Fourth Tuesday of Advent

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. The favors of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, "My kindness is established forever"; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

Kind and faithful. These are the adjectives we should hope come to mind when people think and speak about us. We should be known for our kindness. Not the fake kindness of putting on airs, but the true kindness that recognizes the kindred spirits of others and their inherent dignity as human beings who share in the Divine Image of God. We should also be models of faithfulness to others. Reminding them that this is something beyond the mundane world around us. Our lives should bear God into the world around us and make others aware that God is with us. We should make Him present to others through our holy and good presence.

Are we truly kind to others, not with worldly masks, but as heavenly reflections of God’s Divine Image? How can we be more faithful? What can we do to help others grow in kindness and faithfulness?

O Lord, establish your true kindness within us, your faithful servants.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Friday in Ordinary Time

Give glory and eternal praise to him! “Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.”

All of creation was made by God and finds its source, center, and summit in Him. He is the only thing that can fulfill us and transform us into what we are called to be. He made us in His Divine Image and offered us every spiritual blessing so we might be holy as He is Good. What a wonderful God we have in Him for He has shown us what it means to be charitable, merciful, and good. He made us to be manifestations of Himself and we find true peace only when we exult Him through our thoughts, words, and works.

In what ways do we give glory to God? How can we exult Him in everything we do? What can we do to live up to the Divine Image within us?

O Lord, we give you glory and eternal praise.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

God cannot deny the image of Himself that resides in each person. This is why He is so willing to forgive and bring us back into His good graces even after we have turned our backs on Him through sin or apathy. He wants us to be united to Him in body, mind, and spirit. He wants us to magnify Him through our thoughts, words, and works. However, He will not force us to be good and faithful children. He wants us to choose to know, love, and serve Him and the image of Him that exists in each person. If we deny Him, He will attempt to change our minds and give us every opportunity to atone for our transgressions, but in the end, He will deny us salvation if we refuse the offers of His Divine Mercy. But, if we persevere and die with Him, then we shall live forever with Him as co-heirs to His Heavenly Kingdom.

In what ways have we denied God’s Divine Image within us? How can we rid ourselves of these things that mar us so we can accept God more fully into our hearts, minds, and spirits? What can we do to persevere in our faith?

O Lord, we are willing to die for you.

Amen.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. 

We all have parts of our lives that need to be put to death in order to live like Christ. Some of us fight against immorality, others impurity, still others with passions and evil desires. We all have our areas of idolatry where something other than God takes center stage in our hearts and minds. We need to stop lying to others and ourselves and take off these old, sinful selves and put on the yoke of Christ. It is only by doing this that we can be renewed in faith, hope, and charity. It is the only way we can come to know, love, and serve God and His children as they deserve. It is the only path that will lead us to become true reflections of the Holy and Divine Image that resides within each of us.

What do we need to put to death in our lives? How can we rid ourselves of all those things that tarnish the image of God within us? What should we do to take off our sinful selves and put on Christ?

O Lord, help us to put to death our sins and imperfections.

Amen.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him.

We were all created through and for Jesus. We were created through Him because He is the Word of God made flesh and it was from his mouth that we came into being as a race and as individuals. Each and every one of us is a member of His Spiritual Body. And we all have an important role to play in salvation. Some of us are called to be the mind of the Church, others its heart, still others its hands. Some are called to be eyes, others ears, and a few of us are called to be the mouths of God. We are also created for Jesus because all of us are asked by God to think, speak, and do all things for Him. Our time, talents, and treasures are supposed to be put to His Good Use, not ours. When we are united to God in this way, we become manifestations of Him, reflecting His Divine Image for all the world to see and glorify.

How do we embody the image of God? What can we do to be better images of Jesus Christ? What is God calling us to be as part of His Spiritual Body?

O Lord, may your image always be reflected in us.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

“Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”

God’s dwelling is within us. Our hearts are supposed to be His Holy Temples. Our minds are called to be home to His Word. Our spirits are meant to be resting places for our Lord and God. He entrusted His Divine Image within each and every one of us. He has given us the Body and Blood of His Beloved Son to become a part of us. He wants us to be living tabernacles, bearing Him into the world through our thoughts, words, and works. However, in order to do this, we must prepare ourselves. We must be holy, loving, merciful. We must imitate the Holy Trinity in all things. We must be protective of the weak like the Father. We must be kind and compassionate like Jesus. We must be on fire with charitable love like the Holy Spirit. Only then will every tear be wiped away and the old order of sin pass away into the new order of salvation.

Have we prepared our hearts, minds, and spirits to be dwelling places for the Lord? What can we do to make ourselves more welcoming to God’s Divine Presence in our lives? How can we help others do the same?

O Lord, behold, our hearts are yours! Dwell within them always.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Easter

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. "My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and through my name shall his horn be exalted. He shall say of me, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.'"

God’s faithfulness and mercy are always with us just as He is always with us through the presence of the Divine Image He has engraved within our souls. His presence is in us every step of our way through this journey called life. And if we tend and take care of the Divine Image within us, then we, too, will be exulted one day and enter into the kingdom. We, like David, will be able to say to God, “You are our Father, God, Rock and Savior. Thank you for all you’ve done for us.”

