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31 July 2016
The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 12:13-21)
Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel about storing up for ourselves earthly treasure. At the end of the day, no wealth or material goods can ever be an insurance policy to prevent us from meeting the Lord at the time He Himself has appointed. In the parable we see the vanity and futility of taking exaggerated charge of our tomorrows. We hear the Lord saying, “The things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Yes, what am I doing killing myself to have a “better” life for me and my family, when, in the end, all that really matters is the condition of my soul? “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Life, rather, is to know, love and serve God, so as to be happy with Him forever in eternity.
Jesus explained to St. Faustina the relationship He wants to have with each one of us. He doesn’t want us running after riches. He wants to take care of all our needs, if we will only begin to put our trust in Him. “Your duty will be to trust completely in My goodness, and My duty will be to give you all you need. I am making Myself dependent upon your trust: if your trust is great, then My generosity will be without limit” (Diary 548).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I know You love me, yet still, I admit it’s hard for me to believe that You will really take complete care of me if I put all my trust in You. It seems all too easy, and even a bit crazy. Give me great trust, so that I can take that big step. Allow me to come to know the immensity of Your generosity. Amen.
24 July 2016
The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 11:1-13)
Jesus tells us to be persistent in prayer, and the Heavenly Father will hear us. We should ask big, and with great trust; and the Lord will manifest His goodness before our eyes.
We see Abraham in today’s first reading interceding for Sodom, and the Lord is unable to refuse him. Abraham begins by asking for mercy for the sake of 50 innocent people, but he quickly drops it to 45, then 20, until in the end the Lord agrees to spare Sodom if only ten innocent people are found. If Abraham had just gone a bit further, bargaining down to the only four innocent people he knew of living in Sodom, the city would certainly have been spared. But he was afraid of angering the Lord.
Jesus told St. Faustina: “Act like a beggar who does not back away when he gets more alms [than he asked for], but offers thanks the more fervently. You too should not back away and say that you are not worthy (...). Take as many treasures from My Heart as you can carry, for then you will please Me more. (...) Encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me. I will do everything for them” (Diary 294).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me the depths of Your tender mercy. You would never respond with anger to my pleas. On the day I call for help, You answer me. Thank You, Jesus! Amen.
17 July 2016
The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 10:38-42)
Today’s Gospel brings to mind the famous motto of St. Benedict, ora et labora—“pray and work.” Prayer and work is the vocation of every Christian. Just as being a monk isn’t about spending all your time in the chapel, being a lay person isn’t about working non-stop. We see Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus while Martha is busy working. When Martha complains to Jesus about having to do all the work herself, our Lord praises Mary for “choosing the better part.” Yet since we know that both Martha and Mary became saints, we might guess that after the meal Mary did the cleaning up while Martha sat at Jesus’ feet. Both of them found the balance between work and prayer that was needed for their sanctification.
St. Faustina had a very difficult life in the convent as a member of the “second choir.” She was often responsible for carrying out physically demanding tasks in the kitchen, garden or bakery. Yet her prayer life was also intense, just as intense as her work. She wrote the following: “To stay at Your feet, O hidden God / Is the delight and paradise of my soul. / Here You give me to know You, O incomprehensible One, / And You speak to me sweetly: Give Me, give Me your heart. / Silent conversation, alone with You,/ Is to experience what heavenly beings enjoy, / And to say to God, “I will give You my heart, O Lord,” / While You, O great and incomprehensible One, accept it graciously. (Diary 1718).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, help me to find a healthy balance between work and prayer. Don’t let me ever excuse myself from praying because I have too much work to do. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
10 July 2016
The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 10:25-37)
Through the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus teaches us our obligation to perform works of mercy. He calls us to imitate the Good Samaritan by showing mercy to every needy person He places in our paths. Jesus is the One who arranges every opportunity for us to show mercy. He has given us the command to “be merciful as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). Indeed, Pope Francis has given us those very words as the theme for this Jubilee Year of Mercy. How could Jesus expect this of us if He were not to provide us with occasions for showing mercy?
Jesus told St. Faustina: “I have given you the opportunity to practice deeds of mercy, which you will perform according to obedience. You will give Me much pleasure if, each evening, you speak to Me especially about this task” (Diary 1267).
Not only does Jesus set us up to perform works of mercy each day, but He also wants us to give Him a rundown afterward on how things went. He will make it easier and easier for us to be merciful if we share with Him openly about the difficulties we face. Perhaps we aren’t convinced that the “needy” are truly in need; maybe we’re afraid of catching a disease from them; or we could just be so attached to our own riches that it is hard for us to offer something from our abundance. When we bring our issues to the Lord, He will give us all the graces we need to overcome whatever it is preventing us from fulfilling His command to be merciful.
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, You are the Good Samaritan, who binds up our wounds and brings us safely to the haven of Your most merciful Heart. Teach us to show mercy to everyone You place in our path. By the power of Your love, conquer all our fears. We trust in You. Amen.
3 July 2016
The Fourteenth Sunday of in Ordinary Time (Luke 10:1-12, 17-20)
Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel that it’s a jungle out there, filled with wild animals out to devour us. We need to be constantly on guard against the temptations that are lurking around every corner. We cannot expect to glide smoothly through life without encountering the devil’s traps and snares. The ancient enemy and his legions are prowling the world seeking the ruin of souls, our souls, trying to get us, the Lord’s sheep, out of the state of grace. How can we fight them?
Jesus gave St. Faustina five tips on spiritual warfare: “First, do not fight against a temptation by yourself, but disclose it to (your) confessor at once, and then the temptation will lose all its force. Second, during these ordeals do not lose your peace; live in My presence; ask My Mother and the Saints for help. Third, have the certitude that I am looking at you and supporting you. Fourth, do not fear either struggles of the soul or any temptation, because I am supporting you; if only you are willing to fight, know that the victory is always on your side. Fifth, know that by fighting bravely you give Me great glory and amass merits for yourself. Temptation gives you a chance to show Me your fidelity” (Diary 1560).
Prayer: Merciful Lord Jesus, I see my weakness in the face of temptation. Keep me ever close to Your merciful Heart. Give me the gifts of Your Holy Spirit in abundance to assist me in fighting the good fight. I trust in You. Amen.