July 31, 2015 - Friday

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.”
And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.  (Matthew 13:57-58 NABRE)

The proverb, "Familiarity breeds contempt." is generally interpreted to mean, "Extensive knowledge of or close association with someone leads to a loss of respect for them."* In today's passage, Jesus experiences this when he returns to his hometown to teach in the synagogue. His neighbors, the people who knew him only as the son of Joseph the carpenter, were offended that he would presume to instruct them about the ways of God.

Jesus, thank you for teaching me and for taking action in my life. Thank you for the awareness I've known which convinces me of your presence--the ability, the grace really, to recognize your voice and your hand in small things and familiar events. Keep me mindful of your unending love for me and divine mercy as I trip along the path this day. Hold me up, sustain me, and protect me along the way. 


Today, I will look for Jesus in each person, each event, each moment.


Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits and whose spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, for the greater glory of God, pray for us.

July 30, 2015 - Thursday

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34-35 NABRE)

About a year after Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he erected a tent to hold the arc of the covenant. The tent was a sanctuary where the Lord dwelt in the midst of the people. (Exodus 25:8) In what probably seems like a fable to many readers, we learn a truth about God that remains relevant even in our busy, modern lives: He wants to live among us and to have a relationship with us.

For me, Christ's real presence in the Eucharist is a remarkable and profound extension of his presence in the tent of meeting as we see it in Exodus. May we always be mindful of God among and within us so that we look for him in others and in ourselves. May we always remember our purpose to be part of the creation that gives him glory. And when we lose our bearings, let us seek only his company, nothing more.


Today, I will seek to be in the presence of the Lord.


Saint Peter Chrysologus, who strongly encourages us to pursue knowledge, pray for us.

July 29, 2015 - Wednesday

The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 NABRE)

As he journeyed, Jesus came to visit his friend Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary. At some point during the visit, Martha, it seems, became overwhelmed with the duties of serving while Mary "sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak." (Luke 10:39) And Martha complained, asking Jesus to make Mary help her. in today's passage, we see Jesus' response to Martha.

Lord, when I become overwhelmed by the choices I make, please remind me not to worry so much or to be anxious. Lead me instead to the better option so that I might remember to spend time today visiting with you, unconcerned about the busyness of the day or the expectations of others.


Today, I will remember to take time to sit "beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak."


Saint Martha, patron of housewives, waiters and waitresses, pray for us.

July 28, 2015 - Tuesday

Moses at once knelt and bowed down to the ground.
Then he said, “If I find favor with you, Lord, please, Lord, come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and claim us as your own.” (Exodus 34:8-9 NABRE)

Do we pray for others after they hurt us? After fighting, are we able to pull together for what is right? When we disagree in public discourse, do we seek common ground in the dignity of the human person?

When we see injustice, immorality, selfishness, and suffering around us, when we see empty promises being made and personal agendas being forwarded in public forums and in private living rooms, let us recognize the deceptions of the evil one moving among us in our thoughts and words and actions and choices. Let us see it first in ourselves. Let us not look for it in others, but pray for and encourage each other. Let us pray for ourselves too, that we might rid ourselves of anything that separates us from the love of the Lord.


Today, I will pray for our world, into which the gospel has been brought, that the Lord will remain in our company, pardon our sins, and claim us all as his own.


Saint Leopold Mandic, 20th-Century Croatian Priest who "used to repeat to himself: “Remember that you have been sent for the salvation of people, not because of your own merits, since it is the Lord Jesus and not you who died for the salvation of souls.... I must cooperate with the divine goodness of our Lord who has deigned to choose me so that by my ministry, the divine promise would be fulfilled: ‘There will be only one flock and one shepherd’” (John 10:16)," pray for us so that each of us will always remember what our ministry is.

