August 31, 2014 - Sunday

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.  (2 Peter 3:18 NABRE)


This last statement of Peter's second letter echoes the exhortation of Proverbs to grow in knowledge.  And in the verses leading up to it, Peter provides a new Christian reason to pursue knowledge of our Lord.  He wants us to be prepared for Jesus' return!

Imagine it from Peter's point of view!  He lost his friend, brother and Lord to Roman crucifixion.  He saw him miraculously resurrected, spent time with him after he rose from the dead, and was even there when Jesus ascended to be with the Father.  He heard Jesus promise to return.  Perhaps, he and the others expected Jesus to return sooner rather than later; but as we know, all things happen in God's time, not ours.  As Jesus points out, "It is not for [us] to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority."

And so Lord, I ask for your grace, I ask for the guidance of your Holy Spirit so that I might grow, as Jesus' friend Peter says, in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.  Recalling how Peter himself grew from a humble fisherman, to a frightened Apostle, to the rock of Jesus' Church, to the wise advisor of us all, I ask for the wisdom to live a holy and devoted life.


Today, I will follow the lead of some who knew and first recognized Jesus for who he is, our Lord and savior.  I will seek God's grace and an ever-deepening knowledge of his son.


Saints Joseph of Arimathea, patron of undertakers, and Nicodemus, pray for us.

August 30, 2014 - Saturday

Do not plot evil against your neighbors,
when they live at peace with you.  (Proverbs 3:29 NABRE)


Serving God means, in part, maintaining peace with good people.*  This prompts several difficult questions in my mind:  What does peace look like?  How do I recognize a good person?

One efficient way to look at both of these terms is to evaluate what each is not.  Peace may be understood as the absence of conflict.  A good person may be understood as someone who lacks malice or wickedness.

And with that, we arrive at a slightly more concrete idea of the real challenge in today's verse:  What can I do today and everyday to eliminate conflict with others in my life who do not live lives characterized by malice or wickedness?

I believe prayer is the beginning of the answer, the middle of the effort, and the end of the problem.


Today, I will pray for peace to be restored to strained relationships.


Saint Jeanne Jugan, founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor, pray for us.

August 29, 2014 - Friday

you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.  Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.”  (James 4:14-15 NABRE)


James has such a no-nonsense, down-to-earth approach to his faith.  He lives in the here and now.  And his straightforward advice always catches me off-guard.

Stop kidding yourself about how much control you have over your own future!  That's his advice and in fact, he goes on to call it boasting, and calls such boasting a sin!

James is not telling us we shouldn't make plans.  Not at all.  He's telling us what our attitude should be as people who submit ourselves to God.  We should humbly approach our planning, as people who recognize our lives are brief and that we are in God's hands.  I would add that we ought to consider God's eternal perspective as our yardstick as we make our plans for the future.

In a very practical way, we should seek to make plans that align with the Lord's will, something we can only do prayerfully.  And we need to realize that even then, our plans won't always line up with his!


Today, I will prayerfully approach all my plans, seeking to submit my goals and agendas to the Lord.


John the Baptist, the voice crying in the desert, pray for us.

August 28, 2014 - Thursday

The path of the upright leads away from misfortune;
those who attend to their way guard their lives.  (Proverbs 16:17 NABRE)

Today's verse tells us the path of those who are upright is protected.  So then, our job is to keep to the path that leads away from trouble.  Simple enough!

And yet, have you ever wondered why good people face bad things while not-so-good people often seem to live lives of privilege and abundance?  I've witnessed the sufferings and losses of truly holy people.  It can seem so unfair and wrong.

To make some sense of this, we can separate the events and challenges of life from the protection provided by God's grace.

God does allow good people to face suffering, loss and trials.  Job is a powerful example of this.  And consider the suffering of Jesus.  Imagine the loss Mary must have felt. 

But the great good news is that the faithful are protected from falling victim to eternal misfortune regardless of the difficulties they may endure in this life.

Today, I will attend to my way, grateful for the protection of my Lord.

Saint Augustine of Hippo, patron of printers, pray for us.

August 27, 2014 - Wednesday

The words of one’s mouth are deep waters,
the spring of wisdom, a running brook.  (Proverbs 18:4 NABRE)


When we speak our thoughts, dreams, and intentions out into the air, they become real in a new way.  They become part of a community of ideas.  They can be shared.  They can grow and change.  They can be used to promote good and to take aim at problems too big for a single person.

Because of this, it is critically important to think about, lead, and even guard our thoughts.  They energize our emotions, our words, our actions.  In many cases, they create our experiences.

