Thirty-First Thursday in Ordinary Time

I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.

We must believe God will do good things for us if we are to have any hope of eternal life. We must believe whatever we lack in our spiritual lives will be provided to us out of the bounty of our Lord. We must believe He will grant us blessings, graces, talents, and treasures to help us to achieve His Will in the world. We must be courageous and stouthearted and unwavering in our love of Him and all His children and trust that in the end all will be for our benefit and salvation.

Do we trust that good things will come to us, even when we are in our darkest hours? What can we do to build up and support our hope in God? Are we willing to wait for the Lord with courage?

O Lord, grant us the patience to wait for you.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Friday in Ordinary Time

The Lord will judge the world with justice. You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; their name you blotted out forever and ever. The nations are sunk in the pit they have made; in the snare they set, their foot is caught.

God rebukes the wicked. He will not remember them if they do not amend their lives. He will forget them and blot them out forever when the time of final judgment comes. And He will do this not out of hatred, but out of disappointment with them. Those who have sunk into the pit of sin and apathy will be discarded like chaff and destroyed. Those who are evil and set snares for others will be punished for their crimes and caught in their own webs. They shall die irrevocable deaths, forgotten, just as they forgot about their duties to God and His children. So, let us pray we will always remember our calling to be Christ-like and to do all things in accordance with God’s Will. Let us hope we will not disappoint God so much that He no longer wishes to see us with Him in Heaven. Let us be humble, contrite, and merciful so He will see us as His beloved children and allow us to one day join Him in Paradise.

Do we reject sin and evil? Are we willing to rebuke wickedness when we see it, even when speaking up might cost us dearly? How can we be more courageous and just in all our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, help us to reject wickedness and live just lives.

Amen.

Fifth Thursday of Easter

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

We are all called to be prophets, proclaiming the Good News just as Jesus and his disciples did so long ago. It isn’t enough to just believe. We also have to act on our beliefs. We have to show our faith and hope through works of love. Our lives must pour forth marvelous works of charity and mercy. They must proclaim God through word and deed. Our entire lives should trumpet the glory of God and the promise of salvation through our Heavenly Father, who loves us more than we can possibly imagine.

In what ways do we proclaim God’s marvelous deeds? How do we announce His salvation? How do we tell of His glory?

O Lord, grant us the courage and grace to proclaim you and your marvelous deeds wherever we go.

Amen.

Eighth Monday of Ordinary Time

Let the just exult and rejoice in the Lord. Then I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin.

A good confession can make a world of difference in our lives. It can clear the slate and give us new focus. It offers us an opportunity for true conversion of body, mind, and spirit if we allow the graces of the confessional to flow into us and help us to do penance and amend our lives. God gave us the sacrament of reconciliation because He knows our fallen nature and our desire to strive against it. Confession is a way for us to stand up against our selfish desires and acknowledge and proclaim we want something better.

Are we making use of the sacrament of reconciliation? What are the sins and guilts hold us back? How can we build up the courage to make a thorough examination of conscience and good confession?

O Lord, we acknowledge our sins and seek to amend our ways.

Amen.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.

We have nothing to fear as long as we are right with God. If we seek forgiveness for our sins with humble and contrite hearts, then He will show us mercy. If we trust in His Divine Plan, then He will lead us where we need to be. If we think, speak, and act like Christ, then we shall become co-heirs to the kingdom. If we believe God is at our side, we shall have the courage we need to face any challenge. If we are willing to sacrifice ourselves for the glory of God and the good of others, then we shall find our reward in Heaven.

Are we afraid of things we shouldn’t fear? How can we overcome these anxieties and show God we trust in Him? What can we do to give others the courage to live out their faith, too?

O Lord, we fear no evil for you are at our side.

Amen.

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

As Christians, we should all aspire to be courageous, faithful, and good. We cannot let our fears overrule our better judgment and our responsibilities to God and His children. We cannot allow our doubts to paralyze us and ruin our faith. We cannot let our selfishness lead us away from good and toward evil. Thankfully, God has given us all the graces we need to resist these temptations so when we appear before the judgment seat of Christ, we shall be found worthy of God's Mercy.

