A Sacred Union

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.