January 17, 2016 - Sunday

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;
there are different forms of service but the same Lord;
there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.
To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

• To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom;
• to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
• to another faith by the same Spirit;
• to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit;
• to another mighty deeds;
• to another prophecy;
• to another discernment of spirits;
• to another varieties of tongues;
• to another interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NABRE)

Today, I will be grateful for the gifts of the Spirit.


Saint Anthony of Egypt, whose hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ, pray for us.

January 16, 2016 - Saturday

Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus heard this and said to them [that], “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” (Mark 2:16-17 NABRE)

Jesus was disruptive. He dashed the expectations of his contemporaries. His single mindedness was to live in the Father's will regardless of the reaction of others or the risks to himself. He came in mercy and to give us all the second chance we needed for eternal life. May we learn from his example and take action in the spirit of mercy toward others in need.


Today, I will ask the holy Spirit to lead me along my path within the Father's will and in imitation of the merciful guidance of our savior, Jesus Christ.


Saint Berard and Companions, Franciscan martyrs who proclaimed the gospel, pray for us.

January 15, 2016 - Friday

A great prophet has arisen in our midst, and God has visited his people. (Luke 7:16b NABRE)

This is the reaction of people who witnessed Jesus raise a young man from the dead. Circumstances aside, this was near the beginning of his public ministry, and people recognized him as special, as God's prophet, even more, as God visiting his people!

Lord Jesus, you took pity on this man's widowed mother as she brought him to be buried. Your presence among us as a man makes it easy to forget you are also God, and are not bound by death as we are. Lord, thank you for your compassion for us, for me. Thank you for your great mercy and for your redeeming act of love on the cross of Calvary. Thank you for passing first through death into life so that we may follow you on that same path when it is our time.


Today, I will recall Jesus' power over death itself.


Saint Paul the Hermit, whose life reminds us to respond to God's call on our lives regardless of the outcomes, pray for us.

January 14, 2016 - Thursday

Awake! Why do you sleep, O Lord?
Rise up! Do not reject us forever!
Why do you hide your face;
why forget our pain and misery?
For our soul has been humiliated in the dust;
our belly is pressed to the earth.
Rise up, help us!
Redeem us in your mercy. (Psalm 44:24-27 NABRE)

Sometimes it seems God abandons us to tragedy, loss, or suffering.

In Psalm 44, God has abandoned Israel to defeat and humiliation. They struggle with being God’s special people amid divine silence; yet they continue to pray.*

And the words of Jesus on the cross betray the same sense that the Father left him alone. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) Even this was a prayer.

We will always struggle when real pain overwhelms us. Yet the Spirit of God remains with us, within us, at all times, even in the confusion and emptiness of our moments of deepest misery. And we continue to pray.


Today, I will pray that I never experience suffering so great that I forget the real presence of God's Spirit within me.


Saint Gregory Nazianzen, who knew that holiness is always the way of the cross, pray for us.

January 13, 2016 - Wednesday

Blessed the man who sets
his security in the LORD,
who turns not to the arrogant
or to those who stray after falsehood.
You, yes you, O LORD, my God,
have done many wondrous deeds!
And in your plans for us
there is none to equal you.
Should I wish to declare or tell them,
too many are they to recount. (Psalm 40:5-6 NABRE)

This is a great day to read the words of the Psalmist without distraction. Let them speak to you. Let them enter into the particular needs of your heart at this moment. Pray them.


Today, I will recall the many wonderful deeds God has done just for me and how great his plans are for me--even beyond the plans I have for myself!


Saint Hilary, bishop and fourth-century defender of the divinity of Christ, pray for us.

January 12, 2016 - Tuesday

The LORD makes poor and makes rich,
humbles, and also exalts.
He raises the needy from the dust;
from the ash heap lifts up the poor,
To seat them with nobles
and make a glorious throne their heritage.
“For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s,
and he has set the world upon them. (1 Samuel 2:7-8 NABRE)

It is so easy to forget what really matters! We live surrounded by affluence and opportunity. We live comfortably. We live with the allures of this world's finest temptations all easily within reach. And we begin to believe we deserve it. We are tempted to believe we've earned it. We are prone to believe we should get credit for our many advantages in life. And we are deceived.

In fact, to God, none of these concerns addresses what is truly important. He is not deceived like us. Imagine it: He owns everything. He needs nothing from us. He created this little world. He sustains this little speck in the cosmos. He even exceeds our understanding of time. Yet in his infinite nature, he loves us. He loves you and he loves me too! His concern is for the poor and the needy. These are the things that matter most to God. They should matter most to us too.

And so why do we chase after what does not matter, while at the same time neglecting what does?


Today, I will examine each thing I chase after, to see if it is worth chasing.


Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, whose life is a reminder to us not to become discouraged when plans we think God must endorse are frustrated, pray for us.

January 11, 2016 - Monday

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)

I am always awestruck when I read these first words of Jesus' public ministry. Keep in mind, John the Baptist (Jesus' cousin) had recently been arrested by Herod the king for having publicly spoken out against his many evil deeds. Yet, Jesus begins his preaching with the instruction to repent, which is the same message that got John into such trouble.

It is worth noting that, Jesus had just spent forty days in the desert confronting the temptations of Satan in preparation for his ministry. Jesus came into Galilee and immediately announced these dramatic things, that it was the time of fulfillment of God's promises, that God's effective rule over his people had begun, and that everyone should change their lives and believe in the gospel. These were not timid words. They were a call to action. They were provocative and upsetting to the comfortable and powerful. However, the words of Jesus were hopeful to the poor and needy.


Today, I will repent, believe in the gospel of God, and seek new ways to be available to others in need.


Blessed William Carter, martyr for your faith, who reminds us that even today our brothers and sisters need encouragement—not always because their lives are at risk as yours was, but because many other factors besiege their faith, pray for us.

January 10, 2016 - Sunday

For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13 NABRE)

Christians are called to be counter-cultural.

Full disclosure: I find this to be very difficult at times. After all, we are always surrounded by the culture in which we live. And so, to constantly, deliberately, and successfully push against its godless philosophies, beliefs, and enticements requires vigilance, perception, and dedication.

Christians keep their hears focused on the Lord.

My observations and experience have demonstrated something like this: When we pray, we are strengthened for the challenge by grace to remain steadfast beyond our own power. When we discipline our thoughts, we increasingly learn to recognize this world's thin veneer of pleasure, power, and wealth which covers the emptiness beneath. And when we praise Jesus, we are sustained in our calling to be light in a dark world, to bring love into a lonely world, and to encounter Jesus in each person we meet.


