Tag: hope

“Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” | Saturday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8)

Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

To receive without cost is easy; to give without cost, much less so. As Matthew illustrates, Jesus excludes no one in going around all the towns and villages teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. His love is unconditional, without cost. Then, turning to the disciples, he tells them to do the same—to give without cost. “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand,” he tells them. And he instructs them on their mission: “cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” For all human limitations and weaknesses, how is this possible? With a word and through his example, Jesus makes it possible, giving them authority to do all of these things—without cost, a gift to be given to others.

God, when I hear the words “without cost you are to give” I feel unable to live up to that command. Yet, with it comes the trust necessary to be obedient. In the first reading from Isaiah, you show how tenderly you care for your people, giving them an abundance of gifts, caring for daily needs and binding up wounds. “While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: ‘This is the way; walk in it,’ when you would turn to the right or to the left.” Lord, give me the bread that I need and the water for which I thirst.

From the responsorial psalm: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls each by name. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.” Lord, teach me to entrust to you my needs.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 1:26-38)

And coming to the virgin Mary, the angel Gabriel said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.”

Mary responds in at least three ways when the angel Gabriel comes to her. She is troubled that he should say she is full of grace and that the Lord is with her. Next, she asks Gabriel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And before he suddenly departs, she says, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” The three responses offer insights into the spiritual life of Mary. First, she showed humility in her response to being called full of grace, that the Lord was with her. There is also her ability to dwell on and discern how God works in her and through her. Second, she questions how she will conceive, eliminating human intervention and allowing Gabriel to tell her how this will happen: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” Finally, without a moment to process what any of this means, she says yes to God. Mary shows us the way to humility, reason and discernment in understanding God’s will, and cooperation with his grace. Above all, as the Mother of God she shows us the way to her Son.

God, in Mary’s encounter with the angel, I see a kind of clarity in Mary’s communication with him that I am likely never to experience in my life. Yet, because Mary was conceived without original sin, she had no inclination toward it that would obstruct her view of your will. In perfect clarity, Gabriel communicated her role in salvation history, and in a state of perfect grace, Mary said yes to your holy will. Lord, give me the grace to remove the barriers that prevent me from hearing you and knowing your will. Once understanding it, help me follow through in cooperating with every good gift of yours that is meant to be shared.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women.” Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The house set solidly on rock. | Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 7:21, 24-27)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.”

Jesus calls his disciples to listen to his words and then act on them, to be still and attentive and respond in action to the will of God. Our temporary dwelling on earth is subject to many assaults on the body and soul. Jesus guides us as disciples in withstanding the trials, the storms, and the struggles. To the fool, Jesus says, hearing his word and not acting on it results in devastation: “The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.” Holding fast to Christ, secured by hearing and acting on his will, the darkest storms pass.

God, here you are before me. Every need I have, you are already aware of and are acting to satisfy it. The unrelenting anxiety of moving through tasks ahead of me today and the next day and the next day would have me believe that you are somehow beyond them if I can just get past them. Help me remember what I now know, quieted by invitation to hear and do your will: you are in the midst of everyday anxieties, in the eye of the storm. Give me the grace to recall your presence during times I would otherwise forget, not out of sheer mental triumph, but to give you glory and come to enter your kingdom.

From the responsorial psalm: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Lord, let me take refuge in you today. Saint Ambrose, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“I do not want to send them away hungry.” | Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 15:29-37)

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?”

Just as Isaiah speaks of the LORD of hosts providing for his people from the mountain, Jesus goes up on a nearby mountain as people placed at his feet come to be cured. Matthew describes the scene: “The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the deformed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind able to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.” The crowd had been with Jesus for three days, and still he has more to give them. “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd . . . for they have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” Here, Jesus’ compassion extends not only to those who came to be cured but also to those who brought them to his feet; in caring for others, they also come to Jesus for his sustenance.

“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” the disciples ask. God, help me understand that how Jesus answers this reveals the nature of your being. In giving you thanks and dividing the seven loaves to feed the great crowds, Jesus reverses the natural order. Rather than breaking the seven loaves into smaller and smaller morsels, Jesus multiplies them and provides more—enough to fill seven baskets full. From your being, Lord, division doesn’t result in fractions but in unbroken abundance. In taking the loaves, breaking them, and giving thanks to you, Jesus provides more than enough for the crowd. In this deserted place of earthly exile, God, where could we ever get enough to satisfy? Give me the grace of compassion, trusting that in sharing the little I have to give, you will multiply with your divine power. Help me today find you in the true bread of life, at its source and summit in the Eucharist.

From the first reading: “On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples A feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“You have revealed them to the childlike.” | Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 10:21-24)

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”

As the seventy-two disciples sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God return, Jesus praises his Father for their childlike faith. What is hidden from the wise and the learned, God reveals to his servants. What prophets and kings could only dream of seeing and hearing, God blesses with the supernatural vision of faith in his Son. “No one knows who the Son is except the Father,” Jesus tells the disciples, “and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” In being sent out, the seventy-two put faith into practice and see God’s kingdom being established as Jesus reveals to them his Father.

God, in humble obedience the first disciples followed Jesus throughout his ministry. Help me rely less on myself and live more simply for you as a disciple of your Son. Give me understanding to see the limited value of human wisdom and open my eyes to the revelation that you are the limitless source of all truth. In Jesus is the truth, and the person of Christ is truth itself. As the disciples were blessed in seeing Jesus in person, Jesus blesses me with his real presence in the Eucharist and in the Blessed Sacrament. In childlike faith, give me the grace to recognize the gift given by you and the humility to understand the words of Jesus: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father.”

