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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

WEEKLY DIGEST OF rc
DAILY MEDITATIONS

Week August 23 - 30, 2026

Sunday, August 23, 2026 – Face Your God

Monday, August 24, 2026 – A Penetrating Look

Tuesday, August 25, 2026 – Ideal versus Real

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 – There’s No Time Like the Present

Thursday, August 27, 2026 – Christian, Recognize Your Dignity!

Friday, August 28, 2026 – Shining Glory

Saturday, August 29, 2026 – Live in the Truth!

Sunday, August 30, 2026 – Random Acts of Kindness

August 23, 2026 – Face Your God

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Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 16:13-20

Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 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. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Opening Prayer: Holy Spirit, descend upon me as I gather myself in order to spend a moment in personal prayer. Fill my heart with your grace so that I can recognize the presence of Jesus Christ in my life, his presence here and now.

Encountering Christ:

  1. When You Spend Time with Jesus: The disciples had spent months with Jesus by now. Having grown into a group of close friends, they were probably getting used to their new lifestyle as “knights errant,” ever on the road, looking for the next town in which to preach. Sure, Jesus would surprise them every now and then with lofty speeches or mighty deeds, but even that might have been starting to feel quite normal. Then, suddenly, heinterrupted their smoothly-running normality and asked, “Who do you say that I am?” For a moment, the world held its breath, as did each one of the disciples. The semblance of normality disappeared into thin air, and their commitment to the mission was tested as they prepared to answer: Who is Jesus of Nazareth?

     

  2. When Christ Taps on Your Shoulder: Our Lord has made himself human, “normal,” so that we can approach him and walk beside him in our daily life. Like the disciples during their journey through the mountains of Palestine, our Christian life can fall into a certain routine. However, every now and then, Our Lord can make us pause. He puts his hand on our shoulder signaling us to stop, then steps in front of us, faces us, and, while locking eyes, asks us that very question. He, God himself, is interested in hearing our personal answer time and again.

     

  3. When You Stand before God: Just like the disciples, who paused in momentary silence, our knees might well get wobbly for a second when we face the Almighty. Peter finally broke the spell when he professed Christ’s divinity, causing everyone who was feeling so comfortable a minute ago to pause and reflect. They were in God’s very presence and probably felt prompted to take off their shoes and kneel, for they stood on holy ground (cf. Ex 3:5). Yet, where God’s greatness shines, man is not crushed, but elevated; Peter was not ordered to prostrate himself, but was raised to become Jesus’ prime witness and minister of his mercy.

Conversing with Christ: My Lord, as you stand before me and look at me expectantly, I consider both your greatness and your humble presence in my life. You are the Eternal Son of the Father, true God and King of the universe. And yet you are interested in me and care for the tiny reality of my life. I renew my faith in you and profess it, knowing that your reign will not crush my development, but empower it.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will consciously praise your greatness and power in my life, allowing you to lead me to whatever responsibilities you have in mind for me.

For Further Reflection: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 441-442:

In the Old Testament, “son of God” is a title given to the angels, the Chosen People, the children of Israel, and their kings. It signifies an adoptive sonship that establishes a relationship of particular intimacy between God and his creature. When the promised Messiah-King is called “son of God,” it does not necessarily imply that he was more than human, according to the literal meaning of these texts. Those who called Jesus “son of God,” as the Messiah of Israel, perhaps meant nothing more than this. Such is not the case for Simon Peter when he confesses Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” for Jesus responds solemnly: “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” Similarly Paul will write, regarding his conversion on the road to Damascus, “When he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles…” (Galatians 1:15-16). “And in the synagogues immediately [Paul] proclaimed Jesus, saying, ‘He is the Son of God’” (Acts 9:20). From the beginning this acknowledgment of Christ’s divine Sonship will be the center of the apostolic faith, first professed by Peter as the Church’s foundation.

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 24, 2026 – A Penetrating Look

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Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle

John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Opening Prayer: My Lord, here I am. I invite you to come and lay your eyes on my soul. I want to put aside all distractions and return that look.

Encountering Christ: 

  1. There Is No Duplicity in Him: The way in which Jesus described Nathanael speaks of integrity, honesty, and justice. The Gospel passage seems to suggest further that the encounter between such a person and Christ is characterized by profound and almost immediate mutual recognition—almost as if the absence of duplicity clears the way for man to come to faith.

