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.

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.

Twenty-Second Tuesday in Ordinary Time

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand the things freely given us by God. And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.

If we are worldly in our thoughts, words, and works, we will never understand our faith. We will be deaf to the Word of God, blind to the sacraments, and unable to feel the Holy Spirit within us. However, if we open our minds and hearts to the Holy Spirit, then a whole new world will unfold before us. We shall be able to see the world around us in spiritual terms. We will be able to see how to increase our faith, hope, and love. We shall come to understand how to lead holy and humble lives. We shall be better able to walk the Way, hear the Truth, and live the Life of Christ. Moreover, we shall be able to help others to do the same by providing them an example of what it means to be good and faithful Christians.

Are there worldly things that are keeping us from seeing the world as Jesus does? How can we make the Holy Spirit more welcome in our hearts? What can we do to be more open to God's inspirations?

O Lord, grant us your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds.

The Holy Spirit can move mountains through us if we let Him. He can do marvelous and wondrous deeds if we let Him. He can convert sinners and save souls through us if we lend him our thoughts, words, and works. If our souls magnify God, then we shall be like prophets, bearing the Good News to others and proving God's Goodness through our actions. With faith, all things are possible. We might not know exactly what to do, but we know that God is with us and will provide us with exactly what we need to do His Will.

Do we call upon and pray to the Holy Spirit each and every day? Do we allow Him to think, speak, and work through us? How can we make ourselves into living vessels of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, pour into us your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Eleventh Wednesday in Ordinary Time

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." "You have asked something that is not easy," Elijah replied. "Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not."

Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit and in a way, we are also called to ask for a double portion of the spirit of Jesus Christ. We should always be striving to be God's instrument of goodness, love, mercy, and grace to all the world. We should hunger and thirst for righteousness. We should be willing to make our lives into living sacrifices. All of this is what Jesus did in his life and his model should be one we strive to imitate. Our souls should magnify our Lord and Savior and rejoice in his work... done through us. Of course, we can never truly receive a double portion or ever surpass the holiness of Jesus Christ, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't seek to be the best version of ourselves.

In what ways are we striving to be better Christians? How can we make ourselves more and more into Christ? Are we willing to imitate Jesus even in those things we find most difficult?

O Lord, grant us a double portion of your Love, Mercy, and Grace.

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.

Fourth Monday of Easter

"As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'  If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?" When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, "God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too."

We are all baptized with the Holy Spirit and through that baptism, we are given my gifts. We are given the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. We are given the virtues of faith, hope, love, prudence, temperance, justice, and courage. We are given the love, mercy, and grace of God to see us through every moment of our lives. When we realize the treasures God has given us, we should have only one response... asking God what we are being called to do and then doing it to the best of our abilities. Even if we don’t understand why God is leading us in one direction or another, we have to trust in Him and let him lead us to where we need to be as Christians. We have to stop objecting, glorify God, and accept His Divine Will.

Do we give thanks for God for all the gifts He has given us through baptism? How can we lead Spirit-filled lives, embodying the Good News in all we think, say, and do? How can we be an aid to God’s Divine Plan and not a hindrance to it?

O Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit.

Amen.

First Saturday of Advent

No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it," when you would turn to the right or to the left. He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, And the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant.

God guides us in many ways. He gives the His Holy Spirit to inspire us to holiness. He gives us our consciences to remind us of right and wrong. He gives us models in the faith through, Jesus, Mary, and the saints. He shows us the way to live as good and faithful servants. He gives us guidance through the Scriptures and the traditions and teachings of the Church. He gives us the sacraments to sustain us. He pours out His Love, Mercy, and Grace so our souls might flourish in the faith and we might produce good fruits through our thoughts, words, and works.

Are we accepting of God’s guidance and help? What way does God want us to walk? How can we be more open to the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, show us the way we are called to walk in this life.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

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.

Tenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory. Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.

Paul makes a clear distinction between the ministry of death, which came from the Ten Commandments, and the ministry of the Spirit. The Ten Commandments are mainly restrictions on our actions and focus on punishment for crimes against God, while the Golden Rule given by Jesus and enkindled in us through the Holy Spirit is life-giving. Paul isn’t saying the Ten Commandments should be ignored, but rather that their glory is surpassed by the Holy Spirit’s gifts. The Ten Commandments are good to follow, while the inspirations of the Holy Spirit are even more so.

Do we follow the glorious Ten Commandment’s? Do we follow the even more glorious inspirations of the Holy Spirit by knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities? Are we putting the gifts of the Holy Spirit to good use?

O Lord, let your glorious Holy Spirit inspire and guide us to become better servants to you.

Amen.

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me.

With the aid of the Holy Spirit, our faith can move mountains, our hope can overcome all tears and trials, and our love can bear witness to God’s Love and Mercy. If we tried to act like Christians without the support of the Holy Spirit, we would soon be crushed beneath the weight of our fears, doubts, sins, and all the worldly trials that face us. We are too weak to carry our crosses by ourselves, but thankfully, our Heavenly Father gave us the Holy Spirit through the sacrifice of His Beloved Son. All we have to do is keep our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of God. If we are receptive to these gifts and the graces that come with them, then we will become good and faithful servants to our God and be willing and able to accept the sacrifices He asks of us. And when we go through our own passions and deaths, we shall know in our heart of hearts that we were not alone, but flanked by the Holy Trinity.

Have we served God humbly through good times and bad? Have we bore witness to God’s Goodness, Love, and Mercy with every ounce of life we have? How can we open our hearts to the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we thank you for your gifts and desire only to follow you to where we need to be to put them to their best use.

Amen.