December 31, 2014 - Wednesday

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11 NABRE)

What a year it's been! God most certainly does act in our lives, so let's celebrate that truth and the great gift of awareness which we have been given!

Lord, thank you for 2014. As I recall the many moments and memories it holds for me personally, gratitude overwhelms me. I am grateful beyond words for all you have done for me, for my health and my family, for my friends and my work, for all those who share with me in this daily prayer time, and most of all for the relationship you have always fostered with me, even when I lost track of you.

Thank you my Lord, for the challenges and struggles you allowed me to face this year. By each of them, I have seen your strength in my weakness.

And honestly, thank you for the countless moments of reinforcement in my faith this year, the many times I've shared my thoughts here with shaky human confidence, only to hear your echo bounce back to me later the same day, most often in the words of others, validating my thoughts, confirming that my worry was without foundation, and reminding me that we travel this life together. Jesus, I trust in you.

To my family--for whom I share this bit of myself each morning, thank you for your encouragement and support all year. You'll never know what it's meant to me. I hope starting each morning together with the Lord has been as much of an encouragement to you as it has been to me!

To my brothers and sisters in faith, to my friends, to others of good will who have found a welcome word or two here, to you who joins us each morning in prayer, to each one of you who perhaps has found here echoes of God's loving reinforcement of your own personal faith journey--for whom I offer this daily prayer, thank you. Your presence here and your prayers have encouraged me in ways you cannot know and for which I am grateful. Know that the grace of God, by your encouragement and support, has at times kept me going through times of doubt and dryness. Know, too, that you are in my personal prayers each day.

May you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in the new year. May you feel the love of God in 2015. And may you experience the fellowship of the holy Spirit each day. I look forward to starting each new day of the new year with you and with our God.


Today, I will remember how blessed I am so that I can be a blessing to others.


Saint Sylvester I, whose life is a reminder that true leadership requires humility and courage, pray for us.

December 30, 2014 - Tuesday

But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it. (2 Timothy 3:14 NABRE)

Believers should be useful to the Lord. It's true God does not need us, but everything we know of him points us to be of service to others in his name. As 2014 comes to a close, take a few minutes today to reflect on ways you used your time this year in service to the Lord.

As Paul and Timothy did, and as today's saint did, each of us is given opportunities to serve others and to be used by God. Just for today, let's think about the times we said yes! Let's remember the times we heard his call. Let's dwell just a little on the times we tried. Not out of personal pride, but in order to recognize his very real movement in our lives!

Lord, thank you for choosing me to serve you, for lighting my sometimes frightening path, and for the awareness of your presence in my life. Thank you for your holy Spirit within me, my guide through life's most difficult moments. O Lord, this was a remarkable year because I knew you as a friend and a companion. 2014 was a special year because you gave me this platform to share part of myself and our relationship with my children. Father in heaven, thank you for a few times you even shoved me a bit into something I was reluctant to do for you! I ask that in the upcoming year you open my heart to your will, that you increase my willingness to serve others in your name, and you raise my trust in your divine protection.


Today, I will be grateful for the opportunities I've had this year to server others, and I will pray that my faith and my choices may incline others toward the Lord.


Saint Egwin, eighth-century Benedictine bishop who chose a difficult path for himself in service to the Lord, pray for us.

December 29, 2014 - Monday

You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar. (Psalm 139:3 NABRE)

For me, Psalm 139 always calls to mind a favorite song we used to sing during Mass called You Are Near.

On a side note, since 2008, out of respect to it's original significance and use, we no longer sing the Divine Name of God, expressed as "Yahweh," in this and other songs or prayers during the liturgy (a particular problem for this song since Yahweh was actually the first word in the lyric).* It's been replaced by "O Lord" and, after some minor anguish, that is alright with me. It's a good alternative chosen by the composer.

That aside, the actual meaning of You Are Near has to do with the closeness of God to each one of us. And that is what resonates with so many people about the song and keeps Psalm 139 a favorite of many. The closeness of God. He is with us. Immanuel. He is as close as our next thought, our next feeling, our next breath. God knows each of us even better than we know ourselves. He made us. And he loves us.

Lord, thank you for your nearness to me. Thank you for your protection. Thank you for your love.


Today, I will meditate on your real presence within me, and the power of your holy Spirit to lead me in your ways.


Saint Thomas Becket, who reminds us to take a stand for what is true and right, pray for us.

