April 27, 2016 - Wednesday

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. (John 15:1-5 NABRE)

This passage resembles a parable.

For example, Israel is spoken of as a vineyard in Isaiah 5:1–7; Matthew 21:33–46 and as a vine in Psalm 80:9–17; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; 17:5–10; 19:10; and Hosea 10:1.

The identification of the vine as the Son of Man in Psalm 80:15 and Wisdom’s description of herself as a vine in Sirach 24:17 are further background for this portrayal of Jesus in this way.

There may also be secondary Eucharistic symbolism here (see Mark 14:25), “the fruit of the vine.”*

All of these references deepen the meaning of Jesus' statement to his disciples. And what does it tell us about living in today's world? After all, most of us do not work in vineyards. For us, it helps to recall Jesus' last statement in today's passage: Without me you can do nothing.

Lord Jesus, thank you for being there supplying my needs, preparing me for those times when I am given the chance to do something--something, that is, to build the kingdom here in my days and in my corner of this world.


Today, on this Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, I will remain in Jesus by humbly acknowledging my full dependence on him.


Saint Zita of Lucca, patron of maids, domestic workers and servants, pray for us.

April 26, 2016 - Tuesday

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27 NABRE)

In today's passage, Jesus uses the traditional Hebrew salutation šālôm; but his “Shalom” is a gift of salvation, connoting the bounty of messianic blessing.*

It is difficult to imagine what it must have been like to be one of Jesus' friends. During what we now know was their final Passover meal together, Jesus spoke to them in what must have seemed like riddles and vague statements that made no sense.

He talked of leaving them. He blessed them. He washed their feet. He talked about sending another Advocate to be with them after he was gone. Despite what must have caused them to feel some sort of undefined doom or at least concern for his welfare, Jesus talks of leaving them his peace. Not just a greeting, but a deep promise of salvation, as had been promised to the people of Israel for generations.

In some ways, as challenging as it is, following Jesus today might actually be easier than it was for those friends who sat at table with him that night. We have had years to begin to see the fullness of Jesus' promise unfold. And though we still look forward to his return, we rely on his Spirit for now, to help us encounter Jesus in the faces of all those we meet and to prepare ourselves for the promised life to come.


Today, on this Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter, I will be grateful for Jesus' gift of salvation.


Saint Pedro de San José, the first saint to have worked and died in Guatemala, pray for us.

April 25, 2016 - Monday

And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for:
“God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5b NABRE)

What sort of opinion do I have of myself, and who gets the credit? It's a two-part question, and both aspects matter. I have a high opinion of myself, but get very little of the credit! As a child of God and a co-heir with Jesus, my opinion of myself must be that I have worth, that I am valuable. And because it is God himself who created me, Jesus who taught me how to live, and their shared Spirit who dwells in me and guides me, I get very little credit!

As a result, I'm left with a counter-cultural understanding of pride. We're constantly taught to be proud of our accomplishments and to strive for success. I often wonder at the home-run hitter who makes the sign of the cross and points to heaven, how remarkable it is--in their moment of great professional achievement, when success must feel most real, at this time of personal honor before thousands of fans--that he would even remember to be humble, grateful, thankful to God who gave him his strength.

It is something to work toward!


Today, on this Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, I will seek to humbly share God's Word.


Saint Mark, who travelled with Saint Paul and wrote the oldest of the four gospels, pray for us.

April 24, 2016 - Sunday

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:33-35 NABRE)

At the Last Supper, just after Judas left to betray Jesus, this is how Jesus spoke to the remaining disciples.

It is fascinating (maybe even one of those aha moments for a few who were present) that his new commandment puts Jesus on a par with Yahweh. Actually, the commandment itself is not new. It is a restatement of Leviticus 19:18.*

This admonition to love your neighbor as yourself came to be viewed in Judaism and Christianity as one of the central commandments.  Beyond that, the New Testament urges love for enemies as well as neighbors.*


Today, on this Fifth Sunday of Easter, I will work to act with love toward others.


Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, whose constant prayer was that you be kept completely faithful to God and not give in to any lukewarmness or apathy, pray for us.

April 23, 2016 - Saturday

The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit. (Acts 13:52 NABRE)

Imagine how it would feel to visit some friends because you had great news to share, the news is so great that word spreads and everyone in town shows up to hear it. Now imagine some of the townspeople become angry at the news, incite others to anger, and soon you are run out of town, lucky to be alive. How would you feel?

Immediately after this happened to Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch, we are told they were filled with joy!

What a paradox. I think it is a powerful statement of the impact of the Spirit, and the truth of their message. First, no one risks their life for a story they don't believe, so we know with certainty that these men believed in Jesus' resurrection. Second, no one dedicates their life to frustration, rejection, and hardship for a story they know to be false, so we know with equal certainty that they believed the truth of why Jesus suffered and died.

Their joy, like ours today, comes, not from the fleeting circumstances of life, but from faith in the promise of Jesus and the company of God's own holy Spirit dwelling in each of us who invites him in.


Today, I will live joyfully with the holy Spirit, present in me.


Saint George, patron of boy scouts, soldiers, England, Germany, and Portugal, pray for us.

April 22, 2016 - Friday

But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are [now] his witnesses before the people. We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors he has brought to fulfillment for us, (their) children, by raising up Jesus. (Acts 13:30-33a NABRE)

Saint Paul had travelled all the way to Antioch in Pisidia, where he preached about Jesus of Nazareth. Wherever he could, he told the story of the Apostles who had witnessed the risen Jesus. He told of his friends who spoke with him, ate with him, touched him. When we hear about these things, we are reminded of the truth of the event.

He is risen indeed!

The theme of the Galilean witnesses is a major one in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts and is used to signify the continuity between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of the church and to guarantee the fidelity of the church’s teachings to the words of Jesus.*


Today, on this Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter, I will remember those who witnessed Jesus' resurrection from the dead.


Saint Adalbert of Prague, who fearlessly preached Jesus' gospel, pray for us.

