The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.

As Christians, we are called to put on Christ and all his virtues. It is from his cloth that we are cut. We cannot be whole or holy without him. It is his compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience we are called to embody. And it is only through, with, and in him that we can learn to bear with and forgive one another. As Jesus forgave us through his sacrifice on the cross, so we must imitate him from our own crosses. So, let us be perfected through his love. Let the peace of Christ control our hearts so we might be one in body, mind, and spirit with him.

Have we put on Christ and all his virtues? Do we bear with and forgive others as God bears with and forgives us? Have we put on the love of Christ and allowed ourselves to be united with him in all things?

O Lord, may your peace control our hearts.

Amen.

Third Wednesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous deeds. And blessed forever be his glorious name; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Justice is meant to flourish and peace is meant to blossom. As caretakers of the vineyard of the Lord, our job is to make sure these things happen. We are called to nourish and tend to those who are under our care. We are asked to help them grow in faith, hope, and love. Whether they are family, friends, neighbors, fellow parishioners, strangers, or even foes, we are tasked with thinking, speaking, and doing all we can to cultivate their souls. We do this in hope that one day they will bear abundant fruit, even if we aren’t around to see it. Most wonderful of all, is that if we are good and faithful servants to God and His children, then we will yield a good harvest just by being holy. So, let us be blessings to all people and fill the earth with God’s Glory and Goodness.

What are we doing to help justice flourish in our time? In what ways are we trying to bring peace into the world? How are we helping others to become fruitful in spirit and truth?

O Lord, may your justice and peace flourish wherever we go.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. The mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice. He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor.

We all have the responsibilities of kings. We are called to protect the innocent and the weak. We are asked to defend the afflicted and save the poor, young and old alike. We are tasked with lifting people out of despair and giving them hope. We are to be an example of holiness to all those around us. We are to be just and merciful in our dealings with others. We are to bring peace and prosperity to all mankind, starting with our families, friends, and neighbors and then out to the rest of the world. We flourish and grow and produce good fruits when we act like kings should.

Are we living up to our responsibilities to be kingly servants to all? In what ways are we bringing justice and peace into our world? What can we do to defend the afflicted and save the poor?

O Lord, may our words and works yield peace and justice to others.

Amen.

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.

Thirty-First Tuesday in Ordinary Time

In you, O Lord, I have found my peace. O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me.

Pride is a vice none of us can afford to have. Wherever we find it in our lives, we need to uproot it, cast it away, and burn it to ashes. The temptation to pride is one that can bring low even the most holy of people. It can corrupt our good works by turning them into acts weighed down with self-righteousness and disdainful judgments of others. We can prize our own time, talents, and treasures above others. We hear the music of the Church and instead of focusing on the glory of God, we are lost in criticizing others for being poorer singers than we. We see someone act with charity or mercy and we say, “I could do better!” The prideful taint all they touch turning gold to lead and bountiful harvests into wilted crops. Instead of building up the body of Christ, they build themselves up like a tower of Babel, until they collapse under the weight of their own sins and selfishness. So, let us be humble people, busy not with self-important “great things,” but with selfless good things.

Have we found peace in our lives? How can we uproot pride from our lives? What can we do to be happy with being humble?

O Lord, make our hearts not proud, but good.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

The Lord speaks of peace to his people. Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven.

Kindness is necessary if we want to imitate Jesus. There wasn’t a moment in his life when he wasn’t kind. Even when he overturned the money changers tables, he did it out of kindness, namely to save souls. Kindness isn’t a passive virtue. It goes out from us and shows our love of God, of our neighbors, and ourselves. Truth is also needed if we want to be good and faithful servants to God. After all, if we do not proclaim and follow the truth in our lives, then how can we expect to share in the life to come? Justice, too, is a virtue we must cultivate in order to live up to the title of being Christians. We need to give God and His children what they deserve in thought, word, and work. Otherwise, we will have nothing to show when the time comes to make an account of our lives. Lastly, peace should be at the core of our being. The calm that comes from trusting in God’s Divine Will and Mercy and believing that no matter the trials we face, we will overcome them with God’s grace.

