First Friday of Advent

The lowly will ever find joy in the LORD, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; All who are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leave the just man with an empty claim.

The world around us may offer us many pleasures and momentary distractions, but no person, place, or thing can ever give us the joy that God offers us. When we humbly converse with Him in prayer, feast with Him in mass, and seek His Divine Mercy in reconciliation, we are filled with an unmatchable happiness. When we are poor in spirit, renouncing earthly goods, mortifying ourselves, and placing our trust in our Heavenly Father, we are rewarded with spiritual consolations. When we know, love, and serve God and His children with our whole hearts, we grow in faith, hope, charity, and God’s favor. In this life, there may be those who lord it over us and do evil to us, but as long as we are patient and turn the other cheek, then we shall be given the grace we need to find joy even in the midst of our trials. God will act justly for us. We do not need to retaliate. We need only to love others, even our enemies, as Jesus did and let God take care of the rest.

How can we become humbler in our thoughts, words, and works? What can we do embody being poor in spirit? Are we willing to be patient and let God defend us against our persecutors?

O Lord, you are the source of our joy and our matchless defender.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Monday in Ordinary Time

Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Indignation seizes me because of the wicked who forsake your law.

The unfair treatment of others should fill us with indignation. It should light a fire within us. One that inspires us to bring love, mercy, and justice to the world around us. When we see wickedness, we should oppose it and try to show people there is another way. We cannot force goodness on others, but we can proclaim the Good News and show what it means to be Christians by living our lives in accordance with Scriptures. Most importantly, although we might hate the sins, we must also love the sinner. We must be able to separate the two from each other so we can treat people well no matter how ugly their actions are. God is the only judge and no matter how much we might be tempted to condemn another, we must only condemn their actions, not the person.

How are we fighting against the unfair treatment of others? How can we learn to love those whom we find most repugnant? What do we do to keep ourselves from being judgmental?

O Lord, help us to fight against the unfair treatment of others.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.  This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

Praying for those in authority is something we all should do. Even if we do not agree with a person’s politics, we should still pray that they make the best decisions for the people they represent. We should pray that our leaders resist the temptations of office, such as corruption, pride, arrogance. We should also pray that our leaders build up the kingdom of Christ and not tear it down through their speeches, decisions, and laws. We might not be able to claim ultimate victory over the worldly in the realm of politics, but that doesn’t mean we should leave the field, either. Instead, we should treat our foes with love and mercy and try to show them the truth by being good citizens who are faithful to the Gospel.

Do we offer prayers for our leaders? How can we show love and mercy to our political foes? What can we do to make our country into one that respects the dignity of each human and our religious freedoms?

O Lord, we pray for those in authority.

Amen.

Monday of Holy Week

The Lord is my light and my salvation. When evildoers come at me to devour my flesh, My foes and my enemies themselves stumble and fall.

Our enemies will stumble and fall. They might lord it over us in this world. They might persecute and mock us. They might gain wealth, fame, and glory for themselves. They might triumph in this life and the eyes of worldly people. But they will never win. In the end, they will find themselves on the wrong side. They will be brought low. They will be silenced. They will lose everything they strived for. They will be defeated in the eyes of heaven. So, let us follow the Lord of Light and let him lead us through this valley of tears and trials into the Promised Land... to our salvation.

Who are our enemies? Do we pray for them and love them as Jesus did in his most holy and merciful life? Do we trust that no matter what our enemies do to us, we will never lose if we have God in our hearts, minds, and souls?

O Lord, turn the hearts of our enemies away from evil and to good.

Amen.

Thursday After Epiphany

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. From fraud and violence he shall redeem them, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. May they be prayed for continually; day by day shall they bless him.

God sent His Beloved Son into the world to redeem us from sin, hatred, violence, selfishness, and all other evils. He purchased our lives with the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. He made His Son into a living sacrifice through Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We should all be humbled to think that God came down from Heaven, became man, and sacrificed Himself for a people who constantly sin against Him. How many of us would be willing to sacrifice ourselves for those who ignore, abandon, persecute, and abuse us on a daily basis? And yet, this is what God calls us all to do... to love others as He loves them, which means being willing to suffer and even die for those who would do neither for us.