Source: Biblestudy.org

April 21, 2016 - Thursday

From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” (John 13:19-20 NABRE)

At the Last Supper, just before announcing that someone at the dinner table with them would betray him, Jesus made the bold statement in today's passage. Jesus says he himself is God--using the specific name God gave himself when speaking to Moses.

More than that, Jesus connects us all in one sweeping statement. All who receive the disciples of Jesus receive him, and God who sent him, and will be rewarded accordingly.* We who receive and accept what we are told by disciples, also receive Jesus and the one who sent him, the Father. And as recorded in Matthew's account (Matthew 10:40-42), there is a reward that awaits those who believe.


Today, I will celebrate my faith in Jesus by praying to him the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.


Saint Anselm, one of the Church's greatest theologians and leaders, who received the title "Father of Scholasticism," pray for us.

April 20, 2016 - Wednesday

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. (John 12:44-45 NABRE)

Just after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus reminded those who had come to hear him about why he was here and who had sent him. He urged them not only to believe in him, and by extension, the Father; but he explained the importance of acting on his words because they are not just his words, but the words the Father told him to say to us all.


Today, I will be joyful in my faith and seek to follow the words of Jesus.


Saint Conrad of Parzham, who lived a life that attracted others because you were united to God in prayer, pray for us.

April 19, 2016 - Tuesday

The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. (John 10:22-25 NABRE)

During Hanukkah, Jesus had this particularly direct discussion with those who were listening to him teach in the temple.* It was winter, so Jesus was walking around on the east side of the temple area, on the Portico of Solomon, which offered protection against the cold winds from the desert.* The average temperature in Jerusalem in winter is about 50 degrees farenheit.*

Winter can be a time of desolation, of cold and isolation. It can bring to mind many things which disturb the spirit within us. And it can blot out the promise of spring if we do not focus our thoughts, at least at times, on that pleasant season we know will inevitably arrive.

So too with Jesus. In our human condition, as we struggle through many winters, may we remember that there is a promise that has been made to us. May all who know of Jesus and his promise of eternal salvation, turn to him and find themselves counted among those whom he calls "my sheep." And may we all share our faith with those around us, being witnesses to the ways he enters into our own lives.


Today, I will pray for those who do not believe even after they learn about Jesus.


Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, whose extreme sacrifice, sealed with your life, testifies that only those who have the courage to give of themselves totally to God and to others are able to fulfill themselves, pray for us.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

April 18, 2016 - Monday

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I enter and see the face of God? (Psalm 42:2-3 NABRE)

There is something in each of us that is unsettled and unresolved. It's been observed that this something is our need for God's presence, something we cannot have in this lifetime. Taking this as entirely plausible, the Psalmist captures this longing vividly by comparing it with a deer's need for water. Indeed, our need for water becomes clear quickly when we have to go without it for any length of time.

We crave it. We turn all our energy to finding it. And what is it in us that drives us to this? How do we instinctively seek it out? This urge is not driven by knowledge or understanding. It is a biological imperative.

So to, our desire for God's company. It is not driven by knowledge or understanding; but rather, like the dear who thirsts, our urge to be in God's personal presence is a spiritual imperative.


Today, on this Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter, I will dwell on my own longing for the personal presence of God.


Blessed James Oldo, who used his time to build up treasures in heaven and to build God’s realm on earth, pray for us.

Source: https://ichapel.wordpress.com/

April 17, 2016 - Sunday

But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. (John 10:26-28 NABRE)

I know very little about sheep herding; but from what I read, even in early times, "the duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact, protect it from predators and guide it to market areas in time for shearing."* It is said that just as we recognize each other's voice, sheep know the sound of their shepherd's voice.

I am grateful to be counted among Jesus' flock. There are times when I need protection and guidance--more often than I'd like to admit. There are times when I need direction and reassurance. There are times when I need rescue. I rely on his Word and trust that he is leading me safely.


Today, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, I will listen for the voice of my Good Shepherd.


Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, patron of the homeless, pray for us.

Source: https://dailytheology.org

April 16, 2016 - Saturday

It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63 NABRE)

Words of Jesus spoken in the synagogue at Capernaum.

Even as he walked among men teaching and performing miracles, Jesus knew many did not believe what he was telling them. Many of his disciples--other than the twelve--who came to listen, left and returned to their old way of life. They could not believe that Jesus, this man before them, was, as Simon Peter, put it, the Holy One of God.

To be totally honest, I think I would have been like one of the crowd who left. In those days, I wonder if I even would have believed Jesus. His confusing and challenging words might have intrigued me, his many signs and wonders--especially if I had witnessed one personally--might have swayed me, but his expectation that I change and his explanations of eating his flesh and talk of some other-worldly spirit would have probably sent me packing.

And so, what's changed? Jesus has risen from the dead! This one impossible event--witnessed by many, along with his signs and wonders, in addition to his teachings that have been passed down to us today and which explain his role in salvation history all come together as trustworthy. Faith worthy. Action worthy. Truth.


Today, I will remember the Spirit and look beyond things of this world for what is most important.


Saint Bernadette Soubrious, who moved through life, guided only by blind faith in things you did not understand—as we all must do from time to time, pray for us.

April 15, 2016 - Friday

So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:17-18 NABRE)

So Saul, who we know as Saint Paul, was struck blind for three days as part of his coming to know Jesus. I sometimes forget that story. At first, Paul, like the other disciples, was blind to who Jesus truly is. I think we each go through a process of being blind to Jesus and having our sight restored. What at first seems harsh and difficult, however, I would argue makes our faith stronger in the end. As evidence of that, look at Paul, who suffered terribly for Jesus over many years, who brought faith in Christ to the Gentiles throughout the known world, and wrote much of the New Testament.

Lord Jesus, thank you for filling me with your holy Spirit. And by this same Spirit, may my blindness be healed and my sight restored. May I see you as I walk on the path of my life. And may those whose eyes are still closed to your presence find that the scales fall from their eyes and that they see you with a clarity and conviction they never dreamt possible.


