Devotion for Saturday/Sunday: readings and prayers from The Liturgy of the Hours

First Week of Advent: Saturday morning reading and prayer:

Isaiah 11:1-5:  A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and His delight shall be the fear of the Lord. Not by appearances shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall stay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Prayer: God our Father, you loved the world so much you gave your only Son to free us from the ancient power of sin and death. Help us who wait for his coming, and lead us to true liberty. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Second Sunday of Advent: Evening Prayer I (to be said Saturday night)

I Thessalonians 5:19-24: Do not stifle the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test everything: retain what is good. Avoid any semblance of evil. May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entire, spirit, soul, and body, irreproachable at the coming our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Second Sunday of Advent: Morning Prayer

Romans 13:11-14: It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Prayer: God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Evening Prayer II (to be said Sunday evening)

Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.

Intercessions: To Christ the Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, let us pray with joyful hearts:

Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, in the mystery of your incarnation, you revealed your glory to the world, give new life by your coming, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You have taken our weakness upon yourself, grant us your mercy, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You redeemed the world from sin by your first coming in humility, free us from all guilt when you come again in glory, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You live and rule over all, in your goodness bring us to our eternal inheritance, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You sit at the right hand of the Father, gladden the souls of the dead with your light, we pray to the Lord, Come…   Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name….

Christmas Novena - 15 times a day until Christmas! 

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnIon

Devotion for Saturday/Sunday: readings and prayers from The Liturgy of the Hours

First Week of Advent: Saturday morning reading and prayer:

Isaiah 11:1-5:  A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord, and His delight shall be the fear of the Lord. Not by appearances shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall stay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Prayer: God our Father, you loved the world so much you gave your only Son to free us from the ancient power of sin and death. Help us who wait for his coming, and lead us to true liberty. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

Second Sunday of Advent: Evening Prayer I (to be said Saturday night)

I Thessalonians 5:19-24: Do not stifle the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test everything: retain what is good. Avoid any semblance of evil. May the God of peace make you perfect in holiness. May he preserve you whole and entire, spirit, soul, and body, irreproachable at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls us is trustworthy, therefore he will do it.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, the day draws near when the glory of your son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May the lure of greed not impede us from the joy which moves the hearts of those who seek him. May the darkness not blind us to the vision of wisdom which fills the minds of those who find him. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Second Sunday of Advent: Morning Prayer

Romans 13:11-14: It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us live honorably as in daylight; not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual excess and lust, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Rather, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

Prayer: God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy, so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Evening Prayer II (to be said Sunday evening)

Philippians 4:4-7: Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.

Intercessions: To Christ the Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, let us pray with joyful hearts:

Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, in the mystery of your incarnation, you revealed your glory to the world, give new life by your coming, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You have taken our weakness upon yourself, grant us your mercy, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You redeemed the world from sin by your first coming in humility, free us from all guilt when you come again in glory, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You live and rule over all, in your goodness bring us to our eternal inheritance, we pray to the Lord, Come…

You sit at the right hand of the Father, gladden the souls of the dead with your light, we pray to the Lord, Come…   Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name….

Remember to pray the Christmas Novena fifteen times a day until Christmas!

Christmas Novena

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnIon

Devotion for today: the Lord turned around and looked…

Scripture for meditation: Luke 22:59-62

About an hour after that another spoke more insistently: “This man was certainly with Him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter responded, “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.” At the very moment he was saying this, a cock crowed. The Lord turned around and looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the words that the Lord had spoken to him, “Before the cock crows today you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.

      

Christ says: Luke 5:32

“I have not come to invite the self-righteous to a change of heart, but sinners.”

We learn in The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (entries 1577,1578) Christ is speaking to Saint Faustina:

“Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion as well as perseverance is a grace of My mercy. Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. I desire that those souls distinguish themselves by boundless trust in My Mercy. I myself will attend to the sanctification of such souls. I will provide them with everything they will need to attain sanctity. The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is – trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts.”

Prayer: An Act of Contrition

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry, for having offended Thee. And I detest all my sins, because of Thy just punishments. But most of all, because I offended Thee, my God, Who art all good, and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more, and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

 My thoughts:  The Lord turned and looked at Peter…and he wept. Christ’s eyes must have held such sadness, yet such love. It was too much for Peter to bear, and he cried. But he did not despair. He had truly listened to Christ when He said that He came to save sinners and not condemn them. Christ is looking at each of us today with eyes filled with love. We have strayed from His word, His blueprint for life. But His message to Saint Faustina can only lead us to one conclusion. He wants us back. His mercy is unfathomable. It is ours for the asking and He wants us to ask for it. That is all we have to do.

