Thirtieth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy. Look, answer me, O LORD, my God! Give light to my eyes that I may not sleep in death lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him”; lest my foes rejoice at my downfall.

Our hope is indeed founded upon God’s Mercy. It is not up to us if we are forgiven. It is up to God. We can only offer small penances and repayments to God for what evils we have done and what goods we have failed to do. We are not perfect and depend upon His Divine Mercy. It is only through Him that we have a chance at redemption. It is only in Him that we have any hope of triumph. He is the source of our good, the center of who we should be, and the summit of what we are called to become. He is the light that guides us where we need to go and shows us the way out of the dark valleys that surround us.

Does our hope reside in God’s Divine Mercy? Do we allow God to light the way when we are lost? How can we become what we are called to be?

O Lord, answer us and give us your light.

Amen.

Sixteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory. At the breath of your anger the waters piled up, the flowing waters stood like a mound, the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea. The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them; I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them; I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!” 

God does not do what He does just to cover Himself in glory. He performs miracles like the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery and the parting of the Red Sea because He is compassionate. He doesn’t strike down His enemies out of malice, but because they leave Him no choice. He does what is best for us as individuals and as His Chosen People. He shows us His power and might, not to impress us, but to impress upon us His Love and Mercy. Everything He does is to give us a model of thinking, speaking, and acting that will allow us to be the best reflections of His Divine Image that we can be. And if we trust in His Plan, then our enemies will never overtake us. Instead, they will be divided from us by a great chasm that cannot be crossed and despoiled in the abyss of Hell. So, let us have faith in God no matter what trials face us and allow Him to lead us to the Promised Land.

Do we recognize how compassionate God is toward us? Are we as compassionate with others? How can we model our lives on the example of our Heavenly Father, His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, your compassion for us shall never be forgotten.

Amen.

Sunday of Divine Mercy

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let those who fear the LORD say, “His mercy endures forever.”

God’s Mercy endures forever. When He forgives us, it isn’t like how we forgive. Sometimes we are tempted to bring up old wounds to those who have harmed us. We do this especially when we are annoyed with another person such as a sibling, friend, and co-worker. We snap and say things that could be hurtful. This is why it’s so important to keep in mind the example of Christ on the cross. He was arrested, beaten, mocked, and scourged. He was forced to carry his cross and was treated like a criminal. And yet, he bore these terrible burdens without complaint and forgave his persecutors. He does this for us, too. If only our mercy and forgiveness could mirror his!

How do we give thanks to God for His Goodness and Love? How do we show others God’s Mercy? What can we do to keep ourselves from giving into the temptation to point out past harms done to us?

O Lord, we are thankful for your goodness.

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.

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Jesus is our high priest. He is the one who has given us our faith, proclaimed the Gospel, and shown us the Way, the Truth, and the Life and we are forever in debt to him. He is also the perfect example of holiness, providing us with a model of living righteous and loving lives. At first, we might be intimidated by Jesus’ way of life, but because he was one of us and knows what it means to be human, we should not be afraid to come to him in our times of need. He knows what it is like to be tempted, to suffer, and to be mocked. The only difference is he remained without sin. However, he doesn’t hold our weaknesses against us, not if we come to him in humility, seek his mercy, and allow him to bestow his grace on us. He is our high priest and as such he strives to lead us to eternal life with him, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. So, let us go confidently to the throne of the Holy Trinity and trust God will sympathize with and forgive us our trespasses.

Do we trust that God is merciful? Have we sought out Jesus through our prayers and asked for his Divine Mercy? How can we imitate Jesus and become priestly preachers and doers of God’s Will?

O Lord, we confidently approach your throne, asking for your mercy and grace.

Amen.

Second Monday of Lent

Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws.

All of us rebel against and depart from God’s commandments from time to time. We allow temptations to lead us astray and into sins both venial and grave. We make excuses for our actions and try to convince ourselves we are not to blame. However, no one forces us to sin. It is our choice and when we make the wrong choice we must make amends with God and those whom we’ve sinned against. We do this through seeking out the sacrament of Reconciliation, making a good confession, and doing penance. If we do all these things, then God in His Divine Mercy will forgive us and we shall have another chance to live holy lives conformed to the commandments and laws of our Heavenly Father.

What sins do we have the most trouble resisting? Do we ask God for His help against these weaknesses? How can we reflect God’s Mercy in our own lives when others sin against us?

O Lord, be merciful to us who have sinned against you and seek your forgiveness.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Advent

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.

We should all shout for joy in response to how well God treats us. He created us at the moment of our conception and has loved us from the first spark of life. He protected us in the womb and has be our shield every since our birth. He loves us like a Father, who knows our hearts and minds and wants only the best for us. He is merciful to us when we fall into temptation and sin, seeking only to correct us and help us to make amends. He wants us to be saved and so He forgives and forgets as long as we come to Him with humble and contrite hearts. He will aid us in all our good endeavors and defend us from all our enemies. He will always be with us and because of this eternal Truth, we should never be afraid.

Are we joyful people, exulting God for all the good He has done for us? If not, then how might we cultivate a joyous spirit? Do we realize God is always with us and we have nothing to fear?