July 27, 2015 - Monday

As he drew near the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Then Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets down and broke them on the base of the mountain. (Exodus 32:19 NABRE)

We have incredibly short attention spans, and we are easily distracted by shiny objects! So, when Moses came down the mountain to find the Israelites worshiping a golden calf that they had made, his anger flared. When he saw the quickness with which they lost focus on where he had gone and what they were doing at the mountain, he realized immediately that they had offended the one true God with a false god.

Many years later, the Psalms recall this event this way: At Horeb they fashioned a calf, worshiped a metal statue. They exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bull. (Psalm 106:19-20)

Lord, our God, keep us mindful of your presence among us. Don't let us go too long in darkness before returning a Moses to us to remind us we have forgotten about you again. Lord, save me from idols in my life--the golden calves I make and use to entertain myself, to prop myself up, and to try and fill the often deep longing I have for something greater than I can even explain. I am a desperate creature, misled and confused, prone to focus on the trivialities of this world--money, self-determination, success, entertainment. I do this because I become tired and worn as I journey, forgetting at times to keep my focus on your whispered voice, calling me forward and reminding me of my heavenly purpose.


Today, I will focus on keeping humble in each moment, conscious that only God deserves my praise.


Blessed Antonio Lucci, 18th century bishop known for holiness and learning, pray for us.

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July 26, 2015 - Sunday

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” (Luke 7:16 NABRE)

Lord, you came and visited us. Your son, Jesus, lived with us, as one of us and so you know our experience. Lord God, creator, thank you for bringing us to life and sustaining us in each moment. Thank you for sending your son to restore our relationship with you. And thank you for the many graces we know each day, in the company of family and friends, in the satisfaction of labor, and even in the depths of our suffering. We turn humbly to you, seeking your mercy. We turn confidently to you, asking for your strength. And we turn joyfully to you, grateful for the love you have for us.


Today, I will remember that God has visited us.


Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus, pray for us.

July 25, 2015 - Saturday

But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10 NABRE)

Just like Saint Paul and his companions, our sharing of and witness to our faith is like a light that we hold within these frail human bodies of ours. This light is like a candle in a small terracotta lamp.* I am reminded of the Holy Spirit of God living in me who is the source of this spiritual light and who is the real treasure.

Though we bear witness to Christ, we are not immune to the afflictions of this life. When we join our afflictions spiritually, through prayer, to the suffering of Christ, Paul reminds us that we also have a share in Jesus' resurrection.*


Today, I will not be constrained, I will not submit to feelings of despair or abandonment, I will not be destroyed by suffering, sadness, or pain; rather I will offer my afflictions, confusion, persecutions and suffering for the sake of those in need, joining with Christ crucified in such moments.


Saint James, Apostle called by Jesus to be a witness to him, pray for us.

July 24, 2015 - Friday

Hear then the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. (Matthew 13:18-19 NABRE)

I cannot help but think of our younger generation, lost to faith by scandal in God's own Church. It grieves me to confront the evil that came and stole away what was sown in so many hearts. Let us pray with confidence for them, that in God's time they will come to distinguish between the human failings of too many of our trusted priests and the eternal and enduring nature of the Church which Jesus founded while he was here with us.

We are the Church. We are healing, but it will take more time. Let us pray that God's mercy will overwhelm the disillusionment felt by those who had their trust taken from them. We know that this trouble will, in the end, be overcome, but it can be so difficult to stay patient.

Holy Spirit, please fill us with your patience and the understanding to see your presence in those around us each day.


Today, I will pray for the one who hears the word of the kingdom and has it stolen away.


Saint Sharbel Makhluf, who invites us to cooperate generously with God's grace, no matter what our situation in life may be, pray for us.

July 23, 2015 - Thursday

But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. (Matthew 13:16-17 NABRE)

Jesus taught his friends about the privilege of discipleship when he spoke these words to them. He had been teaching in parables to large crowds and afterwards his disciples had asked him why he taught using parables. He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted." (Matthew 13:11) The disciples alone had been prepared to explore the parable's meaning and to understand it.*


Today, I will thank God for preparing me and for blessing my eyes and ears so that I see and hear his truth.


