September 25, 2015 - Friday

Mine is the silver and mine the gold—oracle of the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2:8 NABRE)

Through the prophet Haggai, God reminds his people that he owns all that he has created. This means we are but custodians of his property. We are stewards of his silver and his gold, and we are expected to use his resources for his glory, not ours.

Israel at that time was to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. God promised he remained with them and would provide all the necessary resources for the task. Their part was to have courage and get to work. (Haggai 2:4)

In the same way, God calls us to share his resources with others in need. We look after what is God's and part of this work is advancing the needs of our neighbors. Another part of this is protecting our common home, as Pope Francis tells us in his letter, Laudato Si, On Care For Our Common Home.

Today, as Pope Francis addresses world leaders at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, we join in prayer for the progress of all peoples:

O God, who gave one origin to all peoples
and willed to gather from them one family for yourself,
fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your loveand kindle in them a desirefor the just advancement of their neighbor,
that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all,
each human person may be brought to perfection,every division may be removed,and equity and justice may be established in human society.
Through Christ our Lord.* 

Today, I will pray that every division among us be removed.


Blesseds Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin, parents of Saint Thérese of the Child Jesus who once wrote, "God gave me a father and a mother more worthy of heaven than of earth," pray for us.

September 24, 2015 - Thursday

Now thus says the LORD of hosts:
Reflect on your experience!
You have sown much, but have brought in little;
you have eaten, but have not been satisfied;
You have drunk, but have not become intoxicated;
you have clothed yourselves, but have not been warmed;
And the hired worker labors for a bag full of holes. (Haggai 1:5-6 NABRE)

In context, after returning from exile in Babylon, the survivors of Judah should have been rebuilding the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem. The prophet Haggai even connects their well being to their work on the ruined building, yet they had stopped working on the restoration.*

There is a message in today's passage which is just as relevant today. We--who call ourselves people of God--should look at the way we--who have been given many blessings--decide to live our lives. We should be about the work God has for us and subordinate to it our pursuit of the satisfactions of this life.

We are called to tell others about God and encourage them to have faith, to believe, and to trust him. We ought to work first for God, not for the fleeting things and experiences of this world.


Today, I will reflect on my experience to see if I seek my satisfaction and contentment by turning people to the Lord.


Blessed John Henry Newman, who wrote, "I have a mission; I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons; He has not created me for naught.," pray for us.

September 23, 2015 - Wednesday

I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to raise my face to you, my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads and our guilt reaches up to heaven." (Ezra 9:5 NABRE)

This communal confession of sin is attributed to Ezra who probably lived about 400 years before Jesus.

It is of a type that was characteristic of the Second Temple period* (538 BCE to 70 CE) toward the end of which Jesus lived among us.* Early on in this period, referred to as the Restoration, Ezra, with Nehemiah, was largely responsible for the reorganization of Jewish life after the Babylonian exile.*

The history is interesting, but the passion of Ezra's confession is striking.

Today, as Pope Francis meets with President Obama and as he canonizes Junípero Serra, we do well to reflect on our own hearts, as Ezra did, on behalf of our people. Ezra felt deeply his shortcomings and turned to the Lord in humility and gratitude for his great mercy. Let us acknowledge our shortcomings and sinfulness today. Let us turn to Jesus himself and ask him for his mercy.


Today, I will pray for Pope Francis, for the Church in our country, and for the United States itself, that God may continue to hear our prayers and bless us with his mercy.


Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcini, who tells us that "the life of a Christian is nothing but a perpetual struggle against self," pray for us.

September 22, 2015 - Tuesday

While he was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Luke 11:27-28 NABRE)

Jesus considered attentiveness to God’s Word even more important than Mary's biological relationship to himself.* How wonderful it is to have this remarkable insight! To be truly blessed is to hear God's word and comply with it.

Today, I am led to consider these words of Jesus: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. (Matthew 6:25a) But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. (Matthew 6:33)


Today, I will spend time in God's Word taking steps to observe it as my day unfolds.


Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions, martyrs of courageous faith, pray for us.

September 21, 2015 - Monday

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3 NABRE)

With the words of today's verse, Saint Paul urged the believers at Ephesus to work for unity among themselves. Paul also exhorted the congregation at Colossae to the same unity.

And to the Colossians, he wrote that they should, "live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10)

Paul gave similar advice to the Colossians on how to maintain unity. He wrote, "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15)


Today, I will meditate on this advice in the context of my Church parish.


Saint Matthew, Apostle and patron of accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, and tax collectors, pray for us.

September 20, 2015 - Sunday

Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members?
You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask.
You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (James 4:1-3 NABRE)

James is concerned with the origin of conflicts within the Christian community. In today's passage, he describes several dispositions of heart we should eliminate. We should eliminate them because they are the often-hidden root causes of conflict within the Church. First, James tells us not to love the world. Second, he tells us to pray properly, asking God for his help and seeking his kindness for more than personal pleasure.*

James goes on to instruct us that instead of loving this world and praying selfishly, the right dispositions of heart for the Christian are:

• Submission to God
• Repentance
• Humility
• Resistance to evil

Holy Spirit, help me personalize today's passage and endure the uncomfortable self-awareness that it brings. Lord God, if I am honest, I know I want what others have, and at times I even go to extremes trying to get what I cannot obtain. Despite this, rarely do I turn to you for help; and when I do, I ask selfishly. Lord Jesus, there are times when I cause painful conflicts among my people because of my selfish motivations. Please teach me your wisdom and guard my heart from selfishness. Fill me with humility, a desire to submit to your will, sorrow for what I have done wrong, and resistance to all evil whether or not I recognize it.


Today, I will examine my heart for things of this world I want too much.


Saints Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companions, Korean martyrs, pray for us.

September 19, 2015 - Saturday

But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. (Luke 8:15 NABRE)

Jesus is explaining to the Apostles the meaning of the parable of the sower. We have been given the great gift of God's Word, and our human gift back to God should be to embrace it. We embrace God's Word by reading it and thinking about it, at least a little every day whenever possible.

Jesus mentions that he wants us to embrace God's Word with a generous and good heart. Spend some time thinking what that means to you in your life. He wants us to persevere through trials and temptations, leaning on what we read in God's Word.


Today, I will consider what it means to read God's Word with a generous and good heart.


Saint Januarius, who's relic reminds us to notice the everyday miracles around us, pray for us.