Do we remember that God is with us? How should we amend our lives so we do remember this truth, especially when we are most tempted? Are we able to sing the goodness of the Lord along with David and all our fore-bearers in the faith?

O Lord, you are our Father, God, Rock, and Savior.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Easter

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.

It is impossible for us to truly repay God for all He has done for us. He gave us the world we live in. He gave us His Divine Image. He gave us our lives. He has offered us His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy. He has given us more than we could ever return to Him. All He asks for in return is our faith, hope, and love so we might know, love, and serve Him and all His children to the best of our abilities.

Are we making a good-faith effort to repay God for all He has done for us? What can we do to build up the Kingdom of God on earth? How can we fulfill our baptismal vows?

O Lord, help us to be counted among your faithful ones.

Amen.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first man was from the earth, earthly; the second man, from heaven. As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly, and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one.

We are both earthly and heavenly creatures. We have the potential for good and evil that Adam, our first ancestor had. We also have the opportunity to cultivate Christ’s heavenly virtues in our every thought, word, and work. We are our best selves when we choose the goods of earth and heaven over the evils of worldliness. But God won’t force us to be good as He is Good. He won’t take away our free will. He wants us to know, love, and serve Him of our own accord. He wants us to choose eternity in Heaven with Him over the here and now desires we have on the earth. This isn’t to say God doesn’t want us to enjoy the earth, after all He created it and it was good. But that should be something that flows naturally from the course of events as we follow Him and His commandments and not the goal of life itself.

Are we using our earthly selves to do good instead of evil? How are we allowing the heavenly to influence our thoughts, words, and works? What can we do to bear the image of God to the whole world?

O Lord, you made us earthly and heavenly. Help us to understand how to be faithful in both.

Amen.

First Tuesday in Ordinary Time

You have given your Son rule over the works of your hands. O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?

It is hard to imagine why God loves us so much. We have so little to offer Him other than our good works, sacrifices, and love. Compare these to the wondrous works, the ultimate sacrifice, and the unending love He has give us. And yet, God is mindful of us. He cares for us. He loves us. In fact, He is so in love with us that He made us in His Image. He has sacrificed His Beloved Son for us. He has given us His Spirit. Everything He is, He has given us even though we can never truly repay Him. He has given everything to us as a gift because He wants us to succeed in becoming holy people, who love Him and reflect His Image to all the world.

Do we appreciate all that God has done, is doing, and will do for us? What are we being called to do in response to God’s gracious gifts? How can we become more faithful, hopeful, and loving children to our caring Lord?

O Lord, we glorify your name over all the earth.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.

All of creation resounds with joy before the Lord. From the sky to the earth, from the sun to the moon, from the birds in the air to the fish in the sea... everything that was created echoes the goodness of God. He created everything from His Word from the rivers to the mountains and all the living creatures of this world. Most amazing of all, He created us in His Own Image. He granted us free will and the ability to choose the good over the evil. He created us to love Him and each other and spread the Good News throughout the world.

Do our thoughts, words, and works resound with joy before the Lord? Do they bring joy to others? Do they spread the Good News?

O Lord, let us shout with joy before you so all who dwell in the world will know and love you as we do.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Advent

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. The favors of the LORD I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, "My kindness is established forever"; in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

God has been very good to us. He has given us life. He has made us in His Divine Image. He has provided us with free will so we can truly love Him and others as He loves us. He has poured out His blessings and favors upon us. He has been a faithful Father to us. He has been a loving brother and teacher. He has been a guiding Spirit. He has shown us His Kindness. We cannot imagine how much God has done for us throughout our lives from the moment of our conception to the moment of our death and beyond. All we can do is accept His gifts and use them to the best of our abilities for the good of all whom we meet.

Do we thank God for all He has done for us? How can we reflect God’s Goodness in our own lives? What can we do to be better children of our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, we sing of your goodness.

Amen.

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

The vocation of our lives as Christians is to be conformed to the image of Christ. This is why we take his name to describe us as a community of believers. It is from God that all good things come and it is through imitation of His Beloved Son that we do good and avoid evil. When we think, speak, and act like Jesus, we proclaim ourselves the brothers and sisters of Christ and accept all the responsibilities this relationship entails. We promise God to be holy, good, charitable, merciful, and virtuous to the best of our abilities. If we do this, then we will fulfill our purpose on this earth, be justified by Christ, and glorified at the Resurrection on the Last Day.

Are we conformed to the image of Christ? If not, then in what ways can we become more Christ-like in thought, word, and deed? How can we help others to become better Christians, too?

O Lord, conform us to yourself.

Amen.

Nineteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!

God judges us according to our ways. If we are virtuous and loving, then He judges us as good and faithful servants. If we are full of vices and hatred, then He will cast us into the fires of Hell. He is merciful, but also just. He will not grant us His forgiveness if we do not seek it or if we take it for granted. He only gives his compassion to those who are compassionate and cast away all their crimes. He wants us to make for ourselves new hearts and spirits that are fashioned in His likeness. It is only by becoming models of Him that we can hope to return to Him and live forever. 

