Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! By the streams of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. On the aspens of that land we hung up our harps.

God will deliver us from all evil. This is something we never forget. Even when we are faced with great difficulties, even when our foes seem to have the upper hand, if we trust in God, He will save us. He will lead us out of the desert and bring us to the Promised Land. He will turn our tears into joy. He will give us harps to play so we might laugh and dance and sing his praises.

Do we let our trials in this life cause us to forget God? Or do we take those challenges and make them into opportunities to praise Him? Do we trust in God enough to walk through the dark valley to get to the Promised Land on the other side?

O Lord, may we never forget what you have done for us.

Amen.

Twenty-First Friday in Ordinary Time

Rejoice in the Lord, you just! The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful ones; from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.

Evil can be alluring. It can be easy. It can tempt us in many ways. But no matter how alluring or easy or tempting it is, it ultimately leads to destruction. Destruction of our relationship with God. Destruction of our connections to family, friends, and neighbors. Destruction of ourselves from the inside out. Evil is corruptive by nature. It decomposes us in body, mind, and soul. It breaks us down and turns us into bleached corpses, dried out and lifeless. This is why we must strive so hard to guard against evil and all its empty promises. If we don’t then we will have no one to blame but ourselves because God give us everything we need to overcome our temptations and be freed from the chains of sin.

Do we hate evil? Are we guarding our lives against it? How can we grow in goodness and help others to do the same?

O Lord, we hate evil, guard our lives against its empty promises.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Lord, in your strength the king is glad. O LORD, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips.

We are reminded in today’s psalm that we should rejoice in God’s victories on this earth. Sure, we are more likely to recognize and celebrate our own triumphs, but it is even more important to rejoice in those victories that God wins in the world. These successes can be great or small. They can be simple or complex. They can be a single kind word or an elaborate act of charity. We can see these victories of faith, hope, and love all around us in our families, friends, neighbors, and even strangers. We can also participate in the triumph of good over evil by choosing to live holy and loving lives and fulfilling God’s Will.

Do we keep our eyes and ears open to God’s victories in this world? In what ways can we help God triumph? How can we help others to succeed in their good deeds?

O Lord, we rejoice in every victory that is won for and by you.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

“Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison.

Herod promises to give Herodias’ daughter whatever she asks for after she dances for him and when she asks for the head of John the Baptist, he gives it to her in spite of knowing that what he is doing is wrong. Like him, we can sometimes convince ourselves to do something evil by rationalizing it. We come up with excuses that make sinning “not so bad” because we “had to do it.” We let others talk us into sinning because of peer pressure or a misplaced sense of owing them something. Sometimes we even convince ourselves it’s the right or only thing we can do. However, we always have a choice to do good or evil. We are never forced to sin, we allow it. Worse yet, we make excuses for it, try to hide it, or fail to recognize our failings. We must be on constant guard against giving in to temptation and sinning. And if we do fail, then we should seek forgiveness for our sins with contrite hearts. Then, with the help of God, we should do penance, avoid temptations, and sin no more.

Are we being pressured into doing anything evil? How can we avoid and resist the temptations or tempters we face? What can we do to keep ourselves from rationalizing our sins?

O Lord, we are distressed by the constant temptations of the Devil. Help us to overcome them and do Your Will more perfectly.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.”

David recognized the role God played in his success. He knew that without God, his enemies would triumph over him, but with God his enemies would be placed beneath his feet. We too should recognize the role that God places in our lives, both in the great things and the little ones. He is with us and He will never leave us alone. However, when we sin, we turn our backs on Him and walk away. So let us do penance, avoid temptations, and sin no more so that we can enjoy God’s presence, now and forever.

How do we recognize God’s role in our lives? Do we thank Him for all our successes and seek His help when we fail? Are we aware of His constant presence?

O Lord, inspire us to know you are always with us.

Amen.