Second Wednesday of Advent

The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

God doesn’t get tired of us. He loves us just as much when we are saintly and when we are sinful. He does not force us to do anything, but rather lets us choose. He wants us to be good and faithful servants because we love Him and He is willing to wait patiently for us to come to Him. His unwavering love does not grow faint or weary, but that doesn’t mean His Love and Mercy for us will trump His Justice. If we fall into sin, He is more than willing to forgive us. However, we need to be contrite for our sins and honestly desire to amend our lives. We might not always succeed, but we should not grow weary of trying to be holy. God gives us every strength and grace we need to overcome the temptations we face. He gives us spiritual vigor during our times of trial and will renew us after every battle with our sinful selves. If we let Him, He will grant us wings which will bear us to heaven and eternal life.

Do we give thanks to God for being so patient with us? Are we truly grateful for the love, mercy, and support He has given us throughout our lives? How can we express our thanks for all God has done for us?

O Lord, give us your strength and vigor.

Amen.

Thirtieth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy. Look, answer me, O LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him”; lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.

Our hope is indeed founded upon God’s Mercy. It is not up to us if we are forgiven. It is up to God. We can only offer small penances and repayments to God for what evils we have done and what goods we have failed to do. We are not perfect and depend upon His Divine Mercy. It is only through Him that we have a chance at redemption. It is only in Him that we have any hope of triumph. He is the source of our good, the center of who we should be, and the summit of what we are called to become. He is the light that guides us where we need to go and shows us the way out of the dark valleys that surround us.

Does our hope reside in God’s Divine Mercy? Do we allow God to light the way when we are lost? How can we become what we are called to be?

O Lord, answer us and give us your light.

Amen.

The Ascension of the Lord

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

It is important to wash clean our consciences on a regular basis. We all need healing from sins. We all need to come to God with humble and contrite hearts. We all need to make good confessions to free ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil. The sacrament of reconciliation is a great source of hope for all of us. There should be no fear of such a wonderfully freeing experience. Instead, we should go confidently into the confessional and speak to God from the depths of our souls and allow Him to wash away our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities. It was for this purpose that Jesus Christ came into the world and we would do well to make use of God’s Divine Mercy.

Do we seek God’s cleansing sacrament as frequently as we should? Do we allow God to work His Divine Mercy within us? How can we lead others to the sacrament of reconciliation?

O Lord, thank you for the cleansing waters that flowed from your wounds.

Amen.

Ascension of the Lord

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

It is important to wash clean our consciences on a regular basis. We all need healing from sins. We all need to come to God with humble and contrite hearts. We all need to make good confessions to free ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil. The sacrament of reconciliation is a great source of hope for all of us. There should be no fear of such a wonderfully freeing experience. Instead, we should go confidently into the confessional and speak to God from the depths of our souls and allow Him to wash away our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities. It was for this purpose that Jesus Christ came into the world and we would do well to make use of God’s Divine Mercy.

Do we seek God’s cleansing sacrament as frequently as we should? Do we allow God to work His Divine Mercy within us? How can we lead others to the sacrament of reconciliation?

O Lord, thank you for the cleansing waters that flowed from your wounds.

Amen.

Third Friday of Lent

I am the Lord your God: hear my voice. An unfamiliar speech I hear: “I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I rescued you.”

When we are in distress, God will rescue us. He will listen to our cries and come to our aid. He might not answer our petitions in the time and manner that we want, but He will give us the grace to overcome all our fears, doubts, pains, and obstacles. He will lead us to a better place, if not physically, at least spiritually. He will relieve us of our burdens and free us from our slavery to sin and worldly things. And ultimately, He will bring us out of bondage to a land flowing with the milk of His Divine Mercy and the honey of His Love.

What burdens are weighing us down? How can we free ourselves of all that is enslaving us to sin and the world? How can we help God rescue others from their difficulties?

O Lord, relieve us of our burdens and free us from our sins.

Amen.

Thirteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

On that day I will raise up the fallen hut of David; I will wall up its breaches, raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, That they may conquer what is left of Edom and all the nations that shall bear my name, say I, the LORD, who will do this.

When we fall into sin, our souls are like a ruined city. There are breaches in our spiritual defenses, weaknesses our enemies can exploit, and we are despoiled. However, when we make a good confession and do penance, our souls are rebuilt by God’s Grace. His Divine Mercy raises us up from the rubble and makes us whole again. His Strength becomes our strength and we are able to overcome temptations to sin and the wickedness of the Devil. We are able to conquer our sinful selves and fashion ourselves into a people of God.