December 28, 2014 - Sunday

Certainly sons are a gift from the LORD,
the fruit of the womb, a reward. (Psalm 127:3 NABRE)

Daughters too! In some translations, "the fruit of the womb" is translated as "children."*

The importance of family takes center stage today, in our liturgical calendar, as it is the Feast of the Holy Family. Sons. Daughters. Mothers. Fathers. Brothers. Sisters. Together. These are among God's greatest gifts! Each word, by definition, only has meaning as half of a relationship. And it is by these relationships we are so blessed.

The importance of family is easily overlooked. Some of us become casual about family, many times, because family is always just there. Others of us today are embroiled in the public debate about what defines a family and fall victim to either anger or despair. Whether it is due to familiarity, anger or despair, or some other reason, we are vulnerable to forgetting the importance of family.

Yet the importance of family remains. Consider that God, the almighty creator of all things who existed before time itself, chose to reveal himself to us in the context of family. He chose an unlikely pair, Mary and Joseph, an obscure but faith-filled couple as his parents. This family came together not by chance but by plan. And Jesus, our Lord, who gave up the glory of heaven for a time, by his birth as a baby to this couple, did so in order to share in our experience of this life and to regain a lost relationship with us.

So. The family is important. The family reflects God's love for us. Christian families have the wonderful model of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to look to for guidance. Sons and daughters are indeed gifts from the Lord. Children are rewards and daily reminders of the love God has for us.


Today, on this Feast of the Holy Family, I will say thank you, Lord, for my children!


Mary, mother of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, foster-father of Jesus, pray for us.

December 27, 2014 - Saturday

Then the righteous will give thanks to your name;
the upright will dwell in your presence. (Psalm 140:14 NABRE)

Have you ever had an enemy, a real enemy, someone who maybe even seemed irrationally pushed by evil and who was intent on hurting you?

King David, it seems, confronted this very isolating problem. Based on his writing and considering the circumstances of his reign, it is clear he must have had many enemies. In Psalm 140, David describes his enemies is dramatic detail. In some ways, it reads like a Hollywood movie teaser! David talks about wicked, violent, arrogant and slanderous men who plan evil against him and stir up conflicts around him. He lives in a high-pressure world where he is the target of those with sharp and threatening tongues who plot to trip him up and set traps for him.

Yet, David, the powerful king, is humble enough to ask God for his protection. He considers himself among the needy, the poor, the just and the upright. It is a powerful thing for us to realize that amidst all the danger he faced, he turned first to God, with great confidence, and pleaded with him for deliverance.

Lord Jesus, when evil pursues me--and I know it does, as I draw closer to you and evil pursues me with increasing intensity--and I know it does, protect me--I know you will. You take up the cause of those in need. You shield the just and the upright in battle. Lord, I trust in you. Thank you for delivering me from every evil.


Today, I will stay mindful of God's protection over my life by praying The Lord's Prayer throughout the day.


Saint John the Apostle, whose gospel reminds us that God is love, pray for us.

December 26, 2014 - Friday

Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give. (Matthew 10:8b NABRE)

Not long after Jesus calls together his twelve chosen followers, they are designated by Matthew as apostles (which means "one who is sent"). Jesus gives certain abilities to the apostles and sends them out to announce to Israel, as John the Baptist did, that the long-awaited time of God's rule has begun.

Like the apostles, each of us has been given certain abilities to help build his kingdom (as the saying goes) while here on earth. To do this, Jesus calls us to look at our lives, to see what needs changing, and to make the necessary changes with his help.

Jesus, I thank you for your holy Spirit and the gifts you have given to me at no cost. As my faith in you grows and my reliance on the guidance of your Spirit increases, help me to look critically at my life and to see even more clearly what needs changing. Specifically, show me how to change and give me the courage and trust in you to make the change you desire, so that I might better reflect your will in my life. Lead me to others in need, to circumstances where I might give freely to others in your name, so that they too might see something of the beauty of your love for them.


Today, I will give freely of myself in whatever context you provide, Lord.


Saint Stephen, who spoke the truth fearlessly, pray for us.

December 25, 2014 - Thursday

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. (Luke 2:11 NABRE)

Blessed recently with our firstborn grandson, our family is enjoying the pure and innocent presence of this infant boy in our midst. We memorize his face. We copy the sounds he makes as he copies ours. We gaze into his eyes as he looks unblinking into ours. We offer him a finger to grasp and marvel at his grip. We dress him in outfits, each of which has a story. We admire him as he notices things farther and farther away. We see him recognize his parents' voices and the faces of little friends that are becoming familiar to him. We introduce him to our friends nearby and some who come from far away. And, most of all, we hold him!

Today my family celebrates Christmas in a beautiful and exciting new way, but the message of hope and promise that embodies this day remains. God is indeed with us!

