At midnight, there was a cry, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise ones replied, “No, for there may not be enough for us and you.” – Matthew 25: 6-9 The wise virgins in his Sunday’s Gospel reading were prepared with oil…
Have you ever noticed that one of the first things that people do when they see a baby with his or her parent is try to see the resemblance between the child and the parents? “He has dad’s eyes,” or “she looks just like her mama!” As baptized Christians, we are children of God, made in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). All things were made through Christ (Colossians 1:16), so as Christians we bear…
Come Holy Spirit, set my heart on fire with Your divine love. Renew my spirit and fill me with Your holy power. Burn away my selfish and sinful habits. Bless me with Your gifts and then empower me to use those gifts for Your glory. Bless me with the gift of wisdom so I recognize how crucial it is to keep You at the center of my life. Bless me with understanding that I might…
Last week’s reflection focused on how sin keeps us from loving God and others, and how to work on a pattern of sin to purge it from our hearts. One reason sin keeps us from loving is that it also blocks us from receiving love. This is especially true of mortal sin, which turns us away from God and cuts us off from God’s grace (CCC 1855, 1861). God pours love into our hearts and…
In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that they are “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5: 13-14). Part of the role of a disciple of Christ is to make the world better for everyone. The places where we live and work should be more peaceful and happy as a result of the salt and light that we bring to them. Salt is a seasoning that brings…
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of peace on our Advent wreaths. Notice that we continue to light each of the other candles, representing hope, faith, and joy. None of these virtues are extinguished as we progress toward Christmas; they all work together in our hearts and build upon one another. For joy and peace are fruits of the Holy Spirit; they spring forth from faith, hope, and charity. When we…
A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain and hill made low; The rugged land shall be a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. ~Isaiah 40:3-5 Jesus, prepare my heart for Your coming. Show me the…
In today’s Gospel reading (Luke 11:1-13), Jesus exhorts us to persevere in prayer and trust in the infinite goodness of God: “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Lk 11:9-10). Prayer stretches our souls so that God…
Pope Francis wrote, “Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality, or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self” (Rejoice & Be Glad, 32). In the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches us the key to happiness: holiness. The world says that happiness consists of money, pleasure, power, and honor. But Jesus…