Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

There is a temptation to grumble when things don’t go our way or when we are suffering in some way. However, if we truly believe God is our Shepherd, then we should not doubt that He will provide relief for us. We shall not want for anything as long as we remain true to Him and do not leave His Wounded Side. His Love, Mercy, and Grace will pour out upon us as long as we cling to Him. He will spread a table before us and provide us the refreshment and nourishment we need to grow strong in faith, hope, and love. If we follow Him, He will anoint us with holiness and fill us with saving grace till we overflow with it.

Do we allow God to shepherd us? Are we open to letting Him guide our thoughts, words, and works? How can we become better followers of His Good News, allowing Him to lead us where we need to be?

O Lord, anoint us with your Holy Spirit and make us overflow with your goodness.

Amen.

Seventh Tuesday of Easter

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.

We are all needy in some way. We are imperfect and lacking. We are sinners, who are struggling to do right and avoid evil. We think wrongly. We say things that are hurtful. We don’t succeed at everything we do. We are failures in so many ways. But God loves us and because of His Love, we are given opportunities to fill our needs, be restored from our brokenness, fix our imperfections, and succeed in the most important things in life, namely knowing, loving, and serving God and His children.

What are our areas of need in mind, body, and spirit? How can we allow God into these places so He can amend our lives to be more perfectly aligned with His Will? What can we do to be better receptors of God’s Love and Saving Grace?

O Lord, provide for our neediness.

Amen.

Sixth Thursday of Easter

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. 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 constantly reveals His saving power to the world. Throughout the ages, He has proved again and again how compassionate He is. He forgave Israel over and over. He sacrificed His Beloved Son for our salvation. He sent the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us. He is with us through every trial and tribulation from birth to death to the afterlife. He is a just and merciful God, who remembers each of us with kindness and faithfulness. And all He asks from us in return are humble and contrite hearts that love Him and His children as much as He loves us.

Do we appreciate God’s saving grace and its role in our lives? How do we reveal the saving power of God? How can we be as merciful and loving as our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, make us into instruments of your saving power.

Amen.