Today, I will pray that my own eyes may be open to the real presence of Jesus.


Blessed Caesar de Bus, whose efforts remind us of the many needs in our parishes, and that it’s up to us to respond by finding ways to fill them or by joining in already established efforts, pray for us.

April 14, 2016 - Thursday

I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:48-51 NABRE)

When we celebrate the Eucharist (which comes from the Greek word meaning thanksgiving), we believe that the consecrated bread and wine are actually the body and blood of Jesus, though their physical form does not change.

As faithful believers in Jesus, we trust in the promise of eternal life though him.


Today, I will celebrate the mystical body of Christ as well as the regular opportunities I have to participate in the Eucharist.


Blessed Peter Gonzalez, who, after a conversion on the road to the Spanish city of Astorga in the 13th century, reevaluated your motivations and started down a new path as a priest, pray for us.

April 13, 2016 - Wednesday

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
sing of his glorious name;
give him glorious praise. (Psalms 66:2 NABRE)

Boring? Monotonous? Old-fashioned? Wasted time? Stale? Fruitless? If that is how you pray, then stop! If that is how your prayer has started to feel, then stop what you are doing immediately! There is a beautiful fix for this!

Praise God! Praise him by singing, by smiling, by shouting joyfully to him (yes, really)! Say his name out loud as you smile. Make that your sole prayer today! Praising him changes everything. It changes our outlook on our relationship with him. It changes our feeling about our prayer. It even changes our perspective on our personal circumstances! And it opens our heart to his Word.


Today, I will recall the many awesome deeds of the Lord and praise him for all he does!


Saint Martin I, last of the early popes to be venerated as a martyr, pray for us.

April 12, 2016 - Tuesday

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” (Acts 7:51-53 NABRE)

Responding to God's call is a high-risk choice! There seems to be something deep in our human nature that resists what God offers us. And this resistance isn't only expressed individually, it is often expressed by society. As Stephen points out, moments before he is stoned to death, this has been the case among God's people since the earliest of times.

And today, those of us who call ourselves believers are wise to learn from our spiritual ancestors' mistakes. Stephen gives us an idea where to begin. I ask myself: How do I recognize my own stubborn opposition to the holy Spirit? How do I see my own reluctance to accept others who act in Jesus' name? How do I admit my own unwillingness to observe God's instruction? And how do we do these things as a society?

Individually, there are several ways to overcome the temptations described. First, by prayer and sacrifice, I can ask for awareness, both of the actions of the holy Spirit in my life and my responses to them. The type of prayer needed does not require memorization or ritual. Rather, prayer of this nature needs only quietness of heart on a consistent basis. Sacrifice is a way to help free myself of the distractions of this life, and many have experienced it as amplifying the effectiveness of prayer.

Second, I can decide each day to pay attention to each moment, to the events, encounters, and issues I face, and to my response to each one. This is a real challenge and takes some effort at first. It can be helpful to keep a tactile reminder in your pocket or desk. Each time you see or feel it, just take notice of your present circumstance, and reflect on your reaction to what is going on. Is it what you want it to be? What would you want to change for next time?

And finally, as a society, each one of us has a share in making this a better world. There are so many ways to do it, but as a simple starting point, consider the Corporal Works of Mercy. They are profound despite their apparent simplicity, and powerful despite their apparent ordinariness.


Today, I will pray for awareness of my own resistance to God.


Saint Teresa of Los Andes, whose focus on prayer and sacrifice led you to write in your diary, “I am God’s. He created me and is my beginning and my end,” pray for us.

April 11, 2016 - Monday

Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (John 6:26-29 NABRE)

How can I work for the food that endures for eternal life? What can I do to accomplish the works of God? Where do I even begin?

In my busy day, I have already begun my work because I believe in Jesus. And from such a strong starting point, I turn to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent to be with me today and everyday, to lead me to opportunities for service, for mercy, and for love. And I turn to this same Spirit to help me recognize these opportunities, to discern which are kingdom-building and which are distractions.


Today, I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me toward the works of God.


Saint Stanislaus, 11th-century bishop, martyr, and patron of Poland, pray for us.

April 10, 2016 - Sunday

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” [Jesus] said to him, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17 NABRE)

The threefold confession of Peter is meant to counteract his earlier threefold denial (John 18:17, 25, 27). The First Vatican Council cited these verses in defining that Jesus after his resurrection gave Peter the jurisdiction of supreme shepherd and ruler over the whole flock.*

During this Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis encourages each of us to forgive and to live out the other corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Recognizing that our traditions begin and end with Jesus, we do well to look deeply into the heart of the Church rather than, as so many do these days, look only at it's veneer which is a collage of sinners in search of Jesus' mercy and love.


Today, I will begin reading Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family, "The Joy of Love."

Saint Fulbert, strong opponent of overly rationalistic tendencies which extol reasoned arguments above the teachings of the Church and the testimony of the Bible, pray for us.

April 9, 2016 - Saturday

Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. (Acts 6:3-5 NABRE)

Stephen was chosen by the whole community because he was known for his wisdom and filled with faith and the holy Spirit.

Along with six others, Stephen was chosen to serve the community based on his unique talents and abilities.


Today, like Stephen, I will make my time, talent, and treasure available to the community of Jesus' disciples living today.


Saint Mary Cleophas, who stood with Mary at the foot of the cross, pray for us.

April 8, 2016 - Friday

But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the [apostles] to be put outside for a short time,
and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men.

So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. (Acts 5:34-35, 38-39 NABRE)

In a sudden turn of events as the apostles were on trial, Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin, offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles it will perish by itself.*

What a powerful perspective we can glean from his observation! The origin of human endeavors can be from God. Again, not all human endeavors are from God, but it is possible that certain activity is.

My April 6 blog entry discusses truth as having to do with activities we are not ashamed of. The point of that entry is that things we do which are "in God" and not evil represent what is true. And so, I see today's passage as a sort of reinforcement of that concept.


Today, on this Friday of the Second Week of Easter, I will remember that when I work to build God's kingdom, no one will be able to destroy what is done.


