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RC DAILY MEDITATIONS
RC DAILY MEDITATIONS

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DAILY MEDITATIONS

Week of October 4 - 11, 2026

Sunday, October 4, 2026 – They Will Respect My Son

Monday, October 5, 2026 – Charity Above All (Part 1)

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 – Charity Above All (Part 2)

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 – How to Pray

Thursday, October 8, 2026 – God the Friend, God the Father

Friday, October 9, 2026 – Driving Power

Saturday, October 10, 2026 – Blessed Are We

Sunday, October 11, 2026 – A Banquet Invitation

October 4, 2026 – They Will Respect My Son

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Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, here I am; teach me to pray. I know that you are here with me and listening; thank you. Help me to be open to hear your voice speaking in my heart.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Leasing This Vineyard: The tenants in this parable were a little too attached to the vineyard they were cultivating. They had forgotten that the land was not theirs—it belonged to someone else who was going to demand a return on his investment. It is so easy for us to get comfortable with our lives and start to think that we have everything under control. Christ is asking us to remember that following him demands radical faith. As Charles de Foucauld said, “The moment I realized that God existed, I knew that I could not do otherwise than to live for him alone… Faith strips the mask from the world and reveals God in everything. It makes nothing impossible and renders meaningless such words as anxiety, danger, and fear, so that the believer goes through life calmly and peacefully, with profound joy—like a child, hand in hand with his mother.”

     

  2. “Surely They Will Respect My Son”: It is impossible not to be touched by these words of Christ: “… Surely they will respect my son…” When he tells this parable he has only a week to live, and he knows it. He has always known it. But still, he chooses to come to Jerusalem to die. “Surely they will respect my son…” Almost as if he chooses to turn a blind eye to reality. But no, this is not Christ being naive; this is Christ being human. He grieves with his very human heart at the Pharisees’ hardheartedness, the world’s hardheartedness, our hardheartedness. Let’s take a moment, before thinking about how to change our lives or what we can do better to serve Christ, simply to try to experience the sorrow Christ must be feeling. He loves us and, though we do not deserve it, he comes to save us. Let us ask Christ to show us all he has done for us, and to grant us the grace to grieve for not having respected his Son.

     

  3. Not a Gospel of Fear: Hearing about the “wretched death” the unfaithful will face might cause us to feel anxiety or fear as we reflect on our own inevitable judgment. We can wonder, “Am I bearing fruit? Am I rejecting Christ also?” A moment of self-examination before the Lord is always appropriate, but only when we remember who the landowner is. He built a vineyard for us, he allows us to live here, and he sent his Son to redeem us. Our good God is not a boss or a slave master. He is not going to judge us based on the external things we have done for him, but on the fruits of love that we have borne. Am I bearing fruits of love? Am I trying to love Christ and others more each day?

Conversing with Christ: Lord, I see all around me how you are scorned, mocked, and ignored by the world. I want to make up for all the pain you receive from the world; accept my little love as some consolation.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will try to alleviate someone’s suffering with a smile, a touch, or an assist, as a small remedy for the countless times you are disrespected.

For Further Reflection: Christ has something similar to say in Luke 13:34—it is so painful for him to experience rejection, not for his sake, but for ours.

Riley Connors was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied classical humanities and philosophy with the Legionaries of Christ. He enjoys running, thinking, praying, and, on occasion, all three.

October 5, 2026 – Charity Above All (Part 1)

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Monday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds, and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, thank you for this time to pray. Thank you for the gifts you have given me. Make my heart more like yours; help me see the people lying on the side of the road of my life, and give me the courage to pick them up and help them on their way.

Encountering Christ:

  1. The Simple Life: Life, when it comes down to it, is really very simple. At least, what Christ asks of us is very simple: Love God and love others. The scholar in this episode knew what to do, but as it is with us, he found it difficult to put into practice. So he started rationalizing, just like we do: “Who really is my neighbor? Surely I don’t have to love everyone as myself—that is impossible! Everyone? As myself?” Christ sees that this scholar does not need rational arguments, but an image, and so he gives us the beautiful parable of the Good Samaritan, showing us that charity is not something we think out and prepare, but something that either we have in our hearts or we don’t. If we have it, it will overflow to the people around us. If not, we will pass by on the other side of the road.