Today, I will continue to await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ.


Saint Gregory of Nyssa, whose faith is said to have settled deep into your bones, pray for us.

January 9, 2016 - Saturday

And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked him for is ours. (1 John 5:14-15 NABRE)

Two sides to this. First, there is the great comfort that we can ask God for anything, confident that if it is according to his will, he will give us what we ask for. Second, and the part we perhaps too easily overlook, is that our requests may or may not be according to God's will.

Lord, thank you for your willingness to help me through this life. As I walk my path, there are so many times when I need your help. Grant me the grace to seek what is according to your will. And help me past the desire for those things that are not.


Today, I will take comfort in God's grace as it touches the smallest details of my life.


Saint Adrian of Canterbury, Assistant and Advisor to the Pope, abbot of the monastery of Sts' Peter and Paul in Canterbury, England, who died at the monastery in the year 710, and who became famous for miracles after his death , pray for us.

January 8, 2016 - Friday

The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. (Luke 5:15-16 NABRE)

Word got out about Jesus curing a man with a skin disease, and in their desire for all sorts of cures, people began to assemble. They came to listen to him, but they also came to have their ailments healed. I can imagine the business bordering on chaos. Crowds of people all around, noise so loud he would have had to raise his voice just to be heard by those closest to him. All that humanity and its nature can bring to such a situation.

And look what Jesus does, he withdrew to deserted places. Clearly, this went on for some time and Jesus made time for prayer in the midst of his busy days. Let us look at our daily routines and see if there are a few times each day when we can insert a little prayer time.


Today, I will make time to pray throughout the day.


Saint Angela of Foligno, whose realization that you were priceless because you were created and loved by God led you to become penitential and charitable to the poor, pray for us.

January 7, 2016 - Thursday

O God, give your judgment to the king;
your justice to the king’s son;
That he may govern your people with justice,
your oppressed with right judgment. (Psalm 72:1 NABRE)

Leadership is more than just being organized and able to manage resources to ever-improving end results. As this wish for the then-prince, Solomon, suggests, leadership is about good judgment and the application of justice in frequently ambiguous circumstances.

Lord, thank you for the great honor of leadership and the chance to speak your wisdom into the moments of each day, however imperfectly I may do that. Show me a little more each day how to use your good judgment in the events I share with those around me, and to consider what just response you would expect of me to each of life's questions.


Today, I will wonder at the many chances we each have for daily leadership.


Saint Raymond of Peñafort, patron of attorneys and lawyers, pray for us.

January 6, 2016 - Wednesday

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19 NABRE)

Christian life is founded on the knowledge of God as love and on his continuing presence that relieves us from fear of judgment. What Christ is gives us confidence, even as we live and love in this world. Yet Christian love is not abstract but lived in the concrete manner of love for one another.*


Today, I will put aside fear and remember the confidence of Christ who loved me first.


Saint André Bessette, who had a lifelong devotion to Saint Joseph, pray for us.

January 5, 2016 - Tuesday

In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. (1 John 4:9-12 NABRE)

The footnote to today's passage is a beautiful statement about the love God has for us and how we share it:

Love as we share in it testifies to the nature of God and to his presence in our lives. The revelation of the nature of God’s love is found in the free gift of his Son to us, so that we may share life with God and be delivered from our sins. The love we have for one another must be of the same sort: authentic, merciful; this unique Christian love is our proof that we know God and can “see” the invisible God.*

Lord, let me love authentically. Let me show mercy to others rather than judgment. May I share love that reminds us all that you are present in our lives today.


Today, I will recall how deeply the Lord loves us, and hope to share even a small portion of that love with those I encounter.


Saint John Neumann, American saint who took seriously our Lord’s words, “Go and teach all nations,” pray for us.

January 4, 2016 - Monday

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3 NABRE)

We learn in today's passage that deception is possible in spiritual phenomena and may be tested by its relation to Christian doctrine: those who fail to acknowledge Jesus Christ in the flesh are false prophets and belong to the antichrist. Even though these false prophets are well received in the world, the Christian who belongs to God has a greater power in the truth.*


Today, I will seek to recognize false prophets--those who deny that Jesus Christ lived among us as a man.


Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who became a Catholic after observing belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ, pray for us.

January 3, 2016 - Sunday

After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:9-11 NABRE)

The magi--wise men from the east--were most likely neither kings nor magicians, but rather of a priestly caste.  Passages from Isaiah (60:6) and Psalms (72:10, 15) have led to the interpretation that they were kings.* Even from his birth, Jesus Christ called to all people and his salvation is for everyone who seeks him out.


Today, on the Epiphany of the Lord, I will remember that God's salvation is meant for all people.


Saint Genevieve, patroness of those enduring disasters, pray for us.

Epiphany

January 2, 2016 - Saturday

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made us: eternal life. (1 John 2:24-25 NABRE)

We all face doubt along the way. Today's encouragement from Saint John should remind us of how to approach our doubt. When we are challenged in our belief, it is good to go back to basics, to read God's Word, and to remember that even when we don't feel God's presence He is still with us--as close as our next breath.


Today, I will keep in my heart what I "heard from the beginning" even when my faith is challenged.


Saint Basil the Great, bishop, Doctor of the Church, and patron of Russia, pray for us.

January 1, 2016 - Friday

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26 NABRE)

The Hebrew word Shalom includes the idea of happiness, good health, prosperity, friendship, and general well-being. To use this term as a greeting was to pray for all these things upon the one greeted.*

Lord God, bless and keep us. May we know health, prosperity, friendship, and well-being in the new year.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I will pray for peace.


Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

December 31, 2015 - Thursday

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them.
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice
before the LORD who comes,
who comes to govern the earth,
To govern the world with justice
and the peoples with faithfulness. (Psalm 96:11-13 NABRE)

As we stand at the dawn of a new year, it is tempting to dwell on things of the past. And while there can be value in such reflections, it is better to celebrate the glory of the one who creates our new years and is the author of their unfolding, moment by moment.

When we look back on the events of the past year, may we see the times we remembered to celebrate our Lord. May we draw from it strength and comfort for the year ahead. And may we dwell in his company during each moment of the new year.


Today, I will celebrate with all joy because the Lord has come to us and will return!


Saint Sylvester I, whose life reminds us that it takes deep humility and courage in the face of criticism for a leader to stand aside and let events take their course, when asserting one’s authority would only lead to useless tension and strife, pray for us.

December 30, 2015 - Wednesday

Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NABRE)

John urges us not to love what is hostile toward God and alienated from him.* When we love something, we put it before other things, we idolize it, we focus our attention on it, we miss it when we are away from it.

