The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice! Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name!

There are many things for us to rejoice in during this season and throughout our lives. First, we should rejoice in having a God who is a Father to us. A Lord who Shepherds us. A Holy Spirit to guide us. We should be joyful for our lives, families, friends, neighbors, and even the strangers we meet each day. We should be jubilant at the thought of the graces, gifts, talents, and blessings God has given, is giving, and will give to us. And in return, we should honor Him, glorify Him, and praise Him for being so overwhelmingly loving of us, who are at times so terrible at loving Him.

Do we rejoice at everything God has given us? Do we give God the glory and praise He deserves? What can we do to honor God as He should be?

O Lord, let us always give you the glory due to your name.

Amen.

First Sunday of Advent

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. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has bestowed on us many graces throughout our lives. We might not notice them. We may take them for granted. Or we may even turn our backs on them, but they are always within our reach. All we have to do is accept them, use them wisely and well, and give God thanks for all His help. If we welcome God’s Grace into our hearts, then He will enrich us in every way with virtues, holiness, works of charity and mercy, and spiritual rewards. He will make us into saints fashioned in the likeness of Jesus, our Lord and King.

What graces has God given us? Do we give Him glory, praise, and thanksgiving for all He has done for us? How can we more perfectly put to use the physical, mental, and spiritual graces God has provided us?

O Lord, keep us firm in our faith to the end.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Friday in Ordinary Time

Give glory and eternal praise to him! “Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.”

All of creation was made by God and finds its source, center, and summit in Him. He is the only thing that can fulfill us and transform us into what we are called to be. He made us in His Divine Image and offered us every spiritual blessing so we might be holy as He is Good. What a wonderful God we have in Him for He has shown us what it means to be charitable, merciful, and good. He made us to be manifestations of Himself and we find true peace only when we exult Him through our thoughts, words, and works.

In what ways do we give glory to God? How can we exult Him in everything we do? What can we do to live up to the Divine Image within us?

O Lord, we give you glory and eternal praise.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.”

Every moment of our lives should be spent praising God and exulting Him above all else in this world. There is nothing in the waters, on the earth, or in the heavens that could ever compare to God. There is nothing we can think that would be more fruitful than to think of God and how to imitate Him. There is nothing we can say that would be more edifying and effective than to speak the Word of God and proclaim the gospels. There is nothing we can do that will bear better fruit than to do God’s Will in all things. Everything has its good beginning in God and will only find its best end in and through Him. There is no other path to salvation than the ones laid before us by God, who prepares the way for each of us according to our own personalities, talents, and needs.

Do we spend as much time praising and exalting God as we should? How can we find even more time? What can we do to bring His thoughts, words, and works into the world for His glory and the good of others?

O Lord, we praise and exult you above all forever.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt him above all forever.”

These words were sung by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the midst of a burning furnace. Imagine that for a moment... being surrounded by flames and yet finding the inner calm to sing in praise and glory of God. Trusting God will deliver you from evil no matter the trial you might be facing. What a marvelous faith these men showed. A faith all of us are called to imitate in our own lives, especially when our foes put us to the test or our circumstances seem hopeless. To bless God, even in the middle of our suffering is something that is not easy to do, but it is the best thing for us. It shows God we believe in Him and accept His Will in our lives even if His Divine Plan requires us to face difficult trials and make great sacrifices. So, let us join our voices with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and sing, “Blessed the Lord, all you works of the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all forever.”

Are we at peace with the difficulties we face in our lives? Do we trust our sufferings will lead to a greater good? Do we praise and glorify God even in the midst of our trials and tribulations?

O Lord, we bless and exalt you above all forever.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time

Glory and praise forever! “Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.”

The temple of God’s Glory resides within each of our hearts. How we tend our bodies, minds, and spirits reflects how we treat God. If we ignore our physical, mental, and spiritual growth, then we weaken our living temples. The only way for the walls of our faith to stand up to earthly trials is if we build them on the solid ground of hope and construct them with the best resources of love, mercy, and goodness. Our temples are only as strong as our reliance on God, who supports us in our times of need and weakness. He makes us strong and for that we should be very thankful.

Are we tending to the good and holy needs of our bodies, minds, and spirits? How can we found ourselves more firmly upon the strength of our Heavenly Father? What can we do to help shore up the faiths of others and help them grow as Christians?

O Lord, blessed are you and the temple you have built within our hearts.

Amen.

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”

God wants all His children to be upright and good. He wants us to offer him praise and thanksgiving for all our gifts and graces. He wants us to recognize Him as our Heavenly Father. He wants us to know, love, and serve Him to the best of our abilities. He wants us to call upon Him in our times of trouble and distress. He wants to rescue us from the slavery of sin and spare us a destructive death. He wants us to give Him glory and place our trust in Him. All for our benefit, not His. He does not need anything from us, but He does want what is best for the members of His Spiritual Body.

