Thought for Wednesday July 1

The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

Matthew 8: 28 – 34  They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God?”

What does Jesus have to do with me?  Do I believe I am worthy of his attention?

Action:   Think of the most miserable, downtrodden, pathetic person you see frequently.  Remind yourself that Jesus is willing to have something to do with that person and then treat him like a friend of Jesus.

Thought for Tuesday June 30

O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.
But I walk in integrity;
redeem me, and have mercy on me.
My foot stands on level ground;
in the assemblies I will bless the LORD.
O Lord, your mercy is before my eyes.

Matthew 8: 23 – 27  As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him.  Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep.

Staying calm is one thing, but did Jesus really need to sleep during a violent storm?  Was Jesus just tired or was he trying to make a point?

Action:  The next time you are in a chaotic or stressful situation, try to go beyond calm and be the one who sees the irrelevance of the situation in light of eternity.

Thought for Monday 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 Friday June 26

See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
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.
See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

Matthew 8: 1 – 4  And then a leper approached, did him homage, and said, "Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean."

Do I think Jesus wishes to help me?  What would I want Jesus to do for me?

Action:  Clean up something in your home, office, neighborhood or community as a sign of Jesus’ love.

Thought for Thursday June 25

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 24

I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar.
I praise you for I am wonderfully made.

Luke 1: 57 – 66  So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.  He asked for a tablet and wrote, "John is his name," and all were amazed.

How important is my name to me?  Do I like hearing my name?

Action:   Make a point of addressing people by name today.

Thought for Tuesday June 23

He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Matthew 7: 12 – 14  Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.

How do I want to be treated?  Do I think I have earned the right to be treated perfectly?

Action:  Think of someone you know who deserves to be treated well, and treat the biggest jerk you know the same way.

Thought for Monday June 22

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
 Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Matthew 7: 1 – 5  Jesus said to his disciples: "Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.”

Am I ever so sure I am doing the right thing that I would actually like to be judged?  Does it bother me when someone I don’t like gets caught doing something good?

Action:  The next time you notice you are judging someone negatively, stop and find one good thing the person is doing or has done – even if it is just that he/she showed up.

Thought for Friday June 19

From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
From all their distress God rescues the just.

Matthew 6: 19 -23  “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

Where do I look for light – in people, places, possessions, prayer…?  Where have I found the most light?

Action:  Look for the light this weekend.

Thought for Thursday June 18

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 17

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.

Thought for Tuesday June 16

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 give your pastor a cake for his anniversary  (just kidding PM).

Thought for Monday June 15

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 12 - Feast of Sacred Heart

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
 To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Ephesians 3: 8-12, 14-19  For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he 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.

Am I rooted and grounded in love?  Where does my strength come from?

Action:  Show some love for someone this weekend.

Thought for Thursday June 11

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 10

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.

How do I teach and enforce laws (policies, regulations, rules, etc)?  Do I do it in a positive way, or just as an obligation?

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

Thought for Tuesday June 9

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 8

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 5

Praise the Lord, my soul!
Praise the LORD, O 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!

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

What delights me in the Gospel?  Have I ever had the experience of listening to the Gospel be proclaimed and then feeling delighted?

Action:  Look up and reread your favorite passages from scripture.

Thought for Thursday June 4

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?   Is there anyone I treat as something other than a neighbor?

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

Thought for Wednesday June 3

To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
In you I trust; let me not be put to shame,
let not my enemies exult over me.
No one who waits for you shall be put to shame;
those shall be put to shame who heedlessly break faith.
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

 

Mark 12: 18 – 27  Jesus said to them, "Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

Does knowing scripture mean that you can quote some passages or is there more to it?  Do I ever overlook the power of God when I am trying to interpret the precise meaning of some scripture passage?

Action:  The next time you hear a scripture quote, analyze the way it is used and decide if it truly captures the overall spirit of the message of Jesus and the power of God.  If it doesn’t, say something.

Thought for Tuesday June 2

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.