What John calls "the world" are all the things that draw our thoughts and actions away from God. Whether by way of summary or as examples, he lists three: sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life.

John's words are very practical and modern. When we give our hearts, minds, time, energy, and attention over to an inordinate desire for physical gratification, avarice or covetousness, or pride, arrogance, or ostentation, our earthly style of life reflects a willful independence from God and others.*


Today, I will consider my own ties to this world which turn my attention away from God and hold me for too long.


Saint Egwin, known as a protector of orphans and the widowed, a fair judge, and who was a bishop determined to correct abuses by members of the clergy, pray for us.

December 29, 2015 - Tuesday

Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived. (1 John 2:4-6 NABRE)

How often do I fail to show love to those around me?

How often do I act with my own interests first, thinking nothing of how my actions affect someone else?

How often do I see others in need and fail to act on their behalf?

Too often I think.

Lord Jesus, help me to know you better so that I will keep your commandments. Help me to keep your word so that the Father's love grows in me. Lord, I seek to be in union with you and so I ask for your grace. By my own power, I cannot live as you lived, but only by your Spirit am I able to do so. Thank you for your Spirit. May I have the grace to be humble so that I may put aside my own desires, angers, and selfish pursuits. I listen for your voice. I act with the intention of expressing your love.


Today, I will listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit in the busy moments of this day.


Saint Thomas Becket, who learned to stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of your life, pray for us.

December 28, 2015 - Monday

When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:13-15 NABRE)

When it was time for them to leave, the Magi departed for their country without informing king Herod about the location of the newborn King. Soon after, Joseph was given instructions to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod's anger.

Egypt was a traditional place of refuge for those fleeing from danger in Palestine (see 1 Kings 11:40; Jeremiah 26:21), but the main reason why the child is to be taken to Egypt is that he may relive the Exodus experience of Israel.*

The fulfillment citation is taken from Hosea 11:1. Israel, God’s son, was called out of Egypt at the time of the Exodus; Jesus, the Son of God, will similarly be called out of that land in a new exodus. The father-son relationship between God and the nation is set in a higher key. Here the son is not a group adopted as “son of God,” but the child who, as conceived by the holy Spirit, stands in unique relation to God. He is son of David and of Abraham, of Mary and of Joseph, but, above all, of God.*


Today, I will thank God for his son, Jesus.


Holy Innocents, boys of Bethlehem who were massacred by king Herod, martyrs, and patrons of babies, pray for us.

December 27, 2015 - Sunday

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. (Colossians 3:12-14 NABRE)

As we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it is good to take to heart this advice of Saint Paul's. Family life brings many challenges, giving each of us plenty of opportunities to practice:

• Heartfelt compassion - when we offer a hug of understanding
• Kindness - when we do something without being asked
• Humility - when we praise someone else
• Gentleness - when we respond calmly to harshness
• Patience - when we accept troubles and delays without impatience
• Bearing with one another - when we endure struggles with someone
• Forgiveness - when we choose to let go of well-deserved anger and resentment
• Love - when we choose to commit ourselves to our families

Today, I will be grateful for my family.


Saint John the Apostle, who wrote, we have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us, pray for us.

December 26, 2015 - Saturday

But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.
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. (Matthew 10:17-20 NABRE)

Have you ever worried about having the right words to say as you anticipate a difficult conversation? Jesus sent the twelve out to preach with a warning and a comfort. He told them to expect resistance and persecution for the message they were to share, but he also told them not to worry about finding the right words. The Spirit of God would speak through them.

Similarly, in Exodus (4:11-12), "The LORD said to [Moses]: Who gives one person speech? Who makes another mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, I will assist you in speaking and teach you what you are to say.

When the young prophet Jeremiah said, “Ah, Lord GOD!...I do not know how to speak. I am too young!” the Lord said to him, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you. (Jeremiah 1:6-8)

And in Luke's gospel, Jesus expresses it this way: When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say. (Luke 12:11-12)


Today, I will put aside the worry, fear, and hesitation that seem to come with God's sending me to act in ways that are pleasing to him, confident in the Spirit's presence and impact during difficult conversations.


Saint Stephen, who, even as you died, kept your eyes trustfully fixed on God, and with a prayer of forgiveness on your lips, pray for us.

December 25, 2015 - Friday

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 NABRE)

Imagine what it was like for the shepherds to have shared in such a deep way the incarnation of the creator God, and to be invited to visit the Messiah at his birth. We are humble people, like these shepherds. We bow our heads at the name of Jesus. And what an overwhelming thing it is when we also find ourselves invited to share in the presence of our Lord, the Christ who saved us, Jesus.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, I will seek to discover Christ in my heart—somewhere between skepticism and wonder, between mystery and faith.

From Spiritualdirection.com

December 24, 2015 - Thursday

When your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12, 14a, 16 NABRE)

These are God's words spoken to King David through the prophet Nathan. In context, this is called the Dynastic Oracle. The message is prompted by David’s intention to build a house (i.e., a temple) for the Lord, like David’s own house (i.e., palace) of cedar. David is told, in effect, not to bother building a house for the Lord; rather, the Lord will make a house for him—a dynasty, the House of David. Not only will he have descendants who will sit upon the throne of Israel, their rule will last forever. The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father. The Dynastic Oracle is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king, son of David.*

Lord Jesus, you came to us through the House of David, yet you were born, hidden away in poverty, utterly vulnerable. With your birth, God made the divine helplessness very clear to us, for a human infant is totally dependent on the loving response of other people.* Thank you, Lord, for my free will and for making yourself vulnerable to my choice to love you. I do chose to love you, each day.


Today, I will thank God for my free will, and the opportunity to choose to serve him.


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

December 23, 2015 - Wednesday

Now I am sending my messenger—
he will prepare the way before me;
And the lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple;
The messenger of the covenant whom you desire—
see, he is coming! says the LORD of hosts. (Malachi 3:1 NABRE)

As the season of Advent draws to a close, we are fast approaching Christmas day and the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. During this time of preparation it is good to recall the one who prepared the way for the arrival of the Messiah. The gospel of Matthew (11:10) refers back to the first two lines of today's verse (written about 450 years before the birth of Christ) using them to describe John the Baptist.*

Lord Jesus, your cousin John prepared the way before you. He turned hearts to you so that they might know you when you arrived. He lived an austere life in the desert, preached a message of repentance to all who listened, and baptized those who came to him as a sign of cleansing of sin. Help me to learn from John how to live in this time of waiting for Jesus' return. Help me to joyfully celebrate the One who redeemed my soul and to live in a way pleasing to God.


