Nineteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

You are my inheritance, O Lord. You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

God is everything we should be striving for in our lives. He should be the source, center, and summit of our thoughts, words, and works. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and if we want to find ourselves, then we must seek Him. If we want to know who we truly are, we must strive to be more like Him. If we want to be at peace, we have to do whatever the Holy Spirit guides us to do. The only way we can ever have joy in this life is to know, love, and serve God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. However, this path is not an easy one. It leads to the cross, which we must carry without hesitation or complaint, sacrificing ourselves of the glory of God and the good of others. Then, and only then will we be made worth of the promises of Christ and the delights of Heaven.

Do we strive to follow the path of life God has shown us? How can we walk His Way more joyfully and trustingly? What can we do to prepare ourselves for the Heavenly Feast that awaits those who know, love, and serve God and His children?

O Lord, show us the path that leads to you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Our help is in the name of the Lord. Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us a prey to their teeth. 

God will never leave us to be destroyed by those who hate us. We might suffer setbacks and trials, but in the end, God will help us to overcome our enemies. He will free us from their hold and lead us to the Promised Land. He will part the turbulent waters that stand in our way and make a path for us to the other side. And if we trust Him, then we shall march through the sea confident in Him, while our foes are washed away. We might wander through the desert for a time, but in the end the Spirit of God will guide us to the land of milk and honey, the land of our salvation.

Do we call on God to help us in our times of need? Or do we forget all He has done for us and try to fix everything ourselves? How can we become more trusting of God in our daily lives?

O Lord, thank you for all your help.

Amen.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I say, then: live by the Spirit and you will certainly not gratify the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want. But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Living by the Spirit requires a great deal of trust in God. Letting go of our own desires can be very difficult to do. We are constantly tempted to gratify ourselves in various ways. We all have certain things we like to do and sometimes these things lead us away from what we are called to do. However, there is hope for us. We can overcome our flesh and weaknesses. We can moderate our passions and the things we enjoy so we do not become enslaved to them and are willing to give them up when they interfere with our spiritual lives. By recognizing that we can’t always get what we want and accepting that sometimes we are called to mortification and sacrifice, we can let go and let the Holy Spirit lead us to holier lives.

What desires of the flesh are leading us astray or distracting us from our true callings as Christians? How can we become more open to letting go of our wants and letting God give us what we need? What can we do to be more attentive to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we wish to live by your Spirit and not by our flesh.

Amen.

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

There is a temptation to grumble when things don’t go our way or when we are suffering in some way. However, if we truly believe God is our Shepherd, then we should not doubt that He will provide relief for us. We shall not want for anything as long as we remain true to Him and do not leave His Wounded Side. His Love, Mercy, and Grace will pour out upon us as long as we cling to Him. He will spread a table before us and provide us the refreshment and nourishment we need to grow strong in faith, hope, and love. If we follow Him, He will anoint us with holiness and fill us with saving grace till we overflow with it.

Do we allow God to shepherd us? Are we open to letting Him guide our thoughts, words, and works? How can we become better followers of His Good News, allowing Him to lead us where we need to be?

O Lord, anoint us with your Holy Spirit and make us overflow with your goodness.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

From all their distress God rescues the just. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

God will rescue us if we are just and good. He will not abandon us in our times of need. Nor will He forget what we have done for Him and His children. He will bless us with every grace we need to become the best Christians we can be. He will guide us through the Holy Spirit to lives of imitation of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He will protect us from evil and save us from the fires of Hell. He will listen to us and give us what is best for us.

Do we thank God for all He has done to rescue us from sin and evil? Do we bless and praise Him as we should? What can we do to let our souls glory in the Lord?

O Lord, rescue us from our distress.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Easter

O God, let all the nations praise you! May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide.

God guides us as much as possible while allowing us to have free will. He gives us every inspiration, gift, and grace to see us succeed. He has not set us up for failure, but rather for success. He wants what is best for us and does everything in His power to help us. His aid might not come at the time and place we want or in the manner we desire, but it come exactly at the right time and place and in the manner that will bring the most good upon us and to the world. So, let us praise and be glad in Him for He is good and equitable guide.

Do we allow God to guide us where we need to go? How can we be more open to His direction? In what ways do we exult Him for all the graces He has given us?

O Lord, we praise you and are glad for you are fair and loving to us, even when we sin against you.

Amen.

Thursday in the Octave of Easter

O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth! O LORD, our Lord, how glorious is your name over all the earth! What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?

