Thought for Friday June 29

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8, 17 – 18  I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

What do I need to do to feel like I have competed well, finished the race and kept the faith?

Matthew 16: 13 – 19  And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

What in the Church is a rock that I depend on?

Action:  Make a plan to compete well, finish the race and keep the faith using the rocks of the Church (e.g. Christ, sacraments, scripture, liturgy, tradition, saints)

Thought for Thursday June 28

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
or proclaim all his praises?
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Matthew 7: 21 – 29  Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.

Is my faith built on rock or sand or some of both?  What can I do to shore up any sandy areas?

Action:  Examine your faith formation and revisit any practices or beliefs that you accepted without understanding.  Ask questions about them that will lead to a rock-solid understanding of  the faith.

Thought for Wednesday June 27

Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Turn away my eyes from seeing what is vain:

by your way give me life.

Teach me the way of your decrees, O Lord.

Matthew 7: 15 – 20  Jesus said to his disciples: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.”

Have I encountered any false prophets lately?   What fruits do I look for?

Action:    Every time you hear something being spread that is having a negative effect, work to have a positive effect.

Thought for Tuesday June 26

God upholds his city for ever.
Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, fairest of heights,
is the joy of all the earth.

God upholds his city for ever.

Matthew 7: 6, 12 – 14  Jesus said to his disciples: "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Do I ever fail to recognize the value of what is around me, like a dog that chews up stuff for no reason?  Do I ever reject people who are offering me something good?

Action:   Look around you for what is holy – in creation, in people, in words, in actions…

Thought for Monday June 25

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

You have rocked the country and split it open;

repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.

You have made your people feel hardships;

you have given us stupefying wine.

Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us.

Matthew 7: 1 – 5  You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Why does the splinter in my brother’s eye bother me?  Am I worried that if I remove the beam from my eye, I will clearly see a bigger beam in my own eye? 

Action:   The next time someone else’s sin really bothers you, ask yourself if you are guilty of the same sin.

Thought for Friday June 22

  The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

For the LORD has chosen Zion;

he prefers her for his dwelling.

“Zion is my resting place forever;

in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.”

The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling.

Matthew 6: 19 – 23  Jesus said to his disciples:  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.  But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

What do I treasure?  What can destroy my treasure?

Action:  Treasure your time with friends and family over the weekend and the whole summer.

Thought for Thursday June 21

Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.
Majesty and glory are his work,
and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
gracious and merciful is the LORD.
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

Matthew 6: 7 – 15  If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Are there things that have been done to me that I just won’t forgive?  Have I ever done anything I think I will never be forgiven?

Action:  Forgive someone for something even if they have never apologized or shown any remorse.

Thought for Wednesday June 20

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Matthew 6:1 – 18  Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”

Do I like to get a little credit for doing good things?  Does Jesus want me to hide all of my good deeds?

Action:  Secretly do something good for someone. (It is the longest day of the year so you have plenty of time)

Thought for Tuesday June 19

Praise the Lord, my soul!
Praise the LORD, my soul!
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Matthew 5: 43 – 48  Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

How am I supposed to love an enemy?  Can I just ignore this because Jesus said it two thousand years ago and had no concept of the complexities of the modern world?

Action:  Do something loving for someone you can’t stand; for example bake your boss a pie.

Thought for Monday June 18

The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

Matthew 5: 38 – 42  Jesus said to his disciples: "You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.  When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.

What am I more likely to use as my guideline “an eye for an eye” or “offer no resistance”?  Was Jesus serious when he said this?

Action:  Identify some evil in your local community and find a way to address it without “fighting back.”

Thought for Friday June 15

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Ephesians 3: 8 – 19  That he [God] may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

What do I want God to grant me?  Do I have anything to add to St. Paul’s request?

Action:  Use the power and strength God has given you to touch somebody else’s life.

Thought for Thursday June 14

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Matthew 5: 20 – 26  You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment,

Do I see a lot of anger in the world/people around me?   What do I get angry about?

Action: The next time you get angry or annoyed about something (politics, economy, clothing styles, music, emails, etc), do something nice for someone.

Thought for Wednesday June 13

Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
Holy is the Lord our God.

Matthew 5: 17 – 19  But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

Do I have any personal laws I follow?  How do I obey laws (policies, regulations, rules, etc)? 

Action:  Teach someone something that you have found to be helpful.

Thought for Tuesday June 12

Lord, let your face shine on me.
Steady my footsteps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity rule over me.
Lord, let your face shine on me.

Matthew 5: 13 – 16  Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?

What do I bring to the table?  What would be lost if I quit doing my part?

Action:  The next time you hear someone referred to as “the salt of the earth” try and emulate something good that he or she does to earn that accolade.

Thought for Monday June 11

Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Matthew 5: 1 – 12  Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are they who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the clean of heart… Blessed are the peacemakers… Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness…

Am I any of these things?  Which of these can I control?

Action:  Work for righteousness, show mercy, clean your heart, or make peace today.   

Thought for Friday June 8

O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

Mark 12: 35 – 37  The great crowd heard this with delight.

Can I remember five things I “heard with great delight”?   Was I aware of God’s action in any of them?

Action:   Share some news that you think someone will hear with great delight.  See if you can recognize God in the good news.

Thought for Thursday June 7

Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
Blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Mark 12: 28 – 34  The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

How am I doing?   Do I treat everybody like a neighbor?

Action:  Do something for a “neighbor” you usually ignore.

Thought for Wednesday June 6

To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
To you I lift up my eyes
who are enthroned in heaven.
Behold, as the eyes of servants
are on the hands of their masters.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.

2 Timothy 1: 1 - 12   For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.

Am I ever a coward?  Do I exercise power, love and self-control?

Action:  Go out today and look at the world as a person with power, love and self-control; do something using those gifts.

Thought for Tuesday June 5

The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Mark 12: 13 – 17  So Jesus said to them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

Do I ever get confused about the role of civil and Church authorities?  Have I ever seen those authorities confuse their roles?

Action:  The next time you hear of an argument or debate that involves both religious and civil dimensions, try to analyze the situation from both points of view and then look for the common ground.

Thought for Monday June 4

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

 Mark 12: 1 – 12  Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables.

In what ways are parables more useful than rules?  Am I more likely to follow the letter of the law or to try and follow the example of a parable?

Action:  Write your own parable explaining one of your personal “rules” for living.