Saint Bridget, patron of Europe, pray for us.

July 22, 2015 - Wednesday

Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. (John 20:18 NABRE)

Even before the twelve Apostles saw him, Mary Magdalene saw, spoke with, and even hugged the resurrected Jesus. She is the first one recorded to have seen him alive. It was by the tomb and at first she thought he was the gardener. Imagine that moment! Imagine having been there with Mary! What emotions would have washed over you? What thoughts would you have had?

The resurrection of Jesus from death is, of course, the single most pivotal moment in salvation history. It is the event to which the Apostles bear witness in Luke's second book, the Acts of the Apostles, even unto their own death. If you had been there with Jesus after his resurrection, would you have been able to pretend you hadn't seen him? Would you have tried to silence yourself out of fear? Or would you have wanted to tell everyone you met about him? Is it any different today? Be bold! Be courageous! Don't offend, but be a powerful witness by the way you love others.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for those whose hearts remain cold toward the Lord.


Saint Mary Magdalene, patron of penitents, pray for us.

July 21, 2015 - Tuesday

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:
I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea. (Exodus 15:1 NABRE)

I remember an iconic image from my childhood. It is of Superman flying while holding Lois Lane in his arms and her desperately clinging to him. At first she is terrified, and then gradually she comes to understand that he will keep her safe. Icons represent aspects of life worth remembering. They are symbols and carry meaning and are often used to represent some truth or to remind us of something or someone.

We should always remember that the Lord protects us from our spiritual enemy, the one who seeks the ruin of our souls. Regardless of the difficulties this life thrusts upon us, we should always remember to turn to the Lord, that he defeats our enemies, and in fact he has already won the battle! There is evil in the world. We should always look to the Lord who is glorious and triumphs over it.


Today, I will sing this song to the Lord and remember his greatness.


Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, who had a constant devotion to Scripture and a great sensitivity to the needs of people, pray for us.

July 20, 2015 - Monday

The LORD will fight for you; you have only to keep still.(Exodus 14:14 NABRE)

Imagine what it must have been like when Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt! For the first time, people would have begun to dream of possibilities. Tasting freedom, they marched away from their captors and found themselves by the sea with a future that held the promise of living self-directed lives and the hope of prospering in their own land. And then it happened. They saw the entire Egyptian army chasing them, and they were hemmed in by the sea. Imagine what it must have been like.

Lord God, you are the almighty. Thank you for the words of Moses which are so encouraging even today. I know that the enemy pursues me every moment. I know that he seeks the ruin of my soul just as Pharaoh sought the destruction of your people, the Israelites. And so Lord, I ask that you continue to keep your promise, made through Moses, to fight this enemy for me. I remain ill-equipped for this battle and I ask only for your Spirit of peace so that I will keep still as you demonstrate your glory in and through my life. The battle is yours, Lord, and I trust in you.


Today, though I am pursued by the enemy and afraid, I will keep still.


Saint Apollinaris, first-century martyr who reminds us that following Jesus involves risk, pray for us.

July 19, 2015 - Sunday

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:13-18 NABRE)

Very simply, Paul, writing to the Gentiles (non-Jews) in Ephesus, describes how Jesus united them with the rest of the Church which originally had only Jewish members. Remember, Jesus and his first followers were Jews. The early Church was considered a sect within the Jewish faith. And there was significant mistrust between the Jews and others who were not of the faith.

And so too in our times, we look to the Spirit of Jesus to break down the dividing walls that still exist between people. We look to the Spirit of God to reconcile all people to himself through the cross.


Today, I will pray for an increase in understanding and tolerance among people of good will but of different faith traditions.


Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia's first saint, known as Mother Mary of the Cross, who tells us to "have courage no matter what [our] crosses are," pray for us.