O Lord, we are glad to have you as our Heavenly Father and exult you with all our hearts.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles' wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

God doesn’t get tired of us. He loves us just as much when we are saintly and when we are sinful. He does not force us to do anything, but rather lets us choose. He wants us to be good and faithful servants because we love Him and He is willing to wait patiently for us to come to Him. His unwavering love does not grow faint or weary, but that doesn’t mean His Love and Mercy for us will trump His Justice. If we fall into sin, He is more than willing to forgive us. However, we need to be contrite for our sins and honestly desire to amend our lives. We might not always succeed, but we should not grow weary of trying to be holy. God gives us every strength and grace we need to overcome the temptations we face. He gives us spiritual vigor during our times of trial and will renew us after every battle with our sinful selves. If we let Him, He will grant us wings which will bear us to heaven and eternal life.

Do we give thanks to God for being so patient with us? Are we truly grateful for the love, mercy, and support He has given us throughout our lives? How can we express our thanks for all God has done for us?

O Lord, give us your strength and vigor.

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 Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

We are all sinners in one way or another. Some of us are prideful, others envious. Some of us are wrathful, others lustful. Some of us are avaricious, others gluttonous. More than a few of us are slothful. Because of our imperfections and sins, we are in great need of mercy and thankfully our loving God was willing to sacrifice Himself in order to save us. Jesus’ Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection bridged the gap between us and our Heavenly Father. The gift of God’s saving grace was poured out for us through Christ’s Blood and brought to us through the aqueduct of his cross. Jesus’ selfless offering makes manifest God’s Divine Mercy, which can atone for all our sins if we allow it. The Son of God came into this world for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners, and the salvation of souls... our souls. And we would benefit greatly by remembering God wants to save us all from our sins, but we have to accept His Mercy if we are to have any hope of living in him forever and ever.

What are our sins? How can we learn to resist their temptations and avoid them? How do we give thanks to God for the mercy He has shown us?

O Lord, treat us mercifully for we are sinners.

Amen.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

Great faith is founded upon humility and the recognition we are not worthy to sit at the table with God. We are sinners. However, just because we are undeserving of God’s gifts and graces, we still beg for them anyway. We rely completely upon God’s Mercy. Just as the woman pled for the scraps, so too, we plead for our salvation in hope that God will be compassionate toward us and grant our request. Thankfully, God is full of love and wherever he finds humility and faith, He also gives the petitioner all they need to be healed and thrive in spirit and truth.

Are we humble in our petitions and prayers? Do we realize we are not worthy and should have no delusions that God owes us anything? In what ways do we recognize our complete dependence upon our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, give us humble and faithful spirits.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Advent

This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

God loves us and is merciful. He wants us to have peace in our lives, even in the midst of our trials and tribulations. He is not out to destroy us. He is not angry with us. He does not wish to turn us away at the gates of Heaven. He gives us every opportunity to obey His commandments, follow in His Son’s footsteps, and listen to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. However, He will not force us to obey, follow, or listen to Him. He wants us to choose to love Him and His children of our own accord and not because it is forced on us. It is up to us to accept His Love and return it to the best of our abilities. And if we do this, then we shall find Heaven not only open to us, but joyous at our coming.

Is our image of God one of justice tempered with mercy or do we fear He is too angry with us to forgive our sins? How can we thank God for the mercy He has shown to us? Do we live our lives knowing He will never abandon us?

O Lord, grant us your love, peace, and mercy.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr

On that day You need not be ashamed of all your deeds, your rebellious actions against me; For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, And you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD: the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.

As long as we are willing to admit our mistakes, ask God for forgiveness with contrite hearts, and do penance, then we shall have nothing to be ashamed of when we stand before God. All our rebellious actions will be washed away in God’s Mercy. The key to doing all these things is humility. We must be willing to prostrate ourselves before God and cast aside our prideful impulses. It is only then that we shall be able to live our lives based on the Eternal Truth and not our own opinions.

Have we sought God’s Mercy for our sins, great and small? Are we willing to humble ourselves before God so He can raise us up on the Last Day? Do we live our lives according to the Truth or our own desires?

O Lord, wash away our misdeeds and rebellious actions with your never-ending mercy.

Amen.

The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity --greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

We should never allow ourselves to be convinced of our own righteousness. All of us are sinners is some shape, form, or fashion. So of us are prideful, others envious, still more wrathful. Some are lustful, greedy, slothful, or gluttonous. As such, we should never see ourselves as better than others. This does not mean condoning other people's sins, but rather to remember that we are all in need of God's Mercy and as such we should act compassionately toward each other. Part of acting compassionately is pointing out when someone is doing something wrong and trying to help them do what is right. It doesn't matter how many "good" works we do if we do not do them with loving hearts and for the right reasons. It should be our aim in life to recognize our sinfulness, humbly ask for God's Mercy, and then try to amend our faults, great and small, so we can do God's Will more faithfully.

Do we believe we are better than certain people? How can we learn to be more humble and to remember we are sinners, too? Do we call out for God's Mercy with humble and contrite hearts?

