Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, the creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Justice and salvation are what God offers us each and every day. He created all the universe and everything in it in order for us to live in justice so we might be saved. He does not wish us any evil, He gives us every chance to do the right thing... to know, love, and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love others as He loves them. He wants us to be good fruits, nourishing the faith, hope, and love of others so they might join him in Heaven. He wants us to be fonts of His Mercy, pouring out His Grace upon all whom we meet. He did not create us to be a waste, but to be a living blessing, showing others that God loves them and should be at the center of all people’s hearts.

Are we leading just lives? What are we doing in order to lead others to God’s Grace and Salvation? Are we living our lives wisely and well or are we wasting them?

O Lord, give us the grace to live in you and not waste away in worldly pursuits.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Making known to men your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.

Our faith isn’t a passive one. It requires us to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News. It asks us to move out of our comfort zones and do what is right even though it might cost us greatly to do so. It calls us to be the best versions of ourselves by imitating Christ, even to the point of dying on a cross. It is through us that God manifests himself to most people. Our thoughts, words, and works reveal Him to others and we will be held accountable for how well or poorly we bear God into the world around us. So, let us lift high the cross and proclaim we are Christians by our love.

Do we make known the splendor of God’s Kingdom? What can we do to show others the glory of God? How can we help God’s Kingdom to endure through all generations?

O Lord, we are your friends and will make you known wherever we go and in whatever we do.

Amen.

Seventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord. Not so, the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the LORD watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.

We are relentlessly tempted to wickedness by the world. The world tells us to do what feels good, when what it really is saying is do what is wrong and forget what is right. Worldly people do not care about giving glory to God or doing good for others. They are only concerned with themselves and what benefit they can get from doing this and that. Yes, they might be charitable, but for all the wrong reasons. They might be helpful, but only when they see gain for themselves. As Christians, we are called to do what is right and good no matter the cost to ourselves. We must be willing to carry our crosses in this world and suffer greatly. We must be willing to be mocked and persecuted for our beliefs. We must be willing to be rejected by everyone around us. God’s Will is not the will of the world. It is a harder road, but one worth traveling because the wide road of wickedness leads to destruction.

How can we resist the temptations of the world? What can we do to rid ourselves of all wickedness? Are we willing to suffer in order to do what is right and good?

O Lord, watch over us and lead us to live just and hopeful lives.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

When we think of the benefits God gives us, we often think of the gifts, goods, and graces He provides us. However, there is another benefit that He gives us... discipline. Trials, sufferings, difficulties can sometimes seem like a punishment, but they are not allowed to happen to us without a reason. We might not understand why we must suffer, but God knows what good comes from our tribulations. He doesn't allow evil to befall us because He doesn't care, but rather He allows it so we might do what is right. If our lives came too easily for us, we would take everything for granted and lose our perspective. We would come to expect everything to arrive on a silver platter. We would forget that doing what is right and good often takes sacrifice of worldly pleasures. So, let us not complain when we are undergoing trials, but rather accept them gratefully as chances to build up our faith, rely on our hope, and show our unwavering love.

What difficulties are we going through? What can we do to get through them without bitterness? How can we see our trials as a blessing and not a curse?

O Lord, we shall never forget all the benefits you've given us.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

When Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'"

The only sacrifice and offering God desires from us is for us to echo the words of Mary and say, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done unto me according to thy Will.” All the almsgiving, mortifications, and prayers mean nothing if we do not do them in accordance and in respect of God’s Will. If someone needs help, but we say to them come back later I’m praying, then are we doing God’s Will? If we mortify ourselves in some way during Fridays or Lent out of obligation and not love of God, then how can we expect to grow in faith? If we give alms to the poor or needy, but do so only out of our surplus or to absolve ourselves from doing more, then are we truly being charitable? We can do all the right things, for all the wrong reasons. However, if we make our entire lives into sacrifices and are willing to give everything to God, then His Spirit will work through us and we will become not only a worthy offering, but a fruitful vine full of good works.

Are we willing to do God’s Will no matter what it might cost us in the world? How can we transform ourselves into living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of others? What can we do to ensure we are doing the right things for the right reasons?

O Lord, we come to do your will.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king's son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.

