First Monday of Advent

“Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

Once we recognize God is our Lord and King, we shall be like the nations mentioned here... we shall find peace. The conflicts in our lives, both great and small, come from rebellions against God. From Adam and Eve to our own sinfulness, we wage a war with ourselves. We do what we know is wrong and avoid the good because being a sinner is easier than being a saint. However, if we want to have a place in the Kingdom of Heaven, then we must climb the mountain of holiness, follow its narrow path, and exert every effort to live good and faithful lives. We might stumble and fall along the way, but as long as we dust ourselves off, return to the right path, and trust in God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace, then we shall eventually find the Gates of Heaven and be found worthy to join in the never-ending Beatific Feast.

Are we climbing the mountain of holiness or sliding into the valley of sin? How can we amend our lives so we can more easily follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life that leads to Heaven? What can we do to become living saints?

O Lord, lead us up the mountain to eternal life with you.

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. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.

God wants us all to be able to join Him in His Kingdom. He gives us every grace to lead holy lives. He gives us every warning against sin and indifference. He offers us mercy and forgiveness for when we fall. He provides us with examples of good and faithful servants in the blessed and the saints of the Church. He has given us the Blessed Virgin Mary as an intercessor and His Beloved Son as a teacher and a model. He has supplied us with every advantage in our spiritual lives. If we want to be good and holy, then we have no excuse not to be so. And if we do remain pure and faithful, then one day we shall join Him in Heaven and feast with Him for all eternity.

Are we taking advantage of all the graces God has given us? What are we doing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, his mother, and all the saints? How can we remain good and faithful servants in a world that tempts us to evil and selfishness?

O Lord, we desire to be with you forever and ever.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Easter

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, "Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out, and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.

There is a Promised Land waiting for us at the end of this life. We need only follow God to where He wants us to be. There may be times when we feel like we are wandering in a wilderness. There may be enemies that stand in our way. However, one day we will leave the desert behind, overcome our enemies, and enter into our inheritance. When that day comes we have hopefully done all we can to prepare for our entrance into the Kingdom of God.

Are we preparing ourselves for the Promised Land? How can we keep our bearings in the desert of the world? What enemies and obstacles must we overcome to reach the Kingdom of Heaven?

O Lord, exalt us and lead us to the land of our inheritance.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

I have been with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.  And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for my people Israel; I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.

God is always with us and wants to build an everlasting house for us in His Heavenly Kingdom. He will give us all the love, mercy, and grace we need to overcome our enemies and fulfill His Divine Will. If we allow Him to think, speak, and work through us, we will magnify the Lord and become living instruments of His grace. He wants to fix a place for us in heaven and so He offers us all we need to become holy people, living saints, who place their faith, hope, and love in Him. If we place ourselves under His protection, then He will shield us from our foes and give us an inner peace that cannot be touched. Ultimately, when we are true and faithful to God, He will give us rest from all our enemies and a chance to be united forever to Him in Paradise.

Do we give thanks for God’s Presence in our lives? How can we keep ourselves aware of the fact that God is always with us? How can we become living vessels of His Way, Truth, and Life?

O Lord, plant your seeds of grace within the gardens of our souls.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

We are the adopted sons and daughters of God and we would do well to remember that. God so loved us He sent His Beloved Son to die for us all so we might be united to our Heavenly Father through the Body and Blood of Christ. He also sent the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate and Guide so we would know He loves us as His children. God does so many things for us. He gives us His Love, Mercy, and Grace to fill us with charity, to wash us of our sins, and to strengthen us for the way ahead. We should take comfort in the knowledge that we are so loved by God that He wants us to call Him, Abba, Father. Not only that, but He has also prepared a place for us in His Heavenly Kingdom and as long as we are willing to cast off the shackles of sins, we shall be given the grace to be co-heirs with Christ.

Do we act like the sons and daughters of God? How can we become more saintly people so we make our Heavenly Father proud of us? Do we call upon God as our Father when we are in need?

O Lord, Abba, Father, thank you for all you have given us.

Amen.

Seventeenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

 Before a treasure can be found it must be placed where someone can find it and someone must search for it. God is the one who places the Kingdom of Heaven within our reach. He did this through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. All we need to do is seek it out. Then, once we find it, we must be willing to sacrifice everything we have. Once we are divested and detached ourselves from the world, we will be given the treasure beyond any price. It is the treasure of saving grace that leads to our salvation and life everlasting with God.

What are we searching for in our lives? What are we willing to sell everything for? Do we treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above worldly riches?

O Lord, we would sell everything for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

Jesus gives two answers to the Pharisees’ question about when the Kingdom of God would come. The first was publicly given and tells the Pharisees that the Kingdom of Heaven is among them in the presence of himself. However, to his disciples Jesus talks about the second coming of Christ. He reminds them that they should not be like the Pharisees and wonder about the when of the second coming, but rather that they should be vigilantly focused on doing God’s Will until his return. He tells them to ignore all the signs because all they will do is distract them from their greater calling. Lastly, he warns them that he will suffer greatly and be rejected. Bringing the good news to others does not necessarily mean that they will receive it with open hearts and so we must be willing to suffer for God’s glory just as Jesus did in his life.

