Thought for Wednesday November 1

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD's are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Revelations 7: 2 – 4,9 – 14  Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, "Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?" I said to him, "My lord, you are the one who knows."  He said to me, "These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."

Do the examples of the saints who have “survived the time of great distress” inspire me?  What would I have to change in my life to qualify for beatification?

Action:  Make sainthood your goal (just don’t plan to be martyred).

Thought for Tuesday October 31

The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
The Lord has done marvels for us.

Romans 8: 18 – 25  We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies…. But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

What am I hoping for?   What am I tired of waiting for? 

Action:  Keep hoping. Keep waiting. Endure.  In the meantime, celebrate the good that has and is happening in your life.

 

Thought for Monday October 30

Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
Behave like God as his very dear children.

 

Luke 13: 10 – 17  He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

Am I ready to be suddenly cured of some affliction (physical, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, societal)?  What would I do differently in my life if I were cured?

Action:  Don’t let your afflictions prevent you from doing what you can do.

Thought for Thursday October 26

Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

 

Romans 6: 19 – 23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Do I worry much about the effects of the sins I commit?  Have a usually had good experiences in Confession?

 

Action:  Repent, confess and do your best to avoid sinning.

 

Thought for Wednesday October 25

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.

Luke 12: 39 – 48  Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

What has been entrusted to me, what is demanded of me?  Would I ever be tempted to give up some of my gifts if I could escape some responsibility?

Action:  Do what is expected of you and remind yourself that others are doing the same.  You are not alone.

Thought for Tuesday October 24

The Lord speaks of peace to his people.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
The Lord speaks of peace to his people.

 

Luke 12: 35  - 38  Jesus said to his disciples:  “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.”

What am I ready for?  What could I do immediately for God?

Action:  Get ready – God may want something from you tomorrow.

Thought for Monday October 23

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

Luke 12: 13 – 21  Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions."… 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?' Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God."

Am I greedy – about time, money, energy?  Do I plan more for financial obligations (retirement, mortgage, insurance, taxes) or my spiritual/ faith development?

Action:  Make a plan to store up something that will last.

Thought for Friday October 20

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten‑stringed lyre chant his praises.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

Luke 12: 1 – 7  Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Have I ever made the mistake of whispering something that never should have been said at all?  What am I willing to proclaim from the housetops?

Action:   The next time you are tempted to whisper something, ask yourself if it is something that really should be proclaimed or left unsaid.

Thought for Thursday October 19

With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.
I trust in the LORD;
my soul trusts in his word.
My soul waits for the LORD
more than sentinels wait for the dawn.
With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.

Luke 11: 47 – 54   When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.

Do I ever wonder if people talk about me after I leave the room?  Do I sometimes hope that maybe they do keep talking about something they seemed to disagree with?

Action:  Next time you are left in the room, do your best to keep the conversation productive. Not destructive.

Thought for Wednesday October 18

Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.
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.
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.

Luke 10: 1 – 9  He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

Am I doing my part?  What sustains me in the work that I do?

Action:  Get out there and harvest something.

Thought for Tuesday October 17

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

Luke 11: 37 – 41  After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.

Do I ever let others’ table manners distract me from interacting with them as persons?  Am I a good guest?

Action:  Invite someone who is lonely to dinner, or lunch, or coffee, or somewhere else.

Thought for Monday October 16

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.

Luke 11: 29 – 32  At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.

How far will I go to seek wisdom?  Who is the wisest person I know?

Action:  The next time someone asks you for advice, consider whether you have the gift of wisdom for that topic and give your advice accordingly.

 

Thought for Friday October 13

The Lord will judge the world with justice.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
The Lord will judge the world with justice.

 

 

Luke 11: 15 - 26  "When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, 'I shall return to my home from which I came.'  But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first."

 

Do I believe I can conquer my sins and weaknesses without God’s help?  Have I seen people fail again and again to conquer their unclean spirits?

 

Action:  Have some good, clean fun this weekend.

 

Thought for Thursday October 12

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people.

 

Luke 11: 5 – 13  Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread…”

 

Do you have a friend you could do this to?  Is Jesus this kind of a friend for you?

 

Action:  Donate three loaves of bread to a local soup kitchen, food bank, shelter or family in need.

 

Thought for Monday October 9

You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
My prayer reached you
in your holy temple.
You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.

 

 

Jonah 1: 1 - 2: 11  Then they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune." So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah. "Tell us," they said, "what is your business? Where do you come from?  What is your country, and to what people do you belong?" Jonah answered them, "I am a Hebrew, I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land."

 

What is my business; who are my people?  Is worshipping God part of who I am, or is it just something I do?

 

Action:  Be faithful to God and to yourself – everything else will fall into place.

 

Thought for Friday October 6

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:  Watch your mouth – if you wouldn’t say it in the Sistine Chapel, you shouldn’t say it anywhere.

 

 

Thought for Thursday October 5

The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

Luke 10: 1 – 12  Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment.

Do I deserve my payment?  When I work (at a job, around the house, volunteer, etc) am I conscientious about doing a good job?

Action:  Be worth your wage today.

Thought for Wednesday October 4

Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Daily I call upon you, O LORD;
to you I stretch out my hands.
Will you work wonders for the dead?
Will the shades arise to give you thanks?
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

Luke 9: 57- 62  Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

What is more important, what I have done or what I will do?  Which do I spend more time thinking about?

Action:  Make a plan for fixing something in your community.

Thought for Tuesday October 3

Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
O LORD, my God, by day I cry out;
at night I clamor in your presence.
Let my prayer come before you;
incline your ear to my call for help.
Let my prayer come before you, Lord.

 

Luke 9: 51 – 56  When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.

Have I ever been resolutely determined to do anything?   If I knew my time was imminent, what would I focus on doing?

Action:  Resolutely determine to do something that needs to be done.

Thought for Monday October 2

The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

Matthew 18: 1-5, 10  "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”

Who are my guardian angels?  Whom do I watch over?

Action:  Be there for someone no one else is helping.