September 18, 2015 - Friday

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains. (1 Timothy 6:7-10 NABRE)

Want versus need. Can we tell the difference?

Saint Paul tells us we need food and clothing for contentment. He exhorts us to separate ourselves from material goods.* He reminds us we should not want money. His words are obviously very well known, but do we take the time to align them with our personal desires and motivations?

What do I believe I need in this life? What do I desire beyond my needs? Can I see how the love of money can lead me away from my faith?

Lord God, divine author of these words of Saint Paul to Timothy, you give us your Word which leads to everlasting life. Help me to prioritize an eternity with you above the temporary pleasures money makes possible. Lord, soften my heart to the needs of others and grant me vision to quickly recognize how I can help. You have blessed me for a time with financial resources and my needs are satisfied. Show me how to share my excess, remembering it is not really mine but yours. You are the owner of all things. Thank you, Lord God, for the many blessings in my life and for the deep grace of awareness.


Today, I will reflect on the desires of my own heart, seeking to subdue my desire for money except as a means to build God's Kingdom here on Earth.


Saint Joseph of Cupertino, patron of air travelers, astronauts, and pilots, pray for us.

September 17, 2015 - Thursday

Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.
Until I arrive, attend to the reading, exhortation, and teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have. (1 Timothy 4:12-14a NABRE)

Paul's first letter to Timothy is believed to have been written toward the end of Paul's career. Written to Timothy as pastor, rather than directly to the entire community, today's verse encourages Timothy in the exercise of the prophetic character of his office.*

What I love most about today's verse is how it lists specific ways we can make ourselves into good examples for others:

1. By our speech
2. By our conduct
3. By loving others
4. By keeping our faith alive
5. By remaining pure
6. By reading God's Word
7. By encouraging others to pursue faith
8. By teaching others about God

So, if you're having a hard day, why not join me in picking an action from this list, forgetting your own troubles for a while, and showing someone else how to be stronger in their faith walk by your example?

Today, I will try to set a good example for someone else who believes.


Saint Robert Bellarmine, patron of Catechists and Catechumens, pray for us.

September 16, 2015 - Wednesday

Hallelujah!
I will praise the LORD with all my heart
in the assembled congregation of the upright.
Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them. (Psalm 111:1-2 NABRE)

Praise God!

There is no one like him. He does things men cannot do. He creates from nothing. He alone is worthy of praise. He is alive and involved. Just because we aren't always aware of his presence doesn't mean he is not right here with us now!

Take pleasure in his creation!

Find ways to praise God. Go to quiet places. Find places that remind you how small we really are. Sit with the sea, climb to high places, watch the stars. Marvel at his work then go to Church! Become part of a community. Praise God for what he has done, what he is doing in this moment, and what he will do. Make new friends and study his Word. Build habit and routine to endure through your doubt. Remember why it really matters.

Just before he returned to the Father, Jesus called us to community. He called us to share our experience of him. If he is calling you closer right now, say yes and watch things change! Let things change. Make things change!


Today, I will praise God because of his greatness, delighting in his creation.


Saint Cornelius, who helped the Church evaluate new experiences through the wisdom and experience of those who have gone before, pray for us.

September 15, 2015 - Tuesday

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”
Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27 NABRE)

This passage can be interpreted a number of different ways and it is unclear which is intended. Intention aside, however, I find the most substantial interpretation is that of Mary symbolizing the Church which Christ gave to the world and she is given the role of mother to all Christians, represented by John the beloved disciple.*

And so we also say that Mary is our mother. She is our guide and our role model. She is our help and support. Mother Mary intercedes for us with her son, Jesus.


Today, on this Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, I will marvel at the strength of Mary and ask her to pray for us, now, and at the our of our death.


Our Lady of Sorrows, Mary, pray for us.

September 14, 2015 - Monday

And the LORD said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover.
Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered. (Numbers 21:8-9 NABRE)

The Israelites had been punished by God because of their complaints against him, until Moses prayed to God on their behalf. In today's passage, we see God's saving response to Moses' prayer. In the Gospel of John this scene is referred to as prefiguring the crucifixion of Jesus.* John writes:

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:14-16)

Today, on this Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, I will consider the words of Saint Theodore of Studios (759–826), "How splendid the cross of Christ! It brings life, not death; light, not darkness; Paradise, not its loss. It is the wood on which the Lord, like a great warrior, was wounded in hands and feet and side, but healed thereby our wounds. A tree has destroyed us, a tree now brought us life."


Jesus, Merciful Savior who died on the Holy Cross to redeem men's sins, have mercy on us.

September 13, 2015 - Sunday

He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it. (Mark 8:34-35 NABRE)

This utterance of Jesus challenges all believers to authentic discipleship and total commitment to himself through self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the sacrifice of life itself.*

Life seen as mere self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Christ ends in destruction, but when lived in loyalty to Christ, despite earthly death, it arrives at fullness of life.*

Lord Jesus, your disciple Saint John Chrysostom lived your challenge amidst the temptations of great power, wealth, and influence. He renounced himself as he committed himself totally to you. And there is no doubt he accepted his cross of suffering unjustly for your sake. He preached in a culture of excess and indulgence. He challenged his wealthy hearers to change, to give more to the poor, and to turn their hearts away from earthly pleasures. 

My Jesus, I thank you for the example of John Chrysostom. I struggle with following your call and accepting your challenge in a culture where every earthly temptation is constantly laid before me. Please do not abandon me today as I put aside my desires for yours, and as I welcome any cross of suffering in your name, joining it to your cross, and offering it for the needs of those who cannot help or even pray for themselves.


Today, I will challenge myself to become a more authentic follower of Jesus.


Saint John Chrysostom, patron of orators, preachers and speakers, pray for us.

"John Chrysostom and Aelia Eudoxia" by Jean-Paul Laurens

September 12, 2015 - Saturday

This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NABRE)

I might focus on the way Paul emphasizes to Timothy the trustworthiness of his statements as a basic truth of early Christian faith.* I might point out how the mercy and patience of Jesus extends to the worst of sinners.

Instead, I am struck by the way the child Jesus--who became the man we know--would have learned mercy and patience from his parents. We know very little about Joseph, but we do know he willingly submitted his will to God's for the care and protection of his family. We know about the way Mary accepted God's call on her life without hesitation. We recall their patience with the boy who stayed behind in Jerusalem and how he learned obedience and grew in wisdom under their loving care.


Today, on this feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will remember how important it is for me as a parent to fully submit my will to God's.


