Thought for Monday October 1

Incline your ear to me and hear my word.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
O savior of those who flee
from their foes to refuge at your right hand.
Incline your ear to me and hear my word.

  

Luke 9: 46- 50  Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.

Who do I receive and who do I reject?   Am I ever surprised when others receive me?

Action:  Do something in honor of someone who received you and had a positive impact on your faith.

Thought for Friday September 28

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 11

There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for everything under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.

Luke 9: 18 – 22  Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

Have I ever said or done exactly the right thing at exactly the wrong time?   What is it time for me to do right now?

Action:  Go do what it is time to do.

Thought for Thursday September 27

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.

Ecclesiastes 1: 2 – 11  What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun?

Does this mean I shouldn’t work?  Is there any real profit that comes from labor alone? 

Action:  Invest yourself in things that yield a profit – love, faith, hope.

Thought for Wednesday September 26

Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.
The law of your mouth is to me more precious
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

Luke 9: 1 – 6  He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.

Is a journey different from a business trip or a vacation?  Am I prepared for the journey God is calling me to take? 

Action:  Start preparing yourself for a journey even if you don’t know what it is; are there things you are too attached to, are their relationships that are not strong enough to endure, what would you need help with and how would you get it…

Thought for Tuesday September 25

Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

Proverbs 21: 1 - 6, 10 - 13  Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.

Will I lie if it profits me?  Have I ever told a lie that still haunts me?

Action:  Tell the truth in your thoughts, words, and deeds.

Thought for Monday September 24

The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Luke 8: 16 – 18 To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.

What do I want more of that I already have?  What has been taken from me?  

Action:  Share what you have (spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual) with someone who has nothing.

Thought for Friday September 21

I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.
I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

James 2: 14  - 18  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well, " but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? 

What works arise from my faith?  Do I find that doing works helps my faith grow?

Action:  Do some good works this weekend.

Thought for Thursday September 20

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
"His mercy endures forever."
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

Luke 7: 36 – 50  "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?"

How do I “measure” love?   How do I express love?

Action:  Show somebody some love today.

Thought for Wednesday September 19

Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

1 Corinthians 12: 31 – 13: 13  If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love,  I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.  And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Do I have love?    If I look at the people around me, can I see that the love I give has a positive impact?

Action:  Spend some time thinking about what love is.  Want some inspiration:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YnfCH7LNcM

Thought for Tuesday September 18

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 and rise to new possibilities in your  life.

Thought for Monday September 17

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.

Luke 7: 1 – 10   A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.

Who is valuable to me?   What do I want Jesus to do for that person?

Action:   Do something to make yourself valuable to someone else.

Thought for Thursday September 13

Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.
O LORD, you have probed me and 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.
Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way.

Luke 6: 27 – 38  Jesus said to his disciples: "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Does loving your enemies mean you have to condone their actions?   Am I sometimes willing to sacrifice a bit of what I believe to avoid conflict?

Action:  Spend some time examining your faith and beliefs and look closely for anything you “gave up” in order to get along.  Face yourself honestly and reset you faith if you need to.  [e.g. If you know non-Catholics who do not accept the real presence in the Eucharist and you have accepted a middle-ground.] 

Thought for Wednesday September 12

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 now hungry, for you will be satisfied…  But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry.

What sounds better to me, being hungry with the promise of being satisfied or being full with the promise of being hungry again?  For what do I most hunger?

Action:  Fast (from all food, a favorite food, an activity, or something else) for a little while so that you can appreciate the promise of being satisfied.

Thought for Tuesday September 11

The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.

The Lord takes delight in his people.

Luke 6: 12 – 19  When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:

Would I have felt relief or disappointment if I had not been chosen?   Would I rather just “live a good life” or go out into the world to be Christ’s body on earth?

Action:  Accept the work Jesus is asking you to do.

Thought for Monday September 10

Lead me in your justice, Lord.

But let all who take refuge in you
be glad and exult forever.
Protect them, that you may be the joy
of those who love your name.
Lead me in your justice, Lord.

Luke 6: 6 – 11   The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him… Then Jesus said to them,  "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?"

Do I spend any of my energy trying to catch people doing something wrong?  Do I know anyone who just seems to enjoy complaining?

Action:  Think of the person with whom you most disagree and find 3 things you can appreciate in him or her.

Thought for Friday September 7

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
and forsakes not his faithful ones.
Criminals are destroyed 
and the posterity of the wicked is cut off.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4: 1 – 5  Brothers and sisters:  Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

Do I believe that God trusts me to be his body on earth?   Have I been entrusted with any responsibility that is greater or less than any of the saints?

Action:  Do the work God has entrusted you to do.

Thought for Tuesday September 4

The Lord is just in all his ways.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and of great kindness.

The LORD is good to all

and compassionate toward all his works.

The Lord is just in all his ways. 

Luke 4: 31 – 37  In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,  and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?

Why wouldn’t Jesus just destroy an unclean demon?  What evil would I like to see destroyed?

Action:  Try destroying a little bit of the evil that lives in you.