Tag: lectio divina

“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.

“I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking.” | Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 21:12-19)

Jesus said to the crowd: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the persecution that the disciples will face in giving witness to him. Powerlessly, they will be handed over out of hatred to the synagogues and prisons and led before authorities because of his name. Parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will hand them over, and some will be put to death. In Jesus’ time, the persecution of Christians had already begun at the start of his public ministry, and it continues today throughout the world. Yet, Jesus reassures us that giving witness to our faith will mean speaking words handed to us by Christ, given by him a wisdom that persecutors will be powerless to refute. And the result? “Not a hair on your head will be destroyed,” Jesus says. “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

God, help me persevere in giving witness to you and to the bridegroom Christ and to his bride, the Church. “You will be hated by all,” Jesus says, “because of my name.” When I encounter this, even if it is in the form of society’s polite way of dismissing what seems quaint or impotent, let me have courage to speak through the Holy Spirit the wisdom of Christ. Give me the opportunity today and every day to speak boldly to profess my faith in the eternal truth of the person of Jesus Christ.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life.” Lord, give me strength today to speak your name boldly.

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.

“Awesome sights and mighty signs.” | Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 21:5-11)

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here–the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

The words of Daniel in his interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream lay a foundation for today’s Gospel. In interpreting the king’s dream, Daniel says, “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever.” In speaking to people who noted the costly stones and votive offerings adorning the temple, Jesus indicates a day when “there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Before the final fulfillment of God’s kingdom, there will be wars, famines, plagues, and natural disasters. And there will be, as Jesus says, “awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” Remaining faithful to God, Jesus says, means not being led astray and following the voice of false prophets.

Father in heaven, you sent your Son to destroy death and restore life to all those who hear and follow you. For the times I hear but do not respond to you, strengthen my faith and help me return to you to praise and exalt you above all else. “Give glory and eternal praise to him,” the psalmist sings. Give me the grace to give you glory and praise through my words and actions today, offering you my “prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day.” When I falter, let me recall that you are “above all forever” and the power is yours to grasp me by the hand and fashion me according to your plan to prepare me for eternal life in your kingdom.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Remain faithful until death, And I will give you the crown of life.” Lord, teach me to trust in your ways.

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.

“She has offered her whole livelihood.” | Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 21:1-4)

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

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sees and sets as an example the generosity of the widow. Luke tells us that Jesus sees her put in two small coins, from her poverty putting her whole livelihood into the treasury offering. Having seen others make offerings from their surplus wealth, Jesus notes that the widow has put in more than them. As much as Jesus teaches the importance of almsgiving, he presents the widow as one who approaches the Lord in absolute poverty of spirit. Once she gives all that she has out of love for the Lord, her hands are empty—empty to receive from him every spiritual blessing.

God, help me understand what today’s Gospel teaches me about my relationship with you. By default, I look to my self-reliance and ability to care for myself. As the widow did, help me recognize my dependence on you, not only for material needs but also for spiritual sustenance. You are eternally above all created things. As the psalmist says, “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.” With this recognition comes humility. What do I have to give you that has any value at all? And how can I give myself entirely to you when I struggle to give of myself even from excess? Give me the grace, Lord, to recognize where my poverty of spirit dwells and to give from that same poverty to others who are famished in body and spirit. Empty me, God, of all that would prevent me from receiving and giving away your love.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.” Lord, let me keep watch today for the time of 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.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 25:31-46)

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'”

In today’s Gospel for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Jesus identifies himself as the Son of Man and the king who will sit upon the throne in the final judgment. There is no doubt in this self-reference that he is the Son of God, Emmanuel, in the person of Christ. In his healing and preaching ministry on earth, this is the one who performed miracles, saying “rise and walk” and “your faith has saved you.” With a word, he restored hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, cured myriad physical ailments, and drove out demons. At the final judgment, the compassion Jesus modeled as he encountered people of all needs and all walks of life will be brought to bear at the final judgment. Isn’t now the time to long to hear the king say at his coming: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

God, help me see the urgency in imitating Christ today so that I can be ready for his return in glory. As I hear the words hungry, thirsty, stranger, ill, naked, imprisoned, I feel far removed from all of it. These are physical needs that I don’t lack and those around me don’t lack. Yet, it doesn’t take great effort to see in those closest to me spiritual hunger, thirst, isolation, illness, vulnerability, and, confinement. Jesus cured both physical and spiritual ailments. In my imitation of your Son, give me the grace despite my own brokenness to put on Christ for the sake of lifting up my brother or sister and caring for their needs. I have the words and actions of Jesus, the Gospel, and the sacraments of the Church to help me hear the voice of the shepherd and follow him. Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, lead me.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!”

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.

“That the dead will rise even Moses made known.” | Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 20:27-40)

Jesus said to the Sadducees, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

The Sadducees pose a question to Jesus about marriage and life after the resurrection. Because the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection, life after death, or angels, the question is meant to challenge Jesus and trap him. Jesus affirms to them that the Lord is the God of the living. As the Lord said to Moses as he looks upon the burning bush, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At the resurrection at the second coming of Christ, Jesus says those who rise can no longer die and neither marry nor are given in marriage and instead are like angels, children of God. Here, remarkably, Jesus addresses every facet of belief the Sadducees hold, relating to them incisive truths about the life of the world to come, not only for them but for every person who has ever lived.

God, help me understand the depth of Jesus’ teaching on death and the resurrection. Here, he is not speaking in parables or symbolically to make a point. He speaks to me just as he speaks to the Sadducees about life after death. Let me not miss the big news here and just take a moment to let it sink in: there is, Jesus says, life after death and I will rise at his return. “Those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age,” Jesus says, “are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise.” How clear are these words? How dense would I have to be to believe that someone made this up or over the ages cobbled the words together? If Jesus your Son says this, the only question remaining is to live a life worthy of coming for all eternity into your presence, the God of the living.

From the Gospel acclamation: “Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.” I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord.

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.

“All the people were hanging on his words.” | Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 19:45-48)

The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

When he comes to drive out those who are selling things in the temple area, Jesus says to them: “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ time see him coming every day to teach in the temple area. To their frustration, they can’t find a way to put him to death. In seeking to put Jesus to death, they find instead that he speaks the words of eternal life to those who hang on his words. How could they kill the one who is hope to the hopeless, the shepherd to lost sheep who guides and guards them? Jesus, the living word of God, is in spiritual battle at his Father’s house.

Father in heaven, help me shut out the distractions of a world clamoring with buying and selling, the voices from the marketplace coming from every device. Drive out every darkness that is not of you, as Jesus drove the merchants from the temple area, and help me find you in quiet moments set aside for the day. As the psalmist says: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.” Strengthen me, Lord, for spiritual battle in this life by my listening for the voice of your Son and following him.

From the responsorial psalm: “You have dominion over all, In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God.” Lord, help me today to hang on your words. Saint Andrew and martyrs, 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.