Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.

We are all called to imitate Christ, not only in the way he lived, but also in the way he suffered for us. If God sees fit to try us greatly in this life, then who are we to complain? Whatever afflictions come our way; we should march joyfully toward them. Many martyrs died praising God with their final breaths. Who are we to think we should escape such trials? We are all asked to fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Not that Jesus’ passion and death were not perfect, but that we are all called to pick up our crosses and to unite our sufferings with those of Christ. And God, in His Infinite Mercy allows us to add our drop of blood to the sea of sorrows that Jesus suffered for us.

What is God calling us to suffer? How can we accept this suffering with joyful hearts? What are we being asked to sacrifice in order to bring to completion the Word of God?

O Lord, we rejoice in our sufferings for your sake and the sake of your children.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.”

Jesus became a priest and victim for us. He became man so he might know and sympathize with us. He became a living sacrament of God’s Love to the world. He became our teacher. He became our brother. He became our servant and king. He did all these things to love us more perfectly. He did it to unite himself with us through His Body and Blood. He did it to triumph over sin and death. He did it to lead us to eternal life with him forever.

How can we imitate the selflessness of Jesus? What is God asking us to become for Him? What can we do to love God more perfectly?

O Lord, thank you for all you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Thirtieth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the Church, because we are members of his Body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

We are loved by God as His own flesh. Just as the Son is loved by Him, so are we. He loves each of us through the Holy Spirit as a husband loves his wife. He loved us so much, He sent His Beloved Son to us... to teach us and sacrifice himself for us so we might be united to Him. God has made us part of His Holy Family through Christ and the Church and we in turn should act accordingly. We should put our trust in Him and love Him without reservation. We should seek to do His Will and bring others into our spiritual family. We should be afraid of doing anything that might disappoint God or harm our relationship with Him. After all, we are His children and should glorify, honor, and praise Him with every thought, word, and work of our lives.

Have we united ourselves to God like husband and wife? Have we aligned our thoughts, words, and works with His? How can we become more perfect members of His Body?

O Lord, we love you and wish to be joined to you as one in body, mind, and spirit.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Monday in Ordinary Time

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my Body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

There is always the temptation to exclude people or to join with one faction or another. However, this is not what Jesus did in his life. He was welcoming and open to others, sinners, saints, and even his enemies. He handed down the Eucharist to us so we might be united as one in His Body, the Church. He sought to bring us together, male and female, rich and poor, through the sharing of His Body and Blood. Yes, there are people we don't like or don't connect with, but this doesn't mean we can look down on them or exclude them from our faith lives. This isn't what Jesus would have done and so it isn't what we should do, either. Instead, we should be understanding, charitable, and merciful, not judging others, but rather loving them as best we can.

Are there people we are excluding from our lives unfairly? How can we reconcile ourselves with them and welcome them into our lives? In what ways can we bring those around us together?

O Lord, help us to be united in you.

Amen.

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

My beloved ones, avoid idolatry. I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one Body, for we all partake of the one loaf.

The Devil will try to lead us astray in many ways. He will seek to distract us from what is good through temptation, fears, doubts, and worldly things. He will try to turn our minds and hearts toward false idols. He will seek to do everything He can to deny us a share in everlasting life and communion with God. He will especially try to keep us away from the mass and the Blessed Sacrament, which armors us against his wickedness. This is why it’s so important to keep holy the Sabbath Day. It is in the mass that our spirits are fed on the Word and the Eucharist and given the strength and graces we need to resist temptation and be united to the Body and Blood of Christ.

Have we let the Devil lead us astray in some way? How can we guard against false idols? What can we do to prepare ourselves to worthily receive the Body and Blood of Christ and all that it signifies?

O Lord, we, though many, are one Body in and through you.

Amen.

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

St. Paul gives us an evocative comparison between the relationship of Christ and the Church and a husband and wife. It is an image we all would do well to keep in mind. We are all members of the Body of Christ, of the Church, with Jesus as our Head. He gives us direction and purpose, while we do God’s Will through our thoughts, words, and works. We are Jesus’ hands and feet… his way to interact with the world. This is why we are called to be submissive to him. Not because he wants to rob us of our free will, but because he wants to show us how to fulfill our free will through acts of goodness. He is devoted to us and wants what is best for us and this is why he asks for us to listen to him and follow his lead. He only asks us to do what is right and avoid what is wrong because he loves us and doesn’t want us to distance ourselves from him via sin and selfishness. He wants to be one flesh with us all... united forever.

