Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, the creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Justice and salvation are what God offers us each and every day. He created all the universe and everything in it in order for us to live in justice so we might be saved. He does not wish us any evil, He gives us every chance to do the right thing... to know, love, and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love others as He loves them. He wants us to be good fruits, nourishing the faith, hope, and love of others so they might join him in Heaven. He wants us to be fonts of His Mercy, pouring out His Grace upon all whom we meet. He did not create us to be a waste, but to be a living blessing, showing others that God loves them and should be at the center of all people’s hearts.

Are we leading just lives? What are we doing in order to lead others to God’s Grace and Salvation? Are we living our lives wisely and well or are we wasting them?

O Lord, give us the grace to live in you and not waste away in worldly pursuits.

Amen.

The Ascension of the Lord

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

It is important to wash clean our consciences on a regular basis. We all need healing from sins. We all need to come to God with humble and contrite hearts. We all need to make good confessions to free ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil. The sacrament of reconciliation is a great source of hope for all of us. There should be no fear of such a wonderfully freeing experience. Instead, we should go confidently into the confessional and speak to God from the depths of our souls and allow Him to wash away our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities. It was for this purpose that Jesus Christ came into the world and we would do well to make use of God’s Divine Mercy.

Do we seek God’s cleansing sacrament as frequently as we should? Do we allow God to work His Divine Mercy within us? How can we lead others to the sacrament of reconciliation?

O Lord, thank you for the cleansing waters that flowed from your wounds.

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.

Sixth Wednesday of Easter

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all you his hosts.

Praise is an important part of our faith. How could we not praise God for all He has done for us? We should praise Him for all of creation. We should praise Him for making us in His Divine Image. We should praise Him for the Old Covenant. We should praise Him for the New Covenant. We should praise Him for giving us a Blessed Virgin Mother. We should praise Him for His Beloved Son. We should praise Him for Jesus’ life, passion, death, and resurrection. We should praise Him for the resurrection of the dead and for the sending of the Holy Spirit. We should praise Him for enkindling goodness, mercy, and love within our hearts. And this is only a drop of what God has done for us... how greatly loved we are!

Do we praise God as often as we should? How can we praise Him more perfectly? What can we do to lead others to praise Him?

O Lord, help us to praise you now and forever.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

Their message goes out through all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day; and night to night imparts knowledge.

Creation itself reveals the glory of God and proclaims His handiwork. In creation we find good, for God created all things good. He made the day and the night good. He made heaven and earth good. He made the skies and the seas good. He made the plants and animals good. All good things come from God. They find through source, center, and summit in Him. It is no different for us for God made us in His image, which is very good. He wants us to follow Him, to walk His Way, to speak His Truth, and the live His Life. If we do all these things, then we shall overcome all obstacles and become good and faithful servants, now and forever.

Do we take time each day to enjoy the goodness of creation? How can our lives reveal God’s Glory and proclaim His handiwork? What can we do to lead others to good and faithful lives?

O Lord, let the message of your goodness go out through all the earth.

Amen.

Fifth Wednesday of Lent

Glory and praise forever! “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.”

Our heavenly Father deserves to be glorified and praised. He is our Creator. He is our protector. He is our refuge in whom we trust. He is all the things we should aspire to be. He is our Savior through His Beloved Son. He is our guide through the Holy Spirit. His is the name we should glorify and praise above all others. He is the source, the center, and the summit of all that is good and should take the place of honor in our hearts, minds, and souls.

In what ways do we glorify and praise our Heavenly Father? How do we allow Him to help and guide us? What can we do to lead others to a greater appreciation and love for our Good God?

O Lord, we will glorify and praise you forever.

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.

Thirty-Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time

I, John, looked and there was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.

Though we might not write Jesus' name or our Heavenly Father's name or the name of the Holy Spirit upon our foreheads, it should be clear to all whom we meet that we are Christians. Our every thought should be guided by the commandments of our Father, the teachings of His Son, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. The words we speak to others should find their source in God. The works we do should proclaim we are followers of Christ and bear good fruits. Just as God is always with us, so we must always be with Him in spirit and truth. We should be beacons on a hill, leading all of God's children to the Promised Land and singing God's praises all the days of our lives.

Is it clear to others that we are Christians? How can we act more Christ-like in thought, word, and work? In what ways can we lead others to holier lives founded upon our relationships with the Holy Trinity?

O Lord, write your name upon our hearts and foreheads.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Friday in Ordinary Time

Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh; such is the deceitful one and the antichrist. Look to yourselves that you do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. Anyone who is so "progressive" as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son.

