Eleventh Monday in Ordinary Time

His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, "Why are you so angry that you will not eat?" He answered her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Sell me your vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.' But he refused to let me have his vineyard." His wife Jezebel said to him, "A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed! Get up. Eat and be cheerful. I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you."

The sin of jealousy or envy is a devious one. It worms its way into a person's heart slowly eating away at them from inside. It may lead to depression, but also may lead to evil deeds. Ahab may not have asked Jezebel to get rid of Naboth, but he probably could have guessed what she had planned when she told him that she would obtain the vineyard. However, he let his envy silence his conscience and is just as guilty as his wife. In a similar manner, we can sometimes let others come to harm because of our jealousy or our inaction. We might guess trouble is coming to someone, but keep quiet about it instead of warning them. There are times in our lives when we are tempted to ignore an evil done to someone else, especially someone whom we don't like. However, this does not excuse us. After all, God asked us to love others as He loves them... which means loving even our enemies. This means casting off our jealousy and protecting them as Jesus would protect them... from whatever it is that threatens them. This of course isn't easy, but the road to heaven isn't an easy on to walk. It is narrow and only those willing to die to themselves have a chance to make it to the end.

Are we jealous of someone else? How can we turn that jealousy into love? Are we willing to know, love, and serve even those whom we dislike?

O Lord, rid us of all jealousy and give us hearts full of love for all people, even our enemies.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

When David saw the angel who was striking the people, he said to the LORD: "It is I who have sinned; it is I, the shepherd, who have done wrong. But these are sheep; what have they done? Punish me and my kindred."

Sometimes when we sin, we are not the ones who suffer the most. It is our family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers who are harmed most grievously. When we sin, we rarely think about how our actions will affect others. Instead we are so focused on our selfish desires that we ignore the possible ramifications of our decisions. We don’t think about how our faults might hurt others. How our action or inaction might change a person’s life forever... and for the worse. We think only of ourselves and therein is the problem. Before we say or do anything we should take the time to consider others and how our actions might affect them going forward. Will harm come to another person because of what we do or fail to do? If so, then we must make a different choice... one that leads to the greatest good, even if it means our own suffering.

Have our selfish thoughts, words, or words harmed others? How can we make amends for our actions or inaction? Are we willing to choose the path of mortification and suffering so that others might be spared?

O Lord, we have sinned and harmed others in doing so. Help us to be a grace to others and not a stumbling block.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Thursday of Ordinary Time

“I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

It can be tempting to never rock the boat and never challenge ourselves and others to be better than what they are. We can be tempted to avoid conflict with others and seek to appease them in spite of what our hearts, minds, and morals might say. We are tempted to cover our ears against evil words, but do not rebuke the person using them. We are tempted to turn our eyes away from evil instead of doing something about it. We are tempted to remain silent when we know the truth instead of speaking out against it. We keep the Holy Spirit's Fire at arm's length because if we let it into our hearts we know that it will set our lives ablaze. However, who benefits from our indifference, inaction, and fears? Not those whom God is calling us to confront, for without someone to give voice to the truth, how can they have a chance to know it? Not the people who are affected by our inaction. And certainly not us, because we prove time and time again that we are disciples in hiding, just like those who abandoned Jesus during his Passion, Crucifixion, and Death. But if we do open ourselves to the fires of the Holy Spirit, our hearts shall be enkindled and we shall blaze like the Son of Man. Then, and only then, can we fulfill God's Will and become signs of contradiction to the world.

Are we indifferent, inactive, or afraid of what it means to be signs of contradiction? Are we willing to let the Holy Spirit enkindle our hearts with the fires of faith, hope, and love? Who are the people in our lives who need to be contradicted, not out of a sense of superiority, but out of a sense of true compassion?

O Lord, set our hearts ablaze.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Monday in Ordinary Time

No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.

God gives us the gifts, talents, and graces that we have so that we can use them. He wants us to become lights to the world, not to hide ourselves away from it or to snuff out our lights with sins. Our every word and work should shine with the radiance of God's love and mercy so that all who see us know we are Christians. So too, we must shine in our private lives. Just because we are in our homes, does not give us the liberty to sin. What we do privately always has an effect on our relationships with God and others. The reason for us failing to do good is known to God. The misguided excuses we make in order to justify our inaction or our sins are known to God. If we would not speak or do something in the light of day where all could see, then we shouldn't speak or do it.

Are we concealing our light in inaction or sin? How can we shine so that all can see us? How can we live our lives in transparency, unhidden, and filled with the light of love?

O Lord, may our light shine before all.

Amen.