Justice will flourish around us if we live the Christ-like life. When we treat others with dignity and love, they are more likely to respond in kind. Even if they don't respond to our kindness, we will have done the right thing and be at peace with ourselves. We also need to govern our own hearts, minds, and bodies with justice, fostering every virtue and uprooting ever vice. In this way, we can grow in faith, hope, and love. This is why it is so important for us to pray for God' Justice and Mercy in our own lives and to trust that God will endow us with both so we can live holy and fruitful lives forever and ever.

Are our lives governed by God's Justice? How can we promote and nurture the virtue of justice in our own lives and the lives of others? What acts of justice is God calling us to perform for Him and His children?

O Lord, may your justice flourish in us and bring us peace forever.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

But after the three and a half days, a breath of life from God entered them. When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, "Come up here." So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.

Sometimes it may seem like our enemies have triumphed over us or that the wicked are rewarded for their misdeeds, but in the end, there is always a reckoning with God. Those who mock and persecute us will have to answer for their sins, just as we will have to answer for ours if we trespass against others. Those who do wrong and spurn good will be judged by God and go to their punishment, while those who do good and avoid evil will go to their reward. Those who lie about God, His Church, and His children will be silenced, while the good and faithful people will speak the Truth, follow the Way, and live the Life of Christ for all eternity. We can only hope to be such good witnesses to the Good News that one day God will say to us, “Come up here” and lift us up to heaven and eternal life.

How can we keep faith with God when it seems everything is going wrong? What can we do to ensure we are counted among the good and faithful servants of God? In what ways can we witness to the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ?

O Lord, lift us up and make us into a holy people.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Monday in Ordinary Time

I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first.

We can do everything right in our lives, but if we do them without love, then we will have much to answer for on the Day of Judgment. Just because we keep the commandments doesn't make us sinless. Just because we suffer for God or others and cannot tolerate the wicked doesn't mean we ourselves are pure of heart. We can do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. We can be tripped up by self-righteous pride. Our good words and works might be tainted by selfish interests and a lack of love. We can be faithful and hopeful, but without love our faith and hope are empty and meaningless. When we let our love of self or of worldly things overrule our love of God and neighbor, we fail to live up to our callings as Christians. It is only when we do what is right out of love that we gain any merit. Our hearts need to be in the right place so our thoughts, words, and works will be good, faithful, and fruitful.

Is love at the heart of our every action? How can we make love of God and others more central to all our decisions? How can we rid ourselves of all those selfish inclinations that interfere with what is right and good?

O Lord, we repent for our failure to love properly and pray that you will give us loving hearts.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Thursday in Ordinary Time

I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.

Although God could force us to do what is right, He doesn't. He lets us make good and bad choices out of respect for our free will. This doesn't mean He fails to give us guidance. Far from it! He has given us a conscience to warn us against evil. He has given us His Holy Spirit to empower us to live our faith with hope and love. He has poured out His saving graces upon us through His Beloved Son, Jesus. He has the full right in Christ to order us to do what is proper, but He wants us to do what is right out of love and not just obligation. We might not always understand why God asks certain things of us, but He always asks for what's best for all His children. It might involve some sacrifice on our part, but in the end what we give up will pale in comparison to the consolations we will receive in Heaven for being a good and faithful servant to God and His children.

How can we prepare ourselves to do what is right? In what ways can we learn to be more attentive to our consciences and the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Are we willing to give up our time, talents, and treasures to do God's Will?

O Lord, out of love we give ourselves to you and your Divine Will.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

We are at constant war with ourselves. The sins of pride, jealousy, wrath, lust, avarice, sloth, and gluttony do battle with us every day. They seek to tempt us into wrongdoing and lead us into destruction. When we fall into their traps, our virtue fails and we become selfish sinners performing every foul practice. Worse yet, these vices try to take our good motives and passions and twist them to their own ends. Faith, they try to turn into self-righteousness. Hope they try to turn into impudence. Love, they try to turn into obsession. They encourage us to ask for the wrong things or ask for the right things, but in the wrong way. They lead us astray by offering us falsehoods instead of truths and empty pleasures instead of fulfilling responsibilities. It is only when we listen to the Wisdom of God that we will know the peace that comes from being pure, merciful, and charitable.

What vices are at war within us? How can we protect ourselves from them? How can we align our passions with the Will and Wisdom of God and not our own?

O Lord, help us to ask for what is right and be at peace with you and your children.

Amen.

Sixteenth Monday in Ordinary Time

With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.