Do we realize that God is always with us? Are our lives focused on the Kingdom of Heaven or kingdom of the Earth? Are we willing to suffer in order to bear the gospel to others?

O Lord, we unite our sufferings to yours for your greater glory and the hope of Heaven.

 Amen.

Memorial of Saint Claire, Virgin

“Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

In the eyes of our Heavenly Father, the greatest of us are like children. We trust in Him and depend upon Him for everything. When we are doubtful, worried, or hurt, we turn to Him for guidance, consolation, and healing. We are humble before Him and recognize His dominion over our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies. When we act selfishly, we are punished, but when we do well, we are rewarded. Our smallest victories and virtues are magnified by God love for us. Our failings and sins are quickly forgotten when we say we are sorry and do penance. By being child-like, we reaffirm our dependence upon our Heavenly Father and constantly seek His approval for our every thought, word, and work.

Do we act in a child-like or selfish manner in our dealings with God and His children? Do we seek our Heavenly Father’s guidance, consolation, and healing? Do we recognize our total dependence upon God for all that we have been, are, and will be?

O Lord, we seek to become like children and enter your heavenly kingdom.

Amen.

Seventeenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.

The net of the gospel and its commandments is all around us. There is no escape and we should not be looking for one. Instead, we should look at the commandments of God as leading us to a greater purpose. They help us to conform ourselves to the gospel. They keep us away from the sin. If we live lives that are good and holy, then in the end we will end up in Heaven with our Lord and God. If we seek only worldly things and sin without remorse, then we shall be tossed away. These are our only choices in this life: to be good and saved through the aid of the Holy Spirit or to be evil and damned through a snares of the Devil. There is no middle ground. And refusing to make this choice is a choice all the same.

Are we the good fish or the bad? Do we conform our lives to the gospel’s message or deny it? Do we live our lives as if we will be caught up in the net of Kingdom of Heaven at any time or think ourselves invincible?

O Lord, draw us to you and help us to be good and faithful servants.

Amen.

Seventeenth Monday of Ordinary Time

The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.

The seed of faith needs to be sown in our hearts. Without planting it, we will have nothing to show for our efforts on this earth. But how do we do this? First, we must accept the seed of faith. We cannot sow what we do not have. So we must be willing to trust in the gospel message and in the model of living that Jesus gives us. Secondly, we have to cultivate this seed through good words and works. As we grow in the habit of loving God and our brothers and sisters in Christ, our graces will branch out and provide the shade of hope for our family, friends, and neighbors. We, in a sense, make present the kingdom of God through our acts of faith, hope, and love. From the tiny seed of faith, we grow into large bushes wherein all of God’s children can rest.

Are we cultivating a lifestyle that will help us grow in God’s graces? What do we do to nurture our virtues and prune our vices? Do we allow others to rest in the shade of our love?

O Lord, cultivate the seed of our faith so that one day we might become a dwelling place for all your children.

Amen.

Fourteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

 As you go, make this proclamation: "The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

After Jesus gives the Twelve authority over demons and illness, he sends them out to proclaim: “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Twelve become heralds of not only God’s Mercy, but also of His promise of everlasting life with Him in heaven. We, too, are called to proclaim these things and to do good in imitation of Christ. We might not be able to cast out demons or cure the sick, but we can forgive and help those who are tormented by their sins. We can care for and tend to the needs of those who are ill. In this way, we go out into the world as the Twelve did, bearing the authority and love of God.

What are the gifts and talents we can use to proclaim the Kingdom? In what way do we proclaim the Kingdom through our everyday duties and chores? How do we reveal God’s Love to those in most need of His Mercy?

O Lord, let our every thought, word, and work proclaim your Kingdom.

Amen.

Eleventh Thursday of Ordinary Time

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

This first line of the Our Father gives us a perfect example of what our relationship with Heavenly Father should be like. We should praise His Holy Name at all times, through our thoughts and words, especially through our prayers to Him. Our every work should have the aim of bringing about the Kingdom of God by doing His Will on earth. We should worship our Father who is the source of our being. We should center our daily lives on doing His Will and strive to reach the summit of the Kingdom. When we do all these things, then we align our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths to God and do all things in accord with his Divine Plan.

How do we praise our Father each day? What do we do to bring about His Kingdom on earth? In what way do we recognize God as the source, center, and summit of our lives?

O Lord, you are our Father, we want only to bring about your kingdom and do your will.

Amen.

Tenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

The commandments of God are many. We have the commandments given to Adam and Eve, the Ten Commandments, and the Mosaic Laws. Each of these commandments was expanded upon by those that followed them, until finally Jesus fulfills them all with his two simple, yet demanding commandments to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and our neighbors as Jesus loves us. Our lives are defined by how well we live out these laws of love. We are the least children of God when we turn away from selfless love and embrace our selfish desires. However, if we live out our vocation to love God and our neighbors we will be the greatest heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven.

How do we express our love for God? What do we do to show our love of our neighbors? Do we teach God’s commandments to others through our words and works?

O Lord, give us the strength to obey and teach your commandments.

Amen.