     

  2. How Do You Know Me?: At first glance, the sudden realization that we are known by another may frighten us. At the same time, to be known is one of our deepest desires and needs. To stand fast while someone’s gaze embraces our soul: We know that nothing makes us feel more vulnerable, but we also know that nothing can bring greater joy than this type of communion. That is what awaits us in heaven: perfectly joyful communion among each other, while basking in the loving and eternal gaze of God.

     

  3. You Are the Son of God: Jesus and Nathanael locked eyes in this passage. Something extraordinary happened here, and Nathanael realized this in an instant. To pray means to lock eyes with Jesus. What sensation does that provoke? Fear? When we put all duplicity aside and allow the Holy Spirit to replace that fear with the genuine desire to be known by Our Lord, joyful communion will take possession of us, and Nathanael’s profession of faith can become our own.

Conversing with Christ: My Lord, no one sees into the depths of my heart like you do. Sometimes, I want to hide from your gaze because it makes me feel vulnerable. I now renew my trust in you: I have nothing to fear from you, and there is nothing in me that I cannot show to you. Your gaze does not sting but soothes and heals.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will bask in your gaze by spending a few moments in prayer and simply allow you to see me.

For Further Reflection: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1024:

This perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity—this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels, and all the blessed—is called “heaven.” Heaven is the ultimate end and fulfillment of the deepest human longings, the state of supreme, definitive happiness.

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 25, 2026 – Ideal versus Real

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Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. But these you should have done, without neglecting the others. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.”

Opening Prayer: My Lord, teach me how to pray. I want to recollect myself and become aware of your presence here, and of your words for me now. Amen.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Is Jesus Angry?: Few times do we hear such harsh words from Our Lord. Jesus does not like hypocrisy, not at all. While he surprised everyone around him, time and again, with his clemency regarding all types of sinners, he had little patience for the Pharisees’ hypocrisy.

     

  2. Jesus Wants the Real You: In general, sin does not stop Jesus from fulfilling his mission. On the contrary, sinfulness is precisely what he has come to address, to heal, and to redeem. So there is really nothing we can do that would cause Jesus to abandon us; no sin is too grave, no crime too gruesome, to prevent the Savior of the world from coming closer. But Jesus is not simply interested in defeating sin. He wants to reestablish our integrity. He wants to make us whole and holy. When we mask our real self and hide, we undermine Jesus’ mission. Jesus looks for us in our true reality, within our actual condition. For he has come to redeem us, the real us.

     

  3. We Are Good Actors: A hypocrite projects an image of himself that does not match his true being; he espouses ideals yet falls short in actions. Our Lord wants us to be vulnerable enough to shed any false mask we wear and let him touch our heart with his healing grace. Sometimes, however, we don’t realize we’re acting or hiding behind a facade. In this case, the saints urge us to pray for greater self-knowledge. Self-knowledge, coupled with knowledge of God, produces humility, a virtue without which we cannot make progress in the spiritual life.

Conversing with Christ: My Lord, you have no problem with me having problems, but only with my failing to admit them. You have died for my sins. Before such love, I let all my masks fall and meet your gaze without filters. Look at me, O Lord.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will examine my conscience in the “freedom of the children of God” (cf. Rom 8:21), thus not with fear, but in the awareness that Christ wants to meet me where I am and heal me.

For Further Reflection: Pope Francis’ mediation on “The Freedom of God’s children“ (July 4, 2013).

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 26, 2026 – There’s No Time Like the Present

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Wednesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

Matthew 23:27-32

Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”

Opening Prayer: My Lord, help me to listen with an open heart and root out any pharisaical tendencies I see there.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Woe to You: Jesus told the Pharisees that, while they appeared beautiful on the outside, they were full of filth inside. He looked directly into their souls, as he does into ours. Power, beauty, and honor can corrupt. If we’re beautiful on the outside, praise him. If we’re in leadership positions, like the Pharisees were, depend on him. If we’re being honored, it’s because Jesus allowed it. Only by relying solely on Jesus, and not on our own gifts and strengths, will we avoid condemnation like the Pharisees. May Jesus never say to us, “Woe to you.”

