Devotion for today: a time to every purpose under heaven

 Scripture for meditation: Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8, 15

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot the plant; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance; a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces; a time to seek and a time to lose; a time to keep and a time to cast away; a time to rend and a time to sew; a time to be silent and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What now is, has already been; what is to be, already is; and God restores what would otherwise be displaced.

Christ tells us: Matthew 25:13

“The moral is: keep your eyes open, for you know not the day or the hour.”

St. Thomas a Kempis gives us a beautiful dialogue in The Imitation of Christ which will also serve as our prayer today: That All Our Cares Must Be Placed in God:

Christ: My child, permit Me to do with you what I will, for I know what is best for you. You think as a human being, and judge things according to human reason; but you are often swayed by your feelings and worldly attitudes, so that you can easily be deceived and make mistakes.  Disciple: Lord, everything You say is true. Your providence is far better for me than any care I can take of myself Those who do not put all their trust in You run a great risk of falling. Therefore, Lord, if only my will remain firmly fixed in You, do with me as You please, for whatever You do with me can only be good. If it is Your will that I be in light, may You be blessed, Lord; but if it is Your will that I be in darkness, may You also be blessed. If, in Your mercy, You comfort me, be You blessed; but if it is Your will that I be afflicted, still be You always blessed. Christ: My child, this is how you must stand if you want to walk beside Me: you must be as ready to suffer as to rejoice, as willing to be needy and poor as to be rich and have abundance. Disciple: Lord, I willingly bear for You whatever You are pleased to give me. With indifference I will take from Your hand good and bad, bitter and sweet, joy and sorrow; and for all these things that may happen to me, I thank You with all my heart. Keep me from sin, Lord, and I will fear neither death nor hell. Do not blot my name out of the book of life, and then whatever trouble befalls me will not disturb me.

My thoughts:

Change is inevitable. We find ourselves facing a new job, a move that takes us from family and friends, the end of our careers to stay home and care for children or elderly parents, or a switch from the caregiver to the care receiver. Whatever it is, it brings a certain sense of loss. We are told in Ecclesiastes, however, that this is all part of God’s plan for us. Our lives are made of seasons, and just as we cannot hold onto autumn and spring, we cannot hold onto the times that give us comfort and security. Winter comes and we must get through it, but Spring is always a promise. Summer can get unbearable, but autumn returns to cool our fevered brows and fill our lives with beauty. Remember Jesus’ words, that we do not know the day or the hour for anything from God, and live with one foot planted firmly in on the ground, to responsibly do God’s work, and one foot in the air, to leap when He calls.  There is a time to every purpose under heaven, and in our lives. As St. Thomas a Kempis reminds us, only God knows what is best for us.

Your prayer to God:

Today we face many changes in our lives, some small and some great. Let us go before our Lord and hand him the greatest fears we have about these changes. Let us ask Him to make us wise and brave, so that in all these new stages of our lives, we can be free from anxiety and filled with His power and grace. Mary, our Mother, protect us from all fear, sadness, and anxiety as we face your Son’s will for our lives. Give us the grace to say as you did, “Let it be done unto me according to Your will.” Amen.

Devotion for today: Oh Lord, I am sick!

Scripture for meditation: Jeremiah 17:14

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are the one I praise.

Christ prayed: Luke 22:42-44

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup from Me; yet not My will but Yours be done.” An angel then appeared to Him from heaven to strengthen Him. In His anguish He prayed with all the greater intensity, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Pope Benedict XVI stated on May 26, 2008 in Poland:

“Dear friends who are sick, who are marked by suffering in body and soul, you are most closely united to the Cross of Christ, and at the same time you are the most eloquent witnesses of God’s mercy. Through you and through your suffering, He bows down to humanity with love. You who say in silence: “Jesus, I trust in You,” teach us that there is no faith more profound, no hope more alive, and no love more ardent than the faith, hope, and love of a person who, in the midst of suffering, places himself squarely in God’s hands. May the human hands of those who care for you in the name of mercy be an extension of the open hands of God.

Prayer: Prayer for the Restoration of Health

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I come to ask You for the gift of restored health that I may serve You more faithfully and love You more sincerely. I want to be well if it is Your will and rebounds to your glory. If on the other hand it is Your will that my sickness continue, I want to bear it with patience. If in your divine wisdom I am to be restored to health and strength, I will strive to show my gratitude by a constant and faithful service rendered to You, my loving Savior and Redeemer and my God. My Catholic Prayer Book, 1990

My thoughts: Suffering through a prolonged illness, recovering from a serious accident or  being homebound by an infirmity can drain us of our joy and faith. Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that this is a wonderful opportunity to be witnesses of hope and trust in God if we bear our suffering with patience, offer it up for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and utter a thousand times a day, “Jesus I trust in You.” Christ does not ask us to be thrilled with the situation, but He does ask us to abandon ourselves to His Father’s will, as He did.  Just as an angel ministered to Him, so will they help us through this difficult time. We have the promise – the Lord will take care of us. Just believe it.

Your prayer to God: We all suffer physical illness from time to time, and can get depressed in its length and severity.  Let us look to the cross, and unite our suffering with Christ crucified. May we pray daily the words Jesus offered to His Father the night before He died: “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

Devotion for today: live in the light

Today we conclude our study of the seven deadly sins as we examine: lust

Scripture for meditation: Job 24:13, 15, 17
"There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths... The eye of the adulterer watches for dusk; he thinks, 'No eye will see me,' and he keeps his face concealed... For all of them, deep darkness is their morning; they make friends with the terrors of darkness."

Christ tells us: Matthew 26:41
"Be on Guard, and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but nature is weak."

St. Francis de Sales offers this advice in An Introduction to the Devout Life:  Whenever you feel the approach of temptation, imitate a little child who sees a wolf or bear in the plain. He instantly flies into his father's or mother's arms, or at all events calls on them for help. Do you in like manner fly to God, seeking His mercy and help. If, nevertheless, the temptation continues or increases, hasten in spirit to embrace the Holy Cross, as though you beheld Jesus Christ crucified before you; then promise not to yield, and ask His aid to preserve you, and continue so to do while the temptation lasts.

Prayer: The Act of Contrition
Oh my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended you
And I detest all my sins because of your just punishments
But most of all because they offended you, my God
Who are all good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace,
to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

My thoughts:  This sin is destroying our world and harming us all. Human trafficking has become a profitable industry, seeking to satisfy those who can never be satisfied. Lives are destroyed; marriages are ruined; institutions are forever disgraced, and human beings are turned into objects. It operates in darkness, seeking to fool God. Rest assured, God is watching, and all that is done in darkness will come to light. The time to rid ourselves of this sin is right now. Seek help, confess, make amends and resolve to start again, as a child of the light. We will all face God some day, and nothing will be hidden. As the song says, " Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wondrous face, and the things of this earth, will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." He loves your very much. Love Him, and give up anything separating you from Him.

Your prayer to God: Now is the time to be brave and bold. Let us claim for Christ all victims of this sin: those who are sinking in it, those who are harmed by it, and those who are fighting it every day of their lives. Pray to Mary to wrap them in her mantle of love and give them courage, strength, and a new beginning in her Son. If you are struggling with this addiction, place yourself at the foot of the cross, confess any type of addiction to this sin, leave it there. and never take it back. Never.