What do we aspire to do in this life? Is it what God wants us to do? How can we be more courageous in our faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, grant us your courage.

Amen.

Third Monday of Easter

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to think, speak, and act through us, we can become powerful vessels of grace. We might not work great wonders and signs, but we can bear great fruits that increase the faith, hope, and love of others. We can withstand all the pressures of the world as long as we let go and let God lead us to where we need to be and to what we need to do. We will have the courage and fortitude to do what is right even as others tempt us, mock us, or resist us. We, like Stephen, will have the conviction of our faith and nothing... not even the threat of suffering and death will stop us from what God is calling us to do.

What can we do to allow the Holy Spirit into our lives more deeply? What is God calling us to think, speak, and do? How can we grow in the wisdom of God?

O Lord, fill us with your grace and power.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Ordinary Time

When the time of David's death drew near, he gave these instructions to his son Solomon: "I am going the way of all flesh. Take courage and be a man. Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, following his ways and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, wherever you turn, and the LORD may fulfill the promise he made on my behalf when he said, 'If your sons so conduct themselves that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart and with their whole soul, you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel.'"

The words David speaks to Solomon are also the ones God speaks to us every day. He instructs us through the teachings of the Church and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit to keep His commandments and the spirit of the laws. If we do this, we will succeed in the important things of life and we will become worthy heirs to His Heavenly Kingdom. If we fail, we will be faced with many hardships and difficulties, but we will also have a chance to right our wrongs and return to God’s Graces through the sacrament of reconciliation. Hopefully we listen to God and follow Him faithfully so that one day we might join Him in Paradise and eat with Him at the Heavenly Banquet.

Are we courageous enough to be men and women in Christ? In what ways are we keeping the commandments? How can we remain faithful to the Lord with all our hearts and souls?

O Lord, grant us the courage to stand firm in our faith and follow your every commandment.

Amen.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Jesus will not let us drown. He will always stretch out his hand and catch us if we are willing to let him. He is always with us in our times of plenty and our times of need. This is why he tells us to take courage and be not afraid. This is why he asks us to come to him. We might falter along the way, frightened, and sink into doubts or sins, but as long as we cry out for help, Jesus will be there for us. He does not force his aid upon us, but offers it to us and lets us decide. He is willing to ask us to do great and small things for him... and equally willing to let us fail... in order to teach us about learning to trust in him, our Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Are we willing to take courage and follow the inspirations God sends us? How can we overcome our doubts and fears in order to take those great and small leaps of faith God asks of us each day? When we fail, are we humble and faithful enough to cry out, “Lord, save me?”

O Lord, give us the courage to come to you wherever you are.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

And I wept. Then at sunset I went out, dug a grave, and buried him. The neighbors mocked me, saying to one another: “He is still not afraid! Once before he was hunted down for execution because of this very thing; yet now that he has scarcely escaped, here he is again burying the dead!”

It takes courage to risk your reputation, well-being, or life to do what is right. This is what Tobit did and it is what we are called to do. Just as he went against the king and gave alms to the poor and burial to the dead. He knew it might cost him everything he owned and loved, but he would not sacrifice what was right for an easier life. His neighbors mocked him for doing good. They chose indifference to charity. They chose self-interest over love of neighbor. They refused to bury the dead or give alms out of fear... and it is their loss. They have their lives backward. They do evil and avoid good. But Tobit shows us the way to live. To be not afraid of doing what is right, even if it costs us everything in this world. For if we do good no matter what stands in our way, then we shall have our reward in heaven and our lives shall be secure forever.

Are we courageous when it comes to doing the right thing in face of opposition? Are we willing to suffer in order to know, love, and serve God and His children? How can we become more charitable to all?