Our prayer to God:  Why not take time this weekend to make a good confession?  Pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance, examine your conscience, note your sins, tell them to a priest, make a good act of contrition, and then do the penance the priest gives you. Over and done: mercy asked for, mercy received. Do not let pride stand in the way of your freedom and eternal life. This Advent, let us invite Christ back into the home we have prepared for Him in our hearts.

Remember to say the Christmas Novena 15 times today:

Christmas Novena

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnIon

Devotion for today: love one another

Scripture tells us: Romans 13: 9-10

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment there may be are all summed up in this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love never wrongs the neighbor, hence is the fulfillment of the law.

Christ tells us: John 13: 34-35

“I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Such as My love has been for you, so must your love be for each other. This is how all will know you are My disciples: your love for one another."

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta so beautifully sets us straight: “We have all been created for greater things- to love and be loved. Love is love – to love a person without any conditions, without any expectations. Works of love are works of peace and purity. Works of love are always a means of becoming closer to God, so the more we help each other, the more we really love God better by loving each other. Jesus very clearly said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Love in action is what gives us grace. We pray and, if we are able to love with a whole heart, then we will see the need. Those who are unwanted, unloved, and uncared for become just a throwaway of society – that’s why we must really make everyone feel wanted. There is something else to remember – that this kind of love begins at home. We cannot give to the outside what we don’t have on the inside. This is very important. If I can’t see God’s love in my brother or sister then how can I see that love in somebody else? How can I give it to somebody else? Everybody has got some good. Some hide it, some neglect it, but it is there.”Mother Teresa, A Simple Path, compiled by Lucinda Vardey, Ballentine Books, 1995.

Prayer: Psalm 119: 137-144

You are just, O Lord, and your ordinance is right.

You have pronounced your decrees in justice and in perfect faithfulness.

My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words.

Your promise is very sure, and your servant loves it.

I am mean and contemptible, but your precepts I have not forgotten.

Your justice is everlasting justice, and you law is permanent.

Though distress and anguish have come upon me, your commands are my delight.

Your decrees are forever just; give me discernment that I may live.

My thoughts: The last seven commandments center on love of neighbor, but not just an ordinary love. The love that Christ showed for us is an extraordinary love. It honors those in authority, guards against stealing another person’s good name, rejects gossip and shuns lust of any kind. It never seeks its own good, but puts the needs of others above itself. It does not allow jealousy, or revenge, or anger to rule the heart, but peace and kindness, mercy and justice. It is easy to say we are good if we look at murder, adultery and theft as the “big sins,” but that is not what Christ is saying. Mother Teresa explains it perfectly. We must look at the way we treat our families first, our friends, our coworkers, and yes, even our enemies. If we can love them the way Christ loves us, forgiving our transgressions and wanting only our good, then we can say we have kept the last seven commandments. If not, then maybe, like the psalmist, we must admit that we are mean and contemptible, but savable. We have not forgotten the law, just neglected it. This advent is the time to remember, reflect, and redirect our lives toward God.

Our prayer to God: Adorable Jesus, my Savior and Master, model of all perfection, I resolve, and will try this day, to imitate Your example, to be like You, mild, humble, chaste, zealous, charitable, and resigned. I will redouble my efforts to see Your image in all those I meet and deal with this day, and to be as helpful to them as I would be to You. I resolve to avoid this day all those sins which I have committed heretofore and which I now sincerely desire to give up forever. Amen. The Prayer Book. The Catholic Press, 1954.

Remember to pray the Christmas Novena fifteen times a day until Christmas!

Christmas Novena

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnIon

Devotion for today: Love the Lord your God

Scripture for meditation:  Deuteronomy 6:4-7

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.”

Christ tells us: Luke 10: 25-28

On one occasion a lawyer stood up to pose Him this problem: “Teacher what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” Jesus answered him; “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He replied: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you shall live.”

