Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.

Mary is the Mother of God and all His children. She loves us unconditionally, as a perfect parent. She is an advocate for us before the Heavenly Father just like many mothers are advocates for their children. She is a role model for us, showing us how to know, love, and serve God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. She is a servant of God and of us, who works tirelessly and patiently to lead us to a closer relationship with Jesus, her son and our brother. She is a mold, who can shape us into good and faithful servants. She is filled with grace and the Holy Spirit and through her role as His Holy Spouse, she asks for us every spiritual blessing we need in order to thrive as her children. She comforts us when we are sorrowful and will never leave our side, just as she never left Jesus.

Do we give thanks to God for giving us Mary as our spiritual Mother? What can we learn from her life of service and humility? How can we become better children of God, our Father, and Mary, our Mother?

O Lord, we thank you for our Blessed Mother, Mary.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Easter

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the LORD on the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.

In order to be good and faithful servants of our Lord, we have to trust in Him. We cannot waiver in our duties. We cannot hesitate to carry out His commands. We cannot serve God and serve someone or something else. We cannot hold anything back. Our whole minds, hearts, souls, and bodies must be given completely over to Him. For He has held nothing back from us, even to the point of sacrificing Himself on the cross for our redemption. If such an act is not worthy of our trust, then what is? The sooner we recognize God as our Heavenly Father and King, the sooner we can become heirs to His Kingdom.

Are there things holding us back from putting all our trust in God? How can we uproot these attachments and distractions so we can be fully dependent upon our Lord and God? What can we do to show our thanks for having such a good and gracious God?

O Lord, we place our trust in you.

Amen.

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

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus is our King, but not in the way the world sees kings. He is a servant king, who puts the welfare of his people above his own. He is willing to sacrifice himself for our good in hopes that we might grow in faith, hope, and love. He has given us a faithful witness of what it means to be a good and faithful servant. It means a willingness to suffer and to forgive. It means loving our enemies as well as our family and friends. It means making ourselves into living sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins. It means acting like kings and queens called to know, love, and serve God and all His children. It means becoming priestly people, keeping holy the Sabbath and partaking in the sacraments. It means being prophets of the Good News and bearing the Word of God to all whom we meet each day in whatever ways God calls us.

Are we allowing Jesus and his teachings to rule our lives? How can we let the Holy Spirit work through us and become more faithful servants to God and His children? In what ways can we transform ourselves into priests for our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, make us into faithful witnesses to you, just as Jesus was, is, and ever will be the perfect witness to your goodness and glory.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Thursday in Ordinary Time

I want to learn only this from you: did you receive the Spirit from works of the law, or from faith in what you heard? Are you so stupid? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? Did you experience so many things in vain?-- if indeed it was in vain. Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard?

There is a vast difference between faith and works. We can have faith, but without works to back it up, we are like a clashing cymbal. We can have works, but without faith, we gain no spiritual growth. We need both in order to live as true Christians. Now, this may seem at odds with what Paul tells the Galatians, but we need to keep in mind Paul is talking about the works of the Mosaic law, not the works of Christian service. The Pharisees followed the obligations of the law, but lacked in understanding that the law was not the end of their relationship with God, but the means to it. Just because we fulfill our obligations to go to Mass, abstain from meat during Lent, help others, etc. doesn’t mean we have grown in faith. We can do seemingly good things without good intent. We might just be going through the motions, but without any emotional or spiritual investment. Faith needs to be at the heart of our works so we might grow in hope and love. This is how we must live as Christians if we want to embody the Holy Spirit and gain a place in the Heavenly Kingdom.

Is our faith the driving force behind our acts of hope and love? How can we grow spiritually through our works, great and small? How can we guard against becoming children of the flesh as opposed to children of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, send us the faith we desire so we might work good deeds for you and all your children.

Amen.

Fifteenth Wednesday in Ordinary Time

Will the axe boast against him who hews with it? Will the saw exalt itself above him who wields it? As if a rod could sway him who lifts it, or a staff him who is not wood! Therefore the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will send among his fat ones leanness, And instead of his glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire.

