November 30, 2014 - Sunday

Sing to the LORD, all the earth,
announce his salvation, day after day. (1 Chronicles 16:23 NABRE)


1 Chronicles, chapter 16, describes how King David called some of the Levites to be musicians before the arc of the Lord. They played music every day, telling the story of how God saved his people. Like Psalm 96, today's verse reminds us to celebrate the Lord with song!

Celebrate the Lord with song! What an excellent reminder as we begin the season of Advent during which time we anticipate the miracle birth of Jesus, God's promised one.

Lord, you humbled your divine nature to become a man and walk among us. You did this as part of the plan of salvation for your people and we are grateful and amazed. You do so much for us and you know our hearts, Lord. We ask that you hear our singing and enjoy with us the celebration of your great and awesome gift of salvation, fulfilled in Jesus your son.


Today, on this first Sunday of Advent, I will meditate on the first two chapters of Matthew's gospel, which, along with the first two chapters of Luke's gospel, comprise the infancy narrative of Jesus' birth.


Saint Andrew, brother of Saint Peter, apostle of Jesus, patron of fishermen, pray for us.

November 29, 2014 - Saturday

The intention of the human heart is deep water,
but the intelligent draw it forth. (Proverbs 20:5 NABRE)


We all have plans. Big plans to buy a house or start a business. Little plans to visit with a friend or plant a garden. Deep in our heart is where they form. Today's verse tells us that the wise person finds ways to express plans of the heart.

To this, I might add my own interpretation, which inclines toward the idea that not all plans of the heart are worth expressing outwardly in words or action.

So, what distinguishes the wise and intelligent person? In large measure, it is their discernment of which plans to express in their lives. Simply put, the wise person acts on those plans which have their source in God's prompting, and they recognize and dismiss those which do not.

So now, how does one confidently recognize a plan as being prompted by God's Spirit and not some other source? In my lifetime, I have encountered two ways to do this. Both require faith before action. Both reward me over and over again. Both provide me with encouragement to continue to grow in faith rather than to lose heart, and both raise my confidence to rely increasingly on God:

1. Prayer. When we ask the holy Spirit of God to lead our hearts as we approach new ideas, opportunities, situations, troubles, or scenarios in which we just don't know what to do, he always does. He never denies us this. But pray quietly and listen. Stop yelling in prayer, if you are, or you will miss it. And be open to both new ideas you hadn't considered as the right path as well as difficult actions you'd rather not have to take. You will find that God's direction is often startlingly different than you would ever expect. These occasions are where trust pays you back so deeply, because outcomes become proof.
2. Awareness. When we act according to the prompting of the Spirit, we notice our path literally opens before us, decisions make themselves, and things seem to fall into place. After this happens the first time, and the second, start to appreciate the pattern. Give thanks and continue to pray in all things. It doesn't take long until this simple routine becomes your safe passage in a world of unexpected danger.

Today, I will take all the plans of my heart to quiet prayer and I will take notice of paths that open before me and those that dry up and disappear.


Saint Saturninus, martyred in France in 257, pray for us.

November 28, 2014 - Friday

Do not say, “I will repay evil!”
Wait for the LORD, who will help you. (Proverbs 20:22 NABRE)

This advice runs through all of salvation history. Appointing oneself an agent of divine retribution is dangerous. Better to wait for God to effect justice.* Look at how this guidance is expressed in so many other scripture verses:

Do not say, “As they did to me, so will I do to them; I will repay them according to their deeds.” (Proverbs 24:29)

The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance; indeed he remembers their sins in detail. (Sirach 28:1)

But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. (Matthew 5:39)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all. (Romans 12:17)

Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Do not return evil for evil, or insult for insult; but, on the contrary, a blessing, because to this you were called, that you might inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

The point: Revenge is not good. Find your satisfaction in forgiveness.

So, how do you forgive? For me, it is a matter of mastering myself, my anger, my ego. It is about self control. Honestly, it is not something I can do myself. I have noticed that, like so many other things in my life, truly forgiving someone only comes after I pray for God's help. On the other hand, I have never once asked the Lord for the grace to forgive an offense and been denied that grace.

Frequently, when I am so angry at a wrong done to me, when forgiveness seems out of the question, when I remember to pray about it, what I hear in response is a simple reminder of the mercy and forgiveness God has shown to me over the years when I have been the offender.

Today, I will let go of my desire for revenge, by consciously resolving to do so and asking God for the grace to forgive whomever harms me.