Have kindness and truth meet within our hearts? Have justice and peace kissed our cheeks? How can we make ourselves into true imitators of Christ, who embodied all these virtues and more?

O Lord, make us kind, truthful, just, and peaceful.

Amen.

Nineteenth Monday in Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem. He has granted peace in your borders; with the best of wheat he fills you. He sends forth his command to the earth; swiftly runs his word!

Our hearts are like Jerusalem. They are cities made of virtues and vices. We have places of holiness and openness to God’s Will and we have our dark corners where it isn’t safe for us to go. But no matter what, we can be sure that like Jerusalem God will grant us peace in our borders if we have faith in Him, hope in His Goodness, and love as He loves us. He will wash away our iniquities and cleanse the places in our hearts that have grown dark from abuse and indifference. He will fill us up with His Grace and Mercy if we allow Him through our gates and welcome Him into our lives. He will bring great riches into us if we let Him. And He will dwell within us if we make ourselves into His living temples.

Are we willing to let God bring peace into our hearts? What dark places do we need to cleanse from our lives? How can we be more open to the spiritual food God offers us?

O Lord, grant us your peace and fill us with good fruits.

Amen.

Seventh Wednesday of Ordinary Time

O Lord, great peace have they who love your law. Those who love your law have great peace, and for them there is no stumbling block.

Many in the world see the laws of the Lord as restricting. They are, but for our own good. God didn’t give us the Ten Commandments to oppress us, but rather to help us to be free from sin and death. When we follow and love God’s Laws, we become just and holy people. We show the rest of the world there is a path to peace and hope. We only need to let go of our selfish instincts and embrace the selflessness of Jesus Christ, who revealed to us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we are acting as Christians should, we experience an inner peace that cannot be shaken as long as we trust in God. There is no stumbling block that can cause us to fall if we depend upon God and follow in His Son’s footsteps. Even if the world is crashing down around us, we can have inner peace by simply loving God and doing what He leads us to do.

Are we at peace with God? Are we at peace with others? How can we become better lovers of God and His Divine Laws?

O Lord, we love you and your laws.

Amen.

Sixth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

The Lord will bless his people with peace. The God of glory thunders, and in his temple all say, “Glory!” The LORD is enthroned above the flood; the LORD is enthroned as king forever.

Peace is something most people strive for. We don’t like arguments or confrontations. We want people to live in security and without fear of harm to themselves or their loved ones. When asked about wishes for the world, many people will say they wish for peace. And yet, the world is full of war, conflicts, and arguments. We might wonder why God allows this, but it always comes back to mankind’s free will. We could not love without it, but the flip side is true without free will we couldn’t hate, either. We have to take the good with the bad of free will… and hope one day the good wins out. If not in this world, then in the next.

Are we striving for peace in our own lives? Are we using our free wills to foster love and not hate? How can we bring peace to those around us?

O Lord, help us to use our free will to be people of peace.

Amen.

Fourth Friday in Ordinary Time

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war be waged upon me, even then will I trust.

No matter what happens to us, if we trust in God, then we will have nothing to fear. If we are having financial difficulties, but trust in God, we will be taken care of. If we lose our health, but trust in God, we will make it through our troubles. If we lose a loved one, but trust in God, we will be at peace. If our enemies persecute and mock us, but we trust in God, then we will triumph over them. If we go through any sort of difficulties, but trust in God, we will survive them all. If we make God our Light and our salvation, we will have nothing to fear.

Do we put our trust in God in our most difficult times? How can we be at peace even in the midst of trials? What can we do to resist the war waged against us by evil in the world?

O Lord, with you at my side I have nothing to fear.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save.

