May Our Lord Jesus Christ encourage your hearts 

August 23, 2016 6:00 am

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.” (2 THESS 2: 16-17)

Our Lord is always protecting, always encouraging, and always “strengthening us in every good deed and word.” We are His children and He knows how much we need His support and grace. Fortunately for us, “the word of God is living and effective,” and we can expect from Him all the best.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

We always pray for you

August 22, 2016 6:00 am

“We always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, in accord with the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 THESS 1: 11-12)

The most blessed gift we can offer to our brothers and sisters or to our friends and neighbors is: “we always pray for you.” God will know when, where and how to “bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith.” In this holy union—our prayer and God’s will—everything is possible.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Last who will be first

August 21, 2016 6:00 am

 

“For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (LK 13: 30)

Those called last (the Gentiles) will precede those to whom the invitation to enter was first extended (the Jews). We received an invitation to be closer to God. It is not important to God how many times we refuse or ignore His invitation; the only important thing is to Him is—how much we try to answer; again and again.

“I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

The greatest among you

August 20, 2016 6:00 am

“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (MT 23: 11-12)

It is a natural desire—to be the greatest: maybe in my class, maybe in a sport, or maybe as a fantastic mom or a best friend. The best project, the best team, the best boss or the best worker—wherever we visit a company, we will see something like this on the walls. Our Lord shows us a different way—“the greatest among you must be your servant.” We know how important this is in the family. When the father serves or when the mother serves, the family “will be exalted.”

“You have but one Father in heaven; you have but one master, the Christ.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Know that I am the Lord

August 19, 2016 6:00 am

“I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life. I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put spirit in you so that you may come to life and know that I am the LORD.” (EZ 37: 6)

God makes the unbelievable connection between “know that I am the Lord” and “that you may come to life”—“sinews upon you, flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put spirit in you so that you may come to life.” How it is possible that we can know God only when we are humans, in our bodies and souls? How important we are as bodies and souls united!

“Teach me your paths, my God, guide me in your truth.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Stony hearts—natural hearts

August 18, 2016 6:00 am

“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.” (EZ 36: 26)

This operation could be made only by God. Only God, who is love and knows perfectly how to love, also knows what kind of a heart we need. Our ability to love comes from Him, Who “will give us a new hearts and place a new spirit within us, taking from our bodies our stony hearts and giving us natural hearts.” Whenever we are tired, exhausted or feeling empty, we can ask Our Lord for “a new spirit and a new heart.”

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Generous God

August 17, 2016 6:00 am

 

“Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” (MT 20: 15-16) 

Envy is the most stupid of the seven deadly sins and brings nothing, no benefits at all. On the other hand, generosity brings a lot of fruits. Our God is generous and takes care of us always. When we fall He always thinks how to help us, how to start our relationship again. He never tires of forgiving.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Everyone who has given up 

August 16, 2016 6:00 am

 

“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (MT 19: 29) 

It is not about houses or family members, it is about my ability to be a gift of self, not a possessor. Because it is not about possessing, it is about relationships. When our sacrifice is based on “His name,” we will receive “a hundred times more” good relationships and “will inherit eternal life.” Eternal life is simple, it is to be with Him forever.

“Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (Gospel Acclamation)  

Those who belong to Christ

August 15, 2016 6:00 am

“For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power.” (1 COR 15: 22-24) 

Our destiny is to live forever with God in heaven. Everyone who is “in Christ” will be brought from death to life, “but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits, then … those who belong to Christ.” Our Lady surely is the “one” who “belongs to Christ” in a very special way and today “is taken up to heaven, a chorus of angels exults.” God who created the fourth commandment for sure respects it.

“Mary is taken up to heaven; a chorus of angels exults.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Persevere in running the race that lies before us

August 14, 2016 6:00 am

 

“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” (HEB 12: 1-2)  

“The race that lies before us” is easier when we are “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” He answers all our needs; He knows perfectly where to go and how to protect us.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.”