The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Jesus Christ is our King. This is something we as Christians need to accept. We need to recognize him as our Lord, who has the right to ask us to do whatever is needed to fulfill his will. If he asks for our gifts and talents, then we must give them to him to the best of our abilities. If he asks for our treasures and goods, we must offer them up for his purpose. If he asks for us to suffer mockery and persecution for him, then we must stand at his side ready to receive the blows. If he asks us to die for his glory or the good of others, then we must be able to let go of our lives and give them over to him as a sacrifice. In all things, we must we willing to accept our crosses, whatever they might be... great or small, easy or hard. This is what Jesus did for us, and we should be willing and able to do the same for His Kingdom.

Do we recognize that we were created through and for God and not ourselves? Do we recognize Jesus as the Head of the Church and the master of our lives? What are we doing to seek out our spiritual fulfillment in and with Him?

O Lord, in you we were created and for the magnification of you we were made.

Amen.

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”

God wants all His children to be upright and good. He wants us to offer him praise and thanksgiving for all our gifts and graces. He wants us to recognize Him as our Heavenly Father. He wants us to know, love, and serve Him to the best of our abilities. He wants us to call upon Him in our times of trouble and distress. He wants to rescue us from the slavery of sin and spare us a destructive death. He wants us to give Him glory and place our trust in Him. All for our benefit, not His. He does not need anything from us, but He does want what is best for the members of His Spiritual Body.

Do we offer God our praise as a sacrifice? Do we fulfill our vows to Him? Do we call on Him in our times of distress?

O Lord, we offer our praise to you as a sacrifice.

Amen.

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

Death no longer has power over us. God has conquered it and sin through the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He has show us that death has no power over us if we know, love, and serve Him as faithfully as we can. As Christians, we have been crucified with Christ, we have accepted our crosses and willingly bear them toward our own Calvary. We proclaim our readiness to suffer and die for the glory of God and the good of others. And so, we do not fear death because we believe it is only a gateway to a more perfect union with God in Heaven. We see it as merely a threshold to cross so we can be with our Lord and nothing more.

Are we afraid of death? Do we fear what God might ask us to sacrifice in order to have eternal life with Him? How can we overcome these fears and place our trust in God?

O Lord, crucify our selfish selves and sinful bodies so we might be made anew in and through you.

Amen.

Twenty-Eighth Monday in Ordinary Time

This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

The Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus is all the sign we should need in order to repent. Through Christ’s Life, we are shown the Way and the Truth that will lead us to the Promised Land. Through His Passion, we are shown what it means to mortify ourselves, accept our crosses, show compassion to others, and love our enemies. Through His Death, we are given an example of what it means to be willing to die for what we believe in. Finally, through His Resurrection, we are shown the promise of to everlasting life for all who proclaim the Good News until their final breath. Indeed, we have a great tome of wisdom set before us in the New Testament, which reveals what God is calling us to be as Christians. So, let us heed the Word of God Made Flesh and live as good and faithful servants to God and all His children.

In what ways do we imitate the compassionate Life of Christ? How do we deal with the sufferings and sacrifices that come with our own passions? How have we prepared ourselves for our death and eventual resurrection? 

O Lord, we seek and follow only the sign of your Life, Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.

Jesus’ body and blood speak eloquently to all of us of what it means to be a good and faithful servant. It means being willing to give up everything in order to know, love, and serve God and all His children. We might be intimidated by this radical call of self-sacrifice, but it is a vocation none of us can ignore if we want to be a part of God’s Kingdom. We cannot deny what God is asking of us and share in the inheritance He offers us. If we accept His adoption, then we must accept the sufferings that come with becoming His heirs. The only way we can become enrolled in Heaven is to sprinkle ourselves with the blood of sacrifice.

Are we willing to be sprinkled with the blood of suffering and sacrifice in this life so we might join in the feast of the next one? What sacrifices are we being asked to make in order to fulfill God’s Will? What are we doing to prepare ourselves to be God’s good and faithful servants?

O Lord, sprinkle us with your blood.

Amen.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will. Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust; who turns not to idolatry or to those who stray after falsehood.

Trusting in the Lord means being willing to leave everything behind in order to follow Him. It means being willing to sacrifice our most precious earthly possessions. Sometimes it even requires us to walk away from family and friends. It means rejecting all idols and the falsehoods they represent. It means accepting God’s Will, no matter the cost. It means being willing to die upon a cross.

Do we constantly say to the Lord that we are here for Him? Are we truly willing to do God’s Will even if it costs us our goods, our relationship, and lives? How can we protect ourselves from the false idols that surround and tempt us?

O Lord, you are our trust.

Amen.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. 