Saint Julia Billiart, patron against poverty, bodily ills, impoverishment, poverty, sick people, and sickness, pray for us.

April 7, 2016 - Thursday

When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.” (John 5:27-32 NABRE)

From the very beginnings of Christianity, preaching and healing in the name of Jesus has been risky business. In today's passage we see the apostles themselves confronted angrily by the Sanhedrin who were the appointed leaders of the local Jewish community.

And to their pointed questions, Peter and the apostles replied that they must obey God rather than men. The conviction in the apostle's hearts that Jesus was indeed God's long-awaited savior for Israel had to have been so profound that they would willingly risk death, repeatedly. They took this risk because they witnessed his resurrection from the dead!

What powerful knowledge the apostles had. Death no longer had power over them. The risen Jesus promised them that. He promises you and I the same thing! Let's never lose sight of what that means. We have nothing in this world to fear.


Today, I will find courage and strength for my service in the certain knowledge of the resurrection.


Saint John Baptiste de la Salle, patron of educators, school principals, and teachers, pray for us.

April 6, 2016 - Wednesday

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.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. (John 3:16-21 NABRE)

Remember the question Pontius Pilate asks Jesus at his trial: What is truth? Perhaps the answer lies in John's description of our sinful nature. If so, perhaps truth has to do with anything we are not ashamed of, anything we do that is "in God" and not evil.

That said, what a grace it is that Jesus offers us--salvation from our own nature so that we might have eternal life! All we are asked to do is believe. That's it. Everything after that falls into place. We believe and our hearts begin to change. We keep believing and our lives change as well. Our thoughts and our actions begin to conform to God's will as we spend time in his Word and in prayer.


Today, on this Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter, I will seek to think, speak, and act only in ways worthy of the light.


Saint William of Eskilsoe, twelfth-century monastic reformer, pray for us.

April 5, 2016 - Tuesday

The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.
With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. (Acts 4:32-33 NABRE)

In the first days after Jesus' resurrection, the community of believers in Jerusalem grew quickly. Many came to believe based on the testimony of Peter and the other Apostles.

Today's passage is the second summary characterizing the Jerusalem community (for the first, see the note on Acts 2:42–47). This summary emphasizes the system of the distribution of goods among the community. The sharing of material possessions continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke’s gospel.*


Today, on this Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter, I will remember the powerful impact of Jesus' resurrection had on the hearts of those first hearers of the Good News.


Saint Vincent Ferrer, patron of builders, construction workers, and plumbers, pray for us.

April 4, 2016 - Monday

And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
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 1:35-38 NABRE)

The sign given to Mary in confirmation of the angel’s announcement to her is the pregnancy of her aged relative Elizabeth. If a woman past the childbearing age could become pregnant, why, the angel implies, should there be doubt about Mary’s pregnancy, for nothing will be impossible for God.*

I admire the complete trust Mary puts in the Lord. Even when she did not fully understand what was said to her, even when the threat of scandal no doubt hung over her thoughts, and even when she was probably frightened by the appearance of Gabriel, the angel messenger of God, Mary's response was one of pure trust. May we all respond to God's call on our lives as Mary did, by saying may it be done to me according to your word.


Today, on this Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I will pray to Mary and her husband, Saint Joseph, for perfect resignation to the divine will.


Saint Isidore of Seville, patron of computer technicians, computer users, computers, the Internet, schoolchildren, and students, pray for us.

April 3, 2016 - Sunday

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. (John 20:27-31 NABRE)

Here, at the conclusion of John's gospel, he offers a message of hope for those of us who were never able to see Jesus as Thomas did. We are blessed who believe without having seen him. And more than that, we look forward to having life in his name, now and forever.


Today, on this Sunday of Divine Mercy, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for those in need of Jesus, who know of him but who have yet to accept his free gift.


Saint Richard, thirteenth-century English bishop, confessor and deeply generous soul, pray for us.

April 2, 2016 - Saturday

“What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.
But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.
It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”
After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened. (Acts 4:16-21 NABRE)

Not long after Jesus left them, his disciples were confronted by the religious establishment for curing a cripple in Jesus' name. There is much to consider in this story, but what strikes me most is the acknowledgement that what they had done was a remarkable sign.

In today's hurried times, we are rarely if ever ready to admit when a miracle takes place. And it is a shame really that we prefer to put our faith elsewhere. Miracles happen every day. For the person who willingly decides to believe first and to accept proof second, these ordinary, extraordinary events become remarkable signs of God's desire for us to turn to him.


Today, I will turn to the Lord, recognizing the remarkable signs in my own life, and seeking his Divine Mercy.


Saint Francis of Paola, known as the "man of Lent," for your life of penance, pray for us.

April 1, 2016 - Friday

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”
So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.
Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.
This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead. (John 21:9-14 NABRE)

Not long after Jesus had risen, Peter and six other disciples had been out fishing all night with little success--until they came upon Jesus on the shore at dawn. He told them to cast their net over the right side of the boat and they ended up catching so many fish they were unable to pull the net in!

It is amazing how often in my own life that Jesus arrives when I feel most defeated and ready to give up. And when he does, he not only fills my net, he has breakfast already cooked for me!


Today, I will remember Jesus' perfect timing and the endless bounty he prepares for each of us, even me.


Saint Hugh of Grenoble, who was bishop of Grenoble in France for fifty-two years about 900 years ago, pray for us.

March 31, 2016 - Thursday

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48 NABRE)

The risen Jesus. The man who had died and then came back to life, overcoming death, joined his friends. They became witnesses to his resurrection. The group of them spoke with him, touched him, even ate with him. And he explained to them in the clearest terms how his experiences fulfilled what the prophets had written.


Today, I will remember that Jesus calls me to repentance, and he does so with the authority of God's own Son, the Messiah promised to God's people. And I remember that he is the one who fulfilled all prophecy and overcame death--with witnesses--so that you and I could be reconciled to God and share in his inheritance eternally. And I will put aside my own pride, laziness and fear which keep me from growing closer to the heart of Jesus.


