Fourth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.

It is important to know not just when to work but also when to rest. This is why Jesus tells his disciples to come with him and rest a while. Of course the people follow them and the opportunity for rest is replaced with an opportunity for preaching. However, throughout the Gospel we see Jesus seeking solitude in prayer and we need to do that as well. Sometimes our problems will follow us and we should deal with them, but we should not stop trying to find Sabbath time to converse with God and rest in His Peace.

Do we set aside time to rest and relax every day? If not, then how can we improve the balance between our work and rest? If yes, then do we spend at least part of that time alone with God and allowing him to speak to us through the silence?

O Lord, bring us to a deserted place where we can rest a while within the refreshing shade of your Love.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs

The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.

Sometimes we make promises to other people that we should not keep. We let a sense of pride get in the way of doing the right thing and then after we have sinned, we make excuses or claim everything was out of our hands. However, nothing excuses us from doing the wrong thing, even the right reasons. The ends do not justify the means. We have to face the fact that sometimes we make promises that we should not keep because they are bad for others and ourselves. We should not let our likes or dislikes of others keep us from doing the right thing.

When we are faced with the choice between what is right and wrong,  how do we remind ourselves that God is watching? Have we ever let our pride get in the way of saying or doing what we ought to do? Do we allow people to impress and influence us into committing sins?

O Lord, when we are faced with the choice between good and evil give us the strength to choose the former and the wisdom to avoid the latter.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick —no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

When Jesus sends his disciples out into the world he has them take nothing with them but a walking stick and sandals. They are to trust that God will provide everything else they will need for their journey. This need for faith in God’s Providence is reinforced by Jesus telling them to stay in whatever house they enter when they first arrive in an area. This house should be good enough for them and they should not seek better arrangements for themselves. When they follow Christ’s commandments they are able to drive out demons and cure the sick because like Christ they have accepted God Will.

Have we ever just put aside everything in our lives and done something for God in service to His children? Are we content with what we receive from others or do we have a tendency to move on from those less fortunate toward those who can offer us more in terms of worldly things? What are the things in our lives which we would find most difficult to give up for Jesus and why are we so attached to them?

O Lord, let us take nothing with us on the journey of salvation, except for you.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!

Familiarity with someone can sometimes blind us to the good and the bad within them and it is no different with Jesus. The people of his native place doubt him, his wisdom, and his works. We can do the same to those around us who make a change in their lives, especially one which forces us to look at them in a new light. We have a tendency to put others into boxes after a while and when they do something outside that box we wonder what is wrong with them. Some of these changes are for the better, others for the worse and it is up to us to put aside our former ways of thinking about the person in order to recognize which it is. If it is good we should encourage it, if bad we should convince them to stop it.

Who are the people we doubt? Are we being fair to them in light of the actions they have taken not just in the past, but in the present? When we see someone we know do something unexpected are we able to look at what they have done objectively and make a just judgment about it?

O Lord, help us to recognize your wisdom and works in others, especially those whom we find it most difficult to love.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Do not be afraid; just have faith.

When the answers to our prayers are delayed or do not come, we can sometimes turn to God and say, "Forget about it." This is what the people essentially say to Jairus after his daughter dies. No sense in bothering Jesus any more, right? Wrong. We need to continue to pray to Jesus just as much when our prayers are seemingly denied as when they are answered affirmatively. We should not be afraid to have failures come knocking at our door and instead have faith that even in the midst of our trials Jesus will be able to raise us out of the darkness of despair.

What prayers have gone seemingly unanswered by God? Are we sure there was no answer or in hindsight can we see the good which came out of the trial we faced? Are we able to say we are not afraid and have the faith to face whatever difficulties will come along the Way to the Kingdom of God?

O Lord, we do not want to be afraid. Grant us faith in you.

Amen.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.

Simeon has waited his entire life to see Christ the Lord, and even though Jesus comes as a helpless infant the man recognizes him. He trusts in the Providence of God and in the salvation which Jesus’ presence promises. His actions give us an example of what it means to be righteous and devout. We, like Simeon, should accept the Word of God and the peace He offers us through out our lives from beginning to end. We are called to offer glory and praise to our God for all of the good He has done for us, especially for those graces He gives which we have not noticed.

Do we really trust in God’s Providence? If not, then what can we do to foster a belief that all will turn out right in the end? When good things do happen to us, what do we say to God in thanksgiving?

O Lord, help us to trust in you and the salvation you offer us so that one day we too might go in peace.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.

Jesus tosses out an evil spirit from a synagogue in today’s gospel. In doing so he reveals to his audience at the time and to us that he speaks with divine authority. The power behind his words is undeniable in the eyes of many of those who witnessed his works. His power impresses them because the Pharisees and scribes did not speak with personal authority. They represented the teachings of their masters, but Jesus is the Word of God made Flesh and when he speaks it is with an authority all of his own. This authority challenges us to follow in Jesus' footsteps and walk with him along His Way, which is not the way of the world.

What is this gospel of Jesus to us? Do we recognize His authority not only over unclean spirits, but over our sin-stained souls? What are we doing to protect ourselves from the wickedness and snares of the Devil?

O Lord, open our hearts to your teachings.

Amen.