In simple terms, I believe we can manage our thinking by taking our direction from Proverbs 18 which tells us to seek wisdom, justice, humility and knowledge.  Beyond that, the chapter also advances a solid case for avoiding alienation and quarrels, foolish and hasty talk, wickedness and contempt, scorn and haughtiness, laziness and trust in wealth.

How might I change my daily patterns by keeping this in mind?


Today, I will seek the perspective of Proverbs 18 and seek wisdom, justice, humility and knowledge.


Saint Monica, patron of mothers, pray for us.

August 26, 2014 - Tuesday

But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them.  (1 Peter 3:14 NABRE)


...For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.  (1 Peter 3:17 NABRE)


Today, I will draw courage from Peter's words should threats of harm approach me, and I will seek to respond to attacks with gentleness and reverence.


Saint Joseph Calazanz, who reminds us “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21b NABRE), pray for us.

August 25, 2014 - Monday

May his name be forever;
as long as the sun, may his name endure.
May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name;
may all the nations regard him as favored.  (Psalm 72:17 NABRE)


"He" is King Solomon, son of David.  What a beautiful wish for him.  Imagine our world if each of us prayed for such great blessings to be given to everyone we meet.

Lord, give me the deep compassion for others, the selflessness, and the willingness to act for others, in ways led by your Spirit whether big or small, that would promise me a name worthy of being remembered.


Today, I will repeat this prayer once each hour, for someone I don't usually remember to pray for.


Saint Louis of France, who had respect for all, especially the “humble folk of the Lord,” pray for us.

August 24, 2014 - Sunday

Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds his tongue.  (Proverbs 11:12 NIV)


Our words affect others.

When we choose to laugh at others, especially with contempt or bitterness, we demonstrate our own lack of good sense.  Even in careless, unplanned moments, when we offhandedly deride someone else without thinking, we can cause harm and hurt.

On the other hand, when we hold our tongue and resist the urge to speak unkindly, we demonstrate our understanding.  At those impulsive moments, when our tongue speaks before we restrain it, the person of understanding has some options.

As soon as we recognize the derisiveness of our words, we can stop.  What a gift to be able to recognize this in ourselves!  And if our bitterness or contempt brings direct harm on another, we can seek to make amends.


Today, I will pray for the understanding to hold my tongue rather than to deride anyone, the humility to think more highly of others than I do of myself, and to pray for those who persecute me.


Saint Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles, pray for us.

August 23, 2014 - Saturday

For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26 NABRE)


As parents, we want health and happiness for our children.  We routinely place their needs above our own.  We teach them, play with them, laugh and cry with them, discipline them, hold them, listen to them, and share life with them.  Some parents adopt their children, and what a special gift that can be--a chance to show a child they were loved so much they were chosen.  And as heirs, children inherit what belongs to their parents.

Today's verse comes from a short section in which Saint Paul describes his fellow Christians as children of God, [because they are] baptized into Christ, [and as a result]...are all Abraham’s descendant[s] and heirs of the promise to Abraham.*

So it is because of our faith in Jesus Christ that Saint Paul calls us God's children.  Saint Paul often writes about faith.  In another letter, he tells us that "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen."*   By keeping faithful, God considers us heirs to his promises.  He considers us his children.

Historically, Saint Paul's letter to the Church at Galatia was written about twenty years after Jesus' Ascension.

Today, I will allow myself to experience the joy that comes with faithfulness to God.


Saint Rose of Lima, patron of the Americas, pray for us.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 12

About the same time as the events of Chapter 11, here in Acts 12, we conclude what I refer to as Part One of the Acts of the Apostles, where Peter tends to be the central figure.

In it, we see Herod's persecution of several Christians leaders in Jerusalem, most notably Peter.  Peter is jailed and, once again, delivered miraculously from what would likely have been a hasty trial and nearly certain death.  Imagine the surprise and the overwhelming joy of his friends when he mysteriously returns to them late on the night before his trial was to take place!

We see Herod's sudden death caused by his arrogance and pride.  And we see Paul and Barnabas working relief missions between the Christian communities that had sprung up in Jerusalem and Antioch after the persecution an dispersion of the Christians began.

August 22, 2014 - Friday

Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy;
and on his law he meditates day and night.  (Psalm 1:1-2 NABRE)


These words open the book of Psalms.  The contrast between good and bad is drawn immediately and is based on actions and choices.

The Psalmist writes specifically against people who are wicked, sinners and scoffers.  In other Psalms, he extends this list to include worthless men, hypocrites, evil assemblies, arrogant men, and those who stray after falsehood.*

The good person avoids the company and advice of these types of people.  The good person finds joy in God's law and meditates on it every day and every night.  Because of these actions and choices, the good person is blessed.

Today, I will look to root out my own wicked qualities and will meditate on this one passage, day and night.


Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.

August 21, 2014 - Thursday

Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.  (Philippians 2:3 NABRE)


Selfishness--being excessively concerned with myself rather than others--and vanity--having too much pride in myself, my abilities, or my appearance--get in the way of unity and humility.

In today's verse, from the letter Saint Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi, we read one of his instructions on how to live a life modeled after Jesus. He gave similar instructions to the Romans and to the Galatians.

We still have a copy of Paul's letter to the Philippians, from 1800 years ago!  Our historical connection to these instructions is strong and valid.  And our need for them is as important today as it was then!


Today, I will seek humility and to regard others as more important than myself.


Saint Pius X, known for your strength, gentleness and warmth for other people, pray for us.

Papyrus 46, one of the oldest New Testament papyri, showing Philippians 2:3 (circa 175-225 AD)

August 20, 2014 - Wednesday

In those days they shall no longer say,
“The parents ate unripe grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge,”  (Jeremiah 31:29 NABRE)


Jeremiah, like the other prophets, was given the unenviable mission of telling his people they had gone wrong.  In response, "Jeremiah’s opponents use this proverb to complain that they are being punished for sins of their ancestors."  To which, Jeremiah essentially tells them not to change the subject.  He insists that "the Lord knows the depth of their wickedness and holds them accountable for their actions."*

Aren't we the same way, even to this day?  When we do something wrong, we claim, "It's not my fault!"  We pass the buck.  We spread the blame.

Lord, give me the courage and humility to own my mistakes.  Regardless of how big or small they are, help me to accept responsibility for them.  When I harm others or offend you, please give me the grace to seek forgiveness.  I ask that you protect me from the anger and arrogance of self-protection.  And ultimately, please teach me to show mercy toward others, as I ask for your mercy upon me.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for mercy and reconciliation in Iraq, Israel, Ferguson, Missouri, and in our own families.


Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, whose life was characterized by a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, pray for us.

August 19, 2014 - Tuesday

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let the hearer say, “Come.” Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.  (Revelation 22:17 NABRE)


God wants a relationship with each of us.  He always has.

With only four verses following it in the entire Bible, we might consider that today's verse has a place of some significance.  The "bride" is a reference to the Church--God's people, not a building.

The passage is an invitation.  It is the same invitation God makes throughout all of salvation history, as recorded in the Bible.  Early on, he established a special relationship with the Israelites, through Abraham and Moses (Genesis 12:1-4 and Exodus 19:3-8), in which he promises to be their God and to be faithful to them.  In return, he calls them to action.  Jesus talks of living water to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:10).  At the Last Supper, Jesus makes a new covenant with us (Luke 22:19-20) and he commissions his Disciples to "make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28:19)  And, in what is arguably the most referenced verse in the Bible, John 3/16, we see that, "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."

Today's verse offers relationship with Jesus, and eternal life to anyone who wants it!  The words are from Jesus himself, the invitation is from his Holy Spirit, and from all his Church.  Indeed, you and I are invited to extend the offer to others!

So, if you are thirsty, come have a drink of this life-giving water.  It is a gift from Jesus to you.  If you hear the invitation, share it!


Today, I will be open to ways that I might share Jesus' invitation with others, through the way I live my life and in my words.  


Saint John Eudes, devoted to the Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, who asks us to open wide the doors (of our hearts) to Christ, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, foster-father of Jesus, pray for us.

August 18, 2014 - Monday

to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:*
“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation [of the world].”  (Matthew 13:35 NABRE)


Just a few verses before today's, the disciples ask Jesus why he speaks to the crowds in parables.  His reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted."*

God has a plan and the details of it are not available to us beforehand.  Jesus announced many things that had been hidden.  And some things which he revealed, are not seen by everyone, even today.

As a result, in the accounts of Jesus' life, it is clear and believable to some that he fulfills the Jewish messianic prophecies if not by one possible connection than by constant repetition; but to others, this is not seen.  I wish I knew why.


Memories of a Friendship:  Friends talk.  I think differently about situations than many people.  Sometimes it gets in the way.  Sometimes it makes decisions more difficult.  But I'm pretty sure that I've never felt so utterly alone at these difficult moments mostly because I fall into a habit of prayer.  Not necessarily the formal kind of prayers we are taught as children, but conversation.  I've come to rely on my friend at these times and we talk often.  Constant prayer, constant talk.  I realize it's probably my greatest memory of this friendship!  Thank you Lord, for the chance to know you.  Please help me to reflect your graces in my life so that others may catch a glimpse of you in the small details of each day.


Today, I will rejoice in my heart for having knowledge of Jesus, of what he teaches, and of the mysteries he reveals.