After many years of waiting, he came as a poor infant boy, as the promised son of Israel, yet he was not even recognized by many of his own people. His first coming sets the stage for his return, and we wait, hopeful that more will recognize him then, doing what we can to help that along each day.

Lord, on this day of joy, may those of us who believe and those of us who do not, may the entire creation, sense the peace you offer, glimpse the hope of what is possible just beyond our understanding, and remember that the arrival of a little child thousands of years ago changed us all. 


Today, I will allow myself to be lost in each moment as it passes.


Today is the Solemnity of the Nativity. Let us pray for each other today. Birthdays are about family welcoming new members, new life. Let us recognize ourselves as brothers and sisters gathered together here for a few minutes each day. We come from Canada, the Philippines, Israel, European countries including Germany and France, and many of the United States, from Alaska to Florida, North Carolina to Oregon, and Texas to Massachusetts. God hears our collective prayers!

Merry Christmas to you and may you enjoy a share of God's peace and joy today!

December 24, 2014 - Wednesday

And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says:
“Let all the angels of God worship him.”
Of the angels he says:
“He makes his angels winds
and his ministers a fiery flame.” (Hebrews 1:6-7 NABRE)

The apostle who wrote the letter to the Hebrews tells us that Jesus is superior to angels, he is the unique and divine son of God. The angels serve him. He is the Messiah promised to Israel.

Lord, from the beginning you gave us free will, making yourself helpless in our hands. The infant Jesus was totally dependent on the loving response of other people, making clear this divine helplessness.* May I open my arms to the baby born in Bethlehem and to the God who made us all.


Today, on this last day of Advent, on this final day of waiting, on this, the eve of Christmas, I will recognize the deep symbolism of Christmas that points us to the fulfillment of God's promise of salvation for all; and I will pray confidently that the peace of the season will blanket the world, if even briefly, so that all might sense the universal hope found in God's love for us.

Altar of the Birth of Christ - Church of the Nativity in Bethleheme*

Saint Francis of Assisi, who created the first Christmas crib in 1223 at Greccio, Italy, pray for us.

December 23, 2014 - Tuesday

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5 NABRE)

Isaiah the prophet lived 800 years before Jesus and the language of today's verse seems to be that of a coronation rather than a birth. His words were meant to tell of a future king, promised by God, who would ensure the future of their people. The child mentioned in today's verse is also associated with the Emmanuel of Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8 (See also, Isaiah 11:1-2 and the 11:9-10 for other references.)*

In Matthew's gospel, with the great benefit of hindsight, Jesus is identified as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy of God's promise of a deliverer for Israel. We see this specifically in Matthew 1:23 which refers back to Isaiah 7:14.

O Emmanuel, O God with us, please turn my heart to you who wants a relationship with me. As the bustle of holiday preparation swirls around me, keep me keenly aware of your presence in my day and let me know an increase in the joy and peace only you can provide.

Today, I will remember that God is indeed with each of us.


Saint John Kanty, whose kind, humble, generous, austere and penitential life reminds us, especially at Christmas-time, to focus on what matters most, pray for us.

December 22, 2014 - Monday

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus. (Matthew 1:25 NABRE)

Have you ever stepped out in faith, turning an important matter over to God because you simply can't handle it yourself?

It's been said, "That which is conceived of the Holy Ghost never proves abortive, but will certainly be brought forth in its season."*

Imagine Joseph, betrothed* to Mary, finding out she is pregnant and knowing he is not the father. In the midst of all the emotions he must have felt, he is visited in a dream by an angel who explains that Mary was not unfaithful to him, but that the child was conceived by the holy Spirit. Joseph is told to continue with the marriage and to name the child Jesus. And he does.

Lord, grant me the faith to do as you ask especially when I am confused and hurt. When I am weak you are strong, so I ask only for the faith to trust in you when I no longer know what to do.


Today, I will trust in God's plan for my life, as Joseph did.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, pray for us.
Mary, mother of God, pray for us.

December 21, 2014 - Sunday

Then let all the trees of the forest exult
before the LORD, who comes. (1 Chronicles 16:33a NABRE)

All creation celebrates the arrival of the Lord! All of it, every last bit expresses exultation, is joyful and jubilant, even overjoyed and ecstatic at the coming of the Lord! Even the trees of the forest show elation in their own way! The life of today's saint, Peter Canisius, reminds us to give all we have in service and sacrifice to God, even as his son Jesus, the Lord, served and sacrificed.

Today is winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. By contrast, we have the O Antiphon for today which is "O Radiant Dawn," a musical reminder of Isaiah's prophesy:

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who lived in a land of gloom
a light has shone.* 

The Dawn Breaking, the Light of the World

Today, I will look to the light that shatters the darkness, I will sing with the trees of the forest, I will give all I have to step out of the gloom into the joy of God's service.


