The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice! Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them! Then shall all the trees of the forest exult before the LORD.

All of creation should rejoice in its Creator. That is after all one of the reasons the whole world was created... to know, love, and serve our Heavenly Father. It is in knowing Him that we become wise and hopeful. It is in loving Him that we learn to become charitable and merciful. It is in serving Him that we fulfill our vocation as His children and co-heirs. He is the Alpha and the Omega of the universe and should be the beginning and the end of our lives. It is in, by, through, and with Him that we accomplish the greatest good. So, let our hearts and voices resound with hymns of thanksgiving, joy, and exultant praise for our Good and Faithful Lord.

Do we take time to appreciate all God has Created? What can we do this year, and in all our future years, to soak in the joy and gladness of creation? How can we be better children to our Father, who created us to know, love, and serve Him and all His creation?

O Lord, let us join the heavens and earth in rejoicing before you, our King and Father.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above, like gentle rain let the skies drop it down. Let the earth open and salvation bud forth; let justice also spring up! I, the LORD, have created this. For thus says the LORD, the creator of the heavens, who is God, The designer and maker of the earth who established it, Not creating it to be a waste, but designing it be lived in: I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Justice and salvation are what God offers us each and every day. He created all the universe and everything in it in order for us to live in justice so we might be saved. He does not wish us any evil, He gives us every chance to do the right thing... to know, love, and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love others as He loves them. He wants us to be good fruits, nourishing the faith, hope, and love of others so they might join him in Heaven. He wants us to be fonts of His Mercy, pouring out His Grace upon all whom we meet. He did not create us to be a waste, but to be a living blessing, showing others that God loves them and should be at the center of all people’s hearts.

Are we leading just lives? What are we doing in order to lead others to God’s Grace and Salvation? Are we living our lives wisely and well or are we wasting them?

O Lord, give us the grace to live in you and not waste away in worldly pursuits.

Amen.

Fifteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

His mercy endures forever. Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born, for his mercy endures forever; And brought out Israel from their midst, for his mercy endures forever; With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, for his mercy endures forever.

God wants us to be free. He offers to break the chains of slavery to sin so we might have new lives in and with Him. He wants us to accept this gift of liberty and use it to make the right choices. He provides us everything we need for the journey through this life. He gives us grace to sustain us, hope to nourish us, and faith to guide us. He gives us His Love and Mercy so we might follow in the footsteps of His Beloved Son and be lights to the world. He wants us to choose the freedom of serving Him with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. It is up to each of us to accept this offering and use it to bring ourselves and others closer to the Promised Land.

What people, places, and things are enslaving us in this life? What is God offering us to help us get escape these evils? When we are freed from our sins, how can we avoid falling back into slavery and instead go forth into the Promised Land?

O Lord, bring us out of our slavery to new life in and with you.

Amen.

Twelfth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

The Lord remembers his covenant forever. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly.

Serving God constantly isn’t easy. We are constantly bombarded by distractions and temptations that can take us away from God. Even when we are doing what is right, we can lose sight of why we do it. Sometimes in the busyness of everyday life we can forget to pay attention to God. It is easy to become so caught up in the daily grind that we let our spiritual lives suffer. We don’t remember to offer up our works. We eat and drink and don’t think of saying grace. We buzz here and there and forget where our priorities should be. We take time to enjoy ourselves, but don’t set aside time to be with God in prayer or meditation. Because of how absorbing the world can be, we have to be extra sensitive to God’s Divine Presence in our lives and allow Him to help us through our days. By doing this, we can find ways to make our daily works into holy ones that bring us closer to God and fulfill our calling as Christians of the New Covenant.

When others see us, do they know we are Christians? How can we become better servants to the Lord? What can we do to remind ourselves to be more aware of God in our lives?

O Lord, we seek to serve you constantly.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Easter

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good he has done for me? My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people. Precious in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.

It is impossible for us to truly repay God for all He has done for us. He gave us the world we live in. He gave us His Divine Image. He gave us our lives. He has offered us His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy. He has given us more than we could ever return to Him. All He asks for in return is our faith, hope, and love so we might know, love, and serve Him and all His children to the best of our abilities.

Are we making a good-faith effort to repay God for all He has done for us? What can we do to build up the Kingdom of God on earth? How can we fulfill our baptismal vows?