Saint Louis of Toulouse, who renounced his royal title to humble himself and serve others, pray for us.

August 17, 2014 - Sunday

Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.  (Mark 10:9 NABRE)


My Godmother recently shared this with my wife and I:

A Prayer for Married Couples

Heavenly father,
You have created man and woman
to be a reflection of Your love for the world.
Bless our marriage and all married couples
that we might truly become
an image and likeness of You in the world.
May our love for one another share in your love
and fill us with a generous heart that is open to life.
When difficult times arise, surround us with your
presence, loving family, friends and parishioners
to give us the strength and grace we need.
Assure all married couples of your abiding presence
with us in good times and bad, in sickness
and in health and for richer or for poorer.
May our lives be a witness to the world
of Your loving care, faithful commitment
and persevering love for all people.
Amen


Memories of a Friendship: I remember the day I was married!  One of the most amazing comments we received, and it's stuck with me all these years, was from a good friend.  He said he could actually feel the Spirit in the church during the Mass.  It's an unusual statement, but such a wonderful wedding gift!  My friend spoke what we felt as we exchanged our vows, that the third partner in our marriage was certainly as present there as we were that day.


Today, I will pray for my friends and family who are married, that their unions so blessed by God remain strong and constant reflections of His love for us.


Saint Joan of the Cross, who gave up a successful business to dedicate her life to helping the poor, pray for us.

August 16, 2014 - Saturday

Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
God comes in awesome majesty.  (Job 37:22 NIV)

Today's verse comes from an absolutely beautiful chapter in the book of Job.  Please take a few minutes and read its twenty-four verses...I'll wait!

What must God be like?  Consider this world.  Imagine what it would take to create and control its greatest forces:  lightening, the winds, the rains, the sun, snow, clouds and all the sky!  Impossible!  This chapter reminds me of God's wonders on a grand scale and it challenges me not to think too highly of myself.


Memories of a Friendship:  For one who can keep the sun in the sky, helping with the details of my life must not be too difficult.  I'm reminded of a particularly difficult supervisor I once worked for.  You may know the type:  Angry to cover massive insecurity.  Bitter.  Unable to accept goodness.  Someone for whom closeness means arms-length.  Well, the job I held, where I watched a revolving door for many of my peers, was "unpleasant" as a result of the boss's issues.  Yet I could not leave.  It became clear to me that I was placed there for a reason and I was able to make a difference for others on the job, helping to balance the environment they had no choice but to remain in.  In hindsight, I see the Lord's hand on my shoulder through this time.  Like a real friend, he held me steady.


Today, I will look at the sky, recall the greatness of God and appreciate his grandeur.


Saint Stephen of Hungary, who recognized that culture and the Church are not always in harmony, pray for us.

August 15, 2014 - Friday

The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.  (Proverbs 14:11 NABRE)


There was a traditional expression that a house can be less secure than a tent if there is no justice.*  One way to look at this* is that the strong houses and empires that wicked people build as legacies to themselves in this life, that they think will keep their memory alive, will not survive.  On the other hand, the modest legacy of the good person will survive into eternity.


Memories of a Friendship:  I remember when we bought our castle!  For me, seeing how grand it was, made the purchase of it feel like we might have been leaning just a little toward buying one of those houses that tries to show how great we are.  But, there was that other feeling, actually a very familiar one.  That strong sense it was happening to us and around us and in spite of us, not something we were actually causing.  Have you ever experienced that?  My habit, not kidding here, is to pray for guidance at times like this, and I'm confident that at these times, when I do, the right outcome is always the one we experience.  Always.  Even when I don't understand it or want it!  And what proof I have now in hindsight that it was the right decision!  The gift of special friends who have shared this house with us, whom we never would have met had we not bought this house, is ours into eternity.  The daily blessings of the little children that share this space with us, which we never would have known had we not bought this house, are ours forever.  It turns out my friendship with the Lord that began so many years ago is still alive and strong!  My God is faithful!


Today, on this Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, I will pray the rosary for peace.


Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

August 14, 2014 - Thursday

but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.  (Luke 22:32 NABRE)


As blessed as my own life has been, my faith has been tested many times.  Like Peter, I don't always pass the test.  But look at the prayer Jesus himself said for Peter!  He knew Peter would deny Him three times, but his emphasis wasn't to prevent the inevitable failure.  That is because Jesus looks beyond our failings.  He prays that our faith does not fail as a result of the tests we endure.  His real prayer for us includes, "once you have turned back (to Jesus...my addition), you must strengthen your brothers."  Jesus prays for our faith and instructs us to use it to strengthen one another.