     

  2. The Moment Is Now: Jesus pointed out how absurd it was for those who wanted to kill him to claim that they wouldn’t have killed the prophets. “Thus you bear witness against yourselves,” he remarked. Such hypocrisy must be absent from my life. If I want to be a hero, a Christian leader, a saint tomorrow, this desire is authentic in as much as I act accordingly today. If I want to live a lifetime with Jesus, my desire shows in how dedicated I am to him today. If I want to become the best version of myself, now is a good time to start.

     

  3. Good Deeds, Wrong Reasons: Jesus acknowledged in his condemnation of the Pharisees that they had done good deeds. They built and adorned tombs for the prophets. Yet, they did these things to appear righteous. Do I look for approval, affirmation, and admiration from other people, especially those who are closest to me? Am I tempted to talk about myself and my accomplishments? Have I compromised my principles in order to fit in and be accepted? Our Lord knows our weaknesses and extends his loving arms in forgiveness. The Pharisees rejected Jesus’ invitations. Let’s repent of our vanities and fall into his embrace.

Conversing with Christ: My Lord Jesus Christ, often I yearn for clarity. My heart longs for a safe harbor, a home. I beg you, put into my heart the confidence that you will guide me. I hope in you, for you are my eternal home, my safe harbor, my guarantee for future happiness. Teach me to live from this trust today, so that I can embrace fully one day what I hope for now.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will put into action a good intention, something which I have been wanting to do for a long time but haven’t done yet.

For Further Reflection: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2014-2016

Spiritual progress tends toward ever more intimate union with Christ. This union is called “mystical” because it participates in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments—”the holy mysteries”—and, in him, in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. God calls us all to this intimate union with him, even if the special graces or extraordinary signs of this mystical life are granted only to some for the sake of manifesting the gratuitous gift given to all. The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes: “He who climbs never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows” (St. Gregory of Nyssa, Hom. in Cant. 8: PG 44, 941C). The children of our holy mother the Church rightly hope for the grace of final perseverance and the recompense of God their Father for the good works accomplished with his grace in communion with Jesus. Keeping the same rule of life, believers share the “blessed hope” of those whom the divine mercy gathers into the “holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 27, 2026 – Christian, Recognize Your Dignity!

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Memorial of St. Monica

Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples: “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. Who, then, is the faithful and prudent servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to distribute to them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on his arrival finds doing so. Amen, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is long delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with drunkards, the servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.”

Opening Prayer: My Lord, I stand before you as someone who has many needs. You remind me today that you are more than happy to help me out with all my struggles. Strengthen my trust, so that I can allow you to lighten my burden.

Encountering Christ:

  1. The Big Picture: This is certainly one of those Gospels that keeps me on my toes. Even though I wish I wouldn’t need constant reminders, real experience shows that spiritual and moral life needs renewal daily, even sometimes hourly. Today, Jesus urges us to consider the big picture as a way of motivation and renewal: “Remember where all this is going, live with one eye focused on the eternal things, stay attuned to the Holy Spirit who will grant you a supernatural lookout on things.”

     

  2. The Orientation of the Heart: When Jesus steps into our lives and shakes us, gently but decisively, it’s as if to say, “Remember your dreams, remember your heart’s deepest desires, remember what I have done for you.” He never grows tired of reorienting us, as we frequently get sidetracked. Simple distractions can hinder our spiritual journey more subtly than can the “direct” sins, which is why the orientation of our heart can be a good point to examine in our conscience frequently.

     

  3. Jesus Will Come: Jesus will come, and before long we will stand in front of him. May it be a moment of passionate joy! He will speak, and all our doubts will be whisked away. The one encounter that surpasses all the others, that encounter for which we prepare during this life will come!

Conversing with Christ: My Lord, thy Kingdom come! I really can’t wait to be with you. You have given us so many ways in the Church to encounter you while awaiting the ultimate encounter. Renew my faith in the Sacraments, and renew my faith that you are present in Scripture and in my neighbors. Above all, Lord, grant me the grace of being a “faithful and prudent servant.”

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will remember and renew my desire to live in you, with you, and for you.

