Thirty-First Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. He dawns through the darkness, a light for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.

As Christians, we are called to be lights to the world. Our thoughts should enlighten ourselves and others and lead us to faithful and holy lives. Our words should bring the fires of hope into the world. Our works should reveal and magnify God’s Goodness and manifest it for all to see. We are meant to be gracious, merciful, and just, leading all whom we meet to a better way of life through the truth. We make present the Lord through our good deeds and we should do everything in our power to be the dawn in the darkness for all those in need of God’s Light.

Are our thoughts, words, and works good? Do we cultivate our lives so they are filled with graciousness, mercy, and justice? How can we become a light for others on their journey toward eternal life with God?

O Lord, help us to dawn through the darkness.

Amen.

Eleventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Blessed the man who fears the Lord. Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just.

Fear is often seen as something bad in the world around us. However, there are times when fear is helpful and good. One such example is fearing the Lord. This is not the scary fear we often think of, but rather a fear based in awe and reverence. It is the fear a child feels when they worry about disappointing their parents. It is the fear that comes out of a concern for someone or something else in our lives. This good type of fear isn’t paralyzing, but rather freeing. It enriches us and helps us to endure all things for God. It is a fear that sparks the fire of devotion within us that shines through the darkness and helps guide us to become gracious, merciful, and just.

Do we fear the Lord? How can we show our love and respect for Him? What can we do to become lights of God’s Love to the world?

O Lord, we fear disappointing you. Grant us the grace to never do so.

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.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

"This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Our faith has been passed down from generation to generation for two thousand years. It was given to Jesus’ disciples and they passed it on to others... all the way to us. Now, it is our responsibility to pass on the faith to the next generations. Our children and their children. We would indeed do well to be attentive to our faith so we might shine with hope and bring warmth to others through our love. We are all given the great and humbling task of passing the flame of faith to others and it is up to us to do it with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

What are we doing to pass on the faith to others? Are we manifesting Jesus through our every thought, word, and work? How can we become better preachers of the Good News?

O Lord, make us into lamps shining in the darkness.

Amen.

Seventh Friday of Easter

His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.

The world doesn't quite know what to do with Christians. Some worldly people ignore us, others persecute us... and a still others see our good works and wonder if our lives reveal there is something better than the world. We cause confusion, discord, and all manner of problems for those who are part of the world. But that's what Jesus did, too. He was and still is a sign of contradiction. He died so that hearts of others might be known. He died so that we all might have a chance to live in accordance with the commandments to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths... and to love our neighbors as He loves them. Our faith isn't of the world, but it does send us forth into the world to be lights to the earth and bring people closer to God and to the promise of life everlasting.

Are we being good and faithful examples of what it means to be Christians? How can we bear the light of Jesus into the world with even more fidelity? What can we do to help others to follow the Way, to hear the Truth, and the live the Life of Christ?

O Lord, help us to bear the Good News into the world with all our strength.

Amen.

Tuesday of Holy Week

Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Sometimes in life we feel like we aren’t making any progress. We feel like we are treading water or worse sinking. We wonder if we have toiled in vain, for nothing, spending our time, talents, and treasures on things that aren’t bearing fruit. However, God doesn’t judge us on the outcome of our endeavors. He judges us by the intentions and reasons behind our thoughts, words, and works. We might not experience worldly success in any of our endeavors and yet still be successful in the eyes of the Lord because we did the right thing or made God the center of our lives. We are all called to be lights to the nations and if we do God’s Will to the best of our abilities, then we shall succeed in the greatest task before us... being good and faithful servants to our Heavenly Father.

Are all our thoughts, words, and works grounded in our love of God? How can we make Him the source, center, and summit of our whole lives? What can we do to remain faithful and trusting in God even when our dreams, plans, and actions don’t come to fruition as we imagined?

O Lord, our recompense is with you and not in worldly success.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!