The world is full of good people, but it is also beset by deceivers, tempters, and evil-doers. As such, we must be on guard against these worldly people at all times. These wreckers of souls can be family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, bosses, or complete strangers. They lure good people into bad situations and tempt them to sin. They make false promises. They twist our good intentions. They persecute and mock us. They work toward the destruction of souls, theirs and others. Some know what they are doing and don’t care. Others might not realize that they’ve become stumbling blocks, bringing ruin upon God’s children. It is of the utmost importance that we do not allow these people to lead us astray and try our best to show them the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We cannot do this ourselves, but with the protection of the Father, the teachings of the Son, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit we can be beacons of goodness and light in the world and bring others to the safe harbor that can only be found in God.

Who are those who are trying to deceive us or others and lead us astray? How can we try to convert them without risking our souls? How can we protect others from their evil ways?

O Lord, give us the grace to never lose you or lead others astray.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice once and for all. He held nothing back. He gave everything he could for us. He lived and worked for us to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He suffered and died for us to take away our sins and save us from the fires of Hell. He did all these things to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father through the inspirations and workings of the Holy Spirit. He died for love of us, pouring out his mercy. And in the same way, all of us are called to become living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of others. We are asked to bring about the salvation of ourselves and others, striving to follow the narrow path to Heaven and lead as many people with us as possible.

In what ways do we give Jesus thanks for all he has done for us? How can we turn our lives into living sacrifices? What can we do to bring others closer to Christ, to our Father, and the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, take away our sins and bring us to salvation.

Amen.

Thirty-First Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

God often asks us to do things we don’t understand or don’t want to do. This can tempt us to grumble against Him or question Him, but this shouldn’t be our response to His call. Rather, we should trust that what He is asking of us will lead to our good and the good of others. We should be willing to suffer, just as Jesus suffered, to bring about His Kingdom. We must wrestle with our pride and make ourselves humble children of God. The world surrounds us with thoughts, words, and works that will lead us astray if we let them. This is why it’s so important to resist these temptations and shine like lights in the world and hold onto the word of life. If we do this, then God will give us the graces we need to overcome all our obstacles, to run the race of faith to its finish, and to produce good fruits for Him and all His children.

How can we rid ourselves of grumbling and questioning in regards to following Christ? What can we do to shine like lights in the world and lead others closer to God? How can we resist the temptations of the world and become holier people?

O Lord, help us to shine like lights in the world.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Let no one deceive you in any way. To this end he has also called you through our Gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

There are many people who would deceive us in this world. They would lead us astray in one way or another by convincing us there is no such thing as sin. Or we are holier than others. Or we must do some evil for the greater good. They will seek to compromise our faith, our hope, and our love in various ways... through temptations, indifference, anxieties, fears, and doubts. However, if we ground our lives in the Gospels and stand firm to our Christian traditions and the teachings of Christ, then we shall be able to withstand their assaults. Our hearts will be forged into fortresses dedicated to the Lord through our holy thoughts, words, and works.

Are there people in our lives who are trying to lead us astray? What might we do to lead them to God without imperiling ourselves? How can we strengthen ourselves in faith, hope, and love?

O Lord, let no one deceive us. Let your truth reign over us forever and ever.

Amen.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Discerning God’s Will for us isn’t always easy. Yes, sometimes the path is clear, but other times we are faced with multiple ways to go forward and it is difficult to know which one is the best. Sometimes He is calling us to leave behind something. Other times He is asking us to try something new. Sometimes the changes in our lives are forced upon us by the loss of a job, a loved one, or some other circumstance. Other times we have time to prepare for a choice we know must be made. Whatever decisions we are faced with, the best way to undertake them is to pray and allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

What is the Will of God for us? How can we more faithfully discern the path God wants us to follow? How can we lead others to the right path, too?

O Lord, we thank you for everything you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Easter

"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

We each have a role to play in God’s Divine Plan. Some of us are called to proclaim the Good News through our thoughts. Others through our words. And still more through our actions. Each of these ways is important and can lead others to God. Our thoughts can inspire others to live good and holy lives or do something good for others. Our words can give voice to the truth and set people freed. Our actions can bring charity and mercy into the lives of those around us. And each of us is given the gifts and talents we need to succeed in our callings. All we have to do is trust that God will provide and devote ourselves to what He wants of us.

Are we neglecting God in any way? What can we do to make more room for Him in our lives? How can we devote ourselves to what He wants of us?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to devote ourselves to you completely.