Mary, virgin mother of Jesus, who always points us to God and reminds us of his infinite goodness, pray for us.

September 11, 2015 - Friday

How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. (Luke 6:42 NABRE)

Jesus calls on us to stop judging others! The splinter and the wooden beam are symbols of sins, our sins, real sins.

Jesus tells us that when we judge others we become hypocrites. When we hold others to a different standard than we hold ourselves, and when we overlook our own faults--often greater than those we cast our arrogant judgement upon, we invite God's judgment down upon ourselves.

In no uncertain terms, Jesus tells us, "Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37b)

Lord, guide me to a better awareness of when I judge others. Protect me from any false representation of my own sense of charity, from putting on airs, and from acting as though I am not a sinner. Show me my own sinfulness and help me remove it from my life.


Today, I will consciously avoid judging others; and instead I will seek to judge my own words, actions, and motivations so that I can change what is sinful in me.


Saint Cyprian, patron of North Africa whose efforts helped the Church through the controversies about Baptism and Penance in the third century, pray for us.

September 10, 2015 - Thursday

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. (Colossians 3:12-13 NABRE)

As we put aside the vices of this world, Paul offers us powerful replacements. Rather than living for the immediate pleasures of this physical world, he reminds us that Christ is in us and so we begin to act and speak like Christ.

Look at all the wonderful, remarkable, challenging changes Paul encourages us to make within ourselves: We should be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. I believe a lifetime of work at these can bear fruit, and so let us try each day to become a little more as Paul describes, a little more like Jesus.

Lord Jesus, you came to save me and to show me by your example how I am to act in this foreign land. I ask that by the presence of your holy Spirit within me that you continue to lead me back home. Correct me when I stray. Strengthen me when I seek to put off this world's enticements. Give me reminders today when my thoughts stray from you. Call to me so that I might spend each moment in your holy presence.


Today, I will seek to become a little more like Jesus.


Saint Thomas of Villanova, called in your lifetime "the almsgiver" and after your death "the father of the poor," pray for us.

September 9, 2015 - Wednesday

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2 NABRE)

Paul talks of the mystical death an resurrection of those who follow Christ. In today's verse, he tells the Colossians that "By retaining the message of the gospel that the risen, living Christ is the source of their salvation, the Colossians will be free from false religious evaluations of the things of the world."* In other words, "our citizenship is in heaven." (Philippians 3:20)

In practical terms, Paul goes on to tell us that we are to think about heaven and stop thinking about what is on earth. He lists a substantial number of vices we are to renounce. (Colossians 3:5)

And so, he continues the strong message that because we are citizens of heaven, we should always be thinking of our homeland, avoiding the foreign things of this world that distract us from our trip homeward.


Today, I will think about and seek what is above.


Saint Peter Claver, patron of African-Americans and Colombia, pray for us.

September 8, 2015 - Tuesday

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28-29 NABRE)

Our purpose as Christians was designed by God himself. It has been said that our purpose is to be conformed to the image of Jesus.* But what does that mean? What can we infer from such a statement?

To conform is to become like something or to comply with established rules, standards, or laws.* For Saint Paul, for the Romans he wrote to, and for us, it means change. Scholars tell us that when we are baptized into Christ we are changed. We are, as Paul stated to the Colossians, renewed according to the image of the Creator (Colossians 3:10)*

The change that makes us into Christ's image is the presence of God's holy Spirit within us. And with this great Spirit, with the power that is shared with us, we are called to change ourselves so that we become like Christ to the world.

And so, to fulfill our purpose, we must yield to the prompting of the Spirit within, we must become like Jesus not only in Spirit, but in life, in our actions, in our thoughts, and in our words. Let us turn to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to see and learn how our Jesus lived in this world as we listen within for the prompting of his holy Spirit.


Today, on this Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will join with the whole Church and celebrate the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus our Savior.


Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

September 7, 2015 - Monday

It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.
For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me. (Colossians 1:28-29 NABRE)

Imagine a world where each one of us joins with Saint Paul in his deep desire to present everyone to God the Father as perfect in Christ. What would we do to make that happen? Take some time today to think what you can do to make it real.

Saint Paul taught others about his experience of Jesus. The same Spirit that led Paul lives in each of us.

Take some time today to quietly listen for the Spirit's whisper. Ask him to whisper to you. Be open to the surprise when he does--if that is how it happens.

And if it doesn't happen today, listen again tomorrow, ask him again tomorrow, be open again tomorrow. And when he does finally whisper to you, when he does at last speak to you, ask for courage. Ask for certainty of purpose. Ask for protection in the battle to come. And say thank you with a smile!


Today, I will seek to follow the Spirit working within me by doing the work I am called to do.


Blessed Frédéric Oaznam, co-founder of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, pray for us.

September 6, 2015 - Sunday

Say to the fearful of heart:
Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you. (Isaiah 35:4 NABRE)

Be strong!

Do not fear!

Your God comes to save you!


Today, I will be strong, confident that my God comes to save me.


Blessed Claudio Granzotto, whose holiness was especially radiant in accepting suffering and death in union with Christ’s Cross, pray for us.

September 5, 2015 - Saturday

O God, by your name save me.
By your strength defend my cause.
O God, hear my prayer.
Listen to the words of my mouth. (Psalm 54:3-4 NABRE)

How do we fight despair? How do we maintain hope? The Psalmist gives us perfect guidance in today's passage when he calls on the name of God, knowing that is sufficient to save and defend him.

O God, save me from the enemy's attacks. All my hope rests in you alone, and I know you hear my prayer. Please, listen to the prayer of my heart and my mouth. Guard my soul.


Today, I will call on God by name, confident in his protection.


Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who was called to “follow Christ into the slums to serve him among the poorest of the poor,” pray for us.

September 4, 2015 - Friday

[Jesus] is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17 NABRE)

Today's passage is thought to have been from an early Christian hymn the Colossians would have known from from liturgical use. (Wow! I love that it is preserved for us!)  In it, Jesus is presented as the mediator of creation and of redemption.*

In Genesis we see man and woman are created in the image and likeness of God. In today's passage, Christ is seen as the image of the invisible God, and he shares this new nature in baptism with the redeemed.*

In a remarkable insight, Jesus is known to be God's agent in the creation of all things. He was alive prior to all things.*

Lord Jesus, even when we put together all the things we know about you, we still cannot begin to understand your greatness. I thank you, Jesus, for the the creation I share in, for establishing a path for me back to God, and for standing between the Father and me as my Merciful Savior.