Do we thank God for all He has redeemed us from in this life? How can we act more Christ-like in our treatment of others, especially those whom we find most difficult to love? What can we do to prepare ourselves to become living sacrifices to God for others?

O Lord, bless us and make us into holy sacrifices to you for others.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

Jesus’ sacrificed himself for the forgiveness of sin, once and for all. In a similar way, we also must be willing to sacrifice ourselves by forgiving those who trespass against us. It isn’t always easy to forgive someone who has done us wrong, but if we want to be true to our calling as Christians, then we must put aside our disappointments and dislikes and have mercy on everyone who has harmed us in one way or another. Jesus was willing to forgive those who mocked, tortured, and crucified him. We should be willing to do the same without hesitation. So, let us make our lives into a living sacrifices united with Christ’s poured out for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of souls.

Are we willing to forgive those who have trespassed against us? How can we learn to be more merciful towards those who have harmed us? How can we free ourselves from the chains that come from being unforgiving?

O Lord, free us from any grudges we might hold against those who have sinned against us and help us to forgive.

Amen.

Thirty-Second Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise. They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.

As Christians, we are called to be good citizens, obedient to all legitimate authorities. We must be open to every good enterprise and ready to do every sort of good work. Although we should stand up for what is right and strive to change bad laws, we should do so through peaceful means. Not slandering our opponents, but rather being considerate and gracious toward all. We should have pity on those who have been led astray by their worldly desires and pleasures and seek to show them the right way to live without forcing them into the faith. We do this best by allowing God to think, speak, and work through us to bring about the conversion of sinners.

Are we being good citizens? Are we showing compassion even to those whom we most disagree with? How can we show others what it means to be a good Christian neighbor?

O Lord, make us into peaceable, considerate, and gracious citizens.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Monday in Ordinary Time

Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give," when you can give at once. Plot no evil against your neighbor, against one who lives at peace with you. Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm. Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways: To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship.

We must be free with our time, talents, and treasures. Willing to give them to others at a moment’s notice and without hesitation. This isn’t always easy to do, especially if the one asking for help is a stranger, someone we dislike, or even an enemy. We also must be willing to be charitable and merciful when it’s not convenient for us. We must be willing to give our gifts to others no matter what else we’d rather be doing. At the same time, we should not plot evil against others or quarrel with them. No matter what wrongs we have suffered, we are never entitled to vengeance. God is the only Judge and it is for Him and only Him to punish wrongdoers. Last but not least, we are told to envy not the lawless man or his ways. There is a temptation to see the success and pleasures of evil people and wonder why we suffer while they enjoy themselves, but theirs is an empty victory. If we remain true, then we shall enjoy the afterlife and be God’s friends forever and ever.

Are we willing to give to others without counting the cost? Are we willing to be at peace with those whom have harmed us? Are we willing to deny ourselves the ways of the lawless man?

O Lord, we shall stand with you in uprightness.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

There is always the temptation to exclude people or to join with one faction or another. However, this is not what Jesus did in his life. He was welcoming and open to others, sinners, saints, and even his enemies. He handed down the Eucharist to us so we might be united as one in His Body, the Church. He sought to bring us together, male and female, rich and poor, through the sharing of His Body and Blood. Yes, there are people we don't like or don't connect with, but this doesn't mean we can look down on them or exclude them from our faith lives. This isn't what Jesus would have done and so it isn't what we should do, either. Instead, we should be understanding, charitable, and merciful, not judging others, but rather loving them as best we can.

Are there people we are excluding from our lives unfairly? How can we reconcile ourselves with them and welcome them into our lives? In what ways can we bring those around us together?

O Lord, help us to be united in you.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Now indeed then it is, in any case, a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated? Instead, you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers. Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

The world constantly tells us to get even and make our enemies pay for what they’ve done to us. We are encouraged to take an adversarial relationship with those who have done us wrong in some shape, form, or fashion. However, Paul reminds us this is not the Way of Jesus. Christ did not come to proclaim a Gospel of Getting Even. No. He came to proclaim the Gospel of Love and Mercy. He showed us how to walk this path of compassion by turning his other cheek to those who persecuted him. He suffered mockery, beatings, and even death on a cross and never once did he raise his hand to strike down his enemies. Instead, he forgave them while he bled on the cross. If we want to have a part in his Kingdom, then this is exactly what we must do, too. Be kind and loving to all, even our enemies, and forgive those who do not know what they are doing.