Saint Peter Canisius, patron of Germany, pray for us.

December 20, 2014 - Saturday

But now that you have been freed from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit that you have leads to sanctification, and its end is eternal life. (Romans 6:22 NABRE)

Often, when we take a new job, our employer provides us with a benefits package that includes some sort of retirement savings. The idea is that as we work at our jobs, we store up savings we'll need in the future when we retire and stop producing an income.

In the same way, when we took a new position with God at our baptism, he gave us a benefits package that includes a one-of-a-kind savings plan! Saint Paul tells us that our new position in God's organization not only provides us what we need to live a holy life now, but also what we need for eternal life after death.

Because we are bapatized in Christ and have faith that he came to earth to save us individually from sin, we have the promise of eternity spent in the complete joy and peace of his presence.

But take note: Even though believers are freed from it, "sin endeavors to reclaim its victims."* We will always be confronted in this life with temptations to sin. Ouch! That sounds harsh, doesn't it? But at the same time, it rings true.

Sin has become an extremely unpopular, discomforting and confrontational word in our culture. Hasn't it? We prefer other, softer words for the wrong things we do. We prefer words that do not carry consequences or judgment with them. We prefer words that encourage compassion and understanding. We prefer words we think won't challenge our fragile self-esteem. We prefer words like mistake, oversight, or slip up. For the practically minded, however, sin is anything we do or say, desire or omit that goes against reason, truth and right conscience.

The good news is that we shouldn't flinch at all at the word sin. There is no need to pretend we are not tempted constantly to sin. And we don't need to act like we're perfect and never fall into the traps of sin (since we all do, more often, I think, than we even realize). Saint Paul tells us very clearly that God's grace outmatches sin every single time! In chapter five of his letter to the Romans, he points out that, "where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more."* I can live with that!

Let's bring sin out into the light! Let's call it what it is because the ugliest part of sin is how one sin leads to others until we can get too stuck in it to get free. When we turn and face sin in ourselves, confident in Jesus' true compassion and mercy, we begin to get unstuck.


Today, with some fear and trepidation, I will boldly scrutinize my words and actions to recognize where sin lives, so that it may not reclaim this victim.


Saint Dominic of Silos, whose life reminds us that God chooses each of us for a unique purpose, pray for us.

December 19, 2014 - Friday

Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. (1 Corinthians 9:19 NABRE)

Saint Paul talks about freedom differently than we typically do today. To him, freedom meant he was fully available to serve others. He was not hindered in his ability to preach and serve. He trained himself with discipline, like an athlete, and removed, as much as possible, any earthly distractions, ties, or obligations from his life. He did this so that, as he says, he could focus on "win[ning] over as many as possible [to faith in Jesus]."

Lord, help me to look at my life, to examine the many distractions I've built up around me. Guide me as I seek to remove the excess from my life, as I seek to free myself from the debt, from the unnecessary agreements, and from the trivial pursuits which distract me from what you would have me do. And Lord, as the stillness settles, as the busy-ness calms, let me hear your prompting. Let me see your path for my life. And let me joyfully make the changes in my life that respond to your guidance.


Today, I will consider the necessity of my many daily activities and replace one short, trivial activity with a few minutes of quiet--not speaking or praying, just listening quietly for God's guidance.


Blessed Pope Urban V, who sought to reunite the Eastern and Western churches, pray for us.

December 18, 2014 - Thursday

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44 NABRE)

As he completes his work on earth, frankly, as he is about to say goodbye to his friends, Jesus clarifies for them that he is the one sent by God to fulfill the prophesies. He is the Messiah, Savior and Lord that had been promised for generations.

And they most likely believe him because they have the most incredible physical proof, the greatest sign of all: They know him, they watched him die, and here he is in their midst eating and talking with them. He overcame death!

Praise you Jesus! We believe though we have not seen. We thank you for your holy Spirit. We look forward to the day when we meet you, just as you met your friends so long ago in Jerusalem. May we continue to know and sense your Spirit within us, and recognize you within one another. May we treat others during this Advent and Christmas season, and throughout the year, as we would treat you, Lord. Amen.


Today, I will see only Jesus in those around me.


Saint Hildegard of Bingen, who saw the harmony of God's creation, pray for us.

December 17, 2014 - Wednesday

God alone is my rock and salvation,
my fortress; I shall never fall. (Psalm 62:3 NABRE)

Psalm 62 is a song of encouragement! Today's verse is it's refrain. In it, David encourages us to trust God above all else.