Saint James of the Marche, preacher who always wanted the word of God to take root in the hearts of your listeners, pray for us.

November 27, 2014 - Thursday

Give thanks to the LORD, who is good,
whose mercy endures forever. (Psalm 106:1 NABRE)

Lord, we cannot praise you enough and with complete humility we offer you thanks. We recognize that you alone are purely good. And we are grateful for your mercy.

Just before Jesus returned to you, he promised to send us your holy Spirit as our guide.* The holy Spirit comes to us still today by way of the sacraments. He lives in us. He prompts us and turns us toward God. He gives us gifts which are meant for us. His gifts help us to follow his prompting and increase our ability to live lives of virtue. And as signs of our growth--and this may be the real miracle, he gives us what we call the fruit of the Spirit, which may be thought of as the first fruits of eternal glory experienced now, and which are meant for others.

On this day of thanks, we ask for the grace, strength and courage to seek your gifts so that we might grow in holiness and so that your blessings may flow out through us to others by your Spirit.


Today, I will give thanks to God for the endless blessings in my life, especially for my family and friends, and I will seek to grow in Spirit so that I may be a blessing to others.


Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani, who made daily decisions to cooperate with God's grace, pray for us.

November 26, 2014 - Wednesday

Into what were its pedestals sunk,
and who laid its cornerstone,
While the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:6-7 NABRE)

Let us be humble, grateful and give thanks to God. Here's why.

Today, I will enjoy reading all of Job 38.


Saint Francis of Assisi, who recognized creation as another manifestation of the beauty of God, pray for us.

November 25, 2014 - Tuesday

At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:6 NABRE)

God speaks to each one of us in our own language. He walks with each of us in every circumstance and encounter we have--all of them. He shares himself with us in every good word and kind action. And sometimes he even talks to others through us!

Am I paying attention? Am I listening? Are my eyes open? Am I ready to hear God speak to me today?  Will I drop my defenses and open myself to the one who created me and who wants to say hello?!

Say yes. Pray for awareness. Pray for quiet, peace, just enough to recognize his gesture of greeting, just enough to hear his whisper into your life. Don't look for giant billboards and signs. Instead, seek small markers of love. Seek to recognize signs of hope and faith that look like compassion, sacrifice and mercy. Take notice of what these say to you. Listen to him speak!

Lord, thank you for the gift of your presence in my life and for awareness of your company during my day.


Today, I will listen for God to speak into my day.


Saint Catherine of Alexandria, patron of philosophers and students, pray for us.

November 24, 2014 - Monday

Keep the mandate of the LORD, your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees as they are written in the law of Moses, that you may succeed in whatever you do, and wherever you turn. (1 Kings 2:3 NABRE)

On his deathbed after ruling Israel for forty years, King David tells his son, Solomon, to "be strong and be a man." Today's verse is his explanation of manly strength. In it, we see that real strength comes from submission to God's will.

We are each called to submit to the Lord, to follow his orders and his laws, and to walk the path he sets us on in life. To do this, we have to overcome our own will which often runs counter to God's.

Centuries after David spoke these words, Jesus lived them out. Our great Lord submitted himself entirely to God's will. He knows precisely how difficult this can be.

Holy Spirit, I ask of you now, before this day begins, that you will--at each moment of inner struggle, when I would rather do what I should not, or when I would rather not do what I should--fill me with your strength.

As the word cloud for the past two weeks shows, we have been focused on faith in Jesus. May our faith lead us to confidently submit to God's holy will, which is love and mercy itself.

Today, I will trust in Jesus and rely on his Holy Spirit to help me walk the path of my life.


Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, Vietnamese martyrs, pray for us.

November 23, 2014 - Sunday

Now Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8 NABRE)


Stephen was "filled with faith and the Holy Spirit." We see in Acts 6 that he was selected with six others to help with the needs of the growing Christian community.* The same Holy Spirit of God that filled Stephen is in us today, and like Stephen we are called to follow where the Spirit leads us.

Lord Jesus, open my heart to the prompting of your Spirit. Show me my gifts. Lead me along the path of my life here on earth. In your mercy, console me and remove all my fear and anxiety so that I may grow continually in faith, hope and love. Thank you, Jesus.


Today, on this solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, I will remember your royal preference to be my Merciful Savior rather than my just Judge, and I will seek to do works of mercy by the strength you provide.