Amen.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

We all are shepherds in some way. We might have children of our own to lead and guide through their lives. We might have jobs that require us to tend to others through service. There might be some other duty we are bound to which gives us responsibilities and duties towards others. No matter what position of power we are in, we should make sure to do not lord it over others, but rather lead by good and loving example. In this way, we can imitate Jesus, who was a good and faithful servant of all in spite of being the most powerful man to ever walk the earth.

How can we be better shepherds? Who are the people who are in our care? What can we do to guide them to better, holier, and love-filled lives?

O Lord, inspire your shepherds to lead your flock closer to you in all things.

Amen.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

David grew steadily more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

The Lord of hosts is with us. And if we let Him fully into our lives, then He will make us more powerful, too. Perhaps not in worldly terms of fame, success, and fortune, but in the spiritual terms of faith, hope, and love. Just as David was the king of the Israelites, so are we called to be servant leaders for all whom we meet each day. We may not have a golden crown or temporal powers, but we do have crown of virtues and spiritual blessings. We may not have been anointed to kingship, but we are all anointed to discipleship and the best way to fulfill that calling is to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and love our neighbors as Jesus loves them. If we do these things, then we shall be models of excellence for all whom we meet, leading them closer to God and the ultimate victory of eternal life with the Holy Trinity.

Are we aware of God’s presence in our lives? Are we welcoming and inviting to Him? How can we become better servant leaders?

O Lord, remain with us and give us your strength to overcome evil and power to do good.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Advent

How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you and who falls asleep in your friendship.

Just like the prophet Elijah, we are called to be a light to the world and enkindle the fires of faith within others. We are asked to do wondrous deeds, both great and small, through acts of love and mercy. We are given the responsibility to proclaim the Good News to all whom we meet through our words and share our faith through our works. We are tasked with turning the hearts of others to God and to reestablish other people’s relationships with our Heavenly Father. We should be a blessing to others in everything we do.

What are the deeds God is asking us to do? Are we fulfilling our responsibility to be prophets of the Good News? How can we become living blessings to all those whom we meet each day?

O Lord, grant us the fire of your Holy Spirit so we might set fire to the world.

Amen.

Second Monday of Advent

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Our lives are not only about ourselves and our own conduct. They are also about our relationship with God and His children, especially those who are suffering, weakened, or forgotten. We are called to be good and faithful servants to those in most need of God’s Love and Mercy. We are asked to be His hands, bearing good things to others. We are asked to be His feet, walking to where we can do the most good. We are tasked with lending aid to those who are feeble, to support those who are weak, and to encourage those who are frightened. We are meant to be living acts of charity and mercy, pouring out God’s Grace to all whom we meet each day. We are supposed to be signs and guides, leading the lost back to their Lord and Savior. We are given the responsibility to help others overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of them becoming good and faithful servants, too.

How are we serving those in most need of God’s Love and Mercy? What can we do to lead others to a closer relationship with God? In what ways are we lending aid to those who are in need of spiritual support while traveling the narrow path to heaven?

O Lord, give us the grace to strengthen the feeble, support the weak, and encourage the frightened.

Amen.

Thirtieth Friday of Ordinary Time

I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. They are children of Israel; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

We should always be concerned for others. Because of this we should always speak the truth in Christ. Our consciences should ever be joined with the Holy Spirit so we can be better bearers of witness to the world. We should be more than willing to sacrifice ourselves in the pursuit of saving souls just as Jesus Christ did in his most holy life. In the end, we might not be able to convince others to believe, but we can at least show them what it means to truly believe by being good, faithful, hopeful, and loving people.

Do we show concern for others or are we self-absorbed? How can we become better witnesses to the Good News and God’s Divine Love and Mercy towards all? In what ways can we sacrifice ourselves for the good of others?

O Lord, help us to lead others to you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

We are all called to dedicate our lives to God. And each of us are asked to live out that dedication in unique ways according to our own gifts and talents. Some of us give God honor through our thoughts, passing on ideas that add to the collected wisdom of the Church and lead others closer to God. Others give God honor through our words, spoken in evangelization and encouragement, fortifying the faith, hope, and love of others. All of us give God honor through our works of charity and mercy. The wonderful thing is that each of us have something unique which we and only we can offer to God and it is up to us to allow Him lead us to the times, places, people, and actions which will fulfill His Divine Will.

Are we dedicated to God or to worldly things? What can we do to give testimony to God’s Goodness through our own thoughts, words, and works? How can we make manifest the Light of Christ when, where, and how God wants us to?

O Lord, we dedicate our lives to you and offer to you all that makes us who we are.

Amen.