Today, I will contemplate the boundlessness of Jesus who is truly God and man.


Saint Rose of Viterbo, pray for us, who at eighteen, shared these dying words with your parents: "I die with joy, for I desire to be united to my God. Live so as not to fear death. For those who live well in the world, death is not frightening, but sweet and precious."

September 3, 2015 - Thursday

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” (Luke 5:10b NABRE)

At their first encounter, Jesus demonstrated for Simon the fisherman his power in an astonishing manner by causing his fishing nets to overflow to the point of tearing. Simon had to call his partners, James and John, for assistance with the catch because it was so big. When he realized he was standing in the presence of someone that had actually caused the fish to come into the nets, Peter grew afraid. He recognized something about Jesus and felt suddenly guilty, overwhelmed and unclean because of his own personal sins.

And what a reassuring and merciful statement Jesus makes to Simon. "Do not be afraid." When we, on occasion, realize we are in Jesus presence, it can be overwhelming and cause us to feel that same wave of fear and guilt. Let us remember Jesus words to Peter.

I'd like to point out two implications of today's verse which impact each of us. Jesus the Lord calls you and me to service. Jesus the Lord calls you and me away from our fear so that we can serve.


Today, I will serve fearlessly.


Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church, and patron of teachers, pray for us.

September 2, 2015 - Wednesday

But I, like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God,
I trust in God’s mercy forever and ever. (Psalm 52:10 NABRE)

Psalm 52 is a condemnation of the powerful and arrogant who bring down upon themselves God’s judgment. In the context of the times, the just, those who trust in God alone, are gladdened and strengthened by the downfall of their traditional enemies. In today's verse, the psalmist tells us that, like an olive tree: the righteous will flourish in the house of God like a well-watered olive tree.*

The flourishing of the faithful by God's hand as well as the destruction of the enemies of the people of God are frequent themes in the Old Testament. Let us trust in God's mercy at all times. Let us seek to introduce and encourage those who do not know yet God. And let us remind those who have lost track of him about his mercy and faithfulness toward us. No one is so lost that God cannot find them.


Today, I will trust in God's mercy.


Blessed John Francis Burté and Companions, priest victims of the French Revolution, pray for us.

September 1, 2015 - Tuesday

In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice,
“Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” (Luke 4:33-34 NABRE)

Isn't it interesting that Jesus' friends and neighbors in Nazareth rejected him, but in Capernaum even a man with the spirit of an unclean demon knows who he is? God's word tells us "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-10)

As salvation history unfolds, the time will come when everyone recognizes and confesses that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Let's choose to see him now. Let's take a step toward him by exercising our free will and admitting to ourselves that he is alive and the only one worthy of our praise. Once we do, we begin a new journey toward him, we come to know the hope he promises, and we can find peace and joy in the throes of everyday life.

When we see the Spirit of Jesus in others, when we welcome his Spirit into our own hearts, we cannot help but change for the better. And every day, every moment we are alive gives us a new chance to affirm that we believe Jesus is God's Holy One!


Today, I will look closely at others, to recognize the holy Spirit of Jesus in them.


Saint Giles, patron of beggars and the disabled, pray for us.

August 31, 2015 - Monday

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free. (Luke 4:16-18 NABRE)

Jesus read about himself from the synagogue scroll of Isaiah. He read to the people of his hometown. He spoke and they were moved, but then he said something that turned everything upside down. He began by saying, "Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place." (Luke 4:24) Jesus moved their hearts, but then challenged all who heard him. And they rejected him, took offense at his words, and planned to kill him.

Jesus, I too am moved by who you are. I am open to the challenges you place in front of me. I ask that your holy Spirit continue to be my guide so that I will not reject you or be offended by your words. Help me, Spirit of God, to recognize instead my own shortcomings and to listen to your words of correction. Help me to see my own smallness and remember that you are great, you have knowledge, you have wisdom.


Today, I will listen with humility and openness for any words of correction I need to hear.


Saint Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, whose actions give us insight into the charismatic power of Jesus and his teachings—and the risks that could be involved in following him, pray for us.

August 30, 2015 - Sunday

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27 NABRE)

We are uncertain exactly when his letter was written, but it is highly unlikely this James was one of the Apostles. The writer identifies himself only as a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. James writes directly and does not mince words. He is action-oriented and encourages us to be the same way.

In the Old Testament, orphans and widows are classical examples of the defenseless and oppressed.* James reminds us in strong terms that it is to provide for such as these that we are called by Jesus. On reading his words, I am inclined inward to examine my willingness to care for others who cannot care for themselves. I am challenged to ask myself, "Do I actually do anything for those in need?" and also, "Do I do enough?" Perhaps a more productive question is, "Can I do more?"

Lord God, if it is your will that I do more, or something different, to help others who are afflicted in so many ways, please open my eyes to see the need, the opportunity, and the path to change. Protect me from my own fear, Lord. Put away my reluctance and replace it with the confidence and certainty only your holy Spirit can provide. Lord, if I am, at least right now, doing all you want of me, allow me the same confidence and certainty as I discern my own heart and actions.


Today, I will look to see Jesus in everyone who is defenseless or oppressed, and I will open myself to a new way to care for them.


Saint Jeanne Jugan, who once said, "With the eye of faith, we must see Jesus in our old people—for they are God's mouthpiece," pray for us.

August 29, 2015 - Saturday

On the subject of mutual charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
Indeed, you do this for all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless we urge you, brothers, to progress even more,
and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your [own] hands, as we instructed you,
that you may conduct yourselves properly toward outsiders and not depend on anyone. (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NABRE)

Every Christian is called to live responsibly so others will take notice of how we treat one another. Specifically, when we help others in need, live quietly and respectfully toward others, and work to provide for our material needs, we reflect God's love in this world.


Today, on this Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist, I will reflect on how I am to live my own calling to be a witness to Jesus.


Saint John the Baptist, religious reformer sent by God to prepare the people for the Messiah, pray for us.

August 28, 2015 - Friday

For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not a human being but God, who [also] gives his holy Spirit to you. (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NABRE)

In Matthew's gospel, Jesus puts it another way. He says, "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:13) And according to Luke, Jesus says, "Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)

If we are to give God our highest regard and welcome his holy Spirit into our hearts, we are to answer his call to holiness and avoid the impurities offered by this world. When we reflect on it, there is no doubt that God deserves our highest regard, but we lose track of this most of the time and are unable to connect it to our own choices and actions.