Just as God does everything that He can to help the poor and afflicted, so to, we must do the same. When we see someone in need, even someone who might be repulsed by, we must do everything we can to help them within reason. We should strive to rescue those who call out to us, to help those in need, to have pity on the lowly and the poor. This is the type of justice God is calling all of us to make a reality in our own lives and in the lives of others. We might not be able to save everyone, Jesus couldn't do that, but we can do our best to be good and faithful servants.

Are we open to helping the poor and afflicted? What gifts and talents do we have that we can share with those in need? How can we be more just in our dealings with others?

O Lord, let your justice flourish through us, especially in our dealings with the poor and the afflicted.

Amen.

Third Monday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king's son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.

We all are called to be just in our dealings with God and others. If we want to be part of the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father, then we must treat others with dignity and respect. We have to govern ourselves with discipline so our every thought, word, and work will build up the Kingdom of God and not tear it down. When others see us, they should know we are Christians by our faith, our hope, and our love. They should say, "there is a just people" and we should respond, "come join us."

What can we do to govern ourselves with justice? How can we help justice flourish in our own time? How can we bring peace into our lives and the lives of those around us?

O Lord, plant your justice in our minds and hearts so they might yield the fruits of peace.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Advent

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

There is a lot to be joyful about in our lives. No matter what trials we might be undergoing, we should have no anxiety at all because as Christians we know God is with us and will never abandon us. As long as we are prayerful and willing to ask for God’s help, then He will grant His Grace to us. Perhaps not in the time and place we would choose, but at the time and place that will do the most good for our souls. If we trust God in this way, then we shall have His peace within our hearts and minds, knowing our requests will be fulfilled to our betterment. So, let us give thanks to our God, who is our Heavenly Father, Loving Brother, and Protective Spirit.

How can we cultivate a joyful spirit, even in times of trial and distress? How can we imitate God’s Kindness to all whom we meet? What can we do to prepare our hearts and minds for God’s Peace?

O Lord, guard our hearts and minds.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with your judgment endow the king, and with your justice, the king's son; He shall govern your people with justice and your afflicted ones with judgment.

Justice will flourish around us if we live the Christ-like life. When we treat others with dignity and love, they are more likely to respond in kind. Even if they don't respond to our kindness, we will have done the right thing and be at peace with ourselves. We also need to govern our own hearts, minds, and bodies with justice, fostering every virtue and uprooting ever vice. In this way, we can grow in faith, hope, and love. This is why it is so important for us to pray for God' Justice and Mercy in our own lives and to trust that God will endow us with both so we can live holy and fruitful lives forever and ever.

Are our lives governed by God's Justice? How can we promote and nurture the virtue of justice in our own lives and the lives of others? What acts of justice is God calling us to perform for Him and His children?

O Lord, may your justice flourish in us and bring us peace forever.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr

In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.

Our lives are either guided by the flesh or by the spirit. If we are guided by the flesh, then we will fall into every kind of wickedness. We will become prideful, envious, wrathful, lustful, gluttonous, greedy, and slothful. We will live worldly lives constantly chasing our evil passions and empty pleasures. In contrast, if we live according to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, then we shall have fruitful lives. We shall have love, joy, and peace no matter what might be going on in our lives. We will grow in patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, and gentleness. We will learn to tame our passions and gain the self-control we need to become holy people. Last but not least, our flesh will be crucified by our sacrifices and we will be freed from the chains of our sins and able to live as good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

Are we living according to the flesh or according to the Holy Spirit? How can we rid ourselves of those evil inclinations that lead us into temptation and sin? How can we grow in the virtues that will lead us to life everlasting?

O Lord, crucify our flesh with its passions and desires so that we might be made holy.

Amen.

Fifteenth Thursday in Ordinary Time

The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world's inhabitants learn justice. O LORD, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.