It can be humbling to think about how much God cares for us. He created us out of pure love. He gave us His Beloved Son as a teacher and as a sacrifice for our sins. He sent his Holy Spirit into the world to be our constant guide and inspirer. He treats each and every one of us as if we are the center of His Universe. He is always with us no matter what and provides for our every spiritual need. He is a devoted Father to us all. We can only hope to imitate Him to the best of our abilities and be good and faithful servants to His Will.

How can we become more mindful of God? What can we do to help ourselves and others to appreciate Him for all He has done for us? How can we care for God’s children as much as He does?

O Lord, give us the grace to be as caring as you are.

Amen.

First Monday of Lent

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

If we live our lives in accord with the laws of the Lord, we will be constantly refreshed in body, mind, and spirit. If we follow the Word of God, we will lack for nothing in our faith lives. If we trust in the inspirations of the Spirit, we will not be disappointed. If we are open to His Will, then we will receive wisdom. If we have confidence in God, we will grow in faith, hope, and love.

Are we following the laws of the Lord? How can we place greater trust in God’s Divine Plan? What can we do to allow the words of God to guide our spirits and our lives?

O Lord, refresh our souls with your words of life.

Amen.

Second Wednesday in Ordinary Time

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.”

No matter what challenges, worries, fears, disappointments, and enemies we face in life, we should be confident in the Lord. We should feel an unwavering hope in Him, trusting He will help us get through whatever difficulties we face. He will never abandon us, whether we are in times of plenty or times of need. He is our High Priest and is always watching out for us, sacrificing Himself for us, guiding us spiritually, and giving us every opportunity to do good, avoid evil, and repent.

Are we confident in God’s Divine Plan for us? How can we be more open to His guidance? What can we do to become a more hopeful people?

O Lord, thank you for being such a perfect priest to us.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Advent

 Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hearken, From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth. Rouse your power.

Sometimes we can become lost in the world and need God’s help to find our way back to Him. We need His Light to show us the way. We need to see His Face in family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers so we might be reminded He is always with us. We need His guidance and protection to lead us where we are called to go. We need Him to shine forth and rouse His Divine Power to save us from the temptations of the world and even from ourselves. All these things should lead us to turn to God in our lives and help others do the same.

Are we allowing God to be our spiritual shepherd? How can we be more faithful followers of Christ? How can we reflect the face of God to all whom we meet each day?

O Lord, let us see your face and be saved.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

Revelation reminds us we are not alone in our fight against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. We have Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael to help us. We would do well to pray for their intercession in our lives. Michael as our protector, Gabriel as a guide, and Raphael as a healer of our souls. With them on guard against the Devil, we can be confident we shall not be dragged into sin and destruction by the Evil One. With them, we can fight back against our spiritual enemies and remain in the good graces of God, our Heavenly Father. With them, we can conquer death and have eternal life with Jesus Christ. With them, we can fulfill the purpose the Holy Spirit has given each and every one of us.

How can we be on better guard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil? Do we pray for the intercession of Saint Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael? If not, then how can we make it a habit in our lives to do so?

O Lord, thank you for the gift of your archangels.

Amen.

Sixteenth Friday in Ordinary Time

I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently. When you multiply and become fruitful in the land, says the LORD, They will in those days no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of the LORD!" They will no longer think of it, or remember it, or miss it, or make another.

God gives us many shepherds to help us through our lives. He gives us our families, our friends, our teachers, our priests and religious, and our neighbors. They might not be perfect or even good shepherds, but God always gives us enough spiritual guidance from the Holy Spirit to know who is a good and bad influence on us. He always gives us what we need to live wisely and prudently and help others to do that same. If we know something or someone is no good for us, then we have to give it or them up. If we are faithful to God, then our memories of what we have given up will fade away and we shall not miss what has been sacrificed for the greater good of our souls.

Who are the good and faithful shepherds in our lives? How can listen to them and God more faithfully? What things or people do we need to give up in order to be holier?

O Lord, appoint your shepherds over us and lead us to the Promised Land.

Amen.

Sixteenth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.

God is a forgiving Father, willing to always take us back into His good graces. He is a merciful Son, willing to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is a compassionate Spirit, willing to inspire and guide us along the path to holiness. If we turn to Him and ask His forgiveness, He will remove our guilt, pardon us, and cleanse us of our sins. He will always be faithful to us, if we are willing to be faithful to Him.

Do we seek God's Forgiveness for our failings, faults, and sins? Are we as forgiving of others as God is of us? How can we model our lives upon the compassion of God?

