Second Wednesday of Advent

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.

Third Friday of Advent

Exult, you just, in the Lord! Sing to him a new song. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. Sing to him a new song; pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.

We have much to be thankful for as the children of God. We could ask for no better Father than our God. He gave us our lives. He gives us His constant love. He will give us salvation and eternal life, if we accept His guidance and graces. This is why we should exult in God and sing to Him a new song. We should praise Him for everything He has done for us and shout for gladness for all His kindnesses. Our hearts should have but one response to God for all He has done for us... to glorify and love Him.

What are the things in our lives we should be grateful for? What can we do to give thanks to God for what He has given us? How can we nurture glad and thankful hearts in ourselves and others?

O Lord, we shout for gladness for all that you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

Paul is grateful to the Philippians for all the help they have given to him. He rejoices in their charity, even though he doesn’t need it. He sees their generosity and kindness as profitable for their own souls. This is how we should react to other people’s kindness to us. We should be grateful for it, but strive to be self-sufficient and to live in humble circumstances. We should be the same person whether we live in abundance or in need. No matter our situation, we should place our trust in God and be willing to go where He needs us to go, do what He needs us to do, and carry the crosses we need to carry.

Do we thank others for the help they’ve given us? How can we learn to live in humble circumstances? What can we do to become self-sufficient in, through, with, and for Christ?

O Lord, give us the strength for everything.

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.

Ninth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Raphael called the two men aside privately and said to them: "Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory. Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Honor and proclaim God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. A king's secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known. Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.

When good things happen to us, our first response should not be to congratulate ourselves, but to thank God. After all, every good thing comes from Him. He is the Source, the Center, and the Summit of all that is good and holy. We should never slack in praising God or His deeds. In a similar vein, we should do everything we can to be people of almsgiving. Almsgiving is one of the many ways we can imitate Christ and reflect God’s Divine Image into the world. It is though our acts of charity and mercy that we bring God into the lives of others and leave them better off. So let us make sure we are not only prayerful and fasting, but almsgivers, too.

Do we thank God for all He has done for us? Do we recognize Him as the Source of all our goods? How can we better imitate Him through our almsgiving?

O Lord, make us gracious almsgivers.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest

O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem, no more will you weep; He will be gracious to you when you cry out, as soon as he hears he will answer you. The Lord will give you the bread you need and the water for which you thirst. 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.

We are faced with many challenges in our lives. Moments of doubt, fear, and sorrow. Moments of hunger and thirst. Moments of decision for good or evil. Our character is determined by the choices we make during these times. Our spirit is strengthened or weakened by whether we listen to Jesus’ teachings and follow his commandments. We would do well if we listened to the conscience within us and walk in the Way of the Lord. If we let His Truth guide us, then we shall be made worthy of His Life and never weep again.

Are we thankful for the answers God gives us? Are we grateful for the food and drink He gives us? Will we listen to His guidance and follow in His way?

O Lord, lead us where we need to be.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

Jesus is our way to salvation, our freeing truth, and our fruitful life. From him comes all the goods in our existence. Although Jesus speaks of knowing his Father through him, we also come to know the Holy Spirit through him, too. Through Jesus’ life, we come to know the truth about our Heavenly Father’s Love. Christ also shows us the way we should think, speak, and act in order to free ourselves from sin and open our hearts to God’s Mercy and Grace. Furthermore, after his ascension, Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, who inspires and empowers us to lead holy lives. It is through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection that we come to know, love, and serve the Holy Trinity and realize how much God is willing to sacrifice for the good of our souls and to give us life everlasting with Him.

Are we following the Way, Truth, and Life of Christ? Do we recognize everything he has done for us through his life, passion, death, resurrection, and ascension? How do we show our gratitude to the Holy Trinity for all they have done for us?

O Lord, lead us on your way, to your truth, so we can lead your life.

Amen.

The Fifth Tuesday of Easter

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.

If we want peace in our lives, then we should seek it in the solace of God. The peace He gives us is a spiritual peace, which fills us with love and protects us from fear. No trials or tribulations can upset the peace God gives us as long as we trust in His Divine Plan. The peace of God cannot be disturbed unless we turn our backs on it. Many of the great saints received this gift of peace and were able to face the greatest of difficulties and even death with a calm and clean heart. It is the source of sustaining strength when faced with overwhelming problems because when God’s Peace is within us we realize our worldly anxieties are passing and insignificant when compared to the love, mercy, and grace God pours out upon us each day. The promise of eternal life with Him in heaven should be all we need to keep us going along the path to paradise in spite of all our worldly difficulties.

Are our hearts open to God’s peace? How can we cleanse ourselves of the troubles and fears that keep us from embracing His peace? How do we show our gratitude for the peace that God has given us?

O Lord, grant us your peace.

Amen.

The Third Friday of Easter

Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.

Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus into the world to save us through the sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He didn’t need to suffer his Passion and die in order to do this, and yet, he choose to be immolated for our sake. He did this because he understood how difficult it is for us to grasp what it means to be forgiven for our sins. We needed a concrete symbol to help us visualize the harm our sins do to us and the terrible price we pay for turning away from God. That symbol is the cross, which reminds us not only of the harmful effect of our sins, but also gives us hope that we can find forgiveness. However, we also needed a sacramental sign of forgiveness to help sustain our faith, hope, and love in times of trouble. And this is why before Jesus' Death, he gave us the Eucharist. It is the perfect, and unbloodied, sacrifice that reminds us not only of God’s Mercy, but also the promise of eternal life that awaits everyone who partakes of the Blessed Sacrament and lives their lives as tabernacles to the Lord.