O Lord, help us to be counted among your faithful ones.

Amen.

Fifth Thursday of Lent

The Lord remembers his covenant forever. Look to the LORD in his strength; seek to serve him constantly. Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought, his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.

There are many reasons to look at the Lord and seek to serve Him constantly. He is our Heavenly Father, who created us and now protects us for evil. He is our Beloved Brother, who showed us the Way, the Truth, and the Life and wants only to lead us to salvation. He is our Holy Advocate, who inspires us to do the right thing and helps us be the best versions of ourselves. He is true to His Word and has adopted us as His children. He loves us. He is merciful toward us. He pours out His graces upon us. He has wrought wondrous deeds for us, but He has also wrought small miracles in our lives that we won’t really know about until they are revealed in the next life. He has given us every guidance along the way so we might not be lost to the world, but walk the narrow path to heaven. Let us hope we will devotedly follow Him so that one day we will be called His good and faithful servants.

Are we serving God constantly in all our thoughts, our words, and our works? Do we seek Him as we ought? How can we recall and give thanks for all His wondrous deeds?

O Lord, we look to you in your strength and strive to serve you constantly.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will. Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”

The only sacrifice and oblation God wants from us is to do His Will in all things. This means being faithful to His commandments, Christ’s teachings, and the inspirations of the Spirit. This means placing our hope in God and trusting in His Grace and His Mercy. This means knowing, loving, and serving God and all His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. This means being obedient even to the point of sacrifice and death. This is the offering God wants from us... to imitate His Son, Jesus Christ, in all things and come to Him when He calls.

How can we make our lives into living sacrifices? What can we do to be better followers of the commandment, teachings, and inspirations of God? How can we more perfectly imitate Jesus in our lives?

O Lord, behold we come.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song.

Serving the Lord can be difficult at times. With all the anxieties and worries of the world we can sometimes forget our call to service or put it on the back burner. Health, finances, relationships can all get in the way of our vocations. Thankfully, the greatest vocation is to love God and one another and no matter what is going on in our lives, we should always have time for great and small acts of love. It is through these works of charity and mercy that we truly proclaim the Good News. It is through them that we sing to God with joy, bringing gladness to the people around us.

How can we serve God more faithfully? What can we do to make more time for God and others in our lives? How can we spread gladness and joy to the people around us?

O Lord, we hope to know, love, and serve you with gladness.

Amen.

Thirty-First Thursday in Ordinary Time

But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Everything in this world is a loss, except those things that lead us closer to God. We might be surrounded by worldly treasures and pleasures, but all of them are empty when compared to the spiritual treasures and pleasures we can gain through a holy, loving, and faithful life. The supreme good of our lives is coming to know, love, and serve our Heavenly Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is this good that we should constantly strive for in this life so we might magnify the Lord and rejoice in our Savior just as his most faithful servants did in their lives.

How can we detach ourselves from worldly things and see them all as a loss? What can we do to live our lives in accord with the supreme good of knowing, loving, and serving God? Are we willing to sacrifice the world so we might gain heaven?

O Lord, you are the source of all spiritual gain. Grant us the supreme good of knowing, loving, and serving you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

Vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full.

The world will move on without us. To think otherwise is to ignore the truth that what we do with our lives is but a drop in an ocean of time and activity. Everything we have in this life will pass away, except our relationship with God. And so, our time, talents, and treasures should be focused on knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our abilities. The sun will rise and set when we are gone and the only lasting impression we will make is the one we make with God. We will either be his good and faithful servants and enjoy eternal life or we will reject Him and become outcasts, grinding and gnashing our teeth. The world might give us the illusion of success and wealth, but if these aren't spiritual in nature, then they will come to nothing in the end.

Are we spending our lives on vanities and things that will not stand the test of time? Are we willing to labor for God and His children rather than for the fleeting successes and pleasures of this world? How can we make a lasting impression on God through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, strip us of our vanities and clothe us in the graces that come from serving you.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Now you are Christ's Body, and individually parts of it. Some people God has designated in the Church to be, first, Apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; then, mighty deeds; then gifts of healing, assistance, administration, and varieties of tongues. Are all Apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work mighty deeds? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.