God gives those who follow Him a peace that cannot be shaken by temptations, worries, and other worldly fears. It isn't a peace that promises no harm will come to us or we won't suffer, but rather if we choose to do God's Will, He will give us a sense of calm even in the midst of our sometimes-stormy lives. He will smooth out our path to Him with consolations, inspirations, and other graces that will help us through our dark nights. All we must do is keep His commandments, love Him, and love His children. This is the vigil He wants us to keep and one we can all succeed at if we prepare our souls for the trials of the night and trust in His Goodness.

Do we pray for God's peace to sustain us throughout our days and our lives? Are we willing to suffer patiently in order to do God's Will? How can we stand vigil and do everything God wants us to do with our time, talents, and treasures?

O Lord, smooth our ways and grant us your peace so we might accomplish your Will in all things.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace. And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation. Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

As Christians, we all are awaiting and praying for the Second Coming of Christ and the Day of Judgment. This is difficult to do if we allow ourselves to be lead into sin or if we cling to our worldly goods more firmly than our heavenly ones. There is nothing in this world that should keep us from God. No man, no woman, no ideology, no earthly goods, nothing. This is why we are forewarned by Peter to be on our guard. The Evil One will test and tempt us throughout our lives trying to distract us, to lure us into sin, or to infect us with indifference to our fellow man. However, if we found our faith on the solid rock of Jesus, we shall remain stable through the storms, we shall grow in grace, increase in knowledge, and go through our lives without spot or blemish. We shall be at peace with God and God will mark us with the sign of salvation so that when the end comes... we shall be with Him forever and ever.

What are we doing to prepare for and bring about the Second Coming? What can we do to resist all the temptations of the world? Are our lives founded upon the firm rock of Jesus, our Lord and Savior?

O Lord, lend us your strength so that we might grown in grace and knowledge.

Amen.

Eighth Monday of Ordinary Time

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet you believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of faith, the salvation of your souls.

Our faith in the promises of Christ should see us through every trial and difficulty. Knowing that God loves and forgives us should grant us an inner strength to strive to do God’s Will no matter the cost. Our belief in Jesus will not shield us from suffering, but it can provide us with an inner peace that gives us the strength to suffer what we must in order to be good and faithful servants to God and His children. Our goal in life should not be to live without suffering, but rather to live for the praise, glory, and honor of God, which sometimes means being tested with fire so we might be purified and made worthy of salvation.

Have we put our trust in God? Are we willing to do His Will no matter the cost? In what ways can we prove ourselves as good and faithful servants?

O Lord, may our faith always be genuine.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit it grew in numbers.

When we are faithful to our calling, we are at peace... even if we are suffering, persecuted, mocked, and facing difficulties. This is because when we are doing God’s Will, we know everything will turn out right in the end. We might have to overcome obstacles and struggle through trials, but God’s Grace sees us through to the other side. When we are building up the Church through our thoughts, words, and works, we are filled with the knowledge that we will be consoled... if not in this life, then in the next. Last but not least, when we walk in the fear of the Lord, we understand our every action should be done for God’s greater glory and to reflect His Goodness. If we have such an attitude, then we will strive to be holy because we do not want to disappoint our Heavenly Father.

Are we at peace with ourselves and our relationship with God? How can we build up the Church? Are we properly fearful of disappointing God?

O Lord, grow our faith.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Lent

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

There are many people in our world that think our faith is foolishness. They will dismiss our faith as superstition or mock our faith as backwards. However, we should let their words slide off us because those who attack our faith do so out of ignorance. Like Christ, we should say, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” This is because we know our faith is not superstition, nor backwards, nor any of the other words people use to demean our beliefs. Instead, it is wiser than human wisdom and stronger than human strength. If we trust in it, we have nothing to fear. If we allow its commandments and precepts to guide us, then we shall be at peace and be made worthy of eternal life.

How do we respond to those who mock or attack our faith? How can we respond more like Christ? How can we proclaim Christ crucified in our own daily lives?

O Lord, grant us your wisdom and strength.

Amen.