When we make it our intention to increase in holiness, when our actions and words are more carefully and deliberately chosen because they conform us "in all things to the will of God,"* we are on the right path. When we choose this path we are following the words of Jesus and of Saint Paul, and we are giving God our highest regard.

And when we fail? We stand and try again. We trust in Jesus and his Divine Mercy. We confess our sins, and we seek God's joy and peace in the present moment--regardless of circumstances. We carry on because our failings do not mean that God is not with us. Our failures, no matter how big, are smaller than God. He forgives them, reminding us again and again that he loves us!


Today, I will stay vigilant in my effort to be holy and avoid impurity.


Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, sinner turned saint, in part by the prayers of your mother, Saint Monica, pray for us.

August 27, 2015 - Thursday

Fill us at daybreak with your mercy,
that all our days we may sing for joy. (Psalm 90:14 NABRE)

Lord, you fill me at daybreak with your mercy. And all day I sing for joy. Your divine mercy exceeds what I deserve, yet you freely give it to me. Your divine joy is beyond my understanding, yet you allow me to experience it. I do not seek happiness--the fleeting pleasures of this world. Happiness does not endure and it is ultimately disappointing. Worse, chasing happiness distracts me from pursuing your joy. Your joy is satisfying in celebration and in suffering. Your joy endures all things. Your joy is my strength. Your joy lies in the certainty of your constant companionship and faithfulness. Your joy grows when I trust in you.


Today, I will sing for joy because of God's great mercy!


Saint Monica, patron of mothers, married women, and alcoholics, pray for us.

August 26, 2015 - Wednesday

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NABRE)

Saint Paul encourages believers in Thessalonica by the way he gives thanks to God. I can only imagine the satisfaction he felt knowing that he, a stranger from far away who came to town one day speaking of a Jewish preacher named Jesus, was able to see how God, through him, brought so many to faith.

And Paul is so clear on how this happened, the thought is so internalized with him, that he slides it into a statement of thanksgiving, almost too casually to be noticed. God's word, which existed before the beginning of the creation in Genesis, which is Jesus himself (John 1:1), which we know to be the Bible, this very word uttered by the creator changed the people to whom Paul spoke it! The word of God was received by them, they recognized it as far more than Paul's mere words, they welcomed it, and the word began to work in them.


Today, I will notice the word of God at work in me.


Saint Louis of France, patron of barbers and grooms, pray for us.

August 25, 2015 - Tuesday

LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
You sift through my travels and my rest;
with all my ways you are familiar.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
LORD, you know it all.
Behind and before you encircle me
and rest your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
far too lofty for me to reach. (Psalm 139:1-6 NABRE)

As children, we used to learn new things about ourselves every day. We discovered how to walk, talk, play games, think deliberately, and so much more. As adults, we still learn new things, though it sometimes seems infrequent.

Imagine knowing all you know about yourself, all you have ever learned plus all you will ever learn about yourself. Add to that all the things you will never know about yourself--the number of hairs on your head and so many other details about yourself.

God knows you. He knows you better than you can ever even know yourself. God is familiar with how you live your life. He is all around you and actually rests his hand on you. And he wants you to seek him, to acknowledge him, and to trust him just like a child trusts a faithful and loving father.


Today, I will marvel that God knows who I am and even who I will be, and he loves me anyway!


Saint Louis of France, who interpreted your kingly duties in the light of faith, pray for us.

August 24, 2015 - Monday

All your works give you thanks, LORD
and your faithful bless you.
They speak of the glory of your reign
and tell of your mighty works,
Making known to the sons of men your mighty acts,
the majestic glory of your rule. (Psalm 145:10-12 NABRE)

Only when we come to see ourselves as works of God's hands can we can recognize that our skills and abilities are given to us. Only when we see ourselves as created can we get comfortable with our purpose. Only when we see ourselves as purposeful can we choose to express our purpose by the way we live.

Lord God, I am filled with wonder as I come to recognize my purpose more and more deeply, which is to give you glory. You are the creator of all things. You created me for your own joy.  I give you thanks, Lord, and I bless you. I speak of your glory, your reign over all existence, and your mighty works. I look forward to the time when all mankind acknowledges that you are God.


Today, I will give thanks to the Lord.


Saint Bartholomew, Apostle of Jesus who some identify with Nathanael, pray for us.

August 23, 2015 - Sunday

If it is displeasing to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve, the gods your ancestors served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 NABRE)

These well-known words of Joshua were a challenge to the Israelites who had come into the Promised Land and begun to adopt the ways of non-believers, and they are a challenge to us even today as we live in prosperous times and continue to adopt the ways of those who would turn us away from our God and toward the gods of our times.

Lord God, your words are indeeds Spirit and light. May my ears always hear them. As the Israelites responded to Joshua so long ago, far be it from me to forsake the LORD to serve other gods. Lord, thank you for your many graces. Help me to live in this world as a sign of your great glory. Help all who seek you to find you. Help our leaders as you helped Joshua, so they might continue to remind us to serve you above all else.


Today, I will chose a life of service to the one, true God.


Saint Rose of Lima, the first canonized saint of the New World, who had a love of God so ardent that it withstood ridicule from without, violent temptation and lengthy periods of sickness, pray for us.

August 22, 2015 - Saturday

As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:8-12 NABRE)

Jesus warns us from adopting a spirit of superiority and pride by accepting titles such as rabbi or master.* In fact, he continues with remarkably cutting words for those who do adopted such a spirit: the scribes and Pharisees. They opposed the value system to which Jesus encourages us when he says The greatest among you must be your servant.

Lord Jesus, you know my heart. Thank you for sharing your Spirit with me. Lead my heart to humility and not to pride. Drive out all self-importance from me and replace it with a desire to serve. You are the one great teacher and master. Let me model my life on your example. Teach me to lead as you did, as a servant who humbled himself to his Lord and Father.


Today, on this Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will pray the rosary, focused on the Glorious Mysteries, especially the Coronation of Mary.


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

August 21, 2015 - Friday

He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-50 NABRE)

Love is so much more than the feeling of being in love. And the deep, committed, sacrificial love Jesus intends in today's passage, reflects the very love that God has for each one of us. When we decide to love--and yes, this love is a decision we make every minute of every day, when we put someone else's needs ahead of our own, we bring a bit of God's perfect love into our world.

