10-31-2019 Reading 1 Rom 8:31B-39

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/103119.cfm

Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written:

For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God loves us, unconditionally, completely and with no reservations. No matter what we do, nothing will ever stop that. Even when we leave Him, He is still there for us. Do not be afraid to come to Him, do not be afraid to let Him love you. No matter what you do, He loves you and wants you to come to Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, when I came home to you, I found such joy. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.

10-30-2019 Reading 1 Rom 8:26-30

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/103019.cfm

Brothers and sisters: The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. 

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.   And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified.

God knows what we can do, better than we do. When He calls us, He knows what we are capable of. It is our lack of faith that keeps us from trying. When you discern the task is the will of God, then take it. He will be there with you, walking with you and holding you up.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you have brought me further than I ever thought possible. I have done things I never dreamed of and you have never let me down. In Jesus’ holy name, I give you thanks, Amen!

My hope, O Lord, is in your mercy.

10-29-2019 Gospel Lk 13:18-21

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102919.cfm

Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and ‘the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.'”

Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

A small seed of faith, if nurtured, fed and watered, it will grow and blossom into a beautiful love. You will be blessed with so much love, joy, mercy and forgiveness. Plant your seed and see how you can make it grow.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you used the small seed I gave you to show me how beautiful life with you can be. In Jesus’ holy name, I give you thanks, Amen.

The Lord has done marvels for us.

10-28-2019 Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles Gospel Lk 6:12-16

Learn more about Sts. Simon and Jude: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saints-simon-and-jude/

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102819.cfm

Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Jesus chose someone who He knew would betray Him. So, when Jesus calls you, do not think you are not qualified or cannot do it. Jesus knows what we are capable of and gives us the chance to do it. If we chose to fail, He lets us, but He has more faith in us than we do ourselves! How do you answer when God calls?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may my yes always be said in faith with no doubt. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Their message goes out through all the earth.

10-27-2019 Gospel Lk 18:9-14

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102719.cfm

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Proud and arrogant people never see their own sins. My prayer is that of the tax collector “O God be merciful to me a sinner”. What is your prayer?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, be merciful to me a sinner, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

10-26-2019 Reading 1 Rom 8:1-11

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102619.cfm

Brothers and sisters: Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has freed you from the law of sin and death. For what the law, weakened by the flesh, was powerless to do, this God has done: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for the sake of sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the righteous decree of the law might be fulfilled in us, who live not according to the flesh but according to the spirit. For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit. The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace. For the concern of the flesh is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

If you follow the world and believe as the world does, it will lead to death. Not just the death of your body but of your soul. Without Jesus in your life and your actions, you have no life left in you. Who do you follow? Truth or lies?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are the only way, the only truth and the only life and I pray that I never stray from that truth, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

10-25-2019 Gospel Lk 12:54-59

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102519.cfm

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

Many do not know how to interpret what is going in the world today. Many believe what is wrong is right, murder is health care, and many do not question. They follow blindly because they are promised a life of freedom – freedom from bills, freedom from pain, freedom to do what they want. What they do not realize is they are being offered bondage by a world that does not care for them but loves to lord it over them. What do you believe? Can you interpret the truth of God or are you a blind follower of the father of lies?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that eyes will be opened to see the truth of the lies they are being fed. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Lord, teach me your statutes.

10-24-2019 Gospel Lk 12:49-53

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102419.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

Jesus has brought division. He separates believers from non-believers. He separates believers because there are many who want the comfortable way, the way of prosperity that does not require a lot of work. If you truly believe in Him walking in His steps brings you home to the Catholic faith. It is a hard road, but the reward is eternal.

Prayer: Heavenly Father I am grateful I found my home in the true faith. Thank you for showing me the way. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

10-23-2019 Reading 1 Rom 6:12-18

Linking to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102319.cfm

Brothers and sisters: Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires. And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin as weapons for wickedness, but present yourselves to God as raised from the dead to life and the parts of your bodies to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace?  Of course not! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient from the heart to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted. Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Who do you obey? The Lord or the world? When we follow the teachings of the world we bring condemnation upon ourselves. The Lord is the only one we should follow and obey. He has the truth that saves us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father following your truth has brought me to salvation and understanding. Help me to bring others with me, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Our help is in the name of the Lord.

10-22-2019 Gospel Lk 12:35-38

Link to today’s readings: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102219.cfm

Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

Are you ready? If you are not ready when Jesus comes, there will be no time to prepare. Get your life in order now, come home to the Church and let Our Lord bless you. You will find your life will be so much better if you do. Do not wait!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I heard your call and came home. I am so grateful that I gave my life back to you. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.