Fourth Monday of Advent

Lift up your heads and see; your redemption is near at hand. Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way.

Humility is a virtue we have to constantly work at. Pride has a way of slipping into our lives in various ways. It tries to convince us we are better than others. It proclaims we are holier, morally superior, and better than those around us. It wants us to believe we know best and our way is the only one. It tells us our time, talents, and treasures are more important than anyone else’s. It tempts us to be impatient with those who ask us for something. It tempts us to grumble and complain about others. It tempts us to make ourselves into God by encouraging us to be judges. Humility is the only cure for such temptations to pride and it must be swallowed every day. If we want to be truly upright and not like the Pharisees and Sadducees, then we must be humble and just in all things. Following not our way, but the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ, who humbly built other people up in faith, hope, and love.

Are we cultivating a sense of humility or pride? How can we become humbler in thought, word, and work? What can we do to foster humility not only in ourselves, but others, too?

O Lord, teach us to be humble.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous by faith will live.”

We should never be ashamed of our faith or proclaiming the Gospel. We should be overjoyed to bring the Good News into the world through our thoughts, words, and works. We should want to embody righteousness for all we meet, friends and enemies. We should not be afraid to be criticized by others for our beliefs, nor should we apologize for our choice in faith. If we want to be worthy of eternal life, then we must choose to live the Christ-like life. A life founded on the commandments of our Heavenly Father, formed around the teachings of Jesus, and crowned with the sanctifying inspirations of the Holy Spirit.

Are we ashamed by our faith? If not, then what do we do to proclaim it in thoughts, words, or works? How can we become more righteous by faith?

O Lord, we will never be ashamed to proclaim the Gospel.

Amen.

Thirteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. 

Just as Jesus became strong and filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him, so we are called to grow stronger in faith and wisdom so God can favor us. Our Heavenly Father wants each and every one of us to be good as He is Good. He wants to bless us and help us to observe and do what is right. He wants us to be just and merciful as He is Justice and Mercy. He wants to bless us and fill us with grace and give us every chance to become holy disciples. When we consider all He has done for us, we should be more than willing to give Him thanks and to bear His Good News to the ends of the earth.

Do we observe what is right? Are we just in the way we treat others? How can we be good as our Heavenly Father is Good?

O Lord, remember and favor us as we strive to do what is right and just.

Amen.

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. Upright is the word of the LORD, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

God loves the goodness for He is good. God loves the righteous for He is upright. God loves justice for He is just. God loves kindness for He is kind. God loves the faithful for He is the Way. God loves the trustworthy for He is the Truth. God loves the joyful for He is the Life. In Him is the fullness of existence and redemption. We will never be disappointed if we remain by His side and allow Him to lead us where we need to go and inspire us to do what must be done.

Do we see the goodness of the world God created? How can we magnify that goodness and lead others to a closer relationship with our Creator? How can we embody all the virtues that have their source, center, and summit in our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, the earth is full of your goodness.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish,  that I may gain Christ and be found in him,  not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Jesus lived, suffered, died, and resurrected for us. He sacrificed everything to bring us salvation. In the eyes of the world, He lost all that he had. And yet, in the eyes of his faithful, He lost nothing. Instead, he gained everything. Should it be any different for us? No, we must also be willing to lose everything in order to do God’s Will. We must consider the world and all it offers us to be so much rubbish. We must strive to be faithful and righteous in a land that is neither. In the end, the only way for us to attain resurrection from the dead is to be willing to die to our passions, our desires, and ourselves.

Are we willing to accept the loss of all things in order to do God’s Will? How can we nourish our faith in Christ so we might grow in righteousness? What can we do to know, love, and serve God and all His children more faithfully?

O Lord, conform us to your death so we might attain the resurrection.

Amen.

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

Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life. Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the LORD and meditates on his law day and night.

If we follow the Lord, the light of life will be in us and guide us along the narrow path to Heaven. Of course, following God isn’t always easy. We are constantly counseled by the wicked to give into our temptations and walk the way of sinners. We are told by the world we should turn our backs on God and make our own way. However, we must resist these evil inclinations and instead focus on living upright lives, delighting in the laws of the Lord, and mediating upon them with humble hearts.

What can we do to open our eyes to the light of life? How can we resist the counsel of the wicked? Do we set aside time each day to meditate on God’s Divine Law?

O Lord, grant us the light of life.

Amen.

Second Sunday of Advent

And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

We all should pray for an increase in our ability to love. In addition, we need to pray for the knowledge and the perception to love wisely and well and to choose right over wrong. We need knowledge to understand what to think, say, and do to help others. We need the perception to recognize when and where we are needed. We need knowledge, perception, and love in order to follow the commandments and live holy and pure lives. When we have these three things, then we shall be fruitful in our faith and bear righteousness into the world. By doing this, we plant the seeds of love wherever we go, giving glory and praise to God and growing the faith of others.

Do we pray for love, knowledge and perception? How can we come to see what is truly of value in this world so that we might become pure and blameless? What can we do to increase in love and righteousness so that we can bear good fruits?