Don't lose faith.  If you ever had it, grab onto it and don't let it go.  It's more important than religion.  It's more valuable than money.  It's more life-giving than oxygen.  Today's verse is a funny one for me to read as I begin my reflection on my own personal relationship with God.  As I read it, admittedly out of context since Jesus is here talking directly to Peter, I had a strong sense that the words were addressed directly to me.  I wonder if you get that feeling too?


Memories of a Friendship:  My earliest memory of spending time with God is from the late 1960's and 1970's at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Boston.  I remember playing on the pews and saying (or at least listening to) prayers during Mass.  I could only have been about five or six years old.  These are some of my first memories, and it is good to realize that it really has been a lifelong relationship for me.


Today, I will pray that my faith may not fail, even when I lack the courage to express it, so that I can strengthen others.


Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, patron of addicts, pray for us.

August 13, 2014 - Wednesday

My son, stop attending to correction;
start straying from words of knowledge.  (Proverbs 19:27 NABRE)


Strangely enough, it seems this proverb is written ironically--meaning it says the opposite of what the advice actually is.*  So, to understand it, let's turn it around:  My son, START attending to correction; STOP straying from words of knowledge.

Good advice, but no one likes to be told what to do, so being corrected or told how we should behave is something we all resist to some degree.  On the upside, as we mature we tend to learn the value of correction and appreciate words of knowledge.  (If you're still reading, I'd say you've arrived.)

As people, we are driven to teach our children what we know is important.  We do this by correcting mistakes and sharing knowledge.  It just seems like there should be a more efficient way to do it.

I believe there is and it is based on our deep human need for relationship.  I'd rather hear about your life than have you tell me what I'm doing wrong; so by sharing your experiences with me, you give me the chance to learn what is important.  More than that, I learn about you in the process.  I learn how you understand this world.  I can agree with you or disagree if my experience tells me otherwise.  We can debate.  We can show each other mutual respect.  We can grow closer as a result.  And to the point, you can lovingly provide the knowledge and correction you know I need in a way I can embrace.


Today, I will begin preparing to share my own past experiences with God.  I will deliberately reflect on the times I've moved forward in the relationship as well as the times I've struggled.


Saints Pontian and Hippolytus, who remind us we all have different spiritual gifts but there is just one Holy Spirit, pray for us.

August 12, 2014 - Tuesday

How much more valuable a person is than a sheep. So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.  (Matthew 12:12 NABRE)


Relationships change over time, yet we all have a tendency to resist it.

God's relationship with his chosen people needed change, and Jesus came to bring it.  The Pharisees did not want the change, and they resisted it.  In fact, they accused Jesus and plotted his death in order to prevent the change he was bringing.  (To understand how deeply they felt threatened by Jesus, consider Saint Paul--who was first Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee--and how he persecuted the followers of Jesus even after his death.)  They realized the change was big and did all they could to prevent it.  Not an option.

Today's verse comes from one of their attempts to stop the change.  The Pharisees challenge Jesus about the lawfulness of healing a man's hand on the Sabbath; and just before Jesus heals the man's hand, he asks the Pharisees "Which one of you who has a sheep that falls into a pit on the Sabbath will not take hold of it and lift it out?"  He goes on to offer the explanation in today's verse.

To the Jewish people of his day, doing just about anything on the Sabbath, good or bad, was forbidden.  Here Jesus makes an extremely bold claim, one that only God could rightfully make.  He changes the Law, right there and rather unceremoniously!  All of a sudden "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Change.  The relationship between God and his chosen people is changing.  His people are resisting, even angry about it.  The change is happening anyway.

How often do we face change in relationships?  How often do we resist and grow angry because of it?  How often does the change happen anyway?


Today, I will trust God at times of change and challenge.


Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, who kept her trust in God despite many changes throughout her life and relentless suffering, pray for us.

August 11, 2014 - Monday

I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.  (John 15:15 NABRE)


Friends tell each other everything.  At the Last Supper, Jesus declares his friendship straight out.  He knows what is coming, and is trying to tell the Apostles how things will soon be.  And keep in mind, we share this same friendship with Jesus too!

Lord Jesus, my friend, thank you for telling us who you are.  I am grateful and amazed to be welcomed as your friend, like Abraham was, and like the Apostles were.  Help me to live my life according to your command that we love one another.  Keep me close so that I may follow the life you intended for me, acting with love toward others.  Protect and guide me by your Holy Spirit so that I may one day see you face to face, my truest friend.


Today, I will express my gratefulness for Jesus' friendship in what I do and say.


Saint Clare, who modeled her life after that of Jesus, pray for us.

August 10, 2014 - Sunday

My son, should sinners entice you,
do not go if they say, “Come along with us!  (Proverbs 1:10-11 NABRE)


Decisions!  They come up often, don't they?  Some are big.  Others, small.  In each case, the moment of decision can be our most beautiful act of faith.

