Tuesday 29th week of Ordinary Time

Here I am Lord Ps. 40

How often do we pray,

“Here I am Lord, I come to do your Will.”

Do we really mean it or is it merely something we recite at church?

To do God’s Will means to set aside our will. 

Easier said than done.  

For like the Israelites, we are a willful and stiff necked people. 

Before we say those words,

We must be willing to set aside our desires and wants first. 

Maybe we should say instead,

“Here I am Lord I come to do Your Will and not my own.”

Monday 29th Week of Ordinary time

 Abraham the Father of Faith Rom. 4:20-25

Abraham was fully convinced that God would accomplish what he said He would do, so Abraham set out to a new land. 

Faith leads to action. 

Doubt leads to nothing. 

Like Abraham, Faith may not always tell you exactly where you are going or what you should be doing

But Like Abraham those who have Faith go forward and eventually the Lord leads them to where He wants them to be. 

While Those who doubt, stay home and never go anywhere. 

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 Raised in Prayer Ex. 17:8-13

Israel was surrounded by enemies that sought to overwhelm them;

So Moses went up the mountain and raised his hands in prayer. 

And as long as his hands were raised in prayer;

Israel won the battle. 

But the battle was long and went for hours and Moses began to tire and his hands began to fall. 

So friends of his came and supported his hands;

So that they remained raised up in prayer;

Until all of Israel’s enemies were defeated. 

There are times when we too feel surrounded. 

By fears; worries and other enemies that seek to overwhelm us. 

It is at those times that we must raise our hands in prayer. 

And when we do;

We will not be overcome. 

But there are also those times when we tire;

And the battle never seems to end. 

And it is hard to raise our hands in prayer. 

It is at those times,

We need a little help from our friends!

To persevere and not give up  

Who do we know that needs a helping hand ?

Who can we help lift up in prayer?

Reach out and grab hold of their hand

And lift them up. 

For no one should have to fight their battles alone 

Saturday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

The Feast of St. Luke Oct. 18

Jesus sent out 72 of His disciples in pairs to every town and village that He intended to visit. 

The Lord sends each one of us before Him as well. 

To work, to the store, to school, to the neighborhood. 

Do we prepare the way of The Lord?

Or are busy preparing our own way?

If Christ is no longer present in the workplace, the marketplace, in schools or our neighborhood it is because we have not prepared the way for Him. 

In order to prepare the way for Him in the world we must first prepare the way for Him in our hearts. 

And we prepare for the Lord’s coming into our hearts everyday

By tidying  up our hearts;

Throwing out all anger, lust, pride and selfishness. 

And preparing a place of welcome. 

A place of Faith; Hope and Love!

Where He feels at Home!

Thursday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 St. Ignatius of Antioch

Ignatius was the Bishop of Antioch in Syria in the year 100 A.D.  

During the persecutions he was Chained and on his way to Rome to be fed to the lions in the Colessium,  many Christians came out and greeted him on the way. 

     Ignatius told them not to pray for a way for him to escape, because he embraced dying for the Lord. 

“Nearness to the sword is nearness to God; 

to be among the wild beasts is to be in the arms of God; 

 I endure all things that I may suffer with Christ who strengthens me.” 

Ignatius saw his suffering and death as his path to glory with Christ.

Do we?

Wednesday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Margaret Mary is the Patron Saint of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Who revealed His Sacred Heart to her in a vision. 

She once wrote.

“We must never be discouraged,

Or give way to anxiety. 

But always have recourse to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “

“And Keep your heart in Peace. 

Let nothing trouble you,

Not even your faults 

Rather Humble yourself before the Lord. “

Who is Gentle and Humble of Heart!

And we will know His Peace. 

Tuesday 28th Week of Ordinary Time

 St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa prayed,

“Let nothing disturb you,Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing away:

God never changes.

Patience obtains all things! 

Whoever has God lacks nothing; 

God alone suffices.”

May nothing disturb us today;

Nothing frighten us;

It will all pass away

God alone will remain;

And suffice for everything.