For Further Reflection: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1691, 1693, and 1696

“Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God.” Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father, and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ’s disciples are invited to live in the sight of the Father “who sees in secret,” in order to become “perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” The way of Christ “leads to life”; a contrary way “leads to destruction.” The Gospel parable of the two ways remains ever present in the catechesis of the Church; it shows the importance of moral decisions for our salvation: “There are two ways, the one of life, the other of death; but between the two, there is a great difference.”

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 28, 2026 – Shining Glory

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Memorial of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Matthew 25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The Kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Opening Prayer: My Lord, you reveal to us the fullness of what it means to become truly human. I renew my faith in the promise that you will lead me to this fulfillment.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Right Place at the Right Time: In this parable, Jesus told us that ten virgins “went out to meet the bridegroom.” All ten of them were in the right place when the bridegroom arrived. Yet, some were unprepared to actually go into the feast. Even good people can be in the “right place” for the wrong reasons. Let’s look with fresh insight into the purity of intention with which we strive to live out our relationship with Christ and with others.

     

  2. What’s the Lesson?: Jesus always teaches a spiritual lesson in his parables. In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ message focuses on lamps. Like yesterday, his point is to encourage us to prepare for his coming. The shining lamps stand for the virtues with which we want to present ourselves; the oil is the persevering dedication we need in order to grow in these virtues by living accordingly.

     

  3. Too Sleepy?: Our Lord is the bridegroom, and he invites each of us into the wedding feast. He is asking each of us to consider whether we are foolish virgins or wise ones. Do we eagerly anticipate an encounter with Jesus in our daily prayer, in the sacraments, in our neighbor? Or are we “unprepared,” distracted, or too sleepy?

Conversing with Christ: Lord, grant me the grace to see you in all things, in my everyday tasks. I invite you, Lord, to make yourself present in today’s tasks, to accompany me, nudge me, smile at me in every possible moment. Teach me to recognize you, so that I can smile back!

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will evaluate my preparedness for entering the wedding feast, and make a date to go to confession, as necessary.

For Further Reflection: Read one of these examinations of conscience from the USCCB.

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 29, 2026 – Live in the Truth!

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Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist

Mark 6:17-29

Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Opening Prayer: My Lord, let your Spirit widen my heart through your words and with your wisdom. Help me to become more like you and teach me to love my neighbor as you love me. Amen.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Silencing the Truth: John the Baptist gives us a clear example of leadership. Facing the moral and legal misconduct of King Herod, he could not remain silent. This of course triggered hostile reactions by those who stood accused. On the one hand, there was Herodias. Filled with hatred, she wanted to silence the bothering voice of the prophet. The starkness of that anger suggests that she sensed danger in the Baptist’s righteous words. Whether she worried that public opinion would turn against her, or that she might lose Herod’s favor, Herodias feared the truth and sought to silence it. She wanted to defeat the truth, kill it, thinking that it was a threat to her happiness.

     

  2. Imprisoning the Truth: On the other hand, there was Herod. He feared the truth too. But instead of triggering violence in him, the Baptist’s words intrigued him. He could see the beauty of virtue, could admire the heroism of the prophet, could probably even have harbored the desire to be different himself. But, ultimately, he could not change. He heard the accusation, he sensed the compelling power of truth, and yet he could not invite that truth in. Herod tried to incarcerate the truth, store it away, possess it without having to obey it. If we feel attracted to the truth but don’t have the courage to succumb to it, we also sometimes try to tame it and bend it so that we can control it.

     

  3. The Truth Is No Threat to Our Happiness: These two reactions are patterns for both the cultural battle in our world and the spiritual battle in our personal lives. When taking on the role of the prophet in our world, denouncing what is wrong and giving a voice to the truth, we may encounter both types of reactions. And when the truth knocks on the door of our own heart suggesting that we change our conduct, we also may be tempted with both kinds of reactions. The truth can be neither defeated nor incarcerated. Most importantly, the truth is no threat to our happiness.

Conversing with Christ: My Lord Jesus Christ, I trust in you. Daily life tempts me to think that I am the only one responsible for my happiness. Instead, I know that you are continuously guiding me toward greater joy and fulfilment. Nobody—not even I myself—can make me as happy as you can. Increase therefore my readiness to embrace your truth always and everywhere. Take away my fear of change, let me overcome the constant temptation of thinking I know better than you do, and send prophets of truth into my life who can redirect me when I’m mistaken. Lastly, Lord, send me to be a voice of truth myself. Not a grating voice with a lack of charity that can extinguish a smoldering wick, but the voice of a collaborator of the truth who seeks the true happiness of his brothers and sisters.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will examine my attitude toward the truths the Church teaches. Am I trying to defeat or incarcerate a truth in my life?