From the responsorial psalm: “He shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.” Spirit of the Lord, rest upon me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Only say the word.” | Monday of the First Week of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 8:5-11)

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion said in reply, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”

We hear these words of the Roman centurion at every Mass when we say, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” The centurion, who understands the authority behind a command, demonstrates great faith in Jesus in trusting him to heal his servant with his word alone. “For I too am a man subject to authority,” he says, “with soldiers subject to me.” Amazed at his faith, Jesus states that he has not found such faith in all of Israel, emphasizing the inclusion of all in God’s Kingdom. The servant at home paralyzed, suffers dreadfully. In response to our prayers or the prayers of others, Christ comes under our roof to say the word and heal our souls.

God, in the mystery of suffering I often fail to see you or to find a way to see you. The story of the centurion is an example of why sight fails me at those times. Is it that when I look inward at my own suffering I fail to see the suffering of others? For the sake of his servant, the centurion sought out Jesus as he entered Capernaum, as if to suggest the centurion was keen for his arrival. To be certain, a handful of sufferings will come this day, taking my attention away from the needs of others close to me. Help me remember throughout the day that in praying that you free others from their suffering, you free me from the isolating paralysis of self-absorption. Heal me, Lord, from anything that would prevent me from seeing how badly others need you to come under their roof to save them.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Come and save us, LORD our God; Let your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” Lord, guard me today with your word and by it bring your healing presence.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Be watchful! Be alert!” | First Sunday of Advent

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (MK 13:33-37)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Jesus compares watchfulness for his second coming to a man who travels abroad and returns at an unexpected time. While away from home, he places his servants in charge, each with work to do, and orders the gatekeeper to keep watch. Because the time of Christ’s return is unknown, it calls for constant vigilance and devotion to our faith—a perpetual Advent longing here on earth—to prepare us for the life of the world to come with God. That Jesus addresses not only the disciples but all of us is startlingly clear when he says, “What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch.'”

God, help me remain alert always but especially as Advent unfolds, where you reveal your love in sending all of us the Christ child, Emmanuel. So much of each day is taken up by routines and planned time, absorption in the moment at hand followed by absorption in the next planned moment at hand. Give me the grace to experience the coming of Christ, not by counting down the calendar to close another year, but with the kind of childlike faith and wonder that can’t wait to see what comes next. It is you I’m looking for, Lord, and most of the time I’m not aware of that. Let me watch for you with joyful expectation and be ready to come out to meet you in the midst of this day.

From the first reading: “Why do you let us wander, O LORD, from your ways,
and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?” Lord, give me the work of keeping watch for your return.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy.” | Saturday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 21:34-36)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Today’s Gospel acclamation summarizes the few words of Jesus from today’s Gospel: “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.” Jesus tells his disciples to keep their hearts from becoming drowsy by avoiding two seemingly unrelated behaviors: carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life. Both draw attention away from God: carousing and drunkenness, by outright rejection of reason; and the anxieties of daily life, by their pervasiveness and constant insistence that God will not supply what we need when we need it.

God, help me understand today’s Gospel. In speaking to the disciples, Jesus wants to guard not only their hearts but mine here and now against things in this life that would turn my gaze away from you. Your Son, who knew firsthand the anxieties of daily life, is my example and testifies on his own behalf through his life, death, and resurrection. Give me the grace to trust in your ways and be vigilant at all times. Keep me alert to your presence, Lord!

From the responsorial psalm: “Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Give glory and eternal praise to him.”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Know that the Kingdom of God is near.” | Friday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 21:29-33)

Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Jesus makes clear to the disciples what to look for at his second coming. Just as we observe signs on earth, as in the buds of the fig tree indicating the coming of summer, the unfolding of the fulfillment of God’s kingdom will be observable. “Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.” By saying this, Jesus reveals that he is the master of time and space. God’s sense of a moment in time is not ours but contains all moments; likewise, to him a generation is not one, but one and many at the same time. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The kingdom of God is an everlasting kingdom, outlasting all of heaven and earth.

God, when I look up at the vastness of the night sky and see too many stars to count, I recognize the hand of the creator in the created. When I consider the fig tree and the buds of all other trees about to burst open, I see you at work in the world you made from nothing. You are the Ancient One that Daniel saw in a vision; in that same vision is Jesus, the Son of Man whose kingship will never be destroyed, an everlasting dominion. “Heaven and earth will pass away,” Jesus says, “but my words will not pass away.” God, help me see my role today in serving you in your creation, giving you glory and praise now and at the time of my redemption.

From the responsorial psalm: “Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. Give glory and eternal praise to him!” For the kingdom, the power, and the glory, Lord, are yours now and for ever.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” | Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 4:18-22)

Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.

In relating the call of the first disciples, Matthew tells us that Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee and sees Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea. Later, he sees James and his brother John in a boat, mending their nets. Jesus calls them from a specific place and time in their lives to follow him. The symbols of the net and the boat stand in for any occupation, any point in our lives. At any point in life, there is casting for sustenance and mending what is broken. In Jesus’ eyes, every one of us is literally in the same boat. Among brothers, Saint Andrew hears the call of discipleship and follows to be a fisher of men, to cast far and wide the word of God. Right here and right now, Jesus also calls us to follow him and do the same.

God, help me understand the mercy Jesus your Son shows that is particular to each person. Just as he goes along the shore to meet Andrew, Simon, James, and John, he meets me at every juncture where I have the gift of freely choosing to follow him. In the midst of the day, there is the almost constant need to cast and mend, to work in this life and to put back together what is broken continually through walking away from you in the opposite direction. Lord, help me hear the call to follow you and to return again and again to the sacraments of the Church to receive wholeness through your grace. Meet me today where I am.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.” Saint Andrew, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.