Don't just say it

Readings for Monday May 11, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 14:5-18

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 115

Gospel:  John 14:21-26

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me."  (John 14:23-24)

"I love you!"  How many times is this phrase thrown around in a day (especially on Valentines Day)?  This single phrase is said so often, and yet out of all of those times it is said, how many people really mean it?  A co-worker might say it after you have helped out with a big task.  Or a buddy might say these words to you jokingly.  A child might say these words to get out of trouble.  This very powerful phrase may be said many times in one day without any real sincerity or meaning behind them.  Think of how many times we have robotically said "I love you" to a loved one when saying goodbye?  While we may mean it, we are not really thinking of the meaningful words that we are actually saying.  

The truth is, simply saying "I love you" is not enough, we must actually prove that we love someone and show it.  Jesus, knowing human nature all too well, and knowing how quick our tongue is to say things, but how slow we are to follow with a true sincere action that backs up our words, hits upon this topic in today's gospel.  He tells us that "whoever loves me will keep my word."  Many of us will claim to love God and to say that He is important in our lives, but how many of us show it?  We may be able to fool our fellow parishioners into thinking that we love God, but we can never fool our Lord.  He knows our hearts and our minds, He knows all our intentions and our acts, there is no fooling Him.  We must realize that loving God is not burdensome or something that should feel forced; it is a beautiful thing that will put our lives into perspective and something that will give us true peace and joy.  

We need to love Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength ... not just say it.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord, we praise you for all of the blessings in our lives and we pray for your continued mercy on us and the whole world.  Lord, we praise you for all that you are and all that you have done for us.  Lord, help us to be good faithful servants who do not just say that we love, but actually go out and show it by keeping your word.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

The only way

Readings for Friday May 8, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 13:26-33

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 2

Gospel:  John 14:1-6

"Thomas said to Him, 'Master, we do not know where you are going, how can we know the way?'  Jesus said to him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.' "  (John 14:5-6)

Simplicity.  In our world, this is not always something that comes easy for us.  It seems as though we tend to make many things in our lives long and complicated.  However, knowing this about human nature, Jesus makes it very clear for the disciples and for us in today's gospel.  Thomas becomes confused about what Jesus is saying about where He is going (I am also wiling to bet the other disciples had the same question, just unwilling to speak up).  Jesus makes it very clear to Thomas and the others; He doesn't draw them a map, lay out a strategic plan, or give them a 12 step program.  He simply tells them that He is the way and the truth and the life.  

In this complicated world, it can become very easy for us to get confused about what we are to do and for us to feel pulled in many different directions.  It is through prayer that we need to simply let go of the complicated and to just remember that all we really need to do is follow Jesus, because He is the way and the truth and the life.  If we want to make it to heaven and to our heavenly Father then we must go through Christ.  

Christ is not just a nice thought, a fad, or a suggested way of living; He is the way ... the only way.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this life.  Lord, we thank you and give you praise for the many gifts in our lives.  Lord, help our hearts be formed to your will, so that we may be good and faithful servants of you.  Lord, we pray for all our political leaders, that they may come to value the dignity of all people and to protect life at all stages.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.  

  

Servant Leaders

Readings for Thursday May 7, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 13:13-25

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 89

Gospel:  John 13:16-20

"When Jesus had washed the disciples' feet, he said to them:  'Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.' "  (John 13:16-17)

What does it mean to be a leader?  Does it mean having a take charge attitude?  Maybe it means giving great motivational speeches.  Better yet, perhaps being a leader is all about the specific title a person has.  Our world had many definitions and ideas of what it means to be a leader, but from the gospel today, we get a different idea of what it means to be a leader (as well as a follower).  Jesus shows us in the gospels that being a true leader means humbling yourself and washing the feet of those who serve you, even though you are greater than them, it is still a great act of love and the sign of a true leader.  This teaching of leadership was, and still is very astounding and so counter cultural.  I remember after my conversion, I finally began to get this passage and I began to apply it with my staff.  Even though I was the one with the more prestige and the higher up position, I realized that I still had a responsibility as their leader.  I had to show them that I was willing to do the things that they did and to be there to help them out and take care of them.  By being more humble and by having a "servant leadership" I noticed a great difference in myself as well as my staff.      

True leaders are not the ones sitting in the nice corporate office, leading their team to victory, or even running for political office; true leaders are the ones out their modeling the behavior that Christ modeled for His disciples and for us.  Jesus says "if you understand this, blessed are you if you do it."  None of us are too good for the things that Christ calls us to do.  I pray that we may all understand what it means to be grounded in humility and to go out and be the servant leaders that Christ calls us to be.  

Father above we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord, we praise you and give you thanks for our lives and all that we have.  Lord give us the strength and courage to go out and be servant leaders for you.  Help us to never think that we are too great for the jobs and things that you call us to do.  Lord, we pray for all those seeking truth and meaning in their lives, may they find it in you.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.    

The Light

Readings for Wednesday May 6, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 12:24-13:5

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 67

Gospel:  John 12:44-50

"I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness."  (John 12:46)

Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night when it is completely dark only to find yourself lost and disoriented?  Being in the dark is a very frustrating and sometimes painful experience.  Now, God gave us amazing body parts when He created us; however, I do not think the purpose of our toes or shins is to find furniture when are trying to find our way around in the dark.  Being in the dark can be very frustrating because you do not know where things are, where you are going, or who is even there.  

