Fifth Monday in Ordinary Time

May the Lord be glad in his works. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.

We are the works of the Lord and He is glad in us when we do His Will. He created us to be co-heirs to the Kingdom with His Beloved Son and instruments of His Grace, Mercy, and Love. We are constantly blessed by Him with time, talents, and treasures that He means for us to share with all His children. He is a great Father indeed, clothed in majesty and glory. He is our Light and our Savior. He has done marvelous deeds for us all. It is only fitting that we know, love, and serve Him more perfectly by doing good and avoiding evil.

Are we allowing God to work through us? How can we be more open to allowing Him to use us as instruments of His Goodness? What can we think, say, and do to show others how great our Heavenly Father is?

O Lord, may we do your works and bring gladness to your Divine Heart.

Amen.

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs, that there may be equality.

Jesus gives us the perfect example of what it means to be detached from our goods and our very lives. He was willing to give up everything in order to pay the price for our sins. In a similar manner, we should be willing to sacrifice all that we have... our goods, our consolations, our merits, our lives... for the good of others. This is not because Jesus wants us to feel burdened, but rather because He wants us to do onto others as he has done for us. He has never asked us to do something he didn’t do in his own holy life. Yes, our sacrifices might cause us some difficulties and sufferings, but if they are done for the glory of God and the good of others, then God will give us the graces we need to thrive in our faith. Furthermore, if ever we are in need of the goods of others, then God will supply our needs from their abundance just as He asked us to do when we were able to provide. At one point or another in our lives, we are all poor and if we want to be taken care of, then we ought to make our own riches available to God and others.

Are we detached from our goods? Are we willing to share everything we have with God and His children? How can we make our time, talents, and treasures more available to God?

O Lord, we offer you our abundance for your glory and the good of all souls.

Amen.

Tenth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"

As Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to be charitable, even with the last of what we have. Sometimes we are running late or worried about time, but someone comes along and needs us to listen to them or help them in some way. We could say, "I don't have the time," but Jesus always made time for others. Other times we don't have much money or other material goods, but someone comes along who is in need of what little we have. We could say, "I don't have enough to share," but Jesus always found a way to share what he had with those in need. We have to learn to trust that God will always give us the gifts and graces we need to do His Will. And if we trust in this truth, then our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths will never run out. We shall be able to care for ourselves and others all the days of our lives.

Are we afraid of giving of ourselves? How can we learn to let go of our time, talents, and treasures and let God use them for His Will? Do we trust that God will never let us go empty when we are doing His work?

O Lord, let us never be afraid of doing what is right and good.

Amen.

Second Tuesday of Easter

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the Apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.

The early Christian community was a model of unity and charity. They shared their goods with each other and helped each other out to the best of their abilities. They bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord by proclaiming the Good News and helping the needy among them. They were more than willing to give up worldly goods in order to feed, clothe, and shelter the least of God’s children. We can learn a lot from this early community of believers and should imitate them as best we can. We might not have church houses anymore, but we can certainly make each of our homes into spiritual churches that nourish body, mind, and spirit.

How can we cultivate a spirit of detachment from our worldly things so that we can share them when needed? How can we bear witness to the resurrection as the early disciples did? What can we do to make our houses into domestic churches?

O Lord, make us one in heart and mind with you and all your holy ones.

Amen.

Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist

But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please men, but rather God, who judges our hearts. Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed--God is witness--nor did we seek praise from men, either from you or from others, although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.

When we bring the Gospel to others, the best way to do so is not through trying to please or flatter them or to force or demean them, but rather to be truthful, gentle, and loving. This is why the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Spiritual Mother, is such an important role model for us to emulate. She shows us throughout the Gospel through word and deed how to magnify the Lord and proclaim His Greatness in all things. She does this through sharing herself with others. First, with her fiat to our Heavenly Father and her openness to the Holy Spirit with whom she conceived Jesus. Second, through the visitation of Elizabeth, whom she cares for. Third, with Joseph, whom she shares a life full of blessings and sorrows. Fourth, with Jesus, her Son and out Lord with whom she shared everything from conception to Passion to death to Resurrection. Last but not least, she shares herself with all God’s children by accepting God’s call to be our Spiritual Mother, who knows, loves, and serves us most perfectly in Heaven and desires nothing more than for us to fulfill God’s Will and join her in Heaven. So let us all be givers of our selves just as Jesus, Paul, and Mary gave themselves for us.

How can we become more effective preachers of the Gospel of God? In what ways can we share ourselves with our fellow children of God? Are we gentle in our approach to bringing the Good News into the lives of others?

O Lord, help us to share not only your Gospel, but also ourselves with all those we are asked to evangelize.

Amen.

