The Catholic Daily Reading Reflections

Come to Him

2011-07-14T08:17:00.003-04:00

Readings for Thursday July 14, 2011

Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

First Reading: Exodus 13:13-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105
Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said: “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." (Mt 11:28-30)

I always enjoy reading today's gospel, because each time I do, I can feel Christ's compassion and love for us. He knows full well that this world has the ability to beat us down and just drain the life out of us, but His words tell us to come to Him during those times. So many of us are burdened, and it is Christ who wants to give us rest. He doesn't want us struggling and just trying to survive in this world, He wants us to learn from Him, to take His yoke and accept what He gives for free.

Take some time today and really reflect on this passage. What does this mean to you? Are you one of the burdened who needs to come to Jesus?

At any time, no matter what, the best thing we can always do is just come to Him.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all your have blessed us with. God, your love and mercy are more than we deserve, thank you for giving us all that you offer. Help us never to take this life for granted. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Turn to the Lord

2011-07-12T07:52:00.000-04:00

Readings for Tuesday July 12, 2011

First Reading: Exodus 2:1-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69
Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Pharaoh, too, heard of the affair and sought to put Moses to death. But Moses fled from him and stayed in the land of Midian. (Exodus 2:15)

In today's first reading we hear of Moses and how after slaying the Egyptian, became fearful of all those who knew. Moses, when confronted with such an accusation, did what most of us would do; he ran. Most of us are not good with conflict and in difficult times, the easiest thing to do is to just run away from your problems. But as that may seem like the easy situation at the time, our undealt with problems always seem to have a way of creeping back into our lives.

A wise decision to make when faced with conflict would be to heed the words of the psalmist, "Turn to the Lord in your time of need, and you will live." When faced with conflict or any sort of difficulties we must take them to the Lord, it is by doing this that we will be able to draw closer to Him and to truly find our life. In taking our problems to God, we will also gain greater clarity and direction on our issues. So many times we take our problems and issues to everyone else but God. We seem more than happy to take our problems to family, friends, neighbors, strangers off the street, various talk show hosts, reality TV, etc. While we will turn to everyone in the world, we seem to fail to realize that it is the creator of heaven and of earth that is really going to help us figure things out.

Like Moses, we can try to run away if we wish, but eventually we will find that there is nothing else that can save us except by turning to Him who waits for us; patiently waiting to give us the great gift of life.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we praise you and thank you for all that we have and all that we are. Lord, help us to always turn to you in our time of need and surrender to you. Lord, help us also to always give you thanks at all times and for all that you bless us with. Lord Jesus, we praise you for your saving grace and for your great love and mercy for us. Help us to follow you no matter how big a cross we must carry and no matter where you lead us. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Job Description

2011-07-08T08:12:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday July 8, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 46:1-7,28-30
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37
Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." (Matthew 10:22-23)

Imagine that you are in a job interview, and the interviewer begins telling you about the job. He begins telling you that in this job you will need to sacrifice a great deal, people will hate you, men will hand you over to authorities for punishment, you will be persecuted, scourging may be a regular part of your day, and the people closest to you may betray you all because of this job. Then the interviewer says, "how does this all sound to you, are you still interested in the job?" How many of us would be eager to accept such a task? I don't imagine many of us taking a job such as this; but this is just the task however that Christ has in store for us. Yes, it will be extremely hard, but if we will just trust in Him and endure to the end, then we know that the compensation for this job is well worth the risks that it will take.

In the first readings today, God asked Jacob to trust in Him and go to Egypt, and Jacob obeyed. Today, God is asking us to trust in Him and follow Him wherever He leads us. He is warning us ahead of time that things will be challenging and difficult, but if we can push through until the end, we will have an eternal reward in heaven.

So, are you still interested in the job?

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord Jesus, we know that following you is difficult, and we pray for the strength and courage to follow you wherever you lead. Lord, help increase our faith as we go out amongst the wolves of this world, help us to persevere and to live radically for you. Lord you are our God and we aer your people, help send you spirit down so that we might allow the fruits of the spirit to manifest in our lives. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lost Sheep

2011-07-06T08:29:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday July 6, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 41:55-57,42:5-7,17-24
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, "Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matthew 10:5-7)

In today's gospel we see a listing of the twelve disciples along with instructions from Christ for them to not go into pagan or Samaritan areas, but rather go after the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." Jesus' instructions make it clear that He has a strong interest in His own people, and that He wants them to hear the good news and to know that the Kingdom is at hand. While many of the Jews did not believe that He was the messiah; and while Christ knew of their hardness of heart and their stubbornness, He still felt it necessary to begin working on His own people first before spreading the gospel to the gentiles. Christ is the good shepherd, who goes and calls back all of His lost sheep and seeks to bring them back to His care.

These instructions are just as important for us today. While it is important for us to go out and spread the gospel to those who do not know Christ, it is just as important for us to make sure that we are helping and calling back the lost sheep within our own church. Think about in your parish, how many people are just going through the motions and are very lukewarm in their faith? We all know people who maybe come to Sunday mass once in a while, or maybe they don't even go at all. How many people do we know that are Catholic by association but live a very worldly life? It is these lost sheep that we need to somehow connect with and get them excited about their faith. We need to find someway to lead these people back to the faith that will give them new life and help them find their original purpose for living.

As followers of Christ, we have a duty and a mission just like the disciples did. We need to share the good news to all those we can, and we need to work to call back the lost sheep in our churches.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord we thank you and praise you for our lives and all that we have. Lord, help us to spread your name and your word in this world, help us the be the light in the darkness. Lord, many of our brothers and sisters have fallen away, give us the wisdom and courage to help bring them back. We pray for all of our youth, for their dignity and for their formation in the faith. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Good Shepherd

2011-07-05T07:54:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday July 5, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 32:23-33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 17
Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:35-36)

In today's gospel we see Jesus performing many miracles and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom. What is also amazing in today's gospel is seeing the love and mercy that Jesus has for us. It says, "at the sight of the crowds, His heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd." Jesus does not ignore the people or turn a deaf ear to them, instead He sees their struggles and their pains, He hears their prayers and knows their misfortunes. Christ also does the same with us. There are many times in life when we feel alone, abandoned, afraid, or that no one hears us; but this is not true. Christ is always there, rejoicing with us in our blessings, and sharing our tears in our pains and sorrows. Christ is the good shepherd, He has and will always step up when needed because of His great love and mercy.

Today, let us also reflect on the words of Psalm 23 to understand more of how God is our good and faithful shepherd, and how His love and mercy reign in our lives:

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;
you guide me me along the right path for the sake of your name.
Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.
You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come."

Father above, we thank you and praise you for this day. Lord, you are our rock and our strength, help us to put all of our trust in you and to rely on you at all times. Lord we are weak, but you are mighty and strong, Lord our strength lies in you. Lord, give us courage to face the obstacles in our day, help us to give you all glory and honor for all we do. We pray for all of our priests and for their ministries. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

2011-07-01T07:16:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday July 1, 2011

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

First Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103
Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-16
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.
God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. (1 Jn 4:7-12, 16)

Today reflect on the readings, and ask yourself; what is leading you in your life? Is it love, or is it your own desires? Those who let love lead, are letting God lead.

May we always be mindful of one simple truth: God's love is endless and for everyone.

Lord, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day and for loving us so much more than we deserve. Amen.

God Sees Our Faith

2011-06-30T07:12:00.001-04:00

Readings for Thursday June 30, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 22:1-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 115
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8

After entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:1-2)

We know how amazing and awesome God is. Although we are also aware that He knows and sees everything, do we always act and think as though He is watching? In today's gospel reading, Jesus heals a man who is paralyzed, but this is only after it says, "when Jesus saw their faith." We also see in the first reading Abraham was following God's instructions and was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac, but God seeing how devoted Abraham was stopped him and provided the sacrifice. In both of these cases, God saw the faith that man had and blessed them for their faith.

In the readings for today, we see men who were blessed for showing their faithfulness to God. Many times we think, "well I have been faithful and I have done good works, where are my blessings?" But we must understand and trust that God's blessings do not come in our time, they come in His time. The man who was paralyzed did receive physical healing, but it was his spiritual healing that was the true blessing. Abraham never did get to see his great number of descendants while on earth, but he still trusted in God enough to go along with His plan. We must remember, that we are not working for any sort of earthly rewards, we are working towards the great gift of eternal life in heaven, that is the true blessing. We must be sure that we are faithful in heart and in mind, as well in our good works. We should always be working towards His glory and not our own; and it should not be out of fear, but rather love of our Lord.

We must remember that God is not like some parent who turns their head or leaves the room giving us a window of opportunity to do wrong without their knowledge. God is everywhere, and He knows and sees everything. So the question that we must ask ourselves is, does God sees our faith in everything we are doing, or does He see us carrying out our own will?

Today, let us reflect on the words of St Paul to the Colossians, "Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others, knowing that you will receive from the Lord the due payment of the inheritance; be slaves of the Lord Christ." (Col 3:23-24)

Father above we thank you for the gift of this day. God, you are our Lord and master, increase our faith so that we may always do what is please to you. Please place in us a servants heart, so that we may always be faithful and obedient to you in all matters. Lord, we seek to know and love you more while in this earth. We pray for all our brothers and sisters who are blinded to your love and mercy, may their eyes be opened and may they find comfort in your love. We pray for all of our priest and for their ministries. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finish Well

2011-06-29T07:37:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday June 29, 2011

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

First Reading: Acts 12:1-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation might be completed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Tim. 4:6-8, 17-18)

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, apostles of the Church. But what exactly is it that makes these two men so special? One thing is that what we see from the readings today is that both of the came to the realization of who God is and who they are. They both realized that Jesus is the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. He is our Lord and redeemer, and we are each called to pick up our crosses daily and follow Him. What is interesting is that both of these men had a very rocky start with Christ. Peter was just a fisherman who followed Christ when it was convenient. Paul was a devout Jew who sought to persecute the early Church. I guess that you could say that both of them came a long way in their lives.

Even though they both had rough starts, they both had strong finishes. Both fought opposition, persecution, ailments, ridicule, imprisonment, and eventually martyrdom. But both saw their struggles as a blessing, not a curse. Both had , as Saint Paul put it, "competed well ... finished the race ... [and] kept the faith." This is the lesson that we can learn from each of these men. Even though we might get off to rocky starts in our own life, it is never too late to turn things around and turn towards the Lord. We are all in this race of life, and we are each called to compete well and finish the race. For it is by finishing the race well that we each receive the great reward of heaven.

Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are our Lord, help us to build our lives on your solid foundation. Lord, thank you for your great love and mercy, help us to go out into this world and show this same great love and mercy. Lord, we pray for all the persecuted, may they find their strength and comfort in you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Don't Rock The Boat

2011-06-28T05:45:00.003-04:00

Readings for Tuesday June 28, 2011

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, bishop and martyr

First Reading: Genesis 19:15-29
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 26
Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, "What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?" (Matthew 8:23-27)

"He got into the boat and his disciples followed Him." We can only imagine how fond of Jesus the disciples were becoming. They were probably enjoying the attention that they were getting from the people, and they were feeling pretty important just being around Him. They were also probably enjoying his teachings and growing in their own faith lives. So up to this point, following Jesus has been a pretty good gig for these guys. When Jesus gets on the boat, they figure "why not, everything up to this point has been good", and so they follow. But then something happens while in the boat, a violent storm suddenly hits and all of the disciples begin freaking out and thinking that they are going to die. Jesus simply points out their lack of faith in this storm, and He immediately takes care of the situation. The disciples were amazed at this, and it was here that they really began questioning who this man was.

Our own faith journeys are much like that of the disciples. We hear about Jesus and things sound really good. We enjoy the stories and the lessons and everything seems to make sense. Then, all of a sudden, we hit a storm in our lives, something bad happens and we too begin to freak out. Sometimes we turn to Jesus and say "don't you even care that I am going through this? Sometimes we do not even turn to Him at all, and we just go back to our old ways. It is clear that our faith is never tested when things are going well, in fact this is a time when we usually take our faith and all the blessings from God for granted. But when a storm comes through our life, this is when we are truly tested. Will we be among those to ask God if He cares or not, or will we be among those to say; "God, I trust in you, let your will be done."

No one ever forces us to get in the boat with Christ, it is a choice that we all make ourselves. But if we get in the boat, let us never be fooled into thinking that there will not be challenges and storms along the way. We must remember to always have faith and to trust in the Lord, for He is always mindful of us.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we praise you for all that you bless us with and all that we are. Lord, we offer this day up to you, help us to do your will this day and to be the lights in this world that we are called to be. God, we know that there will be many challenges that we will face in our lives, help us to weather these storms and to have faith in you throughout. We pray for all those who are struggling in their faith lives and for all those who do not know your love. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Knowing Our Purpose

2011-06-24T06:56:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday June 24, 2011

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139
Second Reading: Acts 13:22-26
Gospel: Luke 1:57-66,80

The LORD called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. (Isaiah 49:1-3)

"What am I here for?" Most of us have certainly asked this question many times in our life. We ask this question because we all desire to find our purpose in life; without it we feel a void, an emptiness that is not filled until we find out what we were created to do. If we are truly searching for our purpose in life, we need to start by first asking the creator. It is God who created us, and it was not just so we could exist, but He created each of us with a specific purpose. We must first ask God to show us our purpose, it is only by giving into His will and finding out His plan for our lives that we can begin to fill the void.

As we celebrate the birth of Saint John the Baptist today, we recognize the greatness of God and the flawlessness of His plan. The birth of Saint John the Baptist would be considered what we typically call a miracle baby. Elizabeth, his mother, was older and unable to have kids, but God's greatness and mercy truly showed through to her and her husband. When John was born, the people knew that there was something different about this child, and they knew that the hand of the Lord was with him. John the Baptist grew up "strong in spirit" and went into the dessert to prepare the way of the Lord. John the Baptist knew his purpose. He was not concerned with social status, money, power, or greatness ... only doing the will of God. Saint John the Baptist teaches us many great lessons in humility and in keeping God first in our lives.

We must never lose hope and think that we have no purpose. God has a plan for each of us, just as He did for Saint John the Baptist. The Lord has called us each from birth, we are like the arrow hidden in His quiver, waiting for the right time to be used. We must make sure that we are always trusting and patiently waiting for that time in which the Lord will use us.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us that we may follow and trust in the Lord as you did.

Father above, we thank you and give you praise for this day. Help us to to seek your plan for our lives, instead of giving into our own will. Lord, we know that from the very beginning you have had a plan for each of us, help us to trust in you and the things that you have in store for us. We know that some things will be hard and difficult and we thank you for it all. Lord, we thank you and praise you for your great love and mercy. We pray for all those who are lost and who do not know your love, we pray for their conversion to the life that you offer. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Inside Out

2011-06-23T08:11:00.001-04:00

Readings for Thursday June 23, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 16:1-12,15-16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106
Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.' (Matthew 7:21-23)

As Christians, we are often at odds with many non-believers in the world. Often, we are fighting against the injustices and the oppression from those who would like to see the downfall of the Church. It can be very challenging to be constantly defending the faith and our way of living. This challenge is of course not the only one we face, for our greatest opponents are not just on the outside, but we sadly must deal with internal foes as well. There have always been those Christians who are devout and faithful, and then there is also the phenomenon of those who say they believe but really have no sort of relationship with God. We typically call these people who are just stagnant in their faith "Sunday Catholics" or "Cultural Christians." It is kind of sad that we even have such names for these types of people, but it is a reality that we face.

Jesus warns us today of being just "Sunday Catholics" or "Cultural Christians", we really must be active in our faith. We cannot just go around saying that we believe in God, we must go out and show it. We are not called to be people who talk a good game, but we must be willing to walk our walk as well. If you are one of the people who has lost touch with your faith , then it is time to be reactivated, pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the fire and the zeal to get back in touch with God, to begin knowing and serving Him with everything you have. If you are among the faithful who are trying to get to heaven, then it is up to you to reach out to those who just show up to mass on Sunday. Perhaps invite them to a bible study, mens/womens group, church social, etc. I know that it is not enough for us to just evangelize the people outside of the Church, we must also do a good job of evangelizing inside of the Church as well. I know that this is something that I do not always do, but after reflecting on today's word, I realize that this is every bit our responsibility as well. For we are all the body of Christ, and when one part is weak or hurting, then we are all hurting.

I remember in a talk by Father John Corapi, he said "One day you and I will either be in heaven, or in hell ... period." It is as simple as that, we all have a choice to make every day; serve God and work towards heaven, or serve yourself and work towards hell. Jesus makes it very clear today that those who serve themselves and do not know Him will not be allowed into the kingdom.

May we all strive to do God's will in our lives and to help all those He puts in our path.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to serve you with the strength and courage which we need. Lord, help us to be lights in this dark world, and help us to reach out and help all of our fellow brothers and sisters come to know and serve you better. Lord, we pray for all those who are stagnant in their faith and for all those who have fallen away. We pray for their fire to return by your Holy Spirit. We pray for our priests and for them to have the strength and zeal that they need in their ministries, help them to be faithful to their vows. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Love, Rather Than Judge

2011-06-20T08:26:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday June 20, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5

"Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

I don't know about you, but I find that in our lives things like judgement and criticism are things that tend to have a one way streak. When it comes judging and criticizing each other, we are very good and usually are willing to offer this "advice" for free. It is however, a whole different story when it comes to us receiving judgement and criticism. When it comes to these things, we are much better at dishing it out, than taking it. We only seem to want to tell people what is wrong with them, instead of someone pointing out what is wrong with us. Which leads us to this question, why are we so willing to judge and label people? I would say that it is because of our own insecurities. We must remember however, that we are not called to judge one another, but rather, to love one another.

Christ provides us with an important warning in today's gospel. We must be very careful how we judge, for how we judge, we will also be judged. Christ tells us, "the measure with which we measure will be measured out to us." All of us are quick to notice the "splinter" in our neighbors eye, but we are not so quick to notice our own flaws, bad habits, and even sins.

There is certainly nothing wrong with pointing out what someone is doing wrong, especially if it can really help the person, but there are certainly right and wrong ways of doing this. We also must examine our motive in correcting someone. If our motive in correcting someone is to hurt them or to make them feel small, then we certainly still have a "log in our eye" and we cannot help the other person. But, if we are motivated out of love and to actually help the person and provide them with constructive criticism , then we have removed the "log from our eye" and can see clearly to help.

