Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land's afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

The Holy Spirit has many gifts to offer us and He does so with generosity and compassion. He desires for us to be wise, understanding, full of good counsel, strong in faith, knowledgeable, and fearful of letting the Lord down. He offers us eyes to see the Way, ears to hear the Truth, and hearts to live the Life of Christ. He gives us the guidance of our consciences to help us lead just lives and choose right over wrong. He wants us to be sealed to Him through righteousness and faithfulness and never leave His side. He wants only the best for us, but He will not force His Will on us. Instead, He lets us make our own choices to accept or deny His gifts of our own free will.

How can we strengthen the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us? How can we conform our lives to justice toward all and fidelity to God? Are we willing to bind ourselves to God, giving up earthly goods, in order to become good and faithful servants?

O Lord, send down your Holy Spirit and His gifts.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Saturday in Ordinary Time

I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. Because my enemies are turned back, overthrown and destroyed before you. You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; their name you blotted out forever and ever.

There is nothing in this world that we should fear more than God. There is nothing on this earth we should be in awe of more than God. There is nothing in existence that can compare to God, Who is the Alpha and the Omega. Our enemies are as nothing. They shall be turned back, overthrown, and destroyed. Our difficulties are dust. They will blow away in the wind. No nation is above God. No person immune to judgment. We will all face Him some day and have to answer for what we have done and failed to do. We can only hope God will find us in awe of Him and respectful of His commandments, teachings, and inspirations. We can only pray He will find us acceptable and grant us the great grace of salvation.

Do we have a healthy fear and awe of God? Do we pray to God to deliver us from all evil, especially those evils most tempting to us? What in our lives is God asking us to rebuke so we might become holier people?

O Lord, there is nothing in this world that can compare to you and your salvation.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Lord, you have the words of everlasting life. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the LORD are true, all of them just.

God gave us the ten commandments and the Golden Rule to help us grow in holiness and prepare us for everlasting life. He did not give them to us to burden us nor did He force them on us. It is up to us to accept them and live them out to the best of our abilities. Fear of breaking these commandments or losing our way is good for us. It keeps us away from evils and temptations and leads us toward the light. All of these commandments are true and just and will help us to become better people. They are rules we should be happy are engraved in our hearts and ones we should carry with shouts of joy and thanksgiving because if we follow them faithfully, then we will find our way to the Heavenly Banquet.

Do we actively listen to and act according to the Word of God? Do we have a proper fear of disappointing God by breaking one of His commandments? How can we lead lives that are holy, true, and just?

O Lord, help us to live your words and attain everlasting life with you.

Amen.

Eleventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just.

Fear is often seen as something bad in the world around us. However, there are times when fear is helpful and good. One such example is fearing the Lord. This is not the scary fear we often think of, but rather a fear based in awe and reverence. It is the fear a child feels when they worry about disappointing their parents. It is the fear that comes out of a concern for someone or something else in our lives. This good type of fear isn’t paralyzing, but rather freeing. It enriches us and helps us to endure all things for God. It is a fear that sparks the fire of devotion within us that shines through the darkness and helps guide us to become gracious, merciful, and just.

Do we fear the Lord? How can we show our love and respect for Him? What can we do to become lights of God’s Love to the world?

O Lord, we fear disappointing you. Grant us the grace to never do so.

Amen.

Second Tuesday of Easter

The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.

God is our King and as such deserves our respect. We should fear disappointing Him, not because He will punish us for our faults, but because He is a Good Father and we don’t want to disappoint Him. He is robed in majesty and so we bow before His Will and sing His glory and praises. He is robed in splendor and so we allow Him to lead us. He is girted with strength and so we seek His help through the teachings of Jesus and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. As His children and heirs, all His Kingdom is promised to us if we will accept it and all the rights and responsibilities that come with living out our baptismal promises.

Do we show respect to God in our thoughts, words, and works? How can we live our lives as worthy heirs to our Father? What can we do to build up the Heavenly Kingdom on earth?

O Lord, you are robed in majesty, splendor, and strength.

Amen.

Friday in the Octave of Easter

The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”

It is probably difficult for us as Christians to understand how the people of Jesus’ time could reject, scourge, and crucify such a loving and good person. However, when we think about our own lives it becomes much clearer just how people can turn their backs on Jesus. We reject him every time we choose selfishness over selflessness. We reject him every time we take the easy road of sin instead of the hard path of holiness. We reject him when we judge others rather than love and forgive them. We reject him when we feel superior to others instead of being humble and merciful. Those who rejected and crucified Jesus weren’t very different from us and some of them even became Christians after he rose from the dead. Thankfully, just because we turn our backs on Jesus from time to time doesn’t doom us to destruction. It simply means that like Paul we have to cast aside our old sinful ways and embrace God’s Divine Mercy, which endures forever.

In what ways have we rejected God in our lives? What part of ourselves is built upon the unstable sands of the world and which are built on God? How is God’s Mercy at work in our lives?

O Lord, we fear disappointing you, but if we do, then please be merciful to us.

Amen.

Seventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him, for he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust.

God is compassionate to those who fear and respect Him. His kindness endures forever for those who love Him and His children. He treats us as a Father treats His offspring. He gives us every chance to know, love, and serve Him as He knows, loves, and serves us. He knows us better than we know ourselves and does everything in His Divine Power to lead us to good and holy lives. He will give us every opportunity to redeem ourselves and prove we are good and faithful people. And if we fall into sin, He is the first one to welcome us back into His Divine Grace.

Do we trust in God’s Mercy enough to not despair when we sin? Do we respect God enough to seek His Forgiveness when we choose what is wrong over what is right? Are we compassionate to others like our Heavenly Father is to us?

O Lord, your kindness is everlasting.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop

See how the Lord blesses those who fear him. Blessed are you who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored.

In life, we must choose whom we are going to disappoint. We cannot find favor with everyone. We cannot please one and all. We either love God and do everything in our power to glory, honor, and praise Him or we love the world and go our own way. The roads to salvation and destruction may occasionally cross from time to time, but they ultimately diverge. And we must make a decision as to which path to follow. The wide and easy way to sin and death or the narrow and difficult trail to holiness and resurrection. We cannot walk the line between good and evil. We either seek to be good or we are evil. Yes, we might falter and fail, we are sinners after all. But if we have chosen God over the world, then we will ask for forgiveness with contrite hearts, do penance, and continue to strive toward holiness.

Do we fear disappointing God? Are we willing to walk His ways even if it means suffering and sacrifice? How can we grow in God’s blessings, good fruits, and favor?

O Lord, guide us along your ways.

Amen.

Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time

Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord. How great is the goodness, O LORD, which you have in store for those who fear you, And which, toward those who take refuge in you, you show in the sight of the children of men.

No matter what might be happening in our lives, no matter the trials, the sufferings, the failures... we should take comfort in the Lord. He is our beacon of Hope in the darkness of the world. He is full of goodness and compassion and will never abandon us to evil. We might go through great challenges and difficulties, but He will always give us the graces we need to overcome the challenges of our lives. He holds a special place in His Divine Heart for those of us who respect and love Him enough to fear disappointing Him above all.

Are we hopeful? Do we trust in God’s Goodness and Divine Grace? How can we nurture a healthy fear of failing the Lord?

O Lord, we hope and take refuge in you.

Amen.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways. Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork; blessed shall you be, and favored.

Fear of the Lord is something many misunderstand. There are many types of fear. Fear for our lives, our health, our finances. Fear for ourselves, for others, for loved ones. Fear of the Lord is a fear of disappointing Him. It is a fear of not living up to the standards Jesus has set for us through his life and works. It is a fear of losing our way and falling into temptation and sin. Thankfully, God has given us everything we need to be successful as Christians and walk in His ways. He blesses and favors us in our thoughts, words, and works so we can be fruitful in our services to Him and His children.

Do we have a healthy fear of the Lord? How can we be more faithful to Him and walk in His ways? What can we do with all the graces, blessings, and favors God has given us?

O Lord, we fear disappointing you and ask for your help so we might walk in your ways always and forevermore.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are your ways, O king of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, or glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.

The end goal of our lives is to be judged as good and faithful servants to God and His children. Everything else in our lives needs to come secondary to our service of the Lord. It can be difficult to make God the center of our lives, especially when the world tempts us to turn our backs on Him. Fame, fortune, pleasure, and all sorts of earthly things try to worm their way into our hearts and lead us into sin. However, if we have a proper fear of the Lord, namely not wishing to disappoint Him, then we will be able to glorify God’s Name in all that we do. If our lives are just and true, then one day we will stand before God and He will welcome us into His Kingdom as His holy children.

Do we have a healthy fear of disappointing God? How can we keep our lives focused on being good and faithful servants? In what ways can we worship God and love our neighbors more perfectly?

O Lord, we fear failing you and pray for the grace to succeed in all that you ask us to do.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

When we are faithful to our calling, we are at peace... even if we are suffering, persecuted, mocked, and facing difficulties. This is because when we are doing God’s Will, we know everything will turn out right in the end. We might have to overcome obstacles and struggle through trials, but God’s Grace sees us through to the other side. When we are building up the Church through our thoughts, words, and works, we are filled with the knowledge that we will be consoled... if not in this life, then in the next. Last but not least, when we walk in the fear of the Lord, we understand our every action should be done for God’s greater glory and to reflect His Goodness. If we have such an attitude, then we will strive to be holy because we do not want to disappoint our Heavenly Father.

Are we at peace with ourselves and our relationship with God? How can we build up the Church? Are we properly fearful of disappointing God?

O Lord, grow our faith.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened attentively; And a record book was written before him of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name. And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, on the day I take action. And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.

Fear of the Lord is not about being afraid of God’s wrath, but rather is about not wanting to disappoint God because we love Him and He loves us. If we fear the Lord properly, then we do good and avoid evil not for the rewards or because of the threat of punishment, but rather out of respect for God’s Will and love for our Creator. Additionally, if our fear is founded on love, then we don’t become jealous of those worldly people who do well or despair when we undergo some suffering. Instead, we trust in God’s Mercy and Justice. We understand failure and suffering in this life can be redemptive and lead to eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Is our fear of the Lord founded on love and respect rather than dread of punishment? Are we willing to suffer in this life so that we might prosper in the next? Do we trust in God’s Mercy and Justice?

O Lord, we love you, make us yours.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD which I enjoin on you today for your own good?

Here we have a good road map of what it means to follow God’s Will. It means to fear disappointing Him. It means respecting God and following in His ways. It means to love and serve Him and His children with all our hearts and souls... with all our minds and strengths. It means to keep His commandments, to follow His teachings, and listen to and enact His inspirations. He asks us to do all these things for our own good because He loves us and wants only the best for us. Everything He does is for our good and the good of others and we would do well to remember that when we are undergoing trials and tribulations and are tempted to doubt His Love for us. He does not wish any ill upon us, but neither will He take away our free will to do good or evil. And if we suffer evil, we should rest assured that He will come to our aid.

Are we respectful of God and fearful of disappointing Him? How can we do a better job of knowing, loving, and serving Him with all our hearts and souls? In what ways can we learn to keep God’s commandments more faithfully?

O Lord, help us to follow your ways, now and forever.

Amen.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

There is nothing in heaven or on earth that we should fear more than God. As such, the proclamation of the Good News and of God’s Love for the world is more important than anything else. We should speak the truth everywhere we go. We should not be afraid to be confronted by others for our beliefs. We should only be afraid of being led astray by the Evil One and brought to destruction in Hell.

Are we truly afraid of disappointing God? How can we do a better job of proclaiming God’s Good News? What can we do to protect ourselves from the temptations and destructive sins which are born from the Evil One?

O Lord, let us fear nothing more than disappointing you.

Amen.

Seventh Tuesday of Ordinary Time

My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity. Wait on God, with patience, cling to him, forsake him not; thus will you be wise in all your ways. Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold and silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein.

As Christians, we must be prepared for trials. Doing God's Will requires many sacrifices on our part. We must be willing to sacrifice our selfish desires, our goods, our possessions, and even our lives to follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We need to cultivate sincerity, steadfastness, and understanding during our times of adversity. We must learn patience, acceptance, and trust of God even in the midst of trial and humiliation. Most of all, we should fear disappointing God through our actions or inactions because it is this fear that helps drive us to do good and avoid evil.

Are we prepared for the trials and adversities that await us as Christians? What sacrifices are we willing to make? How can our fear of the Lord help us to make better decisions in how we live our lives?

O Lord, help us to serve you in justice and always be afraid of disappointing you.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.

All these things are true of Jesus, but they are also meant to be true of us, too. We are meant to be a blossoming sprout of goodness in the world. The Spirit of the Lord should rest on us, too. We should be wise, understanding, and full of good counsel and spiritual strength. We should cultivate our knowledge and fear of the Lord so that we can better live the Good News and be faithful servants to God and His children. We should not judge others by their appearance or hearsay, but rather be just in all things, especially to the poor and afflicted.

Do our lives reflect the life of Christ? How can we grow in goodness, wisdom, compassion, and justice? What can we do for the poor and afflicted?

O Lord, help us to blossom in goodness and justice.

Amen.