Seventeenth Saturday of Ordinary Time

This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when every one of you shall return to his own property, every one to his own family estate. In this fiftieth year, your year of jubilee, you shall not sow, nor shall you reap the aftergrowth or pick the grapes from the untrimmed vines. Since this is the jubilee, which shall be sacred for you, you may not eat of its produce, except as taken directly from the field.

The Jubilee year is something we can learn a lot from. In this year slaved were set free, property returned, and the soil rested. First, the captives are freed. This reminds us of how each of us have been freed from the bondage of sin and death through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Second, property is returned. This reminds us God is the true owner of all our goods from our gifts and talents to our possessions and property. Even our lives are given to us on borrowed time and one day all we have and are will return to God. Lastly, the fields are rested and allowed to be picked by all Israelites. This reminds us sometimes we need to trust in God and let Him bring forth good fruits from us spontaneously. It also reminds us to share those good fruits with others, without counting the cost.

What can we do to free ourselves from our sins? How can we make a return of everything we have to God, the source, center, and summit of all our goods? Do we trust God will provide for us if we let Him and share the harvest He provides us with others?

O Lord, make us into living jubilees, celebrating your mercy, generosity, and charity to all your children.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Fasting isn’t about giving up trivial things (chocolate, candy, etc.) or making exterior changes in our lives (exercising more, watching less TV, etc.). Yes, these can be parts of the whole experience, but they need to be grounded in the desire for an interior change that springs from choosing heavenly things over worldly ones. Fasting means acting justly toward others, helping them with their burdens, setting them free from those things that oppress them, breaking the yokes around our neighbor’s necks. It means sharing with, sheltering, and clothing those in need. It is learning to sacrifice yourself for others and never turning your back on them. If we do all these things, then we shall be a light for the whole world showing them the path of love, mercy, and grace that God has prepared for us all. It is not enough to think, say, or do the right thing out of a sense of obligation, we have to do good works because we want to be more like Christ.

What are we fasting from during this Lenten season? How can we interiorize the act of fasting? What can we do to transform ourselves over this time of purification so that we can be more Christ-like year around?

O Lord, give us the grace to fast not only outwardly, but inwardly, too.

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.

Although these words are directed at the leaders of the Christian community, they have meaning for all Christians. We should do everything in our power to help our Church leaders to tend to the flock of God. If we have time to give in volunteer work, then we should give it. If we have talents we can share, then we should share them. If we have treasures we can offer up for the good of others, then we should offer them. And we should do these things eagerly out of love for God and His children. We should be examples to others of what it means to be Christians and share our faith, hope, and love with all our strength. If we do these things, then we shall receive a crown of glory crafted out of good and merciful deeds.

What are we doing to support our Church leaders? How can we share our time, talents, and treasures with the Church? What can we think, say, and do to forge a life worthy of the crown of glory?

O Lord, help us to be examples to your flock.

Amen.

Ash Wednesday

When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are the three keystones to the celebration of the Lenten season. Each of them reminds us of what it means to be Christ-like. In almsgiving, we imitate the generous and compassionate spirit of Jesus by giving of our time, talents, and treasures. In prayer, we give God the praise He deserves through our acts of petition and thanksgiving. In fasting, we remind ourselves of the need to be detached from worldly things and to cultivate a spirit of reconciliation with God and others. And just like Jesus, we are supposed to do these three things not to be noticed or praised by others like the hypocrites do, but because it is the good and right thing to do. This doesn’t mean completely hiding our faith; after all we do place ashes on our foreheads as a public declaration of our shared faith and united desire for God’s forgiveness. But what it does mean is that when we proclaim our faith publicly, like Christ did during his ministry, that we should be doing it for God’s sake and not our own.

How will we be sharing our time, talents, and treasures during this Lenten season? What should we be praying for in order to help us become better bearers of God’s Love, Mercy, and Grace? What can we fast from so that we can cultivate a spirit of detachment from the world?

O Lord, may our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting bring us closer to you.

Amen.

The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them, “Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it.

God speaks to us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit every day of our lives. He tells us what we are called to do and if we listen to Him, like Mary did during her most holy life, then we will be a font of God’s Love and Mercy. Sometimes God asks us to do the simply things in life with great love, other times He asks us to do great things with the simple faith that everything will work out in the end. No matter what God is calling us to do, one thing is for certain… He will always give us the graces to fulfill His Will. We have only to empty ourselves of worldly things and fill ourselves with the waters of trust. If we do this, then God will transform our trust into good works that will refresh and sustain the souls of those who come into contact with us.

Are we willing to do what God is asking us? What must we do to empty ourselves of worldly things so that we might be filled with His Grace? And once we have the grace, how will we draw it out of ourselves and share it with others?

O Lord, fill us with the wine of your love, mercy, and grace so that we might give it to those in most need of your refreshment.

Amen.