July 18, 2015 - Saturday

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved in whom I delight;
I shall place my spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not contend or cry out,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory.
And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:18-21 NABRE)

Strong leaders are always invested with authority. When the authority is real, they can lead with a power that does not involve subjugation, humiliation, intolerance, or intimidation. Instead, a truly good and powerful leader, because of his authority, can lead with gentleness, kindness, acceptance, and encouragement.

Jesus is such a leader, described here as a servant, chosen and loved by God. He delights God and has a purpose and power placed upon him by God. Jesus is not contentious or argumentative. He is utterly gentle though his purpose is to bring justice (and hope) to the entire world.

In today's passage, Matthew describes Jesus by quoting the prophet Isaiah (42:1-4). In context, Jesus had quietly withdrawn from the synagogue because he realized the Pharisees had determined to have him put to death. According to the gospel writer, this was to fulfill what Isaiah had prophesied hundreds of years before. The linking of Jesus with Isaiah would have resonated deeply with his Jewish-Christian audience because they would have known well the words of this prophet.


Today, I will marvel at the gentle power of Jesus.


Saint Camillus de Lellis, patron of hospitals, nurses and the sick, pray for us.

July 17, 2015 - Friday

I say to you, something greater than the temple is here.
If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” (Matthew 12:6-8 NABRE)

Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea (6:6) to the Pharisees when they challenge him, perceiving that his disciples had broken one of the sabbath laws. By his reference to Hosea, he argues that the law itself requires work that breaks the sabbath rest, because of the higher duty of temple service.*  The Pharisees had begun looking for a way put Jesus to death. This probing is just one of their entrapment attempts.

Lord Jesus, thank you for this day. Thank you for this moment--not the last one, not the next one, but this one. In this moment, I am grateful to be encountering you as the unconquerable man that you are, by your divine nature. I am humbled by your presence. I welcome your Spirit into this moment with me. May your presence sanctify my thoughts and words, my actions and intentions, leading me forward through the rest of this day.


Today, I will seek to encounter Jesus in each moment.


Servant of God Francis Garcés and Companions, Franciscan missionaries and North American martyrs, pray for us.

July 16, 2015 - Thursday

“But,” said Moses to God, “if I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what do I tell them?”
God replied to Moses: I am who I am. Then he added: This is what you will tell the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. (Exodus 3:13-14 NABRE)

Have you ever been in a room of people you've never met, for a meeting of any sort, and had the leader suggest everyone introduce themselves? Inevitably, as each person speaks, the room falls into a rhythm and after just a couple of people take their turn, each subsequent speaker announces their name in the same pattern as the first two. Cadence aligns. Tone of voice aligns. The group takes on a certain unity. Not that this relates directly to Moses' encounter with God, but it is interesting to consider how we announce ourselves in new situations.

In today's passage, we encounter the creator of all things in conversation with Moses, to whom he has just given a daunting mission. The divine being names himself. Our translation has his name as "I am who I am" or "I AM." There is so much we could consider about such a name, but most prominent to me is the way it tells of God's creative nature. How, not only did he create all that is, he IS.


Today, I will be grateful the he who IS desires to know me personally, and I will seek to respond willingly and joyfully to his call on my day.


Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patron of Chile, pray for us.

July 15, 2015 - Wednesday

Now indeed the outcry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them.
Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:9-11 NABRE)

Moses utters a most human response to God's call! Anyone who's ever been called to responsibility and risk knows the recoil he must have experienced. Moses felt unqualified and unequipped to do as he was told, and so he pushes back initially, saying he's not going to be able to do this. Beyond that, he had established a relatively comfortable and happy life and was reluctant to leave it behind.

But notice God wasn't asking Moses to go. God was sending Moses. There are two things to notice about being sent by God to complete a task:

• God sends and we go
• God provides and protects

So, let us listen for God's call on our days and respond with joy. Sometimes he calls us so far out of our comfort zone, we may initially feel like Moses, but let us recognize the feelings of certainty, inevitability, and confidence that accompany such a call. These often linger in the background of our emotions, so we need to probe ourselves to see if they are there whenever we feel called to do something for the Lord.

