Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

No longer will your Teacher hide himself, but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher, while from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: "This is the way; walk in it," when you would turn to the right or to the left. He will give rain for the seed that you sow in the ground, And the wheat that the soil produces will be rich and abundant.

God guides us in many ways. He gives the His Holy Spirit to inspire us to holiness. He gives us our consciences to remind us of right and wrong. He gives us models in the faith through, Jesus, Mary, and the saints. He shows us the way to live as good and faithful servants. He gives us guidance through the Scriptures and the traditions and teachings of the Church. He gives us the sacraments to sustain us. He pours out His Love, Mercy, and Grace so our souls might flourish in the faith and we might produce good fruits through our thoughts, words, and works.

Are we accepting of God’s guidance and help? What way does God want us to walk? How can we be more open to the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, show us the way we are called to walk in this life.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Friday in Ordinary Time

Lord, teach me your statutes. Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust.

God has given us commandments for a reason. He has provided the Scriptures for a purpose. He has provided us a Church and its Traditions for an end. They are there to teach us wisdom and knowledge. They are there to show us the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They give us an example to follow as Christians so we might bear God into the world around us and produce good fruits. If we ignore or deny any of these, we do great harm to ourselves. We uproot our lives and leave them to wither from apathy and rot from sin. It is only by keeping the commandments, living the Scriptural teachings of Christ, and accepting the Traditions of the Church that we can achieve our full potential as servants of God and become the saints we are called to be. So, let us do so willingly and faithfully and live up to our baptismal vocation to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and others as God loves them.

Do we follow God’s statutes? Are we cultivating lives of holy wisdom and knowledge? How can we become more faithful to God’s commandments, Scriptures, and Church?

O Lord, teach us wisdom and knowledge.

Amen.

Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

We can learn a lot about how to live our lives from Scripture. We are shown time and again what it means to be a God-bearing person. We are given commandments to follow, teachings to live by, and guidance in leading holy lives. We are given corrections for our failures and trained in righteousness. If we live according to the Good News, we will be equipped for every good work. This is why it is so important to proclaim the Word of God through our every thought, word, and work. It not only builds up and reinforces our own holiness, but helps others to increase in faith, hope, and love. The life of Christian virtue is one we must live whether it is convenient or inconvenient so we can convince, reprimand, and encourage others in their own journeys toward God.

Do we take time each day to meditate on Scripture? How can we take what we learn from the Good News and put it into practice? What can we do to support others in their own faith journeys?

O Lord, help us to be persistent in living out the teachings of the Holy Scriptures you’ve provided us.

Amen.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul; The decree of the LORD is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.

God’s words to us through the Scriptures and the Church are spirit and life-giving. They refresh our souls with their grace. They nourish our lives with their wisdom. If we trust in them, we will never be disappointed or misled. The Word Made Flesh came to help us to become living words of God, to prefect us in spirit, and to enlighten us in the Way, the Truth, and the Life we are all called to follow. As Christians, we are given the responsibility to become the Word of God for others and so let us proclaim the Good News in all things, at all times, to all peoples.

Do we listen to the word of God? Are we willing to let His Wisdom guide us? How do we bring God’s word into the world in our own lives?

O Lord, refresh our souls with your Divine Word.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

God doesn’t lie. Every word expressed in the Bible and through the Doctrines of the Church is Truth with a capital T. The words spoken by Christ should be the bedrock of our every thought, word, and work. They are meant to lead us along the Way of Jesus and to a eternal Life with the Holy Trinity in Heaven. The Scriptures and the Church should give us constant hope that one day we will overcome all the obstacles in the way of our faith and become good and faithful servants.

Do we accept the Bible as Truth? What about the doctrines of the Church? How can we allow ourselves to be more fully immersed in the Truth so that we can walk the Way and live the Life of Christ, too?

O Lord, help us to trust in you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest and Martyr

He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.

The Word of God can nourish and sustain us if we allow it into our hearts. There is a feast of virtue contained within the pages of the Bible. There is a banquet of goodness set before us in the teachings of Christ. We are all asked to partake in this meal through the Liturgies of the Word and the Eucharist. Both mind and body are fed at the celebration of the Mass and we would do well not to starve ourselves of their bountiful fruits. Through the reading of the Scriptures and the sharing of the Blessed Sacrament, we are given heavenly foods that are sweeter than any honey and more fulfilling than any food.

Do we read Scripture every day and allow God to nourish our souls through His Divine Word? Do we make every effort to receive the Body and Blood of Christ whenever we can? Are we willing to bear God’s Good News to all, even if it means being persecuted for it?

O Lord, give us the good food of your Divine Word.

Amen.

Twelfth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

He had the entire contents of the book of the covenant that had been found in the temple of the LORD, read out to them. Standing by the column, the king made a covenant before the LORD that they would follow him and observe his ordinances, statutes and decrees with their whole hearts and souls, thus reviving the terms of the covenant which were written in this book. And all the people stood as participants in the covenant.