O Lord, be merciful to us sinners.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Friday of Ordinary Time

There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.

There is no such thing as a private sin. God sees all. He knows exactly how, when, and why we sin. He sees beyond our flawed logic, our misguided reasoning, and our disordered passions. He knows that nothing we do in secret ever just affects us. Every sin has a cost beyond ourselves. It costs us in time, energy, relationships, and in many other ways. It is easy to overlook the cost of sin, but it is always there and it leaves behind a void that we cannot fill except when we seek God's Mercy. Every time we choose evil over good we harm not only ourselves, but everyone around us. We might claim our sin is harmless, but that is only because we do not see all the ramifications of our sinful acts.

How often do our sins keep us from being there for friends, families, and neighbors? How often do our sins keep us from knowing, loving, and serving God and others? What can we do to replace the sins in our lives with virtues that lead others to heaven?

O Lord, you know everything about us. Show us who you want us to be and give us the graces we need to accept your calling.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Friday of Ordinary Time

"No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins."

If we truly want to be Disciples of Christ, then we can't hold onto our old sinful selves. Sin leaves us weak and unable to hold the love and mercy we are all called to be filled with. God may try to pour Himself into us, but if our hearts aren't contrite, then they burst, God's graces spill out of us ineffectually, and our opportunities to do good are ruined. In order to hold God's graces properly, we need to have a conversion of our hearts. He need to line them with contrition and acceptance of the sacrifices God is asking of us. If we do that, then our hearts will be made anew and whole and able to be filled with God's Love and Mercy. Then, when God pours us out in thought, word, and work, our lives will refresh the spirits of others and give glory to Him.

What sins must we overcome in order to renew our hearts? What can we do to prepare ourselves to be filled with the heavenly wine of God's Love and Mercy? How can we become better vessels of God's Will?

O Lord, make us fresh wineskins, continually pouring out your graces.

Amen.

The First Wednesday of Lent

This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.  Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

The signs of Jonah and the Son of Man are both calls for repentance. Jonah proclaimed the destruction of Nineveh and this lead to the repentance of others. Jesus, on the other hand, proclaimed the salvation of man through his own life, death, and resurrection, which lead to the conversion of sinners. In a way, each of us is also called to be a sign of repentance to the world and remind our family, friends, and neighbors of the need for contrite hearts. We are meant to be beacons of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace and we cannot do that if we let our pride blind us to our faults or our fears to keep us from seeking forgiveness.

What can we do to overcome our pride and fears and become models of God’s Divine Mercy? How can we cultivate contrite spirits and hearts within ourselves? How do our lives lead others to redemption?

O Lord, makes us into living signs of your mercy.

Amen.

The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Just like Peter, we can sometimes feel so unworthy of God’s Love and Mercy we can close ourselves off to Him. We can become afraid that we are too sinful for God to forgive, but His Divine Mercy is endless and nothing we think, say, or do is unforgivable if we seek God’s forgiveness with truly contrite hearts. And when we do seek God’s Mercy, we have nothing to be afraid of because God loves us all. He proved that by sending His Beloved Son to us as our Savior and our exemplar. The net of Jesus’ grace is always ready to catch us. We have only to allow ourselves to be caught by him. Then, just as Jesus fished us out of our sinful lives, so we can become fishers of men with him and allow him to use us as a net to save other souls.

What can we do to welcome Jesus into our lives? How can we cast off our feelings of sinfulness and fear and follow Jesus’ example of virtue and courage? Are we willing to leave everything behind and become fishers of men?

O Lord, make us good and faithful fishers of men.

Amen.

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, "Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."

Bartimaeus gives us an example of how we should call out to Jesus in our daily lives. We may not be physically blind, but our sins can make us spiritually blind. When this happens all we can do is seek out Jesus and ask him to have pity on us. Just as Bartimaeus, we will face rebukes by friends, families, and neighbors who won’t understand our desire for God’s help. However, if we persist in our belief in Jesus and trust in his mercy, then we will be called to God and He will answer our prayers. Then we will be able to take courage and know God will grant us what we need in order to do His Will in all things.

Do we call out to God when we are in need? Do we allow others to intimidate us into not living out our faith? How can we take courage in Christ?

O Lord, we call upon you, have mercy on us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

If we want to be followers of Christ, then we must be willing to give up the comforts of life, to give up our families, and our worldly obligations. This is what God calls us to do. He asks us to make Him the center of our lives. In order to do that, we have to be willing to walk away from all that we have. This is the hard choice we are all faced with in this life: to love God more than our very lives or love our lives more than God. Every day we make great and small choices about which is more important to us. Some days God may be the center of attention, but there will be times when we will be tempted to place ourselves above Him. It is how we react to our failures that determines whether we remain sinners or become saints. If we choose to remain blind to our sins or believe we are not worthy of God’s love, then we will remain sinners. However, if we realize what we have done is wrong and seek to make amends, then the Lord will always offer us his compassionate mercy.

Have we made God the center of our lives? What do we do to place Him there or make sure He stays there? Do we seek God’s Mercy after we fall?

O Lord, we will follow you wherever you go.

Amen.