Saint Clement, third successor of St. Peter, one of the Church's five Apostolic Fathers, pray for us.

November 22, 2014 - Saturday

What is a king’s best body-guard? Mercy and faithfulness;
on mercy his throne rests. (Proverbs 20:28 KNOX)


While reading a commentary* on different translations* of this verse, I had an insight, a reminder really, of something which completely inspires me with hope!

It seems the Hebrew and Greek translations of this verse emphasize slightly different qualities of a good king. The Greek translation focuses on justice while the Hebrew leans more toward mercy as the quality on which a good king's throne rests.

Jesus is our ideal king. We call him the King of kings. So these differing translations challenge me to ask: Is Jesus more just toward us or is he more merciful?

Jesus desires to be our Merciful Savior rather than our just Judge!

Summarized wonderfully by the words recorded by Saint Faustina in her diary entry 1541, as Jesus describes the blessing of praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the presence of the dying, he says:

"I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior."* 

Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the souls of those in my family who have died, so that Jesus, who exists outside of time, will stand with them as their Merciful Savior.


Saint Cecilia, patron of musicians, pray for us.

November 21, 2014 - Friday

With your counsel you guide me,
and at the end receive me with honor. (Psalm 73:24 NABRE)


Our God is always near us. He always protects us.*

This powerful reflection on the close, parental protection of God is part of a larger passage which is a beautiful testimony of faith. In this psalm, we actually get to see the conversion of heart experienced by the psalmist. He tells us honestly of his near miss with the allure of worldly pursuits. He describes his desire for the money, power and influence that some have, and then in a moment of profound awakening, he comes to understand the fleeting nature of earthly success and the permanence of living a life close to the Lord.

When you have a few minutes today, read through the 28 verses of Psalm 73 and share the psalmist's experience.


Today, I will seek to be close to the Lord and to accept his guidance.


On this, the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I ask that you pray for us, O holy mother of God.

November 20, 2014 - Thursday

The LORD roars from Zion,
and from Jerusalem raises his voice,
The heavens and the earth quake,
but the LORD will be a shelter for his people,
a fortress for the people of Israel. (Joel 4:16 NABRE)


Oh Lord, you defend your people from their enemy. For thousands of years, your people have struggled against destruction and you remain a constant protector. Time and time again, you have shown your faithfulness toward your chosen ones.

Lord, today I ask for your protection for myself and my family. As we remember our deceased relatives and friends this month, as we prepare for Thanksgiving, and as we venture out into the world in our different ways. Please guide our hearts as you always do, and keep us aware of your holy presence within each person we encounter. Help me to discern the enemy, recognizing his evil influence as distinct from people who are hurting from the scars of this life, so that I may avoid being pulled into occasions of sin but rather reach out to those in need of comfort. And when I cannot determine whether to shake the dust from my shoes* or to encourage a soul who is suffering, help me remember to incline first toward mercy as you do for me.


Today, I will speak and act encouragingly toward others around me.


Saint Francis Xavier Can, Vietnamese martyr who would not deny his faith, pray for us.

Amen.

November 19, 2014 - Wednesday

In their actions even children can playact
though their deeds be blameless and right.
The ear that hears, the eye that sees—
the LORD has made them both. (Proverbs 20:11-12 NABRE)


Actions do not always reveal character and people have many reasons for behaving as they do. As a result, we often have no insight into why people say and do the things they do. If a[n innocent] child can playact, an adult can do so even more.*

God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see so that we may observe the world around us and grow in understanding and wisdom. However, human judgments are not ultimate; the Lord expects proper use of these faculties.*

It is important that we learn to use wisely our judgments of others. We should pray for discernment so we can begin to know how to respond to others whose words and actions challenge and even harm us. We need to understand how to live with them. For our part, we should speak honestly and act directly with others. And we should consider our own playacting, seeking to eliminate self-deception from our lives.


Today, I will will pray for those whose troubling words and actions I do not understand.


Saint Agnes of Assisi, whose prayer and sacrifice led you to a life of service, pray for us.

November 18, 2014 - Tuesday

“Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” (Matthew 13:52 NABRE)


Jesus' words to his disciples instruct them how to teach others about the kingdom of heaven. They were the first leaders of his church: They knew his teachings (the new). And they were like the religious scribes of their day: They knew the Jewish law (the old).

