Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.  To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

There are times when we will feel abandoned by family, friends, co-workers, and others. We feel alone in the world and tempted to despair or even anger at those who have forsaken us. However, we must remember the people in our lives, no matter how much we love them are imperfect, like us. They will not always do what is good or avoid what is wrong. Thankfully, we do not need them by our sides in our darkest hours. We can instead put our trust in God and allow Him to lead us out of the night and into the dawn. When we trust God in such a way, we allow Him to sanctify and bless our lives so they bear good fruits even among the worries and woes of the world. We are given strength by these gifts to go forth and proclaim the Good News to all who will hear it. When we choose to believe in the promises of Jesus Christ, we will be rescued from every evil, resurrected in spirit, and brought safely to God’s Heavenly Kingdom where we will glorify God forever.

Are we willing to forgive those who abandon us in our times of need? How can we place our complete trust in God? What can we do to proclaim the Good News even in the midst of our own trials?

O Lord, to you be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Saturday in Ordinary Time

The Lord listens to the poor. “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not. Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them!”

All will be made right in the end. This is what we believe as Christians. We hold firm to the conviction that goodness, truth, justice, mercy, and love with win out over evil, lies, prejudice, vengeance, and hatred. We have faith that God listens to His children. He will free us from temptations, sin, and death, if we will yoke ourselves to Him. He will bring gladness into our lives after the dark nights that can besiege our souls. He revives us and gives us new life in and through Himself. He pours our His riches upon the humble poor and the contrite in spirit. He will never spurn us, if we accept Him into our hearts and live according to His commandments, teachings, and inspirations.

Do we believe God will make things right in the end? How can we resist the doubts that might creep into this belief? What can we do to build up trust in God in others as well as ourselves?

O Lord, listen to us and revive our hearts when they are weak with doubt.

Amen.

Fifteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. I am sunk in the abysmal swamp where there is no foothold; I have reached the watery depths; the flood overwhelms me.

There are times in our lives when we feel helpless. We feel like we are sinking into an abyss and have no way to escape. We feel overwhelmed and lost. However, if we turn to the Lord in these times of trial, then He will help us. He will give us what we need to overcome our difficulties and triumph. He will help us to make it through the dark night to the dawn of hope. He will provide us with grace and goods that will nourish and support us. He will help us to live fruitful and meaningful lives.

Are there areas of our lives where we are sinking or in danger of sinking into darkness? What can we do to bring God into these areas to help us escape? How do we show our gratitude for all God has done to provide for our needs?

O Lord, we turn to you in our times of need.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot

Remember the marvels the Lord has done. They had weighed him down with fetters, and he was bound with chains, Till his prediction came to pass and the word of the LORD proved him true.

Even in our troubles, God remains faithful to us. We might suffer for a time, short or long, but always God will deliver us from our difficulties. If we are besieged by temptations, He will protect us from evil. If we are imprisoned by sin, He will offer us the freedom of forgiveness. If we are suffering in some way, He will heal us. If we are blind, He will help us to see. If we are lost, He will help us find our way. If we are falsely accused, He will be our Advocate. If we are mocked or persecuted, He will defend us. We might not always know why we have to pass through dark nights or imprisonments, but God is good and He will release us and help us to prosper in spirit and truth. We just need to remember God does marvelous things for all his good and faithful servants.

Are we weighed down by any worldly fetters or chained by imperfections and sin? Do we ask for God’s aid in freeing us? Do we remember even in our worst moments that God wants to do marvelous things for us?

O Lord, release us from our fetters and chains and help us remember your marvelous deeds.

Amen.

Tenth Friday of Ordinary Time

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my alarm, “No man is dependable.” 

When we are going through tough times, we can be tempted to lose hope and despair. However, as long as we remember God is with us in all things, we will be able to fight off this temptation to doubt and worry and instead choose to trust in God no matter what is happening to us. Yes, even when we are greatly afflicted, we can be calm and at peace with the knowledge that God is always by our side. He is there as a comforter, guide, and protector and as long as we let go and let Him work within our lives we will be rewarded, if not in this life, then in the next.

Do we offer up all our trials and tribulations as sacrifices of praise to God? How can we keep hope even in our darkest hours? What can we do to help others through their difficulties?

O Lord, we will always hope in you no matter what afflicts us.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Lent

Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.

When we live the Christ-like life, we have nothing to fear. There is no challenge, no enemy, no obstacle, no worry, no trial, no evil, no suffering that can truly harm us. When we have the light of Christ within us, we cannot go astray. God will lead us back to Himself, no matter where we are. When we rest in God, we can be at complete peace because He will water our souls with grace and refresh us with His Divine Love. When we allow the Lord to be our Shepherd, we will always have a home with Him and He will protect and guide us and lead us to the greener pastures of Paradise.

Are we unafraid to walk the way of the Lord? Are we willing to let Him shepherd us to where we need to go and what we need to do? How can we learn to rest beside Him and let Him refresh our souls?

O Lord, be our shepherd through dark valleys to verdant pastures and restful waters.

Amen.

First Friday of Lent

If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, who can stand? Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; LORD, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to my voice in supplication.

