Twenty-First Saturday in Ordinary Time

Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.

We don’t have to be wise, powerful, or born into wealth to be good Christians. The only wisdom we need is to follow the teachings of Christ as best we can and trust in God’s Goodness. The only power we need is to make the choice to depend on God with complete trust in His Strength. The only wealth we need is the treasure house of graces that God offers us as followers of Christ. We are meant to be signs of contradiction to the world, showing our strength through our weakness. We are called to be lowly and humble, boasting of nothing except the greatness of our Lord and God.

Is our wisdom founded on the commandments, teachings, and inspirations God has given us? Is our strength totally dependent upon our humble trust in God? Is our nobility reliant upon our kinship with Jesus Christ and our imitation of his way of life?

O Lord, let our only boast be of you.

Amen.

Ninth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design.

Our faith requires us to be brave. We cannot be cowards if we want to be like Jesus Christ. We cannot be cowards if we want to be saved from our sins. We cannot be cowards if we want to have a place in heaven. Instead, we must put on a spirit of power, love, and self-control. We might be called upon to suffer much for God's Glory and the good of others. And if this is the case, then we must bear our share of hardships for the Gospel without hesitation or complaint. We must trust God will grant us the strength we need to overcome all our trials and lead holy lives guided by His Divine Will.

Are we brave in our faith? How can we resist the temptation to cowardice in our spiritual lives? What can we do to bear the hardships of our faith with complete trust that God will see us through all our sufferings to a life without end?

O Lord, give us your spirit of power, love, and self-control.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Turn to me and be safe, all you ends of the earth, for I am God; there is no other! By myself I swear, uttering my just decree and my unalterable word: To me every knee shall bend; by me every tongue shall swear, Saying, “Only in the LORD are just deeds and power. Before him in shame shall come all who vent their anger against him. In the LORD shall be the vindication and the glory of all the descendants of Israel.”

God is the source of justice, good deeds, and power. As long as we turn to Him, we will be safe. However, there are many things in this world that will tempt us to be unjust, to sin, and to trust in our own power before God. All those who allow themselves to be lured away from God will have to answer for their wrongs, while those who stand fast with Him will be vindicated and witness the glory of the Beatific Vision. So let us bend our knee to God and proclaim His Goodness all the days of our lives. This is what it means to be a disciple: to take God as our beginning, middle, and end and no other.

Do we turn to God in our times of need? Do we bend our knees and proclaim the greatness of God? Do we recognize God as the source, center, and summit of all our good deeds?

O Lord, in you we shall find our vindication and glory.

Amen.

Thirty-First Saturday of Ordinary Time

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?

There are many things in this world that can claim our attention. Money, popularity, and all sorts of distractions can lead us astray. However, if we have these things it does not mean that we will lose our way. Rather it is how we use these things that determines if we are good and faithful servants. How we handle dishonest money and popularity will determine how we handle honest riches and recognition. If we use these things wisely and well, then we shall grow in virtue and God will trust us with rewards beyond anything the world can offer us. And if we do not have money or popularity, then we shall be judged by how we handle our lack of these things. If we act righteously, then we shall be lifted out of our earthly poverty and given heavenly treasures beyond counting.

What worldly things are vying for our attention? How can we use our earthly riches, popularity, or talents wisely and well? How can we prove our trustworthiness in both great and small things?

O Lord, we want to be your trusted servants.

Amen.

Eighth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The world tells us it is good to seek power over others, but that isn't what Jesus says. His Way is one of service and self-sacrifice. His Truth is that power in this world means nothing in the next. His Light is the only power that truly lasts because it is the Light of God's Eternal Love. God does not seek to lord it over us, but rather to serve as our Savior, Father, and Advocate. He sacrificed his Beloved Son as a ransom for many… for us. If we want a part of His Kingdom, then we must do the same. We must be the slaves of all, doing good to all whom we meet each day without hesitation or expectation of return.

Do we lord it over anyone? How can we become more faithful servants to God and others? What are we willing to endure and do to be of service to our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, we seek to serve you and all your children, now and forever.

Amen.