Are we acting like the spouses of Christ? Are we living up to our responsibilities as members of Christ’s Body? How can we become better followers of Jesus?

O Lord, we wish only to be one flesh, one heart, and one spirit with you.

Amen.

Feast of Saint James, Apostle

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

When we are suffering trials in body, mind, or spirit, it is difficult to see that God is with us. However, He is and if we trust in Him and allow Him to strengthen us, then no obstacles will be too difficult to overcome. We may be afflicted by the world, but not constrained in our faith. We may be perplexed by our problems, but not driven to despair. We may be persecuted by our enemies, but never abandoned. We may be struck down by some hardship, but not destroyed. This is because although we might suffer in body, mind, and spirit, our sufferings are united to the life of Christ. In him, they find their meaning and purpose as a sacrifice finds its meaning and purpose on the altar. So, let us manifest the life of Jesus in our mortal flesh by making ourselves into living sacraments of sacrifice and grace for the glory of God and the good of all His children.

What afflictions, confusions, and persecutions are we suffering? How can we make them into meaningful sacrifices to God? How can we die to ourselves so that we might live more perfectly with God?

O Lord, we carry your dying within us so that we might live your life.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Thursday of Ordinary Time

Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; And whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.

It is not enough to spend our lives sowing, but never reaping. Or eating, but never being satisfied. Or drinking, but never being exhilarated. Or clothed, but never warmed. Or to earn wages, but just as quickly lose them. What God is telling us is we need to sow the seeds of faith in our lives so we can bear good fruits to offer God and feed others, spiritually. He wants us to eat His Body and drink His Blood because it is only through sharing in the Eucharistic Feast that we can be truly satisfied and exhilarated. He wants us to be clothed in him because it is only by putting on Christ that our hearts can be warmed by the fires of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to earn our wage as co-workers in His vineyard, cultivating consciences and souls, and not wasting our time, talents, and treasures on worldly endeavors. When our lives are built on temporary earthly successes they fall apart and fail. However, if we build an everlasting temple to God within ourselves and give God honor and glory in everything we think, say, and do, then our lives will last forever with Him in Heaven.

Have we taken time to consider our ways and how they match or deviate from the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ? What can we do to more firmly found our lives upon God? Are we spending our lives wisely and well?

O Lord, help us to consider our ways and amend them so they build up the faith within ourselves and others.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion, sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles, for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

Jesus offered one sacrifice for all of us on the cross. It is a sacrifice that we make present through the sacrament of the Eucharist and one we are all called to participate in. When we receive the Blessed Sacrament, we are asked to unite ourselves to Jesus as he united himself to us by becoming the Word Made Flesh. In a way, we are remade through our reception of the Body and Blood of Christ, becoming living sacrifices to God and for others. The surrender of self to God’s Will is a cornerstone of our faith and requires complete confidence in our Heavenly Father that our sufferings when united to Christ’s Passion and Death will lead to the Resurrection and eternal life.

Do we unite ourselves with Christ’s sacrifice, especially when we receive the Eucharist? How can we become living sacrifices to God’s Glory and for the good of others? Are we willing to give our lives in order to bring about God’s Will?

O Lord, purify us so we might sacrifice ourselves more perfectly to you and for your children.

Amen.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

"We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

I can be tempting to complain about our lot in life, especially when we experience some difficulty or setback. However, we need to keep in mind life isn’t about getting what we want when we want it. It’s about accepting what God wants for us when He gives it. Jesus came into this world not to take away suffering, but to transform suffering into the reparations of sins and the salvation of souls. In a similar manner, our sufferings can be a source of glory for God and salvation for others, especially when we offer them up in unity with the Passion and Death of Jesus. Just as Jesus was lifted up as a sign of God’s Love and Mercy, so too we are asked to be signs of God’s Compassion for all we met each day.

Have we sinned by complaining about our lives or about God? How can we remain steadfast in faith even in the midst of our sufferings? What can we do to transform our sufferings into opportunities for grace?

