Tag: lectio divina

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord | August 6, 2023

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 17:1-9)

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.

In the Transfiguration of the Lord, as his face shines like the sun and his clothes become brilliant white, Jesus reveals his divine identity to Peter, James, and John. In conversing with Moses and Elijah, Jesus shows that he is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. At the same time, the Father reveals his relationship with the Son with the words “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This is the same relationship Jesus invites us into as he prays the Lord’s Prayer with his disciples. In that relationship, the Father of the beloved Son becomes Our Father, who is well pleased in our love for his Son.

God, help me understand that although the Transfiguration occurred in history, it is more than a historical event. After Jesus becomes transfigured before them, the disciples fall to the ground in fear. It is your Son alone they see when they look up and hear him as he touches them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” Peter says of the Transfiguration: “Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.” This is the same man who denied Jesus three times. God, help strengthen my faith and my resolve to share in the relationship your Son has with you.

From the responsorial psalm: “The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the LORD of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory.” Overshadow me, Lord, with your majestic glory.

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.

Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 14:1-12)

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Today’s Gospel begins Matthew’s fourteenth chapter, where he describes the puzzlement people felt over witnessing Jesus’ miracles. Like the people of Nazareth, Herod speculates what this might mean and from what source Jesus derives his power. Concluding that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead, he is drawn back to the fear that led him into beheading John to save face in front of his guests at his birthday celebration. Herod’s actions foreshadow the treatment Jesus receives at his coming Passion and death, which he endured to destroy death and give us eternal life.

God, I am not as unlike Herod as I would like to believe. Herod responded out of fear, and so do I; he acted to save face and uphold his authority, and so have I. He was a sinner, and so am I. In the last words of today’s Gospel, there is comfort knowing that Jesus your Son received the abominable news of John’s beheading and took it all in. In his Passion and death, he took on our sins; by his resurrection, he restored life. Lord, help me not be so afraid of what is to come, which often doesn’t come to pass. Give me courage today to trust in your providence, to be a witness to you even in the face of opposition and persecution.

From the responsorial psalm: “The earth has yielded its fruits; God, our God, has blessed us. May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him!” Lord of heaven and earth, be my strength!

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 John Vianney, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:54-58)

Jesus came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

As Jesus comes to his hometown of Nazareth, people who know him are astonished at his words and hearing of his miracles. Matthew tells us that the people take offense at Jesus, the carpenter’s son whose mother is Mary and whose brothers they know by name. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus did not perform many miracles in his native place. Although their disbelief seems extraordinary, Jesus is taken for granted and his identity as the beloved Son of God is unrecognized in the same way that we might take for granted the so-called ordinary people who are closest to us. How does their practice of virtue, their imitation of Christ, lead us to grow in relationship with God?

God, help me see in the spiritual struggles of those closest to me that you are calling them to holiness. Help me recognize my role in supporting them and helping nurture their relationship with you. “The way of perfection,” the Catechism says, “passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.” Give me the grace to see you as you enter into relationship with each other in the seeming ordinariness of their lives. Give me strength to hold on to my cross.

Lord, help me in my disbelief and ongoing conversion. From the Gospel acclamation, “The word of the Lord remains forever; this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.” Saint John Vianney, 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.

Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:47-53)

Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

In sharing this with the disciples, Jesus elaborates further on the kingdom of heaven. The net thrown into the sea describes the end of the age, the final judgment. In the net are the wicked and the righteous, which the angels sort for eternal life in heaven or in condemnation. The wicked, Jesus says, will wail and grind their teeth in the fiery furnace. But the righteous, Jesus says, would “shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” In his own words, Jesus makes clear the reality of the judgment. How one responds to that makes all the difference.

God, help me see the reality of your kingdom, present in the veil of this earthly life yet still to come, when Christ your Son comes again to separate the wicked from the righteous and establish the new heaven and earth. Through the Church’s teachings and sacraments, help me today choose to live not for the mere goods of this present reality but for the reality that is to come in the full realization of your kingdom. Give me the grace, God, to know your will and serve you in this life so that for the sake of your glory I will enjoy your presence forever in the kingdom to of heaven.

From the responsorial psalm: “My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Lord, have mercy on 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.

Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:44-46)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

The words of Jesus from today’s Gospel, also heard in last Sunday’s Mass, stress the necessity of possessing the kingdom of heaven. The one who finds the treasure, Jesus says, goes and sells everything he has to buy that field so that he can own the treasure. The one who finds a pearl of great price sells all that he has to buy it. In both instances, Jesus relates the joy of finding it and the urgent response in buying it, or investing one’s whole self in it.

God, help me understand how to see the value not only in the words of your Son but in acting on them. Among my family, in the people I encounter, and in your word, you offer the kingdom of heaven to me every day. The value of the kingdom of heaven surpasses all other possessions and pursuits. Yet, unlike the goods of this world, it loses no value as you offer it to me time after time. It is worth giving up everything for its sake; let me hear and respond to the treasure you offer.