We often do everything possible to avoid shedding tears in this life. We steer clear of trouble whenever possible. We don’t rock the boat. We try to coast through life with the minimum of pain. However, sometimes we are called to make sacrifices so we can reap the rewards. There are moments in our lives when we are faced with a choice between doing with is right and suffering the consequences or choosing to remain silent and let an injustice go unchallenged. Sometimes these moments are easy to recognize. Other are more difficult, but they do occur and we should pray to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit when those moments arise. If we do this, then one day we shall stand before God and be filled with laughter and joy because we will discover all those moments of sorrow yielded marvelous fruits.

What is God asking us to sow in our lives? How can we grow in a willingness to suffer for the glory of God and the good of others? What can we do to become more aware of the opportunities to bear good fruit in our lives?

O Lord, help us to sow in tears and reap with rejoicing.

Amen.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.

We are all called to imitate Christ, not only in the way he lived, but also in the way he suffered for us. If God sees fit to try us greatly in this life, then who are we to complain? Whatever afflictions come our way; we should march joyfully toward them. Many martyrs died praising God with their final breaths. Who are we to think we should escape such trials? We are all asked to fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Not that Jesus’ passion and death were not perfect, but that we are all called to pick up our crosses and to unite our sufferings with those of Christ. And God, in His Infinite Mercy allows us to add our drop of blood to the sea of sorrows that Jesus suffered for us.

What is God calling us to suffer? How can we accept this suffering with joyful hearts? What are we being asked to sacrifice in order to bring to completion the Word of God?

O Lord, we rejoice in our sufferings for your sake and the sake of your children.

Amen.

Fifteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people.

We are all asked by God to make sacrifices. Some are asked to suffer and work harder than others. Some are tried greatly. Others are tried lightly. Each is tried and tested according to their abilities and what God needs from them as followers. He never gives us more than we can handle. He always is with us and provides us the graces to overcome every obstacle. All we have to do is trust in Him, to call on Him in our times of need, and do His Will with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

What sacrifices is God asking of us? Are we willing to make them? How can we pay what we owe God in terms of love, loyalty, and trust?

O Lord, we offer you sacrifices of thanksgiving for all you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Thirteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes. Search me, O LORD, and try me; test my soul and my heart. For your mercy is before my eyes, and I walk in your truth.

Not many of us call out for God to search and try us. There is a part of us that would prefer not to be tested. We would rather avoid trials of our faith, hope, or love. We would prefer to steer clear of the sufferings that come along with such ordeals. However, as Christians we cannot shy away from the sacrifices our faith requires of us. We might not want to suffer, but we accept sometimes we must be willing to go through some pain for the glory of God or the good of others. We are able to make such a submission to God’s Will because He has given us an example of selflessness in Jesus. He has also provided us an Advocate in the Holy Spirit who helps us to walk in the truth no matter what might stand in our way.

What do we think God sees in us when He searches our hearts and tests our souls? Will He find goodness, love, and holy righteousness? If He finds weaknesses, then what can we do to overcome our faults and become stronger Christians?

O Lord, search and test us so we might walk in your truth.

Amen.

Twelfth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD, or proclaim all his praises?

There are many ways we can give thanks to God. We can give Him thanks through our prayers. We can give Him thanks through our acts of almsgiving. We can give Him thanks through our moments of mercy. We can give Him thanks through our mortifications and sacrifices. We can give Him thanks through our daily chores. We can give Him thanks with a glance toward Heaven. We can give Him thanks through our work for and with others. We can give Him thanks by proclaiming the Good News through our every word and work.

How do we give God thanks? How can we tell of God’s mighty deeds and proclaim and praise Him to others? How can we be good as God is good to us?

O Lord, we give thanks for you are good.

Amen.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

As Christians, we shouldn’t be afraid to sacrifice and suffer. Jesus showed us that being willing to suffer for the good of others is not only good, but necessary to salvation. Yes, we can be good and do good without too much difficulty when it requires little or no sacrifice, but what happens when doing the right thing will cost us greatly? Will we have the same courage and fortitude to do good in the face of great sacrifice? Hopefully, we will be able to let go and give everything we have to God for His Glory and His children’s good. As today’s scripture says, affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, proven character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint. So, let us pour ourselves out in selfless sacrifices so we might be a sign to the world that proclaims... sacrifice is good and should not be run away from.

Are we providing a good and faithful example of what it means to sacrifice and suffer for God? How can we become more enduring, hopeful, and loving in all our endeavors? In what ways can we allow God to pour Himself out into the world through us?

O Lord, hope in you never disappoints.

Amen.

Tenth Friday of Ordinary Time

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my alarm, “No man is dependable.” 

When we are going through tough times, we can be tempted to lose hope and despair. However, as long as we remember God is with us in all things, we will be able to fight off this temptation to doubt and worry and instead choose to trust in God no matter what is happening to us. Yes, even when we are greatly afflicted, we can be calm and at peace with the knowledge that God is always by our side. He is there as a comforter, guide, and protector and as long as we let go and let Him work within our lives we will be rewarded, if not in this life, then in the next.