We are but servants of God. We are tools and vessels created by God to do His Will. If there is any goodness that comes from our thoughts, words, and works, it is God's Goodness, not our own. If we succeed at a task given to us, the laurels aren't ours to claim. We must guard against the temptation to become proud of our accomplishments. After all, they aren't really ours. They are God's first and foremost. We merely manifested His Goodness, Love, and Mercy. Our good fruits do not belong to us, but to God. He has the first right to them and we should be thankful to Him for whatever He might give us from His bounty. If we fail to do so, then like Assyria, we will have everything taken away from us. We will be left with nothing. But, if we boast rather of God and exalt Him above ourselves, then we shall be rewarded beyond our wildest dreams.

Do we boast of ourselves or of God? How can we make it a habit to give God thanks for every good thought, word, and work we have been given? What can we do to exalt God in our lives and humble ourselves?

O Lord, may our lips ever boast of you and your Goodness and not our own.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Easter

"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

We each have a role to play in God’s Divine Plan. Some of us are called to proclaim the Good News through our thoughts. Others through our words. And still more through our actions. Each of these ways is important and can lead others to God. Our thoughts can inspire others to live good and holy lives or do something good for others. Our words can give voice to the truth and set people freed. Our actions can bring charity and mercy into the lives of those around us. And each of us is given the gifts and talents we need to succeed in our callings. All we have to do is trust that God will provide and devote ourselves to what He wants of us.

Are we neglecting God in any way? What can we do to make more room for Him in our lives? How can we devote ourselves to what He wants of us?

O Lord, give us the graces we need to devote ourselves to you completely.

Amen.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, Apostle

Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

We all are shepherds in some way. We might have children of our own to lead and guide through their lives. We might have jobs that require us to tend to others through service. There might be some other duty we are bound to which gives us responsibilities and duties towards others. No matter what position of power we are in, we should make sure to do not lord it over others, but rather lead by good and loving example. In this way, we can imitate Jesus, who was a good and faithful servant of all in spite of being the most powerful man to ever walk the earth.

How can we be better shepherds? Who are the people who are in our care? What can we do to guide them to better, holier, and love-filled lives?

O Lord, inspire your shepherds to lead your flock closer to you in all things.

Amen.

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops

For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God's steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.

Paul’s description of presbyters is one that we all should take to heart. He describes the qualities that Titus should look for in those whom he appoints as presbyters, but also, he describes the qualities that we all should strive for in our lives. We should be blameless. We should be chaste, in marriage or in single life. We should raise children, our own or others, in the faith to the best of our abilities. We should rid ourselves of all arrogance, irritability, intemperance, aggressiveness, and greed. And instead, we should be welcoming, lovers of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled. We should hold fast to the commandments of our Heavenly Father, to the teachings of Jesus, and the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. We should proclaim the Good News to all whom we meet each day. We should be true and faithful servants to God so that we can exhort others to better lives and refute those who would lead us astray.

How can we become better servants of God? How can we live out our vocations in alignment with God’s Will? How can we rid ourselves of all the things that keep us from being holy people?

O Lord, grant us your grace so that we might set right what remains to be done.

Amen.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

David grew steadily more powerful, for the LORD of hosts was with him.

The Lord of hosts is with us. And if we let Him fully into our lives, then He will make us more powerful, too. Perhaps not in worldly terms of fame, success, and fortune, but in the spiritual terms of faith, hope, and love. Just as David was the king of the Israelites, so are we called to be servant leaders for all whom we meet each day. We may not have a golden crown or temporal powers, but we do have crown of virtues and spiritual blessings. We may not have been anointed to kingship, but we are all anointed to discipleship and the best way to fulfill that calling is to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and love our neighbors as Jesus loves them. If we do these things, then we shall be models of excellence for all whom we meet, leading them closer to God and the ultimate victory of eternal life with the Holy Trinity.

Are we aware of God’s presence in our lives? Are we welcoming and inviting to Him? How can we become better servant leaders?

O Lord, remain with us and give us your strength to overcome evil and power to do good.

Amen.

First Saturday of Ordinary Time

Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul's head; he also kissed him, saying: "The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the LORD's people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies roundabout.

We are all anointed in the sacrament of baptism and again when we choose to undertake the act of confirmation. These anointings echo those of the kings of the Old Testament as well as the anointing of Jesus before his passion and death. They signify our renewal and also call us to service. Just as Saul and the Israelite kings were called to be servant leaders of Israel, so we are called to be servant leaders of our families, our communities, and our Church. We might fail in this responsibility like Saul and the other kings, but we are given every opportunity to succeed in the tasks God has prepared for us. He wants us to govern ourselves and become models for others. He wants us to save people from the grasp of sin. He wants us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and lead others to good and faithful lives.