Lord, help me today to recognize the pearl of great price when I see it. I often walk away from the very thing I’m searching for. As Saint Padre Pio says, “Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.”

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 Alphonsus Liguori

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:36-43)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds among the wheat. In his own words, the Son of God teaches us about the final judgment and the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. The harvest, or final judgment, represents the end of the age when the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked. Jesus also says that he is the sower. Although the enemy who sows the weeds is the devil, Jesus himself is the sower. Dwelling on that offers consolation while considering that the Son of Man will send his angels to toss into the fiery furnace all those who cause others to sin and all evildoers, while the righteous in heaven will shine like the sun.

God, help me understand the parables you shared with the disciples and share today with all believers who hear your word. Evil is a reality in this world, and working through that every day presents me with many more challenges than I can take alone. Stay beside me and be merciful, Lord, as I navigate this world where good and evil exist side by side. Strengthen me to persevere in the face of evil and let me work toward the eternal reward of life in your kingdom.

From the responsorial psalm: “Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, 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.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:31-35)

All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.

Matthew relates the parables Jesus proposed to the crowds about the kingdom of heaven. It is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds but as a full-grown plant becomes large enough for birds to dwell in its branches. In another parable, he describes it as yeast mixed into three measures of wheat flour, leavening the whole batch. In each distinct parable, the mustard seed in its fullness and the yeast spread throughout the batch of dough become a means of sustaining life. The branches of the mustard plant become a place where birds dwell, where the spirit resides. The yeast becomes one with the batch of dough, transforming it and providing sustenance.

God, help me understand these parables and how they apply to this day. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, seemingly small but producing profound impact and providing a spiritual dwelling. Give me the grace today to allow you to permeate my entire being and transform it. Let me find shelter in your care, and make me into a new person through communion with Christ and in his indwelling through the Holy Spirit. Nourish and sustain me, Lord; strengthen me with your presence.

From the responsorial psalm, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” Saint Ignatius of Loyola, 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.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:44-46)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Jesus shares with the disciples parables that have come to be known as the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl of Great Value. These parables convey the profound significance of finding the great treasure of the kingdom of heaven, or God’s reign in our lives. In each parable, the one who finds the treasure shows a sense of joy and urgency. Joy because the one who finds recognizes its authentic value, and urgency because finding it requires a response. In the first reading, Solomon asks God, “Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” For asking for that, God blesses him beyond what he can imagine. Every time we ask God that his kingdom come and his will be done, from the mystery of his grace we find the hidden treasure of understanding and wisdom.

God, help me learn to seek what is authentic in asking that your will be done. The kingdom of heaven at times can seem remote and unseen, the pearl of greatest value overlooked. Direct my gaze with the gift of understanding toward what you have hidden in plain sight. The kingdom is here, the kingdom is to come. Give me the grace to understand the urgency in listening out for your voice, and having found it, respond to your will. As Saint Paul says, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Grant me the wisdom, Lord, to understand your call.

From the responsorial psalm, “Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.” Thank you, Lord, for the immeasurable gift of your kingdom.

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 Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Jn 11:19-27)

Jesus said to [Martha], “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

On the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the Gospel according to John relates the story of Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. It also conveys the depth of his friendship with these three siblings. In other Gospel accounts, Martha is busy in the kitchen while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to him. But in this passage, Martha approaches Jesus, expressing her faith in him: Martha goes out to meet Jesus after Lazarus’s death. She expresses her faith in Jesus by saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” She goes on to express even greater faith in Jesus as he asks if she believes he is the resurrection and the life. “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

God, through his death and resurrection, your Son offers me and all who believe in him the promise of eternal life. Help me today strengthen my faith in you by imitating Martha in going out to meet Jesus, who alone is the resurrection and the life. Just as Mary, Martha, and Lazarus welcomed Jesus into their home, let me learn from their example; grant me the grace of friendship with your Son, the one who is coming into the world to save us for eternal life. Jesus, I trust in you.

From the Gospel acclamation: “I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.” Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 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.

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:18-23)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. Seed sown on the path the Evil One steals. Seed sown on rocky ground gives joy but has no root and withers. Seed sown among thorns is choked by worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. But seed sown on rich soil takes root and bears abundant fruit. Anyone who is even the least receptive to the word of God has experienced at some point what Jesus describes in the parable. Yet, God leaves the decision to receive his word entirely up to each of us.

God, you invite me to soften the soil of my heart for you, but you don’t force; you merely invite. How I respond because you give me the gift of free will is my choice. How often does the well-trodden, rocky, or thorny ground prevent me from hearing and understanding your word? I think about worldly anxiety and the lure of riches. Daily it pricks me and chokes my ability to respond and learn to love you. After the Our Father during Mass, the priest says something I want to remember today, a remedy to treat the rocky ground and thorny path: “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of Your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” 

God, help me soften my heart today to receive and understand your word. From the Gospel acclamation: “Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.”

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.