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

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

Jesus Christ is our King. This is something we as Christians need to accept. We need to recognize him as our Lord, who has the right to ask us to do whatever is needed to fulfill his will. If he asks for our gifts and talents, then we must give them to him to the best of our abilities. If he asks for our treasures and goods, we must offer them up for his purpose. If he asks for us to suffer mockery and persecution for him, then we must stand at his side ready to receive the blows. If he asks us to die for his glory or the good of others, then we must be able to let go of our lives and give them over to him as a sacrifice. In all things, we must we willing to accept our crosses, whatever they might be... great or small, easy or hard. This is what Jesus did for us, and we should be willing and able to do the same for His Kingdom.

Do we recognize that we were created through and for God and not ourselves? Do we recognize Jesus as the Head of the Church and the master of our lives? What are we doing to seek out our spiritual fulfillment in and with Him?

O Lord, in you we were created and for the magnification of you we were made.

Amen.

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ. 

God has made us worthy of our callings in this life. He has given us the graces we need. He has provided us with gifts and talents and treasures sufficient to accomplish the works He wants us to do. He has blessed us in ways seen and unseen all so we might fulfill His Will on earth. If we fail to do good or avoid evil, it is not because He did not help us enough. It is because we ignored our calling, settled for something less, or choose a sinful life over a holy one. It is our fault and ours alone when we fall short because we are weighed down by doubts, fears, apathy, or selfishness. However, if we are willing to shrug off these things and place our trust in God, then there is no limit to how far we can go. We will be able to make the leaps of faith we need in order to achieve God’s Will and the world, including ourselves, will be better off for it.

Do we bring to fulfillment every good purpose and effort of faith? Do our thoughts, words, and works glorify God? What can we do to live up to the calling God has given us?

O Lord, make us worthy of your calling.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

We all have something we can give to others. We have an abundance of time, talents, and treasures at our disposal, which we can use to give glory to God and for the good of others. We might not be able to say, “Yes” to every request, but when we can, we should make time for those in need. Just as God is gracious with us, so we should be gracious to others, conducting our lives with justice, mercy, and charity for all whom we meet.

What do we have to give to God and others? How can we use our time, talents, and treasures to bear good fruits? In what ways can we be more generous with ourselves?

O Lord, give us the grace to be generous and just in all our thoughts, words, and works.

Amen.

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar.

We are all wonderfully made. God created each of us to fulfill His Divine Plan. He created us with gifts and talents and insights that make us uniquely capable of saving souls and proclaiming the Good News. He knows what we were made for and so He knows what we are capable of and gives us the graces we need to succeed in our role in salvation. He knows our minds, hearts, and spirits and is familiar with our strengths and weaknesses. He knows everything we have been, are, and will be and scrutinizes our existence in light of what we are called to be. Let us hope that when all is said and done, He will find that we were good and faithful servants who fulfilled our vocations and wonderfully so.

Do we realize how wonderfully made we truly are? How do we live up to the gifts God has given us? In what ways are we fulfilling our vocation to know, love, and serve God and His children with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength?

O Lord, we praise you for making us.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever.

God has asked all of us to be leaders in His Church. He wants us to follow in His Beloved Son’s footsteps. He wants us to be fishers of men and shepherds of His flock. We can’t do that if we don’t take up our crosses and lead by example. Each of us has a unique leadership role to play in the Divine Plan. We have gifts and talents that only we can give. No one else can do what we do for God and His children. We might not realize how unique we are in the plan of salvation, but we are special and we do everyone a disservice if we do not live up to our potential. So, let us accept the seat of leadership God has prepared for us and give it our all.

In what areas in our lives are we being called to leadership? What gifts and talents can we use to further the glory of God and the good of others? How can we become better stewards of the goods and responsibilities God has given us?

O Lord, we praise your name for giving us a seat at your table.

Amen.

Eighth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge.

God makes clear that if we want to make a covenant with Him, it must be through sacrifice. We can’t go through our lives without being willing to surrender our time, talents, and treasures to God. We must put God first and foremost in our lives and give Him priority over all else. We have to be willing to give up whatever He asks us to leave behind. We cannot live a Christ-like life if we aren’t willing to make every moment of our days into a sacrifice for His glory and the good of His children. If we want to be faithful and upright, then we must be prepared to suffer and do so joyfully and calmly. We must give of ourselves without complaint or counting the cost because Jesus never hesitated to offer himself up as an oblation to God for the cleansing of our sins and the salvation of our souls.

What sacrifices are we being asked to make? What can we do to make our lives into offerings for the reparation of sins and the salvation of souls? How can we become upright and just in our dealings with God and His children?

O Lord, we are willing to sacrifice everything we are and have to be a part of your new covenant.

Amen.