In today's verse, Jesus tells each of them to "provide in his own teaching both...the old as interpreted and fulfilled by the new.* Jesus came to fulfill the law, so it was important his followers understood the law as well as his teaching. Today, our Bible contains both the Old Testament, which are the books of the law and the prophets, and the New Testament, which are the books about Jesus.

Lord God, thank you for sharing with us the whole of salvation history. From the beginning of time you have been with us. You show us how to live today and you tell us why. Jesus, you came to fulfill the words of the law and the prophets written down so long before you were born. You came here to redeem us in this life so we might spend the next in your company. We look forward to being fully in your presence on that great day.


Today, I will praise God who gives me faith, hope and love, who showers me with his endless mercy, and who shows me the path for my life. Praise you Jesus.


Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, who, in your heart, held back nothing from God, pray for us.

November 17, 2014 - Monday

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning;
better is a patient spirit than a lofty one. (Ecclesiastes 7:8 NABRE)


When life gets hard, even unbearable, never give up.

As difficult as it can be to wait for a bad situation to end, we are called to wait, to endure and to carry on. But we ask, "How can I endure this suffering?" First, by relying on faith. We need to be confident that God will work things out in his time. He always does. Always. Believe it.

When you have nothing left, pray this way: Lord, I can not carry this burden myself anymore so I give it to you to carry. Please carry it for me until, in your good time, it may end.

The trick, it is said,* is to seek to become patient and not proud. Patience grows from humility. When we regularly and deliberately put on a mindset and attitude of humility we are able to endure whatever would crush a proud person. With this thinking we become what is called poor in spirit.*


Today, I will seek humility and patience in every difficult situation that arises, big or small. Rather than, in my pride, being irritated, annoyed or frustrated by situations, I will join my difficulties with the suffering of Jesus, who suffered for my sake, as a sacrifice for others who suffer far greater than I do.


Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, patroness of Catholic charities, pray for us.

November 16, 2014 - Sunday

And now our feet are standing
within your gates, Jerusalem. (Psalms 122:2 NABRE)


Jerusalem, the spiritual center of so much of God's plan on earth, was made a pilgrimage destination in the Jewish law* before it was even established as a city. Psalm 122 is a song sung by pilgrims obeying the law.* The song celebrates the pilgrims' arrival in Jerusalem to give thanks to God and to pray for peace.

For the Christian, Jerusalem is also a symbolic destination. We are pilgrims on a faith journey during this life. We can even experience the excited anticipation of arrival in the promised kingdom of God, the new Jerusalem we learn about in the book of Revelation (See Revelation 3:12, 21:2 and 21:9).

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of your mercy. Thank you for your plan of salvation. Thank you for giving each of us a path to walk and a guide so that we might reach the new Jerusalem as pilgrims, so that we might rejoice in your company and sing with you in your kingdom.


Today, I will imagine the great joy of the arriving pilgrim and I will live humbly as a traveller on the way.


Saint Gertrude the Great, who reminds us that prayer is the heart of the Christian life, pray for us.

November 15, 2014 - Saturday

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NABRE)


It was a bright morning twenty-eight years ago, just like today, when I began to understand this verse.

It was cold here in New England, with a dusting of snow on the ground when we began our marriage journey together. Though we didn't know it at the time, all we really had were faith, hope and love. There was little else.

Funny that after so many years these three remain and I could say they are still all we have. Still all we need. Still all we seek. They are what make marriage work, expressed so beautifully in the more well-known lines* of this chapter of Corinthians:

• Love is patient
• Love is kind. 
• Love is not jealous, 
• Love is not pompous, 
• Love is not inflated,
• Love is not rude, 
• Love does not seek its own interests, 
• Love is not quick-tempered, 
• Love does not brood over injury,
• Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.
• Love bears all things, 
• Love believes all things, 
• Love hopes all things, 
• Love endures all things.

Take some time to enjoy and meditate on each one. Each is so rich in meaning that it brings out a different character of relationship worth spending time with.

Here is a challenge: If you substitute your own name for "Love" in the list, how well do you do? What could you change today to love better?!


Today, I will remember faith and hope matter, along with love which never fails.

Blessed Mary of the Passion, who wished for two lives, one for prayer and one to perform all the duties God imposed on her, pray for us.

November 14, 2014 - Friday

My son, to my words be attentive,
to my sayings incline your ear;
Let them not slip from your sight,
keep them within your heart. (Proverbs 4:20-21 NABRE)


People can change. We struggle with that sometimes, but it is clear that we are not unable to choose differently, to think in new ways, and to act accordingly. We are always free to choose, in every circumstance, good or bad.