There are many reasons we might choose to go along with sinners, and I've gone along many times in my life.  So what happens at that actual point of decision?  That moment of truth.  When I decide to go or not to go.  When it all boils down to just two options.  No shades of gray.  I choose to stay or I choose to go.

Thinking about the difference is helpful. I can honestly say that often when I resist the enticement of sinners, it feels like neither the courage nor the strength are my own.  I don't have either in sufficient quantity to resist the allure of sin.  But I am always strong enough to submit.

The actual point of decision, that fleeting moment that precedes action, that tipping point after which events just begin to unfold is not as difficult as we make it out to be.  We need to realize that our choice can be simple to the point where confidence and clarity replace fear and uncertainty.

Rather than pushing against sinfulness, we can just submit to what is good.  Paradoxically, it is with simple submission that we gain all power in that moment to overcome the enticement of sin, all confidence in the decision we've made, and all clarity to carry on.


Today, I will pray for those who are called to make ethical decisions, that they may submit themselves to the good with courage and confidence.


Saint Lawrence, patron of the poor, pray for us.

August 9, 2014 - Saturday

You are my refuge and shield;
in your word I hope.  (Psalm 119:114 NABRE)


Recently, there has been an increase in violence and discrimination against Christians across the globe and even in our own country which was founded on the principle of religious liberty.

Today's verse reminds us to trust in the Lord's protection and place our hope in his Word.  As attacks against us come, even as they increase, we should be careful to rely not on our own strength or intelligence, but on God's protection and wisdom.

We have been given the Holy Spirit.  We have the confidence and example of the saints and angels.  We need the courage to place our hope in God's Word and to act as we are led, regardless of consequences.


Today, I will seek the courage necessary for spiritual battle.  I will spend five silent minutes in meditation, listening, quieting, letting God fill that space.  I will pray for the Christians suffering right now in Iraq and other countries at the hands of evil men.  I will pray for understanding and tolerance among my own countrymen.


Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), from whom we "learn to live at God's hands," pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, protector of the Church, defend us in battle.
Saint John Paul II, Pope who canonized Edith Stein, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, patron of the Church, pray for us.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 11

In Acts 11, we see Peter and the other Jewish Christians learning that they had misunderstood God's plan for salvation, that he also intended to save non-Jews, the Gentiles of every race.

It always inspires me the way God's people, even in these early times, responded exactly as I do today!  I find hope in it because I see that God loves and is patient with us even though we can be like silly children!  At first, I stubbornly resist change; and only after something convinces me otherwise, do I accept what is new--a new idea or way of doing something for example.  Well, knowing how we are, God provides something convincing!  In Acts 11, Peter describes to the believers at Antioch the powerful vision and experience which taught him that God made the Gentiles no more profane than the Jews (which at the time would have seemed absolutely ridiculous and unbelievable to them), and he goes on to describe how the Holy Spirit had come on the Gentiles exactly as it had happened to the Jewish believers on Pentecost.  When they heard Peter's testimony, the Jewish believers who were listening "glorified God, saying, 'God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.'”*

As an interesting side note, we see that "it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians."*  

This chapter and the next wrap up what I call Part One of Acts.  Throughout Part One, we see Peter as a central figure, taking the reins directly from Jesus and leading the young church through many early tests.  He and the other Apostles assumed many risks as they preached, performed miracles, and testified that Jesus Christ was the long-promised Messiah.  Despite great and threatening opposition, and only by the power of the Holy Spirit, they successfully established a coherent group of believers that would carry on as Jesus instructed, making Church together, even to this day.  That is worth some thought.

Beginning at the end of chapter twelve, we begin journeying with Saint Paul.  He is called the Apostle to the Gentiles, and he will be taking his testimony throughout much of the known world.

August 8, 2014 - Friday

Both go to the same place; both were made from the dust, and to the dust they both return. (Ecclesiastes 3:20 NABRE)


Man and beast, both formed from the earth, will return to the earth.  This clear reference to the creation of Adam reminds us of our mortality.  All of Ecclesiastes reminds us that this life is temporary.  The book was written during a time of oppression when God seemed absent from the lives of his people--which I can only imagine must have led to near hopelessness for many.  But, in the end the writer concludes that despite our mortal limits and the difficulties of this life, we should still rejoice in the gifts that God gives us.*

A baby shower is such a beautiful reminder of how God treats us!  On this occasion, when friends and family gather to celebrate and help new parents prepare for their expected child, they bring gifts and share time together.  And our God is so big, he surrounds us like friends and family, and showers us with gifts to help us live out the lives he has planned for us!