Lord God, thank you for the freedom to love. Thank you for your love and the chance to share it. I ask for the gift of humility, so that I will be able to put myself aside and put you forward, so that I will be able to put myself last and put my neighbor first.


Today, I will continue to choose to love God and others.


Saint Pius X, best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children, pray for us.

August 20, 2015 - Thursday

A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’
Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.
The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. (Matthew 22:4-6 NABRE)

Jesus, in one parable, compares the kingdom of heaven to a king's wedding banquet. None of the invited guests choose to attend. What is your response to God? Do you ignore him? Do you avoid him? Do you actively speak out against him? Do you laugh at him? Think about it this day. Take some time.

I am not talking about anything more or less than what is in your heart. But a relationship with God, which each of us has, is more than emotion. A relationship involves a decision that goes beyond feelings. And so, look past your feelings, and consider choosing to give this special relationship your attention.

Start simple and avoid the typical excuses made these days like, "I'm going to hell anyway so why not do what I want." Instead, quietly and privately ask God to show himself to you today, in a small way, just enough so you will recognize him. And most importantly, trust that he will do it and be open to it when he does! By taking the first step, you are opening the door to the Lord and he will step inside and join you.


Today, I will, as I do every day, ask the Lord simply to join me.


Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who wrote, In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary," pray for us.

August 19, 2015 - Wednesday

Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.(Hebrews 4:12 NABRE)

God's living word penetrates my soul and spirit. It knows the reflections and thoughts of my heart.

Lord God, you know me even better than I know myself. Grant me the humility and courage to engage with your word. I seek to cut away all that separates me from your love. I seek to know myself better--more like you know me, so that I may reform the reflections and thoughts of my heart.


Today, I will reflect on God's word in order to recognize my own weaknesses.


Saint John Eudes, who wrote about Jesus as the source of holiness and Mary as the model of the Christian life, pray for us.

August 18, 2015 - Tuesday

And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. (Matthew 19:29-30 NABRE)

What is your idea of success? Is eternal life with God part of your idea of success? If it is, what would you give up for the sake of Jesus' name? If you were called to sacrifice your life, could you? If you were called to sacrifice your house, would you? How much is too much of a sacrifice for you? Where is your line in the sand?

This is not a way to see how much guilt you can endure. No! Jesus wants our hearts. He wants us to willingly, and as Paul says cheerfully, give of what we have to those in need as a sign of our trust in him and as a way to share our understanding of God's generosity with those around us. Jesus tells us it is the last who will be first in the kingdom of God. Let us center our idea of success on this.


Today, I will seek to understand success as Jesus did, who put himself last, becoming a servant to all.


Saint Louis of Toulouse, who said, "Jesus Christ is all my riches; he alone is sufficient for me," pray for us.

August 17, 2015 - Monday

The young man said to him, “All of these [commandments] I have observed. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:20-23 NABRE)

Don't look at your posessions like the young man in the story. See them for what they really are.

Jesus speaks to all of us who have been blessed with money, power, possessions, comforts, medical resources, opportunities, education, contentment, leisure time and so many other gifts.

Jesus did not say it directly to this devout but wealthy young man, but all of these blessings actually belong to God. Jesus opens the man's eyes to the truth that we are not given such wealth for our own sakes alone, but primarily to care for others in need.

And while he doesn't say it to the young man, he says it to us as he cautioned his disciples: Having riches in this life makes it hard to live as God wants us to live, in a manner that will allow us to enter the kingdom of heaven, as good caretakers of God's property.

Lord, thank you for the many blessings you have shared with me. Give me direction so that I might care for the property you chose to place in my hands. By your Spirit, show me how to use these gifts to build your kingdom here on earth. Help me to defy my false sense that it is by my effort alone that I provide for the needs of my family. Deepen my sense of trust in you and in your provision. 

Open my eyes, Lord, cure my blindness, show me the needs of others whom you call me to help. Allow me to hear your whispered voice today, amidst the constant noise and endless distractions, so that I might share with the poor all the resources intended for them which you have entrusted to my stewardship.


Today, I will thankfully seek the Holy Spirit's guidance on how to be a good steward of the riches that have been entrusted to me.


Saint Joan of the Cross, who's conversion reminds us to be open to God's presence in others, pray for us.

August 16, 2015 - Sunday

Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up her seven columns;
She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.
She has sent out her maidservants; she calls
from the heights out over the city:
“Let whoever is naive turn in here;
to any who lack sense I say,
Come, eat of my food,
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live;
advance in the way of understanding.” (Proverbs 9:1-6 NABRE)

Wisdom is portrayed as a wealthy woman with much to offer her guests. Wisdom’s banquet symbolizes joy and closeness to God.* What a gift it is to be invited to her house, to share in her banquet. Each of us is called to put aside the foolishness and nonsense that surround us in this world and even in our hearts. We are called to seek wisdom and understanding, and to partake of the feast of joy and closeness to God until we are satisfied.


Today, I will forsake foolishness and instead seek to advance, at least a little, in the way of understanding.


Saint Stephen of Hungary, who converted many to Christianity, pray for us.

August 15, 2015 - Saturday

And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him. (Luke 1:46-50 NABRE)

These lines are the first half of the canticle (song) of Mary known as the Magnificat. In it, she praises God and recognizes herself as his servant.

Historians tell us that the Magnificat (with the possible exception of v 48) may have been a Jewish Christian hymn that Luke found appropriate at this point in his story. Even if not composed by Luke, it fits in well with themes found elsewhere in Luke: joy and exultation in the Lord; the lowly being singled out for God’s favor; the reversal of human fortunes; the fulfillment of Old Testament promises.*

Lord, thank you for Mary, the first and most perfect disciple. Let me say yes to you as she did, regardless of my fear, circumstances, age, or prior plans. Like Mary, let my yes come without hesitation or reluctance. Help me to know myself as your servant and to joyfully declare your greatness in all I do and say today.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, I will join Mary in joyfully declaring God's greatness.


Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, who was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory, pray for us.

August 14, 2015 - Friday

And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NABRE)

Again, Saint Paul reminds us that God is active and alive in our day! Through the words of Paul, the people of Thessalonica received the very word of God. And God's word was at work in them. When we read the same words of Paul, they go to work in us too!