O Lord, it is when we spend our lives looking upon you that we live most fruitfully.

Amen.

Twenty-Third Monday of Ordinary Time

I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his Body, which is the Church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.

Whenever we are suffering, we have the opportunity to fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of the Church. This is not to say that Christ’s afflictions in his Life, Passion, and Death were incomplete, far from it! But rather that our sufferings can be united to his and bring salvation to others if we are willing to offer them up. Jesus died on the cross once and for all, but the manifestation of his saving grace is often brought to fruition through His Body, which is the Church. And we are members of that Church and therefore share in the call to make visible God’s Love and Divine Mercy. As Christians, we all have the vocation to offer ourselves up as a living sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of our fellow man.

Do we unite our sufferings with those of Christ? What do we think, say, and do in order to turn our afflictions into opportunities to accomplish God’s Will? How can we manifest the Life, Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus in our daily lives?

O Lord, help us to turn our sufferings into gifts for you and graces for others.

Amen.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”

Fasting is an important part of our faith. It reminds us of our need to be detached from worldly things, helps us cultivate spirits of contrition for our sins, and unites us with the sufferings of Christ. However, it also does something else which is just as important. It reminds us that we should be thankful and appreciative for what goods we have been given by God. Sometimes it can be easy to take the goods in our lives for granted, whether it is the people around us, our jobs, our health, etc. And so during this Lenten season we should take time to reflect upon everything God has done for us and also to rejoice in the graces God has blessed us with.

Are we cultivating spirits that are detached from the world, full of contrition, and united with Christ? Do we keep in mind all the goods God has given us and offer Him thanks and praise for it all? Do we take time every day of our lives to reflect on our blessings?

O Lord, may our fasting bring us closer to you and transform us into more grateful disciples.

Amen.

Second Wednesday of Advent

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.

Jesus’ Good News is an easy yoke to bear compared to the burdens of the Law. His commandments can be boiled down to two: Love God with all your hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and love your neighbor as God loves you. Some might find these two commandments difficult to do, especially if they have been mistreated by others or doubt God’s love for them. However, Jesus is telling us all the truth. If we all loved properly, there would be no burden in our lives, we would have the rest that comes from the inner peace of doing God’s Will. It is our own anxieties, worries, doubts, fears, sins, and imperfections that weigh us down and lead us astray. They shackle us to worldly things which run us ragged and never give us rest. The only way to find the rest we need is to be like Jesus, meek and humble of heart. We must be willing to put aside our pride and forgive those who persecute us so we can love them just as God loves them in spite of their faults. We, like Jesus, should give others every chance to do the right thing. We also need to realize we do not have a right to be free of suffering in our lives. Jesus, the sinless servant of all, suffered a thousand times worse than any of us have and yet we, in our pride, think we ought to be spared any evil. How can the metal of our souls be tested if we do not undergo periods of suffering in our lives. And when we do suffer, we should unite our trials with those of Jesus for the reparation of sins, the conversion of sinners (especially ourselves), and the salvation of souls.

Are we willing to take up the yoke of Christ and love God and our neighbors properly? What have we been doing to cultivate meek and humble hearts? Are we also willing to undergo our own passions so that a greater good can come out of them?

O Lord, we accept your yoke with meek and humble hearts.

Amen.

Twenty-Fifth Saturday of Ordinary Time

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 

We don’t always understand why our loved ones, or even ourselves, suffer trials and tribulations in our lives. If we do the right and good thing, shouldn’t we be rewarded for it? And so we doubt our faith and fear what might happen to us when faced with suffering. Our sufferings could be physical, emotional, social, or any other problem. However, we must not look upon our setbacks, failings, faults, weaknesses, illness, and other maladies as punishment from God or a proof that He doesn’t care about us. Instead, we should see these moments of pain as opportunities to unite ourselves with the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. If he who was without sin choose to suffer and die for us sinners, then how much more should we be willing to suffer to share in his sacrifice.

Are we paying attention to God or are we focused on our sufferings? Are we willing to be handed over to whatever trials and tribulations might come our way? Do we unite ourselves with the sacrifice of Christ?

O Lord, we are listening to you and willing to be handed over to whatever sufferings you are asking us to undergo in imitation of your Son Jesus Christ.

Amen.