Do we call upon God to rebuild our faith lives after we fall into sin? What can we do to prepare ourselves to be rebuilt in spirit? How can we conquer all those things that lead us into sin?

O Lord, raise us up from the ruins that our sins leave behind.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop

In respect to the Gospel, they are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarch. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

No matter our failures, our stubbornness in sin, and our indifference to good, God is always there waiting for us to return to Him. He gives us gifts of goods and graces in hopes that one day we will hear His call and answer Him. He will not take back the gifts He has given us nor the crosses He is asking us to take up in His name. It may take some of us longer than others to turn to faith and place our hope in God, but He is with us always, patient and loving. We are His beloved children, formed in the image of Christ, and He will not give up on us. We should consider this truth the next time we are tempted to sin or find ourselves in difficulties beyond our feeble strength. For although we might be sinners, God’s Divine Mercy endures forever.

What gifts has God given us? What is He calling us to do with them? How can we amend our lives in order to put our time, talents, and treasures to the use God intended?

O Lord, thank you for the gifts and callings you’ve given us.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

There is no limit to God’s Divine Mercy and there should be no limit for us as well. When we sin against God, we create a debt we could never repay. Recognizing this, God sent into the world His Beloved Son, to be a sin offering sacrificed once and for all time for all people and all sins. This single act of self sacrifice is the only one which could pay the debt we all owe as sinners. The models of Jesus’ Life, Passion, and Death are ones God wants us to imitate in our own lives so we might manifest God’s Love and Mercy more fully. This is why Christ tells Peter he must forgive seventy-seven times... an amount which speaks to the limitless mercy God wants us all to have for others.

Are we willing to be forgiving of those who have sinned against us, especially our enemies? How can we become more merciful in our dealings with others? In what ways can we manifest God’s limitless forgiveness to others?

O Lord, help us to be fonts of your mercy and forgiveness.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Sometimes we can be afraid of what God is calling us to do. We try to hide ourselves away from the world or from God because we are anxious about the path that lies before us. The way ahead looks scary to us. We aren’t certain we can overcome all the obstacles in our way. Many times the destination is unknown or murky. We are faced with fears and doubts and choose to lock away our talents and treasures. Better to be safe than sorry. But if we want to be disciples of Christ, then we have to be open to him coming into our lives and sending us forth. We might not know how we will accomplish the mission he sends us on. However, if we allow his peace to be with us and trust that His Holy Spirit will always be by our side, then we have nothing to fear. We learn the important lesson that it is better to be saintly than sorry.

What are we afraid of? What is God asking us to do in our lives? How can we prepare ourselves to accept our calling with peace and joy?

O Lord, as your Heavenly Father sent you, so send us to where we are needed.

Amen.

Fifteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.”

God has done many good things for us and we would do well if we remember this and repent of our sins against Him. If we do not seek His Forgiveness, then we shall have no reason to expect His Mercy. However, if we open our eyes to all the miracles and graces, great and small, that God has given us throughout our lives, then we shall also open our hearts to reconciliation with Him. In the same vein, we should seek to help others to see God at work in their lives and help them to seek pardon for their sins. We do this best, not by judging others, but rather by loving them and showing them how God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace can lift their spirits and give them a more abundant life.

Do we give thanks to God for all He has, is, and will do for us? Do we seek His forgiveness for the evils we’ve done and the goods we’ve failed to do? How can our lives become beacons of hope for those in most need of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace?

O Lord, you have done mighty deeds for us and the greatest of these is offering us your Divine Mercy.

Amen.

The Fourth Monday of Easter

I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

Jesus is our gateway to heaven and eternal life. It is through following his teachings and example that we can enter paradise and experience the glorious and awe-inspiring presence of the Holy Trinity. It is through his Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection that we are given the opportunity to be saved and become holy people. He offers us spiritual nourishment through the sacraments and constant protection from the evil influences in our lives which try to lead us astray, steal our souls, and lead us to the fires of Hell. He is the source, center, and summit of our lives and when we accept his love, mercy, and grace, we are rewarded with more fruitful lives. All we have to do is to seek out the truth, knock at the door of God’s Divine Mercy, and ask for His sanctifying grace to pour into our hearts.