Sixth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? The cup of salvation I will take up, and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

God has done many good things for us. He gave us existence and life. He has provided us with every good thing and blessing we experience. He has given us graces, gifts, and talents to use for His Glory and the good of others. All He asks in return is our love and the sacrifice of praise. If we do these things, then He gives us even more… the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven.

Do we praise God for the goods He has done us? Are we using the graces, gifts, and talents we’ve received from God for His Glory and the good of others? How are we making ourselves into living sacrifices of praise?

O Lord, let us return what we can to you through sacrifice, love, and praise.

Amen.

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.

Third Wednesday in Ordinary Time

 You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek. The scepter of your power the LORD will stretch forth from Zion: “Rule in the midst of your enemies.”

Every good, grace, talent, and power we have has been given to us by God as a free gift. He provides everything we need to grow in faith, hope, and love because He wants us to spend the rest of eternity with Him. He wants us to rule over our minds, bodies, and spirits with prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice. He wants us to overcome the enemies of evil, temptation, and indifference. He wants us to follow in His Beloved Son’s footsteps and become priests, prophets, and servant kings.

Have we thanked God for all the goods, graces, talents, and powers He has given us? How can we rule over ourselves more perfectly? In what ways can we be more like Christ?

O Lord, thank you for the powers you have given us.

Amen.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another, the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy; to another, discernment of spirits; to another, varieties of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

We all manifest the Spirit in different ways. This is because we all have a unique role to play in God’s Divine Plan. He has given us gifts and talents that make us perfect instruments of His Divine Grace. However, we must accept these gifts and use them to the best of our abilities. The world will try to distract us from using our God-given gifts. The Devil will try to twist our talents for his own ends. It is up to us to use our consciences to guide our thoughts, words, and works so they lead to God’s greater glory and the good of all His children.

What gifts and talents do we have from God? How can we use them to proclaim the Good News and help others? How can we encourage others to do the same?

O Lord, help us to manifest your Spirit through our every word and work.

Amen.

The Baptism of the Lord

The Lord will bless his people with peace. Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, Give to the LORD the glory due his name; adore the LORD in holy attire.

We have much to give to the Lord. He has done so much for us that we can never repay Him, but we can do what is right and give Him everything we can... our time, our talents, our treasures. We can give Him our love, our hope, our faith. We can give Him glory, honor, and praise. We can give Him all that is due to Him by knowing, loving, and serving Him and all his children. He has given us peace and blessing, the least we can do is to become instruments of His peace and blessing to the world.

What are we giving to God? Are we giving enough? How can we give more of ourselves to God and all His children?

O Lord, we want to give you the glory due to your Holy Name.

Amen.

The Epiphany of the Lord

It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:  that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

We are all coheirs in the promise of Christ Jesus. We are all members of the same body. The Three Wise Men came to the Christ child, led by a star and in hope of meeting the Messiah. They brought him gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the same way, we come to Christ, too, and give him our time, talents, and treasures. We know all our thoughts, words, and works find their source, center, and summit in God, who is our Father and our King. He has adopted us as His own children through the sacrifice of His Beloved Son and the love of the Holy Spirit.

Do we act like coheirs to the promise of Christ? What are we doing to be co-partners in God's Divine Plan of salvation? What gifts do we have to give to the King of Kings and our fellow children of God?

O Lord, make us co-partners in spreading the Good News.

Amen.

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days.

The rich described here are not only those who have wealth, but also those who have time and talents to spare, too. When we withhold the gifts and goods God has given us and hoard them for ourselves or keep them locked away, we store up the chains that will bind us to Hell. Letting our time slip by us, our talents rot, and our treasures sit idle will lead to misery and destruction. If we fail to use what God has given us for His glory or the goodness of others, then we will have no chance to go to Heaven and receive the gift of everlasting life. We will instead by cast into the fires of Hell. It is only by being generous with what we have that we will build a storehouse of good which will be evidence of our choosing God above all else.

Are we generous or miserly? What are we doing with our time, talents, and treasures? How can we build up goodness in our lives instead of evil?

O Lord, help us to use our time, talents, and treasures wisely and well.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

We are not perfect and because of this sometimes we mistake evil for good. We may indeed be righteous in our own eyes and yet evil in the eyes of God. We might do the right things for the wrong reasons. We might allow the distractions and anxieties of the world keep us from doing the good works God is calling us to do. We might believe our hearts are in the right place, but they are not. Thankfully, God does not demand perfection from us. Instead, He demands we strive to do what is right and just. He asks us to sacrifice our time, talents, and treasures in order to do His Will to the best of our abilities. He wants us to prove our hearts are His and only His, which requires a willingness to be humble and sacrifice ourselves for Him and His children.

Have we examined our lives and asked if we are living rightly and well? How can we align our minds and hearts with the Will of God? What can we do to make our lives into an acceptable sacrifice for the love of God and the good of others?

O Lord, prove our hearts are true to you.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Monday in Ordinary Time

Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give," when you can give at once. Plot no evil against your neighbor, against one who lives at peace with you. Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm. Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways: To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship.