During the Advent season, we hear and meditate on the incarnation of our God as a man. The curtain between the physical and the spiritual worlds seems to get pulled aside just a bit and allows us a glimpse of how much lies barely beyond our senses.

Oh Lord, boundless creator, who's Word alone created the visible and the invisible and then joined us as a man, help us to trust you--what you promise us about yourself in inspired scripture, what you show us about yourself in the natural world, and what we can understand about you in our personal experiences. Inspire us with great confidence by the signs you provide so that we might place our trust and our lives in your hands.


Today, I will trust God, looking to him first for strength and protection.


Lazarus, friend of Jesus who reminds us not to fear death, pray for us.

December 16, 2014 - Tuesday

And say, “Save us, O God, our savior,
gather us and deliver us from among the nations,
That we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in praising you.” (1 Chronicles 16:35 NABRE)

Today's verse comes from the end of a song which King David had Asaph and his brothers first sing during a celebration before the Ark of the Covenant as it was initially set down in Jerusalem. Actually, we have it as it was written by the Chronicler about 700 years later and 300 years before Jesus was born. It is based on Psalm 106, verse 47.

Do you think David knew at the time this was sung that his words spoke prophetically of Jesus Christ, who would not be born for another 1000 years? Probably not.

Sometimes God uses us in ways we will never know about. Think about that for a minute. Isn't it amazing? Just like David, we may be the instruments of God, playing our roles in salvation history, without even knowing it and having no idea of the impact we may have.

And what was it about David, do you think, that prepared him for such a role? What is it about him that we might emulate if we hope to be God's hands and heart in today's world? David was open to God, grateful even in the worst circumstances, and sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. Maybe those are some things we can work on in our own lives so that our place in history reflects our love of God more strongly than we will ever know.


Today, I will remain aware of the impact I have on others, praise God, and keep open to his presence and guidance.


Blessed Honoratus Kozminski, who is said to have "always walked with God," pray for us.

December 15, 2014 - Monday

After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened [for him], and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 NABRE)

At this, the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry, God approves Jesus. His baptism in the Jordan River is his coming out party. It is the signal of the beginning of his public ministry. In this moment, described for us in such amazing language, the holy Spirit comes upon Jesus to give him exactly what he needs, equipping him for his ministry.*

God gives us what we need, at exactly the moment we need it. His timing is perfect, and we need to patiently wait for his gifts. As we wait, we pray continually. In our ignorance of his plan, we sometimes ask for patient endurance. We praise him for his greatness. We thank him for his mercy.

Lord, thank you for equipping me to do your work by the Holy Spirit dwelling within me. So often, I would have no other recourse than to rely on my own human reaction to difficulties and I know from experience that leads me only to failure and loss. Please bolster my confidence in you, Holy Spirit, so that I might always yield to your promptings rather than the impulses of my own thinking, so that I might seek to grow in the gifts you give me rather than pursuing the blessings of others, and so that I might spread your fruits in the world and expand your kingdom.


Today, I will open my heart to God's acceptance of me, and I will accept his power to confront the challenges of this day.


Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa, founder of the Handmaids of Charity, pray for us.

December 14, 2014 - Sunday

"What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:37 NABRE)

While speaking to his disciples, Jesus tells them of the need for watchfulness. He tells them, and us, to remain ready for him to return. The disciples had to have been confused by this because they really didn't know what was about to happen to Jesus--his passion and death were looming. They did not have the benefit of hindsight as we do today.

This Jesus, who was and is the incarnate Word of God, who rose from the dead and is right now in the presence of the Father; this Jesus, who humbled himself completely before God and man by becoming a man like us when he was born on that first Christmas night and by submitting to the humiliation and suffering of his passion and death--his purpose for becoming a man; this Jesus who then rose from the dead on that first Easter, defeating death and offering life after death to all who will believe in him; this Jesus knew who he was and he knew his destiny.

Lord, I thank you for this moment. I thank you for this very moment, right now. Not the last one. Not the next one, but this moment. Thank you for the air I am breathing and for being part of this place, part of this now. Thank you for what I see and hear in this place, and for the awareness of your protection over me in this vast universe. Thank you for all I smell, taste and touch right now, and for the mindfulness to meditate on and study your grace that has covered mankind throughout our history.


Today, I will thank God for each moment I live, aware of the endless expanse and the discreet and purposeful gift each moment is.


Saint John of the Cross, patron of mystics, pray for us.

December 13, 2014 - Saturday

Praise the Lord of lords;
for his mercy endures forever. (Psalms 136:3 NABRE)

My God, when I am empty, you fill me. I trust you are always with me.