Do we offer God our praise as a sacrifice? Do we fulfill our vows to Him? Do we call on Him in our times of distress?

O Lord, we offer our praise to you as a sacrifice.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Friday in Ordinary Time

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God and so should we. Our voices should lift up with the angels and saints and declare our thanks to God for all He has done. We should also proclaim and appreciate His handiwork, both great and small. He has truly done many things for us from the moment of our conception to this moment in time. And He will continue to do so through the rest of our lives and forever. What a wonderful Father we have, who loves and cares for us beyond anything we could hope for. What an amazing Brother we have in Jesus Christ, who showed us how to live holy lives. What a great Holy Spirit we have, an Advocate for us in our darkest hours and a light to lead us where we are called to be. Yes, indeed, let us proclaim the glory of God, for He is Good and Merciful, even to us poor sinners.

In what ways do we proclaim the glory of God? How do we join our voices with those of the angels and saints? What can we do to celebrate having such a wonderful Holy Trinity watching out for us in all things?

O Lord, we declare the glory of God and proclaim His handiwork.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might.

In order to spread the Good News, we have to be willing to live and proclaim it. We cannot sit idly by and let salvation happen to us. Salvation comes to those who are willing to ask, seek, and knock for it. It comes to those who are willing to suffer and die for it. It comes to those who are willing to pray, give alms, and sacrifice for it. It comes to those who love God and show compassion to His children. Salvation comes to those who are active in their pursuit of God’s Will and willing to do whatever it takes to make His Will be done.

Do we talk to others about what God has done for us? How can we spread the Good News in our lives and the lives of those around us? How can we be compassionate toward others as God is compassionate toward us?

O Lord, we give you thanks by speaking of your glory and might to all who will listen.

Amen.

Twenty-First Saturday in Ordinary Time

The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to rule the earth; He will rule the world with justice and the peoples with equity.

We should welcome God’s rule over us. We should be thankful He wants to conquer our hearts and make them part of His Heavenly Kingdom. We should exult that He has come to humble us. We should be happy we are made into His servants. We should praise Him for His light yoke and easy burden. We should glorify Him for His Justice and Mercy. We should be glad He treats us with equity. We should leap for joy in the knowledge He loves us and wants us to be with Him forever.

Are we willing to let God rule us? How can we humble ourselves before Him? What is our Heavenly King asking us to do today, tomorrow, and forever?

O Lord, rule over us.

Amen.

Twenty-First Monday in Ordinary Time

The Lord takes delight in his people. Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches; Let the high praises of God be in their throats. This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia!

Our glory is determined not by our worldly fame or fortune, it is determined by how well we fulfill God’s Divine Plan for our lives. God delights in us when we manifest Him and do everything in our power to know, love, and serve Him and His children. He wants us to exult Him and His marvelous deeds and to encourage our fellow Christians to bear good fruits. We do this through the way we live our daily lives and the way we treat others, especially those most difficult for us to love. We sing His praises best when our voices are ones full of charity and compassion. We amplify God’s greatness most powerfully when we imitate the life of Christ, who is the most perfect example of holy goodness.

How can we give glory to God in all we think, say, and do? How can we sing His praises more meaningfully? In what ways can we grow in the glory of all God’s faithful?

O Lord, we exult you in glory and praise.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

Blessed be God who filled my soul with fire! Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds!"

God is constantly trying to fill us with the fires of his faith, hope, love, goodness, truth, mercy, and grace. He wants us to be ablaze with Him from the moment we wake in the morning to the moment we close our eyes at night. When people see us, they should know we are Christians by the light of our lives shining in the darkness of the world. We should be beacons of faith, hope, and love. We are meant to be lights for all the world to see and constantly lead others to Him. So, let our lives burn bright in the night, praising, glorifying, and magnifying God in all we think, say, and do.

Are we keeping the fires of our faith alive even in the midst of the darkness of the world? How can we make ourselves into beacons of grace for all who see us? What can we do to enkindle the light of Christ in ourselves and others?

O Lord, fill our souls with your fire.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant; horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. He is my God, I praise him; the God of my father, I extol him.

God doesn’t need us to give Him glory. He already is glorious beyond anything we can add. However, the glory we give to God is entirely for our benefit as it reminds us who our lives should be dedicated to. We sing God’s praises, not because He needs them, but because they put us in the right state of mind to know, love, and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. God is and always will be triumphant over evil. He doesn’t need us to win the day, but when our virtues triumph over our vices, He is glad for us. He is our strength and courage when we ask for them. He is our salvation when we need it most. He is our God and Father and will always be with us and that is why we extol Him.

