June 16, 2014 - Monday

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven [is above all]. (John 3:31 NABRE)


Today's verse, together with the subsequent (final) four verses of chapter three in John's gospel, draw out some specifics about Jesus.  This verse contrasts Jesus with John the Baptist, pointing out that Jesus is from heaven and John is human like the rest of us.  To me, it echoes John the Baptist's words in chapter one where he states that he baptizes with water, but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit (Jn 1:33).  It really distinguishes Jesus as more than just a man, but as God.  We see that:

• Jesus is from heaven
• Jesus is above all on earth
• He testifies about what he knows but no one believes him
• Anyone who does believe Jesus certifies that God is trustworthy
• Jesus speaks the words of God
• He does not ration his gift of the Holy Spirit
• The Father loves Jesus
• The Father has given everything over to Jesus
• Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life
• The wrath of God remains upon whoever disobeys Jesus

Today, one at a time, I will meditate for a few minutes on each of these statements about Jesus.


Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, patron of fatherhood, pray for us.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 4

In Acts, chapter four, we see again very clearly that the powers of this earth, even the religious leaders, did not welcome the message of Jesus now being shared by his apostles.  This chapter always gives me pause as I reflect on the hearts and motivations of our leaders even today.  While on one hand, I have to hope that each leader (and I suppose the case could be made that we are all leaders, but here I mean our societal leaders) is driven by a desire to serve rather than to be served, by an intentional giving rather than a secretive taking, and by a love of others rather than a love of self; on the other hand, I am often concerned that the opposite is true for many of our leaders.  I worry that our leaders are sometimes secretly driven by self-interest, greed or a hunger for power.

Even fear of change can keep us from recognizing and accepting the promises of Christ.

But look at the contrast between the community of leaders who are threatened by Jesus' message and the community led by Peter, John and the other apostles.

While one community stubbornly refused, each for his own reasons, to accept that Jesus was the son of God and the long awaited Messiah, the other embraced the news and the demonstrations of proof meant to illustrate the truth of it.  And because they made the choice to believe in Jesus, members of the young Christian community began to live very different lives.  They began to pray differently as well:

Lord God, even in these most difficult and frightening times, please speak your words through us, your servants, by the gifts of your Holy Spirit and in the name of your son, Jesus.

Who doesn't know deep in his heart that you are alive and you direct all that is?  You have given each of us this knowledge, even those of us who resist it and push against it.  Let each of us, who knows in his heart that there is a God, be open to your son Jesus, his message of love, and his promise of salvation.

June 15, 2014 - Sunday

The just walk in integrity;
happy are their children after them! (Proverbs 20:7 NABRE)


Happy is sometimes translated as blessed.  And blessings take so many forms.  To imagine our lives to be blessings for others helps us recognize something valuable.  Most of the time, we think of the blessings we receive.  Thinking about the blessings we give is a good way to consider the choices we make.  Does my choice to do something bless my children?  Does it bless others in my family?  Does it bless my friends or acquaintances?  Does it bless the stranger I will never meet?

Lord, you blessed me with fatherhood and for that I will always thank you.  Let me in turn share blessings with my children, now and throughout their lives.  Help me to make choices that are upright and demonstrate my faithfulness to you.  Especially at times of temptation, challenge or crisis, guide my choices so they have integrity.  Strengthen me so my choices are just and bless my children.


Today, I will seek to make right choices.


Servant of God Orlando Catanii, a unique model of willing generosity, pray for us.

June 14, 2014 - Saturday

I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21 NABRE)


Just the other day, while sitting at a nearly deserted McCook's Point beach, I was discussing the empty lifeguard chairs.  There were three teenagers hanging around, sitting on, and playing by one of the chairs.  As they passed a few minutes laughing and enjoying the sea breeze, it occurred to me that every teenager in that town, at one time or another, must have occupied one of those chairs!  Each one of them, imagining what it would be like to be the lifeguard on duty.  Wondering what it must be like to have the skills, authority and responsibility to protect swimmers on this beach.

Today's reading from Revelation is a statement made by Jesus intended to strongly discourage lukewarm faith and to encourage me to open the door of my heart to him when he knocks.