How do we prepare ourselves for the reception of Jesus’ Body and Blood? How do we express our gratefulness for Jesus’ sacrifices on the cross and on the Eucharistic table? How can we prepare our hearts to be worthy recipients of your Blessed Sacrament?

O Lord, give us your Body and Blood so that we might live forever.

Amen.

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 
“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

We should spend every day glorifying and praising God for all He has done for us. Like the shepherds, we should make haste to visit our Lord, especially in the Eucharist, and be ever thankful for the graces He has given us. We should keep all His blessings close to our hearts and reflect on them just as Mary did during her most holy life. Sometimes we can take God and the sacrifices He’s made for us for granted. However, if we set aside time each day to express our gratitude for everything He has done for us, then we will be more aware of His endless graces in our lives.

Do we give glory to God every day? Do we treasure all of the little and great things He does for us? What virtues can we learn from the story of the nativity and the holy family?

O Lord, we glorify and praise you for all you have done, are doing, and will do for us.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Advent

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.  When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”  But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.

It is human nature to want to share our good news with family and friends, just as Zechariah and Elizabeth did with their relatives and neighbors. When doing so, we should give witness to God’s Goodness in our lives and thank Him for all He has done for us. We also shouldn’t let those who do not understand our faith to get in the way of celebrating our good news. Instead, our attitude of gratitude should be ever present in our thoughts, words, and works no matter who might question our faith. Like Zechariah, we should express our appreciation to God by doing His Will in spite of what others might think. We might not receive an angelic visitation to tell us what God’s Will is, but as long as we form our conscience wisely and well, we will know the right direction we should be taking in our lives. Then, when we do take those first few steps upon the narrow road to salvation, we too will have our mouths opened, our tongues free, and bless God for all He has done for us.

Do we invite others to share in the goods of our lives? Do we do God’s Will even when others might not understand it?  Do we bless God for all He has done for us?

O Lord, we only wish to be called your good and faithful children.

Amen.

Thanksgiving Day

And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.  He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?  Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

As Christians, we should take time to be thankful for all the blessings we’ve had in our lives not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. Our thoughts, words, and works ought to be like the Samaritan’s by glorifying and thanking God for all He has done for us. In a manner of speaking, we should live lives of constant Thanks-living, recognizing every good we have has its source in God. By fostering such an attitude of gratitude, we are reminded that all our triumphs and joys come from God and it is to Him that all glory should be given for whatever successes we experience. He should be the center and summit of our lives, just as much as He is the source of them. Only by cultivating thankful and humble hearts can we hope to receive the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do we take time every day to be thankful to God? What are we thankful for today? How can we cultivate an attitude of gratitude in our lives?

O Lord, we glorify you and thank you for all you have done for us.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Monday of Ordinary Time

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “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 life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus are all the signs we need to repent. When we look at how Jesus lived his life and was willing to die for us in spite of our sins, we should have only one response: gratitude. We should not be looking for signs beyond the ones presented to us in the gospel. The miracles presented to us in the gospel should be enough for us to believe with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. When we hear the word of God spoken to us during mass or when we read it in the Bible, we should rejoice at the saving graces God has given us through Jesus.

What lessons about repentance can we learn from the Jesus’ life, passion, death, and resurrection? Do we turn to God and the wisdom of the Scriptures for guidance or to worldly signs that can lead us astray? Do we listen to the Word of God when it is shared with us in the Mass?

O Lord, you are the only sign we need.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Saturday of Ordinary Time

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

We shouldn’t rejoice in our gifts from God to the exclusion of being gracious for God’s saving grace. God gives gifts to all His children. However, only those who recognize His voice in their hearts and follow it will be given the grace of everlasting life. We can have all the talents and treasures in the world, but without a spirit of humble contrition and endless gratitude, we won’t be able to accept the saving grace God offers us. We must open ourselves in order to receive this grace and that means focusing our lives not on our successes, but rather on the spirit of love behind our actions.

What gifts have God given us? Do we rejoice not only in those gifts, but in the saving grace God’s given us? In what spirit do we speak our words and do our works?

O Lord, write our names in heaven.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Lent

I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?

We should not expect ticker tape parades when we do the right thing or when we love people as we ought to. Instead, we should expect to be persecuted for these actions. If we go about life in this way, then when people show gratitude, we will be all the more thankful for it. However, if they show us hatred, then we have only received the same as Jesus and who are we to seek more than that? When we start believing we deserve to be treated better, or to be loved by others, and start thinking why can’t people love us as we love them… that is not the voice of charity speaking, but the voice of selfishness. We deserve nothing from God or others. What they give to us is all gain and we should not be so ungrateful as to ask for more.

Have we ever been charitable toward someone and had it thrown back into our face? Did we ever reconcile with that person? How can we learn to be thankful for what we have and not greedy for more?

O Lord, inspire us to do good works without thought of repayment by anyone but you.

Amen.