In what ways can we give glory to God and praise Him? Do we depend upon Him for our strength and courage? How can we thank Him for being such a good and loving savior?

O Lord, we sing to you and pray that you will help us to be triumphant over all evil.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Easter

I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord. I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD, I will chant your praise among the nations. For your mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory!

Each and every day we should give thanks to our Lord and God. We should chant praises of Him for His Love and Mercy. We should be inspired by how faithful He is to us, who can be so unfaithful. We should exult our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We should give them glory for being such a Good and Holy Trinity to us in all things.

How often do we give thanks to our Lord? Do we praise and exult God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? What can we do to glorify Him?

O Lord, we give you thanks, praise, and glory.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Easter

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory. Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth. Why should the pagans say, “Where is their God?”

Everything we do should be for God’s glory, honor, or praise. Our every act should have Him as its Source, its Center, and its Summit. No matter what our status, occupation, or position in life is, we should find ways to imitate Christ. Our days should be filled with works of charity and mercy toward whoever comes our way, even our enemies and those whom we find most difficult to love. We should magnify God in our work and in play by having a charitable mindset in all things. Our lives should constantly point others toward God. And if we receive praise for what we do, then we should make clear God is the source of all our good.

Do we give glory to God as often as we should? Do our thoughts, words, and works magnify the goodness of our Lord? Do our lives reveal the presence of God to others?

O Lord, grant us the graces we need to show others that you are with us.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Their message goes out through all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day; and night to night imparts knowledge.

Creation itself reveals the glory of God and proclaims His handiwork. In creation we find good, for God created all things good. He made the day and the night good. He made heaven and earth good. He made the skies and the seas good. He made the plants and animals good. All good things come from God. They find through source, center, and summit in Him. It is no different for us for God made us in His image, which is very good. He wants us to follow Him, to walk His Way, to speak His Truth, and the live His Life. If we do all these things, then we shall overcome all obstacles and become good and faithful servants, now and forever.

Do we take time each day to enjoy the goodness of creation? How can our lives reveal God’s Glory and proclaim His handiwork? What can we do to lead others to good and faithful lives?

O Lord, let the message of your goodness go out through all the earth.

Amen.

Fifth Wednesday of Lent

Glory and praise forever! “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”

Our heavenly Father deserves to be glorified and praised. He is our Creator. He is our protector. He is our refuge in whom we trust. He is all the things we should aspire to be. He is our Savior through His Beloved Son. He is our guide through the Holy Spirit. His is the name we should glorify and praise above all others. He is the source, the center, and the summit of all that is good and should take the place of honor in our hearts, minds, and souls.

In what ways do we glorify and praise our Heavenly Father? How do we allow Him to help and guide us? What can we do to lead others to a greater appreciation and love for our Good God?

O Lord, we will glorify and praise you forever.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Lent

From all their distress God rescues the just. Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 

When we have questions for the Lord, He does give us the answers we need. They might not be the ones we want or given to us in the way we sought, but He does provide them for us if we are willing to listen. Sometimes the answers will come in prayer. Sometimes they will come from other people. Sometimes they will come in opportunities or setbacks. However, no matter what happens God will rescue us from all our distress and deliver us from all our fears. We just have to have the openness and patience to listen to Him through the Holy Spirit and our consciences.

Do we seek God’s input into our lives? Do we take time out of each day to listen to Him? How can we be more open to the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, answer our pleas and deliver us from all distress.

Amen.

Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Praise the LORD, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples!

Going out to all the world and telling the Good News can be a bit intimidating, but it isn’t impossible. We can go out to the world in all sorts of ways. Through the way we treat our family, our friends, our neighbors, and the strangers we meet each day. Perhaps the best way to proclaim the Good News is to simply embody it for others in our thoughts, words, and works. When we imitate Jesus Christ, we spread the faith, glorify God, and bring others closer to Him.

Are our lives giving glory to God? In what ways is God calling us to go out into the world and tell the Good News? How can we praise God to all whom we meet?

O Lord, help us to glorify you in all things.

Amen.

Friday After Epiphany

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion. For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; he has blessed your children within you.

We have much to praise God for in our lives. He has given us everything from our own lives to the life of His Beloved Son. He has created and protected us. He has loved and blessed us. He has forgiven us our trespasses against Him and others. Whenever we turn to Him for help, He aids us... perhaps not always in the way we envisioned, but always in the way we need. He has strengthened us through grace and will never leave our side. He is our rock, our shelter, our foundation. As long as we trust in Him, we will never be overcome by the wickedness and snares of the Devil. He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing and this is why we praise and glorify Him, because He is a Good and Loving Father.

Do we realize how much God has done for us? How can we imitate His Generosity in our own lives? How can we become blessings in the lives of others?

O Lord, we praise you.

Amen.