Tag: faith

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 11:25-30)

At that time Jesus exclaimed: “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

In today’s second reading from Saint Paul, he compares the Spirit and the flesh. Living according to the flesh leads to death, while if living by the Spirit, “you put to death the deeds of the body” and you will live. In the Gospel, Jesus exclaims in praise the same message through his relationship to the Father. The little ones Jesus speaks of have a childlike faith that acknowledges what it means to live in the Spirit; namely, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son.” No one knows the Father as Jesus, meek and humble of heart, knows the Father.

God, as the psalmist says, you lift up all who are falling and raise up all who are bowed down. Help me remember to come to you when I feel burdened and heavy with the cares of this world. In receiving the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ, I want to live courageously in the Spirit, putting to death the deeds of the body. “Learn from me,” Jesus says. Help me take on the humility and meekness of Christ, who lived every moment of his life in your gracious will. Taking on that yoke, uniting myself to him, help me learn to find rest in assimilating myself to him.

“I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.” Lord, through your Spirit that dwells in me, reveal to me through your Son what you hide from the wise and the learned.

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.

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it shall be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”

Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem for Passover. As they approach the city, Jesus sees a fig tree in leaf. He goes to the tree, hoping to find some figs, but there are none. Jesus curses the tree. Later, in the temple area, he drives out those selling and buying there. The next day, the tree he cursed is found to be withered. Jesus’ curse of the fig tree in a way shows that God wants us to be people of faith in his Kingdom—not money changers, not living a life of buying and selling material things—but to bear good fruit in our lives through our words and actions. In my heart, how do I put away doubt, and trust that God has infinite power to accomplish whatever I ask for in prayer?

God, help me understand today’s Gospel. In the pursuit of having enough in this life—and some stored away just in case—it’s easy to make material gain the primary aim. I don’t want that for myself, and I don’t want to be bound by fruitless pursuits. Lord, help me take to heart the words of your Son and trust that what he says doesn’t merely reflect reality but instead shapes it: “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.” Lord, provide for me where faith is lacking; give me the grace to be bold in what I ask for and believe that it will happen.

Lord, I know that you love me. Help me remain childlike in my trust. From the responsorial psalm: “For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. The Lord takes delight in his people.”

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.

**Announcement: Please join me in praying a novena to Saint Anthony from June 5 to June 13. I’ll return to daily Gospel reflections on June 14.**

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

But [Bartimaeus] kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

As Jesus and his disciples are leaving Jericho, they come across a blind man named Bartimaeus, who hears that Jesus is passing by and begins to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Although people rebuked him, he kept calling out for Jesus all the more. When Jesus calls for him, Bartimaeus asks for sight. With Jesus’ words, “Go your way; your faith has saved you,” Bartimaeus receives sight immediately. Jesus as the Son of God restores his sight because of Bartimaeus’s single-minded persistence, calling out for the Lord until he answered him. With a word, Jesus brings healing present to Bartimaeus. What is one thing I can ask of the Lord today to bring before him my faith?

Lord, help me recognize, as Bartimaeus did, that you can hear me and that I can call out all the more for your mercy to receive the gift of sight. Bartimaeus, though blind, could see you through the eyes of faith; in the same way, although you are not visible to me, grant me the faith and persistence that Bartimaeus had. Help me see that you are present before me always every day. You are present, Lord, in the poor, the sick, and the suffering, who cry out to you. And you are present always in the Eucharist, in your word, in the Church, in the sacraments, and in the prayers of your people through the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, help me gain sight of you through the light of faith. As the Gospel acclamation says, “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.”

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.

**Announcement: Please join me in praying a novena to Saint Anthony from June 5 to June 13. I’ll return to daily Gospel reflections on June 14.**

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.”

Jesus tells his disciples that he will send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to them. The Holy Spirit will testify about Jesus and help the disciples to be witnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings. Jesus also tells his disciples that they will be persecuted for their faith, but he tells them this to take courage in the help of the Advocate “so that,” as he says, “you may not fall away.” The Holy Spirit will be with them so that when their hour comes they may remember that he told them. As Jesus’ followers, we can expect to face persecution, but the Advocate is always with us to guide us and strengthen us through every challenge.

God, help me accept the full meaning of Jesus’ words “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God.” The words leave little room for interpretation, and I don’t think he spoke these words only for them to be softened or taken euphemistically. Because of faith in Christ your Son, faithful witnesses of the Church have been and will be persecuted and killed. Keep me in your care, God, and through the Holy Spirit help me have the courage to profess my faith in love at whatever cost.

From the responsorial psalm: “The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord, and you also will testify.”

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.

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

In today’s Gospel reading, Mark describes a time in which Jesus and his disciples are out on a boat with other boats and a great storm comes upon them. The disciples are afraid and wake Jesus, asleep on a cushion, to save them. Jesus rebukes the wind and the waves, and the storm subsides. In response to Jesus’ question, “Do you not yet have faith?” they show amazement and awe at who this is that even wind and sea obey. In the first reading, Saint Paul describes the faith of Abraham when God called him to sojourn through a foreign country. He was able to do this, Paul says, not because he looked forward to his return home but because “he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.” In what ways today can I look forward to the things not seen that have their realization in God?

God, help me understand just as Abraham began his faith journey when called by God, the disciples began theirs through the astounding realization that Jesus, who calmed the storm, is the Son of God. As a sojourner, an alien, a pilgrim on this earth who hopes for the realization of things not seen, in faith I journey toward “the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.”

Give me the grace, Lord, of seeing from afar the reward of faith, the place of everlasting life that you prepare for me. Let me remember throughout the day how you calmed the storm and spoke to the disciples: “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” Lord, today when faith wavers and hope in the realization of the unseen flickers, give me more faith!

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.

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