Saint Benjamin, martyr and deacon, pray for us.

March 30, 2016 - Wednesday

But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:29-32 NABRE)

Not long after the tomb was discovered to be empty, two of Jesus' followers encountered him as they walked along the road to Emmaus, a town several miles outside of Jerusalem. They did not recognize Jesus at first, but during the evening meal, their eyes were opened so they were able to recognize him.

It can be helpful to remember that Jesus walks with us even when we don't recognize him. And it's not uncommon for us to have our eyes open to his presence during difficult times. May we see him by the burning in our hearts, by seeing him in others, and by regular prayer and reading of scripture.


Today, I will look to see Jesus in the face of each person I encounter.


Saint John Climacus, learned abbot, spiritual director, and sixth-century monk of Mount Sinai, pray for us.

March 29, 2016 - Tuesday

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39 NABRE)

Repentance is a positive concept, a change of mind and heart toward God reflected in the actual goodness of one’s life. It is in accord with the apostolic teaching derived from Jesus (Acts 2:42) and ultimately recorded in the four gospels.*

Luke presents baptism in Acts as the expected response to the apostolic preaching about Jesus and associates it with the conferring of the Spirit (Acts 1:5; 10:44–48; 11:16).*

Peter called people to repent and be baptized. He echos Jesus' first public message which is to repent. When we change our minds and hearts toward God not only is there a visible change in the way we live our lives, we invite the Spirit into our lives. And it is this Holy Spirit who is one with the Father and the Son who brings us power and wisdom even in today's world.


Today, I will seek to continually change my mind and heart, inclining them more and more toward God, seeking to act on the change, and to welcome the Spirit as my constant companion.


Saint Ludovico of Casoria, whose personal suffering moved you toward compassion for others, pray for us.

March 28, 2016 - Monday

Then [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:8-11 NABRE)

The risen Jesus appeared first to these two women who had come to see the tomb. For days now, in their grief, his friends must have felt hopeless, defeated, and afraid. Despite that, in their desperate loss, they ventured to the tomb just as we would today.

During the past few days, if you've been imagining yourself, along with me, sitting at the foot of the cross, then imagine with me now what it was like for these women! Perhaps it all made no sense, or perhaps, as incredible as it was, everything began to make a little sense to them in that moment.


Today, I will live each moment as intently as I can, aware that God is in this moment with me.


Saint Catharine of Bologna, patron of artists and who wrote a book on the seven spiritual weapons to be used against temptation, pray for us.

March 27, 2016 - Sunday

We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.
This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible,
not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.” (Acts 10:39-43 NABRE)

Because he rose and they were his witnesses, we still remember today! And each day, we are a day closer to his return!


Today, on this Easter Sunday, I will remember that He is risen!


Lazarus, friend of Jesus who reminds to be certain that Jesus waits to raise us too, pray for us.

March 26, 2016 - Saturday

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:9-11 NABRE)

The day after. On that Friday, Jesus died on the cross for the sins I commit. He paid the price, the ransom, for my sins so that I might have a restored relationship with God, and a path to eternal life. Thank you Jesus. Today, I praise you, and I wait, as your friends did, for your resurrection.


Today, on this Holy Saturday, I will recall my relationship to Jesus who died so that sin and death would not have power over me.


Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz, whose loving heart, listening ear and wealth of compassion reflected your close relationship with God, pray for us.

March 25, 2016 - Friday

He was spurned and avoided by men,
a man of suffering, knowing pain,
Like one from whom you turn your face,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
Yet it was our pain that he bore,
our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
struck down by God and afflicted,
But he was pierced for our sins,
crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole,
by his wounds we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
all following our own way;
But the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6 NABRE)

Written about 700 years B.C., these prophetic words have been understood to refer to Jesus. As we sit at the foot of the cross in meditation today, these words give us a glimpse of the enormity of his sacrifice. They should inspire us to gratitude and spur us to action on behalf of others in need.


Today, on this Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, I will venerate the Cross at my church during the Hour of Great Mercy.


Saint Alfwold, whose austere way of life set a Christian example for local royalty in Winchester England, pray for us.

March 24, 2016 - Thursday

You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (John 13:13-15 NABRE)

At his final meal with his friends, knowing his own death was imminent, of all the things he could do as one of the final lessons he taught them, Jesus chose to wash their feet. Jesus put a towel around his waist and with a basin of water washed the dirty feet of his friends, lowering himself from his rightful place as Lord of lords to that of a humble servant.

Jesus explains that he did this as a model for us to follow. He tells us to do the same for others.


Today, on this Holy Thursday, I will look for a concrete way to imitate Jesus in an act of service to someone in need.


Saint Catherine of Genoa, whose love of God was renewed in you by the Scriptures and the sacraments, pray for us.

March 23, 2016 - Wednesday

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16 NABRE)

The motive of avarice is introduced by Judas’s question about the price for betrayal, which is absent in the Marcan source.* (Mark 14:10–11) Much is made of Judas' betrayal, and rightly so. Regardless of his expectation of what the ultimate outcome might or might not be, he betrayed his friend to certain suffering for money.

I remain focused on my own culpability as we draw to the end of this season of Lent.

In what ways do I expose my faith in Jesus to various dangers brought on by the enemy? Do I put my faith in jeopardy when I quietly allow the culture to have my full attention? Do I betray Jesus when I pursue profit at the expense of human needs? Do I neglect what matters most when I remain silent in the face of verbal challenges?

How often do I betray Jesus for money or comfort or out of timidity or weakness? How often this week? How many times today?

Today, I will ask the Holy Spirit for strength and wisdom during times of temptation and challenge.


Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, who, together with Rose of Lima is the first known saint of the New World, served the Lord in Peru, South America, for 26 years, pray for us.

March 22, 2016 - Tuesday

When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21 NABRE)

The Gospel of John records much of the discourse of The Last Supper. In John 13, Jesus predicts Judas' betrayal of him. At the time, the disciples did not know what Jesus meant. They clearly had no idea that Judas meant to turn him over to the authorities who would then have him crucified.