Today, let us choose to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us all "measure with the measure which we would want measured out to us." If we must give feedback to someone, let us make sure that it is constructive and out of love. Remember, we are not called to judge one another, but rather to love one another as Christ loves us.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to love as you love us. Fill our hearts with you, so that we may go out in this world and be the lights that we are called to be. Lord, you know what is best for us, and we trust you with all our heart. Lord, we pray for all those who seek to hurt and condemn with their words and actions, may they be brought to your truth and understand what it means to love. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Looks are Deceiving

2011-06-13T06:30:00.003-04:00

Readings for Monday June 13, 2011

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98
Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry; on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things. (2 Cor 6:3-10)

Imagine that you are home one afternoon, when all of a sudden, hunger strikes. So you go into the kitchen and open the fridge to see what there is. Two things catch your eye, on one shelf is a delicious looking piece of chocolate cake; and on the other shelf is a salad, with fresh romaine lettuce and various fresh veggies. Now both things would do the job of satisfying your hunger, but the question is which one to choose. Now, we all know which one certainly tastes better, but one thing to remember is that looks are often times deceiving. Sure the chocolate cake will satisfy your hunger, and it will certainly taste good going down; but it is really not the best choice for you because that cake is loaded with unhealthy things like tons of calories, sugar and bad fats. Now the salad on the other hand, may not be the most exciting in the world, but if paired with a healthy dressing, can be the superior choice (sorry, but dressings like ranch and ceasar do not do much to enhance the healthy state of a salad). While it may seem bland, that salad is loaded with all kinds of good nutritional things like vitamins, minerals, low calories etc. It will satisfy your hunger, leave you feeling better (both physically and mentally), and it will give your body the things that it actually needs.

Like our chocolate cake versus the salad example, St. Paul touches upon this idea that looks are deceiving as well. In his second letter to the Corinthians, he tells of what things may look like to others and how they really are among Christians. He says they are treated as liars and deceivers, even though they are truthful. They are treated as sorrowful, yet they are always rejoicing. They are treated and seen as having nothing, yet possessing everything. Saint Paul knows that looks can be deceiving, especially in the faith life. He knows that to the world, our faith may be seen as a burden or something that is all in vain, but to those who believe and follow and truly allow Christ to be in their lives, nothing is in vain. To those who seek God's will, truly find their lives and find a joy that is indescribable.

Following Christ takes sacrifice, and this is something that Christ has told us Himself. But for those of us who are willing to follow and trust, we will experience something that most will never know, and we will gain a reward that we cannot even fully comprehend. Our Christian faith may not look the most appealing, but we must remember that it has everything we need and more.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with and for the many gifts in our life. Lord, we thank you for hte gift of family and friends, and for all those who build us up in our lives. Help us to be a gift to each other and to be a good example of love in this world. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Consecrated to the Truth

2011-06-08T07:12:00.003-04:00

Readings for Wednesday June 8, 2011

First Reading: Acts 20:28-38
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68
Gospel: John 17:11b-19

They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. (Jn 17:16-19)

If you were to look up the word 'consecrate' in the dictionary, you will come up with several definitions. One definition that I particularly like is the following one: "to devote or dedicate to some purpose." What a brilliant, yet simple definition of this word consecrate.

In today's gospel, Jesus is praying to the Father, and in His prayer He asks that the disciples be consecrated in truth. So what does this mean? If we think back to our definition of consecrate, it means that Jesus wants His disciples to be devoted or dedicated to the truth. And, as Pilate would say, what is truth? We also see in this gospel that God's "word is truth." Jesus wants all of His disciples (including us) dedicated to God's word, His truth. We should be living it, believing and trusting it, sharing it with others, just totally wrapped up in His truth. For if we are all truly consecrated to His truth, then nothing can ever stop of from reaching heaven.

But we must be weary, as Saint Paul tells members of the early church in today's first reading. Saint Paul says; "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them." (Acts 20:29-30) There will always be those who cannot stand God's truth, they are so wrapped up in their own ways that they will seek to destroy and disrupt anything that would threaten their own "truths." We must also be weary because the evil one, the prince of lies, seeks to break the Church and Her body apart. Satan seeks to twist God's truth to veer people away. He has done so since the beginning of time, and has since continued to warp God's truth. We see it greatly today in many forms, contraception, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, atheism, relativism, and many others.

As Christians, we must cling to the truth, we must be fully devoted to it. We must always remember to listen to and follow the Catholic Church, the Church established by Jesus to be "the pillar and foundation of truth." (1 Tim. 3:15) If we are to be truly consecrated in the truth, then we must always stay close to home, the Church. Let us always remember that, we were made for God, for His truth, not for the world.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we praise you and thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Help us to stay grounded in your truth, and to never veer. Protect us from the evil one who only seeks to confuse and scatter your disciples away from the truth. Lord, give us the courage and strength to go out and share your truth with others, and to be the disciples that you created us to be. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finishing

2011-06-07T07:18:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday June 7, 2011

First Reading: Acts 20:17-27
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68
Gospel: John 17:1-11

I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace. (Acts 20:19-24)

In the first reading from Acts today, we see Paul saying farewell to the disciples at Miletus. In a very bold and heartfelt speech, Paul discusses the example of his own life. He addresses the trials and challenges that he faced. He talked about his bold witness to both the Jews and the Greeks, and how he brought many people to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And now, he is off to Jerusalem, completely unaware of what will happen there, only knowing that it will be very hard and difficult. Then Paul says a line of which we should all take to heart and remember: "Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace." In this line, Paul is telling of how his life is not the most important thing, but rather finishing the mission to which the Lord called him to is the most important thing.

For the past several years, I have been engaged in distance running. Each year I try and do one or two big races, like a marathon or half marathon. Through the training and the races themselves, I have learned one very important lesson about finishing what you started. Each race that I have done has been an amazing experience. Not only does it feel good to be able to run and be healthy, but also the people that I have gotten to work with and meet has been a blessing. Each race also is usually very scenic and has great views. But aside from all these really good things that are involved with running in a race, one thing is always a constant ... these races are hard! Running for longer distances is difficult, and certainly no easy task. There are many times when I realize that the most important thing for me to do is just simply to finish. Just persevere and finish no matter how much I am hurting. By taking on this attitude (and with a whole lot of help from God) I have been blessed enough to complete several races. The feeling of crossing that finish line is truly a thrilling and joyous experience that is difficult to describe with words. Although I have learned many lessons from running, one lesson that will always be of great value is: running the race is hard, but finishing is so worth it!

Each of us should have the goal of finishing. Saint Paul gave us a great example with his earthly life. He showed us and taught us that life is hard, that we are going to experience trials and hardships; but that is okay we are not trying to be happy on earth we are trying to finish the course that God has set before each of us so that we can finish and receive the reward of eternal peace and happiness. The race is not easy, but finishing will be so worth it.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Thank you for all that you give and for all that you do. Help us to persevere in this life until the very end, and all for your glory. Lord, give us the courage and the strength to live in this world and not of it. Help us to fight the battles that you call us to and to be a witness to all those you put in our lives. We pray for all of our priests, that they may be strengthened in their ministries and in their vows. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finishing Touches

2011-06-06T07:07:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday June 6, 2011

First Reading: Acts 19:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68
Gospel: John 16:29-33

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men. (Acts 19:1-7)

In today's first reading, we read about Paul's travel to Ephesus and the believers that he came across. The disciples that he came across were off to a good start, but there still was more to be done. They had been baptized by John, but his was a baptism of repentance, and they still had farther to go with Christ. Paul came in and instructed them, teaching them about the Baptism in Christ and about the Holy Spirit. Paul came to these men to put the finishing touches of their faith.

If you have ever made anything, you know the importance of the final step in decorating that item. Whether it be putting the icing on the cake, the stain on the wood, the glaze on the ceramic pot, or the paint on the wall. The final touches are the smaller, but very important steps to have a complete item. These final touches are necessary before an item can be used. Before a cake is to be sold or given to someone, it is to be decorated with icing. Before a chair or table to be put on display, it must be either painted or treated with stain. A pot is just hardened clay until a glaze is put on it and gives it a brilliant look. A wall is just a board of drywall until it has been primed and painted to make it somebody's room. While the finishing touches are not the base, they are still very important steps. The disciples that we read about had already take the first step which is to believe in Jesus Christ, after that they just need the finishing touches of Baptism and Confirmation.

By being Baptized and Confirmed, we have a stronger connection with the Holy Spirit within us. By following God, seeking His will and saying 'yes' to Him each moment; we can begin to let the Holy Spirit work in us. God wants us to be happy and whole in Him; and He wants to give each of us gifts that can bring this about. God doesn't want to hide His plan from us, He wants each of us to be active in it and to be seeking His will. He sends each of the faithful His Spirit to help us align our lives with His divine, perfect plan. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of the faithful giving us grace filled gifts. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Experiencing these gifts are meant to lead us closer to the Lord and further down the path of which God has set before us.

Let us each pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that each of us may follow God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Come, Holy Spirit. Fill the hearts of your faithful and make the fire of your love burn within them. Send forth your spirit and there shall be another creation. And you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, you have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit. Grant that through the same Holy Spirit we may always be truly wise and rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Anguish and Joy

2011-06-03T06:50:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday June 3, 2011

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions, martyrs

First Reading: Acts 18:9-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47
Gospel: John 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,while the world rejoices;you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;but when she has given birth to a child,she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish.But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,and no one will take your joy away from you.On that day you will not question me about anything.Amen, amen, I say to you,whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you." (John 16:20-23)

In today's gospel, Jesus discusses His upcoming passion, death and resurrection. Jesus used an analogy of a woman giving birth to describe the joy that is brought about after the labor and birth. I can certainly relate to this analogy, as I can still remember when our first child was born a few years ago. I remember the anguish that my wife went through in going through a very long labor. She was up all night with no food or sleep, and finally the next afternoon God blessed us with a very healthy and beautiful baby girl. The moment we saw her, any tiredness or soreness went away; and at the moment we held her there was nothing but pure joy. It was one of the most memorable and spiritual moments that I have ever had the opportunity to witness.

I think Jesus used this analogy not only because of His hour coming, but also because we too go through much worrying and anguish in this world. We need to remember that Jesus is always here and providing for us. There is no need to worry or to be afraid, for if we are striving to follow Him and to serve Him in our lives, then we will certainly see Him again. And like the moment that a mother sees her newborn baby, there will be nothing but joy at that moment when we see Jesus.

During labor, I kept reminding my wife that with each labor pain and each thing that comes that is one step closer to seeing our child. We too need to remember that with each trial and each day, we are just one step closer to seeing and being with Christ in heaven.

Mother Mary, pray for us!

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

The Visitation

2011-05-31T07:42:00.003-04:00

Readings for Tuesday May 31, 2011

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

First Reading: Zephaniah 3:14-18 or Romans 12:9-16
Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3
Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Lk 1:39-45)

Just imagine being in Mary's situation. You have just found out that you are the going to be the Mother of God, and so realizing your mission, you immediately set out to go and visit your cousin Elizabeth. I know that if this were me, I would have been doing a lot of thinking on that trip, I would have been thinking about how I would try and explain this to everyone. I would have begun to become fearful about all the things that people might do to me. I might have begun anticipating all the judgement that I was going to face. I don't know what was going through Mary's mind during that trip, but if there were any fears that crept in, we can be assured that they vanished the instant she reached her cousin Elizabeth.

God asks each of us to "cast out into the deep", just like He did with Mary. It can certainly be a scary thing to enter into the unknown, but we must remember that He is always with us and that He can be trusted. There is no need to fear or doubt, but to only trust. It is during these times of uncertainty that we must remember the words of the prophet Zephaniah: "The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear." I know in my own life, there are many times that I worry or become anxious about things, but then I am reminded that there is no need to worry, because the Lord is working, just like He has been all my life.

Today, let us praise the Lord for all He has done in our lives and for all that He has blessed us with. Let us praise the Lord as Mary did in her canticle. Today, let that be our prayer.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Muddy Waters

2011-05-27T07:44:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday May 27, 2011

First Reading: Acts 15:22-31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57
Gospel: John 15:12-17

This is the letter delivered by them: “The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teaching and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’“ And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation. (Acts 15:23-31)

Imagine that you are walking along and you come upon a beautiful brook. You are sitting there admiring it, you see the shiny rocks at the bottom, some little fish swimming around, and there is also the green plants swaying from the current. As you are admiring this brook and all that is in it, some kids come running through the brook and completely disturbing the peace. Now as you are sitting there looking at the brook you cannot see anything because the kids have muddied the waters. Now where you used to see all the things in the brook, all you see now is brownish colored water. Now you are starting to question whether or not there were all those shiny rocks on the bottom, perhaps there weren't fish in there but rather the sun playing tricks on you, and you are also thinking that those plants looked too pretty to be in a brook like this; it all must have been an illusion. Yes, because of the muddy waters, doubt has now entered your mind.

In today's first reading from Acts, we see the early Church had issues with other people muddying the waters as well. People, not just Gentiles or Jews, but even fellow Christians who would come in an make things unclear for the disciples. But thankfully, as Peter and the other Apostles cleared things up for all the Christians. The Catholic Church still benefits from this same blessing today, as we have a Pope that sits on the Chair of Peter, who (along with the Magisterium) helps to clear up any false teaching or doubts from those who only seek to muddy the water.

In the scenario of our muddy water incident at the brook, the Church would come along and tell us that there is not reason to doubt. Just because we cannot see the things in the brook, that does not mean that they are not there. The Church would remind us of the shiny rocks, the fish and the plants. The Church helps make clear the things that we are in doubt of or the things which are not clear to us.

No matter how muddy the waters get, the Church will always be "the pillar of our faith" (1 Tim 3:15). Praise God that He has blessed us with His Bride to be a light and a guide to us in this world!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with and all that you have given to us. Lord, we are not worthy of your love or attention, but you choose to freely pour it out to us at all times. Help us always to remain in your love and to never leave your faithful hands. Lord, we ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Remain in His Love

2011-05-26T08:39:00.000-04:00

Readings for Thursday May 26, 2011

First Reading: Acts 15:7-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Gospel: John 15:9-11

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (Jn 15:9-11)

Imagine that it is a Saturday morning, you are sleeping soundly in your bed. You are comfortably snuggled up in your blanket, you are in a dream like state, you feel so secure and rested. Then your alarm goes off, and while you do not have any where specific to be that morning, it is clear that you have a choice to make. You know that if you get up there are things to do and people to see, or you can stay right where you are and just give in to the peace and comfort that you are currently enjoying. Even though the outside world is calling, in your mind you know that there is no other place that you would rather be than where you are now.

Each of us has experienced this feeling of wanting to remain in bed where we feel great peace and comfort. We feel this way because as people, we know a good thing when it comes around. While we do not always have the luxury of staying in bed and sleeping in every morning, there is a good place that we can remain in every moment of every day; and that place is in God's love. Every day, we have the opportunity to surrender to God and say 'yes' to Him, and by doing so we can remain in the love of our Father. While we can all agree that sleeping in is a pretty nice thing once in a while, it is nothing compared to being in the love of our Creator. There is nothing that we can take more peace and comfort in than knowing that we have a God that loves us so much and only wants us to have the best. He is love Himself, the source of all love; and there is nothing greater in this world than loving and being loved. We have a chance to remain in the source of love, but we must choose to live by His rules, not our own. If we are obedient servants and choose to live by His commandments, then we can live in His love. If we choose to go it our own way, then we cut ourselves off from this life giving love that He offers us.

By remaining in Him and in His love, we experience a life like we have never known. This is because by remaining in His love, His "joy is in [us] and [our] joy may be complete." May the peace and joy of the Lord be with us all!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Thank you for this life and for our families. Lord, help us to never stray and to always remain in your loving care. Lord, we are not deserving of you, but you choose to pour out your love and mercy on us no matter what, help us never to forget this. We pray for all of our priests and religious. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Vine and The Branches

2011-05-25T08:15:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday May 25, 2011

First Reading: Acts 15:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122
Gospel: John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (Jn 15:1-8)

When my wife and I first started dating, she introduced me to the world of apple picking. Now growing up in a larger city, I had never experienced apple picking (beside the crab apple trees in my neighborhood, and you would always leave those alone after your first bite). I have to admit, ever since that first time I was hooked. It was quite an experience being able to go to the orchard and just simply be able to pick the fruit off of the tree. I know that each time we go, we only go to the trees that have the best apples, the trees with the best fruit.

In today's gospel, Jesus relates himself to that of a vine, and the Father as the vine grower. He makes it clear that the branches are useless and unable to produce good fruit unless they are on the vine. Those who choose to remain in Him will bear good fruit, while those who do not will be thrown out. I imagine that at the orchards that we go to, if a tree is not producing good fruit that it is thrown out as well. And so it seems as though each of us has a choice: remain in Christ and bear good fruit, or try and go it alone and be "thrown out" in the end. Seems like a no brainer to me, but sadly many people choose the later.

For those who choose to remain in Christ, there is something that we should keep in mind. Jesus said, "He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit." I would imagine that if a tree or vine could feel pain, that the pruning process would be awfully painful, but it is a necessary step for the plant. So too it is necessary for us when we go through challenges and difficulties, even though they may be hard and not feel good, it is necessary so that we too can bear more fruit.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Help us to make this life fruitful, help us to say yes to you every moment of our day, and that we do not seek out will, but yours. Lord, thank you for your great love and mercy, help us to let your light shine through us in this world. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Necessary Hardship

2011-05-24T05:06:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday May 24, 2011

First Reading: Acts 14:19-28
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145
Gospel: John 14:27-31

In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples. (Acts 14:19-28)

In today's first reading, we see that Paul and Barnabas have not exactly had the easiest journey. Paul has been stoned and left for dead, they have covered a vast area (probably mostly on foot). They are facing a great deal of opposition from the Jews; they are most likely under slept and underfed, and add to all of that they are also working tirelessly to build up the Church. But Paul and Barnabas have something important going for them ... they understand how things work. In today's first reading from Acts, we share in both the hardship and in the joy that comes to Paul and Barnabas. One moment fighting for their lives, the next they are rejoicing with the other disciples about the successes that the Lord has brought to them. They tell the others during that visit something very important, something that we should all take notice of: “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Paul and Barnabas understand that as disciples of Christ, it will be necessary for us to go through hard times, but it is all necessary if we want to make it to heaven. This is why Paul and Barnabas went around telling the other Christians to persevere in their faith. I can just imagine their words, "Look guys, I know that it's hard, but trust us it will be worth it in the end."

How has your life been? Has it been easy? Has it been very difficult? The one thing for certain, is that everyone has been through hard times, the question is how do we respond to those trials? How do we bounce back from those hardships? Who is it we rely on in our time of need? It is necessary for each of us to go undergo many hardships in this life, but it will be worth it all just to be able to live the rest of our life in heaven.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord thank you for all that you have blessed us with, and for all that you give to us. Thank you for our lives, and help us not to waste one moment of our day. Lord, we know that we will go through difficult times, help us to rely on you and to see them as necessary, all for your glory. Lord, we pray for all of our youth, that they can come to grow in love of you and to know their dignity. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Redirecting

2011-05-23T07:01:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday May 23, 2011

First Reading: Acts 14:5-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 115
Gospel: John 14:21-26

When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them. In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways; yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.” Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. (Acts 14:11-18)

My daughter is just over two years old, and like most two year olds, she is very curious about everything. She makes her rounds around the house, seeing what is in this box, what she can reach on this shelf, what is inside that cabinet. She is actually quite relentless when it comes to getting into things. My wife and I must make sure that nothing fragile or dangerous is left out, otherwise it may suffering the consequences of getting into my little toddler's hands. While at times her energy level is really a delight, there are also many times where it is quite challenging. When dealing with this energy and curiosity, I really have two choices. I can try and constrain her and break her spirit; or I can try and redirect her energy towards better things.