Where are our lives leading us? Are we seeking truth, forgiveness, and holiness? Are we willing to follow the narrow path to heaven?

O Lord, help us to live more abundantly.

Amen.

The Third Wednesday of Easter

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.

Jesus will not reject anyone who comes to him. It is important for us to remember this because sometimes we will be tempted to feel like we are not worthy of God’s Love. However, when we suffer such thoughts we should remember that God willed that His Son atone for our sins and that through his Passion, Death, and Resurrection we are offered a chance to be cleansed of all our sins and imperfections. If we wish to be found by Jesus, he will find us and never lose us. Then, on the last day, he shall raise us up and we shall be with him forever and ever.

Are we doing God’s Will or our own? What can we do to overcome our feelings of unworthiness and trust in God’s Mercy? Do we seek to understand and believe in God so that we can live holy lives and have eternal life?

O Lord, we believe in you. Raise us on the last day.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

We all have doubts. However, we are all called to believe in spite of our unbelief. Part of faith is choosing to trust in God in spite of our uncertainty. Unlike the disciples, we cannot see the glorified body of Christ and draw upon that experience to sustain us. But we do have the Body and Blood of Jesus which is present to us during every mass. We are very blessed to be able to celebrate the Eucharist with our fellow believers. All of us will struggle with our belief to one degree or another. The important thing is to be able to believe without hesitation that God loves us, sent His Beloved Son to die for us, and is willing to forgive our sins if we accept His mercy with humble and contrite hearts.

What doubts are we experiencing? How can we learn to trust in God's Divine Plan? Are we allowing God's Peace to be upon us through the frequent reception of the Eucharist?

O Lord, we believe, help us overcome our unbelief.

Amen.

First Friday of Advent

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!”  When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.” And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

After the blind men ask Jesus to have pity on them, Jesus asks them if they believe he can heal them. They both respond with “Yes, Lord.” This is the spirit of faith and hope we all need to have in the midst of the sufferings of our lives. We need to believe God is able to help us out of whatever trials we are undergoing. Our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths must say with one voice, “Yes, Lord, we do believe.” Then our eyes will be open to God’s love, mercy, and grace and we will be able to see His helping hand actively aiding us every day of our lives. What a comfort it is to know our God is interceding for us in our every need. He is ready to heal us of any ill if we but ask Him to have pity on us and believe He will respond to our pleas.

Do we ask God to have pity on us when we are in the midst of our trials? Do we believe He will help us? Have our eyes been open to the love, mercy, and grace God shows us every day?

O Lord, have pity on us and heal us.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Easter

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

God loves us so much He sacrificed his own Son for us in hopes that we would open ourselves to His Mercy and Grace. Whenever we feel unworthy or depressed, we should remember these words and the sacrifice Jesus made for us during his Passion and Death. We are loved. No matter how unloved or unappreciated we might feel at any single moment, God loves us and that makes us worthy of loving ourselves. If God sees the good in us in spite of the bad, then who are we to condemn ourselves and deny the forgiveness He offers us. In the end, it is our choice because although God loves us He will not force us to love Him, our neighbors, or even ourselves. He allows us make the choice to follow Him and be saved or to follow ourselves and be lost. Hopefully, we choose to welcome His Love with open arms.

Do we recognize on a daily basis that God loves us? What do we do to remind ourselves of His Love Mercy, and Grace? Do we love ourselves in a healthy way, not selfishly, but selflessly?

O Lord, send your Son to us so that we might not perish, but rather have eternal life in, with, and through you.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Jesus Christ sends us all forth into the world. And as our companions, he gives us the Holy Spirit and God's Divine Mercy. He tells us no matter how afraid we are or how much we might doubt him, he is always at our side ready to give us the peace we need to persevere. Like the disciples who failed him during his Passion, he offers us a chance to make amends for our sins by becoming bearers of his Good News—his love, mercy, and saving grace. What a marvelous gift he gives us in the Holy Spirit. We should consult it at every turn of our lives. If we do this, then we will be at peace no matter what happens to us because we will know we did our best to be Christ in the world.

Do we allow God to send us into the world? How do we receive the Holy Spirit? How to we manifest God’s Divine Love, Mercy, and Grace in our lives?

O Lord, open our hearts so we might receive your Holy Spirit and live in accord with your Will.

Amen.