Are we virtuous or full of vice? How can we turn away from our sins and be converted? What can we do to fashion new hearts and spirits in the image and likeness of God?

O Lord, convert us from our crimes and make new hearts within us.

Amen.

Nineteenth Friday in Ordinary Time

You were renowned among the nations for your beauty, perfect as it was, because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord GOD. But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry on every passer-by, whose own you became. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord GOD.

We must always be on guard against ourselves. Selfishness and pride can lead us astray. They can cause us to misuse our time, talents, and treasures. The can take the beautiful image of God within us and disfigure it with sin and indifference. They can lead to bad habits and worse. Thankfully, God will never give up on us. He will try to bring us back into His good graces whenever we leave the narrow path to Heaven. This is why it is so important to learn to be selfless and humble. These virtues protect us against our darker inclinations and make it possible to resist temptation and be good and faithful children of God.

Are we on guard against our selfish and prideful inclinations? What can we do to protect the image of God within ourselves and live up to the New Covenant? How can we increase in virtue and decrease in vice?

O Lord, we thank you for pardoning all that we have done and failed to do.

Amen.

Nineteenth Monday in Ordinary Time

Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man. Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor. Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.

The goal of our lives as Christians is not to be successful in the world, but rather to do good and avoid evil so that when we die, we might be worthy of eternal life with God. We must remember it is the throne of God we must pay homage to first and foremost in our lives. Our hope is to come before God on the Day of Judgment and be called His good and faithful servants. This is what we strive and suffer for... to be found worthy to stand in God's Divine Presence and be filled with love for Him forever and ever.

Are we striving toward the true ends of our lives? Or are we letting the world and its temptations and worries keep us apart from God? What can we do to prepare our bodies, minds, and hearts to worthily stand before the splendor of God for all eternity?

O Lord, may our every thought, word, and work glorify you and lead us closer and closer to life everlasting with you.

Amen.

Eighteenth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

City shall be rebuilt upon hill, and palace restored as it was. From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.

We all need a bit of rebuilding every now and then. When we fall into sin or indifference, we need to restore ourselves in mind and spirit. When we are sick or injured, we need to return our bodies to health. When we have suffered a loss of some sort—be it job, loved one, or something else—we strive to rebuild our lives as best we can. If we do this in a spirit of trust in God's Goodness, then we shall find that no matter what befalls us, He will raise us up again. He will put songs of praise and glory on our lips and laughter in our hearts. We shall be able to restore ourselves and become even stronger in faith, hope, and love.

What areas of our lives need to be rebuilt to become more perfectly God's dwelling place? How can we put the graces God has given us to good and fruitful use in restoring our lives to purity? In what ways can we glorify God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, rebuild us in your image and likeness.

Amen.

Ninth Monday in Ordinary Time

Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.

Through His Divine Power, God has bestowed on us the gift of His Divine Image. He has made each one of us in His Likeness with all the goodness that comes from Him. The world may try to distract and corrupt us, but if we trust in God, then we shall be able to overcome our evil desires and escape from corruption. God even goes so far as to give us a roadmap to salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, who showed us how to supplement our faith with virtues, to grow in knowledge, to temper our passions with self-control, to endure all things for God, to devote ourselves to the proclamation of the Good News, to have mutual affection for God and His children, and to love with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Do we take the time to contemplate what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God? Are we following the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ? What can we do to overcome our evil desires and choose the good thoughts, words, and words of God?

O Lord, grant us the virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, devotion, mutual affection, and love that we need to be your good and faithful followers.

Amen.

Third Wednesday of Lent

Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.' For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

God has given us commandments not to restrict us, but to free us from sin. He has given us statutes and decrees to bless us and lead us to eternal life. He has taught us His Way, Truth, and Life so we might grow in wisdom. He has given us His Divine and Natural Laws because we are made in His Image and He wants us to be as close to Him as possible. He wants us to be the best reflections of Him through lives of holiness, justice, and virtue.

How can we live out God’s Law more perfectly? What can we do to become living reflections of His Divine Image? How can we grow closer to God through our thoughts, words, and works of each day?

O Lord, grant us the wisdom to know your laws and put them into practice every day of our lives.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

We have both worldly and heavenly responsibilities in our lives. We have responsibilities to our families, our friends, our neighborhoods, our states, our country, and our world. These include doing things we might not want to do, but ought to do out of respect for others. It also consists of repaying others for the goods they’ve done for us. Similarly, we have a responsibility to repay to God what belongs to Him, namely our faith and good works. Through baptism God has placed an indelible mark upon our souls that reinforces the Image of God that is imprinted in all our souls at the moment of creation. It reminds us all that we belong to God. We are His and to Him we must return to be judged and hopefully to be called His good and faithful servants.

Are we meeting both our worldly and heavenly responsibilities? How can we repay God for all the goods He has done for us? What can we do to deepen and ingrain the Divine Image of God within us so that we are more perfect signs of God’s Goodness?

O Lord, help us to meet our responsibilities to you first and then to the world around us.

Amen.