Tag: Catholic meditation

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

“At that very moment he 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. . . . No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son.”

On hearing from the seventy-two disciples Jesus sent out that even the demons are subject to them, Jesus rejoices. One of the translations from Greek for rejoice is to jump for joy. Jesus acknowledges the power the he has given his disciples through God the Father and the Holy Spirit and quickly adds, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Because of the power Jesus gives the disciples, they could face Satan and not be harmed and rejoice that he had a place for them in heaven.

God, what is it about childlike faith that brings you more closely into view? It means being able to see you beyond the veil or hear you, as Job did, speaking through the storm. Surely childlike faith does not mean returning to the faith I had as a child; it means returning to a mature faith that is childlike in trusting in your gracious will, in recognizing that you are my God and I am your child. To be childlike means to see beyond the veil what remains hidden to the wise and learned. How often, Lord, I count myself among the wise and the learned? Help me return to you and put that aside so that your Son can rejoice in saying to me: “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.”

From the Psalms today, we hear “The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple.” And from the refrain: “Lord, let your face shine upon me.” Just as the sun bathes me in light and warms me, let me bask in your love, God. Teach me childlike wisdom and learning, even in the midst of trials so that I can say as Job did: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.”

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.

Readings

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

And as for you, Capernaum, “Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!” He speaks to the people of the region where he called his disciples and preached the Gospel. The people he addresses he would have known and loved as his own. How is it, then, that he says: “Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.” Is this to say in another manner that whoever exalts himself will be humbled? The woes toward the towns close to his heart are perhaps caused by human frustration that, although he worked mighty deeds, the people did not repent and return to God. In the first reading from Job, God expresses the same sentiment when he says, “Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place. . . ? But from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered.”

God, help me understand how to take the grand scope of your actions in the world to see how they apply to my life, to this very day. As the people of Capernaum rejected Jesus, they rejected you, God. In turn, whoever listens to your Son, listens to you. As Jesus said elsewhere in the Gospel: “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” Let me give glory to you, Lord, that is due to you as God the Father Almighty, creator of the universe.

You are God, and I am not. Let me remember throughout the day, God, as the psalmist says, that it is you who guide me along the everlasting way. Give me the grace to hear your voice.

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.

Readings

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Jesus is able to say to Nathanael, “You will see greater things than this” because Jesus sees through the eyes of his divinity. In this Gospel reading from John, Jesus’ encounter with Nathanael comes after he chooses the first disciples. There is a giddiness in Jesus’ response to Nathanael, as if he can’t wait to show Nathanael where he comes from and who he is.

God, you sent your Son, who always accomplished your will perfectly and showed us the way to you. “You will see greater things than this,” Jesus tells us. Help me to see him today in the so-called ordinary events of the day; help me to see your divine work with the eyes that Jesus sees heaven opened. Today, on the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, help me understand that the greater things that you work through the world are visible but also invisible and no less real, such as the work of his angels. Michael means “who is like God,” Gabriel means “hero of God,” and Raphael means “God has healed.”

Jesus, let me trust in your care of me today. When will I be able to see as you see “the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man”? It is more than I can imagine and enough that you stay with me today, keeping me sure-footed as you guide me throughout the day. Saint Michael, defend me in battle; Saint Gabriel, champion my faith; Saint Raphael, heal my soul!

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.

Readings

Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”

Today’s Gospel reading follows yesterday’s reading, right after the passage where the Samaritan village did not allow Jesus and his disciples to pass through it on their way to Jerusalem. They then journeyed to another village. Today, then, the theme of moving on, moving forward, is consistent with yesterday. If you follow me, Jesus seems to say, you will always be on the move and have no place to rest. In this way, Jesus models for us the pilgrim life. Recognizing such an existence means that in this life, we are just passing through on our way to a new Jerusalem, the Kingdom of God.