Brother Lawrence observes: How to Adore God in Spirit and in Truth

There are three points to consider here: First, to adore God in Spirit and in truth means to adore Him as we should. Because God is a Spirit, He must be adored in spirit. That is to say we must worship Him with a humble, sincere love that comes from the depth and center of our soul. Only God can see this adoration, which we must repeat until it becomes part of our nature, as if God were one with our soul and our soul were one with God. Practice will demonstrate this. Secondly, to adore God in truth is to recognize Him for what He is and ourselves for what we are. Adoring God in truth means that our heart actually sees God as infinitely perfect and worthy of our praise. What man, regardless of how little sense he may have, would not exert all his strength to show his respect and love of this great God? Thirdly, to adore God in truth is to admit that our nature is just the opposite of His. Yet, He is willing to make us like Him, if we desire it. Who would be so rash as to neglect, even for a moment, the respect, the love, the service and the continual adoration that we owe Him?  The practice of the presence OF GOD by Brother Lawrence, Whitaker House, 1982.

Prayer: Psalm 119: 41-48

Let your kindness come to me, O Lord,
 your salvation according to your promise.

So shall I have an answer for those who reproach me,
 for I trust in your word.

Take not the word of truth from my mouth,
for in your ordinances is my hope;

And I will keep your law continually, forever and ever.

And I will walk at liberty, because I seek your precepts.

I will speak of your decrees before kings without being ashamed.

And I will delight in your commands, which I love.

And I will lift up my hands to your commands and meditate on your statutes.

My thoughts:  The first commandment states: I am the Lord your God; you shall not have false gods before me. (Baltimore Catechism)  We must pause here and ask ourselves if we have false gods which we worship more than God alone: recreation, rest, money, work, ourselves? What comes between us and a continual adoration of God in our hearts? Our readings today tell us that we must love God with all our hearts, souls and minds. Brother Lawrence tells us that this interior adoration must be continual. The first three commandments are summed up in this one by Moses and Christ. Moses tells us to make sure everyone in our lives practices this command. Christ tells us if we do, we shall live. That should be enough to get us to pray, to use God’s name with love and respect, and to keep the Sabbath holy. God does not understand if you miss Mass because your favorite team is on TV, for example. That is worshipping a false god, one you created in your image. This advent, let us come and adore our God, in spirit and in truth, always in truth.

Our prayer to God: Father, I adore you, lay my life before you; how I love you! Jesus, I adore you, lay my life before you; how I love you! Spirit, I adore you, lay my life before you; how I love you! I love you Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship you, O my soul, rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what you hear; let it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear!” Over and over, all day long, a simple act of adoration, over and over…

St Andrew novena: Begin today to say this powerful novena on this, the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. Say it from Nov. 30 until Dec. 24 for the special intention of your heart. Say it 15 times a day, all at once, or spread out, in traffic, or while staring at a computer screen, anyway at all. Just say it. It is very powerful. If you miss a day, just say twice as many the next day! Be sure to go to the EWTN website for a beautiful reflection for each day as well.

Christmas Novena

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires(mention request here). 
Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/christmas.htm#ixzz1f7YZnIon

Devotion for today: Let me know your way

Scripture for Meditation: Joshua 1:8

“Keep this book of the law on your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may observe carefully all that is written in it; then you will successfully attain your goal.”

Christ tells us: Matthew 5:17

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and prophets. I have come, not to abolish them, but to fulfill them. Of this much I assure you: until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter of the law, not the smallest part of a letter, shall be done away with until it all comes true. That is why whoever breaks the least significant of these commands and teaches others to do so shall be called least in the kingdom of God. Whoever fulfills and teaches these commands shall be great in the kingdom of God. I tell you, unless your holiness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the kingdom of God.

Padre Pio assures us: “…by reading sacred scripture and other holy and pious books we are seeking God. I point out to you the power of holy reading to lead even worldly persons to change their course and enter on the path of perfection…Who was it that won this great man [Saint Augustine] over to God? His ultimate conqueror was neither his mother by her tears, nor the great Saint Ambrose by his eloquence, but the reading of a [spiritual] book. But while Saint Augustine battled with tumultuous feelings, he heard a voice which [told him to read the scriptures]. As he read a chapter of Saint Paul, the thick darkness in his mind was dispelled…From that moment, he made a clean break with the world, the devil, and the flesh, and devoted himself completely to the service of God…Now, if the reading of holy books has the power to convert worldly men and women into spiritual persons, how very powerful must not such reading be in leading spiritual men and women to greater perfection?” Padre Pio’s Words of Hope, edited by Eileen Dunn Bertanzetti, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1999.

Prayer: Psalm 119: 145-152

I call out with all my heart; answer me, O Lord; I will observe your statutes.

I call upon you; save me, and I will keep your decrees.

Before dawn I come and cry out; I hope in your words.

My eyes greet the night watches in meditation on your promise.