Someone who always seems to make destructive choices may still change and begin to follow a new path of righteousness. By the same token, we should guard our hearts in each moment against choices that lead us away from goodness and toward wickedness.

Parents cannot help themselves but to teach their values to their children. Solomon did it many thousands of years ago. I do it here. In fact, one of the most beautiful gifts our children give us (without anyone realizing it most of the time), is the way they compel us parents to guide and protect them. Think about it! In their innocent and unspoken witness, our children allow us to experience something of what God must feel for us who are his own children, his own creation. What wouldn't he do for us? There is nothing he wouldn't do for us.

Grasp onto that. And for those without children, look at the people in your life with whom you are bound by relationship. We form ties that bind us together. We become family in a real sense, with all the gifts and responsibilities implied by such connectedness. Let's hope for one another. Let's believe in one another's ability to change. Let's remember that God is with us as we risk change, as we make difficult or unpopular decisions, and as we live out the life which follows.


Today, I will pray with great confidence for those of us in need of change, that we recognize our chance to change ourselves, even in little ways, in every decision we make throughout this day. 


Saint Nicholas Tavelic and Companions, fourteenth-century Franciscan martyrs, pray for us.

November 13, 2014 - Thursday

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with the simplicity and sincerity of God, [and] not by human wisdom but by the grace of God. (2 Corinthians 1:12 NABRE)


Saint Paul writes of his own behavior toward the Church in Corinth and in general. He mentions three distinct aspects of his approach toward people in order to be encouraging: simplicity, sincerity and acting by God's grace. And so I wonder how I might encourage others through the trials of my life so they might turn to God and trust him as their rescuer.

Simplicity. This describes a life that is free from complexity, pretentiousness or guile.* Today, we might say, "What you see is what you get." or "I do not hide my personal agenda." Instead, I act and speak directly.

Sincerity. This has to do with our intention, what drives us to speak or act in a certain way. A sincere person is earnest and is free from deceit, hypocrisy, or duplicity.* It answers the question, "Why do I act a certain way?" Sometimes, sincerity will cost me because I may have to sacrifice self-interest for honesty.

God's grace. God has given us a free gift which we call grace. One aspect of his grace is his Holy Spirit living and residing within each of us, offering guidance when we ask for it, words when we need them, and prompting action when it is called for.


Today, I will speak and act directly with others, guided by God's Spirit, so that they might be encouraged to know and see me turn to God as my rescuer in times of difficulty, great or small.


Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, known as Mother Cabrini, first U.S. citizen to be cannonized, patron of hospital administrators, immigrants and impossible causes, pray for us.

November 12, 2014 - Wednesday

But the Lord said to him, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. (Acts 7:33 NABRE)


God's Spirit spoke directly to Moses in the desert. Today's verse is from Saint Stephen's retelling of the story of his people fifteen hundred years later. In it, we read God's reminder that there are holy places.

So often today, we forget that there are indeed holy places. Special places on this earth. Places set aside for worship. Places consecrated by prayer, heroic acts, or otherwise, which call us to a respecful mindfulness of the presence of the divine in our world.

However, no place is holier than the place where the Spirit of God dwells. And as believers, we know that this most holy temple of God is within each of us who is baptized.

Lord God, keep me mindful of your presence within me. Help me to remember at all times that I do not need to look at the grandeur of any celestial display to see your work. Remind me always that you are within me, and guide me with a respectful mindfulness to care well for your dwelling place here. My Lord, help me to recognize you also in each person I encounter today. Show me what is greatest within them. Show me what unites us. And Lord, if there is a need I can fill, show it to me, provide me with the means to satisfy it, and remove from me any hesitation that would keep me from acting according to your prompting.


Today, I will seek to be mindful of God's holy presence in each person I encounter.


Saint Josaphat, who worked for and was martyred for unity among Christians, pray for us.

November 11, 2014 - Tuesday

But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” (John 11:22-23 NABRE)


How much do I trust God in my life? How much faith do I put in him? Do I really believe he is involved with me personally? These are the questions each of us faces when we examine our belief. Most of us who believe, strongly or even somewhat uncertainly, keep the faith pretty well when things are going along alright; but sometimes when trouble strikes, we seem to lose track of our faith. We forget to rely on God at the most critical times. And we sometimes even dismiss him because of our indifference, sorrow, disillusionment or anger. Do you know anyone like that?