It is the same choice that each one of us faces in our lives. We all have passions, desires, and tendencies. Some are good, some are bad, and some just simply need redirected. A person's leadership ability can either lead those around him toward good things, or away from the goodness of the Lord. A person's love of talking and communicating with others can either be used to hurt someone by gossiping, or by using words of encouragement and hope. God gives each one of us gifts and abilities, and the question is are we using them for His purposes, or for our own.

The people of Lystra that Paul and Barnabas spoke to in today's first reading were not wrong in celebrating the miracle that God brought to them. However, their energies should have been redirected toward praising the one true God, instead of praising their gods. This is why Paul and Barnabas were so upset, while their intentions were good, their means were not. If our energies are not directed toward serving and praising Christ, then our energies are misdirected, and must be redirected and set on Jesus.

We are all God's children, and like most children, we lose focus, and many times we must be redirected towards the things that are truly the most important.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Lord, you are our Saviour and our King, help us to always keep you in our minds and our hearts. Lord, redirect us towards you during those times were we lose our focus and our way. We pray for all those who have fallen away from the Church, may they be brought back to your love and to your great mercy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Purpose

2011-05-18T08:17:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday May 18, 2011

First Reading: Acts 12:24-13:5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67
Gospel: John 12:44-50

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.” (Jn 12:44-50)

Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? These are questions that have perplexed humans for ages. While I am not going to pretend like I have all the answers to questions like this, today's readings have given me some good thoughts.

Why are we here? We are here because God loves us enough to give us life. As the Catechism says, we are here to know Him, love Him, and serve Him. This is our main goal in life, to try our best to love God and live for Him while we are on earth, so that by His grace we can spend eternity with Him in heaven. What is our purpose in life? Jesus tells us in today's gospel that He came into this world as light, so that whoever believes in Him may not remain in darkness. In the first reading from Acts, the Lord called Paul and Barnabas to a specific purpose, He wanted them to deliver His word and the good news of His love to other areas. This is our purpose as well, not only to live in the light of Christ, but also to let His light shine through us for all others to see. We are here because of Him and for Him. May each of us be given the courage to spread His word and let our lights shine on in the darkness.

May God bless you and the rest of your day!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Lord, we thank you for the gift of our lives, help us to never waste it, and to fulfill our purpose in this life, all for your glory. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Into His Hands

2011-05-17T08:19:00.001-04:00

Readings for Tuesday May 17, 2011

First Reading: Acts 11:19-26
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 87
Gospel: John 10:22-30

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” (Jn 10:24-30)

Have you ever tried to wrestle something small away from someone else's hand? When I was little, I used to play this game with my dad and my friends a lot. Whenever I would play this game with my dad, I tried to pry his hand open to get what he was hiding, usually it was something like a quarter or a piece of candy. Unsuccessfully, and after many attempts to get his hand open, I would give up. Thankfully, he took pity and let me have what was in his hand. I learned as a kid that when someone much stronger has something in their hand, trying to get it out is pointless, because they are in control of what is in their hand.

Christ, our Good Shepherd, tells us today that those who listen to His voice are His sheep, and they are in the Father's hand. He also goes on to tell us that no one can take them out of the Father's hand, because like I said before; when someone much stronger has something in their hand, trying to get it out is pointless. There is no one or no thing more powerful than God, our Father. He is stronger than all, and when we are in His hands, you better believe that nothing else has the power to take us out. But we have to first get into His loving hands, into His loving care. And the only way that we can do that is through Jesus. We must have an open heart, and be willing to hear the voice of Jesus in our lives. We must believe in His power and in His life, death and resurrection. We must be willing to take up our cross daily and follow Him where ever He leads us. By doing this, we will all be able to take comfort in the Father's hands, which is the place where each of us belongs.

May each of us be lead to the open and loving hands of the Father, where nothing on earth can take us away.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you so much for all that you have given and for all that you bless us with. Lord, we are not worthy of your love, but you freely choose to give it to us anyway. Help us to always follow you, no matter what this life may bring. Lord, we are your people, may we all humble ourselves and come into your loving hands. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

No One is Rejected

2011-05-11T07:45:00.003-04:00

Readings for Wednesday May 11, 2011

First Reading: Acts 8:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66
Gospel: John 6:35-40

Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (Jn 6:35-40)

Rejection, we have all felt it at one time or another. I remember last year when I was on the job hunt, I was applying for so many different types of jobs. Most of the time I never heard back from the companies but occasionally a good company would be considerate and keep me updated on the job ... with a rejection letter. The letters typically always said thank you for applying, I had great qualifications, but unfortunately they had selected someone else. While I appreciated the correspondence, it certainly never made the rejection any easier. I was very thankful that God was really teaching me to trust in Him during that time. I was also very thankful because even though I had lots of companies rejecting me, I knew that it was not the end of the world, because I would always be accepted by Christ; and that is all that truly matters in life.

The reality is that we will all be rejected by people and places in our lives. While this is certainly never easy to take, we must remember that it is all a part of God's plan, and there is a reason for the rejection. The great thing about our faith is that we can always take comfort in the fact that no matter who or what in this world rejects us, Christ never will. Jesus tells us today; "and I will not reject anyone who comes to me." Our Lord accepts everyone as they are, and He never rejects anyone who comes to Him ready to follow. No matter how many times the world rejects us, and no matter how many times we feel like nobody wants us, we must remember that we always have a friend in, and a place with our Lord.

Today let us reflect on the words of our Lord: "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." (Mt 11:28-30)

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for your great love and forgiveness. Thank you for all that you have blessed us with in this life. Help us to follow you no matter what life brings, for your ways are perfect. Lord, our hearts truly are restless until they find rest in you; may we always understand how much you love and accept us as we are. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The First Martyr

2011-05-10T07:10:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday May 10, 2011

First Reading: Acts 7:51-8:1
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31
Gospel: John 6:30-35

Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:51-60)

I have always been in awe of Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Church. First of all, his bold words against the scribes and pharisees were certainly bold enough, but what is even more amazing is the courageous witness that he gives at the end of his life. While we do not read much of Stephen in the bible, what little we do read is certainly powerful enough. Stephen was clearly a man who loved God with all his heart, and because he loved God so much, he was able to love others ... even those who wanted to take his life.

Stephen shows us what it means to follow the Lord until the very end. His martyrdom is a powerful challenge to each one of us. Are we willing to follow Christ in all that we do? Are we willing to speak boldly to those who do not believe in Him? Are we willing to look to Jesus and trust in Him even when the world is persecuting us? Are we able to forgive those who intentionally hurt us and cause us pain? Stephen shows us that if we are willing to model our lives after Christ that there is a great reward waiting for us in heaven.

Living the Christian life is never easy, but it is worth it.

Saint Stephen, pray for us!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with, and thank you for all that you do. Lord, you alone are the source of life and all goodness, help us never to be distracted by anything other than you. Lord, this life is not always easy, but let us never take the easy path, for that does not lead to you. Let us always choose your path, which is hard, but is worth it. Help us persevere to the very end, like your servant Stephen. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

It Cannot Be Stopped

2011-05-06T07:40:00.003-04:00

Readings for Friday May 6, 2011

First Reading: Acts 5:34-42
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27
Gospel: John 6:1-15

A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time, and said to the Sanhedrin, “Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:34-39)

Today's first reading reminds me of something that I once heard a priest say when speaking about the history of the Catholic Church. He said, "when God's grace is behind something, it cannot be stopped." These words are so true of our Church. Gamaliel was a very wise Pharisee who knew this, and that is why he advised the others not to put the apostles to death. Today we can see that the early church is certainly not of human origin, but rather it is from God. If the Catholic Church was of human origin, it would have disbanded many years ago. But the truth is that the one true Church established by Christ stands strong today, despite thousands of years of opposition, scandal, slander, and plots to destroy the Church; and yet it still stands. When God's grace is behind something it cannot be stopped.

Let us remember that we are Christians, and we are not called to a life of comfort and ease. Sometimes we shy away from doing things because they might be hard or seem impossible, but we must always remember that when God's grace is behind something, it cannot be stopped! Let us always trust in our Lord who is more powerful than anything!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord thank you for all that you have blessed us with and for all that you give us. Lord, thank you for this faith, thank you for the Pope, may you continue to guide and lead Him, especially in his time of need. Lord, we pray that your truth will come out and that those who have been persecuting you and your Church may repent and come to know your love. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Courage

2011-05-05T07:21:00.002-04:00

Readings for Thursday May 5, 2011

First Reading: Acts 5:27-33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34
Gospel: John 3:31-36

When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. (Acts 5:27-33)

Firemen, policemen, soldiers, people who pray in front of abortion clinics, kids who stand up to bullies; each of these people have one thing in common ... courage. Courage is a virtue that I believe each of us should work on in our lives. To have courage means to have strength when faced with opposition. Our courage is based on the source of our strength, and that source should be God. The apostles today give us a great example of courage. They were faced with opposition from the religious leaders, and yet they spoke and acted boldly ... no matter what the cost. They were not concerned with their own lives or of what sort of earthly consequences they might face; they were only concerned with preaching the name of Jesus and serving God. This is an example of real courage.

To have and display courage does not mean that we have to go out looking for trouble. We can be courageous in our every day lives. We can be courageous by being bold for the Lord. We can stand up for a co-worker, even if it means we might be less popular. We can confront a fellow family member when they are doing wrong. We can proclaim the name of Jesus to any and all people that we might come into contact with. By being courageous in the little things in our life, we will be preparing for more challenging times.

Remember, courage means to have strength when faced with opposition. Let God be your strength in life, and if you do then you will have the courage to face anything.

**The Saints give us a great example of courage. Please check out http://catholic.org/saints/ for a list and information of popular Saints. Here are some of my favorite: Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Paul, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Tarcisius, Saint Augustine and Saint Monica, and Saint Patrick.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for all that you have blessed us with in our lives. Lord, help us to be courageous for you, help us to stand up to all the injustices of this world. Help us to be fearless for you, and may we always rely on your strength instead of our own. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Made for the Light

2011-05-04T07:02:00.002-04:00

Readings for Wednesday May 4, 2011

First Reading: Acts 5:17-26
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm
Gospel: John 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (Jn 3:16-21)

As human beings we can adjust to many different situations for short durations. For example, if you are in the dark for too long, your body will adjust. Your eyes will adjust so that you can see better, you will move around more cautiously, you will rely more on other senses, etc. The fact is that we have the ability to adapt to our environment. Now even though we have this ability to adapt, this does not mean that the environment that we adapt to is the one that we were meant for.

In John's gospel, we read how Christ came into this world so that we might live in the light. He came not to condemn, but to give us new life in Him. Not everyone goes towards the light of Christ though, some stay in the darkness, where they have adjusted to "their environment." It is sad when people choose to live in the darkness; because that is not what we were meant for, we were meant to live a life of love, not a life of sin and evil.

The words of today's gospel are so beautiful and give us so much hope. We must remember that even though we can adjust and live of this world, it is not what we were meant for. We were meant to be of the light of Christ and only live in this world. God created us for more, He created us to live in the light. Today, let us reflect on the words from John's gospel: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." (Jn 3:16)

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for your great love, and for sending your Son so that we might have a way to heaven. Lord, help us to be your vessels in this world, so that your light might shine through us. We pray for all of our priests and religious, that they may be strengthened in their ministries and in their vows. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James

2011-05-03T06:11:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday May 3, 2011

Feast of Saint Philip and Saint James, Apostles

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19
Gospel: John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. (Jn 14:6-11)

In his first letter to the Church at Corinth, Saint Paul describes who Jesus appeared to, Cephas, the twelve, and many other brothers. He also describes how Christ appeared to him as well, and he goes on in his letter to say that he is the "least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle." (v. 9) This begs the question, what did it take to be called an apostle? What qualities or characteristics were needed to have this designation?

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Philip and Saint James, both apostles. Both of these men demonstrate characteristics as apostles that each of us should be striving for in our lives. Obviously being an apostle meant that they actually had the gift of being with Jesus, knowing Him and spreading the good news to all. It is some of these qualities that we should be seeking in our own lives. We like Saint Philip and Saint James should be seeking every day to spend time with Jesus in prayer. We should be trying to know Him and like Him always seek the Father's will in our lives. We should take on the mission of Christ to spread the good news to all, because all are deserving of His endless love and mercy.

Philip and James did not have a walk in the park throughout their lives. They had to struggle and strive for Holiness each and every day of their lives. While the faith journey is not an easy one, it is one that we should all be striving for, because it is the only way to heaven.

Saint Philip and Saint James, pray for us!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Help us to persevere through all that life brings, and help us to only seek your will. You are our God, and we are your people, help us to share the good news with all that we encounter. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Cornerstone

2011-04-29T07:45:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday April 29, 2011

First Reading: Acts 4:1-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118
Gospel: John 21:1-14

If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed. He is the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:9-12)

I remember as a kid, I used to play with legos a lot. I built lots of stuff, cars, houses, tanks, robots ... with a child's imagination the sky was the limit! I do remember that when I was building, any piece that do not fit where I wanted or matched the color scheme that I had wanted was quickly tossed to the side. I only chose the pieces that worked with what I wanted, and anything that challenged that I cast aside.

My mentality as a kid with legos was not far off from the Jewish leaders mindset when Jesus came about. Jesus was not what they expected as the messiah, He did fit in where they wanted, He didn't match up with them or meet their standards, and He challenged what they did and said. The Jews were probably thinking of how could they build with this stone that didn't fit what they wanted to create? And that is exactly the problem right there, they were thinking of what they wanted, not what God wanted. They were set in their own ideas of what they wanted to build, they did not think of what God wanted them to build and how God sent them the foundation of which to build off.

Jesus is the cornerstone, and the foundation of which we should be building our lives. We should not be trying to make Jesus fit into our plans, but instead we should be trying to fit into His and asking God how we can be a part of His kingdom. Saint Peter warns us here that there is salvation through only one name, and that is Jesus Christ. Let us not spend our lives trying to attain salvation on our own, but rather on building our lives on and around Christ, the cornerstone.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and give you praise for all that you bless us with. Lord, you are our rock and our salvation, may we only build upon you and never reject you. Lord, we pray for all those with hard hearts that are in need of conversion, may they come to you and humble themselves before you our Lord. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

His Name

2011-04-28T07:32:00.002-04:00

Readings for Thursday April 28, 2011

First Reading: Acts 3:11-26
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8
Gospel: Luke 24:35-48

When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, "You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence, when he had decided to release him. You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you. (Acts 3:12-16)

Son of Man, Bread of life, Son of David, Emmanuel, Holy one of God, Son of the most High, the new Moses ... He has had many names throughout history. No matter what He is called, there is great power in the name of Jesus Christ. In today's reading from the book of Acts, Peter speaks rightly in not taking credit for the miracle healing of the man outside the temple. Peter tells us that it is by the power of God that this man was healed and by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Peter is doing what we should all be doing, helping others understand the power that comes through faith and by doing things in the name of Jesus. Many times we are very blind to the miracles that are worked by God in our lives, and we are willing to attribute them to our own greatness of to just simple "good luck." But we must start having a change of heart and a change in our thinking. We must realize that all that we have and all that we are really comes from God, not by us or by luck. We must realize that the power and the miracles come from Christ, and not from anything that we have done. Peter recognized that the people were looking at him after the miracle healing, he wanted nothing to do with the credit however, he wanted to redirect them towards God, and he wanted to give glory where is was due.

There is a great song called "Your Name" by Paul Baloche, and in this song it really speaks to the power of our Lord. Read the chorus, and just think about the how just His name alone has power to work in our lives and in this world.

Your Name is a strong and mighty tower
Your Name is a shelter like no other
Your Name, let the nations sing it louder
'Cause nothing has the power to save
But Your Name

Everything that we do, everything that we say, should be in the name of Jesus Christ. I pray that all that we do out in this world may honor and give glory to our Lord and Savior.

Father above, we thank you and give you praise for this day. Lord, we are nothing without you, help us to always recognize and be in awe of your mighty works in our lives. Lord, everything that we have and everything that we are belongs to you, help us to be good stewards of all that you have given us. Lord, it is through your name that we live, may we be granted the courage and strength to share this message. Lord, we pray for all those seeking meaning in their lives, we pray that they may come to you soon. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

2011-04-27T07:22:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday April 9, 2011

First Reading: Acts 3:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105
Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Today, read and reflect on the gospel. Does anything stand out to you? Does anything seem familiar? Anything remind you of the mass or of the Eucharist?

That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus' disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.
He asked them,
"What are you discussing as you walk along?"
They stopped, looking downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply,
"Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem
who does not know of the things
that have taken place there in these days?"
And he replied to them, "What sort of things?"
They said to him,
"The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene,
who was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people,
how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over
to a sentence of death and crucified him.
But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;
and besides all this,
it is now the third day since this took place.
Some women from our group, however, have astounded us:
they were at the tomb early in the morning
and did not find his Body;
they came back and reported
that they had indeed seen a vision of angels
who announced that he was alive.
Then some of those with us went to the tomb
and found things just as the women had described,
but him they did not see."
And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are!
How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke!
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?"
Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them what referred to him
in all the Scriptures.
As they approached the village to which they were going,
he gave the impression that he was going on farther.
But they urged him, "Stay with us,
for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over."
So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,
but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other,
"Were not our hearts burning within us
while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?"
So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem
where they found gathered together
the Eleven and those with them who were saying,
"The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"
Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way
and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35)

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we praise you for giving us the sacraments, especially the Eucharist where we partake in this holy meal. Lord, you are our God, we are your people, help us to serve you with all that we do and with all that we are. Lord, we pray for the change of hearts that we all need to grow and to love you as your are worthy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let Go

2011-04-26T07:22:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday April 26, 2011

First Reading: Acts 2:36-41
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Gospel: John 20:11-18

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:16-17)

In today's gospel reading, Mary Magdalene is guilty of something that we all do too often ... living in the past. Many times we live in the past when something ends or is taken away from us. In this instance, Mary was morning the loss of Jesus (and rightly so), but like all others, she did not understand that His suffering and death were necessary and all a part of God's plan. She did not understand that by His dying and rising from the dead, He would then ascend into heaven and be glorified, and once this happens He is then able to give to all those who follow Him the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not having this knowledge, however, Mary was simply holding on to Jesus as she knew Him, and did not think about the present or future.

