Aug 27: To All Those Who Have, More Will Be Given

Rembrandt van Rijn: The Parable of the Talents, 1852

Memorial of St. Monica

Gospel: Mt 25:14-30

“For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away (NRSV, Mt 25:29).”

Father, at every moment in every time and place you offer us your life and power. You challenge us to accept it, to allow it to transform us that we may share more fully in everything that you are. Growth in you, Father, prepares us to say “yes” with an even greater commitment. If we turn away from you, we lose what little we might have had. Still, Father, you are always there, through your Word, calling us to return to you and to grow more completely in you.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Aug 7: A Sound of Sheer Silence

Rembrandt van Rijn: Elijah on Mount Horeb

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a

[Then the word of the LORD said to Elijah], "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence (NRSV, 1 Kgs 19:11-12).

Father, your prophet Elijah heard you speak to him on Mount Horeb in a sound of sheer silence. Moses heard you speak to him on Horeb in the thunder and lightening of a mountain storm. In reality, Father you speak to everyone in every place and every time in the depth of our being through your one Word who reveals to us who you are and what you would have us do. May we listen ever more fully to that one Word as we say “yes” to you in every situation and grow constantly in your life and power.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Aug 6: The Challenge to Manifest the Lord

Fra Angelico: The Transfiguration
Convento di San Marco, Florence, 1440-41

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Gospel: Mt 17:1-9

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white (NRSV, Mt 17:2).

Father, you only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus, so manifested your life and your power that it radiated out from him to all around him. May we also say “yes” to the gift of your life that it too may fills us, transfigure us, and go out from us to others.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Aug 1: Faith Saves in Every Moment

Sadao Watanabe: Peter Sinking, 1963

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church

Gospel: Mt 14:22-36

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt (NRSV, Mt 14:31)?”

Father, for us every moment is crisis. We risk losing everything or we can accept your gift of life that empowers us and we can move forward on our journey towards you, our only true future. May we always respond to you in faith and not slip below the waters even momentarily as did Peter. Faith in you, through Jesus, enables us to overcome every obstacle and to grow in you.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen