The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

He 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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Jesus Christ is our King. This is something we as Christians need to accept. We need to recognize him as our Lord, who has the right to ask us to do whatever is needed to fulfill his will. If he asks for our gifts and talents, then we must give them to him to the best of our abilities. If he asks for our treasures and goods, we must offer them up for his purpose. If he asks for us to suffer mockery and persecution for him, then we must stand at his side ready to receive the blows. If he asks us to die for his glory or the good of others, then we must be able to let go of our lives and give them over to him as a sacrifice. In all things, we must we willing to accept our crosses, whatever they might be... great or small, easy or hard. This is what Jesus did for us, and we should be willing and able to do the same for His Kingdom.

Do we recognize that we were created through and for God and not ourselves? Do we recognize Jesus as the Head of the Church and the master of our lives? What are we doing to seek out our spiritual fulfillment in and with Him?

O Lord, in you we were created and for the magnification of you we were made.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

God will always give us the blessings, graces, and gifts that will strengthen us so we can do good and avoid evil. He encourages us through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, the guidance of holy people, and the teachings of the Church to know, love, and serve Him and all His children. He gives us hope in His Goodness and Mercy and shows us how to be compassionate people. It is through Him and in Him and with Him that we can become manifestations of His Divine Will. In a similar way, we are called to encourage others in the faith and help them to grow into the saints they are called to be.

How are we using the strength God gives us? What are we doing with the inspiration and guidance He provides? How are we helping others to grow in goodness, grace, and hope?

O Lord, strengthen us in every good deed and word.

Amen.

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 

God has made us worthy of our callings in this life. He has given us the graces we need. He has provided us with gifts and talents and treasures sufficient to accomplish the works He wants us to do. He has blessed us in ways seen and unseen all so we might fulfill His Will on earth. If we fail to do good or avoid evil, it is not because He did not help us enough. It is because we ignored our calling, settled for something less, or choose a sinful life over a holy one. It is our fault and ours alone when we fall short because we are weighed down by doubts, fears, apathy, or selfishness. However, if we are willing to shrug off these things and place our trust in God, then there is no limit to how far we can go. We will be able to make the leaps of faith we need in order to achieve God’s Will and the world, including ourselves, will be better off for it.

Do we bring to fulfillment every good purpose and effort of faith? Do our thoughts, words, and works glorify God? What can we do to live up to the calling God has given us?

O Lord, make us worthy of your calling.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.

We are all wonderfully made. God created each of us to fulfill His Divine Plan. He created us with gifts and talents and insights that make us uniquely capable of saving souls and proclaiming the Good News. He knows what we were made for and so He knows what we are capable of and gives us the graces we need to succeed in our role in salvation. He knows our minds, hearts, and spirits and is familiar with our strengths and weaknesses. He knows everything we have been, are, and will be and scrutinizes our existence in light of what we are called to be. Let us hope that when all is said and done, He will find that we were good and faithful servants who fulfilled our vocations and wonderfully so.

Do we realize how wonderfully made we truly are? How do we live up to the gifts God has given us? In what ways are we fulfilling our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength?

O Lord, we praise you for making us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Show forth, O God, your power, the power, O God, with which you took our part; For your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts.

We all have gifts we should bring to God. Some of us have gifts of the body. Others gifts of the mind. Many of us have gifts of the spirit. No matter what these gifts are, we, like the Three Wise Kings, are called to bear them to God. We are to offer the gold of our good works to Him. We are asked to pay homage to Him through the frankincense of our prayers. We are meant to give him the myrrh of our acts of mercy. The wondrous thing about giving all our goods and gifts to God is He always returns them to us... magnified and glorified. He makes our poor offerings rich. So, we should be not afraid to offer up our little things to Him because He sees not that they are small, but that they are given to Him with great love.

What gifts and goods do we have that we can offer to God? How can we bring God into our daily actions both great and small? What can we do to prepare our gifts so they are given in the most humble and loving way?

O Lord, we bring you our gifts.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.

God has asked all of us to be leaders in His Church. He wants us to follow in His Beloved Son’s footsteps. He wants us to be fishers of men and shepherds of His flock. We can’t do that if we don’t take up our crosses and lead by example. Each of us has a unique leadership role to play in the Divine Plan. We have gifts and talents that only we can give. No one else can do what we do for God and His children. We might not realize how unique we are in the plan of salvation, but we are special and we do everyone a disservice if we do not live up to our potential. So, let us accept the seat of leadership God has prepared for us and give it our all.

In what areas in our lives are we being called to leadership? What gifts and talents can we use to further the glory of God and the good of others? How can we become better stewards of the goods and responsibilities God has given us?

O Lord, we praise your name for giving us a seat at your table.

Amen.