We are all part of the New Covenant. We all know what our responsibilities are. We are asked by God to know, love, and serve Him with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. We are called to know, love, and serve our neighbors as He loves them. Every day of our lives we either choose to renew our baptismal promises or reject them. We either follow God and His teachings or we turn our backs on them and worship false gods.  There is no middle ground. We either choose to live for God or for ourselves. If we choose ourselves, then we shouldn’t be surprised if we are unhappy and empty of consolations. If we choose God, then we shall have an inner happiness and peace that cannot be upset by any suffering.

Have we taken the time to read Scriptures? What can we do to make the scriptures into a daily part of our faith lives? How can we renew our baptismal promises to know, love, and serve God and all His children?

O Lord, we will follow you and all your teachings.

Amen.

First Tuesday of Lent

Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

The Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us, not just to hear himself speak, but to have us listen and change our hearts. When we hear the scriptures read at mass or read them ourselves, our hearts, minds, and souls should be open to what God is telling us through the Good News. He pours out love, mercy, and grace through the words of Scripture, especially through those of Jesus and if we allow Him... he will fill us up with good things. The Word of God will make us fertile ground and help us to bear good fruits. He will give us the sustenance we need to thrive in spirit and truth. And if we allow the Word of God to take root in our hearts, then we shall achieve all the things He has planned for us.

Are we listening for God’s Word in our lives? How can we take more time to listen to the Good News and the teachings of Christ? In what ways can we bring the Word of God into the lives of others?

O Lord, grant us the grace to achieve the end for which you sent us.

Amen.

Sixteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, “All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do.” Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his.”

God has given us everything we need to fulfill our end of the New Covenant, just as He gave the Israelites what they needed to fulfill the Old Covenant. He has given us the Scriptures to guide us and the Church to shepherd us. He has given us His Beloved Son as a sacrifice and sign of His Covenant with us. In return, He asks for our faith in His commandments and teachings. He asks us to place our trust in Him and not the world or ourselves. He asks us to love Him and others as He loves us. The Passion and Death of Jesus sealed the New Covenant with the Body and Blood of Christ and we in turn seal our end by following the Scriptures and traditions of the Church, especially when we make present Jesus’ sacrifice when we partake in the Blessed Sacrament.

Are we thankful for all God has given us through the New Covenant? Are we living up to our end of the bargain? How can we live more covenantal lives?

O Lord, everything you have said we will heed and do.

Amen.

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter

A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.

None of us know the whole truth of the Good News. We may be authorities on the Scriptures as Apollos was. We may have many insights into the Gospels. However, at times we all need to be taken aside and have the Way of God explained more accurately to us. It takes great humility of spirit to allow ourselves to be taught, to open our hearts to new ideas, to keep a receptive mind. Sometimes we will discover that the truth isn’t always in the newest philosophies, but in the oldest traditions. Other times we will find new insights into our faith that will update, but not invalidate the teachings of the Church. The Holy Spirit is alive in our lives in many ways... through other people, through the teachings and traditions of the Church, and through our consciences. If we are welcoming to His inspirations, He will give us His gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord and these graces will lead us to following the Way of God more accurately than if we tried to make our own way.

Are we open to the counsel of others and the Church? Are our hearts receptive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit? How can we make the gifts of the Holy Spirit more central to our lives?

O Lord, help us to live Your Way more accurately.

Amen.

Third Sunday in Lent

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

No matter how many times we see the faith alive in someone else. No matter how often we hear someone proclaim the Good News through word or work. No matter how much we are exposed to the conviction of other Christians. In the end, we have to choose to believe in Christ for ourselves. We have to accept the truth he has given us through the scriptures and the traditions of the Church he founded. We have to trust that the Holy Spirit has kept his Gospel message alive in the members of His Spiritual Body, the Church. This personal choice leads us to the community of saints. The two are inseparable. And once we come into the community of believers, then just like the Samaritan woman, we are asked to spread the Good News to others and help them come to their own choice to join the Body of Christ and recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior, too.

Who were the people in our lives who helped introduce us to the Good News? Do we pray for them and thank them for giving us the opportunity to discover our faith? How do we proclaim the Gospels to others in our lives?

O Lord, help us to lead others to faith in you.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.

When we read or listen to the scriptures or contemplate them in prayer, God speaks to us. Deep within our hearts, we recognize His wisdom and hear Him whisper His divine truths to us. Like Mary, we are blessed when we do these things and open ourselves up to the quiet revelations of the Lord. When we believe what God speaks to us we are filled with the graces we need to fulfill our calling. If we do this, then we will magnify the Lord with our thoughts, words, and works and find joy in God our savior just as Mary did in her most holy life. As we continue to grow in our faith, let us model ourselves upon God's humble handmaid, Mary, who is our spiritual mother and the perfect mold for conforming ourselves to Christ.

Do we spend time each day listening to God through the Scriptures or prayer? Do we believe the inspirations He gives us? How do we magnify God in everything we do?

O Lord, help us to believe all you speak to us within the depths of our souls.

Amen.