Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.

Faith, hope, and love. These virtues are at the heart of what it means to be Christians. We are called to the work of faith because it brings about the fruits of obedience, respect of God and others, and the desire to live holy lives. We are called to the labor of love because it is only by giving of ourselves through charity and mercy that we fulfill the golden rule. We are called to hope because it is only when we trust God completely that we are able to endure all trials, overcome all obstacles, and make the leaps of faith God asks us to make. God chose us to each grow in faith, hope, and love in our own unique ways and to express them through our own personalities.

How can we become better workers in the faith? What can we do to be more fruitful laborers of love? How can we cultivate a spirit of enduring hope?

O Lord, grant us the virtues of faith, hope, and love.

Amen.

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

The questions Jesus poses to his disciples are questions we need to ask ourselves. Who do we say that Jesus is? If we think he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, then that requires us to live our lives accordingly. He is our Lord and Savior and we need to recognize him as such. Our confession of faith in him is only as sincere as the thoughts, words, and works we think, speak, and do in his name. Our relationship with God also changes depending upon what we say He is... if God is our Heavenly Father, then we need to treat Him with the respect that is due to Him. If God is our Holy Spirit, then we need to cultivate our hearts so that they are fertile fields for the seeds of His inspirations. If God is our spiritual brother, then we are co-heirs to the kingdom and should act accordingly.

Who do we say Jesus is to us? What about God the Father and the Holy Spirit? How can we grow in our relationship with all three persons of the Holy Trinity?

O Lord, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Amen.

Twentieth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Casting herself prostrate upon the ground, Ruth said to him, "Why should I, a foreigner, be favored with your notice?" Boaz answered her: "I have had a complete account of what you have done for your mother-in-law after your husband's death; you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know previously."

We don’t always know how our actions affect others. Sometimes when we do something it goes unnoticed. Other times we are immediately recognized for what we’ve done, both good and bad, and rewarded or suffer accordingly. However, some of our actions do not bear noticeable fruits until later or they bear fruits we do not know of. Ruth cares deeply for her mother-in-law and does what is right by her and this catches the attention of Boaz and leads to their marriage. In a similar way, when we do good or evil, others see our actions and are affected by them. When we do good, we can bring out the best in people... perhaps not right away, but over time our persistent goodness comes to fruition. When we do evil, we can bring out the worst in others and ruin lives without even knowing it. Our words and works can have far reaching effects and this is why it is so important that we cultivate a spirit of faith, hope, and love which will be an aid to the spiritual growth of others and not a stumbling block. God wants us to lead people toward Him and this means doing what is right. Always.

Are we stepping stones toward heaven for those whom we meet or stumbling blocks to their faith? When we speak and act, do we think of the ramifications of our actions on others? How can we more firmly ground our thoughts, words, and works in God’s Goodness?

O Lord, help us to lead others to a deeper love of you and your children.

Amen.

Twentieth Friday of Ordinary Time

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth stayed with her. Naomi said, "See now! Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her god. Go back after your sister-in-law!" But Ruth said, "Do not ask me to abandon or forsake you! For wherever you go, I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God my God."

Love is a powerful force. It can hold us together even in the midst of trials and tribulations. It can lead us to leave everything we know and follow the path it sets for us. Love is willing to sacrifice itself for its loved ones. If we want to become good and faithful servants of God, then we need to cultivate the virtue of love and abandon our attachments to worldly things. If we do this, then we will discover that our hearts will lead us to the Lord and we shall be with His people and He shall be our God in spirit and truth.

What are we doing in our faith lives to grow in love? Are we willing to detach ourselves from all worldly things? Where is God asking us to go?

O Lord, wherever you go, we will follow.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle

"Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal.

The Church is the Bride of Christ and the wife of the Lamb. This relationship with God is mirrored in Mary, who is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Both Church and Mary have given their fiat to God. They have magnified Him, rejoiced in Him, and proclaimed Him through their thoughts, words, and works. Mary prefigures the Church. She is the model upon which the Church is formed. Her virtues are the virtues of the Church, her sacrifices are the sacrifices of the Church. It is through Mary that the Word was made Flesh and Jesus Christ was brought into the world. It is through the Church that the Eucharistic Feast is celebrated and Jesus Christ is made present to us today. Just as Mary gave her life completely to knowing, loving, and serving God, so too has the Church throughout the ages. Just as Mary was infallible in her faith, so too the doctrines of the Church are infallible, even though individuals within the Church are not. As Mary is the Seat of Wisdom who will never fail us, so too the collected Wisdom of the Church is something that cannot fail. Mary and the Church both guide us toward Christ in their own ways and we would do well to follow their lead.

Do we ask Mary for her help and guidance? Do we seek out the wisdom of the Church when we are in difficulty or doubt? How can we become more like Mary and the Church in our faith lives?

O Lord, guide us through Mary and the Church to your Divine Wisdom.

Amen.

Twentieth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, 'Come; you reign over us!' But the buckthorn replied to the trees, 'If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

It is easy to ask God to watch over us and protect us... to be our King. It is much more difficult to uproot ourselves from worldly things and plant ourselves in the shade of God’s Sovereignty. We can only do this if we are serious about becoming His good and faithful servants. We can only do this if we are willing to humble ourselves in good faith and take refuge under the branches of the commandments of God, the teachings of the Scriptures, and the traditions of the Church. If we are not able or willing to pull up our ties to worldly things and plant ourselves firmly in the Kingdom of God, then we shall be burned away in the fires of Hell. It is only those who are willing to live under God’s Love and Mercy that shall find eternal life.

Are we willing to give up our will and allow God’s Will to rule over us? When we call God our Lord and King do we do so in good faith and full humility? What can we do to uproot ourselves from the world and plant ourselves in the good ground of heavenly virtues?

O Lord, come reign over us.

Amen.

Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

"My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us. Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fathers told us when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ For now the LORD has abandoned us and has delivered us into the power of Midian." The LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you." But Gideon answered him, "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father's house." "I shall be with you," the LORD said to him.

Like Gideon, we can be tempted to wonder why God lets certain things happen to us. We wonder why he doesn’t fix things. We feel abandoned. However, sometimes God wants us to fix things. He wants us to take up our cross, go out into the world, and trust in His Strength. At first, we might shrink away from this idea and wonder why He wants us to go forth. We don’t feel worthy or strong enough. We feel insignificant and powerless, but we should not be afraid because God is with us. He can lift up the lowly to the highest heights and give strength to the weak. He can do all things, if we let Him into our bodies, minds, and hearts... and allow Him to manifest His Divine Will through us.

Are there areas of our lives that we feel have been abandoned by God? How can we remember He is always with us? What can we do to prepare ourselves to go forth and do the Will of God?

O Lord, be with us.

Amen.