Today, I will listen for God's call on me and will answer joyfully.


Saint Bonaventure, man of learning, eloquence, and holiness, known for kindness, approachableness, gentleness and compassion, pray for us.

July 14, 2015 - Tuesday

Save me, God,
for the waters have reached my neck.
I have sunk into the mire of the deep,
where there is no foothold.
I have gone down to the watery depths;
the flood overwhelms me. (Psalm 69:2-3 NABRE)

The waters of chaos from which God created the world are a common metaphor for extreme distress.* In today's passage from Psalm 69, we read of David's great distress as his enemies are all around him. If you have a few minutes read all of Psalm 69 today and recall Jesus' suffering.

The Psalm, which depicts the suffering of the innocent just person vividly, is cited often by the New Testament especially in the passion accounts. The Psalm prays not so much for personal vengeance as for public vindication of God’s justice. There was, at this time, no belief in an afterlife where such vindication could take place. Redress had to take place now, in the sight of all.*


Today, I will place my own small suffering at the foot of the cross as an offering for anyone who suffers though innocent.


Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, who said: “I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus," pray for us.
Saint Francis Solano, who reminds us to make our lives worthy of our Baptism, pray for us.

July 13, 2015 - Monday

So the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to cruel slavery,
making life bitter for them with hard labor, at mortar and brick and all kinds of field work—cruelly oppressed in all their labor. (Exodus 1:13-14 NABRE)

God's people have always suffered great opposition from the world. Centuries after the Israelites endured Egyptian slavery, Jesus told his disciples, "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness [acting according to God's will], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:10)

As followers of Jesus, we are called to remember that in the face of all persecution, our God is there to save us. We are told to remain faithful in times of trouble, to spread the gospel message everywhere, and to live prayerfully so that we can find God's strength in our oppression.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for all who suffer because they live faithfully.


Saint Henry, who shows us that holiness is possible in a busy secular life, pray for us.

July 12, 2015 - Sunday

[May] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of [your] hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones. (Ephesians 1:17-18 NABRE)

Is it strange how things have changed over the years? There was a time when people greeted each other, at least in writing, with elaborate good wishes. The abbreviation of this practice in modern times has been fairly abrupt. Salutations in handwritten or typed correspondence just fifty years ago had been reduced to "Dear Mr. Soandso." And today's email and text messages most often have no greeting at all. The tempo of daily life has increased dramatically allowing us to accomplish many more things in a day than ever before. However, I speculate that this change in the practice of written greetings also reflects a reduction in the time we have available to spend thinking about and regarding others to whom we address our messages.

Fortunately, Saint Paul's lavish wish for his congregation in Ephesus extends to us this day. Consider the substance of his wish for us as members of God's people:

• That we be given a spirit of wisdom and revelation so we will have knowledge of God
• That we be enlightened so we will know the hope of God's call and extent of our inheritance as followers of Jesus

Lord God, thank you for our ability to wish such things for each other, for the desire to see others share in knowledge of you and the hope of your promise. Let your Spirit guide our words so that we might begin each correspondence, however fleeting, with at least a thought of the other person--desiring that they gain wisdom and revelation, enlightenment and hope.

Today, I will focus on each person I speak or write to, regarding each one as Paul regarded those to whom he was responsible.


Saints John Jones and John Wall, friars who were martyred in England in the 16th and 17th centuries for refusing to deny your faith, pray for us.

July 11, 2015 - Saturday

But Joseph replied to them: “Do not fear. Can I take the place of God?
Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people.
So now, do not fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them. (Genesis 50:19-21 NABRE)

Imagine yourself growing up in a large family with lot of brothers. Being the youngest was not always easy, but you played and learned with your brothers. And even though they teased you, you still loved them and admired them. Joseph had eleven brothers, was seen as his dad's favorite, and was the object of his brother's deep envy. In fact, they became so jealous of Joseph, they wanted to kill him, settling instead--out of self-protection--for selling him into slavery. Flash forward many years and Genesis presents their awkward but ultimately successful family reunion. Today's passage occurs some years later, not long after their father, Jacob's, death.