Imagine what it must have been like for Jesus' friends from Bethany, two sisters named Martha and Mary. Four days after their brother Lazarus died, Jesus arrives on the scene. Even though people had witnessed his healing miracles, he is too late to to save Lazarus from death.

Martha speaks pointedly to Jesus, yet even in her sadness she hasn't lost her faith. In fact, Martha shows such strong faith in Jesus she makes the first statement in today's verse, "But even now [that it's obviously too late] I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Wow! That is truly amazing faith! And Jesus responds with the great miracle of raising her brother Lazarus from the dead.


Today, I will not let the trials of my life weaken my faith, instead I will turn more quickly to Jesus at these times confident that whatever he asks of God the Father, God will give him.


Saint Martin of Tours, patron of soldiers, man who worried about cooperating with evil, pray for us.
Saint Faustina, messenger of Divine Mercy, pray for us.

November 10, 2014 - Monday

Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well. (Proverbs 5:15 NABRE)


Parents spend a lifetime instructing and guiding their children. While children are young, they learn quickly, they are expert imitators, and they absorb much. At some point as they grow independent, children begin to push against instruction and guidance, seeking instead the teacher of experience in the "school of hard knocks." As moral reasoning develops and becomes more sophisticated, children often appear to be well on their way to disregarding advice in favor of experimentation which becomes increasingly dangerous.

And yet, the wise father-king speaking to his son's in today's verse, knows they do continue to need advice and that they do continue to listen and absorb it, even though they may not act on it right away. He knows that the best defense against folly is to appreciate and love wisdom.* He speaks to his children from his own experience to guide them away from making mistakes unnecessarily. His hope is that they will come to no harm. More than that, his great hope is that they will find their way to truth and especially to a relationship with God.


Today, I will be grateful for the guidance I receive each day.


Saint Leo the Great, who reminds us we are Christ's church, pray for us.

November 9, 2014 - Sunday

So that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7 NABRE)


Titus, like Timothy, was a companion of Paul on his third missionary journey about twenty years after Jesus' Ascension. He was sent to the island of Crete to learn about the people there and to establish church leaders.

In his greeting to Titus from which today's verse is drawn, Paul, having heard about how the people of Crete had been living, instructs Titus how they should live. He reminds Titus that God has been kind, generous and merciful to the faithful. Therefore, these believers needed to change. They should be:

• Under the control of magistrates and authorities
• Obedient
• Open to every good enterprise (meaning to be good citizens)
• Peaceable
• Considerate
• Exercise all graciousness toward everyone

They should not slander anyone and they should seek to no longer be:

• Foolish
• Disobedient
• Deluded
• Slaves to various desires and pleasures
• Living in malice and envy
• Hateful

Good advice for us too.

Today, I will remember how generous, kind and merciful God has been in my life; and as such, seek to devote myself to good works.


On this feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran church, the pope’s church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides, Saints Peter and John Paul II, pray for us.

November 8, 2014 - Saturday

Yes, you are my flock: you people are the flock of my pasture, and I am your God—oracle of the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 34:31 NABRE)


Ezekiel, chapter 34 is like a prophetic bridge that connects two great leaders, one from the past and one who was yet to come. The words of this prophet connect King David with Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd and King of Kings. Shepherd was a frequent title for kings in the ancient Near East. The ideal ruler cared for his flock and anticipated their needs.*

Written during the Babylonian captivity, God speaking through Ezekiel makes it clear that the rulers of Israel at the time, who were supposed to have been caring for his people, were responsible for this exile by their neglect and indifference. He tells the leaders he will take the flock out of their care and it is at this point God, still speaking through Ezekiel, addresses his flock, his people, us believers even today, with the words of today's verse.

Reading Ezekiel 34 with the benefit of hindsight is fascinating. I suggest reading it like it was a poem (giving it at least three readings) and meditating on it to let its impact really affect you. During the second read-through, also read the footnotes and endnotes as you go. This will really bring out the breadth and scope of the prophecy. Don't worry, it won't take long and it will be time very well spent!

Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd, for pasturing us abundantly and protecting us securely. Please help us to see your Spirit in each other, especially the weak and troubled, so that we might not push against them but instead help them. Help us to be more like you. Help us to act as your arms and legs in our daily circumstances for the benefit of those who need to know you. And finally, help us to be humble, placing the needs of your flock ahead of our own wants, desires, and even our own needs. Help us to become shepherds to your people.