Our lives as Christians should be filled with acts of charity and mercy. Our fasting shouldn’t only be giving up something, but also giving something in alms to those in need. We might have limited time, money, and resources, but there is always something, even something small, that we can do for the good of others and the glory of God. We just have to keep our eyes and ears open for those opportunities where we can bring relief to those who are in need. Whether it is releasing people from unjust bonds, setting free the oppressed, sharing our bounty with those in need, or simply helping someone with a simple chore, we become a light to those whom we help and perhaps the fire within us will spark hope in the hearts of others and lead them to light the world on fire with us.

What can we do to help those in need? How can we bring hope into the lives of others? In what ways can we become a light for all the world?

O Lord, here I am!

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.

Thirty-Second Tuesday of Ordinary Time

For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever.

Even though we might suffer and be persecuted for our faith, we will not go unrewarded for our fidelity to God and His teachings as handed down to us through the Scriptures and the Church. We might be asked to make sacrifices, but none of the things we will give up in this life will compare to the blessings we will receive when we come into the Kingdom. Each day, we are tested by God, not because He wants us to fail, but because He wants us to succeed in what is most important in life. He gives us every grace and opportunity to do the greatest good with our lives and to become living saints. Whatever we suffer is simply meant to purify us of those attachments that are holding us back from knowing, loving, and serving God and others more perfectly. Our sacrifices when united with those of Jesus Christ shine for all to see and like living fires sent the world ablaze with the love of God. We are all called to be witnesses to the faith and it is only through trial and triumph that we can give the best of witnesses... the witness of self-gift.

Are we willing to suffer a little in this world in order to enjoy the feasts in heaven? How can we prove ourselves to God and give a fruitful witness to the Good News? In what ways can we set the world ablaze with the love of God?

O Lord, we offer ourselves to you as living sacrifices for your glory.

Amen.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever.

We are proved each and every day of our lives. Either we remain pure and virtuous or we become impure and sinful. Our choices determine whether we are worthy of becoming an offering to God or if we need more refinement in the fires our daily trials. If we do good and avoid evil, we shine for all the world to see and set the world on fire with love and mercy. If we do evil and avoid good, then we become blind and may even lead others into the darkness of sin. God judges us on how we think, speak, and act, holding us accountable for what we do, but also willing to forgive and forget if we are willing to admit our faults and do penance. 

Do we prove our faith, hope, and love each and every day? What can we do to remain pure and virtuous? How can we be a light for the whole world, leading others to God?

O Lord, prove us in the fires of your love and mercy.

Amen.

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter

It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.

Not everyone will accept the Good News. Some will not want to hear it. Others will deny or suppress it. Some will persecute us for speaking the truth. Others will speak falsely against us. However, just because some people reject the Divine Word doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t continue to proclaim the Gospels with all our hearts. We may discover, like the disciples, that there are people who are open to the teachings of Christ and His Church. All they need is someone to become their guiding light and lead them to eternal life. We do this best when we ask for the Father’s protection, Jesus’ love, and the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. With these things we can become instruments of salvation for all those whom we meet, who are ready to accept the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ.

How can we respond more fruitfully to those who do not want to listen to the Good News? Are we willing to set aside our own feelings and put the proclamation to Gospels first and foremost in our lives? What can we do to transform ourselves into lights of God’s Love and Mercy?

O Lord, make us into instruments of your peace and salvation.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

It isn’t easy being a light for the world. It can be tempting to hide our faith in order to avoid conflicts with our family, friends, and neighbors. We might do so because we don’t feel good enough or knowledgeable enough to present ourselves as Christians. We might not feel confident enough to proclaim the Good News or be willing enough to take that leap of faith that is required to become witnesses to the faith. However, if we want to be found worthy of heaven and share in the promise of eternal life, then we need to put aside our fears, doubts, and anxieties and bear the light of Christ into the world. If we want our families, friend, and neighbors to grow in holiness, then we need to burn with the light of love and mercy. It is through our good words and works that others come to see the goodness of our Heavenly Father and glorify Him.

How are we a light of God’s Love and Mercy for our families and friends? How are we a beacon of truth for our neighbors and the whole world? What can we do to enkindle, sustain, and grow the fires of our faith and the faith of others?

O Lord, may the lights of our lives shine before others and lead them to you.

Amen.