Many times when we hold on to the past, we are unable to become the new creations that God intends us to be. The past has a way of anchoring us down and not letting us move forward, and many times we are anchored down because we are the ones holding on! Jesus calls us all to let go and to move forward with Him. One of the gifts that He gave us through the church is the sacrament of reconciliation. This sacrament helps us to confess our sins, be forgiven and to move on. I believe that this sacrament is one of the most underestimated and underutilized in the church, and if you have not been in a while, I strongly suggest that you try and make it. It is just amazing how you feel afterwards, it is like a massive weight has been lifted off of you shoulder.

Today, ask yourselves, what is it that I am still holding on to? What is keeping me from moving forward with Jesus? Remember, just let go, and let God.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and give you praise for all that we have and all that we are. Lord, help your servants this day be faithful and full of strength and courage to go out and do your will. Lord, we praise you for all that you are and all that you give. We thank you for the promise of new life, and may we always follow you on earth until we can be with you in heaven. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

What Now?

2011-04-25T07:24:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday April 25, 2011

First Reading: Acts 2:14, 22-33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16
Gospel: Matthew 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Mt. 28:8-10)

Here we are. Lent is over, our time spent in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving has hopefully brought about real spiritual growth. During the Triduum, we entered more fully into Christ's passion, death on the cross, and His resurrection. Finally, on Easter Sunday we proclaimed the risen Lord! Once again, we have entered into the heart of our faith, the thing that it all rests on: Christ's death and resurrection. So the question that I ask is now what? What will we do this this? Will we simply slip into our everyday lives until we come to the next Lent? Or will we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us, and help us bring this hope that we have to others. Will our resolved to be good, faithful disciples of the one true God?

We each have a choice; allow Christ to live more fully in us, or allow ourselves to become lukewarm and be caught up in the anxieties of the world. One leads to Heaven, the other does not.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help increase our faith so that we may never stop serving you, but only offer all of ourselves to you. Lord, you are our hope in this world, let our fire burn brightly for all to see. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Judas

2011-04-20T06:50:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday April 20, 2011

Wednesday of Holy Week

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-25

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.” (Matt. 26:14-16, 20-25)

When someone asks the question, which of the disciples betrayed Jesus, the majority of people know that it was Judas Iscariot. And we have lots of facts, such as how much silver he accepted, dipping his hands in the dish with Jesus, even betraying Jesus with a kiss. But despite all of these facts, there is one thing that we do not know ... why did he do it? Why did he betray Jesus, why did he turn him over to the chief priests? Why did he turn away from God, when he was so close? Was it pride or envy? Did he become greedy? While we do not know the exact reason why, we do know for sure that something caused his heart to become hardened, and from there he turned away from Jesus; and in doing so, he turned away from his life.

While we certainly should not strive to model our lives after Judas, there is something important that we can learn from him. We are either with Jesus or we are against Him; and at any time we can find ourselves on either side. I am sure that when Judas started out with Jesus he did not intend to betray him, and in fact he probably was on fire for a little while. But then something seized him and caused him to turn away. We must always be careful with sin and becoming too worldly, because it is these things that cause us to turn away from God. We must always be fighting and striving to serve the Lord with all of our heart. It is only by losing our self in Him that we will find our life.

Saint Peter gives us great advice in his first letter: "Be Sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings." (1 Pt. 5:8-9) Judas did not heed this warning, but we should.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Thank you for all of your gifts, help us to always be good stewards of all the things that you give us. Lord, even though you do not need us, you want us to share in your great love. Help us to always be faithful and loyal to you until our time on earth is through. Lord, we pray for all those who have turned away from you, may they come back to your love and mercy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Toiling

2011-04-19T07:54:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday April 19, 2011

Tuesday of Holy Week

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71
Gospel: John 13:21-33, 36-38

Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Is 49:4-6)

The prophet Isaiah today talks about some of the themes of work, reward, and purpose. He says, "though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing." Don't we all feel like this at times, especially in our faith lives? Why do I go to mass on Sundays? Why am I spending time in prayer? Why serve others, or try to help the poor? I think that we all hit lows at times where we for whatever reason we are just not on fire. But what we must remember, is that not matter how we may "feel", the reason why we do all of these things for the Lord is because of love and the great reward awaiting us. We live a life of faith because there is no better way of living. A life surrendered to Him, is a life that is found. And what is our reward for "toiling", an eternal life in heaven with our Father. No more pain, no more suffering, no more crying, no more sin; only joy and happiness. Now isn't that worth the "toiling."

Serving the Lord is not toiling, it is our purpose. What may seem burdensome does not have to be, instead it can be looked at as a time of growth. The Lord has formed each of as a "servant in the womb." We were each meant for a specific purpose in this life, and it should be our goal to find out what this purpose is. We find this out by asking God, by asking the Creator of the heavens and the earth who formed us, and knows exactly what we are meant to do. It is only by finding our purpose that we can be happy, and to be the "light to the nations" that we are called to be.

God wants to use each and every one of us, for our sake and for His glory. Are you willing to say yes?

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and praise you for the great gifts that you bring into our life. Lord, help us to discover our purpose and to do your will in this life. Lord, help us to love others as you call us to, and to persevere to the end so that one day we might receive the reward of eternal life. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Out of Confinement

2011-04-18T07:51:00.001-04:00

Readings for Monday April 18, 2011

Monday of Holy Week

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27
Gospel: John 12:1-11

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. (Is. 42:6-7)

Today begins Holy Week, one of the greatest weeks of our year. For it is this week that we grow in our faith by going deeper into Christ's passion and we celebrate His victory over sin and death. What an amazing and blessed week this is. I can still remember beginning Holy Week three years ago as I was preparing to enter into the Church. I remember the excitement and anticipation that built up this week. I can still remember preparing to receive the Sacraments and to receive Jesus for the first time. To finally take part in the passover meal that Jesus instituted over 2000 years ago. This is truly a time that is special to all of us, because we have people who are coming into (or back) to the Church, and these new brothers and sisters should be welcomed home with open arms. This season is also a chance for us to rekindle our own faith and gratitude for the great gift of life that Jesus gave to us by His life, death, and resurrection.

Today's first reading by Isaiah reminds us exactly why Jesus gave His life for us; "to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness."(Is 42:7) God came in the flesh to die for us because His children were hurting. They were blinded by their own sin, and could not see clearly to turn away from their worldly life and turn to Him. They were lost and did not know the way. He came so that we would not need to be tied down by our sins, but rather can have the freedom that comes from a life with God. As once we lived in darkness, now we have to light of Christ to show us the way, and to lead us to the Father.

As any good parent, God did not want to see His children ache any more. He was prepared to do anything to save us from hell, even if that meant dying on a cross. This week, use this time to reflect on Christ's great sacrifice and on God's love for us. Take a few moments to thank Him, and then think how can we share God's love with others.

May God bless you this Holy Week.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have given, and all that you have done for us. Lord, help us to sacrifice in our own lives, as you have sacrificed for us. Lord, we thank you and praise you for the great gift of this life, may we never waste it on any worldly pursuits. Lord, help us to let you Spirit work in us, and that we may shine the light of Christ in this world. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen

Courage Under Fire

2011-04-13T07:13:00.002-04:00

Readings for Wednesday April 12, 2011

First Reading: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95
Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:52
Gospel: John 8:31-42

King Nebuchadnezzar said: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up? Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God who can deliver you out of my hands?" Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us! But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that you set up." King Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Assuredly, O king," they answered. "But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."

Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants who trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God." (Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95)

Today let us reflect on the courage of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three men were unwilling to worship anyone other than God, and they certainly were not worried about the consequences. They remained faithful to God, no matter what. That is the thing that we should always remember, that faithfulness is a two way streak; we should be faithful to God as He is to us. If there is a problem with faithfulness in this relationship, we know immediately who the problem is with (hint: it isn't God).

I pray that we may all be given their courage when tested in our lives.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and give you praise for the many blessings in our lives. Lord, give us the courage and the strength to stand up against any opposition that we may face, and may we always defend and protect the faith and all life in this world. We pray for those who have fallen away, may they find their way back home through you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Get In the Wheelbarrow

2011-04-12T06:56:00.001-04:00

Readings for Tuesday April 12, 2011

First Reading: Number 21:4-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102
Gospel: John 8:21-30

"I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins." (John 23-24)

After completing a highly dangerous tightrope walk over Niagara Falls in appalling wind and rain, 'The Great Zumbrati' was met by an enthusiastic supporter, who urged him to make a return trip, this time pushing a wheelbarrow, which the spectator had thoughtfully brought along. The Great Zumbrati was reluctant, given the terrible conditions, but the supporter pressed him, "You can do it - I know you can," he urged. You really believe I can do it?" asked Zumbrati. "Yes, definitely - you can do it," the supporter gushed. "Okay," said Zumbrati, "Get in the wheelbarrow."

"Get in the wheelbarrow." How many of us believe in someone or something so much that we would be willing to risk our lives? Isn't this what Christ is asking of us each and every day? Is He not saying to us each moment to trust Him and to "get in the wheelbarrow?" We all have many difficult choices to make every day, and many of them are not always the most clear and simple choices to make; but one choice should never be an issue for us and that is believing in Christ and what He wants to do in each of our lives. I pray that each of us is given the trust and belief to "get in the wheelbarrow" with Christ leading the way.

Ask yourself this day, what is preventing you from "getting in the wheelbarrow?"

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you for the many blessings in our lives and for all that you continue to do. Lord, never let us become blind to all that you do in our lives, and let us always give you the glory and honor. Lord, let us trust and believe in you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help us to follow you no matter what the world puts in our way. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In Someone Else's Shoes

2011-04-11T06:44:00.001-04:00

Readings for Monday April 11, 2011

First Reading: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23
Gospel: John 8:1-11

"Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more." (John 8:7-11)

There is an old saying that goes, "Do not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes." It would appear that the scribes and pharisees in today's gospel had never heard that one. They were quick to judge the woman caught in adultery and to deal with her swiftly. The scribes and pharisees were not able to see much beyond their cause and effect rule book that dictated their actions. Jesus however took a different approach, He began writing in the dirt, He didn't quickly decide or throw Himself into their anger and rage. Instead after Jesus decided to address them, He stood up and said, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." While the scripture doesn't say, I imagine the silence in that area was deafening.

Instead of judgement, even though Jesus is our king and our final judge, He decided to show the people another way. He showed them the path that we should all be taking, and that is the path of mercy and forgiveness. Now, I know this may seem like a "wishy washy," "warm fuzzy" type of thing, but it is true and it is what we are all called to. The truth is, is that it is always easier for us to find fault in someone and to want to enact a penalty which we have a right to on a person, but that is the easier path. The much harder path to follow is the one of letting go of our own judgement and showing someone who has done us wrong the same mercy and forgiveness that Christ has shown us in our own lives.

Perhaps if we spent more time thinking about what it was like to be in someone else's shoes instead of judging them, we may be more likely to show the same type of mercy and forgiveness that Christ calls us to.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord we thank you and give you praise for all that you give and all that you do for us. Lord, help us to be humble servants for you, servants who do not look at others with judgement, but with mercy and forgiveness. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Loosen Your Stiff Necks

2011-04-07T06:46:00.002-04:00

Readings for Thursday April 7, 2011

First Reading: Exodus 32:7-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106
Gospel: John 5:31-47

You search the Scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life. (John 5:39-40)

In today's reading from Exodus; while Moses was on the mountain with God, the early Jews had a golden calf made to worship. They were called (and rightly so) a "stiff necked people." These people were searching for life and fulfillment from things of this world. They were searching for meaning and understanding from things and objects that they could make and conjure up in their minds. The Jews from the today's gospel were not willing to believe Jesus because He was not what they expected, nor was He something that they could understand. They too were a stiff necked people. The Jews were so blinded from God that they were unable to hear or see Him, even when He was right in front of them! They were not willing to rely on Him for life, they were too stubborn and wanted to rely on themselves.

How often are we like the Jews from the readings today? We too are a stiff necked people, seeking life and fulfillment in other things instead of the Lord. Jesus makes it very clear that in order to have everlasting life, then we must be good and faithful disciples carrying our crosses daily, and serving Him with all that we are. We cannot be a stiff necked people, otherwise we too will be blind and deaf to the Lord. We must detach ourselves from the things of this world, in order to rely totally on the Lord. This season of Lent that we are in is an excellent time to begin this detachment and for letting go of the worldly things to which we think we need. Is your lent the time of prayer and fasting that it should be? If not, what can you do to change it now?

Brothers and sisters, I pray that we can all loosen our stiff necks so that we may bow our heads before the one true God who gives us life.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you for all you have given us and all the blessings we have received. Lord, help soften our hearts so that we may be humble and trusting servants of you. Lord, as you are always faithful to us, so may we be faithful to you in all that we do. We pray for all those who are blind and deaf to you, may their ears and eyes be opened ready to listen and see you in their lives. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hope

2011-04-05T06:39:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday April 5, 2011

First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 46
Gospel: John 5:1-16

There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep Gate a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. (Jn 5:1-9)

When we look at retired professional athletes, especially people from contact sports like boxers or hockey players. We see men and women who have went through gruelling and harsh careers. What they are usually left with is a tired broken body with many scars and other reminders of the pounding they took during their careers. We too are much like these retired athletes, spiritually and emotionally bruised and broken after a lifetime of the world beating up on us. It is no wonder why so many people in the world lose hope, and instead turn towards a life of despair and bitterness.

In today's gospel we see someone who had lost hope. The man who had been ill for so long sat by the porticoes for thirty-eight years. All he wanted was to be well, but had no one to help him, no one to give him hope. Then along comes Jesus, who simply asks, "Do you want to be well?" And this is the question that Christ brings to each one of us. So many of us like the ill man have lost hope, and just accept our circumstances for what they are; but Christ comes asking us if we want the change we all so desperately seek.

No matter how many times life has knocked you down or beaten you up, we must remember that nothing can take away the fact that we are all children of God, and each and every one of us is loved more than we can possibly know. Christ is here now offering the hope we need, how will you respond?

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for the many gifts you give to us. Lord, all hope comes from you, may all of our hope and trust be in you and in nothing else. You are the way, the truth, and the life; help our lives reflect your light into this dark world. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Trust In Him

2011-04-04T06:57:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday April 4, 2011

First Reading: Isaiah 65:17-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30
Gospel: John 4:43-54

Jesus said to him, "You may go; your son will live." The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. While the man was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. He asked them when he began to recover. He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, "The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon." The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live," and he and his whole household came to believe. (John 4:50-53)

In today's gospel, we have a great story of a man who seeks out Christ in order to ask for mercy on his son, Jesus answers the mans prayer and tells him that his son will live. After hearing this, the man believes the words of Jesus. After the man's household sees for their own eyes, they also begin to believe. This gospel story teaches us that we too must not only believe in the works of Christ but also trust in His words.

Every day Christ gives us signs in our life, showing us that He is there and that He is with us. Most of the time we are too occupied with our own things, that we fail to see Jesus working. If we can continue to focus on Christ through prayer and to call upon the Holy Spirit, then I believe that we will be able to better see the works that He is doing in our lives. We must always remember to give God the glory for these great works and for the miracles that He performs in our world. This gospel story also teaches us about trusting in God's word for us. Just as the royal official believed Jesus when He said that his son would live, we too must believe the things that Christ gives to us through prayer and to the things that He lays on our hearts. This is perhaps one of the most difficult things for us, especially when it goes against what we want or what the world tells us. But we must remember the words from the "Our Father"; "thy kingdom come, thy will be done." Trusting in God's word for us actually shows that we believe Him, and not just saying it.

Today, think and ask yourself this question: Is there something that God is calling me to trust in Him more today?

With God, we have every reason to live for Him, and no reason not to trust in Him.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to trust in you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Lord, open our eyes and our hearts to your works in our lives, and help us to always give thanks and glory to you. Lord, we pray for all those whose hearts are hardened, may they come to let go of the things that are holding them back from your love. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Choose a Side

2011-03-31T08:27:00.003-04:00

Readings for Thursday March 31, 2011

First Reading: Jeremiah 7:23-28
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95
Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Lk 11:21-23)

Since our beginning, we have been asked to choose a side. In the garden, the serpent asked Eve to choose a side; trust God or don't trust Him. Unfortunately, we are all aware of what she chose. But Eve was certainly not the only person who was asked to choose between God's will or her own, and she will certainly not be the last. We are all asked to choose in this life. In today's gospel, Jesus tells the people that whoever is not with Him is against Him. He was asking the people, as well as us to choose a side. We can either be with Jesus, going about His work and following His will; or we can be about ourselves, doing what we want and only focusing on our wants.

Since the beginning, we have been given free will. God who is love, does not force anything upon us, it is all for our choosing. This is both the blessing and the curse of free will. A blessing because we are not confined to this world and the destruction in it, and we have the ability to choose a full life on earth with the promise of eternity in paradise with Christ. However it is a curse because it is also very hard. The reality is that there are many challenges and temptations that go along with following Christ. It is a life full of sacrifice, certainly not for the faint of heart. However, if we are willing to persevere and trust in this life, then we will certainly find true love and joy in this lifetime, and even greater things in the next.

We are each called to choose a side in this life, may we each choose the side that leads to eternal life in heaven.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. You are our God, and we are your people. Help us to never forget this. Amen.

Being Great

2011-03-30T06:41:00.002-04:00

Readings for Wednesday March 30, 2011

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 147
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

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." (Matt 5:19)

How does one become great? In sports, many have thought the route to greatness was through having the winning record. In politics, many have sought the highest positions in office to become great. In science, many have sought to be the first to discover a new cure or a new species. Most people will define greatness as the things that we have done and all of our accomplishments in life; but in heaven, these accomplishments will mean very little.

Jesus tells us today that the path to greatness is about what we do, as well as the things that we don't do. We too can become great in heaven if we are willing to be faithful servants of the Lord and follow the rules. The ten commandments give us the parameters of the things that we are not do do. Jesus came to fulfill those commandments by not doing away with them, but keeping them and by also taking them to another level. Jesus came to tell us to still follow the commandments, but He also gave us a new way to live. By following His word and His example, we will keep the commandments, and live the new life that we were meant to; and by doing this we too can be great in heaven.

Being great is following the rules of God and the example of Christ.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. We praise you for all the many blessings in our lives. Lord, help us to follow your example, and to carry the crosses that you have called each of us to. Lord, help us to hold nothing back from you and to just give our whole lives to you. Lord, you are our God, and we live to serve you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

How Will You Respond?

2011-03-29T06:58:00.002-04:00

Readings for Tuesday March 29, 2011

First Reading: Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. (Daniel 3:39-41)

In today's first reading from Daniel, Azariah (one of the three who were in the fiery furnace), begins saying this beautiful prayer. Realizing that he has nothing to offer the Lord; Azariah responds with complete humility and offers up himself. Not only does he offer himself up during this difficult time, but he prays to God for the ability to follow Him with his whole heart. In this story from the book of Daniel, Azariah and two others were thrown into the fiery furnace because they would not worship another God as the king had commanded. When tested by the heat and the flames, Azariah responds in pray with humility and thanksgiving. How do we respond when we too are tested by the heat and the flames that life often brings?