Today, I will give thanks for the provision and care my Shepherd offers each of us.


Blessed John Duns Scotus, model of intellectual integrity joined with faithfulness, pray for us.

November 7, 2014 - Friday

Blessed be the LORD, your God, who was pleased to set you on his throne as king for the LORD, your God. In the love your God has for Israel, to establish them forever, he has made you king over them to carry out judgment and justice. (2 Chronicles 9:8 NABRE)


More than 400 years before Christ was born, these are the words of the Queen of Sheba* to King Solomon, according to the Chronicler, when she realized that his gift of wisdom far surpassed his reputation. And yet, the description of Solomon calls to mind, for me at least, Jesus who is King over all kings and who will carry out judgment and justice at the end of time. Beyond that, I am reminded of God's surpassing love for his people, for you and me.

God loves you!

It can feel like a cliche, but it's true. He loves you more than the greatest love you have ever felt. He loves you right now, in the middle of whatever messiness you may be facing in your life.

John 3:16 reminds us of this simple and wonderful truth.

I am pleased to report that I had some success yesterday remembering to say "Thank you Jesus." in those little moments of frustration. There were five to ten time during the day when I found myself irritated by some little thing or another and the phrase came to mind for me to speak, so I did. Thank you Holy Spirit for keeping me mindful of Jesus at my own little times of trial. I offer them up as prayers for others who need strengthening in faith as much as I do.


Today, I will rest in God's love. I will again seek to remember to say, "Thank you Jesus." each hour or in those moments when little annoyances bother me excessively.


Saint Didacus, Franciscan brother for whom San Diego, California, is named, pray for us.

November 6, 2014 - Thursday

If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7 NABRE)


Imagine it with me. Jesus is the exact human embodiment of God. If we know Jesus, we know God. If we learn from Jesus, we learn God's thinking. If we watch Jesus, we see God's emotions. And if we imitate Jesus, we understand God's heart.

Today's verse is from the Last Supper. Jesus is telling his friends not to be troubled and to trust God. (Keep in mind, Jesus has just predicted some very dire things about them, in chapter 13--that Judas would betray him and that Peter would deny him, he barked at Peter for not letting him wash his feet, and worst of all, he had just told them he'd be leaving them soon.)

At times of great trouble and worry, do I remember God is with me? How disturbed am I by challenging events? Do I stop functioning when a crisis happens? Do little annoyances overwhelm me? It can happen.

Some years after Jesus departed, Saint Paul offers some advice that remains valid today. He wrote, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)


Today, I will rejoice, pray and give thanks to God at least once every hour, and I will try simply to say, "Thank you Jesus." immediately each time I am challenged by a trouble or worry.


Saint Leonard, patron of political prisoners, imprisoned people, prisoners of war, and captives, women in labour, as well as horses, pray for us.

November 5, 2014 - Wednesday

What is man that you are mindful of him,
and a son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him little less than a god,
crowned him with glory and honor. (Psalm 8:5-6 NABRE)


When the Psalmist considers the "moon and stars that [God] set in place,"* he is left wondering what we all wonder about at some time or another: Why would the infinite creator God bother with such lowly creatures as us? More than that, why would he make us "almost at the level of the beings in the heavenly world?"*

Our reality calls us to grateful humility.

Psalm eight is a wonderful song of praise to our God who created all that is, and who made us in his likeness. It shows us an early awakening to the love that God has for us, which is realized in the person of Jesus Christ, demonstrated by his life, death and resurrection.

Lord, we sing with David, of your majesty. We stand in awe of your creation. We wonder at your thoughts and plans which are so far above our own we are often left without comprehension. We marvel at your name, Lord God, and your presence in all things. We praise you along with David, sharing your name with all who hear us. Thank you, Lord, for the great gift of awareness so that we might continue to appreciate you, even when we cannot understand.


Today, I will praise God by my words and actions.


Saints Zachary and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, pray for us.

November 4, 2014 - Tuesday

Exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12 NABRE)


Not long after leaving them, Saint Paul describes how he treated the new believers at Thessalonica while he was with them. He describes himself as fatherly. He reminds them to live morally according to the Christian principles which he taught them. Specifically, Paul exhorts and encourages them to holiness in sexual contact, mutual charity, hope for the Christian dead, vigilance in waiting for Christ's return, and a number of other instructions for maintaining good order among themselves.

