The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

Through baptism, we have been united to Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. We have been given the vocation to walk the Way, speak the Truth, and live the Life of Christ. We have been asked to be willing to mortify ourselves and suffer for the glory of God and the good of others. We have been given the love, mercy, and grace we need to free ourselves from sin and death. All these things lead us into a deeper union with God and if we are willing to crucify our old selves for God, then we shall be made worth of a life with Him in Heaven.

How can we grow in union with God? Are we truly willing to crucify ourselves in meaningful and life transforming ways? How can we become more Christ-like in our lives so that we might overcome death and share in the resurrection?

O Lord, we choose to die for you so we might live with you forever.

Amen.

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

“Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”

We should all be consumed with zeal for our God. He should be the first thing we think of in the morning. He should be at the center of our every thought, word, and work throughout the day. He should be the one we turn to at the end of each day for forgiveness and the strength to be better people. We should cast out everything within us that does not lead us to a deeper relationship with God, just as Jesus cast out those who we defiling his Father’s house. And once we have accomplished this, we shall have nothing to fear because even if the temple of our body is destroyed, we shall have confidence that we shall rise again.

Are we willing to rid ourselves of those things that keep us from being a worthy temple for the Holy Spirit? How do we express our zeal for our Heavenly Father? What can we do to unite ourselves with the sacrificial spirit of Jesus?

O Lord, fill us with zeal for you.

Amen.

The Third Wednesday of Lent

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

We have been given many commandments by God, but in the end they boil down to those two commandments given to us by Jesus. We are to love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths, and love our neighbors as Jesus loves us. Whenever we break one of these laws, even in the smallest of manners we damage our relationship with God and His children. We add to the suffering of Christ’s Passion. We also show our ingratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross when we turn our backs on him to follow our own way. This is why it is so important to practice the virtue of obedience to God and the teachings of the Church. By aligning our freedom to God’s Will, we become more perfectly free and increase in holiness. We also sanctify ourselves whenever we proclaim and teach the truth to others. We do this best when we put the truth into practice in our lives. In this way, we become living gospels to all we meet.

Do we follow the commandments of God in both great and small matters? How are we bringing our wills into union with God’s Divine Plan? In what ways do our lives teach others how to live in accord with God’s commandments?

O Lord, help us to obey and teach your commandments through our every thought, word, and work.

Amen.