In the gospel today, we are told that we must forgive others not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! This is certainly not an easy thing for us to do. While most of us are good about forgiving someone their mistakes the first few times, we seem to have a low tolerance when it comes to repeated mistakes. But this is what we are called to do in life, be patient and forgive as many times as it takes. This is what it means to be a disciple, to pick up our cross and to follow and imitate Christ. We are to forgive others as many times as God continues to forgive us. Are we not guilty of repeated mistakes against the Lord as well? How many times do we neglect the Lord and fill our days with other things instead of time with Him? How many times do we disobey His commandments? How many times do we find ourselves going to reconciliation for the same things over and over? If God is willing to show us mercy and forgive us each time, why do we think that we can treat anyone else any differently? We must pray for hearts full of mercy and act with forgiveness and compassion towards those who wrong us, even when it is very difficult.

We have a choice in life, we can be like Azariah and follow the Lord with humility, thankfulness, and trust; or we can be like the wicked servant and forget what has been done for us and continue to seek our own will? How will we respond to the heat and the flames?

Father above we thank you for this day. Lord we praise you for all your blessings you continue to give us each day. Lord, we pray that like your servant Azariah, we too will follow you with humility and with our entire heart. Lord, you are the one true great God, help us to serve and show reverence for you as you deserve. Lord we wish to hold nothing back from you, and to give ourselves totally to you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Are You Listening?

2011-03-28T06:34:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday March 28, 2011

First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 42; 43
Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel." (2 Kings 5:15)

In today's first reading, we see how Naaman the Syrian had been cured by Elisha the prophet. We read about his process of conversion, and how he became very humble and astounded by the great works of the Lord. He came to realize that no one else on earth has the power to cure like God does. This high ranking army commander, who had a lot of power and prestige, humbled himself after being cured, and came back to the prophet Elisha to admit that there is no other God.

When Naaman had first went to Elisha about his leprosy, he was told by the prophet to go wash seven times in the Jordan river. Naaman was very confused by this and became angry because he thought that the prophet would come out and invoke God with some big fancy hoopla type of ceremony. Naaman expected what many of us all expect, for God to work a miracle through some big clear sign that may come in the form of a burning bush or an angel appearing. Many times we fail to see the subtlety of God until later, it is then that we humble ourselves like Naaman and recognize how amazing God is.

We must remember, God does not speak to us through giant neon signs that fall from heaven; He speaks to us in the everyday events, through the small whispers in life; and in order to hear Him, we must be listening.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we are your people, increase our faith so that we may serve you without wavering. Lord, we love you and praise you for the many blessings in our life. We pray for all those who are searching for you and searching for meaning in their life. May they come to know your love and mercy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Light Bulb

2011-03-21T05:13:00.002-04:00

Readings for Monday March 21, 2011

First Reading: Daniel 4b-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79
Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers,for having sinned against you.But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness!Yet we rebelled against you and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God,to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets. (Dn 4:8-10)

I have worked with youth for many years, and one of the best experiences to have with them is when "they get it." It doesn't matter what "it" is, whether it is math, a new play, or just a simple life lesson; it is always great to see that light bulb go off and to realize that your teaching or coaching isn't in vain.

In today's first reading, we see that Daniel is someone who "gets it." He realizes that the problem is not with God or with His commandments, but rather the problem is with the people. Daniel knows that it is the people who have broken the covenant relationship with God, and it is the people who have sinned and done wrong. But Daniel also gets one other thing, that God is a all about mercy and forgiveness. This is why we have hope, because the God that we serve is so loving that He is willing to forgive us no matter what and welcome us back into His loving and gentle arms.

During this season of Lent, let the light bulb go off in your heads as well. We all need to "get it", and understand that we fall short, but by the grace of God we can overcome our weaknesses and make it to Heaven. If we are willing to put our trust in God, and to rely on Him at all times; there is nothing we cannot get through.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, please forgive us for all the times that we fall short, help us to never veer from the path you have set before us, but rather cling to you always. Lord, we are your people, help us to never forget who we are. You are God, and we are not. Please be with all those who have fallen away from the Church, may they be brought back into your loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Choose Love, Not Anger

2011-03-18T07:01:00.002-04:00

Readings for Friday March 18, 2011

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:21-28
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Mt 5:21-26)

Today we read in the gospel that whoever kills will be liable to judgment, but Jesus kicks it up a few notches and says that "whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment." Now I think that we would all agree that killing is very wrong, but getting angry with someone, we shouldn't even do that?!? I mean what is so wrong with getting angry with someone, especially if they did something wrong and deserve it? Why is it that Jesus is telling us to control our anger like this?

I think that the reason why we are told to control our anger is because we are called to be loving and merciful, not bitter and uncompassionate. If we think about this, letting anger live inside us can certainly can lead to resentment and other harsh feelings towards someone; who knows, if those feelings grow inside of us what they might lead us to do ... maybe even kill someone. Now, I know that that is an extreme example, but it does make a lot of sense. How often do you hear of murders or killings where one person was really happy with the victim? Unfortunately, many lives are taken out of anger and other feelings that can stem from anger. Now, the majority of people who get angry never let it get that far, but while anger may never lead someone to take a life, it can lead to feelings that block love and therefore block God in our lives. Jesus teaches us this about anger so that we can not only learn to forgive and love as God loves us, but to also learn how to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness. If we are truly to be the men and women that we are called to be, then we must learn how to give in to love, rather than anger.

Today let us reflect on this passage from Saint Paul: "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails." (1 Cor 13:4-8)

May we all learn to love as we are called to.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you for the opportunity to go out and love others as you love us. Lord, help us to never let go of you, and to always follow your ways. Help us be slow to anger and quick to love. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open Door Policy

2011-03-17T06:45:00.002-04:00

Readings for Thursday March 17, 2011

First Reading: Ester C:12,14-16,23-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138
Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets." (Lk 7:7-12)

I remember this one fall season when I was in elementary school, me and a friend decided to be entrepreneurs. We decided to have our own leaf raking business. Unfortunately being so young with a fledgling business and no client referrals meant that we needed to do some "cold calling." So we decided to do what many youths do in that situation, we went door to door asking people if we could rake their yards for a modest fee. So here we were, rakes on our hands, determination in our hearts, and money on our mind. When we were going door to door, the majority of the time the response that we got was no. We did however get one customer, and how sweet that was when we finally got a yes. And we made sure that we did a good job on that guys yard. But the whole process of going door to door, being rejected and then finally getting someone to say yes to us was quite an experience that will always stick out in my mind.

Isn't it great that as we read today's gospel, we serve a Lord who has an "open door policy?" God's door is always open to us, knock and come to Him with our needs and He will provide. What an amazing, loving Father that we have. May we always remember that God's door is always open to us, no matter when we knock He is always there ready to take us in and accept us just as we are, for we are His.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for always being there for us and for never abandoning us. You are always so faithful to your servants, may we strive all of our life to be faithful to you. We pray for all those you are in need of conversion and who do not know you; may they find true joy and peace in your loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Take His Word For It

2011-03-16T06:35:00.001-04:00

Readings for Wednesday March 16, 2011

First Reading: Jonah 3:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here." (Lk 11:29-32)

"Take my word for it!" How many times have we heard people say that to us? Many times it is because someone is trying to convince us of something that we are not totally buying. So many a people when unable to prove something they are saying or selling will end with the classic phrase "take my word for it." There probably wouldn't even be such a need for this phrase if people weren't always so skeptical. Often times instead of just words, we want proof. This is essentially a defense mechanism that helps to protect us from being fooled or hurt. In many instances there is nothing wrong with asking for more than someones word and asking them to prove something to you. While this approach may be fine with people, it is not with God.

When it comes to listening to God, we really just need to "take His word for it." We need to not only listen to what He is saying to us, but we also must be willing to believe and follow Him. In the gospel reading today, Jesus knows that the people want a sign, but they will not be given one. Jesus is telling them that they basically just need to listen to Him and take His word for it. This is much easier to do when there is trust. If we do not truly trust in God, then we will not be able to follow Him or believe in His word. If we are truly to not seek a sign, and to believe in His word, then we must be willing to put away our skepticism and disbelief and simply trust in our Heavenly Father.

When it comes to God, we need to listen and just "take His word for it." By doing this, we have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank yo for all that you have given us and for all that we are. Thank you for your love and mercy, help us to go out in this world and be loving and merciful ourselves. We pray for all of our priests and religious, that they may find renewed strength in their ministries and that they may stay faithful to their vows. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit

2011-03-14T05:46:00.001-04:00

Readings for Monday March 14, 2011

First Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2.11-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matt 25:40)

For Catholics, we believe that it is by faith and good works that we are able to make it to heaven. However, one of the key differences between protestants and Catholics that emerged from the reformation, is the idea that we are saved by faith alone. While having faith is certainly an important component of our salvation, we must remember, the things that we do matter as well. For anyone who wishes to argue this point, I would refer them to today's gospel reading.

So, since faith and works are both important in our lives, how do we go about having solid faith and go about doing good works? It is certainly not always easy for us to take time in prayer and to be silent with God, or to snap out of the business of our daily lives to look to help people. So how do we go about this? First, we must stop relying on ourselves so much, we must begin to rely on God and look to Him for an increased faith and a heart that seeks to help those in need. We must pray to the Holy Spirit to show us how to do the works that we are called to in our lives. Praying for the Holy Spirit to work in us is an important step in allowing the fruits of the spirit to manifest in our lives. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, modesty, chastity, and generosity. Now whose lives would not be better and more meaningful by allowing these fruits to take place in their lives? I believe all of our lives would be.

We are recognized and judged on the fruit that we bear in our lives. We must be open to the Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants to work in all of us, all we have to do is pray and open our heart to Him. By doing this, we can truly help the least of our brothers and sisters that God puts along our path.

Today, ask yourself and pray about the following question; how does the Holy Spirit want to work in your life?

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Making Your Bed

2011-03-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

Readings for Friday March 11, 2011

First Reading: Isaiah 58:1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51
Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers. Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! (Is 58:3-9a)

Have you ever heard the phrase, "you've made your bed, now lie in it"? This phrase basically means that however we do something (making our bed), we are going to have to deal with the consequences of our actions (lying in it). So if we make a bad bed, then we are going to have to lie in a bad bed; however if we make a good bed, then we will get to lie in a good bed. It is good for us to think about this phrase as we are in the beginning of lent.

This time of lent is a time of prayer and fasting; sadly many people look at fasting as something that is burdensome. As we read from Isaiah, the Lord does not want us to fast so that He can punish us or so that it ends with us in worse shape than before. This is not the type of fasting the Lord asks of us. The Lord wants us to cooperate in fruitful fasting; fasting that actually allows us to gain something. Fasting that actually brings about a deeper conversion, and love for the Lord and His ways. Our fasting is something that is supposed to help us realize that we don't need the things of this world, we have all we need with God. Fasting is one of the ways that we are able to come to this realization.

So the question to ask yourself as you go through this lent, is what kind of bed are you making for yourself? Are you really stretching yourself, really trying to grow and make this a fruitful time, or is it just another thing to do? At the end of lent, your prayer and fasting will have either made you a better son or daughter of God, or it will not. What kind of bed do you want to lie in?

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for your love and your mercy. Lord, help us to not never to stray from you. Lord, help us to not be tied down to things of this world, and cling only to you. Lord thank you for this time of lent, help us to each make ti fruitful and a time of growth. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Choose Your Cross

2011-03-10T06:35:00.002-05:00

Readings for Thursday March 10, 2011

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1
Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised." Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?" (Lk 9:22-25)

During this season of lent, we have an opportunity to grow in our faith and as God's people. This is a time to accept God and all that He gives us, rather than reject Him as the priests and scribes did. This is a time to embrace our own crosses in life, and realize that it is our cross that we carry during this faith journey that is going to lead to everlasting life in heaven. It is only by carrying our cross that we can follow Him who carried the cross for our sake. Let us never think of our cross as burdensome, but rather as something that we do out of love for God.

I came across the following story, and I really thought that it offered an interesting reflection for today's gospel reading. Take a few moments to reflect on the following story "Choose your Cross":

One day, a man went to the Lord and said, "Help me, Lord....I can't take this suffering anymore. Please give me a different cross to bare.” So, our gentle Lord said, "Come with me." All of a sudden, the man and the Lord were standing in a huge room with every kind of cross imaginable. Some were small, some large, others beautiful, some ugly, etc.....The Lord said to the man, "Now you look around and pick out another cross you'd like to carry." Happily, the man searched and searched and finally found one. He said to the Lord, "Lord, Lord, I will take this one." The Lord just smiled and said, "My dear child, that is the same cross you came in with." In other words, we all have a custom-made cross, uniquely designed for us. The cross God gives you to bear is the very one He knows you can handle. It’s designed just for you, and you will be the one that becomes a better person because of it. (take from http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/2007/08/choose-your-cross.html)

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are so good to us, thank you for your abundant love and mercy. Lord, we praise you for all that we have and all that we are, and we praise you for the gift of our lives. Lord, help us to have the courage to follow you no matter what, and may we never think of our crosses as burdensome, but rather as blessings. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ash Wednesday

2011-03-09T07:22:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday March 9, 2011

Ash Wednesday

First Reading: Joel 2:12-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” (Matt. 6:1-6, 16-18)

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season. This season of lent is preceded by Advent and Christmas; and I believe that this is certainly purposeful. In our faith journey, we are first called to fall in love with Christ, we need to fall in love with Him for we are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. So during Advent and Christmas we prepare and encounter the infant Christ, and how easy is it to fall in love with a child? But this is certainly not the end of our journey, as we are also called to follow the man. We must follow His way, His truth, and His light; there is no other path that will lead to heaven.

Following Christ is certainly a hard journey, and that is what this season of lent is all about. It is to help us learn to sacrifice, as Christ sacrificed for us. It is not just sacrifice to inconvenience us, but rather to help us grow in faith and love. Sacrifice is necessary in the Christian journey, and I would even argue that it is something that makes us better people, better sons and daughters, better husbands and wives, and better friends and neighbors. This season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving can be very powerful, but only if we allow it to change us.

Let us all praise and thank God for this season of Lent and the graces that can come about from learning to sacrifice for His glory. May this Lenten journey be a time to growth for each and every one of us.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to grow in faith and love over these next forty days, and may we be brought even closer to you in our lives. Lord, you are our God and we are your people, may we never veer from the perfect path which you have set before us. Be our rock and our strength Lord Jesus. Amen.

Serving God

2011-03-08T06:56:00.003-05:00

Readings for Tuesday March 8, 2011

First Reading: Tobit 2:9-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112
Gospel: Mark 12:13-17

Some Pharisees and Herodians were sent to Jesus to ensnare him in his speech. They came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion. You do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or should we not pay?” Knowing their hypocrisy he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius to look at.” They brought one to him and he said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They replied to him, “Caesar’s.” So Jesus said to them, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” They were utterly amazed at him. (Mk 12:13-17)

Today's gospel really asks us to reflect on what our priorities in life are. Are we being good stewards of everything that we have? The Pharisees and Herodians were simply trying to trap Jesus in saying something they could use against Him, but little did they know that He was going to hit them with some knowledge that they could not argue against. The reality is that Jesus put things in perspective for them and for us. We are certainly called to respect the authority figures that are over us, whether we fully agree with them or not; but that can never trump or take the focus off of what we are to give to God ... which is everything. God, the creator of the universe and us; ask us to hold nothing back from Him. He does not hold back any love or mercy from us, and we certainly should not hold any back from Him. If we say that we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength; then we should be willing to go out and prove it. We must always seek to give God what belongs to God.

I heard a speaker once say; "The main 'thang', is to keep the main 'thang' the main 'thang'." The "main thang" is God, and He must always be at the center of our lives. Let us each pray for the courage and resolve to serve God with everything we have, and to not hold back one single thing.

Father above we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you for all that you bless us with in this life. We praise you for all that we are and for all that we have; may we always be good stewards of the many blessings that you give to us. Lord you are the way, the truth and the life; may we always stay on the path that you have laid before us. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Servant Leader

2011-03-02T07:34:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday March 2, 2011

First Reading: Sirach 36:1, 4-5a, 10-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79
Gospel: Mark 10:32-45

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:42-45)

In today's gospel, Jesus introduces the disciples to a new type of leadership model. He doesn't tell them to lead with an iron fist, or to be like rhinos and charge through anyone or anything that gets in their way. Jesus tells his disciples that they should lead as He does, through service.

In the past several years that have been many books written on the "servant leader", someone who is not so concerned with themselves, but rather with others. Jesus tells us today that as disciples, we are all called to be servant leaders, and that it is not our duty to seek positions of power and prestige, but rather we should seek to serve God and others with all that we have. This is our greatest calling, to love and serve, and it is the way that leads to our eternal reward. Throughout the years that have been many servant leaders who have followed the model that Jesus gave us. Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Theresa of Lisieux, Mother Theresa, Padre Pio, John Paul II, and many more. These great men and women understand that we do not lead by our demands, we lead by our actions.

Today ask yourself, am I seeking to be a servant leader, or a selfish leader? Am I more concerned with my own place of power, or with loving others as I am called to?

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we praise you for all that we have and all that we are. You are the way, the light, and the truth; help us to always say no to the temptations of the world, and only follow you. Lord, may our heart only be for you, and may we find peace and joy in serving you and others in this life. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Sacred Union

2011-02-25T05:56:00.004-05:00

Readings for Friday February 25, 2011

First Reading: Sirach 6:5-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119
Gospel: Mark 10:1-12

Jesus came into the district of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds gathered around him and, as was his custom, he again taught them. The Pharisees approached him and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. He said to them in reply, “What did Moses command you?” They replied, “Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her.” But Jesus told them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.” In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this.He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (Mk 10:1-12)

"What God has joined together, no human must separate." It is no secret that the Sacrament of Marriage is under attack in our country, and in our world. This sacred union is vital to the strength of our families and the strength of our communities. Take time today to pray for marriages all around the world, and that those in power would seek to protect this sacred institution, rather than destroy it.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you so much for all that you have blessed us with, help us to be good stewards of all of our gifts. We pray for the strength of all marriages, that couples would seek to love each other as you call them to. We pray for our political leaders, that they would seek to uphold this sacred institution and to protect it with everything they have. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rely on the Lord

2011-02-24T07:21:00.003-05:00

Readings for Thursday February 24, 2011

First Reading: Sirach 5:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1
Gospel: Mark 9:41-50

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. (Mk 9:42-48)

Have you ever stopped to think about the importance of Heaven? It is not often a question that we ask ourselves, especially in the midst of such chaotic lives. But regardless of how busy we are, it is important to stop and think about where we are going to spend eternity. Our Lord talks about the importance of Heaven in today's gospel. He tells us that it is so important, that you should be willing to do anything to get there. We should not let anything hold us back. And what is the one thing that can hold us back? Sin, it is sin that can hold us back from reaching our goal of heaven. But Jesus challenges us and tells that if there is anything that causes us to sin in our life, then we should get rid of it ... heaven is that important!