For Further Reflection: Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2465-2470

The Old Testament attests that God is the source of all truth. His Word is truth. His Law is truth. His “faithfulness endures to all generations.” Since God is “true,” the members of his people are called to live in the truth. In Jesus Christ, the whole of God’s truth has been made manifest. “Full of grace and truth,” he came as the “light of the world,” he is the Truth. “Whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” The disciple of Jesus continues in his word so as to know “the truth [that] will make you free” and that sanctifies. To follow Jesus is to live in “the Spirit of truth,” whom the Father sends in his name and who leads “into all the truth.” To his disciples Jesus teaches the unconditional love of truth: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes or No.’” Man tends by nature toward the truth. He is obliged to honor and bear witness to it: “It is in accordance with their dignity that all men, because they are persons . . . are both impelled by their nature and bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth once they come to know it and direct their whole lives in accordance with the demands of truth.” Truth as uprightness in human action and speech is called truthfulness, sincerity, or candor. Truth or truthfulness is the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and in guarding against duplicity, dissimulation, and hypocrisy. “Men could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another.” The virtue of truth gives another his just due. Truthfulness keeps to the just mean between what ought to be expressed and what ought to be kept secret: it entails honesty and discretion. In justice, “as a matter of honor, one man owes it to another to manifest the truth.” The disciple of Christ consents to “live in the truth,” that is, in the simplicity of a life in conformity with the Lord’s example, abiding in his truth. “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth.”

Father Gabriel von Wendt, LC, works as an assistant professor at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He has a passion for philosophy and the role of Catholic faith in contemporary culture.

August 30, 2026 – Random Acts of Kindness

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Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 16:21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Then 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 all according to his conduct.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I come before you today seeking your will, difficult though it may be. Grant me the wisdom to know what you want from me, the generosity to accept it, and the strength to carry it out. May everything I do today reflect your holy will.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Tough Words: As Jesus began to reveal the suffering that awaited him, Peter reacted strongly. “God forbid, Lord!” he told God himself. Peter seemed to be saying to the Son of God, “Peter knows best.” Every time we step outside of God’s will, we behave like Peter, saying, “I know best, Lord.” Jesus claimed Peter was an obstacle to him. The totality of our sin also threatened to become an obstacle to Jesus during his passion. Jesus begged his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Take this cup from me.” May we be enlightened by the Holy Spirit to know the evil of sin, aiming to be a messenger of God’s goodness, not an obstacle.

     

  2. “Get Behind Me”: In his humanity, Jesus was apparently upset by Peter’s words and thus ordered Peter to “Get behind me, Satan!” As difficult as that must have been for Peter to hear, Jesus teaches us a lesson about how to pray when we’re upset. We are to acknowledge our feelings to Jesus and then beg him for help in our circumstance, praying in his words, “Get behind me, Satan!” to the temptation we face.

     

  3. For My Sake: Jesus said, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Among the young adults in our culture, acts of service are admired, and having a sense of mission in one’s work boosts employee engagement. These are good things! However, among the “nones” (those who subscribe to no faith tradition), humanitarian deeds and having a sense of mission are essential for self-fulfillment, and not always “for his sake.” All works, even the smallest and invisible, are pleasing to God when they’re done “for his sake.” Let’s pray for purity of intention in all our thoughts and deeds.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, many times, I fear, my actions don’t serve you as they ought. Remind me, Lord, that I am your servant, and in your name I serve the people you place in my path.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will do a hidden kindness for someone I encounter for “your sake.”

For Further Reflection: Check out this list of corporal and spiritual works of mercy for inspiration.

Maribeth Harper celebrated paying the last tuition bill for her kids’ college by writing a book for parents who have college-aged young adults: A Spiritual Toolbox: Tips for Parenting through the First Year of College. She is a wife of over thirty-five years, mother of four, and grandmother of twelve and counting.

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!