Ash Wednesday

We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

As Christians, we are all on a mission to proclaim the Gospels. We are ambassadors of God’s Good Will and called to represent Him for all those we meet each day. Our every thought, word, and work either reflects God’s glory or mars it. We can hardly be good envoys of the Good News if we are not living it out to the best of our abilities. This is why it is so important to be reconciled with God and seek to amend our lives. It is only by doing so that we can embody the loving and merciful righteousness of our Lord and King.

How are we proclaiming the Gospel? What can we do to make ourselves into more perfect ambassadors of God’s Goodness to all? How can we become a representative of God’s Righteousness?

O Lord, reconcile us with you and help us to become good and faithful ambassadors of your Good News.

Amen.

Thirtieth Thursday of Ordinary Time

“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’”

Jesus doesn't let the worries of others rule his actions. He does not let the threat to his life paralyze him. What the Pharisees tell him could've been said out of fear for Jesus' life, but also it could've been said to drive him away. And yet, Jesus does not waver in his mission. He says he must continue no matter what. We need to act in a similar way when it comes to proclaiming our faith. We cannot let the fears of others or our own anxieties drive us away from the calling God has given us. Instead, when faced with adversity we must continue to walk the narrow path to Heaven even if it means persecution or death.

What worries and anxieties are tempting us to leave the path God has made for us? How can we continue the mission our Lord has given us as Christians and individuals? If we are afraid of being persecuted for our faith, then how can we overcome those fears?

O Lord, give us the strength to continue on the narrow path you've prepared for us.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Wednesday of Ordinary Time

At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent."

After being rejected by his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus comes to Capernaum and is accepted to the point where the crowds there want to keep him from leaving. However, Jesus makes clear his mission is not just to minister to one town, but to proclaim the good news of the kingdom to others. In the same way, we are called to proclaim the gospel to others. We cannot let rejection stop us. Nor can we let the temptation of comfort keep us from following in Jesus footsteps. Jesus didn't stop his mission in Capernaum, where we would have been beloved by all and treated like a king. Rather he choose to continue his teaching throughout Judea. Jesus did not come into this world to be comfortable, but rather to speak the Truth, to show us the Way, and to give us the Life that never ends. We are called to follow in his footsteps, seeking neither rejection nor acceptance by man, but rather living our lives in accord with God's Will in the hopes that one day He shall smile upon us and call us to our eternal rest as good and faithful servants.

How can we overcome rejection in order to know, love, and serve God and His children more perfectly? How can we overcome the temptations to be prideful or rest on our laurels when we succeed at doing God's Will and helping others? For what purpose has God sent us into the world and how can we fulfill it?

O Lord, give us the words and works to proclaim the good news of your kingdom.

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.

Seventh Wednesday of Easter

Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.

May we all be consecrated in the truth of the gospels and accept our mission to evangelize the world around us. Jesus consecrated us through his thoughts, words, and deeds, especially through his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He shows us how to go into the world not as part of it, but as part of His Mystical Body. We are not alone when we speak the truth and do good. Jesus and all of the communion of saints—past, present, and future—are there with us. As long as we keep the commandments in spirit and truth (and not just by the letter), then we will be manifestations of God’s love to the world. We will be true bearers of not only God’s image, but of the cross and suffering that comes with following in the footsteps of Christ.

How do we embody the truth of the gospels, not just in our private lives, but our public ones? What is God sending us into the world to do? Do we witness to and share our faith, hope, and love with others?

O Lord, consecrate us in the truth and send us out into the world.

Amen.

Fourth Friday of Lent

You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.

It is important for us to remember God has sent us into the world. Just like Jesus, we find our source in the Lord. There is a purpose to our lives beyond mere survival and worldly success. He sent us into the world to be reflections of His Divine Image and shine with the light of His Love, Mercy, and Grace. All of our good works come from Him and without Him we could do nothing.

How do we remind ourselves of the one who sent us? What purpose do we have in God’s Divine Plan? What is the best way for us to know, love, and serve God and His Children?

O Lord, send us into the world to do your will.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”

Jesus recognizes when it is time to move on and challenges us to do the same. We have a habit of finding a comfort zone and staying there whether it is a place, a job, or a daily routine, but sometimes these comforts can keep us from doing God’s Will. Jesus could have stayed, healed more people, and lived comfortably in the town where he preformed his miracles. However, he understood through prayer and reflection that he was not called to remain in one place. He had a wider mission and trusted God would provide for him along the way he was walking. So too we must be willing to put aside our good for something better and not fall into the trap of confusing comfort with the happiness which comes from living the Christ-like life.

Are we truly happy with who we are and where we are at in life? Would we be willing to leave our comfort zone if God called us to do something greater, even if it meant risking everything we hold dear? What is the purpose of our lives?

O Lord, we do not seek to be comfortable, but rather to be purposeful as you were in your Most Holy Life.

Amen.