Hear my voice according to your kindness, O Lord; according to your ordinance give me life.

I am attacked by malicious persecutors who are far from your law.

You, O Lord, are near, and all your commands are permanent.

Of old I know from your decrees, that you have established them forever.

My thoughts:  As we continue on our Advent journey this week, reflecting on the Ten Commandments, it is wise to consider that they are the foundation of our life in God. Reading them, reading about them in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, reading commentaries on them, and finding Jesus’ statements about them will help us to realize that God gave us the clear path to an earthly freedom and a heavenly existence when He outlined His plan for good living. If we come to the realization that a world which truly followed every one of these commands would be a clean, safe and peaceful place to live, then we will also see that our souls, where our true beings reside, will do the same. Padre Pio encourages us to do spiritual reading every day. The psalmist talks of pursuing God’s word at dawn and at night, the beginning and the end of the day, wrapped in the promises of God. I think that is a pretty good idea, don’t you?

Our prayer to God:  It gets difficult to accuse ourselves of breaking even one of the commandments, but in truth, we break all of them at one time or another. How thankful we must be for the mercy and compassion of our Father, who desires only our salvation. “I’m so sorry Lord. Give me strength and forgiveness, and I will rise again with the dawn of tomorrow to learn and follow your word.”

Devotion for today: But I don’t know the way…

Scripture for meditation: John 1:19-23

The testimony John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, “Who are you?” was the direct statement, “I am not the Messiah.” They questioned him further, “Who, then? Elijah?” “I am not Elijah,” he answered. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he replied. Finally they said to him: “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. What do you have to say for yourself?” He said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am ‘a voice in the desert, crying out: Make straight the way of the Lord!”

Christ tells us: John 14:5-6

“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

In the book Catholicism and Life, we learn:

A healthy sign of mental balance is a knowledge of who we are and where we are going. If that standard were applied to a lot of Christians these days, their mental health might be in doubt. We are human beings with a body and soul, and we are supposed to be trying to get to heaven. The best way that we can achieve that goal is to keep the Commandments, listen to the Church that Jesus left to guide us, and receive the Sacraments that He gave us to strengthen us along the road. We are not here merely to mark time or to “get the most out of life,” but to follow Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Failing to do so would be like failing to cash in a winning lottery ticket, although that would mean just losing money, while failure to follow Jesus will mean losing our soul. But the choice is ours to make. God does not send anyone to hell. People send themselves to hell by deliberately choosing something other than God, whether it’s money or power or pleasure or whatever, and making that their god. It would be one thing if we had to struggle through life with no blueprint to follow and no special helps from God. But we have been given both by a generous and loving God, and how foolish we would be not to take advantage of them. Rev. Edward J. Hayes, Rev. Msgr. Paul J. Hayes, and James J. Drummey, C.R. Publications, 1996.

Prayer: Psalm 119:25-32

I lie prostrate in the dust; give me life according to Your word.

I declared my ways and You answered me; teach me your statutes.

Make me to understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

My soul weeps for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your words.

Remove from me the way of falsehood; and favor me with your law.

The way of truth I have chosen, I have set Your ordinances before me.

I cling to your decrees; O Lord, let me not be put to shame.

I will run the way of Your commands when you give me a docile heart.

My thoughts: We are now in the holy season of Advent, when our time should be spent preparing our hearts for the coming of Christ: in His birth, into our hearts, and at the end of time. It is very easy to spend the next four weeks consumed in the preparation of our homes, our parties, our gifts for family and friends, and forget that this is a sacred time of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and renewal of our commitment to live the way of Christ. John the Baptist, in quoting Isaiah the prophet, reminds us that this is the time to straighten out our lives and get back on the right path, the way of the Lord. Jesus Himself tells us that He is the way, and that our lives should pattern themselves after His: a life of service, sacrifice and selflessness. Our commentators remind us quite clearly that we have a blueprint for this “way” we are to follow: the Commandments, the Church, the Sacraments. Let us do as the psalmist cries out, and ask God to “remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law.” The home that needs prepared is our heart, the party that counts is the one that awaits us in heaven, and the only gift we need is the gift of Christ Himself.

Our prayer to God: This week let us concentrate on reviewing the 10 commandments, and looking at them with new eyes: eyes searching for the message meant only for us. As you find the ones most difficult for you to practice or accept, remember to pray, “Dear God, please give me a docile heart that I may run in the ways of your commands.” Then let peace replace the stress of “the season.”