Today, I will welcome Jesus, my lifeguard, into my heart, looking forward to sitting with him on his throne.


Saint Cecilia, patron of musicians, pray for us.

June 13, 2014 - Friday

So there are three that testify,
the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord. (1 John 5:7-8 NABRE)


At a time when two human witnesses were required to testify that something was true, John here tells us there are three divine witnesses which testify that Jesus is the son of God.

There is a range of interpretation of these words and I claim no special knowledge here, but the witnesses appear to be, in sequence:  The Holy Spirit which has moved throughout human history to illuminate God for us, most notably in the Bible.  The water of baptism, perhaps because it unites in the Spirit.  And the blood, which may be a reference to the Last Supper, Jesus' Crucifixion, and/or the blood of the martyrs.

So, three divine witnesses tell me that Jesus is the son of God.  And John points out that faith in Jesus is the source of eternal life and victory over the evils of this world.


Today, I will celebrate the testimony of the Spirit, the water, and the blood, which affirm Jesus as savior and son of God.


Saint Anthony of Padua, patron of lost items, pray for us.

Saint Rita, patron of parenthood, pray for us.

June 12, 2014 - Thursday

Since the LORD, your God, is a merciful God, he will not abandon or destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them. (Deuteronomy 4:31 NABRE)


Lord, I thank you for this day and for your love and faithfulness toward me.  It is easy to be thankful when things are going well for me, and I want to thank you even more in the midst of trials.  I thank you for the many undeserved blessings you have provided my family and me.  I ask for your mercy for those times when I forget about you.  And I ask for your protection over my family, my people, as we wander like the Israelites in our own desert of waiting for your son's return to us.

Today's verse comes from a beautiful section of Deuteronomy where Moses describes God's faithfulness and love for his people.  It is a reminder that even when we have turned away from God in suffering or defiance, he waits for us and welcomes us.  And so, we're reminded to acknowledge the Lord and to follow his commands.

The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and final book of the Torah, also know as the Pentateuch--the first five books of the Bible.  Though its authorship is sometimes assigned to Moses, Deuteronomy tells about Moses and brings to life three discourses of his.  It was probably written over a period of several hundred years beginning in the eighth century B.C. and recounts the time Moses and the Israelites spent wandering in the desert after receiving the law at Mount Sinai and before entering the Promised Land (which as you may remember, Moses never does!).*


Today, I will turn away from my own concerns and place them in God's hands, confident that in his unimaginable love, he will preserve me safely through them.  And I will praise him because he is God!


Saint Joseph, guardian and protector of Mary and Jesus, pray for us.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 3

Have you ever shared your faith in Jesus with someone who is not a Christian?  Why did you share?  Who began the conversation?  What did you say?  How did it end?  How did you feel?  Did your feelings change at all as you progressed in your story?  These are questions worth spending time with.

In his writing, John Paul II describes a special moment in every believer's life in which he or she is "overwhelmed and brought to the decision to entrust himself to Jesus Christ by faith."*

That special first moment of faith only really occurs when one person introduces another person to Jesus, speaking from the heart about what they believe.  (This proclaiming of belief in Jesus is understood as a specific act of evangelization with a name from the Greek, kerygma, and is intended to encourage conversion.)  I know.  This kind of thing isn't really in vogue these days; but then, as we'll soon see in chapter four, it never was!

In this context, I think it is worth giving some thought to the events of the third chapter of Acts.  There are two events in this chapter which I find especially instructive for my own life.  First, Peter, accompanied by John, heals a crippled man by invoking Jesus' name. We're told that the people in the temple who knew the crippled man and then saw him walking were amazed and became witnesses to the event.  Second, Peter speaks to the gathered crowd, introducing them to Jesus.

What a model of faith sharing:  A remarkable event drew onlookers to Peter and he used the opportunity to speak to them about Jesus.  Simple, amazing for sure, but simple too.   Faith in the ability of God to change people, confidence in the healing power of Jesus' name, and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit seem to be important precursors to sharing our faith with others.  Being completely comfortable is not.  Having prepared speeches is not either.

So, this chapter teaches me a little about welcoming opportunities to speak about Jesus.  It nudges me to let others know that God loves each of us personally.  And it reminds me to share God's love letter because of the hope and joy that comes from this faith we are blessed with!

