Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr

John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” 

Opening Prayer: O my Jesus, dying to myself is not an easy thing to consider. But I trust in you to take care of me in all circumstances. Help me to be open to dying to myself so that you might live in me.

Encountering Christ:

1. Fruitful Paradox: Jesus offers us a great truth here: A grain of wheat is only a tiny seed unless it falls to the ground, is buried in the soil, and sprouts forth new life. In this way, the one little grain becomes fruitful and is multiplied. By dying to itself, it becomes greater than itself. What a mysterious paradox: In order to have life, we must die. He gives us a second, related paradox as well, in that we must lose our lives in order to save them. The message here is that we are called to be detached from everything worldly—even our very lives—and be completely attached to Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:19-20).

    

2. Detachment from the World: Detachment is a necessary component of discipleship. Jesus’ first disciples were called to radical detachment from the moment they met him. In Matthew 4, Jesus called the two sets of brothers on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and they immediately left their nets, boats, and family behind in order to do so (cf. Mt 4:18-22). When we examine our conscience, we can look to see what we need to detach from in order to become closer to Jesus. Could we offer a small but meaningful sacrifice? Or maybe we can identify a specific pattern of sin that holds us back from truly loving Jesus and others.

    

3. Attachment to Christ: As Christian disciples, we are called to serve him and our neighbors with love. In order to represent him here on earth, to be “ambassadors for Christ” (cf. 2 Cor 5:20), we are called to be fully attached to him. When we “remain in him,” like branches remain on a vine (cf. Jn 15:4), we will have everything we need to bring him to our family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. He will also bring us complete contentment and joy: “If they listen and serve him, they spend their days in prosperity, their years in happiness” (Job 36:11).

Conversing with Christ: Dear Jesus, what would you like me to cast aside in order to draw nearer to you? What shall I surrender to you so that I can be your disciple and follow you more closely? Please show me how I can love and serve you and others with a pure heart.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will look for opportunities to die to myself so that I might more closely resemble you.

For Further Reflection: Read Mt 4:18-22 and reflect on how the first disciples left their livelihoods, families, and even their very identities as fishermen behind in order to follow Christ and be part of something much bigger than themselves.

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and a lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at word-life-light.com.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 14:22-33

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Opening Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit. Everything distracts me, and I can feel tossed about by the waves of this world and all its needs and concerns. Please still my heart in this moment so that I can hear you speak to me in this Gospel.

Encountering Christ:

1. Jesus Calms the Water: Why do you suppose that Jesus walked on the sea? He did not have to go to his disciples at all; he could have spoken a word of peace from the shore, and the sea would have obeyed. Or he could have simply appeared in the boat. Jesus chose to walk on the water to demonstrate his power over the turbulent sea: “Through the sea was your way; your path, through the mighty waters, though your footsteps were unseen” (Ps 77:20). I can ask myself what parts of my life are turbulent and characterized by conflict and disorder. Where do I feel powerless and “tossed about by the waves”? I can call out to Jesus and ask him to come to me in his power and calm the violent waters that sometimes rage in my life.

    

2. Focused on Christ: Peter’s faith was bold, but perhaps not fully developed. It was his idea to walk on the sea! He even succeeded while he focused on moving toward Jesus. However, when he looked away from Christ and at the situation around him instead, he became afraid. If we keep our eyes on Christ during the turbulent times in our lives, we will have no fear. For Jesus is love, and “there is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear…” (1 Jn 4:18).

    

3. “Lord, Save Me!”: If we fall under the turbulent waters in our confusion or despair, we should call out to Christ to be our Savior as Peter did: “Lord, save me!” Psalm 69 reads: “Save me, God, for the waters have reached my neck” (Ps 69:2). Instead, we can trust that Jesus is there with us in the midst of our trials and sufferings. Jesus is peace! When we are going through turbulent waters, we can ask Jesus to be with us and keep our hearts and minds calm amid the distress around us: “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, how often I have been tossed about by the winds of life. How often the waves of fear and uncertainty have sent me crashing down. Please give me the grace to keep my eyes focused on you in these times. Help me to remember that you are the true source of my peace.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pray about which storm in my life needs Jesus’ calming and powerful presence.

Carey Boyzuck is a wife, mother, freelance writer, and a lay member of Regnum Christi. She blogs at word-life-light.com.

