Tag: generosity

“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.

“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.

Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 20:1-16)

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.'”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus describes to the disciples the Kingdom of heaven through the Parable of the Landowner. In the parable, the landowner goes out at dawn, at nine o’clock, at noon, and at three o’clock to look for laborers for his vineyard. At the end of the day, when being paid, the workers who were hired early in the morning grumble, feeling that they should have received more for their longer hours of work. But all receive the same wage they had agreed on. Just as the landowner goes out looking for laborers, God goes out between those hours—at all hours of the day—to bring to himself anyone who would hear his call. God’s love and blessings are freely given to all who respond to him.

God, your generosity is overflowing and unfathomable. Jesus says in the parable the words of the landowner: “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?” You give to those who call out idly to you the same love as those who arise at dawn each day to praise your name. Lord, when I ask to offer the day’s works, joys, and sufferings, you hear and give me ample opportunity to see you in them. Thank you, Lord; make yourself know to me today. Come to me early and often so that I can hear your call to work in your vineyard.

From the responsorial psalm: “O LORD, in your strength the king is glad; in your victory how greatly he rejoices! You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips.”

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.