O Lord, grant us hearts that will give your love to others without counting the cost.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

After coming to Rome, Paul continues his mission to proclaim the Good News and teach others about Jesus Christ. He doesn't let his house arrest stop him from doing God's Will. He could have grown anxious at being denied his freedom for two years. He could have wondered why he was being put through such a trial. He could've turned bitter and denied others a chance to learn about Jesus. But he understood that walking the path God had prepared for him was the greatest freedom there is. He knew that the trials he was facing were ones that would lead him and others closer to God. He chose to walk the narrow path to Heaven no matter that cost.

How can we be as courageous as Paul in our mission of proclaiming the Good News? Are we willing to choose the true freedom of following Jesus over the false freedom of choosing ourselves above all? Do we pray to God for the strength to walk the narrow path to Heaven over the wide road to Hell?

O Lord, make us courageous in following the path you have prepared for us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”

God doesn’t leave us out to dry. He doesn’t abandon us. He is always with us no matter where we go or what trials we face. He gives us every grace we need to overcome the obstacles in our way, to keep the faith, to remain hopeful, and to love Him and others with all our hearts. Because of this, we should all take courage. God is with us in good times and bad. He is especially at our side when we bear witness to Him and suffer for it. He sees in our willingness to be persecuted for His sake a reflection of Himself, of His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. It is when we imitate Christ that we bear the best witness to God’s Love and Mercy and live up to our calling to be good and faithful sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.

Are we courageous in our faith? How can we bear a better witness to God’s Divine Plan? In what ways can we more perfectly imitate Christ, who is the Perfect Witness to the Good News?

O Lord, grant us the courage we need to bear witness to your cause.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Easter

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast.

In moments of crisis, we can be tempted to despair of or run away from our problems. We flee from suffering and disappointment just as the disciples did. We become blind to God’s presence in our lives and believe He has abandoned us. However, God will never abandon us. He is always with us, ready to open the Scriptures and reveal the wondrous graces of the Eucharistic Feast. He offers us comfort, wisdom, and love in order to give us everything we need to follow in Jesus Christ’s footsteps and travel the narrow path to Paradise. By remembering these things we will discover the Way to God to be able to point our feet in the right direction.

What can we do to gain the courage we need to stand with God during times of trial? Are we open to receiving the truths of the Scriptures and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist? Are we willing to let God lead us where we need to be and not necessarily where I want to be?

O Lord, place our feet on the path to salvation.

Amen.

Second Sunday in Lent

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

We are all called to be a people of transfiguration. We are asked by God to transform our lives by becoming more and more like Christ. We are asked to be more deeply converted by his Good News. We are asked to change our attitudes from fear of what the world will think of us if we reject it to the courage that is necessary to rise up and be not afraid to proclaim the Gospels through our thoughts, words, and works. We are asked to alter our view of the world from a selfish one to a selfless one... to see God and others through Jesus-colored glasses. When we look at creation, we need to see the Lord behind it. When we look at others, we need to see the Christ within them. When we look at ourselves, we need to see the Holy Spirit and let Him guide us to where we are called to be.

Are we listening to Jesus through the scriptures and traditions of the Church? Are we listening to him when he speaks to us through others? How can we learn to rise up and be courageous in Christ?

O Lord, give us the spiritual strength to allow you to transfigure us into yourself.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.

Although we might not be ordained like Timothy or Titus, we all should seek to stir into flame the gift of faith that God has given us and fulfill our vocation to be a priestly people. We are asked to be courageous in our faith and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us, the love of Christ to pour out of us, and the self-control demanded by the Father to make us into good and faithful servants. We should not be ashamed of the testimony we give to our Lord through our every thought, word, and work. Instead, we should bear every burden with the strength that comes from following God’s Will. Then, and only then, will we proclaim the gospel of the Lord with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and become a truly priestly people.

How can we stir the flame of our faith? What can we do to become courageous in our spiritual lives? How can we live out our calling to become a priestly people?

O Lord, give us the spirit of power, love, and self-control.

Amen.