“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests.” How does that describe me, Lord? Help me understand how I can live in relative luxury and have a place to rest my head and follow you? Someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Given all the comforts I have in this life, how can I say as this person did that I will follow you wherever you go? Jesus, when you say, “Let the dead bury their dead,” that is harsh and unpleasant to hear. But as is clear in the Gospel, you know others’ intentions and see right through our excuses. Help me remember today, Lord, that those moments of self-sacrifice, feeling displaced, and made uncomfortable will come. When they do, give me the grace to see that this too is an opportunity to let go and simply follow you. As Saint Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Thank you, God, for this day! Thank you for the chance to leave what is dead to the dead. Father in heaven, hear my prayers! As I pass through the day, a pilgrim on my way to a new Jerusalem, let me use your gift of time selflessly and in a way that gives you glory. Where I am needed, God, let me be present; where I am rejected, show me another way to witness 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.

Readings

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.

From today’s short Gospel reading, Jesus acts in two ways: first, he resolutely determines to go to Jerusalem to fulfill his purpose through his passion, death, and resurrection; second, he rebukes James and John for wishing to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village, which did not welcome Jesus because his destination was Jerusalem. In both actions, Jesus chooses to respect the free will of those who reject him; in doing so, he serves those who wish to do the will of the Father. The Gospel acclamation, the same as yesterday, says, “The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Many, but not all. Jesus can serve only those who desire to receive him.

In what way, God, do I make myself ready to receive your Son? He resolutely determines to serve and and does not impose his will on anyone who would reject him. If he is resolute and changeless—determined to fulfill his passion, death, and resurrection—in what ways do I respond to that in order to follow him? How do I go about receiving him on a daily basis, and whom am I receiving? The source and summit of our faith, the Eucharist, is one way. In body and blood, soul and divinity, Jesus is present in the Eucharist and there to be received. Another way? Saint Mother Teresa makes clear a path. “Whenever I meet someone in need,” she said, “it’s really Jesus in his most distressing disguise.” God, help me see where the need is today and be ready to receive you. Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

I will forget you, God, as I go about this day. When I do remember you, past experience tells me that it will be weakly and in passing. I ask that you make clear to me then through grace when the opportunity comes to receive you. Stay with me, Lord; let me know and do your will.

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.

Readings

Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

The first reading from Job and the Gospel reading go hand in hand in a subtle way. Job loses everything he has, is humbled to the ground, yet says, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In the Gospel reading, Jesus addresses the argument among the disciples about which is the greatest. Jesus’ answer? The least. To follow God means to put on humility. All is God’s gift, and that recognition comes out of humility. “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,” Job says, “and naked shall I go back again.”

God, help me be grateful for the gifts that you surround me with daily. If I recognize them, there is a chance that I will see how I depend on you for everything I am and everything I have. Even more, help me recognize the gift of your grace whether it is in giving or taking away.

The Gospel acclamation says, “The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Lord, your disciples wanted to know who was the most powerful among them. Seeing their intentions, you took a child beside you and taught them that the least is the greatest. Take me today and place me by your side. Keep me in your care as I imitate you, serving you humbly in my words and actions (and if it be your will, serving as a ransom for the needs of others I meet today). Help me remember to see all that you have given me; let me receive you and receive the one who sent you, your Father in heaven.

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.

Readings

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Abraham replied, “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the poor man Lazarus and the rich man whose door Lazarus would lie outside of. The rich man would have needed to step over Lazarus every time he left or entered his house, yet there he let the man lie, covered with sores and longing for scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. To what extreme did the rich man go to ignore Lazarus, and to what extreme do any of us go to ignore the poor, and not only the materially poor but the spiritually poor? The Gospel acclamation says, “Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”

God, help me see the poor who lie outside my door and need care. Just as Abraham said to the rich man in the parable, Jesus might say to me: “Remember that you received what was good during your lifetime.” Help me recall this and be inspired by the Holy Spirit to act when the time is ripe. As Saint Mother Teresa said, “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty—how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving.”

Thank you, Lord, for this day of rest; let me keep this day holy. As Saint Paul says in the second reading, may I pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness and “keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Stay with me today, 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.