O Lord, increase our ability to love through knowledge and perception of your Divine Will.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Our faith expresses itself through our acts of love and mercy. If we are not charitable and merciful, then where is our faith? If we follow all the rules of our faith, but don't love, then our actions ring hollow. Our only hope to become humbly righteous and not self-righteously prideful is to remember we must become Christ-like in our every thought, word, and work. Jesus did not do what was good to prove he was holier than us, but because he truly wanted to know, love, and serve his Heavenly Father and all his brothers and sisters. In the same way, we are called to live our lives through the Holy Spirit Christ left behind for us, full of love and mercy.

In what ways are we expressing our faith through acts of love and mercy? How can we become more righteous without becoming prideful? What can we do to live out the spirit of faith working through love?

O Lord, grant us your Spirit so we might become more righteous, loving, and merciful.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

We are not perfect and because of this sometimes we mistake evil for good. We may indeed be righteous in our own eyes and yet evil in the eyes of God. We might do the right things for the wrong reasons. We might allow the distractions and anxieties of the world keep us from doing the good works God is calling us to do. We might believe our hearts are in the right place, but they are not. Thankfully, God does not demand perfection from us. Instead, He demands we strive to do what is right and just. He asks us to sacrifice our time, talents, and treasures in order to do His Will to the best of our abilities. He wants us to prove our hearts are His and only His, which requires a willingness to be humble and sacrifice ourselves for Him and His children.

Have we examined our lives and asked if we are living rightly and well? How can we align our minds and hearts with the Will of God? What can we do to make our lives into an acceptable sacrifice for the love of God and the good of others?

O Lord, prove our hearts are true to you.

Amen.

Fourteenth Monday in Ordinary Time

I will espouse you to me forever: I will espouse you in right and in justice, in love and in mercy; I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the LORD.

God wants to espouse us. He wants to be united to us forever. He has adopted us as His sons and daughters and wants only the best for us. This is why He calls each of us to lives of righteousness and justice. This is why He pours His Divine Love and Mercy upon us... so we might accept that love and bear it into the world. He wants us to magnify His goodness through our good thoughts, words, and works. He wants us to be as faithful to Him as He is to us. He wants us to know, love, and serve Him as He knows, loves, and serves us. He doesn’t ask us to do anything for Him that He hasn’t already done for us. His is a perfect love that unites us as Christians and we should strive to come together with Him as our Heavenly Father, Brother, and Spouse.

Do we strive for righteousness and justice? Are we growing in love and mercy? How can we be more faithful to our Lord and God?

O Lord, be with us forever and ever.

Amen.

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

Just as Jesus poured out his Blood for us, so too, each of us are called to pour out our own lives for him. As his brothers and sisters, we have a responsibility to do everything within our power to bear God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace into the lives of others. Peter and Paul did this in their lives and paid the ultimate price to keep the faith. They finished the race with the crown of martyrdom and we must be willing to do the same. We might not be called to die physically, but we must all die to our own selfishness so we might live in the Holy Spirit. The crown of righteousness awaits us if we are true to God and willing to accept the thorns that come with it. And the most amazing thing is God doesn’t care how successful we are in the world, He only cares whether we competed faithfully and well.

Are we willing to pour out our blood for God and His children? Are we willing to accept the crown of righteousness and all the sacrifices it requires from us? How can we compete more faithfully in the race to our salvation?

O Lord, we pour ourselves out to you like a libation, holding nothing back.

Amen.

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles

I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

We preach the Good News in many ways. Through our thoughtful prayers, through our righteous words, and through our charitable and merciful works. We preach the same Gospel the first Christians preached... we are modern day apostles, great and small. If we hold fast to our faith in God, hope in His Plan, and love of Him and His children, then our belief will not be in vain. Jesus died for us, once and for all, and this is a message we are called to give witness to throughout our lives in whatever way we can with the gifts God has given us.

In what ways are we preaching the Good News? Are our lives a witness to the Way, the Truth, and the Life Jesus has handed onto us? How can we use our gifts and talents to spread the Word of God to all we meet?

O Lord, help us to preach what we have received from you and your Holy Church.

Amen.

Solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have made you father of many nations.

If we want to become the adopted children of God, then we must be righteous. Not in the way that strokes our pride or sees ourselves as holier and better than others because we go to Church or say our prayers, but in the sense of always seeking to do what is right even when it costs us to do so. It is our choice to follow God's Will as Abraham did that leads to the hope of spending eternity with God. Our salvation is a gift, one we cannot earn, and it depends on our faith and our pursuit of holy righteousness.

Are we acting righteously in regard to our relationship with God and all His children? Are we thinking, speaking, and acting like true descendants of Jesus Christ? How can we align our lives so that we are righteous and faithful servants?

O Lord, help us to follow the faith with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Amen.

Ash Wednesday

We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

As Christians, we are all on a mission to proclaim the Gospels. We are ambassadors of God’s Good Will and called to represent Him for all those we meet each day. Our every thought, word, and work either reflects God’s glory or mars it. We can hardly be good envoys of the Good News if we are not living it out to the best of our abilities. This is why it is so important to be reconciled with God and seek to amend our lives. It is only by doing so that we can embody the loving and merciful righteousness of our Lord and King.