Have we fallen into the worldly trap of trying to get even with someone else? How can we rather seek to forgive those who have harmed us? What can we do to become more Christ-like in our compassion?

O Lord, give us the grace to repay evils with goods and cheating with generosity of spirit.

Amen.

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.

Second Wednesday of Lent

Heed me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say. Must good be repaid with evil that they should dig a pit to take my life? Remember that I stood before you to speak in their behalf, to turn away your wrath from them.

Not all of our good deeds will be repaid with good. Sometimes those we help will be indifferent to what we have done for them or take it for granted. Other times, the people we help will complain about what we’ve done or how we’ve helped them. Still others will repay our kindnesses with evil and persecution. However, we shouldn’t let the apathetic or negative responses keep us from doing what is right. It is easy to treat others well when they do the same to us... much harder when they dismiss or despise our help. But just as Jesus loved and forgave even those who persecuted and mocked him on the cross, so too are we called to love and forgive those who repay our good deeds with evil.

Are we able to put aside the responses others have to our good works and simply do what is good because it is right and just? Are we willing to turn the other cheek to and do good for those who are our adversaries? Do we pray for those who repay us with evil?

O Lord, turn away your wrath from those who transgress against us.

Amen.

First Monday of Lent

You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Loving our neighbor as ourselves is one of the keys to being good and faithful servants of God and followers of Christ. This calling means not only loving our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers when they are easy to love, but also when they are difficult to love. It means not condemning others for their faults, but also not condoning their actions when they are evil. It means casting aside all hatred and instead showing compassion… even to those who show none for us. It means turning the other cheek and holding no grudges. It means loving without hesitation or reservation… with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths for the simple reason that each of our neighbors was created in the image and likeness of God.

Who are the people in our lives we have the most difficulty loving as ourselves? How can we grow in love for these people and others? How can we put aside our own selfish responses to those who mistreat us and simply love them in spite of our feelings?

O Lord, help us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

We are all called to preach the gospel through our thoughts, words, and works. Sometimes preaching the gospel comes naturally to us through acts of charity and mercy. Other times we may not want to proclaim the gospel, especially to those whom we dislike. We might not want to do the right thing for the person or persons who always hurt us... and yet, they are exactly the people we are called to preach the gospel to. It may not be easy to put aside our personal feelings, but that is why God gave us the example of Jesus showing compassion even for those who were persecuting him. If we follow his example, like Paul, then we will have a recompense... graces and consolations that will help us. If we still find it difficult, then we must remember we have been entrusted with the stewardship of the Word of God. We have an obligation to do what we don’t want to do because it is what God wants. But hopefully, we shall accept the sacrifice that comes with proclaiming the Good News... otherwise, woe to us!

Are we preaching the gospel with our whole hearts, minds, souls, and strengths? Do we do so even for those whom we find it most difficult to love? How can we become better preachers of the Good News in thought, word, and work?

O Lord, give us the grace to proclaim your gospel faithfully.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

But the king asked the Cushite, "Is young Absalom safe?" The Cushite replied, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you with evil intent be as that young man!" The king was shaken, and went up to the room over the city gate to weep. He said as he wept, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"

It isn’t easy loving our enemies. The temptation is to wish them evil, especially if they have done evil to us and caused suffering in our own lives. However, if we want to be followers of Christ and do God’s Will, then we must put aside our feelings of revenge and instead pray for our enemies. When those who have done us wrong suffer or even die, we should be the first in line not to gloat, but to comfort and forgive. Jesus showed us how to give our lives for the good of even those who persecute us and we would do well to remember his example when we are tempted to strike back against those who have done us wrong.

Who are the people in our lives whom we have the most difficulty loving? How can we put aside our grievances and treat them with love and mercy? Are we willing to put aside our feelings and comfort our enemies during their own times of trial and suffering?

O Lord, give us the grace to love even our enemies.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Ordinary Time

David seized his garments and rent them, and all the men who were with him did likewise. They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

Mourning, weeping, and fasting for those who have wronged us isn’t something we all immediately think of, but David does exactly this for Saul... the man who tried to kill him. It’s easy to imagine mourning those who are our family and friends, like Jonathan was to David, but quite a different story for those who have persecuted us. However, just like David, we are all called to have compassion on our enemies as well as our friends. Just because someone does evil to us, doesn’t give us the right to deny their dignity, ignore their sufferings, or take pleasure in their pains. If we do any of these things, then we fall short of living out the commandment to love one another as Jesus loves us.