Do we offer up all our trials and tribulations as sacrifices of praise to God? How can we keep hope even in our darkest hours? What can we do to help others through their difficulties?

O Lord, we will always hope in you no matter what afflicts us.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Easter

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.

God’s saving power is on constant display in the Scriptures and in the everyday life of His Church. He reveals his justice and compassion time and time again. From Adam and Eve to Jesus and Mary, God shows mankind an immeasurable amount of mercy. He mends our brokenness by allowing His Beloved Son’s Body to be broken for us. He washes away our sins by spilling His Most Precious Blood. His kindness towards us is infinite and inspiring. His faithfulness to us even in our moments of weakness and failure reveal the depth of His love for us and His willingness to suffer and die for us in order to give us a new, joyful life with Him. When we ponder all our failings, it is truly amazing to consider that God decided to give Himself as a sacrifice to heal us. Hopefully, we can follow His example and be as compassionate to others as He has been to us.

Do we believe in the saving power of God? In what ways do we make his power known to others? How can we keep in mind the kindness and faithfulness God has shown us?

O Lord, your saving power fills us with faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Easter

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing.” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: “To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever.”

Jesus was sacrificed for us. This is something we should ponder and take to heart. Imagine for a moment what Jesus gave up for us. How he who was without sin died for us who are sinners. He died to give us the power of the Holy Spirit and the riches of grace. He died to grant us wisdom and strength. He died to bless us who are in need of blessing. We should marvel at what Jesus did for us through his passion and death all so we might share in his resurrection and join the choir of angels in singing, “Worthy is the Lamb.”

Do we meditate and ponder the sacrifice God made for us? Are we as forgiving as Jesus was for us? How can we give God the glory, honor, and praise He deserves?

O Lord, you are the worthy lamb who died for us.

Amen.

The Resurrection of the Lord the Mass of Easter Sunday

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.”

Let us give thanks for the present of Easter, the gift of salvation, and the reward of eternal life. The Lord made the Sabbath for us. He prepared for it from the beginning of time and carried through on the promises He made to our ancestors. He gave His Beloved Son to the cross in order to cleanse our sins through His Body and Blood. He showed us mercy in spite of our sins, our failings, our faults, our doubts, our anxieties, our fears, and our indifferences. Imagine sacrificing ourselves for people who give us nothing but apathy, mockery, and evil. Could we give up our lives for such as these? God tells us, “Yes!” and so, we should make ourselves into living sacrifices... no matter the cost.

How will we celebrate this Easter season? How can we give thanks to God for all the good He has done for us? How can we show mercy to others?

O Lord, your mercy endures forever.

Amen.

Holy Thursday: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Christ. How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

As Christians, we are called to a deep communion with God through the Body and Blood of Christ. This sacrifice speaks to the boundless love and mercy our Heavenly Father has for us and by receiving the Eucharist, we proclaim our own love for Him and our willingness to suffer whatever is necessary for the salvation of souls. When we eat the Body of Christ and drink His Blood, we proclaim not only our faith in the Lord, but also our intention to listen to His Truth, walk His Way, and live His Life. We accept the cup of salvation and all the sacrifices it holds for us. To be in communion with Christ, is to be in union with His Passion, Death, and ultimately His Resurrection.

Do we seek out communion as often as we can? In what ways do we show our unity with God and other Christians? Are we willing to take up the cup of salvation and all the trials and graces it contains?

O Lord, help us to make a return to you for all the good you’ve done for us through the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.

Amen.

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.”

There are times in our lives when we feel abandoned. Our family, our friends, our neighbors fail us in some great or small way or persecute us in some manner. They mock us... perhaps for our beliefs or our way of life or any number of things. They scoff at us and shake their heads at us. Sometimes we even feel God has left us, but nothing can be further from the truth. He is always with us and if we rely on Him, He will deliver us from our fears, doubts, worries, and foes. He will rescue us because He loves us even to the point of sacrificing His Only Beloved Son for us on the cross.

How can we fight off the feeling of abandonment? What can we do to remind ourselves that God is with us? Are we willing to place our lives in God’s Hands and rely on His saving grace?

O Lord, rescue us.

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.

Third Thursday of Lent

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.

We are all in danger of hardening our hearts. Some harden all at once because of some event in their lives that turns them against God. Others harden over time corrupted by the world and its distractions, worries, and trials. We have to constantly soften our hearts, souls, and minds through acts of sacrifice, humility, and love. Without doing so, our fields dry up and it becomes difficult for goodness to grow. We cannot bear fruits if our souls are burned up on rocky ground. If we want to prosper, then we have to hear God’s Word, understand it, and then put it into practice. We have to bow down in worship and allow God to shepherd us to greener pastures.

What are the things in our lives that are hardening our hearts? How can we rid ourselves of these things? What can we do to soften our souls so they are receptive of the Word of God and allow the seeds of faith, hope, and love to grow within us?

O Lord, soften our hearts.

Amen.