How are we proclaiming the Gospel? What can we do to make ourselves into more perfect ambassadors of God’s Goodness to all? How can we become a representative of God’s Righteousness?

O Lord, reconcile us with you and help us to become good and faithful ambassadors of your Good News.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.

As children of God, we are called to be saints, not sinners. We are asked to be righteous and not evil. We are asked to give up the easy and wide path of sin and choose the difficult and narrow one to holiness. We may fall and falter, but if we are children of God we recognize our faults and do something to rectify them. We confess our sins with humble and contrite hearts, do penance, and strive to avoid temptation and sin. If we find ourselves falling into the same sins again and again, then we need to change something about ourselves and the way we live so we can steer clear of our weaknesses and protect ourselves from our flaws. We should always put our best foot forward in resisting temptation and growing in righteousness so we might be worthy heirs to the Kingdom.

Are we righteous? How can we cultivate our sense of good and evil so we can act in accord with our Heavenly Father’s Will in all things? What can we do to avoid sin, especially those sins we are most tempted by?

O Lord, we want to belong to you... body, mind, and heart.

Amen.

Christmas Weekday

If you consider that God is righteous, you also know that everyone who acts in righteousness is begotten by him. See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.

If we want to be followers of Christ and true children of God, then we must act in righteousness. We might fail from time to time and fall into temptation and sin or do evil and let opportunities to do good slip by us, but when this happens we need to reconcile with God and make amends. As heirs to the Heavenly Kingdom, we are called to place our trust in God, hope in His Divine Providence, and keep ourselves pure for Him. Just as He knows, loves, and serves us, so must we know, love, and serve Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all God’s beloved children and we should act accordingly as holy and humble people, pouring out our Father’s Love, Mercy, and Grace to all whom we meet.

Do we act in righteousness toward God and our brothers and sisters in Christ? How can we become more loving, hopeful, and faithful children to our Heavenly Father? What can we do to make ourselves more and more like Him?

O Lord, make us like you... righteous, loving, and pure.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Advent

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land's afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

The Holy Spirit has many gifts to offer us and He does so with generosity and compassion. He desires for us to be wise, understanding, full of good counsel, strong in faith, knowledgeable, and fearful of letting the Lord down. He offers us eyes to see the Way, ears to hear the Truth, and hearts to live the Life of Christ. He gives us the guidance of our consciences to help us lead just lives and choose right over wrong. He wants us to be sealed to Him through righteousness and faithfulness and never leave His side. He wants only the best for us, but He will not force His Will on us. Instead, He lets us make our own choices to accept or deny His gifts of our own free will.

How can we strengthen the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us? How can we conform our lives to justice toward all and fidelity to God? Are we willing to bind ourselves to God, giving up earthly goods, in order to become good and faithful servants?

O Lord, send down your Holy Spirit and His gifts.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Love justice, you who judge the earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart; Because he is found by those who test him not, and he manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him. For perverse counsels separate a man from God, and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; Because into a soul that plots evil, wisdom enters not, nor dwells she in a body under debt of sin.

Loving justice means not only embracing the wisdom that leads to right judgment, but living holy lives that reflect that wisdom. Knowing and doing are two different things. We can be wise in thought, but foolish in practice because we do the things we do not want to do. Like Paul we do what we hate in spite of knowing it is wrong. No one is perfect, the key is to be the best we can be by obeying the commandments, following Jesus’ teachings, and listening to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. This means denying our sinful passions, being willing to suffer in order to do what is right and good, and turning our backs on temptations. Only then will our hearts be open enough to receive wisdom, act upon it, and truly love justice.

Are we living wise lives? How can we align our thoughts, words, and works so they are both wise and righteous? What can we do to uproot evil and grow goodness within our hearts?

O Lord, help us to live lives filled with your righteous wisdom.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.

Every day we are tempted to obey our desires over what we know is right. Some days we have the willpower to resist. Other days we fall into temptation and sin. Thankfully, although we fall, we are also given a way to rise up again. Through the life, death, passion, and resurrection of Jesus, we were all given a chance at eternal life and use our bodies as weapons for righteousness. We have only to choose to obey God’s Will above our own and allow Him to lead us where we need to be. We might not follow in Jesus’ footsteps perfectly, but as long as we are contrite for our sins and genuinely wish to amend our lives, then God will find us and lead us back to the right path.

What desires do we obey before God? How can we put God before these wants? What can we do to sharpen our consciences and transform ourselves into weapons of righteousness?

O Lord, we present our bodies to you. Do with them what you will.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

If by that one person's transgression the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ.

One person can make a huge difference in this world. We can lead others to destruction or salvation. We all have the ability to influence others for good or evil. It is up to us to make the choices that lead to grace and goodness. We do this best when we imitate Christ in our thoughts, words, and works. Our lives should overflow with righteousness and good works. We should make God present in the world by being God-bearers in all we do.

Do we appreciate how much God has done for us through His Beloved Son, Jesus? How can we imitate Christ in our daily lives? What can we do to make a difference in the world for the better?

O Lord, help us to lead others to your Way, Truth, and Life.

Amen.