1Thessalonaians is a short book of just five chapters. It is worth reading from beginning to end in a single sitting. Meditating on it briefly, on any one of it's points, offers real insight.


Today, I will meditate on Paul's encouragement, considering how I might conduct myself better, so as to grow increasingly worthy of the God who calls me into his kingdom and glory.


Saint Charles Borromeo, who saw Christ in your neighbor, pray for us.

November 3, 2014 - Monday

Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Listen! I will make breath enter you so you may come to life. (Ezekiel 37:5 NABRE)


Ezekiel was a prophet during Israel's exile in Babylon, about 600 B.C. Today's verse is a prophesy which offers the exiles hope for the future. The dry bones to which the Lord speaks are the exiles themselves. God tells them he will send breath, his Spirit, into them. You see, God punished Israel by exiling them, but here he promises to restore them once again. Here we read part of his announcement that he will create a new Israel from among them. He wants to demonstrate once and for all that he is the Lord.*

How often do we think of God actively involved in our lives? Do we think he is capable of directing nations as masterfully as individuals? While we may be quick to dismiss the street-corner prophets who, even today, wear signs that say Repent, are we really so sure God does not intervene in the large events that shift political power? Have we become blind and calous to God's Lordship?

As we approach a mid-term election day tomorrow, I suggest that our vote can be a profound act of prayer. "We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose," (Romans 8:28) but do we believe that our vote may be one of those things helping to work out God's purpose? In our country, we have the great gifts of a democratic process and the vote. Even in our imperfect, cynical, sometimes discouraging, and too-often corrupt political system, we are at least invited to participate! Compare this with the violent oppression taking place in Sudan, the ISIS-controlled areas of Syria and Iraq, and so many other nations around the world.

Express hope! Help breathe life into the dry bones of our people. Participate!


Today, I will prepare my heart and mind so that my vote tomorrow will have meaning, helping to chose responsible leaders.


Saint Martin de Porres, whose life teaches us so much about deep and true forgiveness and charity, pray for us.

November 2, 2014 - Sunday

He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. (Matthew 15:13 NABRE)


The Pharisees had placed religious rituals and traditions above God's commandments, nullifying, according to Jesus, the word of God for the sake of these traditions. As a result, Jesus calls them hypocrites. In today's verse, just after the Apostles tell him he has offended the Pharisees, he replies in a manner which actually begins to lead the Apostles away from the teaching authority of the Pharisees.*

Jesus tells the Apostles, and us, that people who act so as to appear religious, holy and righteous, but who are more concerned with their own gain, such as these teachers of the law were, are blind, and they lead others who follow them right into a pit.

Lord, give me eyes to see. Give me the clarity and courage to examine my own motivations. Guide me as I navigate the difficulties of this life, seeking first to do your will in all situations. Our Father, your will be done on earth! May your Holy Spirit be alive in me today, sharing with me discernment in large and small matters, so that I may act in true holiness, seeking less to achieve riches and prestige for myself and more to turn others to you, Lord. I ask this in Jesus' name and in the company of those gathered here. Amen.


Today, I will seek first God's will in my life.


On this, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day), we pray for all of you who have gone before us into death, and we ask that you please pray for us.

November 1, 2014 - Saturday

Sing praise to the LORD, you faithful;
give thanks to his holy memory. (Psalm 30:4 NABRE)


In the last book of the Bible, written about 600 years after the Psalms, Saint John has a vision of heaven. In chapter 7, he describes "a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.... [One of the elders] said to me, ‘These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:9,14).

Still today, we join with the Psalmist and all the angels and saints in giving constant praise and thanksgiving to God.

In a video reflection on this idea of praying together, we are given a beautiful image of sharing radiance in our world, of participating in and acknowledging the radiance all around us--the excitement, the radiance of God. We hear about All Saints Day described as a stadium experience filled with the power of an excited crowd whose Spirit shakes the stadium with its radiance, the radiance of being a child of God. (See: 2014-11-01 Reflection (2-667))


Today, right now, on this Solemnity of All Saints, I will sing my part in the chorus giving you praise and thanks, my Lord.


Saint Perigrine, patron of cancer patients, pray for us.
Saint Michael the Archangel, protector, pray for us.
Saints John XXIII and John Paul II, most newly named saints, pray for us.
All you angels and saints, pray for us.