When I am without words, you speak for me. I trust you are always with me.

When I am tired, you carry me. I trust you are always with me.

When I am hurting, you comfort me. I trust you are always with me.

How does God show you his mercy in your life?


Today, I will praise the Lord for his enduring mercy, grateful for the many ways he shows it to me.


Saint Lucy, patroness of the blind and those with eye disorders, pray for us.

December 12, 2014 - Friday

I will proclaim the decree of the LORD,
he said to me, “You are my son;
today I have begotten you. (Psalm 2:7 NABRE)

A speaker proclaims the divine decree (in the legal adoption language of the day), making the Israelite king the earthly representative of God.*  Though written a thousand years before Jesus was born, notice the familiar language. Recall the gospel story of Jesus' baptism and God's voice from the heavens:

And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Lord, thank you for sending your son to us as Immanuel (God with us), as Messiah (the Christ, the annointed one) and as Savior. During the rest of this Advent season, help me to increase in gratitude for the one perfect gift.

Today, I will remember how Mary, the mother of our Lord, appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 in Mexico. I will also recall that she is mother to us all, with great tenderness for each of us.


Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mary, patroness of the Americas and Mexico, pray for us.

December 11, 2014 - Thursday

And on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11 NABRE)

The three wise men who visited Jesus, the newborn king, were from the east. "The word magi originally referred to a Persian priestly caste noted for their interpretation of dreams....Here they are probably astrologers who look to the movement of stars as a guide to human events and destiny."* Old testament prophesies, Psalms 72:10, 15 and Isaiah 60:6, led to the interpretation of the magi as kings.*

These Gentile outsiders came to worship at the arrival of the newborn king. They "are able to see the signs of the divine in creation....These foreigners may have even been aware of the expectation that a worldwide ruler would come from Judah. Yet they had to consult the Jews about the messianic prophecies in order to unlock the more hidden mysteries of God."*

Lord, help me to be like the magi and not like Herod. Help me to seek you in this world rather than to feel threatened by your presence. When I feel far away from you, show me a star that will lead me to you. And please accept my heartfelt gifts--they are not gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but sometimes just prayers, kind words or smiles for others in need.


Today, I will serve you Lord, grateful for the many gifts you give me.


Saint Damasus I, whose life reminds us to be alert to the promptings of the Spirit and to serve others, pray for us.

December 10, 2014 - Wednesday

Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. (1 Corinthians 7:7 NABRE)

Marriage is a gift. In fact, in today's verse, Saint Paul describes marriage as a gift from God, using the same terminology he uses elsewhere to describe other gifts of the holy Spirit. By recognizing marriage as a gift of the Spirit, Paul teaches us that it is designed by God to sustain and encourage us to follow the promptings of the holy Spirit.

Taken from a beautiful yet challenging passage in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians (7:1-16), this verse captures the strength that a holy marriage can provide. The passage offers advice to the married, and is at center stage these days in the debates raging about marriage within the Church.


Today, I will pray for all married couples, that they may find a well of God's great strength in their relationship, healing where it is needed, and courage to accept God's call on their lives. 


Servant of God Bernard of Quintavalle, first follower of Saint Francis, esteemed for your virtue and wisdom, pray for us.

December 9, 2014 - Tuesday

He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they invited him to stay for a few days. (Acts 10:48-9 NABRE)

God wants a relationship with you now. Why wait?

In today's verses we see the baptism of the first Gentile (non-Jewish) Christians. At the time, this would have been unimaginable among the Jewish Christians. They had rules preventing interaction with Gentiles because they were considered profane and unclean. God had other plans. He made it clear that he wants a relationship with each and every one of us. This seems to have two implications:

1. Each of us who hears and knows about God has the simple choice to freely follow Jesus in faith.
2. Each follower of Jesus is called to tell others about him so they too can have a personal relationship with the Lord.

You may be saying, "That's enough reason to wait!" I know I did. The good news is that you only really need to focus on #1. Decide to follow Jesus and see where it takes you. That's all. The second implication will follow naturally in God's time. 

Each day I refresh my relationship with the Lord. I invite you to join me in the great peace and joy that comes from it! Come to Mass! If you've left the Church for some reason, give it another visit soon. Come back to the Church. You are always welcome. Encounter--or re-encounter--Jesus and his holy Spirit. Especially now, during Advent, as the world waits for the celebration of Jesus' birth, of his coming among us, his incarnation, Christmas, what better time is there to start a new relationship with such a perfect friend.

Today, I will refresh my relationship with the Lord, my perfect friend, and rest in the joy it brings to my life.