Today, I will seek to help others recognize Jesus as Savior, like John the Baptist did, by my words and by the way I live my life.


Saint John Kanty, who was kind, humble and generous, who suffered opposition and led an austere, penitential life, pray for us.

December 22, 2015 - Tuesday

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 from the gospel of Saint Luke are the first lines of Mary's prayer, which we call the Magnificat, after greeting her cousin Elizabeth who calls her blessed. It contains a number of references to the Old Testament. The Magnificat 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, may my entire soul proclaim your greatness and may my spirit rejoice in you!


Today, I will remember, with Mary, that God's mercy is available to us even today, and I will celebrate it during this Jubilee Year of Mercy.


Belssed Jacopone da Todi, whose whole life rang out “Alleluia!” and inspires us to keep singing in all circumstances, pray for us.

December 21, 2015 - Monday

The sound of my lover! here he comes
springing across the mountains,
leaping across the hills.
My lover is like a gazelle
or a young stag.
See! He is standing behind our wall,
gazing through the windows,
peering through the lattices.
My lover speaks and says to me,
“Arise, my friend, my beautiful one,
and come!
For see, the winter is past,
the rains are over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth,
the time of pruning the vines has come,
and the song of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance.
Arise, my friend, my beautiful one,
and come!
My dove in the clefts of the rock,
in the secret recesses of the cliff,
Let me see your face,
let me hear your voice,
For your voice is sweet,
and your face is lovely.” (Song of Songs 2:8-14 NABRE)

The Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles) is a collection of love lyrics, arranged to tell a dramatic tale of mutual desire and courtship. Although the poem is attributed to Solomon in the traditional title, the language, style, and other considerations suggest it was written after the end of the Babylonian exile (538 B.C.) when an unknown poet collected extant love poems, perhaps composing new material. Some scholars argue the possibility of female authorship for at least portions of the Song. In both form and content, sections of the Song bear great similarity to the secular love songs of ancient Egypt and the “Sacred Marriage” cult songs of Mesopotamia which celebrate the union between divine partners.

While the lovers in the Song are clearly human figures, both Jewish and Christian traditions across the centuries have adopted allegorical interpretations. The Song is seen as a beautiful picture of the ideal Israel, the chosen people whom the Lord leads by degrees to a greater understanding and closer union in the bond of perfect love. The Song frequently proclaims a joyous reciprocity between the lovers and highlights the active role of the female partner.

Christian tradition has followed Israel’s example in using marriage as an image for the relationship with God. This image is found extensively in the New Testament. Thus the Song has been read as a sublime portrayal and praise of this mutual love of the Lord and his people. Christian writers have interpreted the Song in terms of the union between Christ and the Church and of the union between Christ and the individual soul.*

Over the centuries the emphasis of interpretation shifted, the 11th century adding a moral element and the 12th century understanding the Bride as the Virgin Mary, each new reading absorbing rather than simply replacing earlier ones, so that the commentary became ever more complex, with multiple layers of meaning. This approach leads to conclusions not found in the more overtly theological books of the Bible.*


Today, I will reflect on the many qualities of marriage which reflect God's relationship with his people.


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

December 20, 2015 - Sunday

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord* should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (Luke 1:41-45 NABRE)

Today's passage has much to tell us about belief, hope, and joy. The baby--John the Baptist, even before he is born, is said to leap for joy at the sound of Jesus' mother's voice. Jesus causes joy when we are open to his presence in our lives. Elizabeth, who carries the baby though she was thought to be infertile, expresses her own (probably renewed) sense of hope and joy at the arrival of Mary, her cousin who was also with child, carrying Jesus. She blesses Mary and in her blessing we learn a deep and powerful lesson about Mary's faith.

Mary believed what the angel Gabriel had told her, the impossible news of what would happen, that she would become the mother of God's only son. Her faith in God was total. Her simple willingness to obey God and to accept whatever God called her to do makes her the perfect role model of faith for us today. May we learn to trust in the Lord as Mary did. May we learn to obey God humbly and without reluctance as Mary did. And may we find the joy and hope that is part of a relationship with Jesus.


Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Advent, I will celebrate joyfully the near arrival of Jesus among us at Christmas.


Saint Dominic of Silos, Benedictine monk who lived 1,000 years ago, pray for us.

December 19, 2015 - Saturday

After this time his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she went into seclusion for five months, saying, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.” (Luke 1:24-25 NABRE)

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were the parents of John the Baptist. They were already considered old and Elizabeth had never been able to have children. At that time, this was thought to be the result of a curse or punishment for sin.* However, as a sign that nothing is impossible with God, their prayers were finally answered and Elizabeth bore a son.

So often, we pray for things, for health, for others, for peace, for guidance, and all the other needs and wants of the human condition. And just about as often, we feel our prayers are not answered. We want answers in our time. We want answers that match our expectations. Yet, God, whose ways are above ours, often answers our prayers in unexpected ways. The question for us is, how do we respond when our expectations are not met?

Lord God, thank you for answering my prayers, big and small. Please give me the patience to await your answer to my prayer and the discernment to recognize your answer when it arrives. Protect me from frustration, anger, and bitterness when I do not receive an answer from you in the time or manner I want. Instead, remind me of the words your son taught me to pray, your will be done.


Today, I will seek to be patient, awaiting the answer to prayer in God's timing, not my own.


Blessed Pope Urban V, fourteenth-century Benedictine monk and canon lawyer whose goal it was to reunite the Eastern and Western churches, pray for us.

December 18, 2015 - Friday

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21 NABRE)

In first-century Judaism the Hebrew name Joshua (Greek Iēsous, Latin Iesus*, transliterated as Jesus) meaning “Yahweh helps” was interpreted as “Yahweh saves.”*

And so when the baby was born, Joseph named the boy Jesus as he was instructed, giving him the name Yahweh saves.

Lord Jesus, you came to save me. Your incarnation gives me hope. I marvel at your unexpected arrival in the small hill town of Bethlehem, to a girl known by few. You came in the form of a helpless baby. You grew up as a humble carpenter's son. Yet, you alone made eternal salvation possible for all humankind in a victory marked by your suffering and dying, but sealed by your rising from the dead. You came to serve others. You were a king hidden among the poor and outcast. You surprised all who were expecting a royal leader who would perform great international military and political feats. Yet, you alone inaugurated God's kingdom here on earth during your brief life. And to this day, it remains strong within the hearts of your people. May we follow the will of God the Father as you did, Lord Jesus, and enjoy eternal life with you.