Lord God, help me to rejoice in the gifts you give to me each day.  Help me to recognize them in the midst of difficulties so that I do not lose sight of you and become despondent or bitter.  Today and every day, may your Spirit living in me move my heart to appreciate your gifts, and may this motivate me to give to others as a reflection of your divine heart of mercy and love.


Today, I will pause at least once each hour to consider the gifts of that hour, and to thank God for them.


Saint Dominic, who lived a life of contemplation and action, pray for us.

August 7, 2014 - Thursday

Get up now, and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness of what you have seen [of me] and what you will be shown.  (Acts 26:16 NABRE)


Jesus called Paul to serve him.  Jesus called Paul to tell others about his own life experience, things he knew to be true.

Today's verse comes from a speech in which Paul does exactly what he is called to do.  Paul, defending himself before King Agrippa, is recounting his experience on the road to Damascus, when the risen Jesus spoke directly to him and caused him to be blind for three days (Acts 9).  The words of today's verse are the words Jesus spoke to Paul.

Jesus, you call me, indeed each of us, in the same way you called Saint Paul.  I accept your call to serve you and to tell others about my own experience of relationship with you, to be a witness of the truth that you are the one true God who became man and who provides us with the hope of eternal salvation, something we could never have gained on our own.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit, so that, as I step out to serve others and tell them about you, I will not worry what to say or do because your Spirit will lead me.


Today, I will answer Jesus' call to serve him and to share my story with others.


Saint Cajetan, who gave up comfort to serve the sick and the poor, pray for us.

August 6, 2014 - Wednesday

Blessed is the man to whom the LORD imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no deceit.  (Psalm 32:2 NABRE)


None of us is without sin.  These days, it's an unpopular word that describes so much of our human condition.  Though we are all sinful, not all of us are deceitful or cunning.  Not all of us seek our own gain at the expense of others.  Not all of us are assigned guilt of this kind.  And in today's verse, those who are sincere rather than deceitful are called blessed.

Lord Jesus, we know that you are God's son and we are acutely aware of our own shortcomings.  Thank you for the many gifts you give us, most of all for the gift of your life.  Today, I ask for your mercy on us, that you who knows our heart might remember our desire for you more than our weaknesses, that you might accept our faith and our efforts rather than judge our failures.


Today, on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, I will seek to be sincere and to eliminate any cunning or deceitfulness in myself.


Venerable Anthony Margil, missionary for 43 years in New Spain, pray for us.

August 5, 2014 - Tuesday

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Philippians 3:20 NABRE)


Today's verse is the conclusion of a tirade by Saint Paul against those trying to corrupt the beliefs of the Christians in Philippi.  The full polemic begins at Philippians 3:2 and gives us perspective on Paul's personal background and several key aspects of Christian faith.

For me, it is always helpful to remember that I am a citizen of heaven and not of this earth.  As I do, little by little, I view differently the particulars of my earthly life.  If I am a citizen of heaven, I am just a traveler on this earth, visiting but not on vacation.  I am traveling on business, as the saying goes, like an ambassador from one country working to foster better relations with his host country.


Today, I will be an ambassador for my homeland, which is heaven, as I spend another day here on earth, my adopted home.


On this Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica, Mary Mother of God, pray for us.

August 5, 2014 - Monday

Exalt the LORD, our God;
bow down before his holy mountain;
holy is the LORD, our God.  (Psalm 99:9 NABRE)


Today's verse reminds us that God's greatness is to be respected.

Just for this minute consider how worthy he alone is of our praise.  No person can claim to be eternal, having been before all that is.  No one can claim to know all things.  No one can claim to be everywhere at all times.  Such thoughts are absurd, yet God is all of these things.  We describe him as being omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.  Today's verse refers to his omnipotence, his unlimited power and authority, and we are told to hold him in highest regard, to speak well of him, and to be humble before him.


Today, I will speak well of our God and remind myself that it is only through his power that I am able to do what he expects of me.


Saint John Vianney, patron of parish priests, pray for us.

August 3, 2014 - Sunday

Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah.  (Matthew 23:10 NABRE)


Jesus has entered Jerusalem triumphantly yet with humility and while preaching to a crowd in the temple area we see him denounce the Pharisees and scribes.  He has just turned over the tables of the money changers in a righteous anger and his sharp words to the Pharisees in Matthew, chapter 23 are some of his harshest ever.

To his Apostles, he instructs them not to take the title of Master.  They should be servants.  He instructs them about other things as well, generally telling them to do as the Pharisees teach, but not as they do.  He tells them how the pride, hypocrisy and blindness of the Pharisees and scribes cause them to do many evil things which will bring on them great harm at the time of judgment.