Saint Juan Diego, to whom the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe, appeared in the 16th century, pray for us.

December 8, 2014 - Monday

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19 NABRE)

Lord Jesus, as part of what we have come to call the Sermon on the Mount, you taught your disciples that you came to fulfill, not to abolish, the law and the words of the prophets. John's gospel begins by explaining that, in fact, you are God's Word who existed before all time and yet became incarnate as a man. You fulfill the words of the commandments and the prophesies of old as no other man ever could because they are words given by God to men. Lord, I am grateful for the grace you show me, especially the mercy and strength you share with me for this life and the next.

I imagine these words are difficult to make sense of. Either they seem confusing or ridiculous.

If they are a little confusing, don't worry. Keep reading God's word every day, meditate on it even for just a few minutes each day, seek to apply it to your own busy life, and at all times keep praying.

If these words seem ridiculous to you, ask yourself if anything is missing from your life, recognize that if you are still reading this perhaps that is the case, take a leap of faith and trust God will respond (do it privately...what have you got to lose?), consider that all these things you may have heard about over the years are true and available to you right now, and for just this one minute be humble (and allow yourself to feel silly enough) to talk to God and ask him to fill the biggest need in your life.

My prayer today is for you, wherever you are in your walk. Amen.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, I will evaluate how well I obey and teach others about God's words to us which show us how to live in his presence.


Mary, mother of the word incarnate and patroness of Brazil and the United States, pray for us.

December 7, 2014 - Sunday

When pride comes, disgrace comes;
but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2 NABRE)

Disgrace is the very opposite of what the proud so ardently want. Those who do not demand their due receive wisdom.* When we think too much of ourselves, we risk losing the respect of others, or worse, being shamed. When we make it our habit to think less of ourselves and more of others, we should expect to gain real wisdom that leads us to God.

O Lord, teach me humility. When I grow proud, remind me that my success is due entirely to the gifts you gave me. When I think too highly of myself, allow me to immediately see your Spirit in someone around me. And when I want to demand what is my due, hold my tongue and soften my heart so that I will instead relinquish it freely and with joy so that it has no hold over me, so that it does not become an idol to me, and so that I do not put myself above you, O God, whose majesty is above all things.


Today, I will actively pursue humility in my heart and mind, confident that this will lead to wisdom.


Saint Ambrose, patron of learning whose passion for Christ and learned oratory influenced and ultimately led to the conversion and baptism of Augustine of Hippo, pray for us.

December 6, 2014 - Saturday

Splendor and majesty go before him;
power and rejoicing are in his holy place. (1 Chronicles 16:27 NABRE)

Many events are chronicled in this book, it is one of the action stories of the Bible, showing God's action in human affairs. Among the events we see taking place perhaps a thousand years before Christ: Saul dies. David is made king. The Israelites take control of Jerusalem. Their army defeats the Philistines. The ark of God's is brought to Jerusalem. David initiates liturgical services in the temple by appointing some of the Levites to minister before the ark in its new home, and for the first time, to sing new songs of praise to God. Today's verse is part of the song he has them sing.

Lord God, let me remember today that it was you who made the heavens. Keep me mindful of your splendor, majesty and power. Help me to rejoice and give glory to you alone. And Lord, at this time of Christmas preparation, lead me to give gifts in remembrance of your greatest gift, your son, Jesus.


Today, I will recall God's greatness and generosity, seeking to honor him alone and to share his generosity with others.


Saint Nicholas, charitable fourth-century bishop and patron of children, pray for us.

December 5, 2014 - Friday

Therefore, holy “brothers,” sharing in a heavenly calling, reflect on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was “faithful in [all] his house.” (Hebrews 3:1-2 NABRE)

The writer to the Hebrews compares Jesus to Moses. His description of Jesus in particular tells us something important about who he is in relationship to God the Father and in relationship to us. In today's verse, Jesus is called the apostle [of God] which is mean to indicate he is the "one sent as God's final word to us."* Knowing his audience would understand the primacy of Moses, this comparison would have been a powerful message about Jesus' divine authority. Jesus is then described as superior even to Moses. And yet, he is in a sense, joined with us as a brother in our heavenly calling.

Lord Jesus, thank  you for your faithfulness and mercy. We are brothers sharing in your heavenly calling. Help us to be faithful in all things as you are. And help us to share your mercy with others as we face the challenges of this day.


Today, I will ask Jesus, my high priest, for his mercy and faithfulness even as I drift--forgetful or neglectful--at times from my own calling.


Saint Sabas, model of patient generosity for anyone whose time and energy are required by others, pray for us.