June 10, 2014 - Tuesday

Better a little with justice,
than a large income with injustice. (Proverbs 16:8 NABRE)


This reminder of correct priorities is worth consideration.  We often think of justice in a legal context, but here it means something closer to charity.  Justice is known as one of the cardinal virtues and has to do with our obligations toward one another, making sure each of us receives what is our due.

As Jesus reminds us in Matthew's gospel, no man can serve two masters, so we should not focus on storing up treasures on earth but rather we should store up treasures in heaven by depending on God.  He tells us in very specific terms that we cannot serve both God and money.  And he actually describes money as a god that is worshiped.

This is a real challenge to us today.  In fact, Pope Francis has called the Church to be transformed.  In his 2013 apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (the Joy of the Gospel), he calls us to say no to what he calls "the new idolatry of money."

Do I worship money too much?  Do I become too focused on a large income rather than being a good steward of what God has given to me?


Today, I will spend my prayer time considering how I can serve God more effectively by depending on him more and by becoming a better steward of what is truly his.


Our Lady of Guadalupe, who reminds us of God's love for all people especially the poor, pray for us.

June 11, 2014 - Wednesday

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (Matthew 6: 25 NABRE)


Even for many of us today, part of our focus on money stems from worry that we will not have enough food and clothing.  Said another way, for some of us, our worship of this false god of money sometimes starts with this primal fear.

But Jesus tells us not to worry about these things.  His direct instruction seems to prevent misinterpretation.  He wants us to trust.  He tells us to trust in God's ability and desire to provide for our needs.  That is his simple and powerful message.

Why? He tells us that too!  When we trust in God's ability and desire to provide for our needs, we become free to "seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness."  By seeking first after what God wants us to do, Jesus absolutely promises our needs will not go unmet.

This is not an encouragement to be careless with what the Lord provides us with.  Just the opposite, we are called to be good stewards, or caretakers, of these gifts by expressing charity and justice.


Today, I will resist financial worries by taking one action to share with someone in need. 


Saint Barnabus, friend who introduced Paul to Peter and who was part of the poor but trusting early Church, pray for us.

June 9, 2014 - Monday

Your reign is a reign for all ages,
your dominion for all generations. (Psalm 145:13a NABRE)


This song of joy seems to bubble up out of the singer, whose enthusiasm and praise of God's kingship and works are unconstrained.  Even our greatest kings live short lives of struggle, but we need to remember the Lord will reign for all ages and all generations--and he invites us to be in a relationship with him.  Now that deserves a song, a smile, and a heart swelling with gratitude!

Oh Lord, thank you for your great goodness and your mercy toward us.  We celebrate and praise your works and your compassion.  Let our hearts grow in love for you.  Guide us as we express your intentions through the way we live our lives.

Interesting side note:  Psalm 145 is song in acrostic form, every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.*


Today, I will make time to sing a song of joy!


Saint Ephrem, one of the first to introduce song into Christian worship, pray for us.

June 8, 2014 - Sunday

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. (Acts 2:3 NABRE)


We tend to want drama.  We want miracles as proof.  We are all doubting Thomas at times.  We look for amazing things like tongues of fire resting on people in the room.  But it is important to remember that even without those things, we share the Apostles' mission, we share the same Holy Spirit, and we share in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In today's verse, fire symbolizes the presence of God, just as it does in Exodus 19:18 when Moses was on Mount Sinai.  Today, as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles at Pentecost, we remember the unique gift they were given to begin their mission.

Baptism.  Confirmation.  These are our sacramental moments.  The Holy Spirit within each of us gives us God's power to act in this world.  Always remember the power within.  Stay always open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit--the feeling, the awareness, the confidence to say and do what is right even at difficult moments.  Even when things don't seem to work out right, or when the words seem to be all wrong, if you have been open in this way, you will start to see the small signs.  You will start to recognize the miracles.


Today, I will remember the amazing gifts of the Holy Spirit in my life and I will turn my heart and mind toward God's goodness, seeking out my role in our shared mission.


Saint William of York, who reminds us that outward signs are less important than what is in our hearts, pray for us.