I read about what Jesus charges the Pharisees with and it feels too familiar!  It feels too normal.  The charges he lays against them, he could lay against me too.

Lord, please keep your Spirit alive in my heart, so that I may find the help I need to live as you would have me live--with the grateful heart of a servant.  I ask that you protect me in your mercy, so that my choices do not bring regret.  Let me see the Pharisee in my own heart, without the gauze of denial, so that I may change.

We all suffer regret.  But, it occurs to me that sometimes when we suffer small regrets, the scars become blessed reminders that save us from big regrets in the future.


Today, I will pray that scars from my small regrets in life become blessed reminders that save me from bigger regrets in the future.


Our Lady of Lourdes, patron of bodily ills, pray for us.

August 2, 2014 - Saturday

Balance and scales belong to the LORD;
every weight in the sack is his concern.  (Proverbs 16:11 NABRE)


God cares about honesty.  He expects us to treat one another fairly in large and small affairs.  That said, I'd like to pray:

Lord, thank you for this day of miracles!  

Today, we celebrate your gift of new life as we look forward to the birth of our newest family member, the beginning of a new generation soon to be born!  May all who know this child see in him your unimaginable creative power, may they recognize your tenderness toward us, may they find their heads and hearts turned toward you by the unmistakable mystery that is his life.

Lord Jesus, brother and friend to us all, please show us how to receive this child, your new brother, into a family led by your grace, welcoming him into your protective care.

Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with all the grace we'll need to be your arms holding this child and your voice encouraging him.

Lord God, we ask especially for your faithful protection on his parents.  May they continue to grow in their love for you so that this child will one day come to share their confidence in your love for us.  May they continue to be strong in their faith, especially in times of trial.  May they encounter your love in their own relationship and rest in it often.  And Lord, may they find joy that goes beyond circumstances, with roots deep in your promises to us.  Amen.


Today, I will know a miracle, drawn deep from the well of your infinite mercy.


Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Monica, patron of mothers, pray for us.
Saint Rita, patron of marriages, pray for us.
Saint Jude, patron of hopeless cases, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, saint in our day, pray for us.
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, defender of the faith, pray for us.

August 1, 2014 - Friday

So ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.  (Matthew 9:38 NABRE)


How can I work in the service of God?  (Wait...this really is for everyone who believes, not just priests!)

As a believer, I am called by Jesus himself to become a field worker for God.  I am called to move beyond my own faithful prayer life.  I am called ultimately to serve the needs of others.  There are many ways to serve Jesus and to help others; and we each have unique calls on our lives to seek our own purpose, to chase after it, and to live it fully.  At first, many of us run from this call because it sounds like an imposition or too much like work.  But embracing our God-given purpose in life is just the opposite!  It is liberating and opens the way for us to become the best possible version of ourselves!  So I encourage you to seek your purpose!  Don't run from it.

At it's core, purpose is related to service.  In my experience, service is an approach to living that leads us from a focus on ourselves to a focus on others.  There are many ways to be of service to others:  Parenting is one way many serve; others have careers in public service; and others take on charity work as their route to serving others in need.

In practical terms, here is a three-step process for moving forward that is like wading into water:

1. Serve yourself - by this I mean adjust your heart.  Pray with an open heart, asking the Lord to grant you the awareness of each step you should take as you discern his will for your life.  I also mean start taking action, any action, with continual prayer, to adjust your heart.  I leave this in general terms, because it is a process that is different for each of us.  And it is a lifelong step.  For me, I needed to gradually give up bits of my own "me" time to do helpful things for others around me.  I did it reluctantly at first.  Even today, I continue in this, seeking to do it gratefully rather than resentfully (Which seems still to be my natural inclination!).
2. Get involved at church - If you don't belong to a church, join one!  Seek the company of other believers.  Submit to requests to get more involved.  Continue to pray with an open heart, and thanking God for taking you this far.  Be patient when things don't happen as quickly or smoothly as you imagine they should, because God's timing is not the same as ours.  Things will happen!
3. Reach out to others - Once you have come this far, you may find that you are called to reach outside your community of believers, sent like the Apostles to be sheep among wolves.  Again, continue to pray, to praise, and to say yes as you wade deeper into this water.

Pastor Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, What on Earth Am I Here For?, is one of the best books on the topic, and it can be life changing.  It is a completely non-threatening and practical tool to help anyone seeking to understand God's unique desire for their life.

Today, I will ask God to show me the path for my life and to send me into his field, along with others as he chooses, to reap the harvest he planted by reminding souls by my words and actions that salvation comes through his son Jesus.


Saint Alphonsus Liguori, patron of theologians and vocations, pray for us.