December 4, 2014 - Thursday

Who made the great lights,
for his mercy endures forever;
The sun to rule the day,
for his mercy endures forever. (Psalms 136:7-8 NABRE)

Psalm 136 is both a summary of Israel's past and a beautiful call to praise God, the creator of all things, for his divine mercy. Most likely written as a call/response song, the refrain "for his mercy endures forever" is a perpetual drumbeat, a consistent truth sounding throughout the history of God's people. It sounds for us today.

Lord of all creation, we rely completely on your mercy. We know you as the author of life and the creator of all things visible and invisible. We are bound by time, but you are outside of time. We cannot ever understand all that you are, and yet you seek a personal relationship with each of us whom you created. You desire that we turn to you and trust you ahead of ourselves. Lord Jesus, because our nature turns us away from you so easily, we need your great mercy and we are grateful that you so willingly share it. Thank you for your enduring mercy.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in thanksgiving for God's many blessings.


Saint Faustina, who reminds us of God's willingness to forgive, pray for us.

December 3, 2014 - Wednesday

I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD, your God, is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 NABRE)

Leadership is a great challenge and leaders need resources to be effective. After Moses died, Joshua bacame responsible to lead the Israelites into the promised land of Canaan. In today's verse, the Lord promises Joshua, like Moses before him, that he will never leave him and instructs him to follow all his laws. Joshua will need courage and trust in God to conquer these new lands just as Moses did in order to lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. God promises to provide all that Joshua needs if he will follow the laws given to Moses.

Each of us is called to be a leader in our own circles. We may lead nations as Joshua did or we may lead households. We may lead classrooms or we may lead one child. We may lead at work or we may lead in our community. Wherever we lead, we need resources, courage and trust in God so that we are able to help others.

Lord, provide for me so that I may do your work during my lifetime. I ask that your Spirit continue to show me the steps I should take each day, and I ask for the courage to follow your laws and the trust to rely on your providence. My God, this life is frightening sometimes and it can be so easy to lose heart. Please remind me at times of trial that you are with me so that I might not fear or be dismayed any longer than necessary to remember your great strength.


Today, I will lean on the Lord in times of challenge.


Saint Francis Xavier, patron of missionaries, pray for us.

December 2, 2014 - Tuesday

And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. (Luke 1:46 NABRE)

Here, as part of the infancy narrative of Jesus' birth, begins the beautiful song of Mary, which we call the Magnificat and which continues through verse 55. Actually, it is likely that this familiar song was inserted here by the author because it reflects so well the themes found throughout Luke's gospel.* We just don't know. We do know, however, that it echos Hannah's song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 as she dedicates her newborn son, Samuel, to the Lord. It also has references to Psalms, Isaiah and the New Testament letter to the Hebrews.

For both women, it is their statement of faith and trust in the Lord which is most important.

Having faith in God. Putting your trust in God. These are different than believing in God. Many people believe in some vague notion of "god" with all sorts of images and conceptions of what that means. But both Hannah and Mary sing to God because, at some point after learning about him, each decided to take the real risk of trusting him entirely to provide for her needs and to support her during the most important times in her life.

Believe! Have faith! Trust!


Today, I will refresh my trust in God's greatness, placing my life entirely in his hands.


Blessed Rafal Chylinski, whose life reminds us that "every one of us, even though we are sinners, has been called to love and to holiness," pray for us.

December 1, 2014 - Monday

Thus you may walk in the way of the good,
and keep to the paths of the just. (Proverbs 2:20 NABRE)

"Not Invented Here" describes an attitude which prevents someone from accepting advice. People who have the "Not Invented Here" attitude--which usually has its roots in arrogance, pride, or insecurity--are simply not open to ideas put forth by others. Instead, they have to feel as if they are the originator of all good ideas. Consider how limiting this is!

I can recall frequently thinking this way (in my far distant past of course). It shocks me to think how much I limited myself each time I rejected the wise advice of others, or worse, each time I unwittingly accepted bad advice from deceitful people. I hope I have permanently relinquished this attitude as I have come to recognize it in myself.

In today's verse, indeed in the whole of Proverbs 2, the wise speaker gives us advice that if we make it our way of life to seek wisdom, understanding and intelligence we will find them. We will become good and just.

And we are strongly reminded there is risk too. In our lives, we need to carefully avoid the advice and deceptions of deceitful people whose ways can lead us into destructive thinking and lifestyles. Such people distract us from the pursuit of wisdom.


Today, I will ask God for the grace to recognize the wise people around me, and I will seek to be open to their input, suggestions and ideas.


Blessed Charles de Foucauld, whose life was animated by prayer and humble service, pray for us.