We must be free with our time, talents, and treasures. Willing to give them to others at a moment’s notice and without hesitation. This isn’t always easy to do, especially if the one asking for help is a stranger, someone we dislike, or even an enemy. We also must be willing to be charitable and merciful when it’s not convenient for us. We must be willing to give our gifts to others no matter what else we’d rather be doing. At the same time, we should not plot evil against others or quarrel with them. No matter what wrongs we have suffered, we are never entitled to vengeance. God is the only Judge and it is for Him and only Him to punish wrongdoers. Last but not least, we are told to envy not the lawless man or his ways. There is a temptation to see the success and pleasures of evil people and wonder why we suffer while they enjoy themselves, but theirs is an empty victory. If we remain true, then we shall enjoy the afterlife and be God’s friends forever and ever.

Are we willing to give to others without counting the cost? Are we willing to be at peace with those whom have harmed us? Are we willing to deny ourselves the ways of the lawless man?

O Lord, we shall stand with you in uprightness.

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.

Memorial of Saint Monica

We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

God makes us worthy of our calling through His graces. He gives us the virtues, goodness, and strength to be good and faithful Christians. He is the one who brings to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of our faith. We are His instruments, His living vessels and our primary purpose on this earth is to do His Will, to glorify Him, and love Him and His children. It is by doing these things with a humble and self-sacrificing heart that we are saved and eventually glorified. Moreover, we are not only responsible for ourselves, but also the faith lives of those around us. We are called to do everything we can in order to help our family, friends, neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies to become instruments of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace.

Are we putting our time, talents, and treasures to good use? Are we making every effort to fulfill the purposes God has given us? What are we doing to help others fulfill their purposes?

O Lord, make us worthy of our callings.

Amen.

Seventeenth Thursday in Ordinary Time

I went down to the potter's house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done' says the LORD.

We are like clay and God is the potter. He gave us life, shape, and purpose. He has raised us up by His Own Hand and given us a role in His Divine Plan. It is not His fault if we are weak, if we lose our shape, if we waste the gifts and talents He has given us. And if we turn out badly, we should not be surprised when He takes hold of our lives, collapses them, and reforms them. He does this not to destroy or punish us, but to give us another chance to fulfill His Will. He opens new possibilities by closing old and abandoned ones. Yes, it is hard to have our lives shattered by trials and sufferings, but they are given to us for a reason. To help us to become better people. So, when we do suffer, let us not complain, but accept what has happened and reshape our lives in the mold of Jesus Christ who bore his cross so we might be cleansed of our imperfections and remade in the image and likeness of God.

Are we willing to let God reshape our lives? What areas of our lives have become misshapen by sin? How can we learn to keep our eyes open to new possibilities even in the midst of trials?

O Lord, mold us in your image.

Amen.

Seventeenth Monday in Ordinary Time

Again I went to the Parath, sought out and took the loincloth from the place where I had hid it. But it was rotted, good for nothing! Then the message came to me from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: So also I will allow the pride of Judah to rot, the great pride of Jerusalem. This wicked people who refuse to obey my words, who walk in the stubbornness of their hearts, and follow strange gods to serve and adore them, shall be like this loincloth which is good for nothing.

If we don't obey God's Divine Word and follow His Way, Truth, and Life, then we are good for nothing. If false idols rule our lives and sins chain us, then we shall rot away. If our hearts are stubborn and our minds prideful, we shall be empty of all good. Nothing we think, say, or do will amount to anything. We shall be hollow vessels, clanging cymbals, rotten fruits. It is only when we put God first and foremost in our lives that we bear good fruits, sing God's praise worthily, and fill ourselves with God's Love, Mercy, and Goodness. Once we do that, then, and only then, will we be good for something.

Are there areas of our lives which are good for nothing? How can we rid ourselves of these weaknesses and put our time, talents, and treasures to greater use? What can we do to avoid rotting away from sin and indifference?

O Lord, make us good for something.

Amen.

Fifteenth Thursday in Ordinary Time

The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world's inhabitants learn justice. O LORD, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done.

God gives those who follow Him a peace that cannot be shaken by temptations, worries, and other worldly fears. It isn't a peace that promises no harm will come to us or we won't suffer, but rather if we choose to do God's Will, He will give us a sense of calm even in the midst of our sometimes-stormy lives. He will smooth out our path to Him with consolations, inspirations, and other graces that will help us through our dark nights. All we must do is keep His commandments, love Him, and love His children. This is the vigil He wants us to keep and one we can all succeed at if we prepare our souls for the trials of the night and trust in His Goodness.

Do we pray for God's peace to sustain us throughout our days and our lives? Are we willing to suffer patiently in order to do God's Will? How can we stand vigil and do everything God wants us to do with our time, talents, and treasures?

O Lord, smooth our ways and grant us your peace so we might accomplish your Will in all things.

Amen.