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.

Twenty-Fifth Thursday in Ordinary Time

Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.

There are some people who keep themselves very busy, but don’t accomplish much. Others are never satisfied with what they have no matter how much they’ve got. Some are never exhilarated by their lives and are always on the lookout for something better. Many have everything they truly need in life, but are not warmed by their good fortune. All of these people are like bags with holes in them. They will never be full, never be happy, never be at peace. They let their desires rule them and never stop to enjoy what they have. They think amassing more of everything will solve their problems, but their greed only multiplies their difficulties. Instead, we should consider our ways and try to remember that God loves those who are poor in spirit. He does not weigh our toys at the end of our lives, but rather our good words and deeds. And it is only in these good things that we will find any satisfaction.

Do we consider our ways each day? How do we try to improve ourselves in body, mind, and spirit? What can we do to patch the holes in our spiritual lives so we can hold onto what is truly important: our relationships with God and His children?

O Lord, help us to consider our ways and change for the better.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Easter

The Lord hears the cry of the poor. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.

We are all called to be poor in spirit, which means to be humble before God and accepting of all the trials and sufferings we must bear in this world. It also means not lording it over others, but rather loving them as fellow children of our Heavenly Father. If we do these things, then we will be blessed and be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. It is in God that we gain glory, not in worldly successes. It is in God that we are lifted from our lowly places and given a place of honor at the Eternal Banquet. It is in God that we are made glad forever and ever.

Do we listen to the cries of the poor? How do we reflect God’s Glory to others? How can we cultivate humble and gracious hearts?

O Lord, hear our cries and help us to listen to the needs of others.

Amen.