Today, I will appreciate participating in the spiritual kingdom Jesus inaugurated, and look forward to the day of his return.


Blessed Anthony Grassi, whose spiritual life began in earnest after surviving a lightning strike, pray for us.

December 17, 2015 - Thursday

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah.
Thus the total number of generations from Abraham to David is fourteen generations; from David to the Babylonian exile, fourteen generations; from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah, fourteen generations.(Matthew 1:16-17 NABRE)

The gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus starting with Abraham, the father of Israel. Yet at the beginning of that genealogy Jesus is designated as “the son of David, the son of Abraham”. The kingly ancestor who lived about a thousand years after Abraham is named first, for this is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the royal anointed one.*

Matthew is concerned with fourteen generations, probably because fourteen is the numerical value of the Hebrew letters forming the name of David.*

Lord Jesus, your family tree extends back many generations from Joseph and Mary, through Joseph's father, Jacob, to David and even back to Abraham. At the time of your birth, your people expected an earthly king to lead them back to a position of power in the world. Jesus, you were a surprise! Even with your legitimate claim, your circumstances were humble and you came to serve not to be served. Thank you for your presence among us and for your example. Teach me each day to turn back to your perfect example and to look forward to your return. And as I wait, may your Spirit never leave my side.


Today, I will recall Jesus' ancestry back to King David and to Abraham.


Saint Hildegard of Bingen, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to develop the gifts you received from God, pray for us.

December 16, 2015 - Wednesday

Love and truth will meet;
justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth;
justice will look down from heaven. (Psalm 85:11-12 NABRE)

In today's passage, divine activity is personified as pairs of virtues.* Written at a time when encouragement was needed, these words turn us to a time when God will act on behalf of his faithful people. And when God acts, look at what is produced! Love and truth, justice and peace.

Lord, even when I am not grateful, share your love with me. Even when I am dishonest with you, with others, and with myself, share your truth with me. Even when I lack compassion and generosity, share your justice with me. And when I am anxious, share your peace with me. Lord, I ask these things not just for myself, but so that I might be changed. I ask for these graces so that I will shine a small bit of your light into my world.


Today, I will look for indications that the Holy Spirit of God is working in my day, and I will look for ways to share God's love, truth, justice, and peace with someone else.


Blessed Honoratus Kozminski, who is a powerful example to us to obey the teachings of the Church willingly and gladly, placing our gifts at the service of the Good News of Jesus Christ, pray for us.

December 15, 2015 - Tuesday

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the LORD;
let the poor hear and be glad.
Magnify the LORD with me;
and let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:2-4 NABRE)

With so many distractions in our culture, in our lives, and in our daily routines, it is extremely easy to lose our focus on what matters most. Especially this time of year, when we are particularly busy with preparations for holiday parties and sometimes challenging social responsibilities, we find ourselves struggling to keep the joy and peace of the season in our hearts.

O Lord, give us peace in our hearts in times of tumult. Give us joy in times of struggle. Help us to overlook the multitude of distractions in our day so that we can remain in your holy presence. As we walk our paths this day, keep us safe. Lead us to the places you want us. Show us the people you want us to encounter. O Lord, may our day today be one we look back on this evening and remember how we blessed you in each moment, how we praised you through our trials, how we gave glory to you as we recognized each blessing, and how we spoke lovingly of you to all those we met who were poor and in need of your kindness.


Today, I will give glory to the Lord in each moment of the day.


Blessed Mary Frances Schervier, who was led by God to establish a community of sisters who care for the sick and aged in the United States and throughout the world, pray for us.

December 14, 2015 - Monday

Make known to me your ways, LORD;
teach me your paths.
Guide me by your fidelity and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
for you I wait all the day long. (Psalm 25:4-5 NABRE)

Psalm 25 is a lament of King David. The psalmist mixes ardent pleas with expressions of confidence in God who forgives and guides.*

My God, like David, I seek to understand your ways. I want to learn to walk along the path you have set before me. Each day, I desire to be guided by your Spirit. Thank you for your faithfulness to me and the guidance you provide. I look forward to the day of your coming among us.


Today, I will wait in the spirit of Advent for the coming of the Christ.


Saint John of the Cross, priest, Doctor of the Church, and patron of mystics, pray for us.

December 13, 2015 - Sunday

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior,
Who will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
Who will sing joyfully because of you,
as on festival days. (Zephaniah 3:17 NABRE)

The ministry of the prophet Zephaniah took place during the reign of Josiah (640–609 B.C.), not long before the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. about the time of the prophet Jeremiah.*

Although his prophecies were primarily of divine judgement, Zephaniah captures this wonderful image of God. It is remarkable and exciting to think of God rejoicing over his people, indeed over you and me, of him singing joyfully because of us! Let us change our hearts each day, turning to him in humility, aware of our personal sinfulness and our responsibilities to those around us, so that God will renew is in his love.


Today, on this Third Sunday of Advent, I will be joyful in the knowledge that God is in our midst.


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

December 12, 2015 - Saturday

Then Uzziah said to her, “Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the leader of our enemies. (Judith 13:18 NABRE)

The Book of Judith relates the story of God’s deliverance of the Jewish people. The work may have been written around 100 B.C., but its historical range spans hundreds of turbulent years. The work is considered historical fiction, written to exalt God as Israel’s deliverer from foreign might, not by an army, but by means of a simple widow.*

The Book of Judith is not without controversy, because Jewish rabbis did not count Judith among their scriptures, and the Reformation adopted that position. The early Church, however, held this book in high honor. The first-century Pope, St. Clement of Rome, proposes Judith as an example of courageous love. St. Jerome holds her up as an example of a holy widow and a type of the Church and, in another place, describes Mary as a new Judith. The Council of Trent (1546) included Judith in the canon; thus it is one of the seven deuterocanonical books.*


Today, I will welcome the inspired Word of God in all its recognized forms.


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

December 11, 2015 - Friday

Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I am the LORD, your God,
teaching you how to prevail,
leading you on the way you should go.
If only you would attend to my commandments,
your peace would be like a river,
your vindication like the waves of the sea. (Isaiah 48:17-18 NABRE)

Vindication simply means to be proven right. We are urged to "attend" the commandments of God. In the New Testament, we see Jesus use the word wisdom and we might equate that with Isaiah's use of the word commandments by the shared reference to vindication.

In particular, in Matthew's gospel, Jesus concludes a parable about those who reject him by saying, "But wisdom is vindicated by her works." (Matthew 11:19c) In Luke's version of the parable, Jesus says, "wisdom is vindicated by all her children." (Luke 7:35) There is some unity in all of these statements which points us toward God's expectation for our lives.