Judas has become infamous for being the ultimate betrayer of Christ. But, how often do we betray Jesus? I wonder if I also betray him in small ways.  Am I like Peter, who denied that he knew Jesus? In what ways do I personally deny knowing Jesus? In what ways, do I neglect to stand strong in defense of his name when confronted by the enemy? Do I recognize the enemy?


Today, I will look inward to see if I betray Jesus by my actions and omissions, and I will seek to recognize the enemy of my soul whenever I encounter him.


Saint Nicholas Owen, one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, who made a habit of seeking support in prayer and the Eucharist for your work, pray for us.

March 21, 2016 - Monday

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NABRE)

In today's passage, King David asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue.* He recognizes that the Lord is his source of protection and understanding, and because of these things, he doesn't need to fear anything.

Lord, you are my source of light and salvation as you were to King David. When I place my trust in you, I fear nothing. Falling back on my belief in you, I remember you are my refuge. And your Spirit leads my in understanding and wisdom. With your guidance, I am able to act in ways which please you, confident, no matter what others think. Thank you.


Today, I will look to the Holy Spirit as a source of light and guidance.


Blessed John of Parma, who in your later years worked to heal a schism in the Church, pray for us.

March 20, 2016 - Sunday

He humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name. (Philippians 2:8-9 NABRE)

When Jesus prayed at the Mount of Olives, he "prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.'” (Luke 22:42) To humble himself completely as he did, especially when considering his true nature, set an example that has lived on through millennia. I am still learning how full of pride I am, and how difficult it is for me to live even a small measure of Christ's humility. And yet, I continue to struggle against my inclination to think too highly of myself.


Today, on this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, I will try to be obedient to the Father's will, as Jesus was.


Saint Salvator of Horta, known to heal the sick with the Sign of the Cross, pray for us.

March 19, 2016 - Saturday

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us,
as it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope,l that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.” (Romans 4:13, 16-18 NABRE)

Abraham, our father in faith, totally believed God's promise to him despite how absurd it must have seemed to him--he and his wife were an elderly couple with no children. And it is entirely because of his unshakable faith that God made him such a promise. Abraham is a role model for us.

God's promise extends to us when we believe in him regardless of our temporal circumstances. We have the promise of salvation, the promise of eternal life because we believe in "the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." (Romans 4:24b)


Today, on this Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will look beyond my own circumstances and see our family of faith, and remember our inheritance.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, pray for us.

March 18, 2016 - Friday

In my distress I called out: LORD!
I cried out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry to him reached his ears. (Psalm 18:7 NABRE)

Who do you call out for when you are at your wits end? Is there someone you reach for when stress overwhelms you? Have you got a shoulder ready for you when you need to cry?

The Lord always hears your cries. He cares personally about you! When you need someone to hear you out, call to him first. If you have no one else for support, turn to him. And if you are fortunate enough to have someone close to you, consider the comfort they offer may be God's way of connecting with you. See him in the healing and easing of your distress, by whatever means that happens.


Today, I will be confident that the Lord hears me when I most need him.


Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, whose life is a monument to honesty and courage, pray for us.

March 17, 2016 - Thursday

Seek out the LORD and his might;
constantly seek his face.
Recall the wondrous deeds he has done,
his wonders and words of judgment. (Psalm 105:4-5 NABRE)

Where do you see the face of God? When you look around at the ordinary, do you recognize his wonders? See him in nature and in other people. Notice him in what appears simple. Identify him in what appears complex. In each moment of this day, seek him. Over and over again. Marvel at his constant presence. Be grateful for his constant availability to you.


Today, I will seek the Lord's might and his face during the ordinary moments of the day.


Saint Patrick, patron of Ireland, engineers, and Nigeria, pray for us.

March 16, 2016 - Wednesday

Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. (John 8:34-36 NABRE)

We who live in the land of the free recoil at the idea of slavery. Our troubled history confronts us even today as we continue to struggle with equality among our citizens. It is clear that none of us considers himself or herself a slave, but Jesus' words from today's passage, it seems to me, are aimed at each one of us.

If as he says, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin, we should acknowledge our portion of that burden. And somehow, when we do, things shift. When we do, it prepares our hearts for the freedom Jesus provides. When we look to him for help in this life and a place with him in the next, it prepares us even more to reach out to others, opening us to offer help however it is needed.


Today, I will be mindful of the source of true freedom and the responsibility it puts on me.


Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, who saw all your life's works meet with disaster due to religious and political tensions, and who therefore reminds us even today that followers of the crucified Jesus should see only new possibilities opening up whenever we meet failure, pray for us.

March 15, 2016 - Tuesday

LORD, hear my prayer;
let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly. (Psalm 102:2-3 NABRE)

What a wonderful God we have! To think we can turn to him and pray as the Psalmist does in today's passage. He is afflicted, wasting away, and full of anguish. He knows his time is short, and so he pleads with the Lord for help.

Let us recognize our own afflictions and the short time we have. Let us offer our own pleas to God, that he would hear us and answer us.


Today, I will seek the Lord's help in my own struggles.


Saint Louise de Marillac, patroness of social workers, pray for us.

March 14, 2016 - Monday

They suppressed their consciences and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering their duty to administer justice. (Daniel 13:9 NRSVCE)

Isn't this exactly how it happens?! This translation, in particular, strikes me as a perfect description of my own human struggle with moral dilemmas. When I find myself in times of trouble, when I'm tempted by the promises of this world, when I think I can "get away with something," when I have to choose good or bad, I sometimes suppress my conscience and turn my eyes away from Heaven.

Wow, what a helpful thing to realize. In such simple terms, I can take away a powerful new way to think about life's moments of truth. Anytime I feel inclined to suppress that annoying voice in my head telling me not to do something, I can choose, instead, to listen to it!