God requires only three things from us: to do what is right by following His commandments, to love goodness by becoming Christ-like in thought, word, and work, and to walk humbly with Him in faith. The world tries to distract us from doing these things. Our own pride can cause us to disregard these pillars of our spiritual lives. However, there is no replacement for these. No offerings can make up for our sins if we do not do what is right, love goodness, and walk humbly with our God. Our penances, mortification, alms, sacrifices, prayers, and good works will gain us nothing if they are done for the wrong reasons or in the wrong spirit. So, let us make sure our souls are properly aligned with the commandments of our Heavenly Father, the teachings of Christ, and the inspirations Holy Spirit.

Are we doing what is right and avoiding evil? How can we cultivate a deeper and more fruitful love of goodness? What actions can we take to ensure we are walking humbly with God and not away from Him?

O Lord, give us the minds to know what is right, the hearts to love goodness, and the wills to walk humbly with you, now and forever.

Amen.

Fifteenth Monday in Ordinary Time

Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan's plea, defend the widow.

Our prayers are only as effective as our purity of heart allows them to be. If we are tainted by sin, our prayers are also tainted. If we pray for selfish reasons or out of a sense of entitlement, then our prayers will not be heard. If we pray for help, but do not help others, then we shall receive exactly what we have given... nothing. In order for our prayers to reach God's ear, they need to be freed from our sins, failings, faults, fears, doubts, and worldly desires. Only when they are liberated from these things can they soar up to the heavens and reach our Heavenly Father. However, freeing ourselves from these evils isn't easy. It requires us to put away our misdeeds, to cease doing evil, to learn to do good, to make justice our aim, to redress the wronged, to answer the plea of others, and defend those who have no defenders. Doing all these things mean putting God and others before ourselves and being willing to sacrifice everything we have in order to do God's Will and aid our brothers and sisters in Christ.

How can we purify our hearts? What can we do to right our wrongs and bear good fruits? Are we willing to make the sacrifices necessary for us to become living sacraments of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace?

O Lord, wash us clean so we might know, love, and serve You and all your children.

Amen.

Tenth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"

As Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to be charitable, even with the last of what we have. Sometimes we are running late or worried about time, but someone comes along and needs us to listen to them or help them in some way. We could say, "I don't have the time," but Jesus always made time for others. Other times we don't have much money or other material goods, but someone comes along who is in need of what little we have. We could say, "I don't have enough to share," but Jesus always found a way to share what he had with those in need. We have to learn to trust that God will always give us the gifts and graces we need to do His Will. And if we trust in this truth, then our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths will never run out. We shall be able to care for ourselves and others all the days of our lives.

Are we afraid of giving of ourselves? How can we learn to let go of our time, talents, and treasures and let God use them for His Will? Do we trust that God will never let us go empty when we are doing His work?

O Lord, let us never be afraid of doing what is right and good.

Amen.

Pentecost Sunday

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

Each of us has different gifts, talents, and resources, but we are all called to use them for the same Lord. We are asked to put our thoughts, words, and works to good use and for the glory of God. None of us will perform our God-given tasks in the same way, but all of us will do them with, and through, and in the Holy Spirit. He will protect us, guide us, and inspire us in everything we do for Him and His children. We were all conceived by God for some purpose and for the benefit of others. We simply have to choose right over wrong and do God’s Will to the best of our abilities. We might not always succeed in our tasks, but we should strive to manifest the Holy Spirit every moment of our lives. If we do this, then God will give us the grace to succeed and produce good fruits for Him and all His people.

What gifts, talents, and resources has God given us? How can we put them to good and faithful use? How can we manifest the Spirit in our daily lives in every task, great and small?

O Lord, give us the grace to manifest you in all our thoughts, words, and works.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Easter

It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right.

Notice that in this letter, the Apostles give credit for their decision to the Holy Spirit. It is God, Himself, who has lead them to this revelation through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we believe God plays an important role in the life of the Church and guides it to make the right decisions in matters of faith and morals. This doesn’t mean it is perfect, far from it, but it does mean the collective wisdom of the teachings of the Church will lead us to do what is right and good. It might not always fit with popular philosophy or worldly pursuits, but is what we are called to do. The world might tell us to choose our own path, but God is whispering to us, “Choose mine and you will live forever.”

Do we let the Holy Spirit lead us in our decisions? How can we make Him a bigger part of our decision-making process? Do we keep ourselves free of those things that might lead us away from God?