We can learn so much from Joseph's love for his family. Every time I read these words, I am moved by his kindness towards his brothers. In a position of complete authority over them, he tells them not to fear, that he will provide for them and their children. Look at the healing and the real strength in his kindness. The power of forgiveness is God's power unleashed, perhaps, in its greatest manifestation. Let us learn to be forgiving people. Let us learn to be kind people. Let us work to remove fear from the hearts of our brothers and sisters. Let us seek God's good ends in all our bad circumstances.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for anyone in need of forgiveness.


Saint Benedict, whose influence impacted the preservation of the liturgy, pray for us.

July 10, 2015 - Friday

When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 10:19-22 NABRE)

Jesus knew he would be divisive. He knew that many people would not believe in him or follow him. And he knew that his disciples would encounter persecutions as they bore witness to him as the promised one of God.

We are called to be witnesses to Jesus in today's world. How we do that needs to be grounded in faith and trust, certainly; but as witnesses, we must go to prayer as our primary resource and our first action as conflict stirs. We should pray that the Spirit of our Father will speak through us in times of challenge.

And we are called to endure to the end all that comes as a result of our witness. Yes, Jesus knew we would be hated by some because of his name. But his promise endures as well.

Lord, though I was not present with you as you walked this earth, I am a witness to your very real and tangible presence in my own life and times. Please let your Spirit guide me at times of trial, when I come to the end of my own courage, the end of my own strength, and the end of my own words. Let your Holy Spirit come alive through me so that others might recognize your presence in their midst.


Today, I will not worry about how I am to speak at times of challenge, but will trust that the Holy Spirit of God will speak instead of me.


Saint Veronica Giuliani, who, like Saint Francis, bore the stigmata of Christ, reflecting your commitment to the cross, pray for us.

July 9, 2015 - Thursday

“I am Joseph,” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could give him no answer, so dumbfounded were they at him.
“Come closer to me,” Joseph told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
But now do not be distressed, and do not be angry with yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you. (Genesis 45:3-5 NABRE)

When Joseph, youngest son of Jacob, reveals himself to his older brothers, he is second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. Some time before, his brothers had been jealous of him and sold him into slavery to get rid of him. And now they find themselves in the awkward position, while trying to arrange for food, of recognizing their brother has become their benefactor.

God raised Joseph from an impossibly bleak situation to a leader of many. He raised him from slavery to lordship. He brought him from having control over nothing to control over all.

Lord God, please use me as you did Joseph, in every circumstance of my life. Though I must travel an unknown path, may I recognize by your Spirit that it was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here.


Today, I will pray for families struggling with jealousies, that good may come from such trials.


Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, 120 mostly Chinese-born martyrs canonized in Rome in 2000, pray for us.

July 8, 2015 - Wednesday

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15 NABRE)

Mark's gospel is the first and shortest of the four gospels. And so, these are the first recorded words of Jesus' preaching. In them, Jesus makes four distinct but related statements:

1. This is the time of fulfillment. To those who heard him, this meant that the long-awaited promises of God are now being fulfilled. Though he stops short of saying it himself, Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promises.
2. The kingdom of God is at hand. This description of God's rule over his people, over evil, and over death itself has been initiated. We understand that God's rule will be made complete when Jesus returns.* 
3. Repent. Instruction number one: change your heart and your conduct. Stop rebelling against God and start obeying him.
4. Believe in the gospel. Jesus called those who heard him to believe not only in the good news from God, but also to believe in God at work in Jesus.* 

And so we are still called from the beginning of our faith journey to believe in Jesus and in God's work done in his name. We are called to change our hearts and actions. We are called to live as God tells us rather than as we choose.


Today, as I live out this day, I will focus on present moments, thanking God for each one of them and seeking to live each of them as he expects rather than as I please.


Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions, missionaries to China who were martyred as witnesses to your faith, pray for us.

July 7, 2015 - Tuesday

As they were going out, a demoniac who could not speak was brought to him,
and when the demon was driven out the mute person spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:32-33 NABRE)

These days, we are willing, and even quick, to assign the cause of unusual behaviors to psychological disorders. In a lot of cases, however, we don't realize the definitions of these disorders are only attempts to describe and classify the unusual behaviors. They are not true explanations of what causes the behaviors, and in many cases we cannot actually explain the causes, we can only describe the behaviors in ways that help medical professionals treat symptoms and manage the impact on lives.

And so, to hear about a man who is unable to speak because he is possessed by a demon, reads to us like little more than trivial horror fiction.

Regardless of the cause of this man's condition, we see that Jesus healed him instantly. We see that there were many witnesses to the healing. And we see that some in the crowd realized that what Jesus was capable of was unique, powerful, and real.


Today, I will be encouraged by the healing power of Jesus.


Blessed Emmanuel Ruiz and Companions, martyred in 1860 for refusing to renounce your faith, pray for us.

July 6, 2015 - Monday

When Jesus arrived at the official’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion,
he said, “Go away! The girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they ridiculed him.
When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose.
And news of this spread throughout all that land. (Matthew 9:23-26 NABRE)

How often do I trust myself in difficult circumstances? When things go from bad to impossible, do I remember to shift my trust to Jesus? We should seek to be like the synagogue official who turned to Jesus when his daughter died. He asked for the impossible and Jesus, moved by his faith, met his need.

We should make a habit of turning to the Lord whenever we struggle, even in small things, building a habit that will serve us when we need the impossible. Let's ask God for more than we expect, let's ask in the name of Jesus, let's believe beforehand that if it is in harmony with God's will, our request will be answered. And like the official, let's ask God for his grace on behalf of others rather than ourselves.


Today, I will remember that I do not need to have all the answers because Jesus does.


Saint Anthony Zaccaria, who knew "If we say 'We are without sin,' we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8), pray for us.

July 5, 2015 - Sunday

Show us favor, LORD, show us favor,
for we have our fill of contempt.
Our souls are more than sated
with mockery from the insolent,
with contempt from the arrogant. (Psalm 123: 3-4 NABRE)

These straightforward words of the psalmist are so plain and honest, they are moving. They literally beg God for relief from the humiliation his people are suffering at the hands of the arrogant around them. We need to recognize God's favor in our own lives. We need to see his gentle healing for what it is. And we are wise to listen closely to the words of others around us so that we may know if they are speaking arrogantly, full of self-importance, or if they are speaking words of encouragement and unity. Mockery and contempt, Jesus tells us, are what his followers can expect. But our response to these should be to turn to him for strength, courage, and endurance.


Today, I will confidently ask the Lord for his favor in these days of uncertainty and challenge.


Saint Maria Goretti, whose faith reflected certainty that it is a privilege to be loved by God, and to love him—at any cost, pray for us.

July 4, 2015 - Saturday

My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NABRE)

I'm not a shepherd and I know nothing about sheep herding, But I do know some people well enough that I recognize their voice immediately. To recognize someone's voice, you need to have established a relationship with that person. You need to have spent time with them, enough time to gain familiarity with their unique way of speaking.

When we spend time with the Lord in prayer, we begin to recognize his "voice" as he "speaks" to us. While it's not popular to say such things--and in fact I've heard good people publicly teased about it, there are certainly many ways God speaks to us when we seek him first. When we turn to him in prayer, it is not a one-way recitation of memorized words. Real prayer is as authentic as two old friends sitting and laughing together after not seeing each other for a while. Real prayer begins when we open our hearts to the prompting of God's Spirit within us. Real prayer often involves more listening than we are comfortable with. Real prayer lives most fully when we create time for it each day.