Thank you, Lord God, for your Word. Thank you for your Word at work in me. Provide me with enough quiet in my mind and spirit to hear your Word in the moment I need it, and to act on it in that same moment without hesitation, with only confidence and certainty. Lord, thank you for the joy and peace which only your Word brings. May I be an instrument of your joy and peace today.


Today, I will celebrate the actual word of God at work in me!


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

August 13, 2015 - Thursday

Then the LORD said to Joshua: Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, “When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, there take your stand.” (Joshua 3:7-8 NABRE)

God works in our lives. He works through us in the lives of others. I appreciated the sense of immediate awareness of God's presence that Joshua must have felt on that day! Have you ever had a moment when you realized with perfect clarity that you are not alone, that God is really with you? It may have been fleeting but clear. It is an energizing moment, the type of moment that can change the course of your life.

Listen for God's whisper in your day. Recognize his companionship today. Know that even when your heart is far from him and when your feelings grow dark, he is right there. He is encouraging you and I, as he did for Joshua, to play our roles on this stage of life, so that others will know what God's children are like.


Today, I will seek my role in the community of the Lord, seeking only to serve others and bring them closer to God.


Saints Pontian and Hippolytus, opposing forces within the Church who were reconciled and then martyred together, pray for us.

August 12, 2015 - Wednesday

Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19-20 NABRE)

Jesus promises a favorable response to the prayers of even a few people who join together in his name.* He goes further, and tells us that when we come together in prayer, he is in our midst, and thereby guaranteeing the efficacy of our prayer.*

This saying of Jesus is similar to one attributed to a rabbi who was executed in A.D. 135 at the time of the second Jewish revolt: “…When two sit and there are between them the words of the Torah, the divine presence (Shekinah) rests upon them” (Pirqê ’Abôt 3:3).*


Today, I will gather prayerfully with someone else and in the presence of Jesus.


Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, who was subject to spiritual dryness, darkness, and interior anguish, pray for us.

August 11, 2015 - Tuesday

Be strong and steadfast; have no fear or dread of them, for it is the LORD, your God, who marches with you; he will never fail you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:8 NABRE)

Just before he died, Moses gave instruction and advice to Joshua who would lead the Israelites into the promised land and into conflict with the people already settled there. The "bottom line" of this advice is to stay aware that God himself marches with his people and will not fail them in battle.

My Lord, thank you for remaining with me. Thank you for your willingness never to fail or forsake your people. Help me to recognize you. Help me to understand, even at times of great loss, that you have not abandoned me. Lord, keep me strong today. Help me to remain steadfast by your strength when I am confronted. Take away all my fear and dread. I have no enemy but yours. I have no battle but yours. I seek to fearlessly confront your enemy in every moment and decision so that your will is done.


Today, I will be strong and steadfast as I follow the Lord.


Saint Clare of Assisi, patron of those with eye disorders, pray for us.

August 10, 2015 - Monday

Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NABRE)

Paul's metaphorical use of farming terms to explain the deeper aspect of generosity allows him to illustrate how each act of giving (planting seeds) yields even greater returns (reaping bountifully). The paradoxical idea that spending leads to more wealth* is also reflected in Proverb (11:24) which says, "One person is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer."

As Paul challenges us to re-evaluate our motivation for giving or not giving, he adds some additional guidance. First, that our giving has already been determined by God, so, we should not worry that giving generously will harm our financial situation. Second, that we should not feel sad or compelled to give what we have in charity, because God loves a cheerful giver.

Paul adds more to his argument for giving, but I find his most persuasive point is that we should give generously to those in need because it reflects the overwhelming generosity of God.* Paul puts it this way: "Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work."


Today, I will seek an opportunity to sow bountifully to the benefit of someone in need.


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

August 9, 2015 - Sunday

And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.
All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.
[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. (Ephesians 4:30-32 NABRE)

We are baptized. We allow God's Holy Spirit to work with us. We work with the Holy Spirit to change our minds, hearts, and behavior.

In today's passage, Saint Paul lists specific changes we need to make in order to better reflect the forgiveness God gives to us. Let's pause over each one and consider how we can improve our own hearts and actions today.

Lord God, thank you for your Spirit. Open me to work with him so that I may better show your forgiving heart to all those in my life. Thank you for sealing me for the day of redemption by my baptism, and keep me always mindful of the great gift my baptism truly is. Lord, help me to recognize today each time I am bitter, furious, angry, or filled with malice. Stop me in the moment--not afterward--and replace these feelings with compassion.  Lord, help me to avoid shouting and reviling. Stop me in the moment--not afterward--and replace these actions with kindness and forgiveness. I ask that you lead me to integrity, so my heart, mind, and actions are aligned with your perfect will.


Today, I will allow God's Spirit to work in me.


Edith Stein (Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), martyred in a gas chamber at Auschwitz, pray for us.

August 8, 2015 - Saturday

There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NABRE)

At times, these words offer us comfort. At other times, they challenge and even provoke us. In either case, with the vicissitudes of life being what they are, we need to look beyond life's particular circumstances and situations to find a consistent perspective on our lives, an objective perspective, an eternal perspective. God's word offers such perspective.

Consider that today's verse actually points out that God has determined the appropriate moment of "time" for each human activity. Human beings cannot know that moment; further, the wider course of events and purposes fixed by God are beyond us as well.*

How often do we over-spiritualize or under-spiritualize the timing or the context of human events? Too often, no doubt. But when we seek to evaluate specific events from an eternal perspective, there is no doubt we are on a path to wisdom and understanding.

Today, I will seek to consider the events of my day from an eternal perspective, and to take action led by the Spirit of wisdom.


Saint Dominic, who effectively combined contemplation and activity, pray for us.

August 7, 2015 - Friday

This is why you must now acknowledge, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39 NABRE)

Moses reminds the Israelite that they believe in God  because he chose them as his own, because of his faithfulness to the promise he made to their ancestors, and because of the many great wonders he performed as he led them out of slavery in Egypt and into the promised land.

Why do you believe in God? 

Is it because you were taught about God since you were a child and just never questioned it? Is it because you met someone who told you about Jesus with words that made you sense some truth in them? Is it because you have seen evidence of God in the world?

Each believer has a reason, or a combination of reasons, why he or she believes in God. 

We should consider them, challenge them, and share them with each other. It is in this way we become strong witnesses to God's place in our lives, as strong as Peter, as strong as Paul. In this way we speak God's word into today's world. In this way, we join other believers in a public faith that confronts the evil that grows in indifference, moral confusion, and callousness.

