Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment.

Complacent is something none of us should ever be in this world. There is nothing in this world that can be truly satisfying. Only God can fulfill us and only spending eternity with Him in Heaven can make us happy. Earthly pleasures and goods might give us a false sense of enjoyment, but ultimately these moments fade and we are left empty. We might be wealth, famous, or full of pride but none of this will matter in the end. We can’t take these things with us and God will not look at them when He makes His Final Judgment. Instead, of resting on our laurels, gorging ourselves on pleasures, and devising our own entertainment, we should seek to do God’s Will and sing His praises for all He’s done for us.

Are we complacent? Are we misusing the time, talents, and treasure God has bestowed on us? How can we do a better job of nurturing and growing our relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of all satisfaction?

O Lord, grant us the grace to recognize when we are being complacent in weakness or sin and the strength to resist all temptations to be satisfied with the world.

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.

Fourteenth Monday of Ordinary Time

In you, my God, I place my trust. You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Our relationships with others are founded on trust and it is no different when it comes to God. The only difference is we either trust Him completely or we don’t trust in Him at all. We either depend on Him or on ourselves. We follow His Way, Truth, and Life or we make our own. We shelter in His Good Graces or we seek worldly security. We rest in His Arms or we take comfort in earthly pleasures. We have a deep and loving relationship with God or we have a shallow and selfish one (or no relationships at all).

What is our relationship with God like? Is it important to us and central to the way we live? How can we root ourselves more firmly as a child of God and heir to His Kingdom?

O Lord, we place our trust in you.

Amen.

Fifth Tuesday of Easter

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might.

God asks all of us to be His friends. Think about that for a moment. Our Creator, our Redeemer, our Advocate wants to be our friend. He wants to know, love, and serve us as friends do. He wants us to be with Him as much as He is with us. He constantly builds our relationship up through grace and compassion. He does small and great things for us and our good just as a good friend would. It is only right and good that we respond in kind to Him and do what He calls us to do... to love Him and all His children as He loves us.

Are we living up to our calling to be friends of our Lord? How do we make God known to others? What can we do to become better prophets of the Word?

O Lord, make us into good and faithful friends to you and all your children.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Easter

Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. My trust is in the LORD; I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.

Trust is an important part of any relationship. We cannot be united with others without trust… be they God, family members, or friends. God wants us to trust in Him. The Devil wants us to doubt God. The world will tell us to trust in ourselves, but if we do that then we will fail to trust in God’s Will. Pride can creep into our lives and make us feel like we are masters of our destiny, but we are masters of nothing. Everything we are and all we have comes from God. He is the Source, the Center, and the Summit of our lives. It is in Him that we find true fulfillment. This is why we are called to commend our spirits to Him and trust He will lead us not where we wish to go, but where we need to be.

How do we show our trust in God? In what ways have we commended our spirits to His Will? What can we do to build up trust in God in others?

O Lord, into your hands we commend our spirits.

Amen.

Monday in the Octave of Easter

Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot.

God is our hope. In Him we are safe from all distress. In Him we find rest. In Him we find purpose. In Him we find love and mercy and grace. He is the Lord of our Longing and only in Him will we ever find fulfillment. All the things of the world will pass away and be forgotten, but His relationship with us will always remain. He is our allotted portion and our cup of salvation. He has given us everything we need to have eternal life. We just have to throw our lot in with Him.

How do we give hope to others? What do we do to keep God’s children safe? Are we willing to put all our hopes in God, trusting He will lead us to the best of endings?

O Lord, you are our hope and safety.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face. The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

In the day to day of the world, we can get distracted by lots of things. We can lose sight of what really matters. We can forget what we really should want above all... to see God’s face in Heaven. However, with prayer, practice, and persistence we can bring this desire to the forefront of our lives. We can find ways to overcome our distractions, worries, and fears and instead focus on what is truly important... our relationship with God and with His children.

How can we rid ourselves of all those distractions that keep us from living the Christ-like life? What can we do to found our lives more perfectly upon God’s Presence within us? How can we improve our relationship with the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

O Lord, help us to establish our lives upon you so that one day we might see your face.

Amen.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

You are the highest honor of our race. Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the LORD God, the creator of heaven and earth. 

Mary is blessed among all women and beloved by God. She was kept from sin through the Immaculate Conception and has the highest honor of our race as the Mother of God. Her trust in and faithfulness to Her Heavenly Father are virtues we all should seek to imitate. We also should mirror her openness to God's Will in her life. Like her, we should constantly be saying, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." So, too, she was the perfect disciple of her Beloved Son, Jesus, following his teachings even before he spoke them aloud. The Word of God dwelt in her and though she didn't always understand its meaning, she always treasured each revelation in her heart. Last but not least, she was a constant co-worker with the Holy Spirit, open to His fruitfulness, guidance, and inspirations. This is what sets Mary apart. She made her will one with the Holy Trinity and let her God guide her every thought, word, and work. May we do our best to imitate her in this regard.