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

Matthew 17:14-20

A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said, “Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely; often he falls into fire, and often into water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?  Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him, and from that hour the boy was cured. Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Opening Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, come into my heart, purify me, and lead me through this encounter with the Trinity.

Encountering Christ:

1. The Father’s Prayer: We see here a father’s heart at prayer. This man knelt down before Jesus and said, “Lord, have pity on my son…” We can imagine how deeply these words penetrated the heart of Jesus. He was moved to compassion for both that boy and his father. Why was this father’s prayer so powerful?

    

2. Openness to God: This father was persevering and confident in the power of Jesus. “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him,” the man told Jesus. When we do not get what we expect from prayer, do we wallow in disappointment, discouragement, or anger? Or do we pray to be more patient, persevering, and humble? Do we recognize that our “failures in prayer” could be one way God strengthens our faith?

    

3. A Mustard Seed of Faith: Pure hearts are faith-filled and faithful, and God hears the pleas of these just souls: “The clean of hand and pure of heart, who has not given his soul to useless things, what is vain. He will receive blessings from the Lord” (Ps 24:4-5). We must continually look at the motivations of our hearts and beg the Lord to increase our faith and purify us. The purer we are, the more effective is our prayer. And, as Jesus reminds us, the purehearted can move mountains in the establishment of his Kingdom here on earth.

Conversing with Christ: O Lord, I know you want me to have a clean heart, and I am willing to pay any sacrificial price you ask of me. Show me where I need purification and give me the strength to do what is necessary, so that I can move mountains on your behalf and for your glory.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will pray to hear and discern what you want to purify in me and seek out the sacrament of reconciliation as a first step.

For Further Reflection: The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas à Kempis.

Father Bernardo Torres, LC, was born and raised in Mexico City. He works as the vocation coordinator at the seminary in Cheshire, CT.

Friday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, on this Friday, I recall the sacrifice made on Good Friday when my life was redeemed by your sacrifice on the Cross. I believe in the redemptive value of my sacrifice united to yours. Increase my faith, hope, and love. Please also grant me a deep, penetrating knowledge of the love you have for me so that I can better love you and those around me.

Encountering Christ:

1. Self-Denial: What is the purpose of giving up something legitimately good? I remember speaking with an affluent adolescent girl about sacrifice, and she didn’t get the point. Why offer up something like sleeping without a pillow if I have five pillows and could sleep comfortably? Why not eat chocolate if I would enjoy it? Why deny myself during Lent or Advent or at some other time of the year? Because one’s conduct reveals the seriousness of one’s intention. By making little sacrifices like these, we are saying, “I love you, Lord.” And, as our Gospel tells us, “The Son of Man will […] repay each according to his conduct.”

    

2. The Story of Judith: In the Old Testament book of Judith, the Jewish town of Bethulia had been besieged by the Persians. Judith, inspired by the Holy Spirit, devised a plan to intervene and save her people. Before carrying out her plan, she spent time in prayer and fasting so that she could better commune with the Lord. She entrusted the success of the plan to him. Sacrifices like fasting open our heart more readily to obey the Lord’s will.

    

3. Sacrifice Is Redemptive: Jesus’ death on the Cross redeemed us from our sin and reconciled us to the Father. When we unite our fasting, almsgiving, or hidden acts of kindness to Jesus’ supreme act of love, they become spiritually powerful. In fact, all kinds of suffering offered to Jesus has merit. Jesus said to St. Faustina, “My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls through sacrifice and prayer… You shall accept all sufferings with love. Do not be afflicted if your heart often experiences repugnance and dislike for sacrifice. All its power rests in the will, and so these contrary feelings, far from lowering the value of the sacrifice in my eyes, will enhance it. Know that your body and soul will often be in the midst of fire. Although you will not feel my presence on some occasions, I will always be with you. Do not fear; my grace will be with you…” (Diary#1767).

Conversing with Christ: Lord, whether I suffer willingly or because of life circumstances, it’s a comfort to know that you receive my sufferings as a gift of love. Thank you for your supreme sacrifice, and help me to trust that, when I offer my meager sufferings, they help to spread your Kingdom.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will offer a small sacrifice for an intention that is on my heart.

For Further Reflection: Read and reflect on the Book of Judith in the Old Testament.

Renee Pomarico is Communications Director for the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi. She is from Philadelphia, has been consecrated to God since 2000, and is currently stationed in Rome.