and encourage others in their own journeys toward God.

Do we take time each day to meditate on Scripture? How can we take what we learn from the Good News and put it into practice? What can we do to support others in their own faith journeys?

O Lord, help us to be persistent in living out the teachings of the Holy Scriptures you’ve provided us.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

We are Christians by the grace of God. Some of us were born into the faith, others came to the faith later in life. However, all of us are in need of deeper conversion. Just like Paul, we all are called to proclaim the Gospel in our own unique ways. It is up to each of us to accept our vocation and to toil harder than we ever imagined to bring the Way, the Truth, and the Life into the world. So, let us all preach in our own way, by thoughts, words, and works and show those around us we are worthy of the name Christians and true heirs of the Kingdom of God.

Do we think, speak, and act like Christians in all things? How can we live out our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? How can we toil harder to bring the Good News to others?

O Lord, by your grace we can become good and faithful servants to you forever and ever.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.

Though we might not write Jesus' name or our Heavenly Father's name or the name of the Holy Spirit upon our foreheads, it should be clear to all whom we meet that we are Christians. Our every thought should be guided by the commandments of our Father, the teachings of His Son, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. The words we speak to others should find their source in God. The works we do should proclaim we are followers of Christ and bear good fruits. Just as God is always with us, so we must always be with Him in spirit and truth. We should be beacons on a hill, leading all of God's children to the Promised Land and singing God's praises all the days of our lives.

Is it clear to others that we are Christians? How can we act more Christ-like in thought, word, and work? In what ways can we lead others to holier lives founded upon our relationships with the Holy Trinity?

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

Amen.

The Second Sunday in Lent

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

These words are spoken by God the Father during the Transfiguration and we would do well to listen to them. God makes clear that the gospel message of Christ is one we must all hear and heed. Jesus’ words and works reveal how we should live. They give us a roadmap to salvation. They show us how to become manifestations of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to the world. They remind us that our purpose in this life is not glory, power, or material possessions, but rather to glorify God, become servant leaders, and build up a treasure house of spiritual blessings. This is what it means to listen to Jesus and it is the only way we can discover our true purpose, make the best use of our talents, and fulfill our promise.

Do we listen to Jesus’ message and put it into practice as best we can? What areas of the Good News do we have the most difficulty implementing? Are our lives glorifying God or ourselves?

O Lord, we are listening, speak to our hearts.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Advent

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”

We should never be afraid of doing God’s Will. The obstacles in our way may seem insurmountable or the sufferings unbearable, but God never gives us more than we can bear as long as we ask for and accept His help. If we live our lives in accord with the gospel, we too will have joy and gladness, many will rejoice at our birth, and we will be great in the sight of the Lord. We might not be called to such great things as St. John the Baptist, but what we are called to do in our lives will have the indelible mark of being founded upon Christ. So let us do God’s Will without complaint or hesitation and prepare the way of the Lord.

Are we doing God’s Will in our lives? Do we think, say, and do everything in accord with the gospel message of Christ? What can we do better to prepare the way of the Lord?

O Lord, help us bring joy and gladness into the world through our words and works.

Amen.

Sixth Saturday of Easter

I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.

Just like Jesus, we come into this and we will leave it. This life we are given is a gift and we should not be afraid to live it as Jesus did. He gave us a model for Christian living founded on the gospels and the commandments of God to love Him and love our neighbors as He loves us. As we walk through the world during our lives, we ought to be thankful for its goods and wary of its evils. We need to remember that ultimately, no matter how pleasant or comforting certain aspects of the world might be, it is the everlasting joy of heaven that we want, not the passing pleasures of the world. So let us be not afraid to sacrifice ourselves, to mortify our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. It is only in giving ourselves away completely to God and His children that we can empty ourselves and fully receive those graces God constantly offers us.

How often do we thank God for the gift of our lives? How do we prepare ourselves for leaving this world? What are the things we can sacrifice in order to make more time for God and His children?

O Lord, you have brought us into the world. We hope you will draw us back out of it when we are worthy of your kingdom.

Amen.