We each have a choice in this life; we can choose to work towards heaven, or we can choose the other place. (eternal fire anyone?) And while this thought can certainly be overwhelming and place a lot of stress on us, it shouldn't, because the great thing is that we do not have to do it by ourself. In fact, that isn't the way we should go about it at all! The Lord tell us that we should not rely on ourselves, but rather on Him. As it says in Sirach: "Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart." (Sir. 5:2) The Lord does not use the sink or swim theory, but He is there as a good, gentle and patient Father, only seeking to help us along this journey and helping to get home to Him. If we are willing to trust in Him, and rely on Him no matter what, then He will help us resist the thing that can hold us back from heaven, and we can then spend eternity with Him in paradise.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help lead and guide us through this life. We thank you and praise you for all the blessings you bestow. Help us to be good stewards of all that we have, and help us to never stray from your ways. Lord, we pray for all those who have fallen away from your love, may they be brought back to your safe and gentle arms forever. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christian Unity

2011-02-23T07:18:00.003-05:00

Readings for Wednesday February 23, 2011

Memorial of Saint Polycarp, bishop and martyr

First Reading: Sirach 4:11-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119
Gospel: Mark 9:38-40

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mk 9:38-40)

What if I walk into a baptist church and try to prevent the preacher from preaching? And then when telling my fellow Catholics that I tried to stop the preacher because he does not follow us? Or what if a Methodist tries to stop a mass from going on, and then he tells his fellow Methodist friends that he was only trying to stop the mass because it is different from what they do. Doesn't this just seem like a ridiculous and silly scenario to us? Well this is essentially what we read about in today's gospel. Some of the disciples saw someone driving out demons in the name of Jesus, and they tried to stop him all because he was not a disciple of Jesus. Jesus then drops the line, "For whoever is not against us is for us", letting the disciples know that this man is doing good in the name of Jesus, and should not be stopped.

"For whoever is not against us is for us." This is something that truly gets lost today. So many times there is so much infighting between Christians of different denominations that we spend so much time arguing about what makes us different, rather than focusing on what makes us the same. We must remember, that while we have specific differences, we are all for Christ. We have much bigger enemies out there than each other. The evil one certainly loves to distract us away from our mission of spreading the good news to those who do not know Christ. Not to mention that there are so many groups out there who seek to destroy those things that we hold sacred, such as life, marriage, the family, freedom, and many other things. These are times for us to come together for Christ, not be broken apart.

Today, let us all pray for Christian Unity in our world, that we may all come together as one body for our Lord and be the light that we are each called to be in this world.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and praise you for the gift of our lives and for all that you bless us with. You are our rock and our salvation, in you we place our trust and hope. We pray for our brothers and sisters who are facing persecution, may they be strengthened in the face of evil, and only seek to do your will. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lead by Example

2011-02-22T06:48:00.003-05:00

Readings for Tuesday February 22, 2011

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, apostle

First Reading: 1 Peter 5:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23
Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

Beloved: I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Pet. 5:1-4)

When most people get into a position of power and authority, they let it go to their heads. It is very easy to begin thinking that you are better than the people below you. Often times what causes stress between the the people in charge and the subordinates is a disconnect that is created. Every year there are tons of new management and leadership trainings and books that come out to help create bridges between people in authority positions and those under them.

Today's reading is one that addresses this same issue between people in authority and those underneath them. I guess you could say that Saint Peter was one of the earlier pioneers on leadership development, as his divinely inspired advice is very important for all people. Saint Peter tells us in the first reading to: "Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock." Although this reading was probably meant mostly for religious leaders, it certainly is important for the rest of us as well. It especially holds true for parents, educators, employers, and anyone else in a position of authority. We all need to take this calling to be good examples to our brothers and sisters seriously, and it is always important to lead by example, rather than by force.

Saint Peter also goes on to tell us that if we are willing to lead God's way, then there will be a great prize that awaits us, an "unfading crown of glory." If we are willing to persevere and resist doing things the easy way, but rather go about things the right way, then we will be rewarded greatly with the heavenly prize of eternal life.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, may our lives always reflect your glory and may they serve as a ministry to all those around us. Lord, may every thought and action be for you, and may we never stray from your right and glorious path. We want to be with you in heaven someday, help us to persevere in this life until we can reach you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Relying on God

2011-02-21T07:03:00.003-05:00

Readings for Monday February 21, 2011

First Reading: Sirach 1:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 93
Gospel: Mark 9:14-29

They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive the spirit out?” He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.” (Mk 9:20-29)

Whenever I read this passage, I cannot help but wonder why the disciples could not drive out the demon. Jesus tells them that this kind can only come out through prayer. In some of the other gospels Jesus tells His disciples that this kind of demon can only come out through prayer and fasting. Which begs us to ask the question, why were the disciples not praying? I cannot help but wonder if the disciples were relying on themselves too much. When they started driving out demons, they perhaps were praying and relying on the power given to them by Christ, but perhaps as they went on in their ministry the reliance and focus on spiritual strength may have shifted from Christ to themselves. Christ lets them know that if they want to be able to cast out demons such as this, it is going to take prayer, which typically involves an acknowledgement and reliance on God.

This is a tendency that we all have, many of us rely on our own strength, rather than God's strength. We must always believe that God is the source of our strength and wisdom; and it is Him alone that can help us persevere through any challenge or obstacle that we may encounter.

Let us make our prayer the prayer of the father's from today's gospel, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" We must always remember that with God, all things are possible.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help our unbelief, and help us to persevere in this life. You are the source of all strength and wisdom, and while it may be foolishness to the world, may we always follow you and your ways. Help us to reach heaven, and to spend eternity in paradise basking in your love. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Give the Glory to God

2011-02-18T07:28:00.002-05:00

Readings for Friday February 18, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 11:1-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Gospel: Mark 8:34-9:1

The whole world spoke the same language, using the same words. While the people were migrating in the east, they came upon a valley in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us mold bricks and harden them with fire.” They used bricks for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered all over the earth.” (Gen. 11:1-4)

It seems as though the people of Babel were blessed with the gift of ingenuity when they started learning to make bricks and mortar. Unfortunately, there was one big issue with them building their city and the tower to the sky; they were doing it selfishly. The people said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves ..." The people had no desire of acknowledging God or of giving Him any glory for the gifts they had been given; no, these people only sought to do things their way and to make a name for themselves, instead of praising God.

Jesus warns us of this sort of selfish desire in today's gospel: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?" Jesus doesn't say anything here about going out to make a name for yourself, He is speaking of self denial and of persevering through this world so that we can be with God in the next.

We all have a big choice to make in life; will we seek to make a name for ourselves, or to praise and acknowledge God? Either way we choose, there will be consequences to our actions. Just remember, that when we follow God and give Him the glory, then He leads us to heaven ... much better than the alternative.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to always acknowledge you and to give you the glory for all that we do. Lord, we are nothing without you, we thank you for all the blessings and gifts in our lives. Lord, we pray for all those in need of conversion and all those who are seeking peace in their lives, may they find it in you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Path to Holiness

2011-02-17T06:06:00.005-05:00

Readings for Thursday February 17, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 9:1-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102
Gospel: Mark 8:27-33

Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Mk 8:27-33)

Do you ever have ups and downs in your spiritual life? Do you ever feel like one moment you are right there with God and holiness seems within your grasp; only to find the next moment you are stumbling and you don't feel like you are even worthy to talk to God. We all have these spiritual ups and downs in life, we see in today's gospel reading that our first Pope certainly had these same ups and downs. One moment he is the only one to speak up and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the next he is being called Satan! Talk about a blow to the confidence. But even though he had these highs and lows, Peter never stopped following Christ. He realized that he needed Him, and he continued to follow Jesus where ever He went. No matter how badly Peter messed up, he never stopped. It is this lesson in perseverance is one that every Christian should take notice of. There will be times when we stumble and fall, but no matter what we should never stop seeking holiness, we should never stop or veer from the path that God has set before us.

We must always remember that Holiness is not a goal to be checked off of a to do list, it is a continuous journey toward God. May He grant us the strength and courage to always stay on this path to Heaven.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we pray for the strength and courage to follow you no matter where you lead us. Lord, you never forsake us, you never cease to pour out your love and mercy on us, may we never be afraid to follow you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

But Now I See

2011-02-16T07:18:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday February 16, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116
Gospel: Mark 8:22-26

The he laid hands on his eyes a second time and he saw clearly; his sight was restored and he could see everything distinctly. (Mk 8:25)

In today's gospel, we hear the story of Jesus curing a blind man. Jesus agreed to cure the man when he was brought to Him, and after leading the blind man outside the village, Jesus laid His hands on him and asked if he saw anything. While at first his vision was still a bit hazy, Jesus once more laid His hand hands on the man and his vision became clear. What is important here is that the blind man was patient, he was not distressed when his vision was hazy, he didn't complain, he just waited while Jesus worked with him. Jesus comes to heal all of us in this same say; helping us to see the things that we are blind to.

How often in our own lives do we ask for the Lord's help, but when things still look dismal we panic and turn away, or lose trust? We must always remember that there is a method to God's plans for our lives, and even if we do not understand fully, we must be patient and continue to trust and rely on our Lord.

Today, let us read and reflect on the beginning verses of the following song, Amazing Grace.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, send us your spirit so that we may face any challenge that comes our way with courage and strength. Lord, help us to be your humble servants and to do everything for your glory. Lord, we thank you for all your love and mercy, may we be loving and merciful to others in this same way. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Spritual Biology

2011-02-15T05:56:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday February 15, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 29
Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this he said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” (Mk 8:14-21)

Do you ever stop and wonder how amazing our bodies are? I have always been fascinated with how the body works and how all of the complex organs work together to keep us alive and to do all the amazing processes that we are capable of.

In our physical bodies, our hearts are very important. They pump blood throughout our body, taking oxygen to the cells that need it and taking away the carbon dioxide. Our eyes and ears are also very important as they allow us to experience certain sensations such as sight and hearing. Our minds are one of the best computers in the world, as they help us to store and process information. While the physical make up of most of our body parts is important in helping us to live and function in the world, these parts also have a spiritual dimension to them.

In today's gospel, Jesus gives His disciples a bit of a "spiritual biology" lesson. He comments on their hearts, eyes, ears, and memory. Jesus asks His disciples in the boat; "Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember..." This is all after their confusion about not having any bread and the instructions by Jesus warning the disciples of the "leaven of the pharisees and of Herod." While the disciples mistake this saying for them not having any bread with them, Jesus then decides to lay on the lesson.

Jesus is certainly not rebuking them for not having bread, but instead warning them of shutting Him out of their lives and turning away from Him. He asks them if their hearts are hardened; a warning of not having an open heart to our Lord. He asks them if they have eyes and do not see, and ears and do not hear; warning of not recognizing Jesus when He is working and speaking in their lives. He also questions their memory; warning of not remembering the acts that Jesus has done in this world and in their lives.

This spiritual biology lesson in an important one for us to remember as well. Even though our bodies and organs have a real physical presence and function; they also have a spiritual presence and function as well. We must remember to keep our hearts soft and open to Him, and to set our hearts upon the Lord. We must not be blind and deaf to our Lord, but constantly seeking and listening to Him. Lastly, may we always remember the works of the Lord, in ourselves and in others; and may we always be thankful and praise Him for His glory.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help to serve you this day with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Lord, we pray for all those who are in need of conversion, may they be brought closer to your love and mercy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

More?

2011-02-14T09:13:00.002-05:00

Readings for Monday February 14, 2011

Memorial of Saint Cyril, monk, and Saint Methodius, bishop

First Reading: Genesis 4:1-15, 25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50
Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore. (Mk 8:11-13)

In today's gospel reading, we see the scribes and the pharisees asking for a sign from heaven to test him. Apparently Jesus curing all those who simply touch his tassels, feeding thousands of people with a few loaves and fish, and the endless wisdom of this man were not enough of a sign for them. As had as it is to believe, they wanted more. They were just blind to who Jesus really was, they ignored all that He was doing because He didn't fit their idea of what the Messiah should be like, and herein lies the ultimate danger.

Many times we too act like the scribes and pharisees, always seeking more. Many times we are not content with what God gives us, or we are blind to the answered prayers all because it may not have been what we pictured or even wanted. But we can always be assured that God always gives us the things that we need, and many times those things that we need are the things that we truly want in life.

Let us each be careful not to fall into the trap that the scribes and pharisees feel into and always asking more of Jesus when we haven't even taken time to stop and reflect on what He has already done for us.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. We praise you for all of your blessings and answered prayers; please help to open our eyes to your mighty deeds in our life. Lord, may we always be granted the courage and strength to be your lights in this world, and to never be afraid to share the good news with all those we come in contact with. We thank you, and praise you for your glory Lord. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Not Just Well, but Perfect

2011-02-11T08:51:00.002-05:00

Readings for Friday February 11, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 3:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32
Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mk 7:31-37)

In today's genesis account of the fall of mankind, we see how Adam did not uphold his job of keeping and protecting the garden (the real garden, Eve). Eve fell to the temptation of the serpent, and therefore Adam just went right along with what was going on. Many people are very quick to judge our first ancestors, but we must ask ourselves, would we have acted any different? I know myself well enough to say that I am not that good. God knew that on our own, we cannot become what we were created to be, so in His wisdom, He sent us some help ... Himself.

Today's gospel tells of Jesus curing a deaf and mute individual. The people were so amazed at His power they said; "He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak." This saying by the people was almost correct, Jesus did not just come and do things well, He did them perfectly. Jesus is God in the flesh and He is perfect. Jesus came to do what the first man did not do, and that is sacrifice Himself for those He loves. He came with a perfect obedience to the Father's will. Saint Paul speaks of this in His letter to the Hebrews; "For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated." (Heb 10:14)

Christ came to heal and help us, He comes to lead us to a higher purpose. With Him, we can rise above any temptation, but without Him we will fall. May we always rely on and trust in our Lord, and may our hope always be in Him.

Father above we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and give you praise for all the blessings in our life. Lord, give us the strength and courage to overcome any temptation that the evil one and the world may throw at us. Let us be full of love and zeal for you and for your law. Lord, we pray for all those who are struggling with sin in their life, may they be brought out of the slavery that sin offers. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Gift of Marriage

2011-02-10T06:46:00.003-05:00

Readings for Thursday February 10, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 2:18-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128
Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

The LORD God said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him.” So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.
So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called ‘woman,’ for out of ‘her man’ this one has been taken.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame. (Gn. 2:18-25)

The garden of Eden, the perfect paradise in which Adam and Eve spent the first part of their lives. After the creation, it is said that "the man and his wife were both naked, yet they felt no shame" It is truly amazing the childlike innocence that they were both given, to just simply be as God had made them and to feel at peace about that. Because of the fall, that is something that we will not be able to experience in our life here on earth. It is so sad that we do not understand what our body's are for, and how they are a gift for our spouse. Adam, even though no one had told him, had understood this completely, for the moment he first saw Eve; he said; "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken." Adam immediately understood the one flesh union of man and wife.

It is sad that today, our marriages all around the world are in trouble. In the US the divorce rate is just over 50%. And even among the couples who do not get divorced, how many of them are having a thriving marriage? While we have fallen far away from the garden of Eden and of the moment of feeling no shame, we can still honor this one flesh union in the sacrament of marriage in many ways. We should all strive to ensure that the sanctity of marriage is always upheld. Today we are in a fight against our culture in regards to faith and the family, and many groups out their, and even many in our government seek to defile this sacred sacrament. We must not only be active in helping to ensure that marriage stays between one man and one woman; but we must also be active in praying for marriages worldwide.

Let us uphold the things that God has made good and holy, let us persevere in this life, and then one day we too can reach a place in heaven where we will be able to be as we are and feel no shame.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, give us the strength and courage to serve you this day and always. Lord we pray for marriages worldwide, that all may see the grace and beauty of this sacrament. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Garbage In, Equals Garbage Out

2011-02-09T07:33:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday February 9, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104
Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” (Mk 7:14-23)

Several years ago while attending a work conference, I heard a speaker say something that has stuck with me ever since. He told us that "garbage in, equals garbage out." Now this guy was not talking about if we eat garbage, then garbage will come out; what he was talking about was if we are surrounding ourselves with "garbage" or negative things/people, then that is what is going to come out of us.

Jesus makes it a point today to tell us that it is not the food that we take in that defiles us, but it is what comes out of us that defiles us. Jesus tells us that; "From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile." Which begs to ask the question, what are we allowing in our hearts? Are we allowing God in our hearts, or the things of this world? Are we opening ourselves to the Lord or to the garbage that is out there? We must remember the things that we surround ourselves with and the things that we set our hearts upon are going to be the things that come out and shine through.

I pray that we all can look to God for the strength and nourishment that we need to persevere in this life, and that only His love and goodness may dwell in our hearts. May the light of Christ shine through us all.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day and for the gift of our lives. Lord, we pray for soft hearts that are open to you and your will. Help us to be the servants that you created us to be, and to have hearts that are set up on you. Lord, we pray for all life in this world and for the conversion of those who do not cherish life as they should. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

In His Image

2011-02-08T07:21:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday February 8, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 1:20-2:4a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8
Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.”
God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.” And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day. (Gen. 1:26-31)

Do you ever watch animal planet? I am always amazed at the many creatures of this earth. It is amazing how birds are made perfectly for flight, or how cheetahs are built with great speed. One of my favorite animals are frogs, they spend the first part of their lives with gills, and then they grow and develop lungs so that they no longer need to live in the water. In today's continuation of the creation story we read about the many animals that God made and blessed. God in His great wisdom created some of the most diverse and amazing creatures that we just seem to look with awe at. We also read of something even more amazing than the creatures that He created; we also read about the creation of man and woman. It says in the book of Genesis, "God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them." Doesn't that just make you feel so special and so loved?!