June 7, 2014 - Saturday

Keep me safe, O God;
in you I take refuge. (Psalm 16:1 NABRE)


Do I really believe God keeps me safe?

How could I possibly reconcile this with the cruel suffering imposed on people exactly because they believe the same things I do?  How do I make sense of all the martyrs who have died for this faith we share?  And how is it that a merciful God could allow even his own son to be humiliated, tortured and murdered on a cross?  Is it at all smart to take refuge in God?  In reality, it seems he has no interest in protecting his most faithful followers or even his son.  Why then, would he guard me?  And from what?

Here's what I believe:  There is good and there is evil.  Each of us has to contend with evil approaching us in many disguises and from every direction.  Each of us is called to seek good over evil--in our minds and hearts, in our words and actions.  This is difficult.  Surprisingly difficult.  Supremely difficult.  Constantly difficult.  Frankly, my experiences have repeatedly shown this is beyond my abilities.

Here's what I understand:  There have been innumerable times in my life, when I've been hanging over the edge of a dark pit at the end of a (sometimes very long) rope and too tired to hold on; completely fatigued, I've let go of the rope only to find I did not fall into the dark pit but instead found myself standing safely on solid ground able to see down into the pit that almost claimed my life.  Every time I stand on that ledge looking down, considering how I could be there or why, I know only that it was not my power that put me there.  And so sometimes for a little while I remember to stop looking down and to look up instead.

Here is one example:  Not long after my mother died, during a time when I had begun trusting too much in my own cleverness and sense of accomplishment, I had a very vivid dream.  The dream was dark and I could see nothing.  It was just a voice, and it was short, but I'll never forget it.  It was Mom's voice and it was as clear as if she was standing next to me.  She said simply You are so angry.  I couldn't speak, I couldn't see her, and I remember feeling desperate knowing she would leave.  At the time, I could not focus on her words.  I could only think how much I wanted her to stay.  And after staying just long enough to repeat her statement two more times, she did leave and I woke up.

Though I missed the point at the time, I can say that since having the dream, I often remember her words to me.  Most often, it is just after I become unreasonably angry at something small.  Sometimes I am lucky enough to remember her words before saying or doing anything hurtful.  I count both as real blessings.

Each time I consider it, I experience relief, great joy and humility.  I am relieved to know that my situation does not have to end in evil.  I am joyful to recognize the many ways God can use us to protect each other.  And I am humbled by the protection this dream continues to give me.  Can I explain or prove that this is all connected?  I can state it is my honest experience.  Prove me wrong.  :-)

Have you ever found yourself unable to hang on?  Have you ever thought of letting go of the rope?


Today, I will trust in God's endless mercy and inexhaustible compassion as my refuge in difficult moments, so that with great joy and confidence I can submit myself to his will, which is love and mercy itself.


Servant of God Joseph Perez, who endured persecution and death for his faith in Mexico in 1928, pray for us.

June 6, 2014 - Friday

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 5:15 NABRE)


John, in his first of three letters, reminds us that faith gives us victory over sin, and God hears and answers our prayers.

And so we should continue to pray for one another instead of imposing snap judgments upon each other when we feel hurt or threatened.

I ask you, Lord, to soften my heart toward people of good will but with whom I sometimes disagree, and to lead me away from the temptation to diminish them, but rather let me see what unites us.

I ask you to support everyone around me and protect them in their personal climb.

And I ask you for your help in understanding others a little better, for the awareness to see that they (like me) often act in pain, not in malice--struggling just as I do to seek good and not evil.


Today, with certainty that you hear and answer me, I ask you Lord to lead me away from indifference toward others and toward greater faith in my own heart.


Saint Norbert, who teaches us to be enthusiastic in our faith, pray for us.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 2

The church goes public!

I would say this chapter recounts one of the most amazing events in human history, and I never get tired of reading it!  In it, we read about the very first moment when God's Spirit is "poured" into men.  Overwhelmed for sure by God's Holy Spirit within them, the Apostles begin speaking of God's mighty acts...in languages they did not know!

Boy, I know they had been waiting for ten days now since watching Jesus ascend, and they must have been anxious to get started, but it appears they really jumped in with both feet!