We are each given unique graces, gifts, and talents by God. We are given these things in order to fulfill His Will, give Him glory, and help those in need. Some of us are called to speak prophetically, announcing the Good News to others and proclaiming the Word. Others are asked by God to undertake mighty deeds to reveal His power to the world and help others. We are also called to healing, assistance, administration, communication, and various other vocations. Not everyone has the same gifts, but we all have the same purpose... to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. So, let us take what gifts we’ve been given and do with them as God wills so we might build up the Body of Christ.

What graces, gifts, and talents has God given us? How can we put them to good use? What can we do to build up the Body of Christ through our thoughts, words, and works?

O Lord, give us the wisdom and will to use the gifts you’ve given us to strengthen the Church and all of God’s children.

Amen.

Ninth Thursday in Ordinary Time

If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

As a follower of Christ, we have to be willing to die to ourselves. We need to be able to detach our minds, hearts, souls, and strengths from all worldly people, places, and things. God, and God alone, must be our foundation stone. We must live for Him... to know, love, and serve Him with all our being. The world will throw all sorts of distractions in our way and it is up to us to step over these stumbling blocks and continue upon the narrow way to Heaven. We might not always succeed, but as long as we sincerely try to live with Him in all things, then He shall remain faithful to us and help us to grow in virtue and holiness.

What are some things we need to die to in this life? How can we learn to die to these things and live more perfectly in Jesus Christ? In what ways can we foster the spirit of detachment we need in order to live in the world, but not be consumed by it.

O Lord, help us to detach ourselves from the world and unite ourselves to you.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Lent

But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause!

If we are wise, trusting, and loving, then we shall entrust our causes to God. Only He has the strength to lift us up and see us through all things. Only He can grant us the graces and gifts we need to succeed at what is truly important in life. Only He offers to protect us from all evil. Only He provides us with true justice and mercy. Only He knows our minds and hearts. Only He has the right to judge others. All we are called to do is to know, love, and serve Him and all His children, including those whom we don’t like. Only we have the ability to let go and let God, and if we do, then we shall find all our burdens lifted and have nothing to fear.

What causes do we have in our lives? Have we entrusted those causes to God? Are we willing to let Him take those causes and do with them what He wills?

O Lord, we entrust everything to you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin

After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold and said to the people: "You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough. Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt." And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan. This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves in Bethel and in Dan.

The temptations and distractions in our lives can become idols that take the place of God in our hearts. This is why we must be vigilant against sin and be willing to walk away from those things that divert our attention from knowing, loving, and serving God and His children. This isn’t to say that leisure activities should be completely cut out of our lives, but that they should always come in second place and be done in moderation. If we ever have to choose between what is right and what is wrong, then we should always do what is right. But in the same vein, we should always choose what is right over what is enjoyable and fun. Sometimes being a follower of Christ requires us to give up something we like for the greater good of being charitable and merciful. If we discover that we have a difficult time giving up a certain activity, even a good one, in order to do what is right, then we must find a way to reign in that activity and exercise our self-control.

What temptations and distractions are leading us away from our responsibilities to God and others? How can we align our lives more perfectly with knowing, loving, and serving our Heavenly Father and all His children? In what ways can we prepare ourselves to always choose what is good and right over those things we find enjoyable and fun?

O Lord, cast out from our hearts all those sins and worldly things that keep us from being completely yours.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart.

Being faithful to God with our whole hearts isn’t easy. The world constantly tempts us to give a piece of our heart to earthly things. It might be a person, a place, a thing, an action, a hobby, or some other pursuit. Not that any of these things are bad in and of themselves, but if they aren’t loved in light of our relationship with God, then they can become a distraction from spiritual things. They can even lead to sin. Thankfully, God understands our difficulties and so he constantly pours out His Love and Mercy upon us, refreshing us and sustaining us so that we can continue on our journey to heaven. There is no father like our Father. No paradise like the Paradise of Heaven. There is nothing on this earth that can compare to the heavenly things that await us if we choose to know, love, and serve God to the best of our abilities... striving to do so with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

Do our hearts dwell on worldly or heavenly things? How can we become more faithful to God and the New Covenant He has created with us? Do we seek God’s help in leading holy lives?

O Lord, there is no God like you, the King of Love, Mercy, and Grace.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Saturday of Ordinary Time

But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away by final and absolute destruction, Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him.