New? you ask. There is nothing new about this, you say. True, I reply. But the choice of words in this translation suggests a concrete way to successfully respond to the prompting of my conscience.


Today, on this Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent, I will resist the impulse to suppress my conscience. I will allow it to speak into my thoughts. And I will look to heaven for assistance when making difficult choices.


Saint Maximilian, 21-year-old martyr who, when condemned to death for refusing to join the Roman Army in the year 295, said, "I shall not die. If I go from this earth, my soul will live with Christ my Lord," pray for us.

March 13, 2016 - Sunday

But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11 NABRE)

Imagine the impact if we all considered everything we gain as a loss, except knowing Jesus as Lord! Paul, decades after his blinding encounter of Jesus on the road to Damascus, is still talking about the impact of that moment on his life. When he first encountered Jesus personally it changed his life. And after so much time passed, Paul, who gave up all earthly attachments in order to tell others about Jesus, still pleads with others to look only to Jesus for what matters.

May we all encounter Jesus personally, so that decades later we still consider our relationship with him as the supreme good in our lives.


Today, I will remember my faith in Jesus who suffered and overcame death for my sake.


Saint Leander of Seville, who introduced the practice of reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass as a way to help reinforce the faith of the people, pray for us.

March 12, 2016 - 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)

This saying continues the theme of responding to the word of God. Those who hear the word must become a light to others (Luke 8:16); even the mysteries of the kingdom that have been made known to the disciples (Luke 8:9–10) must come to light (Luke 8:17); a generous and persevering response to the word of God leads to a still more perfect response to the word.*

We are always learning. Even in our pursuit of God through his word, each time we read it we encounter a new aspect of the divine revelation. There aren't enough years in a human lifespan to fully know all God's word can teach us. And that is partly due to the influence our own experience has on our understanding of what we read. Each time we read God's word, we have new ideas and perspectives gained by recent experience and knowledge.

Let us who have heard the word continue to embrace it with further reading, let us seek to live out what we learn as we encounter its truths, and let us remain grateful for the miraculous fruit this effort bears as we persevere.


Today, I will look at my own life in the context of the Parable of the Sower.


Blessed Angela Salawa, who brought the Good News and material assistance to some of Christ’s "least ones," pray for us.

March 11, 2016 - Friday

For, not thinking rightly, they said among themselves:
Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us;
he opposes our actions,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the righteous
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him in the end.
For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With violence and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
And they did not know the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense for holiness
nor discern the innocent souls’ reward. (Wisdom 2:1A, 12-22) NABRE)

The Book of Wisdom was written about fifty years before the coming of Christ. Its author, whose name is not known to us, was probably a member of the Jewish community at Alexandria, in Egypt.*

Notice how well these words might be applied to the religious leaders of Jesus' time who plotted to kill him.

Lord, save me from those times when I might fall in line with those who are wrong-minded and who forget who you are, or worse that I myself might forget who you are.


Today, I will remember the righteousness of Jesus who is the son of God.


Saint John Ogilvie, who undoubtedly rejoices in the ecumenical spirit fostered by the Second Vatican Council and joins us in our prayer for unity with all believers, pray for us.

March 10, 2016 - Thursday

They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Amazing deeds in the land of Ham,
fearsome deeds at the Red Sea.
He would have decreed their destruction,
had not Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destroying anger. (Psalm 106:21-23 NABRE)

The Psalmist reminds us how the Israelites who were led out of slavery in Egypt soon forgot about the amazing deeds God performed while saving them from their enemy. More than that, they lost sight of God's greatness and their own infinitesimal smallness by comparison. And it was Moses who asked God to be merciful toward his chosen nation.

Today, we know that Jesus took the place of Moses as Savior of his people, and salvation has been opened up to all. But like the Israelites about whom the Psalmist sang, we have an awful capacity to forget the greatness of God and to exaggerate our own importance. My ideas are the best. I should be able to do whatever I want. I don't want to answer to anyone. I deserve it. Let me have it. Let me go first.

All of these things lead us away from goodness and toward evil. Each of them reflects a deception of the great enemy of our soul. And they all make us think more highly of ourselves than we ought to.


Today, I will remember Jesus' promise to save me, and I will maintain my faith in him.


Saint John Ogilvie, whose life calls us to unity among all believers, pray for us.

March 9, 2016 - Wednesday

Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:22-24 NABRE)

In context, the concept of judgment is a divine prerogative, often expressed in the scriptures as acquittal or condemnation.* God the Father, the almighty creator, gave all judgment to his Son, Jesus. In today's passage, we are called to honor Jesus, as a way also to honor the Father, by listening to his word and believing in the Father.

Unfortunately, I don't always remember to honor Jesus or the Father. And there are even times I set myself in judgment of others--assuming the role of judge and jury to what I perceive as their shortcomings.

Lord God, be merciful to me. I ask that you strengthen my faith in times of challenge. I ask for awareness so that I might not judge others harshly, but rather remember my own sinfulness. Lord Jesus, you are the true judge of all things, but you are also merciful. It is my greatest hope that you might be my soul's merciful savior rather than my just judge.


Today, I will resist the temptation to judge others, focusing instead on God's Word and seeking a deeper faith in Jesus.


Saint Frances of Rome, whose life calls each of us not only to look deeply for God in prayer, but also to carry our devotion to Jesus living in the suffering of our world, pray for us.

March 8, 2016 - Tuesday

God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken
and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam
and mountains totter at its surging (Psalm 46:2-3 NABRE)

Psalm 46 is a song of confidence in God’s protection. It acknowledges that the Lord is with us, mentioning the security of God’s presence even in utter chaos.* Despite that, today's passage can seem strangely remote and inaccessible. I have never experienced the earth and sea shaking and raging so violently that mountains quaked down to their foundations and even tottered like little tops.

And so how do I relate?

When I consider my own distresses, small as they are by comparison, it becomes suddenly clear to see that God helps me through such times. No matter how devastating they may be, God always gives me help, strength and protection.


Today, I will remember that no problem I have is bigger than God's ability to see me through it.