Keep in mind, Jews from all over the world had gathered at Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost.  They were celebrating the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law to Moses.  And being from all over the known world, they spoke different languages.  So there was a huge and diverse crowd present for this public debut of Jesus' followers!

Picture it.  It's morning in the city.  Many people have gathered at the temple.  The Apostle's begin speaking with them.  But the people hearing them begin to wonder how when they hear these simple Galileans speak, each is hearing his own native language!  How strange and exciting that must have been.

And then Peter addressed the crowd.  For many, Peter's public speech must have been like a breaking news story is today!  Everyone wants to know what is going on.  It's as though he said, "now that we have your attention...."

And his speech amounts to a grand announcement that Jesus of Nazareth, who rose from the dead, is both God and Israel's promised Messiah.  And he doesn't just make that claim without proof.  Instead,  Peter recalls prophesies of Joel and David which the crowd would recognize, and he illustrates how Jesus is the fulfillment of these prophesies.  Very big news!  So big, that the 150 or so followers of Jesus quickly increased by 3,000 more who accepted Peter's message and were baptized.

Imagine how Peter must have felt as he spoke, maybe sensing that the words he was delivering were unplanned, maybe gradually becoming aware that the words were not even based on his own thoughts, and maybe suddenly realizing this Holy Spirit within him was actually providing the words he spoke.

June 5, 2014 - Thursday

When God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, “he swore by himself,”
and said, “I will indeed bless you and multiply” you.
And so, after patient waiting, he obtained the promise. (Hebrews 6:13-15 NABRE)


God has bigger plans for us than we have for ourselves!  Just think of his promise to this old man, that he would become the father of many nations.  Abraham had such great faith in God's promises that he obeyed God's commands and, sure enough, we can see that this promise, which God swore by himself to keep, came to be.

So the Lord makes big promises, and when he makes a promise, he keeps it.  Certainly we can learn from father Abraham.  We can rely on God's promise of salvation through his son Jesus.  And our part in this plan is to remain faithful and to live as God shows us.

The letter to the Hebrews was written to encourage us to stay faithful to God and to avoid falling away from the faith due to "weariness with the demands of Christian life [or] indifference to [our] calling."*



Today, I will pray for endurance and enthusiasm in my own Christian faith; as well as understanding, tolerance and mutual respect among all people who call themselves children of Abraham.


Saint Boniface, patron of Germany, pray for us.

June 4, 2014 - Wednesday

Yet there is no one on earth so just as to do good and never sin. (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NABRE)

Lord, I ask your help today.  I am tired.  I will need your guidance as I walk the path you have placed in front of me, to recognize the opportunities you will give me to do good for others, and to avoid being misled into bad behavior by the lies you will allow me to hear.  May your Holy Spirit light my path so that my day begins and ends for you. (And Lord, please forgive my mixed metaphors today, I'm too tired to fix them!  You know my heart!)

In many ways, the ancient book of Ecclesiastes is a very modern one.  It has a skeptical tone and it dwells on the many pointless pursuits of this life.  Anyone who reads this book today is likely to relate well with its sentiments.

It is easy to misunderstand a book like Ecclesiastes by overlooking its tone.  This probably happens most commonly when single verses are taken out of context; and for such a quotable book, this is a substantial risk.  Its words are taken and used out of context all the time to justify lives of indifference and pleasure-seeking.

Fundamentally, I would argue that the final two verses really contain its entire message:  When all is said and done, God will judge our actions, so we should fear him and keep his commandments.


Today, I will be patient with myself and seek the quiet that is so necessary to hearing God's voice.


Saint Francis Caracciolo, who lived a humble life of service, pray for us.

June 3, 2014 - Tuesday

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)


For me, it is almost impossible to see my own personal faults and shortcomings.  So I am grateful to be able to "overhear" what Amos had to say to some pretty fallen-away believers.  How often do I actively seek evil things or try to silence the voice of my conscience because I don't like what it's accusing me of?  How often am I that hypocrite who says one thing and does another?  I cannot be afraid to ask these questions about myself.  The real risk is in not asking them.  I cannot be afraid to try and change.  The real risk is if I stop trying.