We are all called to serve and obey our Lord and King. He has done so much for each of us from conception through life to our eventual death. He has provided everything we need to grow in faith, hope, and love. He has give us consciences to guide us and grace to sustain us. He has sent us His Beloved Son as a sacrifice for our good and as an example of how to live our lives in accordance with His commandments. He has taught us all we need to know, in order to follow His teachings and live holy lives. He has given us insights into how we can live our lives as saintly people and has inspired us through the Holy Spirit. He is the King of All Holiness and wants us to be His People now and forever more.

In what ways are we serving God? Have we done our best to follow His commandments, live out His teachings, and listen to His inspirations? How can we become better imitators of our King and Savior?

O Lord, you are the Most High. Your Kingdom will last forever.

Amen.

Thirty-Fourth Friday of Ordinary Time

As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Everything in this world will pass away. Countries, families, friends, possessions, wealth, fame, influence, and all other earthly things. However, there is one thing which will remain: God’s dominion over all. He existed before creation and formed the universe out of nothing. He is the beginning and end of all that was, is, and ever will be. He may have delegated his dominion over the world to us through Adam, but in the end, we are but tenants who work the fields of this life, but must return the harvest to God when He sends for His share. Everything we have is wholly His and we would do well to remember the gifts, talents, and goods we have are borrowed. This is why we give Him glory, honor, and praise for all He has done for us. His gracious gifts are a cause for constant thanksgiving and humble reverence before our Lord and King.

Are our lives pledged to worldly things or to heavenly ones? Are we willing to give God dominion over our thoughts, words, and works? How can we do a better job of giving all glory, honor, and praise to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all they have done for us?

O Lord, we are your humble servants.

Amen.

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

In a world where we are constantly told we need to stand out, show off, and take what we want, it can be difficult to remain humble. However, we don’t need to exult ourselves to make our mark on this world. We can make a difference by simply being Christians and knowing, loving, and serving God and His children to the best of our ability. We might not get rich, gain fame, or even be recognized for our spiritual successes, but when we pass on from this world God will be there with the treasures of the afterlife and the laurels of sainthood. It will be Him who exults us by telling us that we have been good and faithful servants and worthy co-heirs to the Heavenly Kingdom.

What can we do to remain humble in spirit? Are we willing to forgo worldly successes in order to obtain heavenly ones? How can we become good and faithful servant leaders?

O Lord, give us humble hearts.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Friday of Ordinary Time

For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God, in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us, but each one of us went off after the devices of his own wicked heart, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God.

We are constantly tempted to follow our own devices, to serve other things or people, and to do evil in the sight of God. However, God didn’t give us life or put us on earth to ignore Him or His Words. He wants us to heed His voice through our consciences and to live our faith in accord with His Teachings in the Scriptures and the Traditions of the Church. He has given us not only the prophets to proclaim the Divine Word, but made the Word into Flesh so He could show us the Way, speak to us the Truth, and give us the Life He wants us to live. It is up to us to accept the messages He has sent us and to conform our lives to them so we might have good hearts and know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. He wants us to do good in His sight and to bear abundant fruits.

How can we put God’s callings before our own devices? What can we do to serve God and avoid the temptation to idolize worldly things and people? How can we make our lives more spiritually fruitful?

O Lord, help us to do good in your sight.

Amen.

Nineteenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

But the people answered Joshua, "We will still serve the LORD." Joshua therefore said to the people, "You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD." They replied, "We are, indeed!" Joshua continued: "Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." Then the people promised Joshua, "We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice."

As his last act as leader of the Israelites, Joshua exhorted them to continue to serve God and the people answer that they will. In the same way, we must constantly answer that we will spend the rest of our lives knowing, loving, and serving God. We are our own witnesses and must keep ourselves accountable. We must keep the commandments of God and grow in virtues. We must admonish ourselves when we do wrong, correct our behavior, and do penance for our sins. We must put away those things that keep us from being totally devoted to God. We must turn our hearts to Him without reservation or hesitation. We must open our ears, minds, and hearts to listen to God’s Voice, understand His Will, and put the Word of God into action.

Do we renew our commitment to serving God on a daily basis? Are we willing to leave behind everything and follow God where He wants us to go? How can we learn to listen to and be faithful to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit?

O Lord, we will serve you and obey your voice.

Amen.