The particulars of God's wisdom are expressed in his commandments. Jesus along with John the Baptist and others who follow the commandments are Wisdom's children, and will be proven right in the eyes of the world at the appointed time.


Today, I will wait with joy for the time when the children of Wisdom are vindicated.


Saint Damasus I, fourth-century pope who makes us aware of two qualities of good leadership: alertness to the promptings of the Spirit and service, pray for us.

December 10, 2015 - Thursday

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain,
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
I will open up rivers on the bare heights,
and fountains in the broad valleys;
I will turn the wilderness into a marshland,
and the dry ground into springs of water.
In the wilderness I will plant the cedar,
acacia, myrtle, and olive;
In the wasteland I will set the cypress,
together with the plane tree and the pine,
That all may see and know,
observe and understand,
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it. (Isaiah 41:17-20 NABRE)

When we are most in need, God steps in. If we will not lose hope and instead turn to him in our worst moments, he will meet our needs. And if we are attentive, we will see his hand in our assistance, we will see the generous excess of the Lord's gifts, and we will know without doubt that it has been his aid all along which sustained us. Let us share this confidence with others, especially those who need hope restored.


Today, I will praise the Lord who created all things and who is lovingly involved in each moment.


Blessed Adolph Kolping, founder of the Young Workmen's Society in Germany in the 1840's who helped many skilled workers and factory laborers to overcome their isolation and defeatism, pray for us.

Marshland

December 9, 2015 - Wednesday

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is God from of old,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives power to the faint,
abundant strength to the weak.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar on eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NABRE)

Let us remember that it was only God who existed before time. God created time. God created this world. And God created each one of us. There is no beginning or end to God, but we are creatures who had a beginning. And when we remember and meditate on all of this, let us welcome the perspective it brings, the strength it promises, and the endurance it provides.


Today, I will place all my hope for the future in the Lord's hands alone.


Saint Juan Diego, to whom the Blessed Mother appeared in the 16th century in Mexico on Tepeyac hill, pray for us.

December 8, 2015 - Tuesday

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38 NABRE)

There is a special quality in Mary which led her to yield without hesitation to God's will. Perhaps this quality is rooted in her perception of herself as the handmaid of the Lord.

How do we see ourselves?

Even though she was troubled and confused by what she was told by Gabriel--that she would bear a son, Jesus, who would be called the Son of God and be given the throne of David--Mary accepted this news and the task from God without hesitation.

Do we say, like Mary, "May it be done to me according to your word." without hesitation?

Today's feast day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century and came to the West in the eighth century. The Church believes the Most Blessed Virgin Mary was born and "preserved free from all stain of original sin." It took a long time for this doctrine to develop, but it is understood as enhancement of Jesus' redemptive work because "in Mary, Jesus' work was so powerful as to prevent original sin at the outset."* We do not worship Mary, but we turn to her as our spiritual mother who intercedes with God on our behalf.


Today, I will pray the rosary, asking the Lord to show us his mercy during the Church's Jubilee Year of Mercy.


Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now.

December 7, 2015 - Monday

A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
but it will be for his people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it.
No lion shall be there,
nor any beast of prey approach,
nor be found.
But there the redeemed shall walk,
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning flee away. (Isaiah 35:8-10 NABRE)

Isaiah chapters 34 and 35 form a small collection which looks forward to the vindication of Zion, first by defeat of its enemies (chap. 34), then by its restoration (chap. 35). They are generally judged to be later than the time of Isaiah (eighth century), perhaps during the Babylonian exile or thereafter.*

Lord, thank you for preparing the way for your people to return to you. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to redeem me from my sinful nature, so I might walk this road, so that I might enter your city of everlasting joy and gladness.


Today, I will remember the coming of my Lord who redeemed me, and I will walk with joy along the holy way.


Saint Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, and patron of bee keepers and learning, pray for us.

December 6, 2015 - Sunday

For God has commanded
that every lofty mountain
and the age-old hills be made low,
That the valleys be filled to make level ground,
that Israel may advance securely in the glory of God.
The forests and every kind of fragrant tree
have overshadowed Israel at God’s command;
For God is leading Israel in joy
by the light of his glory,
with the mercy and justice that are his. (Baruch 5:7-9 NABRE)

Have you ever felt lost, lonely, or even abandoned? And amid this most empty, frightening, sinking and devastating feeling, have you ever then realized it was your own fault--that something you said or did directly caused the circumstance that brought you your present suffering?

What a humbling experience that is! So humiliating in fact that it can overwhelm us to the point of denial. But if we resist becoming overwhelmed. If we resist denial. If instead, we can seek to be humble before God, we (sometimes very) gradually become better able to acknowledge our own faults--those times we offend him by our actions and omissions--and responsibilities. By this intentional humility we experience surprising strength to turn to him for mercy. And when we do this, when we turn to God for mercy, he always welcomes us back.

God is merciful and he wants us to turn to him always, especially when we are most at fault.

One of my favorite metaphors for life is that of walking a path toward God in the dark. He provides the light, but only in a very small area surrounding where I currently stand. When I look forward it is dark. When I look to the right or to the left it is dark. Even looking back along the path I've walked, things have dimmed and are quickly difficult to see. It is only in the circle of light, in the present moment, I can see the path. My only task then is to rely on the light and remain on the path. Every step I take that moves me forward is confirmed because the light remains with me, and if I test the edges of the light in any direction, the darkness is actually frightening.

In today's passage, God prepares the path back to Jerusalem for those who were exiled, and he does it in dramatic fashion! For his people, he levels mountains, raises valleys, and shades them on their way.


Today, I will remember that God is always preparing the path ahead of me to return home to him.


Saint Nicholas, fourth-century bishop of Myra, patron of many and especially children, pray for us.

December 5, 2015 - Saturday

As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ (Matthew 10:7 NABRE)

After some time of instruction, Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples to go out and preach and cure the sick. He told them to make the proclamation in today's verse. It echos his own words (see Matthew 4:17) and those of John the Baptist before him (see Matthew 3:2). John the Baptist called for a change of heart and conduct, a turning of one’s life from rebellion to obedience towards God.*

The phrasing, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand" loses some of it's impact today unless we realize that heaven (lit., “the heavens”) is a substitute for the name “God” that was avoided by devout Jews of the time out of reverence. So, it is a particularly powerful statement made during the life of Jesus.*

There was no season of Advent during Jesus' life on earth. There was no need for it. He was here! Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for Jesus during which we recall his incarnation as a baby in Bethlehem, the beginning of those few decades when he lived among us as a man. During Advent, we also look forward to his return, his second coming, which we call the parousia.