Saint John of God, whose utter humility led to a totally selfless dedication to others, pray for us.

March 7, 2016 - Monday

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
Then truly the LORD, the God of hosts,
will be with you as you claim. (Amos 5:14 NABRE)

Amos was a prophet of divine judgment whose message stands as one of the most powerful voices ever to challenge hypocrisy and injustice. He delivered his oracles in about the year 750 B.C.*

The fundamental call to seek good and not evil is a strong statement exhorting us even today to turn our hearts around.

This week, I have found myself returning to thoughts of Jesus as a brother and a friend. I have been involved in conversation with him. Thinking of his real presence with me. There is something about just being in his company that enriches me. I am reminded that there is good, that I have choices, and that my Lord is not ever too far away.


Today, on this Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, I will be joyful in Jesus' presence.


Saints Perpetua and Felicity, young mothers in second-century Carthage, North Africa, who were martyred for refusing to renounce your faith in Christ, pray for us.

March 6, 2016 - Sunday

So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NABRE)

Without trying to untangle the theology tied up in today's passage, what strikes me is how Paul describes himself as an ambassador for Christ. As such, he calls us to be reconciled to God. We too have a role to play in God's plan.

Dear Lord, thank you for calling me to be part of your plan. I ask that you would inflame my heart by your Spirit so that I can know with the firm clarity only you provide how to be the person I am meant to be.


Today, I will meditate on my part in God's plan.


Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes, whose self-denial led you to charity, pray for us.

March 5, 2016 - Saturday

The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply, “It is written:
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:3-4 NABRE)

Even Jesus was tempted. Remembering how he responded to temptation gives us a powerful example we can use.

First, Jesus fasted during his time of desert trials. He denied himself food as a means of strengthening himself spiritually by denying the strong physical desire for food. When we fast, we deliberately work to overcome the physical demands of our bodies, even in small ways, so that we might become more like Jesus, gain more self-control, and be more mindful of our spiritual selves. Fasting is a powerful aid to our prayers.

Second, Jesus quoted scripture in the face of each temptation. Each time, he began with the phrase, "It is written." When he was tempted in today's passage to eat during his fast, he quoted from the book of Deuteronomy (8:3). Knowing and referring to scripture during moments of temptation is a powerful way to subdue the one who tempts us.

And so, during this Lent, let us model ourselves after Jesus. Let us fast deliberately to strengthen ourselves and enhance our prayers. And whenever we are tempted, let us speak up to the tempter, by quoting God's Word.

Remember the promise Saint Paul made to the Corinthians when he wrote, "No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10-13)

And don't be discouraged when you fail! That feeling of discouragement is little more than another temptation! It's a distraction from what matters! When we fail, we ask for the mercy Jesus promised to us. And we have the Sacrament of Penance which is our most complete experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy.


Today, I will spend some time considering the specific ways I am tempted, search God's Word for my scriptural responses, and memorize them to prepare myself.


Saint John Joseph of the Cross, whose life shows us that self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity, pray for us.

March 4, 2016 - Friday

Return, Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (Hosea 14:2 NABRE)

Written about 2,700 years ago, the words of Hosea the prophet call the Lord's people back to him. They had strayed far from trust in him and had begun to rely on treaties and foreign governments for their security. As God's people, let us challenge ourselves. Let us look inward, as individuals, and as a society, and ask ourselves, do we place our trust in God? Or have we stumbled into patterns of unfair and immoral behavior, both privately and publicly? Let us challenge ourselves not only to look inward and judge ourselves with brutal honesty, but also to change our ways by reaffirming our trust in God, by our words and by our choices.


Today, I will treat others fairly as a sign that I am returning my heart to the Lord.


Saint Casimir, patron of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, pray for us.

March 3, 2016 - Thursday

Say to them: This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech. (Jeremiah 7:28 NABRE)

Written about 2,600 years ago, these words seem strangely familiar today. As we engage as a nation in our elections process, as we struggle as a nation with violence toward our police and in schools, and as we worry about the impact of global financial challenges, never has there been a better time to listen to God's voice. Let faithfulness be our first response. May we listen first for the voice of the Lord as he speaks into our days. Let us take his perfect correction in cases when we experience conviction in our spirit. May we begin in our personal affairs and come to express our faithfulness in the public forums in which we participate.


Today, I will listen to the voice of the Lord and heed his correction.


Saint Katharine Drexel, whose life is an obvious reminder that holiness can be lived in today’s culture, pray for us.

March 2, 2016 - Wednesday

However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your children and to your children’s children. (Deuteronomy 4:9 NABRE)

These are words Moses spoke to the Israelites who were about to enter the promised land after so much wandering and challenge since leaving Egypt. Moses reminds them to remember what they saw and experienced at the foot of Mount Horeb where the Lord displayed his power in fire, dark clouds, and his voice which the people themselves heard though they could not see a form of God, only a voice. His reminder was intended to encourage the people to remain faithful to their covenant with God.

While somewhat less dramatic, the Lord speaks into each of our lives, privately, in many ways. There's a great little book called Nine Ways God Always Speaks which does a nice job, not of selling God or religion, but of sharing stories of ordinary people who "listen" to many ordinary and often small moments in a way that inclines their heart to the possibility that God does interact with us even today.


Today, I will recognize and remember the many ways that the Lord has touched my life.


Saint Agnes of Bohemia, whose route to holiness was the same as ours: a gradual exchange of our standards (inclination to selfishness) for God’s standard of generosity, pray for us.

March 1, 2016 - Tuesday

Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment. (Joel 2:12-13 NABRE)

The book of Joel is believed to have been written about 450-400 BC. The words of this prophet in today's passage call us to turn our hearts back to the Lord. Especially during this season of Lent, may we lean on God's infinite mercy as we pray, fast, and give alms in our effort to return to the Lord.


Today, I will pray, fast, and make an offering to the poor.


Saint David of Wales, patron of poets and Wales, who lived in and nurtured a constant awareness of God’s nearness, pray for us.