Are we willing to make sacrifices in order to help those who have harmed us in some way? Can we forgive the past transgressions of others and do what is right even to our enemies? How can we live out the beatitude to mourn with others?

O Lord, help us to treat our enemies as Jesus would treat them.

Amen.

Second Friday of Ordinary Time

Saul then said to David: "You are in the right rather than I; you have treated me generously, while I have done you harm. Great is the generosity you showed me today, when the LORD delivered me into your grasp and you did not kill me. For if a man meets his enemy, does he send him away unharmed? May the LORD reward you generously for what you have done this day. And now, I know that you shall surely be king and that sovereignty over Israel shall come into your possession."

It isn’t easy treating our enemies generously. It’s difficult to do good to those who have done evil to us. However, we are all asked to respect the dignity of others, no matter how much they might disrespect us. God asks all of us to do no harm to others. It isn’t our place to judge or punish, but rather to love unconditionally just as Jesus did. Only our Heavenly Father can judge the hearts of others and we disrespect Him when we try to take justice into our own hands. Instead of selfish retaliation, we are called to be generous to our enemies and let them go unharmed. Perhaps our example of kindness, will change our enemies’ hearts and make them realize the error of their ways, but even if it doesn’t then we can be secure in knowing that we turned the other cheek just as Jesus did and although the world might slap it... God will heal our temporary pain and replace it with eternal life in and with Him.

Who are the people we find it most difficult to love? Are we treating them generously and lovingly? How can we become more charitable to those who are unkind to us?

O Lord, grant us generous and merciful spirits.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Stephen, first martyr

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,
and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.

There will be times in our lives when we will be asked to defend our faith or be willing to suffer because of what we believe. It is during times like these that we should look to the martyrs for inspiration. We might not be stoned to death, but we may suffer hardships in order to do God’s Will. During these times of trial and tribulation, God will give us the grace and power we need to face our difficulties with faithful, hopeful, and loving hearts. We shall be able to love even our enemies and ask God’s forgiveness on them for they know not what they do. As long as we choose to think, speak, and act mercifully, like Christ and the martyrs who came before us, then we shall have nothing to fear... not even death.

Do we allow God to work through us by proclaiming the Good News to all we meet through our good works and kind spirits? Are we willing to suffer martyrdom for our faith? Do we pray to God for the wisdom we need to use the grace and power He has given us for our good and the good of others?

O Lord, fill us with your grace, power, and wisdom.

Amen.

Thirty-First Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet, and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.

We owe everyone we meet unconditional and selfless love. Whether they are family, friends, neighbors, strangers, or even enemies… we must always love others as we love ourselves. Everything in our faith revolves around the virtue of love. This is why it is important for us to not only say we believe in God, but actually put that belief into action. Faith and works. It is by loving others as ourselves that we can fulfill the commandments most faithfully in spirit and truth.

Are we giving others our love without reservation? Are we allowing the Spirit of Love to inspire and guide us in our thoughts, words, and works? Have we made love the foundation upon which we build our public and private lives?

O Lord, help us to love others as ourselves.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to implore the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

Our faith is one that embraces many cultures and races. We are open to welcoming anyone who is willing to profess our Creed and live according to the Word of God and the Traditions of the Church. Although many might accuse us of being unwelcoming or intolerant, this is not the case. We welcome all those who want to live the Christ-like life. We may not condone every lifestyle choice, but that doesn’t mean we condemn those who sin. Jesus didn’t condemn sinners, he loved them, cared for them, and did good things for them. All in the hope that they would see the truth of his words and sincerity of his actions and come to accept his Way, Truth, and Life. Similarly, we are called to greet sinners with open arms and hearts and be willing to treat them as Jesus did... with generosity and kindness.

Do we embrace the cultures and races around us? Do we love our neighbors even when they are living in sin? How can we learn to love those whom we do not agree with or find difficult to like?

O Lord, make us into one, united, welcoming people.

Amen.