Today, I will reflect on the importance of Advent and how grateful I am for this time to remember Jesus has already lived among us and that he will return.


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

December 4, 2015 - Friday

Wait for the LORD, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14 NABRE)

During this time of Advent, we wait. We prepare for the coming of the Lord. We remember his promises. God, whose only son walked this earth with us as a man, and whose Spirit is with us even now at this moment, has a plan for each one of us. And it takes courage sometimes to trust him to protect us as we venture out in the world to live out his plan. We are called to be people of courage in in the face of the enemy. We are called to rely on God's power when the battle overwhelms our own abilities.

Lord, help me to wait and to prepare for your return. Give me the courage and endurance to carry on during this time of Advent and during this life of mine. Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly! And in the meantime, keep your Spirit alive in my heart. Lead me to action when action is called for. Lead me to patience when action should be held back.


Today, I will endure the challenges that confront me with courage, confident in the Lord's protection.


Saint John Damascene, whose holiness expressed itself in putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord, pray for us.

December 3, 2015 - Thursday

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NABRE)

There is an urgency about this verse. Phrased as a command, it implies strongly that there will come a time when the Lord will be too far away to be found.

In context, today's verse is thought to have been written toward the end of the Babylonian exile about 550 years BC.* In it, the Lord calls out to his struggling people to trust him to provide for their worldly needs, to listen to him, and to pay attention to him. To the faithful who would trust and heed his word, the Lord promised to more than meet their physical needs by providing good and delightful food, to give them life, to keep his promises to them as a nation, and to glorify them in the eyes of other nations.

Lord God, thank you for your encouragement. Help me to foster a sense of urgency in my own search for you. I know you are near to me. Continue to light my path by your Spirit so that I might follow it faithfully. Give me the grace to trust you in all circumstances, to center myself in your Word, and to act in a way pleasing to you which is based on your guidance.


Today, I will trust God, listen and pay attention to his guidance, and seek him while I have time.


Saint Francis Xavier, whose life exemplified the understanding that sacrifice is leaving yourself behind at times for a greater good, the good of prayer, the good of helping someone in need, the good of just listening to another, pray for us.

December 2, 2015 - Wednesday

The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:31 NABRE)

Every now and then it helps to remember that the stories about Jesus which are recounted for us by his followers were also witnessed by others, many others, people we know nothing about. In the presence of crowds of people, Jesus healed the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others.

Imagine being one of the people Jesus cured. Imagine your biggest problem and do what the people of Jesus' time did, bring it right up to Jesus and ask him for help. Not as a dare, but trusting that the Jesus we read about is still alive today and able to answer your request. No, not as a dare, but with deep humility before the one who humbled even himself before God and died on the cross. Ask him to intercede for you with the Father, just as he did for those people in the crowd who needed his help.


Today, I will place my biggest problem in Jesus' hands, humbly trusting that he will hear and answer my request.


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

December 1, 2015 - Tuesday

At that very moment he rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. (Luke 10:21 NABRE)

In this Spirit-led prayer, Jesus tells his disciples that God the Father has given them (the childlike) understanding and insight into who he is and what his mission has been, indeed into the very nature of God.

By this, we learn that acceptance of what Jesus taught depends upon the Father’s revelation, but this is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant.*

Lord God, I ask only for openness to receive your truth. I do not seek the wisdom and learning of this world. I seek only you in my heart. Protect me from arrogance, thinking too much of myself. Guard me from attempts to be the smart or clever one in conversation. Take away my anxiety throughout this day so that I might better listen for the times when you want me to speak, and more importantly, for the times when you want me to remain silent.


Today, I will stay attentive for the Spirit's guidance.


Blessed Charles de Foucauld, who struggled with faith and was eventually centered on God and animated by prayer and humble service, pray for us.

November 30, 2015 - Monday

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:18-19 NABRE)

Peter and Andrew were two brothers who owned a boat and caught fish for a living. One day, as they carried out their daily routine, Jesus approached them and told them to follow him. We are told they immediately did just that.

Peter and Andrew had to leave behind everything they knew in order to follow Jesus. They left family, a stable income, some measure of stability and respect in the community. They left for the unknown and uncomfortable. I wonder if we resist Jesus' call on our lives because we realize he leads us out of our comfort zone and into the unknown.


Today, I will trust Jesus to stay with me and I will remain alert for the promptings of his Spirit during the day.


Saint Andrew, Apostle, brother of Simon Peter, and patron of fishermen, pray for us.

November 29, 2015 - Sunday

The days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
In those days, at that time, I will make a just shoot spring up for David; he shall do what is right and just in the land. (Jeremiah 33:14-15 NABRE)

These words are God's, spoken through the prophet Jeremiah about 600 years before the birth of Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus is the person to whom Jeremiah makes reference, calling him a just shoot produced in the lineage of King David, saying he shall do what is right and just in the land.

Lord God, as the season of Advent begins, I thank you for this time of preparation. It is during this time I turn my heart to the greater reality of your incarnation. It is incomprehensible that you would humble yourself, Lord, and take on the form of a man. But I thank you for doing just that. It is absurd that you would desire a loving relationship with mankind, and with me personally. But I thank you for desiring just that. Your son, Jesus, restored our relationship with you and brought us a path of healing and redemption, so that I, myself, might share in your perfect peace and joy, together with you and all your people. This time of Advent preparation allows me to reflect back on the birth of Jesus and also to reflect forward to his return.


Today, on this First Sunday of Advent, I will look forward to the coming of Jesus.


Saint Clement, third successor of St. Peter, who reigned as pope during the last decade of the first century, pray for us.

From: USCCB Advent page

November 28, 2015 - Saturday

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.
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 21:34-36 NABRE)

There is a worship song titled I Can Only Imagine which describes the overwhelming moment when the singer first meets Jesus. The song is concerned with how the singer might feel in that moment, the lyrics posing questions like, What will my heart feel? / Will I dance for your Jesus or in awe of you be still? / Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? / Will I sing hallelujah? / Will I be able to speak at all?

By contrast, in today's passage, Jesus speaks about the challenging times just before his return. He speaks in concrete terms about difficulties and how to avoid them. For those who will experience these times of tribulation--and we do not know if it will be us, Jesus gives specific directions:

• Do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life
• Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have strength

Today, I will take Jesus' direction, practicing these while maintaining a spirit of awe in my heart.