Do we honor Mary as we should? Do we seek her help and intercession in our times of need? What can we do to build a closer relationship with her?

O Lord, thank you for giving us such a blessed Heavenly Mother.

Amen.

Second Monday of Advent

Our God will come to save us! I will hear what God proclaims; the LORD --for he proclaims peace to his people. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land.

Our God has come to save us. He came in the form of a little baby named Jesus Christ. He came into this world in a lowly manger. He came to a mother, who gave herself completely to God’s Will when she said, “Be it done unto me according to thy word.” He came to an adoptive father who did not question God’s Will when told to flee to Egypt. He came to be lost and then found in the temple. He came to be a minister of the truth, showing others the way to live their lives. He came to cure the sick, feed the hungry, cast out demons. He came to give hope to the hopeless and free the imprisoned. He came to save us from sin and death. He came to die for us from the moment he cried out as a babe to the moment he offered up his spirit on the cross. He came to rise for us and show us a new path to Heaven and eternal life. He came to give us the Holy Spirit to be our Advocate and Guide. He came to mend our relationship with our Heavenly Father and transform us into worthy co-heirs to the Kingdom of God.

How often do we thank God for coming into our lives and saving us? Are we even aware of His coming? How can we become more aware of His Presence with us and His saving graces?

O Lord, come to save us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full.

The world will move on without us. To think otherwise is to ignore the truth that what we do with our lives is but a drop in an ocean of time and activity. Everything we have in this life will pass away, except our relationship with God. And so, our time, talents, and treasures should be focused on knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities. The sun will rise and set when we are gone and the only lasting impression we will make is the one we make with God. We will either be his good and faithful servants and enjoy eternal life or we will reject Him and become outcasts, grinding and gnashing our teeth. The world might give us the illusion of success and wealth, but if these aren't spiritual in nature, then they will come to nothing in the end.

Are we spending our lives on vanities and things that will not stand the test of time? Are we willing to labor for God and His children rather than for the fleeting successes and pleasures of this world? How can we make a lasting impression on God through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, strip us of our vanities and clothe us in the graces that come from serving you.

Amen.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We are constantly told we have to fill our lives with success, goods, and all manner of worldly things. However, this is not what Jesus did in his life and it is not what we should do either. Just like Christ, we should empty ourselves of all those things that might get in the way of our relationship with God. We must be willing to give up our will for the Will of our Heavenly Father. This means becoming a slave to God, a slave by choice and one that sacrifices everything for the glory of their master and the good of others. This requires a great deal of humility and a willingness to die to ourselves in ways we might find difficult. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and we are best served by choosing to know, love, and serve God and his children without reservation.

How can we empty ourselves so we might be filled with the Holy Spirit? What can we do to become good and faithful slaves to our heavenly Father? In what ways can we imitate Jesus Christ’s humility in our own lives?

O Lord, we choose to be your humble slave.

Amen.

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, bishop & doctor of the Church

Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and through whom we exist. But not all have this knowledge.

Our lives should be founded upon our relationship with God. It is because of Him that we exist and it is in Him and through Him that we find our fulfillment. This is why it is so important to understand our connections to God and to strive to live in accordance with God’s Will. He is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. As such we should constantly seek God’s protection, do all we can to follow His commandments, and fear disappointing Him in any way. We should also recognize God as our Spiritual Brother, who teaches us how to know, love, and serve Him and our siblings in Christ. Last but not least, we must allow the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide us as an Advocate who wants only the best for us. By doing these things, we become more perfectly united to the Holy Trinity and are prepared more fully for a life everlasting with Him.

How can we become better children to Our Heavenly Father? In what ways can we better follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life of our Heavenly Brother, Jesus Christ? Are we willing to let the Holy Spirit enkindle us with the fires of true love and mercy?

O Lord, it is for you that we all exist and we shall only rest peacefully when we have made ourselves right with you.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.

As Christians, we need a certain level of detachment from the world around us. This separation comes not out of a feeling of indifference, but rather the realization that the world is passing away and any attachments we have to it will one day be dissolved. The only lasting attachments we can ever make are those with our Lord and God and this is what we should focus on in this world. Paul isn’t telling us not to get married, or weep, or rejoice, or buy goods, or use things. Rather, he is warning us against becoming too attached to people, places, and things. They come and go, while our relationship with God will determine our existence forevermore.

Are we appropriately detached from the people, places, and things in our lives? What can we do to forge a lasting relationship with God? How can we make Him and only Him, the source, center, and summit of our lives?

O Lord, help us to detach ourselves from worldly things and fasten our hearts to you.

Amen.

Eleventh Friday in Ordinary Time

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD's people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.

The two covenants in this Scriptural passage remind us of our relationships with God and all His children. We have responsibilities to God and to each other, which we must uphold if we wish to have any share in the Kingdom of God. God should have the first and foremost claim upon our time, talents, and treasures. He should be the beginning and the end of our days. The source, center, and summit of our lives. We should shatter all the things that keep us from being completely God’s children. In addition, we should seek to be good and faithful servants to our Lord and His people. We should be protectors of the innocent, teachers of the ignorant, and consolers of the suffering... imitating God, who is our one, true, King.

Are we fulfilling our covenant with God? Are we fulfilling our covenant with His children? How can we be more faithful and fruitful in our relationships with God and His people?

O Lord, help us to live up to our responsibilities to you and your children.

Amen.

Eleventh Tuesday in Ordinary Time

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth over his bare flesh. He fasted, slept in the sackcloth, and went about subdued. Then the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his time. I will bring the evil upon his house during the reign of his son."

When we sin, we don't just affect our relationship with God and ourselves, but also our relationship with others and their relationship with God. We do not do good works or evil ones in a vacuum. The consequences for right and wrong echo throughout our lives and the world around us. We may not know how we've affected others, but in the end our choices both good and bad have an effect on our family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers.

Do we keep in mind that all our thoughts, words, and works have an effect on our relationship with God and others? How can we be more careful of how our decisions affect the faith and lives of others? Are we willing to humble ourselves after we sin and seek reconciliation with our Lord and God?

O Lord, have mercy on us.

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.

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Worldly things will not last. They are as temporary as shadows at dusk. They soon disappear. Our love should be focused on God and His children. God first of all. All the temptations of the world will try to entice us away from our Heavenly Father, Loving Brother, and Holy Advocate. It is up to us to make the choice to turn our backs on the empty, temporary things of this world and instead embrace and value the promises of Heaven.

Are we doing God’s Will? What worldly things do we have the most difficulty resisting? How can we find the strength to choose our love of God over all else?

O Lord, may our relationship with you always be more enticing than all the world.

Amen.

Second Monday of Advent

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; With divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared; Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Our lives are not only about ourselves and our own conduct. They are also about our relationship with God and His children, especially those who are suffering, weakened, or forgotten. We are called to be good and faithful servants to those in most need of God’s Love and Mercy. We are asked to be His hands, bearing good things to others. We are asked to be His feet, walking to where we can do the most good. We are tasked with lending aid to those who are feeble, to support those who are weak, and to encourage those who are frightened. We are meant to be living acts of charity and mercy, pouring out God’s Grace to all whom we meet each day. We are supposed to be signs and guides, leading the lost back to their Lord and Savior. We are given the responsibility to help others overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of them becoming good and faithful servants, too.

How are we serving those in most need of God’s Love and Mercy? What can we do to lead others to a closer relationship with God? In what ways are we lending aid to those who are in need of spiritual support while traveling the narrow path to heaven?

O Lord, give us the grace to strengthen the feeble, support the weak, and encourage the frightened.

Amen.

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The questions Jesus poses to his disciples are questions we need to ask ourselves. Who do we say that Jesus is? If we think he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, then that requires us to live our lives accordingly. He is our Lord and Savior and we need to recognize him as such. Our confession of faith in him is only as sincere as the thoughts, words, and works we think, speak, and do in his name. Our relationship with God also changes depending upon what we say He is... if God is our Heavenly Father, then we need to treat Him with the respect that is due to Him. If God is our Holy Spirit, then we need to cultivate our hearts so that they are fertile fields for the seeds of His inspirations. If God is our spiritual brother, then we are co-heirs to the kingdom and should act accordingly.

Who do we say Jesus is to us? What about God the Father and the Holy Spirit? How can we grow in our relationship with all three persons of the Holy Trinity?

O Lord, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Amen.

Twelfth Friday of Ordinary Time

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said: "I am God the Almighty. Walk in my presence and be blameless." God also said to Abraham: "On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you that you must keep: every male among you shall be circumcised."

Our covenant with God asks us to do a lot for God. We have to walk in His Divine Presence wherever we go. We must be blameless. We must circumcise our hearts, minds, and spirits. We need to follow His commandments and do everything for His sake so we can glorify Him and not ourselves. The covenant appears to be very demanding, but the thing we must keep in mind is that the covenant is a two-way street. It also makes a great demand on God. It asks Him to forgive us our trespasses and sins. It asks Him to remain with us forever. It asks Him to take us into His Heavenly Home and prepare a place for us. It asks Him to share eternal life with us. The promises we make to God seem a small price to pay for such amazing gifts.

Are we following the New Covenant as faithfully as we should? Do we realize how much more we gain through our relationship with God, then we lose through our sacrifices for His sake? How can we walk in God’s presence always and be blameless in His sight?

O Lord, help us to keep our covenant as faithfully as possible.

Amen.