Are we living out our baptismal calling to be living signs of God’s love for all whom we meet? Are we willing to become servant leaders, even if it means sacrifice and suffering on our part? How can we save others from the wickedness and snares of the Devil?

O Lord, make us into servant leaders, who protect others from the evils of the world.

Amen.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.

Mary is the Mother of God and all His children. She loves us unconditionally, as a perfect parent. She is an advocate for us before the Heavenly Father just like many mothers are advocates for their children. She is a role model for us, showing us how to know, love, and serve God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. She is a servant of God and of us, who works tirelessly and patiently to lead us to a closer relationship with Jesus, her son and our brother. She is a mold, who can shape us into good and faithful servants. She is filled with grace and the Holy Spirit and through her role as His Holy Spouse, she asks for us every spiritual blessing we need in order to thrive as her children. She comforts us when we are sorrowful and will never leave our side, just as she never left Jesus.

Do we give thanks to God for giving us Mary as our spiritual Mother? What can we learn from her life of service and humility? How can we become better children of God, our Father, and Mary, our Mother?

O Lord, we thank you for our Blessed Mother, Mary.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbot

God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones. We earnestly desire each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of hope until the end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who, through faith and patience, are inheriting the promises.

God is just. He knows our minds and hearts and souls and whether or not our thoughts, words, and works are done for good or evil ends. He will not overlook anything we do (or fail to do) whether it is a virtue or vice. He sees all and knows who is a good and faithful servant and who is a selfish usurper. If we want to have a place in heaven, then we need to demonstrate our goodwill through acts of charity and mercy and by knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities. We should be eager for the fulfillment of God’s Will, humbly hopeful of our salvation, faithful imitators of Christ, and patient. If we do all these things, then we shall inherit the promises of Christ.

Do we keep in mind God’s presence throughout our day? How does knowing He is with us affect our daily lives? Do our thoughts, words, and works imitate those of Christ?

O Lord, we are eager to demonstrate our love of you and your children.

Amen.

Eighth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

We are all called to be servants. However, to be the best servants we need to know and love the people we are serving. This is what Jesus did for those whom he met. He listened to those he served. He was sympathetic and compassionate toward them. He loved them, especially those who were most difficult to love. He was merciful toward those most in need of mercy. He sacrificed himself for the good of others. He became the slave of all to set them free from their ignorance, sufferings, and attachment to sin. Just as he did all these things, so must we. If we wish to follow in his footsteps and receive the gift of eternal life, then we must live our lives not to be served, but to serve. We must be willing to ransom ourselves for the many. This is where true greatness comes from: the imitation of Christ.

Are we willing to be servants of God and His children, even those whom we find most difficult to serve? Are we willing to sacrifice everything, including our lives, to know, love, and serve others? Are we truly willing to lead the Christ-like life?

O Lord, we are your slaves. Make our every thought, word, and work a ransom for many.

Amen.

The Second Wednesday of Lent

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus was a servant leader and he calls all of us to follow his example. We need to remember that our authority, talents, and accomplishments come from God and should be used in the service of Him and His children. We also have to cultivate a sense of humility so that when we are given authority over others we do not lord it over them. Our every thought, word, and work should imitate Christ and just as he became a slave to all so must we. Last but not least, we ought to develop a spirit of self-sacrifice and detachment from the world so that we can always be prepared and willing to lay down our lives for others.

How are we preparing ourselves to be servant leaders in the Church and to the world? Do we give God the glory for all our authority, talents, and accomplishments? How can we cultivate spirits of humility and self-sacrifice?

O Lord, we want to serve and give our lives for the many.

Amen.

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Sometimes we hear the end is near, the Day of Judgment is coming, and many other warnings about the end of time. We should listen to Jesus’ advice and realize that no one knows the day or hour of the Second Coming and it’s not our job as Christians to guess at when it will come. Instead, we should be preparing for its arrival as if each day is our last one on earth. We should also be praying for the end to come. After all, when the Day of Judgment arrives Christ will come with it as well as our opportunity to spend eternity in the loving presence of God. If we live our lives in love and service of God and His children, then we have nothing to fear.