The Seventh Monday of Easter

Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

Immediately after Jesus’ disciples said that they understand him, he tells them that they will be scattered and leave him alone. Sometimes we believe that we understand God’s Divine Plan for us, too. We convince ourselves we are right about something when in reality we do not understand what God is asking of us and sometime even confuse our will for God’s Will. However, Jesus does not tell his disciples (or us) that we do not understand without also giving us the hope that one day things will work out. We might not understand how God will do this, but if we have faith in Him, hope in Him, and let His Love flow through us, then we will have the inner peace and courage we need to see things through to the end.

How can we keep ourselves open to God’s Divine Plan? Are we open to the peace that comes with letting go of our plans and letting God move forward with His plans for us? Do we seek God’s help in becoming more courageous in our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, let us have peace in you.

Amen.

Thirtieth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’”

We all have a natural inclination to preserve our lives. We want to survive, to thrive, and to be successful. However, Jesus gives us another model to live by: a model of self-sacrifice. He isn’t afraid of being persecuted, tormented, and put to death. He is willing to suffer all of these things in order to cast out demons, perform healings, and accomplish his purpose. By worldly standards, he is heading towards ruin, but by heavenly ones he is heading towards glorification. So too, we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves to bear God into the world and to give witness to His Word. We must be willing to die for Christ, if we wish to live as good and faithful servants.

Have we asked God to give us the courage to do His Will? Are we willing to suffer in order to love God and bear Him into the lives of others? Are we willing to sacrifice our lives for God?

O Lord, let us accomplish your heavenly purpose.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

“Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

Once again Jesus reminds us that persistence pays off and as long as we persist in seeking God’s Will and being good and faithful servants, then we will eventually succeed in doing both. It might not be easy, in fact, it will probably require a lot of work and worry, but the pay off in the end will be worth all the time, effort, and suffering to reach these goals. We must constantly pray to God for the graces we need to do penance, sin no more, avoid those things that lead us into temptation, and to do the right thing. God will give us what we need. We have only to ask for it repeatedly, accept it when it comes, and put it to good use.

Are we persistent in our prayers of petition and penance? Do we constantly seek God’s Will in our lives? Are we willing to accept the trials and tribulations that come with doing the good and right thing?

O Lord, give us the courage to persist in our faith and always seek your will.

Amen.

Eighth Thursday of Ordinary Time

On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”  And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”

Even good people can sometimes try to dissuade us from doing the right thing. Like the blind man, there are times in our lives when we need to cry out to God or when we need to depend upon Him. There are times when we see some injustice and want to speak out. However, during these times there might be people who tell us to remain silent. They might tell us not to bother God with our silly concerns. They might say we shouldn't rock the boat. They warn us against doing what our conscience tells us. It is during these times that we must not allow others to pressure us into silence, but rather we should cry out all the more. God will hear us and give us the courage we need to do what is right and perhaps even give others around us a reminder that we should feel free to approach God with any issue and allow Him to lead us where He wants.

Are we the ones who rebuke others for depending too much on God or warn them against speaking up when their conscience dictates? Or are we the ones being rebuked by others? If so, then how can we remain patient and persistent in our calls for help?

O Lord, give us the courage to call out to you in all things.

Amen.

Seventh Monday of Easter

I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.

Jesus offers us peace in himself and trouble in the world. When we have consecrated our every thought, word, and work to God, then we shall have the inner peace that comes with being genuinely righteous. We shall take courage in Christ as not only our Savior, but as our model for life. We will conquer the world, not with acts of violence, but with acts of love, mercy, and grace. Still we will have much to suffer before our lives come to fruition. We will be persecuted by family, friends, and neighbors. We will be mocked and misunderstood. The empty consolations of the world cannot give us the peace we are looking for, only God can do that.

What are the troubles we have suffered because of our faith? How do we open our hearts up to God’s peace? How do we use the courage that comes from having our hearts aligned with God?

O Lord, grant us peace and courage.

Amen.