If it doesn't, then let me share some interesting facts with you:
-There are over 400,000 known plant species
-Over 750,000 species of insects have been described
-There are between 9,000 - 10,000 species of birds
-There are about 4,000 - 5,000 mammals

God created a great diversity of plants and animals, but He only created one thing in His likeness, and that is you and me. Our God is truly and amazing and awesome God and is deserving of all our time and our worship. Think about all that we are blessed with, we must remember that it is all a great gift of God and that we must have a heart of thanksgiving for our Lord and Savior.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord we thank you and give you praise for all that we have and all that we are. Help us to serve you without growing weary and to surrender ourselves totally to you. Lord we pray for all those in need of conversion and all those who are calling out to you. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

How Good It Is

2011-02-07T08:07:00.002-05:00

Readings for Monday February 7, 2011

First Reading: Genesis 1: 1-19
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104
Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw how good the light was. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Thus evening came, and morning followed–the first day.
Then God said, “Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other.” And so it happened: God made the dome, and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it. God called the dome “the sky.” Evening came, and morning followed–the second day.
Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin, so that the dry land may appear.” And so it happened: the water under the sky was gathered into its basin, and the dry land appeared. God called the dry land “the earth,” and the basin of the water he called “the sea.” God saw how good it was. Then God said,
“Let the earth bring forth vegetation: every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it.” And so it happened: the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed and every kind of fruit tree on earth that bears fruit with its seed in it. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the third day.
Then God said: “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky, to separate day from night. Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years, and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth.” And so it happened: God made the two great lights, the greater one to govern the day, and the lesser one to govern the night; and he made the stars. God set them in the dome of the sky, to shed light upon the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw how good it was. Evening came, and morning followed–the fourth day. (Gen 1:1-19)

In today's first reading, we hear the beginning of the creation story. There is a common theme that stands out, after each thing that God made it is said that "God saw how good it was." Isn't it interesting that everything that God makes is good? How often do we think about how good all of God's creations are. Now most of us will not doubt how amazing a sunset or sunrise is, most of us will never doubt the beauty of the mountains, and most of us will never call a wonderful blue summer sky a bad thing. But remember, God did not just stop with the sea and the earth, God went on to create something else ... God went on to create man and woman, and God saw the goodness in this creation as well. We must remember that God create us for good, and even if we and the rest of the world do not see the goodness in each other, God does. God does not create bad things, everything that God creates is good. So the question that we must ask ourselves is; are we trying to be the good person that God created us to be?

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you and give you praise for all that we are. Lord, please pass on your healing touch to all those who come to you, all those who are sick and in need of healing. Lord we pray for all those who are in need of conversion, may they be brought to your truth and light. Amen.

Happy Endings

2011-02-04T07:24:00.002-05:00

Readings for Friday February 4, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27
Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mk. 6:21-29)

As kids, we are brought up to believe that the best stories are the ones with happy endings. We often do not like stories where the ending is not as we had hoped. One could take the story of John the Baptist and deduce that it is a story with a good beginning, but a rather sad and morbid ending. Think about it, John was born under miraculous circumstances, he had a life devoted to God, he prepared the way for the coming Messiah, and even baptized Christ! One would think that his end would be a happy one, but this is not the way it ends at all, in fact John's life ends because a certain woman was offended, and wanted his head put on a platter. Not exactly a story book ending.

John's end, like that of many Christian martyrs, is not a happy one, it is one of suffering, and if that were truly the end of the story, then we would be right in questioning the point of living a life for Christ. But the end of the story is not found here on earth, it is found in heaven. John's story and the story of many faithful men and women, despite their earthly endings, is not one to mourned, but rather celebrated! For they are now in heaven with our Lord. You see, this is why we have a faith and hope that can only come from our Lord, it is it he guarantee that no matter how things end here on earth, if we are willing to love and serve God, then our happy ending is found in heaven.

John the Baptist found out that death is not the end of life, but rather it is the beginning of a new life in heaven; a life that is more perfect and joy filled than we could ever imagine. Each of us can share in this happy ending as well, but only if we are willing to sacrifice and persevere in this life on earth.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us!

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we thank you and praise you for the gift of faith and for the hope that you bring. Help us to live only for you, and to never flee from this calling to Holiness and Christian love. We pray for all those who have fallen away from the faith, may they be brought back to your good and loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Buddy System

2011-02-03T08:43:00.002-05:00

Readings for Thursday February 3, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 48
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts. They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. The Twelve drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mk 6:7-13)

Do you remember in school when you would get ready to leave for a field trip and that teacher would say something to the effect of, "okay class, today we are going to be on the buddy system." This system for kids was used to keep track of everyone, and it was to help each "buddy" to keep their partner accountable. While many different groups and people use "the buddy system", this is not a new concept. In today's gospel reading, we see a version of the buddy system that Christ used with the disciples.

Christ sent out His disciples two by two, buddy by buddy. While He sent them out this way and gave them the mission of healing and curing people, it does not say exactly why He sent them out this way. Why two by two, I mean, couldn't they cover more ground if they all split up? Sure they could, but then we would have to ask the question; if they were alone, would they even finish their mission? You see, I think Christ used the buddy system with the disciples so that they could encourage and support each other. This was not only a lesson in the power that is given to them by God, but also a lesson in teamwork. When Jesus sent them out, He gave them some pretty hard instructions, they were not to take anything along. They didn't know where they would sleep each night, who would accept them, or how people would react; not exactly an easy task. But even though Christ did not permit them to take material things along, He did have them take along a friend who would be there to help support and encourage when things got really tough. Jesus was not only teaching them to trust and rely on Him, but to also work together and to trust each other.

We all know that our faith journey is not always the easiest. Sometimes it can become very hard and discouraging, and this is why we too need to be on the buddy system. We need people in our lives who will help support and encourage us in our faith journeys. We need people who will remind us that we do not need the things of this world, but rather all we need is God.

So who would you consider to be your "buddy?" Is it your spouse, or significant other? Perhaps it's a family member or close friend. Whoever it is, realize the opportunity each of you have to help each other along your faith journeys. And if you aren't already, it's time to get on the buddy system.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you bless us with, and thank you for putting people into our lives who help us through. Lord, you have never abandoned us and please help us never to stray from you. We pray for all of our priests, that they may be strengthened in their ministries and in their vows. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Obedience to God

2011-02-02T07:48:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday February 2, 2011

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 or Luke 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. (Lk. 2:22-24)

Today we remember and celebrate the feast of the presentation of the our Lord. Being devote Jews, Mary and Joseph obeyed the law of the Lord and took Jesus to the temple as was necessary by the law. It is examples such as this that help us to see why Mary and Joseph were chosen to take care of the Son of God. It is because of their obedience that Mary and Joseph were chosen. They both had a heart that was set upon the will of God, and not their own interests and desires. It is because of her deeper yes to God, that Jesus was born to the virgin Mary and became man.

The Presentation of the Lord is the forth Joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary. The next time you say the rosary and reflect on this mystery, be sure to think about Mary and Joseph's obedience to God, and the importance of obedience to God. I pray that we can all follow the example of Mary and Joseph to have complete obedience to our Lord. May His will be done in our lives, now and forever. Mother Mary and Saint Joseph pray for us.

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinner now and at the hour of our death.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be a world without end. Amen.

Keep Your Eyes Fixed

2011-02-01T07:56:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday February 1, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. (Heb. 12:1-2)

How many of you have ever tried to hit a target with something? Perhaps it was aiming at a target with a bow and arrow. Perhaps it was aiming for the bulls eye in a game of darts. Perhaps it was hitting a tin can with a pellet gun. Whatever it was that you were aiming at, think about this: how important was it that you kept your eyes on the target? If you had tried it blindfolded or looked away, would your chances of hitting the target been as successful? Of course not, because we know that when trying to hit the mark, it is important that we always keep our eyes on the target, or else we will most likely miss.

This is why Saint Paul tells us today to keep "our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith." Saint Paul knows that if we are looking more to the things of this world, and not on Christ, then we will not hit the target. Our goal is to persevere in our faith and to make it to heaven, but how can we do this if our eyes are not fixed on the leader and perfecter of our faith? The truth is that we can't do it, unless we are willing to take our eyes off all the distractions of this world and focus them solely on Jesus.

The synagogue worker and the woman with the hemorrhages from today's gospel sought out Jesus and did not take their eyes off of Him. By doing this, He came to them and answered their prayers. He is there waiting for us ready to give us grace beyond measure, all we need to do is continue to keep our eyes and hearts fixed on Him.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you and give you praise for the many blessings in our lives. Lord help us to persevere through the many trials and challenges that we will face. Let us do everything for you and your glory, and may we always stay humble at heart. Lord God, we pray for all those who have taken their eyes off of you, may they be brought back to your love and mercy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Agent of Hope

2011-01-31T06:05:00.003-05:00

Readings for Monday January 31, 2011

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest

First Reading: Hebrews 11:32-40
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31
Gospel: Mark 5:1-20

And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed. (Mk 5:14-20)

In today's gospel we see Jesus cures a man who was possessed by a demon. Jesus came, and sent the demon away into the swine, and when everyone came out to see what was happening, they saw the man who was once possessed and unfit for society sitting perfectly still and in his right mind. We see once again Jesus bringing healing to someone in need, bringing hope to those who had none. It is no wonder that they man wanted to stay with the one who brought hope into his life.

Today, we also celebrate the feast day of Saint John Bosco, someone who followed Jesus' example of bringing hope into others life. John Bosco spent a great deal of his time working with young boys, many of whom people thought unfit for society ... much like the man in today's gospel. But Saint John Bosco, didn't see an unruly boy, he saw a child of God. That is why John Bosco worked tirelessly as an agent of hope, bringing the love of Christ and the hope that can only be found in Him to these boys who were so desperately in need of hope in their life.

We too must accept this calling of being "agents of hope" in this world. We were given a call to spread the gospel message throughout this world, that means bringing the hope of Christ to all those who cross our path. We, like Saint John Bosco, can be agents of hope in this world, all it takes is a simple "yes" to the Lord.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, we praise you and thank you for all that you have blessed us with. Help us to be good stewards of all that you put in our lives, help us to have a spirit of confidence to share the hope that only you can bring into this world. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Simple, Little Thing

2011-01-28T07:24:00.002-05:00

Readings for Friday January 30, 2011

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church

First Reading: Hebrews 10:32-39
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” (Mk 4:30-32)

In today's gospel, Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. When it starts out it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it is fully grown it is one of the largest of all the trees. We are also reminded that this does not happen by anything that the person planting it does, it grows by its own accord.

Like the Kingdom of God, it starts off small, and then grows into something very big. We must ask ourselves too if we have Jesus in us, are we saying yes to Him and allowing Him to grow in us? Jesus tells us that some of the littlest and simplest things can turn into great and mighty things. Imagine how our lives can change by letting Christ work in us. A little, simple yes to God can mean amazing things for us and the world. Mary's humble yes brought Christ into our world in the flesh. The yes of Christ led to His death, crucifixion, and resurrection, and ultimately the forgiveness of our sins. The yes by us can lead to an eternity in heaven with God.
Brothers and sisters, may we always be among those who say yes to God, and may this simple little things turn into something mighty and amazing. Let us remember today's words by Saint Paul; "We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life."

Come, Holy Spirit
Come, holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Stand Together

2011-01-27T06:05:00.002-05:00

Readings for Thursday January 27, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24
Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

Brothers and sisters: Since through the Blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, that is, his flesh, and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for he who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Heb. 10:19-25)

In high school, one of my projects was to make a miniature bridge that needed to withstand a lot of weight. Our teacher showed us that the wood that we were using was not very strong each piece by itself, in fact it could be easily broken. But when they were put together and arranged in good patterns, they were able to withstand a great deal of weight and pressure.

I believe that it is because of this principle that the author of Hebrews tells us that "we should not stay away from the assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another." We must remember that we are the bod of Christ, and when all parts of the body are strong and working right, then the body is strong; but when parts of missing or weak, then the body hurts. We must remember that our actions do not just affect us, but the entire body. This is why we must heed these words and "consider how to rouse one another to love and good works."

When we stand by ourselves, we are weak and can be broken. When we stand together with Christ, nothing can break us.

Father above, we thank you for this day. We thank you for the many blessings and gifts that you bestow on us ever day. Lord, we are your people may we live for you all of our days, and serve you without growing weary. Lord, we pray for all those who are suffering in this world and all those who are in need of healing. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Good Soil

2011-01-26T07:16:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday January 26, 2011

Memorial of Saint Timothy and Saint Titus, bishops

First Reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

“Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” (Mk 4:3-9)

Today Jesus tells us the parable of the seed sower. He describes how some seeds fell on the path and were eaten up, others fell on the rocky ground but were scorched by the sun because of lack of root. Some also fell amongst the thorns and could not grow, and the last seeds fell on good soil and produced a great deal of good fruit. I pray that we all can embrace God's love and mercy to stay in the "good soil" where we can thrive in this life, instead of just survive.

Throughout history, we have many great examples of men and women who have sought to do God's will and have surrendered to Him. Many of these men and women would be considered as being brought up in the "good soil" and produced much fruit in their lives. Today we remember and honor two of these great men, Saint Timothy and Saint Titus. Both of these men were bishops in the early Church, and each one was very dear to Saint Paul. It is clear from his opening letters to them that they were men of faith, men who could be trusted to spread the good news to all they came into contact with; men who were not afraid to help others be in the "good soil" and live fruitful lives. We should look follow their example of serving God and others very closely, so that our lives may too produce good fruit.

May we all continue to seek God with our hearts and to persevere through the temptations of this world. Saints Timothy and Titus, pray for us!

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. May we seek to strive and do your will each day in our lives. Lord, protect us from this world, and strengthen us in this fight for truth that we are in. Lord, we pray for all those who are seeking you, may they be brought to your love and mercy. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Covenant

2011-01-21T08:01:00.002-05:00

Readings for Friday January 21, 2011

Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr

First Reading: Hebrews 8:6-13
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85
Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second one. But he finds fault with them and says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will conclude a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they did not stand by my covenant and I ignored them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and I will write them upon their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his fellow citizen and kin, saying, “Know the Lord,” for all shall know me, from least to greatest. For I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sins no more. (Heb. 8:7-12)

In the old testament, God made several covenants with His people Israel. In each of these covenants, God made promises to the people if the people would be faithful and keep His commandments. Unfortunately, even with God's extensive patience, the people would not stay faithful. A covenant is an agreement between two people or two groups. In a covenant, each group agrees to abide by certain terms and to hold up their end of the deal. Being in a covenant involves an active part from both groups, it means that you have to be involved and make good on your part. God kept His part of the covenant, but the people did not.

In today's first reading Saint Paul tells us too that we are in covenant with the Lord. We are in the new and better covenant which is through Christ our Lord. We can see that in the gospel of Mark today that Jesus picks each of His disciples and asks them to follow Him. Like the disciples, we are also called ... we are called into covenant with our Lord. Christ came to offer us everlasting life, He calls us into this covenant and He tells us that if we are willing to follow Him and to let "the law be written on our hearts" that we can one day join Him in heaven. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me!

Remember, God is calling each of us into covenant with Him, but this is not merely a simple contract; this is a promise made by us and God, and it requires active participation and complete surrender to Him. Remember, God will keep up His end, will we keep up ours?

"Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." (Luke 22:19-20)

Father thank you for this day. Give us the strength and courage to serve you this day and all days. Lord we pray for all lives in our world, both born and unborn, and pray that our world might all come to value life. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dangers of Pride

2011-01-19T07:20:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday January 19, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 110
Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him. He said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up here before us.” Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death. (Mk 3:1-6)

Isn't it just amazing what pride can do? Pride can lead us into being so wrapped up in only ourselves that we are blinded by anything that is good. Take today's gospel for example; the pharisees and scribes stood around and watched Jesus closely. Why? To see a miracle happen? To witness a great act of compassion and mercy? No, they watched so that they could satisfy their pride, so that they could have something to hold against Him. They were so self centered that they couldn't see anything else.

Pride can lead us also to be blinded to God's love and mercy. It is something that prevents us from being the men and women that we were truly created to be. Giving in to our pride may make us feel good for a moment, but those moments quickly pass and we never experience that true joy and peace that can only come with love and humility. You see, love and humility are the antidotes to pride. When we are struggling with pride in our lives, that is when we should pray for an increase in the virtues of love and humility. These virtues are the way of God, the ways that will open our eyes and soften our hearts. To see a great example of someone who so perfectly displayed the virtues of love and humility, let us look to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Her earthly life was grounded in these two virtues, and no one on earth more perfectly displayed them more than her. Let us pray that we too can embody these great virtues as she did, and that Mary will lead us closer to her Son, who is love.

Mother Mary, pray for us!

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Negativity

2011-01-18T08:28:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday January 18, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 6:10-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111
Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

As Jesus was passing through a field of grain on the sabbath, his disciples began to make a path while picking the heads of grain. At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry? How he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the bread of offering that only the priests could lawfully eat, and shared it with his companions?” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. That is why the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mk 2:23-28)

Pessimists, "nay-sayers", and "negative nancies." These are the people who always point out your faults, only look at what you do wrong, and look at the glass as being "half empty." I am sure that these words are making each of us think of people in our lives who fit this description. We see in today's gospel that Jesus and His disciples had their own fair share of pessimists and negative nancies. It was the sabbath, and the disciples of Jesus began picking the heads of grain in order to get some food and nourishment. Of course, since it was unlawful to work on the sabbath, the pharisees jumped all over Jesus and His disciples. The scribes and pharisees took every opportunity to point out what Jesus was doing wrong and to try to trap Him in something that He said. They were always trying to find fault in Him, instead of opening their eyes to what He was offering and opening their ears to what He was saying.

The disciples however, took a different approach. They listened to Jesus, they saw that He offered something more, even if they didn't fully understand it, something in their hearts screamed "follow Him!" Even though they had the "nay-sayers" all around them, they clung to their master who gave them comfort and protection. The disciples chose wisely when they chose to follow Christ, even on the sabbath.

While it is easy for us to judge the pharisees in this reading as being blind to who Jesus was and what He offered, perhaps we should take this example as a time to look at ourselves. How often are we blind to Jesus in our own lives? How often to we let rules or responsibilities distract us away from where our Saviour is leading us? How often do we succumb to the pressure of the pessimists and "nay-sayers" in our lives who seek make us doubt and to pull us away from Christ?

May we be granted ears that are deaf to the world, and open to God.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. We thank you and give you praise for your love and mercy. Lord, may we not fear this world, but only fear a life without you. Give us the strength and courage to persevere in this life, so that we may better serve you in this world. Lord, we pray for our culture, we pray that all might value life and human dignity in our world. we ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Heart of Justice

2011-01-17T06:03:00.001-05:00

Readings for Monday January 17, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 5:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 110
Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

Today, I would like to do something a little different. Today, I will not be offering a reflection on today's mass readings (but we should all still be reading and reflecting on these). Today, I would like to talk offering some things for us all to think and reflect on this day. Every year, on the third Monday in January, we remember and honor a great American leader in the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Now although I was never alive during his time, I understand the impact that this man had in bringing an end to the segregation between blacks and whites that consumed our country at one time. Dr. King's message was one of truth, equality, and virtue. Among those virtues that he spoke of was the virtue of justice. In his "I have a dream speech," Dr. King shares these hopes that he has for the future of this country:

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today."

In this speech, Dr. King vividly describes the hope that he has for the nation and for the world. He knows that one of the ways in which that this could happen is by everyone having a heart of justice. I have no doubts that because of his faith, Dr. King was inspired by the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to bring justice to all those in need of love and mercy.

Today, let us reflect on what the Church teaches about the virtue of justice, and may we all be granted a heart of justice in our lives.

Catechism 1807: "Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called 'virtue of religion.' Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good..."

Father in heave, may we all be given a heart of justice towards you and our neighbor. Amen.