Figure out why you believe, with experience gain your confidence, and when the time is right tell someone about it. 

Don't hide your faith. Don't be evasive about your belief. And don't worry if you're not ready to speak about your faith yet. You will be when you need to be. By inviting the Holy Spirit of God to speak when you need the words, you become like the apostles to whom Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)


Today, I will acknowledge the Lord is God and there is no other.


Saint Cajetan, who reminds us God’s standards of success differ from ours, pray for us.

August 6, 2015 - Thursday

For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:17-18 NABRE)

Today's passage from Peter's second letter contains a simple and powerful statement that Peter himself was one of the three witnesses present at the Transfiguration of Jesus, traditionally believed to have happened on Mt. Tabor.

Lord God, it is really too much for me to understand what might have happened that day on the mountain. It is too much for me to understand how Jesus is your divine son who became a man to live among us. I take it on faith that Peter's witness to this event is authentic and true. I thank you for his gift of witness and for my gift of faith. Give me continued awareness of your real presence in my day, as real as it was on that mountain, and give me the grace to bear witness to my own experience of your astounding impact on my life. Finally, help me to always stay aware of the thin veil that separates our physical reality from your unimaginable glory which transcends time and place.


Today, on this Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, I will remember that Jesus was both God and man.


Saint Hormisdas Pope, who reunited the Eastern and Western Church in 519, pray for us.

August 5, 2015 - Wednesday

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”
Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. (Matthew 15:21-22, 28 NABRE)

Jesus went to the water when he needed rest. Perhaps it was the sound of the waves rolling up on the shore which calmed and refreshed him. Possibly it was the breeze blowing off the water or the cooling touch of the water itself which brought him peace in his body and mind. It may have been the smell of the ocean or the sunset skies over the horizon which brought back memories for him. I think all of these may have led him to seek the ocean when he needed rest.

There is no doubt water has an effect on us. The sea reminds us how small we are. It is powerful and beautiful. It is constant and relentless. When we go to the water, we cannot help but gain perspective. We cannot help but recognize how limited and small we really are, and so, recall that our problems and cares are as well.

And so, tired as he must have felt, and despite that the woman in today's passage was a Canaanite (she was not a Jew, the people Jesus came to serve), Jesus engaged with her because of her unusual faith. In doing this, he begins to set the stage for the salvation of all people, both Jew and Gentile. May we notice Jesus' love for each person he encounters, his willingness to do his "work" even while on a short "vacation," and the healing he so willingly provides to anyone who will ask for it in faith.


Today, I will reflect on the amazing grace of Jesus' love for all of us.


Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

August 4, 2015 - Tuesday

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash [their] hands when they eat a meal.”
He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand.
It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” (Matthew 15:1-2, 10-11 NABRE)

Jesus called out the Pharisees for breaking God's commandments for the sake of their traditions--putting man's rules before God's.

Don't we do this too? It's so easy to twist a rule to our benefit, to change an interpretation, even in subtle ways, to our benefit, and by so doing negating the original purpose and intent of the rule. We need to consciously challenge ourselves about how we accept interpretations, how we consider context, and the sources of our information.

And how do we challenge each thing we hear and are told? We have God's Word as the measure against which we consider the many moral arguments of our times. God's Word includes both the Biblical texts as well as the teaching authority of the Church (called the magisterium). One remarkable reference we can refer to is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It contains a tremendous treasury of insight and guidance we should be using to evaluate the things we are told. If for no other reason, we can be certain of the authoritative nature of the source.


Today, I will remember that I have access to God's Word as a guide when I struggle.


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

August 3, 2015 - Monday

When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the LORD became very angry, he was grieved.
“Why do you treat your servant so badly?” Moses asked the LORD. “Why are you so displeased with me that you burden me with all this people? (Numbers 11:10-11 NABRE)

Being human is hard! We are so bound by the pains, anxieties, frustrations, distractions, and difficulties of this life that we are prone to slip into discontent, complaining, and destructive behavior. The Israelites were no different while they roamed in the desert. Having manna from God which they made into bread was a miracle, but after a while, they wanted variety, they wanted meat, and they complained, bitterly we're told.

And Moses, chosen as the head of this ungrateful and unappreciative group, was tired and at his wits end. He could not understand why God would have put him in this position. After all, he didn't ask for it. He didn't want it. But God's plan for Moses put him in this role anyway, and now it had gotten difficult, perhaps even more difficult than confronting Pharaoh had been.

If we read a few lines further into the chapter, we see Moses put it this way, "I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face my distress." (Numbers 11:14-15)

Lord, when I am distressed beyond my means, please carry me. When I cannot lift the burden you give me, please lift it for me. Lord, help me to turn over to you all my cares this day, so that on that day when I am crushed by my grief, I will have established the habit of turning to you first in times of need.


Today, I will remember to turn to the Lord regardless of my mood.


Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who said the Eucharist is the life of the people, pray for us.

August 2, 2015 - Sunday

What we have heard and know;
things our ancestors have recounted to us.
We do not keep them from our children;
we recount them to the next generation,
The praiseworthy deeds of the LORD and his strength,
the wonders that he performed. (Psalm 78:3-4 NABRE)

One of the great awakenings of my life was when I first realized it is on me personally, as part of one generation, to make sure to pass on the knowledge of God to the next generation. At the end of the day, there is nothing more important that we need to know and share. The burden this awakening created compels me to speak and live as a child of God, to teach anyone willing to learn, and to encourage believers to put all their faith and trust in God.


Today, I will marvel at the way we remember God's greatness from generation to generation.


Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, the first to link the monastic life with that of the clergy, pray for us.

August 1, 2015 - Saturday

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus
and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” (Matthew 14:1-2 NABRE)

Word of Jesus had spread all the way to the king. It's interesting that no one doubted Jesus' mighty powers, not even the king, though he did try to find an explanation for them (that Jesus was actually John the Baptist whom he had had killed prior to this time). Herod was concerned that Jesus would lead a rebellion against him. Herod was not concerned of talk that Jesus' had mighty powers.* This seems to have been accepted as fact.

Many today struggle with what to believe about Jesus. Perhaps we can gain some confidence in our own personal belief when we notice that even Jesus' enemies at the time recognized and acknowledged his special power, his ability to perform miracles, and the authority with which he taught. Their acceptance of Jesus was possible in a culture of certain faith in the God of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


Today, I will remember the deep certainty of my belief in God and reconfirm my whole faith in his son, Jesus.


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