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

November 27, 2015 - Friday

But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. (Luke 21:28 NABRE)

Jesus tells his listeners to look for signs of his return at the end of time. He tells them there will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. He tells them that nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. He goes on to say that people will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world. These cataclysmic scenes refer back to the words of a number of prophets including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and others.

In today's verse, Jesus describes how the faithful person should react to the many frightening signs of his return. We are told to stand erect and to raise our heads (practice that now to see how it feels). There is calmness, confidence, courageousness, joy, awe, and satisfied relief reflected in such an act. There is no fear in it.

Let us live every day mindful of Jesus' presence among us in Spirit and anxious for his full return to us in body. Let us live each day in a state of Advent anticipation. Let this change us, our attitudes and our behaviors.


Today, I will center my actions and attitudes on the possibility that Jesus will return today.


Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani, who made the love taught us by Christ the fundamental characteristic of his existence, pray for us.

November 26, 2015 - Thursday

Then King Darius wrote to the nations and peoples of every language, wherever they dwell on the earth: “May your peace abound!
I decree that throughout my royal domain the God of Daniel is to be reverenced and feared:
“For he is the living God, enduring forever,
whose kingdom shall not be destroyed,
whose dominion shall be without end. (Daniel 6:27-28 NABRE)

In an unlikely outcome, Daniel survived being thrown into a pit of hungry lions because God intervened directly. God sent angels to close the mouths of the lions. Today's passage takes place the following day, after King Darius, who liked Daniel but was forced to sentence him to this fate, came to see how Daniel had fared. Darius was grateful to have found Daniel alive.

The book of Daniel contains traditional stories which tell of the trials and triumphs of the wise Daniel and his three companions. The moral is that people of faith can resist temptation and conquer adversity. The persecuted Jews of the second century B.C. would quickly see the application of these stories to their own plight.*

Lord God, your power changed king Darius, a man with the authority and visibility to impact others. His decree that everyone throughout his domain shall reverence and fear you is a powerful evangelizing statement! He calls everyone with whom he has influence to recognize your great power, instructing them to show you complete respect. This leader sees that you are the living God who endures forever. Lord, thank you for intervening directly in my life. Please continue to share your Spirit with me so that I might, even in small ways, tell everyone I can about your power and your promise, and encourage all with whom I have influence to be respectful to you who deserves all our reverence.


Today, I will be thankful for the many blessings in my life, especially my faith and my family.


Saint Columban, Irish monk whose concern about chastity, austerity, and discipline challenge us even today, pray for us.

November 25, 2015 - Wednesday

You praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your very breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. (Daniel 5:23B NABRE)

What false gods do we have today, and are they any different from those in Daniel's time? There is no doubt that money and power remain as our most desired false god. But don't forget how we praise sports figures and entertainers, how we idolize singers, and how we uplift our hobbies and leisure pursuits to a level of importance and meaning far beyond what is reasonable.

But why? Perhaps it is because we seek an elusive calm or peace, a happiness that seems just out of reach, or a sense of self worth and value we can't quite seem to manage for ourselves. All of our false gods seem to hold the promise to fill a void we experience. But they can never do that. They can only distract us for short spans of time from our pain. And not a single one of them is worth our devotion.

For the believer who trusts in God, false gods quickly lose their luster. Only the one true God sustains us along with all of his creation. Only God offers us real and lasting joy, and peace that surpasses understanding. Only God deserves praise and glory. Stone, wood, iron, bronze, silver, and gold, and all of our false gods of distraction, are merely part of his creation. They are good and beautiful parts of the creation, but they are not worthy of praise. Let us remember this as we give thanks to the one who created all things.


Today, I will praise God, in whose hand is the whole course of my life.


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

November 24, 2015 - Tuesday

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever. (Daniel 3:57 NABRE)

As we approach our national holiday of Thanksgiving, today's verse from the book of Daniel serves as a great reminder of how we should approach this holiday which is intended to be about gratitude. We are created by God, we are works of his hands, we are like pottery made for his purpose, and it is good for us to remember this with humility at all times, but especially at Thanksgiving.

May we remember, in each moment of this coming Thanksgiving, the Lord who has provided us with so many blessings. May our hearts be filled with gratitude to the Lord who has made us stewards of his bountiful earth. May our actions reflect the love he has for each of his creations as we care for all those we come in contact with this week. And may we bless the Lord, praising him and exalting him above all forever!


Today, I will humbly and gratefully, give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings in my life.


Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, 117 people martyred in Vietnam between 1820 and 1862, pray for us.

November 23, 2015 - Monday

When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” (Luke 21:1-4 NABRE)

The widow is an example of the poor ones in Luke's gospel whose detachment from material possessions and dependence on God leads to their blessedness.*

Living in a country of abundance, we face a double challenge: To detach our hearts from money, and at the same time to depend on God for what we need. How grateful we should be when we can give from our surplus!

Our attitude toward money, more than anything else, is what makes the difference. When we are afraid of poverty, or even of falling behind on our bills, we let fear, rather than trust, rule in our hearts. When we desire more money, despite all our needs having already been met, we let greed, rather than gratefulness, rule in our hearts.

Lord Jesus, by your Spirit, allow me to be fully detached from material possessions and fully dependent on God for all I need. Heal my heart, Lord, and replace all fear with trust, replace all greed with gratitude. Keep me always mindful that you own everything, I am a mere steward of what is yours.


Today, I will trust God for all I need and I will be grateful for all he provides.


Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, martyred in Mexico on November 23, 1927, pray for us.

November 22, 2015 - Sunday

But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18, 36B-37 NABRE)

Jesus' time had finally arrived and he would soon fulfill his mission here on earth. In today's passage he stands before Pilate, accused by his own people of claiming to be a king. Jesus admits as much (even if he uses vague terms). He knows his accusers seek his death, yet he doesn't seem at all interested in persuading Pilate to have mercy on him.

Notice instead his clear focus on his mission. He knows why he was born. He is acutely aware of the reason he came into the world. Jesus came to testify to the truth. And he challenges all who hear him to listen to what he has to say.

And so, the King of kings was led away to be crucified. At the time, only he knew that this was how he would complete his mission, that this was how he would atone for all the wrongs of all mankind in a single act. And by taking our sins on his shoulders, he suffered death once for all so that each one of us would have the opportunity of eternal life.

No doubt, we have mysteries as part of our faith. I am grateful for this mysterious gift of our King's holy cross, by which he has redeemed the world.


Today, on this Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, I will trust in him.


Saint Cecilia, patron of musicians, pray for us.

Saint Cecilia, Artist: Guido Reni