See the Good

2011-01-14T08:50:00.003-05:00

Readings for Friday January 14, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 4:1-5, 11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78
Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.” (Mk. 2:1-12)

One of our unfortunate human tendencies is to rain on someone elses parade. Many times when something good happens, our "negative nancy" mode kicks in (sorry to all those named nancy, it is just a phrase). We start to see the glass half empty, and start seeing the flaws in things, rather than rejoicing in the positive. This is especially true in our family relationships. Instead of seeing the joy in something, we cannot help but see the negative. This seemed to be the case with the scribes and pharisees in today's gospel. Instead of glorifying God and praising Him for a sinner being forgiven, they start questioning Jesus' authority. I mean, talk about raining on this man's parade! Here this paralytic is forgiven of his sins, which he probably didn't even worry about being paralyzed after hearing that, he was probably overjoyed that Jesus just healed his soul; unfortunately the scribes and pharisees didn't think that way.

Negativity is just something that comes naturally for us, many times it can be a good thing because it keeps us cautious and prudent; but it can also overtake us. Instead of first seeing the negative, we need to step back and look for the positive in every situation. Sometimes it can take longer to find, but it is there. Instead of sitting back and being negative like the scribes and pharisees, we need to move past our own negative thoughts and thank and praise God for all of His mighty works!

God, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to shed the pessimism and negativity that often envelopes us. Help us to have hearts that are full of love and gratitude for all that you do and all that you bless us with. Lord, help us to step back and let you be Lord of our life. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God, Let Your Will Be Done

2011-01-13T07:54:00.003-05:00

Readings for Thursday January 13, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 3:7-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95
Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. (Mk:1:40-45)

In today's first reading from the book of Hebrews, we are told of the hardness of heart that the early Israelites in the desert had with God and Moses after their flight from Egypt. It is written that they continuously provoked the Lord and hardened their hearts to Him when during this trial in the desert. Because of their provoking and hardened hearts, that generation of stubborn people was not permitted to enter the land in which they were promised.

in today's gospel, we read about the leper, who does not ask Christ to prove that He is the son of God or demand to heal him. He comes to Jesus and submits to His will and says "If you wish, you can make me clean." The leper in today's gospel teaches us about having an open heart to God and to surrendering ourselves to Him. He did not come to Jesus making demands, asking for proof of power, or even complaining of his illness. No, this man brought himself before the Lord, and said "let your will be done."

I believe that many times our hearts do become hardened to the Lord because we tend to think like the early Israelites did, and focus too much on what we want and our own discomfort, instead of what the Lord has planned for us. I pray that we can all have open hearts to God's will and that we can all humble ourselves as the leper did today and just say to God, "let your will be done."

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to have open hearts to you and to your will in our lives. Lord, we thank you for all that we are and all that we have in this life. Lord, help us to follow you more closely in our life and to surrender to you each and every day, so that we might come to know your love more deeply. We pray for all those who are seeking you in their lives, may their hearts be softened to your light. we ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

He Knows Us

2011-01-12T05:57:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday January 12, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105
Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

Since the children share in blood and Flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. (Heb. 2:14-18)

During my freshman year of college, I was taking a writing class. For the first time in my academic career, I began getting bad grades on my writing assignments. I was completely taken by surprise, and I really didn't know what to do. Then I learned that there was a writing center on campus that would look over your papers and help you with your mistakes. Well, I swallowed my pride and went there for a few sessions. Wouldn't you know it that by going there, my writing began to improve. I finished out the class with an A-, of which I am still very proud of, and thankful for the teacher who challenged me during this time.

When we are struggling in life with an issue, we tend to go see an expert in the field, sort of like a tutor. We need these people to help teach us what we are doing wrong, what it is that we need to work on and how we can turn things around. It is certainly not easy for us to do this, because it means humbling ourselves and admitting that we do not know something, but the end result is something that we can all be very proud of. In the letter to the Hebrews today, we are reminded; "Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." Jesus is the only human in history to be tested during many trials and never sin in His life. To me that makes Him the expert. I think that we need to turn to Him at all times, especially when we are being tested, because He can and will help get us through these trials. We may think that certain crosses are too heavy, or simply are impossible for one person to bear; but remember, "nothing shall be impossible with God."

Today's gospel shows us that Jesus knows first hand of our daily struggles, and He knows how to cure them. He knows that words that we need taught and He knows the demons that tempt us. Jesus knows us. He knows you and me. May we all have the courage and strength to humble ourselves and lay ourselves down at His feet and ask for His help and mercy.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day and for all that you give. Lord, give us the strength to persevere through this life and for the guidance in how you wish us to live. Lord, we pray that your will be done in our lives, and not that of our own. We pray for all those struggling with illness and demons in their own lives, and pray that your mercy and grace may come upon them. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

His Authority

2011-01-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday January 11, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 2:5-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 8
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. (Mk 1:21-28)

In Saint Paul's letter to the Hebrew's, Paul describes the authority of Jesus: "You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, subjecting all things under his feet." In today's gospel reading, we are also told of how when Jesus spoke to the people, He spoke as with authority. The people of that time could tell that there was something different about Jesus, not even the scribes and priests spoke with the type of authority that He had.

It is important for us always to remember that while Jesus did humble Himself and bring Himself down to share in our existence, He still is God in the flesh. Jesus came with authority to preach, teach, and heal. He continues on in our lives with this same power and authority. We would be wise to listen to our Mother Mary when she says, "do whatever He tells you."

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be a world without end. Amen.

Follow Him

2011-01-10T06:16:00.003-05:00

Readings for Monday January 10, 2011

First Reading: Hebrews 1:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97
Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. (Mk 1:14-20)

In today's gospel reading we are told of the calling of four of Jesus' twelve disciples; Simon, Andrew, James and John. With each of these men Jesus tells them to follow Him, and He will make them "fishers of men." These men were simply going about their daily routine when Jesus came along and asked them to stop what they are doing and follow Him. It must have taken great courage and trust for these men to leave their normal lives which they knew and are were accustomed to. It says in the gospel that these men "left their nets ... left their father ... and followed Him." It doesn't say that they stopped to say goodbye, or had a going away party, or took time out to tie up loose ends; no, these first disciples left everything they knew to follow the unknown places where Jesus would lead them.

Imagine that you are at work one day or on a weekend vacation with family; and all of a sudden Jesus shows up asking you to leave it all behind and follow Him. How would you respond? Would you drop everything and follow Him, or would you be questioning whether He has the right name and address? While nothing like this scenario may happen to us, it is clear from this reading that we all must leave things behind to follow Christ. If we are to fully serve Christ, then we must be willing to abandon the things of this world so that nothing gets in the way of us following Him. For Simon and Andrew it was fishing; for someone else it may be dropping TV, for another person it may be leaving behind long hours at work, and for another person it may be letting go of some vice.

For each of us, Jesus is calling, and He is asking us to drop the things that are keeping us tied down to this world and follow Him. I pray that we all can find the courage and trust to drop what we are doing and to follow our Lord and Savior.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, we pray for your blessing this day so that we might abandon our plans and be open to your will in our lives. Lord, give us to courage and strength that we need to follow you in our lives. Lord, increase our faith so that we might place all of our trust in you and not in other people and things. Lord, we pray for all of those who are tied down by things of this world, may they be brought to the peace and freedom that you offer. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen

A Simple Choice

2010-12-30T08:07:00.002-05:00

Readings for Thursday December 30, 2010

First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Gospel: Luke 2:36-40

Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 Jn 2:15-17)

In each of our lives, we have a very important choice to make; follow God or follow the world. God offers eternal life, peace and joy; the world offers nothing but death and destruction. Seems like a pretty simple choice, right? Unfortunately along our journeys we get distracted and things get very confusing for us at times. In Saint John's letter today, he recognizes those who are seeking the Father, and he warns them and us to love God only and to not love this world. He reminds us all that "who ever does the will of God remains forever." This is a very important thing to always keep in our hearts, because whenever things get confusing and we are not sure what decisions to make in our lives, we must always remember that we should be seeking to do the will of God.

I pray that we can all be devout followers of God, like Anna, that we read about in today's gospel. She was a faithful servant of the Lord who spent her last years with God in prayer and fasting, and after meeting Jesus as a child, she proclaimed the glory of God to all, and spread the message of the great hope that we should have in God.

May we all continue to follow God's will for our lives with complete faith and hope, and may God continue to be in us forever. Remember, even though it is hard, it really is a simple choice.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to serve you more fully and to not hold anything back from you. Lord we pray for an increase in faith and hope so that we will not hesitate in following you. Lord you are our God and our creator, you know what is best for us and you have a plan for our lives. May we trust in you now and always. We pray for all those seeking meaning and truth in their lives, may they be brought to you and your light. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Walk This Way

2010-12-29T09:15:00.001-05:00

Readings for Wednesday December 29, 2010

First Reading: 1 John 2:3-11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Gospel: Luke 2:22-35

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you, for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 Jn 2:7-11)

In college I was blessed enough to go on a recreational trip to the smoky mountains. We back packed for a week in the Smokey Mountains; and let me tell you that I saw first hand some of the amazing work our Divine creator. Now most of us on the trip were beginner or novice back packers, but thankfully we had some great trip leaders who really knew their stuff. They helped us with what to pack, things to wear, food to bring, everything. Probably one of the most important things that they showed us was the way to go. The trip leaders were our guides, they helped us on the trails and helped lead us to our final destination. While that trip will never leave my memory, I certainly know that it would not have been possible without the help and leadership of the trip leaders.

In the first reading today Saint John tells us that "to know Jesus is to keep His commandments," and that if we are going to abide in Him then we need "to walk as He walked." Like my backpacking trip, in life we need a guide, some one to help us and lead us to our final destination. Jesus is our guide in life, and He wants us to know Him, and for us to open ourselves to His love and help. He wants to lead us to heaven, if we will only turn from this world and follow Him. Saint John warns us that if we allow ourselves to be blinded by sin, then we cannot see Jesus in our lives, and we will not be able to walk as He did.

Following Christ is not easy, it is a hard life, but it is also a life full of joy and peace. Many of us want to be more holy and closer to Christ, but do not think that it is possible. If we rely on ourselves in these situations, then we are right, it is not possible. BUT, if we rely on Christ, then anything is possible. Let us not lose sight of Christ in our lives, let us pray for focus and clarity of how God wants to use us and how He wants to work in us. Let us never think that we are alone, God puts all kinds of other guides in our lives to show us how and where to walk. In today's gospel Mary and Joseph show us the importance of following God's commandments. Not only can we learn much from their great examples, but they are also in heaven ready and willing to pray for us and to help continue to guide us towards Christ, may we all seek their intercessions.

Let us each walk as Christ did, and listen to Him when He tells us in life, to walk this way.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this way. We thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed in our lives. Lord, we pray for increased faith and hope in you so that we may be better and more worthy followers of you. Lord, we pray for a heart full of your love, that will help us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We pray for all those who serve the church, and all those who are being persecuted for their faith. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Live in His Truth

2010-12-28T07:16:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday December 28, 2010

Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs

First Reading: 1 John 1:5-2:2

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm124

Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

Beloved:

This is the message that we have heard from Jesus Christ and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. (1 Jn 1:5-2:2)

Have you ever known someone who told some pretty big "fish stories" about themselves? These are people who stretch the truth about accomplishments that they have had, abilities they possess, or things they have done. Usually when speaking to these types of people, I cannot help but wonder why they are deliberately lying all to make themselves look better. I often think that they should just tell the truth, sure it may not seem as exciting, but then at least you are not pretending to be someone you are not.

Saint John warns us of dangers of not being truthful, especially about our flaws. He tells us that if we say that we are without sin, then we "deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." As Christians we must constantly acknowledge our shortcomings and our failings; because in acknowledging when we fall, we allow God to pick us back up. We cannot continue to deceive ourselves, we just need to understand that we are human, and if we try to do things our way, then we will fail and we will fall short of reaching heaven. But if we choose to live in the truth, and acknowledge that by ourselves we fall short, but with God we can overcome anything; then we live in the truth. It is His truth that we should live in and that will lead us to heaven.

Today we celebrate the feast day of the Holy Innocents, the children who lost their lives because of a king who was paranoid and power hungry. These child martyrs were completely innocent, and had not even lived to commit a sin. We are far off from these Holy martyrs, and we must acknowledge the times that we fall short; but it is okay because we have hope. Today, reflect on the words of Saint John:

"My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world."

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with and for all that you do. Lord, you are our God and our rock, may we never veer from your will or your ways. Lord, teach us how to be better disciples, and to love as you love. We pray for all the Christians who are suffering and are being persecuted, may they persevere during what might seem like a dark time. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Faith That Moves Us

2010-12-27T09:07:00.003-05:00

Readings for Monday December 27, 2010

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

First Reading: 1 John 1:1-4

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97

Gospel: John 20:1a, 2-8

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. (Jn 20:1a, 2-8)

How is your faith? Is it so much that you believe in the resurrection? Does it make you want to go out and share the gospel with others? Does it move you to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist?

Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint John, the "one whom Jesus loved." When Jesus had died, John, like the other apostles were grief stricken. They couldn't believe that He was gone, and I am sure that they were really questioning things. But once John stepped inside that empty tomb, all doubts and fear disappeared, because we are told "he saw and believed." In that instant John's faith moved him to believe and to trust in all that Christ had told them. This new found faith also moved him to spend the rest of his life spreading the good news about Christ and the hope that comes with serving Jesus. We read in the first reading today that this sharing the faith and fellowship is what made his joy complete.

Each of our lives has a purpose. Our most basic purpose is to love God and one another. We can show great love to each other by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and by proclaiming His great love and mercy to all those we come into contact with. May our faith in God move each of us to share the good news as John and all the other apostles did.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to serve you with all that we are. We praise you and thank you for the great gift of life, help us to be good stewards of the life you have entrusted to us. We pray for all those who have fallen away, may they be brought back to your safe and loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T07:58:00.002-05:00

Readings for Friday December 24, 2010

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89
Gospel: Luke 1:67-79

Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Lk 1:67-79)

Father above, we thank you and praise for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for becoming one of us to save us from our sins, and for giving us a way back to you. Lord, your love and mercy are endless, help us to never leave or veer from your arms. Lord, you have plans for each of us, plans beyond our wildest dreams, helps us to submit to your perfect will. We pray for spiritual growth and renewal at the close of this Advent season and the start of this Christmas season. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Magnificat

2010-12-22T08:10:00.002-05:00

Readings for Wednesday December 22, 2010

First Reading: 1 Samuel 1:24-28
Responsorial Psalm: 1 Samuel 2:1
Gospel: Luke 1:46-56

Today let us take time to read and reflect on the words of Mary in the Magnificat. Let us reflect on God's strength and might; and His faithfulness to those who serve Him. One final thought, if the blessed Mother took time to recognize and praise Him, shouldn't we do the same?

And Mary Said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm,

and has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children for ever." (Lk 1:46-55)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Truth, Brought to You By the Holy Spirit

2010-12-21T08:47:00.002-05:00

Readings for Tuesday December 21, 2010

First Reading: Song of Songs 2:8-14 or Zephaniah 3:14-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33
Gospel: Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." (Lk 1:39-45)

How refreshing Elizabeth's words must have been to Mary at this time. Here she was with the son of God in her womb, and she knew of course that no one would believe her. When she went to visit Elizabeth, however, Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit was given the special insight into who the child was in Mary's womb. Elizabeth knew that she was blessed that Mary came to visit and knew that Mary was special because of her belief and trust in God.

This scene that we read about in today's gospel reading is of course the visitation, the second joyful mystery that we meditate on during the Holy Rosary. I think that there are some key insights that we can take away from this mystery. One is that God will always send us signs that we are doing His will. They may be subtle or they may be quite obvious (as was the case for Mary), but He does send us these signs especially at times when we need them the most.

The other insight that we can take from this mystery is that it is the Holy Spirit who reveals truth about God and about our lives. In today's reading, Elizabeth had no prior knowledge about Mary and Jesus, but it was the Holy Spirit who revealed the truth about them to her. We too can benefit from the knowledge and wisdom that the Holy Spirit seeks to give each one of us. It is through the Holy Spirit that we can come to know Christ better in our lives and to know His truth.

As we come to the end of this Advent season, may we continue to grow closer to Jesus in both love and knowledge through the Holy Spirit. May we look to the great example of the Holy Family for the way in which we are to trust and follow God in our own lives.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Thank you for all that you give to us and for all that you bless us with. Lord please send your spirit so that we may be full of zeal and life, and that we may come to know the truth about you more fully in our lives. Lord, we pray that your will be done in our lives and that we can humble ourselves before your greatness. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Just Say 'Yes'

2010-12-20T08:33:00.002-05:00

Readings for Monday December 20, 2010

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”

But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Lk. 1:26-38)

Has God ever asked anything that seemed impossible of you? Have you ever been afraid of something that God has put on your heart? I think that it is only natural to feel this way when we are called, but let us always remember to imitate our Blessed Mother in these situations, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Mary trusted in what God was calling her to, and she knew that by following Him, she would not be abandoned. We are also never abandoned by God, for He is always here to help and love us no matter what.

Don't be afraid of saying yes to God, rather be afraid of not fully experiencing the peace and joy that come from knowing, loving, and serving the Lord.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are so good and merciful to us, so much more than we deserve. Lord, we praise you and thank you for the gift of our lives, help us always to be good stewards of this great gift. Lord, we pray that we can make room for you in our hearts this advent season, help us to cling to you ever more and to never veer from your path. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pride

2010-12-16T08:14:00.002-05:00

Readings for Thursday December 16, 2010

First Reading: Isaiah 54:1-10
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30
Gospel: Luke 7:24-30

When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see B a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom Scripture says: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, he will prepare your way before you.
I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” (All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.) (Lk 7:24-30)

In today's gospel Jesus speaks of John the Baptist. In the end, the sinners and tax collectors who were baptized by John acknowledge the "righteousness of God" and they believed in Jesus' words; but the Pharisees and scholars did not believe. Why did they not believe? Was it because they felt shunned for not being baptized? Did they think of themselves as more intellectual than sinners? Perhaps they just weren't listening. What is most likely the cause of their unbelief is pride. Their pride was so great that they would not believe or see God's beautiful plan for salvation, they were too wrapped up in their own beliefs and opinions. Pride has this dangerous way of leading us away from God and His plan for us. If we allow our hearts to become swelled with pride, then there is not room for God, and all we will believe in is ourselves.

Pride is one of the most dangerous of sins, in fact some believe that it is the most dangerous. Pride is what led to the fall of Lucifer, and it is the cause of the fall of many men and women. Let us ask God today for an increase in faith and trust in Him and in His plan. As we go about this Advent season, let us continue to make room in our hearts for Christ, not pride.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, thank you for all that you have blessed us with and all that you give. Lord, you are our God, and there is no other like you. May our lives be centered around you and may you fill our hearts with your love and mercy. Lord, we pray for all those who are struggling with pride, may they be released of this sin and come into your loving arms. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.