Second Friday of Lent

So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another: "Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams."

Jealousy is a vice we must always be on guard against. It can worm its way into our hearts and eat away at us. It can devour our virtues and turn our minds, hearts, souls, and strengths against God and His children. When we see something good happen to someone else, we should rejoice, even if that person is an enemy or rival. We should not take their success as an affront, but rather praise God for His Goodness to all. We may feel like we’ve gotten the short end of the stick, but that is only the case if we allow jealousy into our hearts. If instead, we are content and at peace with whatever God gives us, then we shall see our own dreams come true. Perhaps not in the way we expected, but in the way that is best for us and our souls.

Are we jealous of anyone? How can we rid ourselves of this jealousy? What can we do to guard against jealous thoughts and the temptations they bring?

O Lord, give us hearts full of charity and mercy.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Friday of Ordinary Time

Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it. If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that. Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

Religion with contentment is something we all should strive for and while doing so we should keep in mind the “religion” part. Contentment without religion is a false happiness based on worldly pleasures and gratifications. It is temporary and full of temptations, traps, and harmful desires, which eventually strangle us and pierce us with many pains. Although many people believe money can buy happiness, it never lasts and only leads us farther and farther away from the true contentment that comes from living out our faith. When we choose to let go and let God think, speak, and work through us, then we shall discover a joy and a peace which cannot be bought or sold. It is the calm that comes from being united with God in our every action and leads us toward the everlasting happiness of the Beatific Vision, which was purchased for us by the Body and Blood of Christ.

Are we living lives of false contentment based on worldly pleasures? Or are our lives founded first and foremost on being spiritually content? How can we grow in the joy and peace that comes from turning everything over to God and letting Him use it how He wills?

O Lord, lead us to a place of religious contentment.

Amen.