Third Sunday of Advent

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

Rejoice, pray, and give thanks without ceasing... this is the will of God for all of us. God wants us to be filled with joy and happiness. He wants us to be cheerful even in the midst of our daily trials. He wants us to pray to Him constantly and be in dialogue with Him through the Holy Spirit so our relationship with Him can bear much fruit. He wants us to give thanks to Him for all the good He has done for us. He wants us to accept His Love, Mercy, and Grace with adoring, contrite, and humble hearts. He wants us to be on fire with the Holy Spirit and listen to the voice of our consciences. He wants us to be open to His inspirations sent to us through our thoughts and the thoughts, words, and works of others. He wants us to test everything in order to make sure our days are filled with people, places, and things which lead to good and avoid all evil. In short, He wants us to be alive in Jesus Christ so we might live with Him forever in heaven.

Do we have joyful hearts, even in the midst of trials? Do we pray without ceasing and give thanks to God all the days of our lives? Are we letting the Holy Spirit think, speak, and work through us for the good of all?

O Lord, we rejoice in you. We pray to you. We give thanks to you.

Amen.

First Wednesday of Advent

On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

In the end, God will destroy death for all those who choose to follow Him. He will release us from the bonds of sin and its fruit of death. He will wipe away our tears of suffering and save us from all the pains and ills of this world. His Saving Grace, will bring joy and happiness to all of us who walked the path of salvation with Him. This freeing and wondrous future is offered to us all. We have only to accept it from God’s open hands and choose the good over the evil, the right over the wrong, justice over injustice… virtue over vice.

Are we allowing God to unveil our eyes so we can see right and wrong clearly?  Do we believe God will save even us, who are sinful? When are we going to accept God’s Grace and Mercy and amend our lives so He can invite us to Heaven with Him?

O Lord, save us!

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

God will provide. He always does. When the night is darkest, He gives us light. When the way is uncertain, He gives us a narrow path to follow. When we need spiritual food and drink, He gives it to us. When we are weak, He carries us. When we are alone, He is with us. When all the world seems to be against us, He stands by our side. He is the Rock of our Salvation and from Him flows all grace, love, and mercy. And all He asks in return is our faith, our hope, and our love.

Do we sing joyfully to God for all He has done for us? Do we acclaim Him as the source of our salvation? How can we provide for the good of others?

O Lord, we sing joyfully to you.

Amen.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. 

We often do everything possible to avoid shedding tears in this life. We steer clear of trouble whenever possible. We don’t rock the boat. We try to coast through life with the minimum of pain. However, sometimes we are called to make sacrifices so we can reap the rewards. There are moments in our lives when we are faced with a choice between doing with is right and suffering the consequences or choosing to remain silent and let an injustice go unchallenged. Sometimes these moments are easy to recognize. Other are more difficult, but they do occur and we should pray to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit when those moments arise. If we do this, then one day we shall stand before God and be filled with laughter and joy because we will discover all those moments of sorrow yielded marvelous fruits.

What is God asking us to sow in our lives? How can we grow in a willingness to suffer for the glory of God and the good of others? What can we do to become more aware of the opportunities to bear good fruit in our lives?

O Lord, help us to sow in tears and reap with rejoicing.

Amen.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.

We are all called to imitate Christ, not only in the way he lived, but also in the way he suffered for us. If God sees fit to try us greatly in this life, then who are we to complain? Whatever afflictions come our way; we should march joyfully toward them. Many martyrs died praising God with their final breaths. Who are we to think we should escape such trials? We are all asked to fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Not that Jesus’ passion and death were not perfect, but that we are all called to pick up our crosses and to unite our sufferings with those of Christ. And God, in His Infinite Mercy allows us to add our drop of blood to the sea of sorrows that Jesus suffered for us.

What is God calling us to suffer? How can we accept this suffering with joyful hearts? What are we being asked to sacrifice in order to bring to completion the Word of God?

O Lord, we rejoice in our sufferings for your sake and the sake of your children.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eye.

We should constantly pray to be open to the wisdom of God. It is through His precepts that we are brought to joy and holiness. It is through God’s Divine Laws that we are freed from the blindness of sin and allowed to see the world as it truly is. And once we see things clearly, we come to see how empty worldly pleasures are. It is only in God that we can find true fulfillment and everlasting joy.

Do we follow the precepts of the Lord? How can we do so more joyfully? What can we do to open the eyes of others to the joy of knowing, loving, and serving God, our Father?

O Lord, enlighten our eyes so they might see the joys of following your commandments.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Easter

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Bless our God, you peoples, loudly sound his praise; He has given life to our souls, and has not let our feet slip.

Joyful spirits are something we all need to cultivate in this world. Having a joyful spirit can be the difference between optimism and despair. Without joy, faith weakens and withers. Without joy, hope drains and disappears. Without joy, love falters and fails. We must be able to rejoice in our triumphs as is right, but also remain joyful in the midst of trials. God loves a joyful spirit. He gives strength to those who cultivate joy in their hearts and spread its good seeds to others. He wants His children to have a contagious joy that can’t help but spread from person to person, bringing each person closer to Him.

Are we joyful people? How can we increase our joy? What can we do to bring joy to others?

O Lord, we cry out to you with joyful spirits.

Amen.

Third Monday of Easter

Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! Though princes meet and talk against me, your servant meditates on your statutes. Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.

We should delight in the laws of the Lord. We should rejoice in fulfilling God’s commandments. We should be happy to walk in the way of our Redeemer and proclaim His Good News. Our faith should be founded on joy. Our hope secured by gladness. Our love should flow from cheerful spirits. We should be at peace in any storm. The world may try to shake our confidence in God, but if we remain true to Him, then nothing will harm what matters most: the inner image of God that dwells within each of our souls.

Do we strive to follow the laws of the Lord? Do we meditate on God’s statutes? How can we be more joyful in our way of living the Christ-like life?

O Lord, your decrees are our delight.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Let the sea and what fills it resound, the world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.

All of creation resounds with joy before the Lord. From the sky to the earth, from the sun to the moon, from the birds in the air to the fish in the sea... everything that was created echoes the goodness of God. He created everything from His Word from the rivers to the mountains and all the living creatures of this world. Most amazing of all, He created us in His Own Image. He granted us free will and the ability to choose the good over the evil. He created us to love Him and each other and spread the Good News throughout the world.

Do our thoughts, words, and works resound with joy before the Lord? Do they bring joy to others? Do they spread the Good News?

O Lord, let us shout with joy before you so all who dwell in the world will know and love you as we do.

Amen.

Christmas Weekday

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.

As Christians we should foster a spirit of joy throughout the year. We should constantly rejoice in our Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior, our Holy Advocate. Each of these three persons in the Holy Trinity should be praised and thanked with happy hearts. We should delight in the love our Heavenly Father shows us each and every day. We should enjoy the presence of Jesus in the Word and in the Blessed Sacrament. We should be glad for all the inspirations and guidance we receive from the Holy Spirit. We are all marvelously blessed by our God and there should be no hesitation to sing praise to our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

How do we celebrate the joys the Heavenly Father has give us? What about the joys of the Son? What about the joys of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we sing joyfully to you.

Amen.

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice! Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

We have much to be glad and rejoice about in our lives. As such, our thoughts, words, and works should sing to the Lord and bless His name. After all, it is because of God that we have the time, talents, and treasures present in our lives. We would be nothing and have nothing, if it wasn’t for the generosity of our Heavenly Father, who gave us not only His Beloved Son as a sacrifice for our sins, but His Holy Spirit as a guide to holiness.

Are we glad for all we have? Do we rejoice in God’s Goodness and Graces? How can we make our lives sing God’s praises?

O Lord, we bless your name and sing with joy to you.

Amen.

Christmas

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.

Joy to the world! The Lord has come! Sing praise to our Wonderful God and Glorious king! He has come down from Heaven to join with us as a babe and a man. He has shared his deep love for us as he has shared in our humanity. He comes to us in the Eucharistic Feast and in gives us food and drink that nourishes our souls and grows our faith, hope, and love.

How are we expressing our joy at Christ’s birth? What can we do to prepare ourselves for his Second Coming? Are we thankful for the gifts he has given us throughout our lives from conception to now?

O Lord, we sing your praise with joyful and expectant hearts.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

There is a lot to be joyful about in our lives. No matter what trials we might be undergoing, we should have no anxiety at all because as Christians we know God is with us and will never abandon us. As long as we are prayerful and willing to ask for God’s help, then He will grant His Grace to us. Perhaps not in the time and place we would choose, but at the time and place that will do the most good for our souls. If we trust God in this way, then we shall have His peace within our hearts and minds, knowing our requests will be fulfilled to our betterment. So, let us give thanks to our God, who is our Heavenly Father, Loving Brother, and Protective Spirit.

How can we cultivate a joyful spirit, even in times of trial and distress? How can we imitate God’s Kindness to all whom we meet? What can we do to prepare our hearts and minds for God’s Peace?

O Lord, guard our hearts and minds.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Our lives are either guided by the flesh or by the spirit. If we are guided by the flesh, then we will fall into every kind of wickedness. We will become prideful, envious, wrathful, lustful, gluttonous, greedy, and slothful. We will live worldly lives constantly chasing our evil passions and empty pleasures. In contrast, if we live according to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, then we shall have fruitful lives. We shall have love, joy, and peace no matter what might be going on in our lives. We will grow in patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and gentleness. We will learn to tame our passions and gain the self-control we need to become holy people. Last but not least, our flesh will be crucified by our sacrifices and we will be freed from the chains of our sins and able to live as good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

Are we living according to the flesh or according to the Holy Spirit? How can we rid ourselves of those evil inclinations that lead us into temptation and sin? How can we grow in the virtues that will lead us to life everlasting?

O Lord, crucify our flesh with its passions and desires so that we might be made holy.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Lent

Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.

God is preparing a new world for us after our lives in this one. This is why it is so important to remember that our time on earth is only a prologue to our eternity. It lays the groundwork for what comes in the next life. We either build up a strong foundation that allows us to build a bridge to Heaven or we fail to do so and find ourselves lost to Hell. These are the two destinations that await us after our lives on earth end. There is no middle, lukewarm path. We are either destroyed because of our selfishness and sin or we are renewed in the spirit of love and truth and unite with God forever. The choice is ours.

How are we preparing for the afterlife? Are we building a bridge to Heaven? What can we do to make better choices so we can be united with God for all eternity?

O Lord, let us be filled with joy and happiness with you forever and ever.

Amen.

Second Friday of Lent

So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another: "Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams."

Jealousy is a vice we must always be on guard against. It can worm its way into our hearts and eat away at us. It can devour our virtues and turn our minds, hearts, souls, and strengths against God and His children. When we see something good happen to someone else, we should rejoice, even if that person is an enemy or rival. We should not take their success as an affront, but rather praise God for His Goodness to all. We may feel like we’ve gotten the short end of the stick, but that is only the case if we allow jealousy into our hearts. If instead, we are content and at peace with whatever God gives us, then we shall see our own dreams come true. Perhaps not in the way we expected, but in the way that is best for us and our souls.

Are we jealous of anyone? How can we rid ourselves of this jealousy? What can we do to guard against jealous thoughts and the temptations they bring?

O Lord, give us hearts full of charity and mercy.

Amen.

Sixth Monday of Ordinary Time

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.

It’s hard to be joyful while we are suffering, but that is exactly what each of us are called to do as Christians. We are all called to cultivate a spirit of perseverance that will suffer every trial with calm, humility, and love. If we are able to accept the trials and tribulations that come from choosing right over wrong, then we can perfect our suffering and make it into a holy sacrifice to God for all. In addition to being joyful in all things, we are also called to live wisely and well, doing all things for God and His children. It’s not always easy to know what to do in our lives, but as long as we pray to God for His guidance He will give us every opportunity to choose the right path.

Do we suffer joyfully or let our sufferings anger us or wear us down? How can we cultivate the virtue of perseverance in the face of suffering? Do we seek God’s wisdom whenever we are faced with a decision in our lives?

O Lord, grant us a spirit of joy and the virtues of perseverance and wisdom.

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.

Third Sunday of Advent

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

Rejoice, pray, and give thanks without ceasing... this is the will of God for all of us. God wants us to be filled with joy and happiness. He wants us to be cheerful even in the midst of our daily trials. He wants us to pray to Him constantly and be in dialogue with Him through the Holy Spirit so our relationship with Him can bear much fruit. He wants us to give thanks to Him for all the good He has done for us. He wants us to accept His Love, Mercy, and Grace with adoring, contrite, and humble hearts. He wants us to be on fire with the Holy Spirit and listen to the voice of our consciences. He wants us to be open to His inspirations sent to us through our thoughts and the thoughts, words, and works of others. He wants us to test everything in order to make sure our days are filled with people, places, and things which lead to good and avoid all evil. In short, He wants us to be alive in Jesus Christ so we might live with Him forever in heaven.

Do we have joyful hearts, even in the midst of trials? Do we pray without ceasing and give thanks to God all the days of our lives? Are we letting the Holy Spirit think, speak, and work through us for the good of all?

O Lord, we rejoice in you. We pray to you. We give thanks to you.

Amen.

First Wednesday of Advent

On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

In the end, God will destroy death for all those who choose to follow Him. He will release us from the bonds of sin and its fruit of death. He will wipe away our tears of suffering and save us from all the pains and ills of this world. His Saving Grace, will bring joy and happiness to all of us who walked the path of salvation with Him. This freeing and wondrous future is offered to us all. We have only to accept it from God’s open hands and choose the good over the evil, the right over the wrong, the just over the injustice… virtue over vice.

Are we allowing God to unveil our eyes so we can see right and wrong clearly?  Do we believe God will save even us, who are sinful? When are we going to accept God’s Grace and Mercy and amend our lives so He can invite us to Heaven with Him?

O Lord, save us!

Amen.