What can we do to keep ourselves grounded in doing God’s Will and not worrying about things that are beyond our control? Are we preparing ourselves for the end of our lives and spending eternity with God? Will we be able to honestly tell God we were good and faithful servants?

O Lord, we want to spend eternity with you in heaven.

Amen.

Twenty-Seventh Monday of Ordinary Time

“But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”

Who are our neighbors? That is the question posed to Jesus and in response he gives us the parable of the Good Samaritan. We see two people, a priest and a Levite, who represent religious and righteous people pass by the beaten man. They did not stop to tend his wounds. Instead, they passed by on the opposite side. Perhaps they didn’t stop because they didn’t want to be made ritually unclean by the man’s blood. Or maybe because they were afraid the robbers were still around. Perhaps they thought it was a trick. No matter the reason they didn’t stop, they let their own personal selfishness overrule their hearts. They let pride or fear trump compassion. Jesus calls us to know, love, and serve our fellow children of God no matter what the circumstances. We are asked to be like the Good Samaritan and recognize our neighbor in all whom we meet no matter how disfigured (physically or emotionally) they might be. We cannot follow in Jesus’ footsteps if we do not approach those in most need of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace and care for them to the best of our abilities. We should be willing to give our time, talents, and treasures to God and His children. This is how we become good and faithful servants of God and neighbors to our fellow man.

Who are our neighbors? Who do we have the most difficulty being compassionate to? What are we doing in our lives to cultivate a spirit of compassion and care?

O Lord, give us your compassionate heart so that we might love others as we should.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Monday of Ordinary Time

But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored.

Jesus is not afraid of what others might think of him. His only concerns are to do what is right and give an example of love for others to follow. We must also put aside our own worries about what others might think when we try to do what is right. We cannot allow others to convince us that being merciful or loving is evil. We are called by God to save lives, not destroy them or sit idly by while others do harm to God’s children. There is only one response to others who are in need and that is to serve them as best as we can. We should never come up with excuses or reasons why doing the right thing is wrong. Instead, we must stand our ground and offer hope to those in most need of it by accepting their outstretched hand.

Do we allow others to keep us from doing the right thing? Are we saving lives or destroying them? Do we offer others the help they need in order to be restored, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?

O Lord, may we always seek to save lives and never to destroy them.

Amen.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Jesus calls us to service to God and to his children. He desires us to make ourselves into slaves of love, who seek nothing in return for their service but to please God, our Heavenly Master. The world does not uphold service and slavery as virtues. In the world it is better to be served and to hold power over others, but this is not what God wants us to do. He wants our bodies, minds, and hearts to be given over to His Will. Servants and slaves do not do what they want, but rather what they are called or asked to do by their master. We should keep our eyes and ears open to God’s calling so that when they do come we are ready to serve God and his children.

Do we have a spirit of service or entitlement? Have we made ourselves into slaves to God and servants to his children? Are we open to the call of service?

O Lord, give us the humility to be good and faithful servants-slaves to your Divine Will.

Amen.

Eleventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

We can't serve God and the world at the same time. One or the other takes priority, which one is up to us. We can choose to know, love, and serve God or we can choose to live worldly lives. We might try to convince ourselves there is a middle ground, but there will always be conflicts of interests between God and the world and we will constantly face a choice of who or what is our true master. Hopefully, we are strong enough in faith, hope, and love to choose God. But if not, then let us pray to be given the strength to break free from the chains of worldly interests and desires so we can live free as the children of our Lord.

Who or what is our current master? What can we do to resist the tempting calls of the world around us? How can we break free of those things that keep us from devoting ourselves to God?

O Lord, we want only to know, love, and serve you, our true master.

Amen.

Eighth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The world tells us it is good to seek power over others, but that isn't what Jesus says. His Way is one of service and self-sacrifice. His Truth is that power in this world means nothing in the next. His Light is the only power that truly lasts because it is the Light of God's Eternal Love. God does not seek to lord it over us, but rather to serve as our Savior, Father, and Advocate. He sacrificed his Beloved Son as a ransom for many… for us. If we want a part of His Kingdom, then we must do the same. We must be the slaves of all, doing good to all whom we meet each day without hesitation or expectation of return.

Do we lord it over anyone? How can we become more faithful servants to God and others? What are we willing to endure and do to be of service to our Heavenly Father?

O Lord, we seek to serve you and all your children, now and forever.

Amen.