Amos was a prophet back in the eighth century before Christ.  He had harsh words for Israel's wealthy Northern Kingdom which had become unjust toward its own people and idolatrous in its worship of other gods.  He prophesied about ten miles north of Jerusalem, in Bethel, that is until he was banned from the worship center there.

Today's verse is one of Amos' few encouraging statements; but in context, it actually has an almost sarcastic tone--a challenge of sorts:  OK, all you who claim to be God's people, seek good and God will be with you and you will live, otherwise things will go badly for you.


Today, I will appreciate the words of the prophet Amos and other great men and women who speak out against injustice.  And I will accept their challenge to seek good and not evil, which is God's challenge to me each day.


Saint Charles Lwanga, one of 22 Ugandan martyrs who sought good and not evil, pray for us.

Acts of the Apostles - Chapter 1

Each year about this time, I have a tradition of reading the Acts of the Apostles.

I like to remember how things started for us.

Acts never ceases to inspire and amaze me, and to make me laugh.  More on that as we go along, but suffice it to say that I see Acts as the story of imperfect people trying their best to do the early work given to them by a perfect God.  Actually, it reminds me of being a parent--it's not always easy to access the instruction book!

For me, reading the story of the infant Church is like seeing the first green sprout appear above the soil after a planted seed germinates.

A little background...the book of Acts was most likely written about 50 years after Jesus died on the cross (approximately A.D. 80-90).  It was written in the first century by Luke, the gospel writer, as the second part of his two-volume work.  We know he was a Syrian from Antioch and was "not part of the first generation of Christian disciples."*

Jump to the present...this past Thursday was 40 days after Easter.  It was our annual celebration of Jesus' Ascension back to the Father.  And Pentecost, which comes 50 days after Easter, is just 6 days away.  The Book of Acts, chapter 1, tells the story of this tumultuous time for the apostles as they began the job Jesus left them with.

Acts 1 in a nutshell:  Just before ascending back to the Father, while on the Mount of Olives, Jesus tells his followers to return to Jerusalem and wait until the Holy Spirit empowers them for their mission.  So they did that, they began waiting and praying together, and they chose a replacement for Judas Iscariot, whose story we all know.

For me, this chapter recounts the transition from the time Jesus was with them to the time Peter becomes their leader here on earth.  Though many have had issue with the papacy over the years, for me the unbroken lineage is remarkable nonetheless.

June 2, 2014 - Monday

Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11 NABRE)


Paul wrote his letter to the Romans about 25 years after Jesus died, probably while in Corinth (~ A.D. 56-58).

In the letter, he explains how we were freed from the power of sin because of Jesus' sacrifice.  And he tells us what that means for how we should live our lives--specifically, that we should not obey the desires of our mortal bodies.

So I am expected to choose how I will live.  For myself, I would rather work to make myself a slave to doing what is right than allow myself to be a slave to sinfulness.  Paul reminds me that this is a choice I have, a decision I make for myself which, if I don't make it, is made for me by default.


Today, I will decide for myself, once again, to live for God in Christ Jesus and work to master the desires of my mortal body.


Saints Marcellinus and Peter, whose decision for Christ caused you to be martyred for your faith, pray for us.

June 1, 2014 - Sunday

Into the bag the lot is cast,
but from the LORD comes every decision.  (Proverbs 16:33 NABRE)


How do you make big life decisions?

One ancient way to make decisions is described here in Proverbs, by putting dice into a bag.  Each die means either "yes" or "no."  The same concept is used with long or short straws, flipping a coin, or a Magic 8 Ball.  To us, it seems almost humorous, but there is an aspect to this which we have lost today.

After Jesus left the Apostles for the final time, they had to find a replacement for Judas Iscariot (See Acts 1:15-26).  They had two candidates and had them draw lots to determine who the replacement would be.  However, the prayer that Peter prayed before the men drew their lot explains both today's verse from Proverbs and the scene in Acts.  He prays:

“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen
to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”

As the proverb explains, a human being puts the dice in the bag but what emerges from the bag is the Lord’s decision.*


Today, I will not be bothered by life's big decisions.  Before deciding, I will ask the Lord to show me the choice he makes for me and then I will follow the path laid out for me with confidence.


Saint Justin, patron of philosophers and defender of the faith, pray for us.