Readings

Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples surely listened closely to Jesus as he said to them “pay attention,” yet they did not understand what he meant by saying he would be handed over to men. Even more, they were afraid to ask him what he meant. The darkening days described in the first reading from Ecclesiastes serve as a backdrop for these words of Jesus. The sun is darkened, and the light of the moon and stars is darkened. This sounds like imagery that suits Good Friday, where all the light and hope that Jesus brought to his disciples seemed to be overshadowed by the horror of the cross and by death. Yet, unlike his disciples, we know the story doesn’t end in darkness and death but in new life and resurrection.

Like Qoheleth expresses in Ecclesiastes, there are days when I feel the shortness of this life and the days that come when there is no pleasure, where darkness comes and all things are vanity. But, God, clear my mind to understand that this is not all there is, that there is a time for this life to end and a new one to come. The Gospel acclamation says, “Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” The shortness of life, Lord, I often lament, but help me keep at hand the words of your Son who asks that I pay attention: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” It was after that, at the Last Supper, that Jesus institutes the Eucharist. In the aftermath of his crucifixion, in your Son’s resurrection, darkness gives way to dawn, death is destroyed, and eternal life is brought to life. Thanks be to you, Father in heaven!

God, I know you love me. Be present with me today. Give me the grace to recognize your presence, and in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, know and do your will.

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. 

Readings

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” In today’s Gospel reading, the words the disciples use to describe who people think Jesus is are nearly identical to those that Herod had been hearing: “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” This is to say that only Mary, Joseph, and a few close followers knew who Jesus was, as Peter said: “The Christ of God.”

Every day, Lord, I face the battle of the seen versus the unseen; that is, I know you are alive and present, but I give precedence to things seen and sensed. While Peter and others saw you face to face in his present reality, that seeming advantage is surpassed by your presence in the sacraments, in your real presence in the Eucharist. Thank you, God, for these gifts that Jesus instituted by his life. At various times, I have wondered about my faith in you, Jesus, and doubted my beliefs. I want to see you with the certainty of sight that the eyes of faith give. Help me see you and know who you are.

Jesus, thank you for asking the disciples the same question you ask me: “Who do the crowds say that I am?” It causes me to question in what or in whom I place my identity. As the Psalms say, what am I that you take notice of me? “Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow.” Yet, Lord, you have put the timeless into our hearts. As Padre Pio says, “Admire the heavenly regions which can be reached by no other road than that of suffering. This is our true home.”

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.

Readings

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

“But Herod said, ‘John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he kept trying to see him.” In the Gospel reading according to Luke, Herod is perplexed by Jesus. Who is this Jesus he kept hearing about, and what does it mean that he kept trying to see him?

The first reading from Ecclesiastes might have given Herod some consolation as he restlessly sought answers: “The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.” Nothing anybody could have told Herod about Jesus would have satisfied his restlessness. Even when Herod and Jesus met before his crucifixion, Herod was hoping to see Jesus perform a miracle. But it wouldn’t have satisfied him. The eye is not satisfied with seeing. I wonder how I am like Herod as each day passes. The despair that Qoheleth expresses in Ecclesiastes I would rather not participate in, yet I go on participating every day. “All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say.” What thing is there that has not been? What can be said that has not been said, or what can be done that has not been done? “Nothing is new under the sun.”

God, help me understand that the restlessness that Herod feels and the resignation of Qoheleth are realities that life presents. Yet, standing at the edge of this chasm of discontent and futility is the Good Shepherd, protecting his flock. There, amid the perplexity of human thought and worldly wisdom is the Son who sits at the right hand of God the Father and who says, “‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then he said, ‘Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.’” The end of human thought and wisdom is not a place of futility; at its end is a person—the risen Christ. Help me remember this, Lord, and to understand that you are not only present at the limits of human reason but present in the midst of daily thoughts and yearnings.

Jesus, I know that you want for me to have peace that is based on truth. “Consecrate them in the truth,” you say in prayer to your Father. “Your word is truth.” Teach me today to live in the truth of God the Father. Herod kept trying to see you. Show me how to see the truth of your word and live in it.

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.

Readings