Sometimes we experience sorrow and misery in this life. We lose something that is precious to us. A loved one. Our health. Our wealth. Our occupation. Or any of a myriad of things. In these dark nights we can lose our way and feel completely helpless. In times such as these, we should not be afraid to call out from the depths and ask God to hear us. He will listen and in His Infinite Mercy, He will come to us in a way, a place, and a time that will be best for us and lead us closer to our salvation. We just have to trust in Him and allow Him to work His wonders in our lives.

When we are sorrowful or despairing, do we turn to God for consolation, comfort, and help? Do we mimic God’s Compassion in our own lives? If not, then how can we become as merciful to others as God is to us?

O Lord, we cry to you from the depths, hear our voices!

Amen.

Fourth Saturday in Ordinary Time

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 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.

If we listen to the Holy Spirit within us, He will guide us in right paths to holy and fruitful lives. Even if those paths might pass through dark valleys and darker nights, we will have nothing to fear if we trust in God. He might not lead us along the paths we would choose, but He will lead us along those ways that will lead to our good and our salvation. With God at our side, we have nothing to fear from the world or from the evils within it.

Do we allow God to shepherd us? Are we willing to let Him lead us even to where we don’t want to go? How can we be more trusting of Him even when we are passing through dark valleys and darker nights?

O Lord, guide us along right paths to holiness and salvation.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Luke, evangelist

At my first defense no one appeared on my behalf, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

There will be some times in our lives when we feel betrayed or abandoned. We might feel alone in the world. However, Paul reminds us we are not ever really alone if we stand firm in our faith. God stands beside us through good times and bad. He lends us His Strength when we need it. He lends us His Light when we are lost and alone. He lends us His Word to encourage and enlighten us. He lends us everything we need to conquer the obstacles that the world throws in our way. He does all of this because He loves us and He wants us to fulfill His Will so all the world might hear His Good News through us.

Do we feel abandoned or betrayed? How can we learn to trust God even when the night is darkest and the world is grim? How can we become God’s Strength, Light, and Word to those who need it?

O Lord, may the proclamation of your Gospel be completed through us.

Amen.

Memorial of the Guardian Angels

Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. Job spoke out and said: Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, "The child is a boy!" Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth, like babes that have never seen the light? Wherefore did the knees receive me? Or why did I suck at the breasts?"

There can be times in our lives when we feel like Job. Nothing is going right. Our lives are ruined in one way or another. We are stripped of something, or everything, we held dear. We can feel abandoned and let down by God, but this is not the case. God will always be with us, especially in our darkest hours. He has given us many graces to see us through these times of trial, not least of which are our guardian angels. We would do well to remember them when we are suffering or in need. They are there to guard us, guide us, and lead us closer to God. All we have to do is trust they are there and pray for their intercession.

Are there any areas in our lives where we feel abandoned? Have we turned those areas over to God and asked for his help? How can we make praying to our guardian angels a habit in our busy lives?

O Lord, send us your angels to light and guard, to rule and guide.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, "Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God.

We all will suffer losses in our lives. Some of our losses will be in terms of wealth. Others in terms of health. Still more will be of our loved ones. We can react to these sufferings in many ways. We can become bitter and complain about how unfair life is, we can become lost in despair and sorrow, or we can accept our losses and trust God’s Grace will see us back to prosperity. We will be tempted to be angry toward God or to believe He has abandoned us, but all we need to remember is He is always with us. He sent His Beloved Son to suffer and die for us so we might never be alone in our darkest hours. Even if it is difficult for us to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we must remember it is there. All we have to do is put one step in front of the other and continue to follow the path Jesus Christ prepared for us.

Are we bitter or despairing of any losses we have suffered? How can we learn to trust God even in the midst of our dark nights? How can we cultivate the spirit of detachment needed to be able to let go of our goods, our health, and our loved ones so we do not fall into sin when we lose them?

O Lord, blessed be your name in our good times and in our bad.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge and save them from the power of their enemies as long as the judge lived; it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries of affliction under their oppressors. But when the judge died, they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors, following other gods in service and worship, relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

Sometimes we can have a lot in common with the Israelites of old. We go through hot and cold periods of faith and sin. We are good for a while, but fall into the same sins over and over again. We can have times of great comfort and joy in the faith, but also dark nights where we get lost. We can feel abandoned by God in our times of trial. Yet, we can also champion the faith like the judges of old. We are sinners, struggling to be saints. God knows this better than any of us and that is why He does all He can to help us to overcome our weaknesses and become better servants to Him and all His children.

What sins are we struggling with? Are we keeping the faith to the best of our abilities, especially when we are in our dark nights of the soul? How can we better resist the temptations that surround us?

O Lord, take pity on us and help us to become better Christians.

Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

Many things are easier said than done and following Jesus is one of the most difficult things we will ever do in our lives. When we follow in Jesus’ footsteps, we will face many questions, obstacles, and dark nights of the soul. At first, we might believe we can handle whatever comes our way. However, if we depend upon ourselves and our false sense of security, then we will be tempted and fall into sin. And like Peter, we will also have a lapse in judgment and deny God by our thoughts, words, or works. Thankfully, we have the sacrament of reconciliation and can make amends for our failings by once again proclaiming our love for God and seeking His Divine Mercy. Then, we will be given another chance to be faithful followers of Christ and live out our lives as humble servants of His Divine Will.

Are we following in Jesus’ footsteps? What are the obstacles in the way of our spiritual progress? How can we make up for our failures and return to God’s good graces?

O Lord, give us the strength we need to lay down our lives for you and your children.

Amen.