Being in the dark is not only frustrating and painful physically, but spiritually as well.  When I look back on my past and how many years I spent away from God, I realized that I was in spiritual darkness.  I didn't know where I was going, I didn't even know that Jesus was right there waiting to pick me up and carry me through my life.  Also, being in the dark, I was so blinded to my own sins and wrong doings.  I am just so thankful now that I have asked God into my life and for His light to shine in heart, soul, mind and body.  I praise Him for taking me out of the darkness and into the light.  Being in His glorious light, I now know where I am, where I am striving for, who is right there with me, and just How good He is.  

I pray that we all stay in the light, and let the light of Christ shine through us and into this dark, dark world.  Let us always remember that the light will always conquer the darkness if we let it shine in our lives and in the world.  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord we praise you for being the light in our lives and the light in this dark world.  Lord, we pray that your light may shine through us so that we may be powerful witnesses for you and your glory.  Lord, we thank you and praise you for our lives and all that you continue to bless us with.  Lord may we live our lives only for you and you alone.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.   

It's a verb

Readings for Tuesday May 5, 2009

First Reading: Acts 11:19-26

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 87

Gospel: John 10:22-30

"For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians."  (Acts 11:26)

It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.  This is where there started to be a real difference between the Jews and the followers of Jesus, now they were even called by a different name.  Why did the other people begin calling them Christians in the first place?  Was it a certain hat or shirt that they all wore?  Perhaps they all had a certain piece of jewelry on that distinguished them.  Maybe there was a secret handshake that these Christians had that made them stick out.  While all of these things may be good guesses, I can guarantee you that it wasn't because of anything these disciples had or anything about them that made them Christian ... it was because of who they followed and the things that they did that made them Christian.  

The same should hold true for us today.  Being a Catholic is not about the things that we have or the way we look, it is about what we do.  I once heard a priest say during a homily that "being Catholic is not a noun or nationality, it is a verb."  Being Catholic requires action on our part, it means living for Christ and not ourselves and going out in this world and modeling the same exact behavior that Christ did and told us to.  If we can do that then we too can proudly call ourselves Catholic.  

Being Catholic is a verb.  

Father above thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord Jesus give us the strength and perseverance to run and finish this earthly race that you call us to.  Lord, help us to go out and serve you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Lord, we thank you and give you praise for all that you bless us with.  Be with all those who are in need of conversion and truth in their lives.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.   

Who will you follow?

Readings for Monday May 4, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 11:1-18

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalms 42 and 43

Gospel:  John 10:1-10

"So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.  

All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  

I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  

A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."  (John 10:7-10)  

In today's gospel we hear from Jesus, the good shepherd, and about the gate to which we are to enter.  Jesus makes it clear that in order to be saved and to get to those eternal pastures, we must go through Him.  There are many things in this world that tell us to follow it or them.  Power, money, greed, lust, even other people can even try to attract our attention away from Christ.  Christ makes it quite clear in this gospel passage that He is the good shepherd that we should be following and in order to have eternal life we must go through Him.  

Many times people will try to make their own way.  I have heard some people say that they will worry about that "church and God stuff" when they are older, but for now they are going to just go out and have fun with life.  The only problem with that is that no one can know how long they are going to live, and it could be to late.  The other problem with that is that if we are not following God then our life here on earth is not complete and as it should be.  God has a wonderful plan for us on earth, and an even better one ahead in heaven if we are just willing to sacrifice the things that we think that we want for the treasures that He has to give.  We cannot make out own way to heaven, we can only go God's way and that way is right through Christ.  

So who will you follow?  The things of this world, or yourself?  Or will you follow Christ; who came down from heaven to give us abundant life?  There is only one way to enter heaven, make sure that you are following the right path.  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Thank you for all the joys and blessings that you bring in our life.  Lord, thank you for all the blessings that we have not recognized in our lives and for all you continue to do.  Jesus, you are our Lord and giver of life, help keep us strong and wise so that we may follow you without any hesitation.  Lord you give us more love and mercy than we could ever deserve, we thank you for this.  We ask this all through Christ our Lord.  Amen.   

Eucharist

Readings for Friday May 1, 2009

First Reading:  Acts 9:1-20

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 117

Gospel:  John 6:52-59

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. 
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. 
Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 
This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."  (John 6:53-58)

It is such a shame that many of our protestant brothers and sisters seem to skim over this passage ... I know that I used to.  I remember at this one church that I used to go to before my coming home to the Catholic Church, I participated in one of their "communion services."  It was a nice event, we passed around some crackers and little cups of grape juice.  The pastor read some readings and made it a spiritual event.  However, I remember leaving thinking, "okay, so that was communion."  There certainly wasn't much to that service, and as I have become catholic, I now realize why, because we didn't have the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  I remember that it was just about a ear ago at the Easter Vigil when I officially came into the Catholic Church and received my first communion.  I remember how it felt to really and truly receive our Lord, body and blood in that Holy meal.  Ever since then I have had a strong desire to receive the Eucharist and to receive our Lord inside.  

The next time that you present yourself before the Eucharist, think of this passage.  Jesus is not just giving us a meal to eat, He is giving us His body and blood so that we can have eternal life ... then give thanks and praise for this amazing gift.  

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day.  Lord, we thank you for the Sacrament of the Eucharist, may we always present ourselves before you as a sacrifice and may we always receive you with open hearts.  Lord, we thank you and praise you for giving us your body and blood at every mass so that we may be strengthened and so that we may go out into the world and serve you better.  Lord Jesus we ask this all in your name.  Amen.