O Lord, help us choose the right thing to do in our lives.

Amen.

Wednesday of Holy Week

The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; And I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

God provides us with everything we need to grow and prosper in faith, hope, and love. If we pray for them, He will give us the right words to speak to others in counsel or comfort. If we pray for it, He will open our ears so we might hear His voice and follow His commandments, teachings, and inspirations. If we pray for it, He will give us the grace and strength to resist temptation, indifference, and distraction and never turn our backs on Him. If we pray for it, He will give us the patience, mildness, and mercy to give our backs to those who beat us and forgive those who mock or persecute us. He is always there for us, standing by our side and ready to offer us all we need to succeed as His good and faithful servants.

Do we give thanks to God for all He has given us? Do we ask for His help in all our trials in this life? How can we be more open to His aid and guidance?

O Lord, grant us the gifts and graces we need to grow in faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Sometimes in life we feel like we aren’t making any progress. We feel like we are treading water or worse sinking. We wonder if we have toiled in vain, for nothing, spending our time, talents, and treasures on things that aren’t bearing fruit. However, God doesn’t judge us on the outcome of our endeavors. He judges us by the intentions and reasons behind our thoughts, words, and works. We might not experience worldly success in any of our endeavors and yet still be successful in the eyes of the Lord because we did the right thing or made God the center of our lives. We are all called to be lights to the nations and if we do God’s Will to the best of our abilities, then we shall succeed in the greatest task before us... being good and faithful servants to our Heavenly Father.

Are all our thoughts, words, and works grounded in our love of God? How can we make Him the source, center, and summit of our whole lives? What can we do to remain faithful and trusting in God even when our dreams, plans, and actions don’t come to fruition as we imagined?

O Lord, our recompense is with you and not in worldly success.

Amen.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have made you father of many nations.

If we want to become the adopted children of God, then we must be righteous. Not in the way that strokes our pride or sees ourselves as holier and better than others because we go to Church or say our prayers, but in the sense of always seeking to do what is right even when it costs us to do so. It is our choice to follow God's Will as Abraham did that leads to the hope of spending eternity with God. Our salvation is a gift, one we cannot earn, and it depends on our faith and our pursuit of holy righteousness.

Are we acting righteously in regard to our relationship with God and all His children? Are we thinking, speaking, and acting like true descendants of Jesus Christ? How can we align our lives so that we are righteous and faithful servants?

O Lord, help us to follow the faith with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

We are all called to preach the gospel through our thoughts, words, and works. Sometimes preaching the gospel comes naturally to us through acts of charity and mercy. Other times we may not want to proclaim the gospel, especially to those whom we dislike. We might not want to do the right thing for the person or persons who always hurt us... and yet, they are exactly the people we are called to preach the gospel to. It may not be easy to put aside our personal feelings, but that is why God gave us the example of Jesus showing compassion even for those who were persecuting him. If we follow his example, like Paul, then we will have a recompense... graces and consolations that will help us. If we still find it difficult, then we must remember we have been entrusted with the stewardship of the Word of God. We have an obligation to do what we don’t want to do because it is what God wants. But hopefully, we shall accept the sacrifice that comes with proclaiming the Good News... otherwise, woe to us!

Are we preaching the gospel with our whole hearts, minds, souls, and strengths? Do we do so even for those whom we find it most difficult to love? How can we become better preachers of the Good News in thought, word, and work?

O Lord, give us the grace to proclaim your gospel faithfully.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Ordinary Time

David grew very angry with that man and said to him: "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death! He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity." Then Nathan said to David: "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.'

Often, when we sin, we are blinded to what we are doing. We don’t necessarily realize how bad our sins are. It takes an outside influence, a person, an event, or something along those lines to rip away our blinders and show us how bad our lives have become. More times than not, we notice the sins and imperfections in others more readily than we do our own. We point out how unfair another person is or shake our heads at their wickedness, but fail to see our own failings, which can be just as unfair and wrong-headed. This is why it is so important for us to remember we are sinners and as such it is not our place to judge others. In addition, our failures should remind us that we ought to be looking out for the good of others, not to take advantage of them or criticize them unjustly.

What can we do to see more clearly our own sins? In what ways can we treat others more mercifully? How can we train ourselves to avoid sin and do what is right even when we are tempted to use a situation for our own selfish gain?

O Lord, free us from our blindness to our own sins.

Amen.