Sixth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

God has done many good things for us. He gave us existence and life. He has provided us with every good thing and blessing we experience. He has given us graces, gifts, and talents to use for His Glory and the good of others. All He asks in return is our love and the sacrifice of praise. If we do these things, then He gives us even more… the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Do we praise God for the goods He has done us? Are we using the graces, gifts, and talents we’ve received from God for His Glory and the good of others? How are we making ourselves into living sacrifices of praise?

O Lord, let us return what we can to you through sacrifice, love, and praise.

Amen.

Fifth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.

The Lord sends out His Holy Spirit to each and every one of us and through the Holy Spirit He offers us virtues, gifts, and graces. He pours out His Love and Mercy upon us and offers to make us holy, too. He wants our souls to be blessed and our lives to be good. He wants us to be great like He is great. He wants to clothe us in His Light and robe us in His Truth so we might walk His Way in confidence. He gives us more gifts than we can count. More than we could ever repay. And yet, all He asks of us is to be good and faithful servants and love Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and our neighbors as He loves them. Truly, He is majestic, glorious, and good.

Are our hearts open and welcoming to the Holy Spirit? Do we put the graces and blessings we receive through the Spirit to good use? How can we magnify the greatness and the glory of God for all whom we meet?

O Lord, send your Holy Spirit to renew our hearts.

Amen.

Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

 You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek. The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies.”

Every good, grace, talent, and power we have has been given to us by God as a free gift. He provides everything we need to grow in faith, hope, and love because He wants us to spend the rest of eternity with Him. He wants us to rule over our minds, bodies, and spirits with prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. He wants us to overcome the enemies of evil, temptation, and indifference. He wants us to follow in His Beloved Son’s footsteps and become priests, prophets, and servant kings.

Have we thanked God for all the goods, graces, talents, and powers He has given us? How can we rule over ourselves more perfectly? In what ways can we be more like Christ?

O Lord, thank you for the powers you have given us.

Amen.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy; to another, discernment of spirits; to another, varieties of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

We all manifest the Spirit in different ways. This is because we all have a unique role to play in God’s Divine Plan. He has given us gifts and talents that make us perfect instruments of His Divine Grace. However, we must accept these gifts and use them to the best of our abilities. The world will try to distract us from using our God-given gifts. The Devil will try to twist our talents for his own ends. It is up to us to use our consciences to guide our thoughts, words, and works so they lead to God’s greater glory and the good of all His children.

What gifts and talents do we have from God? How can we use them to proclaim the Good News and help others? How can we encourage others to do the same?

O Lord, help us to manifest your Spirit through our every word and work.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Advent

Let the Lord enter; he is the king of glory. The LORD's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

All of creation is God’s and we would do well to remember that. Nothing we have is our own. Everything is a gift from God. Our lives, our food, our drink, our clothing, our homes, our goods... all of them come from our Heavenly Father, who knows what is best for His children. All the good fruits we produce in thought, word, or work find their source, center, and summit in God. He established everything in the universe for our own good and the good of all His children and this is why we should let Him enter into our hearts and minds. He is the Lord of our lives and the King of our spirits. He is the life-giving water that sustains us in the dryness of the world. He is the warming light that nourishes our souls. In Him, we find both Creator and Savior and a King of Kings.

Do we remember that nothing good comes from us alone, but from our participation in God’s Will? Do we give thanks to God for all He has done for us? Are we willing to let Him into our lives when the rest of the world tells us to shut Him out and be “self-sufficient”?

O Lord, enter into our hearts and be glorified.

Amen.

Thanksgiving

I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have a lot to be thankful for each and every day of our lives. We ought to be thankful for God’s gift of life for us and our loved ones. We ought to be thankful for the faith and hope He has sustained in us. We ought to be thankful for the love He has shown us. We ought to be thankful for the knowledge He has passed onto us and the ways He has enriched us through the Scriptures and the traditions of the Church. We ought to be thankful for the graces and spiritual gifts He has given us. Most of all, we should be thankful for His Divine Mercy and the compassion He has shown us by sacrificing His Beloved Son for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of our souls.

What else should we be thankful for? How can we show our thanks to God and to others? What can we do to live in a constant spirit of thankfulness?

O Lord, we give thanks to you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for us.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the Church to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

We are each given unique graces, gifts, and talents by God. We are given these things in order to fulfill His Will, give Him glory, and help those in need. Some of us are called to speak prophetically, announcing the Good News to others and proclaiming the Word. Others are asked by God to undertake mighty deeds to reveal His power to the world and help others. We are also called to healing, assistance, administration, communication, and various other vocations. Not everyone has the same gifts, but we all have the same purpose... to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. So, let us take what gifts we’ve been given and do with them as God wills so we might build up the Body of Christ.

What graces, gifts, and talents has God given us? How can we put them to good use? What can we do to build up the Body of Christ through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, give us the wisdom and will to use the gifts you’ve given us to strengthen the Church and all of God’s children.