O Lord, help us to reflect your compassion to the whole world.

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.

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

Then they prayed, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place." Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles.

Before they made their decision about whom should replace Judas as an Apostle, the followers of Christ prayed. They asked for guidance from God to show them which person to choose.  In a similar way, we are all called to make the same prayer when faced with a decision. We are asked to bring God into the equation and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. By doing so, we are less likely to choose our own path and more likely to choose God’s way. This isn’t always easy, but it is necessary if we want to be good and faithful servants. Servants who listen to their Lord and allow Him to work through, in, and with them all the days of their lives.

Do we pray to God before we make our decisions? Do we ask for His guidance and inspiration? How can we make Him more present in all our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, you know our hearts, show us which way we are being called to follow.

Amen.

The Ascension of the Lord

When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.

Things in our lives don’t always go as we imagined them and sometimes that is a good thing. The disciples of Christ were so concerned about restoring the kingdom of Israel, they were blinding themselves to other possibilities. We do this, too. And it is by the grace of God that our eyes are opened through the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. His guidance can show us a new way we haven’t considered before, one which will give us a greater power for good and make us more effective witnesses of our faith. The restoration of God’s Kingdom on earth isn’t something we can control or predict. All we can do is to prepare for God’s coming, doing everything we can to be ready for the day when Jesus will return and usher in a new age of everlasting life with him.

What isn’t going as planned in our lives? Have we thanked God for these obstacles and asked Him to show us the way to a better life? How can we become better witnesses to the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ?

O Lord, we look forward to your return.

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.

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

In a way, we are all like Paul in that we have been arrogant and sinned against God and others. Thankfully, God is merciful in spite of our failings and instead of condemning us, our Heavenly Father gives us every opportunity to turn our lives around. He might not knock us to the ground and show us visions as He did Paul, but God does nudge us every now and then in the right direction and whisper in our ears in hopes that we will listen. Our God treats us mercifully, strengthening us and pouring out His abundant graces so we might grow in faith and love. He wants us all to minister to Him and His children through thoughts, words, and works. He wants us to answer the call and accept our mission to be priests, prophets, and servant leaders for His people. And if we do this, then we like Paul will be considered a trustworthy servant and worthy of the Kingdom.

How can we overcome our arrogance and sins and turn our lives around? Are we willing to allow God to guide us to where we need to be and to what we need to be doing just as Paul did? What can we do to put ourselves into position to answer God’s call when it comes?

O Lord, we are grateful for the strength you’ve given us.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

"Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal.

The Church is the Bride of Christ and the wife of the Lamb. This relationship with God is mirrored in Mary, who is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Both Church and Mary have given their fiat to God. They have magnified Him, rejoiced in Him, and proclaimed Him through their thoughts, words, and works. Mary prefigures the Church. She is the model upon which the Church is formed. Her virtues are the virtues of the Church, her sacrifices are the sacrifices of the Church. It is through Mary that the Word was made Flesh and Jesus Christ was brought into the world. It is through the Church that the Eucharistic Feast is celebrated and Jesus Christ is made present to us today. Just as Mary gave her life completely to knowing, loving, and serving God, so too has the Church throughout the ages. Just as Mary was infallible in her faith, so too the doctrines of the Church are infallible, even though individuals within the Church are not. As Mary is the Seat of Wisdom who will never fail us, so too the collected Wisdom of the Church is something that cannot fail. Mary and the Church both guide us toward Christ in their own ways and we would do well to follow their lead.

Do we ask Mary for her help and guidance? Do we seek out the wisdom of the Church when we are in difficulty or doubt? How can we become more like Mary and the Church in our faith lives?

O Lord, guide us through Mary and the Church to your Divine Wisdom.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr

Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

God gives us everything we need to succeed as Christians. He offers us guidance and graces. He supplies us all our good thoughts, words, and works. All He asks from us in return is a spirit of humble servitude and a faithful, hopeful, and loving life spent sowing the spiritual seeds He gives us. If we do this, then our acts of charity and mercy will sustain not only our souls, but the souls of many others. They shall multiply and increase the harvest of good and righteous fruits. God wants us to be active in our faith... to scatter it wherever we find good and fertile ground so that devotion and fidelity to God will grow in the hearts and minds of all those whom we are graced to meet.

In what ways do we thank God for the graces He has given us? How can we use these gifts and talents to increase the harvest of His righteousness? Where is God asking us to scatter the seeds of our faith?

O Lord, thank you for the graces you have given us and the harvest have entrusted to our hands.

Amen.