Today, I will listen for the voice of my shepherd so that I will be able to follow him.


Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, peacemaker, pray for us.

July 3, 2015 - Friday

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:26-29 NABRE)

If you've ever attended the wake of a close friend or family member and held vigil by the body of the deceased, you can understand Thomas' incredulity to find that Jesus had risen from the dead and was standing there right in front of him! Like Thomas, we know this is impossible, and yet it happened! And because it happened with so many witnesses, we are able to believe even today though we have not seen Jesus ourselves.

Perhaps there is a gift, a grace, in not having seen the risen Jesus for ourselves. We are called to trust in the Lord in times of struggle and opposition. Perhaps we are prepared for this trust by learning to believe, by deciding each day to believe, and by living based on our belief not founded in seeing Jesus.

I imagine Thomas, after his few breaths of disbelief, becoming overwhelmed with joy as he saw his friend Jesus right there with him, talking and smiling. I imagine how Thomas began to realize what it meant that he actually defeated death. We know his words, "My Lord and my God!" Imagine how he felt. Allow yourself to feel that triumph and elation, that relief and excitement, that confidence and hope!

Lord Jesus, give me the sight to recognize your presence right in front of me. Let me notice the impossible fact that you defeated death, that you are alive, and that you have not left us alone to be forever lost. Lord, I ask, for anyone in need of your healing mercy, that you remove the scales from their eyes so they too will recognize your living presence right in front of them, take a leap of faith, and trust in you.


Today, I will trust in the Lord, confident he is present with me even in the most difficult moments of my day.


Saint Thomas the Apostle, patron of architects, construction workers, and cooks, pray for us.

July 2, 2015 - Thursday

Not to us, LORD, not to us
but to your name give glory
because of your mercy and faithfulness.
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he wills. (Psalm 115:1-3 NABRE)

Us versus them.

This mindset is a constant theme through all of human history. Yet, if God is love, I suggest that what unites us is of God and what divides us is not. How, then, do we recognize what is of God? How do we give glory to his name rather than our own? How are God's mercy and faithfulness brought into our world? Is it by argument and debate? Certainly not!

Rather, I submit that whatever is of God comes into our world by the fruits of the Holy Spirit. They have been referred to as good habits, but they are also the keys to unity and understanding among people of good will. They are the beginning of our experience of God's glory while we are still in this life! What an unimaginable gift!

The Catechism has this to say: The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."


Today, I will pray for a day that knows kindness, generosity, and gentleness among all people. Please join me in this.


Saint Oliver Plunkett, martyred in Ireland 334 years ago for defending his faith, pray for us.

July 1, 2015 - Wednesday

God heard the boy’s voice, and God’s angel called to Hagar from heaven: “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not fear; God has heard the boy’s voice in this plight of his.
Get up, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand; for I will make of him a great nation.”
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water, and then let the boy drink. (Genesis 21:17-19 NABRE)

Hagar had been a slave of Abraham and Sarah's. She bore Abraham a son, Ishmael, before Sarah had Isaac. Because she was a slave, she and her son were sent away once Isaac was born because Sarah did not want him sharing an inheritance with Isaac. Roaming unprepared in the desert, the pair ran out of water and Hagar quickly became despondent when she realized her son was close to death.

In this truly desperate situation, God reached out to Hagar, showed her a well of water which was nearby, and promised her son would have a great inheritance of his own.

Even in situations we think are hopeless, God provides. Today, right now, there are families displaced from their homes due to war, economic unrest, and other tragic reasons. At this minute, there are families which are breaking apart because of infidelity, sickness, poverty, and other causes. God is there.

When we suffer life's most bitter losses, God is with us. Let us pray that whenever we are tried we remember his immediate presence and look to him to provide for us when we cannot provide for ourselves.


Today, I will pray for those who are cast out from safe places and for families that are separated.


Blessed Junipero Serra, seventeenth-century Franciscan friar, mission founder, and missionary to Native Americans, pray for us.