Amen.

Seventeenth Thursday in Ordinary Time

I went down to the potter's house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done' says the LORD.

We are like clay and God is the potter. He gave us life, shape, and purpose. He has raised us up by His Own Hand and given us a role in His Divine Plan. It is not His fault if we are weak, if we lose our shape, if we waste the gifts and talents He has given us. And if we turn out badly, we should not be surprised when He takes hold of our lives, collapses them, and reforms them. He does this not to destroy or punish us, but to give us another chance to fulfill His Will. He opens new possibilities by closing old and abandoned ones. Yes, it is hard to have our lives shattered by trials and sufferings, but they are given to us for a reason. To help us to become better people. So, when we do suffer, let us not complain, but accept what has happened and reshape our lives in the mold of Jesus Christ who bore his cross so we might be cleansed of our imperfections and remade in the image and likeness of God.

Are we willing to let God reshape our lives? What areas of our lives have become misshapen by sin? How can we learn to keep our eyes open to new possibilities even in the midst of trials?

O Lord, mold us in your image.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Easter

"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

We each have a role to play in God’s Divine Plan. Some of us are called to proclaim the Good News through our thoughts. Others through our words. And still more through our actions. Each of these ways is important and can lead others to God. Our thoughts can inspire others to live good and holy lives or do something good for others. Our words can give voice to the truth and set people freed. Our actions can bring charity and mercy into the lives of those around us. And each of us is given the gifts and talents we need to succeed in our callings. All we have to do is trust that God will provide and devote ourselves to what He wants of us.

Are we neglecting God in any way? What can we do to make more room for Him in our lives? How can we devote ourselves to what He wants of us?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to devote ourselves to you completely.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

All that we had in the past, have now, and will have in the future is a gift from God. Our lives are a gift. Our families, friends, neighbors, and even the strangers we meet are a gift. Our time, talents, and treasures are a gift. Our consciences, virtues, and faith are a gift. There is nothing we think, say, or do that is good that hasn’t been given to us as a gift. God even has given Himself to us as a gift through Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh. He gave us His Body and Blood as a gift and the source of our Eucharistic feast. He offers us eternal life with Him as the ultimate gift. But as with all gifts, they have to be accepted. And that is where we come in... we have to say, “Yes” to all the gifts God is offering us. If we do this, then we will become gifts to the world, pouring out God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace wherever we go.

Do we thank God for the gifts He has given us? How can we put those gifts to good use? How can we become living gifts to God and all His children?

O Lord, we accept your gifts with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Ordinary Time

Take ten pieces for yourself; the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon's grasp and will give you ten of the tribes. One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant, and of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

God always keeps his promises. Even when those whom he has made the promises turn away from Him. He knows we are not perfect, but He gives us every chance to live the lives He wants for us. He gives us the gifts, talents, and graces to do His Will in all things and at all times. If we fail to do as He asks, then He eventually will give our task to someone else, but He always leaves a part of His promise there for us to take and do good things with. Hopefully, we will not have to lose most everything like Solomon before we return to God, but if we do, then we should remember God remains with us even in the midst of our greatest failures. For our sake, He leaves us a chance to do better, to make amends for our sins, and keep at least a part of what He had planned for us.

What is God calling us to do? What is holding us back or distracting us from that vocation? How can we avoid the temptations that lead us astray and instead choose to follow God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths?

O Lord, remain with us and lead us out of our sins to a better life.

Amen.

Third Friday of Advent

After the boy's father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: "Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the LORD.  I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD."

When God gives us something, be it a talent, a grace, or any other gift, our first reaction should be to give something to God in return. We can offer up the talents He has given us as a living prayer to Him. We can thank Him for all the graces He has given us from the first moment of our conception to our last breath on earth and the promise of eternal life afterwards. We can make our lives into living sacrifices to the Lord, transforming ourselves into faithful offerings to our God, Most High. We can dedicate ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to do with us what he needs to have done.

What are we giving to God in recognition for all He has done for us? How can we be more faithful in presenting ourselves, our thoughts, words, and works to God? How can we become more dedicated to our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, we turn our lives over to you as dedicated sacrifices.

Amen.

Thirty-First Tuesday of Ordinary Time

We, though many, are one Body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

We all have roles to play in life. We each have gifts and talents that we’ve been given by God in order to accomplish His Divine Will on earth. We reflect different aspects of the Body of Christ through our thoughts, words, and works. We make manifest God through our actions, great and small. Whether it is proclaiming the Good News, ministering to the needs of others, teaching, or acting with charity and mercy towards others… we all are called to be God-bearers and do our best to make Him known, loved, and served.

Are we acting in accordance with our belief that we are all part of the one body in Christ? Are we putting our gifts and talents to good and holy use? What can we do to manifest God into every situation, great or small?

O Lord, make us into good and fruitful members of your one, Body.

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.