Thought for Friday September 30

Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

If I take the wings of the dawn,

if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,

Even there your hand shall guide me,

and your right hand hold me fast.

Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Luke 10: 13 – 16 Jesus said, “Whoever listens to you listens to me.”

Do I want that responsibility? Am I conscious of this responsibility when I speak?

Action: Speak out against and work to change something in your community that is not consistent with Jesus’ teaching.

Thought for Thursday September 29

In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Because of your kindness and your truth;

for you have made great above all things

your name and your promise.

When I called, you answered me;

you built up strength within me.

In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.

Revelations 12: 7 – 12 War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon.

Am I willing to battle the dragons in the world today? Who can I get to help me battle dragons?

Action: Do what you can to battle evil and don’t let any Hungarian Horntails stop you.

Thought for Wednesday September 28

Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

Though there our captors asked of us

the lyrics of our songs,

And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:

“Sing for us the songs of Zion!”

Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!

Luke 9: 57 – 62 And to another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and …”
How would I finish that sentence? What do I put ahead of Jesus?

Action: Take one step to let go of whatever holds you back from following Jesus.

Thought for Tuesday September 27

God is with us.

I tell of Egypt and Babylon

among those that know the LORD;

Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:

"This man was born there."

And of Zion they shall say:

"One and all were born in her;

And he who has established her

is the Most High LORD."

God is with us.

Zechariah 8: 20 - 23 In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold, yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

Do I feel responsible for sharing my faith with people of other cultures? Have I learned anything from people who are different form me?

Action: Spend some time learning about another culture and how the people express their faith.

Thought for Monday September 26

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Let this be written for the generation to come,

and let his future creatures praise the Lord:

“The LORD looked down from his holy height,

from heaven he beheld the earth,

To hear the groaning of the prisoners,

to release those doomed to die.”

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Luke 9: 46 – 50 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Who is for Jesus and who is against? How do I tell the difference?

Action: Show your support to someone who is trying to do good.

Thought for Friday September 23

Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Send forth your light and your fidelity;

they shall lead me on

And bring me to your holy mountain,

to your dwelling place.

Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God.

Luke 9: 18 – 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Why was this God’s plan for saving humanity? What are the advantages of this plan?

Action: If you know someone who is frequently rejected, see if you can find a way to support him/her.

Thought for Thursday September 22

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,

that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.

Prosper the work of our hands for us!

Prosper the work of our hands!

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Luke 9: 7 – 9 But Herod said, “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

Who is Jesus to me? Am I actively trying to see him better?

Action: Fix some situation so that people are able to see the kingdom Jesus came to establish. If that seems like to much, try just making one improvement toward that goal.

Thought for Wednesday September 21

Their message goes out through all the earth.

Not a word nor a discourse

whose voice is not heard;

Through all the earth their voice resounds,

and to the ends of the world, their message.

Their message goes out through all the earth.

Matthew 9: 9 – 13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.

Do I think the author of the Gospel of Matthew would be surprised that his words were still so powerful 2000 years after he wrote them? What am I doing now that I would want to endure for that long?

Action: Do something this week that you believe will continue to have positive results for a long time.

Thought for Tuesday September 20

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

Luke 8: 19 – 21 He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

How often do I consciously act on the Word of God? Do I want to have a familial relationship with Jesus?

Action: Do something specifically in response to something you have heard or read from the Bible.

Thought for Monday September 19

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Who lends not his money at usury

and accepts no bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things

shall never be disturbed.

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Luke 8: 16 – 18 No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.

Do I sometimes hide my “light” because I am afraid of revealing too much of myself? Who sees my light even when I am trying to hide it?

Action: Share an insight you have had with someone you think can benefit from it.

Thought for Thursday September 15

I will walk with blameless heart.

My eyes are upon the faithful of the land,

that they may dwell with me.

He who walks in the way of integrity

shall be in my service.

I will walk with blameless heart.

Luke 2: 33 – 35 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

What destiny do I think my parents might have chosen for me? What would I wish for my children?

Action: Chose a destiny for yourself and begin working toward it. [I assume you will chose a good, Christ-centered one]

Thought for Wednesday September 14

Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Hearken, my people, to my teaching;

incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable,

I will utter mysteries from of old.

Do not forget the works of the Lord!

John 3: 13 – 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

Do I spend my time working to fix [save] bad situations or just complaining [condemning] about them? Do I see a lot of condemning in my society?

Action: Quit complaining about everyone else and go do something good.

Thought for Tuesday September 13

We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Know that the LORD is God;

he made us, his we are;

his people, the flock he tends.

We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Luke 7: 11 – 17 He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

What would I do if Jesus raised me to a new life? Would I go back to doing what I had always done?
Action: Do something this week that you have never done before – go skydiving, read a different book, go to something at a church, eat different food, plan a trip, tell someone you love him/her – and rise to new possibilities in your life.

Thought for Monday September 12

Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

May all who seek you

exult and be glad in you

And may those who love your salvation

say ever, "The LORD be glorified."

Proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.

1 Timothy 2: 1 – 8 Beloved: First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

Do I pray for everyone? Do I want everyone to be saved?

Action: The next time you feel disdain, contempt or even hatred for someone, thank God for creating him.

Thought for Friday September 9

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life,

fullness of joys in your presence,

the delights at your right hand forever.

You are my inheritance, O Lord.

1 Timothy 1: 1 – 2; 12 – 14 Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

How do I introduce myself? Could I introduce myself like Paul does?

Action: Introduce yourself to someone new today.

Thought for Thursday September 8

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

Though I trusted in your mercy,

let my heart rejoice in your salvation.

With delight I rejoice in the Lord.

Matthew 1: 1 – 23 Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.”

Am I afraid to bring Mary [or Jesus] into my home, family life, work…? Does Mary exemplify any values or attitudes I would like to emulate?

Action: Find one good thing about every Mary you know and try to copy it.

Thought for Wednesday September 7

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

They are borne in with gladness and joy;

they enter the palace of the king.

The place of your fathers your sons shall have;

you shall make them princes through all the land.

Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.

Luke 6: 20 – 26 Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

Am I poor enough to need God? Am I rich enough to have consolation in this life?

Action: Do something to console someone who is having a tough time.

Thought for Tuesday September 6

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

and let your faithful ones bless you.

Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom

and speak of your might.

The Lord is compassionate toward all his works.

Colossians 2: 6 – 15 See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.

How much time do I spend in empty pursuits? What “seductive philosophies” have I rejected?

Action: If you know you are captivated by some things that are not according to Christ, make a special effort to insure you don’t drag anyone else down with you before you can free yourself.

Thought for Monday September 5

In God is my safety and my glory.

Only in God be at rest, my soul,

for from him comes my hope.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.

In God is my safety and my glory.

Luke 6: 6 – 11 On a certain sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.

Do I appreciate the gift of my hands and use them to do the work of God? Have I noticed anyone who struggles because his hands are weak, or injured or arthritic?

Action: Do some good with your hands today and pray for those whose hands don’t work well.

Thought for Friday September 2

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

For he is good,

the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,

and his faithfulness, to all generations.

Come with joy into the presence of the Lord.

Luke 5: 33 – 39 And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, "The old is good."

Happy 50th Anniversary to Fr. David Knight

Action: If you are in Memphis come on down to the celebration of Fr. Knight’s Golden Jubilee at 6:30 this evening, Friday Sept. 2, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Memphis. Old and new wine to be served afterwards.