Good Friday

In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Jesus understands what it means to be tempted and to suffer and through these experiences he learned to resist evil and be obedient. His model is one we are all called to follow. Just like Jesus, we are asked to offer prayers and supplications to the one who can save us from death. We are asked to be reverent in our relationship with God and be willing to make our lives into sacrifices to God and for others. We might not be perfect like Jesus, but we are called to be the best versions of ourselves. This means being willing to better ourselves in body, mind, and spirit so we can carry out God’s Will more perfectly. It means knowing, love, and serving God and others as Jesus did in his life. It means embodying God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace by willingly carrying our crosses and entrusting our spirits to God, who know how best to transform us into his beloved sons and daughters.

Do we offer prayers and supplications to God with reverence and trust? How can we learn to be even more obedient to God in our lives? What can we do to become more and more like Jesus Christ?

O Lord, give us the grace of obedience and save us from death.

Amen.

Fifteenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

God called out to him from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Here I am.” God said, “Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

Holy ground is something we don’t always think about when going to Mass, but when we enter a church and its grounds we find ourselves on it and should act accordingly. We should treat the church and its grounds with respect and do our best to be holy. We should strive to be loving, merciful, patient and mild while there in our reverence for God, our treatment of others, and our attention to the Mass, the sacraments, and any other programs or events going on within the church or its properties. We should be prayerful and united in Christ while in these holy places. We should dress properly, speak appropriately, and act in accordance with God’s Will. If we cannot contain our vices, imperfections, and passions within these sacred grounds, then how can we ever hope to be worthy of heaven? So let us be respectful of the holy places we enter and treat them wisely and well.

Do we treat holy grounds with reverence? How can we allow the holiness of these sacred sites infuse and upraise our spirits? What can we do to make our hearts into sacred grounds consecrated to God?

O Lord, give us a healthy respect for your holy grounds, the sacraments we celebrate there, and those we meet within your sacred places.

Amen.

Second Monday of Ordinary Time

In the days when he was in the Flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Prayers, reverence, and obedience are key to imitating Christ. Prayers are needed because they’re not only a means of expressing our faith and asking for God’s help, but also for opening our hearts to God’s Will and listening to His inspirations. We are also called to live reverential lives, respecting God in all His presences in our lives from the Eucharist to the image of God within every human being. Lastly, just like Jesus, we are asked to be obedient to God’s Will and to put it before our own selfish interests.

Do we pray to God as often as we should? Are we acting with reverence toward God and His image in others? Are we obedient to His commandments and willing to put His work before our own?

O Lord, help us to be prayerful, reverent, and obedient.

Amen.

First Friday of Advent

Now Jacob shall have nothing to be ashamed of, nor shall his face grow pale. When his children see the work of my hands in his midst, They shall keep my name holy; they shall reverence the Holy One of Jacob, and be in awe of the God of Israel. Those who err in spirit shall acquire understanding, and those who find fault shall receive instruction.

As Christians, we have nothing to be ashamed or afraid of. As long as we keep our eyes opened and see the work of God’s hands in our midst. Every day of our lives, we are witness to miracles, great and small. Moments in which God does great things for us. Moments when He gives us a small grace to get us through the day. If we keep in mind how much God does for us, then how can we not keep God’s Name holy and reverence Him? We might not always understand what He has done, but if we trust in Him, we shall gain understanding. We may not be perfect, our faults might drag us down, but if we seek forgiveness, then we shall receive the instructions we need to do better.

Are we uplifted by and fearless in our faith? Do we keep God’s Name holy and reverence Him for all He has given us? Are we seeking understanding and instruction?

O Lord, we are in awe of you and all your gifts to us.

Amen.