Fourteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember that he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it and said, "See, now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "Here I am," I said; "send me!"

Here I am, send me. These are the words all of us should have on our lips at all times. And, like Isaiah, we also need to be cleansed of our sins if we want to be able to succeed in our mission. We must be purged of all those fears, doubts, evils, and indifferences that keep us from being good and faithful servants to God. Yes, we can do good even as sinners, but we do a greater good if we can perform our works of charity and mercy while in a state of grace. Just as a bell rings out louder when it is unmuffled, so too our thoughts, words, and deeds ring truer and have greater effect when they are untarnished by our sins and imperfections. So, let us allow God to purge us of our sins through the sacrament of reconciliation so we might be better prophets of His Holy Word.

Do we take advantage of our opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation? Are we willing to allow God to send us where He needs us? What can we do to become better prophets of the Good News?

O Lord, purge us from our sins.

Amen.

Seventh Saturday of Easter

"This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains." He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul proclaimed the Good News to the ends of the world by announcing it in the heart of the pagan empire of Rome. In a similar way, we, too are called to give witness to the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ. We are called to bring God’s Word into the world. At the end of every Mass, we are sent forth to bear the message of the Gospels to those around us. We are asked to be missionaries to our families, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. This isn’t an easy mission, but it is one we must perform if we wish to be a part of the Heavenly Kingdom.

In what ways are we bearing the Good News to others? How can we become better witnesses to the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Are we willing to allow God to send us forth into the world to proclaim His Divine Word?

O Lord, help us to proclaim the Kingdom of God and teach others about you.

Amen.

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” So he got up and set out.

God sends us forth every day of our lives. He sends us forth to proclaim His Divine Word, to reveal His Love and Mercy, and to show others how to become more Christ-like. He sends us forth to help those who are confused and in need of help. He sends us forth as witnesses to the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus. We might not understand why he sends us forth into the lives of others or what we are supposed to do when we get there, but if we are open to the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, then we shall be given the right words and works to lead others and ourselves closer to God.

How do we prepare ourselves for God’s invitation to do His Will? Are we willing to place our trust in Him when He sends us forth into the unknown? What can we do to open our hearts to the calling of the Father, the teachings of the Son, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, send us forth for we are ready to know, love, and serve you and your children.

Amen.

Seventh Thursday of Easter

And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

We are all called to be one with God and each other. Our baptismal promises unite us not only with the Holy Trinity, but with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should make every effort to show our unity with God and His children. We should unite ourselves with the Mystical Body of Christ through the Mass, the sacraments, and our prayers for and with each other. The Mass is a wondrous gift to us and through it we are united in the Word of God and His Body and Blood. We share the good news and then we partake in our Lord and Savior’s greatest gift to us—the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. The Mass is one prayer we share with the each other and it unites us not only with the Church on Earth, but also the Church in Purgatory and Heaven. We are one with all those who have come before us, who are with us now, and who will come in the fullness of time.

Do we fully participate in the community of believers through the Mass? In what manner do we unite ourselves to God and His children through the Blessed Sacrament? How do we express our oneness with God and each other in prayer?

O Lord, we are one with you and each other.

Amen.