     

  2. The Dictatorship of Human Respect: What made the priest and the Levite pass by this poor man lying on the side of the road? Surely they knew that they should help him… didn’t they? It’s easy for us to judge them, but we do the same thing all the time. How often do we “pass by” because we’re embarrassed, because it would just be too awkward. The Good Samaritan, meanwhile, sees someone lying almost dead on the side of the road, hears his conscience nudge him to go to the man’s aid, and does it. The need of the other was more important than his own “awkwardness.” May we realize that awkwardness or human respect is never an excuse to leave others suffering.

     

  3. Go and Do Likewise: Christ does not say to go and be nice. He does not say go and empathize. He does not say go and help others if you find yourselves with some free time. Those things are all fine, but the example of charity Christ gives us is different. A man gets off his horse (or out of his car), takes a dying man up, puts him on his own horse, and walks him to the nearest inn (which cannot have been very close—they were in the middle of the wilderness). He sets him up with the innkeeper, to whom he gives around three hundred dollars, and promises to come back. That is what Christ means by charity.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you for this moment of prayer. Help me to see the people in my life lying on the road with no one to help them. Give me eyes like yours to see beyond myself, beyond my needs and wants. Lord, I know you are calling me to serve; open my eyes.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will seek out and help the person I normally pass on the other side of the road.

For Further Reflection: One of the greatest modern examples we have of loving our neighbors is Dorothy Day. Here is a short collection of the thoughts and prayers that sustained her.

Riley Connors was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied classical humanities and philosophy with the Legionaries of Christ. He enjoys running, thinking, praying, and, on occasion, all three.

October 6, 2026 – Charity Above All (Part 2)

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Tuesday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I want to sit at your feet like Mary. I have many things crying for my attention, but I know that being here with you and listening to you speak is the only thing I really need. Give me the strength in this short time of prayer to remain with you throughout the day.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Sitting at the Feet of Christ: Sometimes prayer seems confusing, faraway, impossible. We can feel like we need a new method, more peace and quiet, less to do. When we feel like prayer is impossible, this is the passage to return to. Prayer is not a method; rather, it is being like Mary and simply sitting at the feet of Christ. Or as St. Thérèse put it, “For me, prayer is a burst from my heart, it is a simple glance thrown toward heaven.” Sometimes it will seem like Christ says nothing, sometimes we will feel like doing anything besides getting on our knees, but those are the moments to strive even more to put our heart into prayer, make it real. Mary in this Gospel wanted to soak up every word that Christ uttered, so she planted herself next to him and listened. Let us do the same and foster a real desire to listen to Christ.

     

  2. “Lord, Tell Her to Help Me”: Before we start criticizing Martha for being self-focused, we might want to put ourselves in her place. After all, it is not as if Christ came to the house alone—his seventy-two disciples had just returned from their mission, and they may have all accompanied him to Lazarus’ home. It’s very possible that Martha had almost one hundred mouths to feed on short notice. Martha loved Christ as Mary did. Actually, she was one of the very few who explicitly called Jesus “Christ, the Son of God,” and that was right after Jesus had let her brother die (cf. Jn 11)! But she was a practical woman. As she served, she let her pragmatism get the best of her and believed that Mary’s time would have been better spent feeding the dozens of hungry men.

     

  3. “Martha, Martha…”: Jesus saw the hearts of both women; Mary was not being lazy, maybe just a little distracted, and Martha, while being very responsible, had forgotten that the guest is more important than the meal. So he gently soothed her: “Martha, Martha, it’s going to be okay! Mary has chosen the better part, and I can’t tell her not to love me.” It is easy to imagine Jesus with a gentle smile on his face, lovingly chiding Martha. When we feel overwhelmed by life and its very real difficulties, let us go to Christ, look him in the eyes, and hear him tell us, “Don’t worry! There is one thing necessary: Put your trust in me, and I will never fail you.”

Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you for this time of prayer. I know that no matter how much it seems like I am weak, like I mess up, you will be there to pick me up and send me on my way. Teach me to focus on the one thing necessary, even in the midst of the activity and rush of daily life.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take a moment during the day to put myself back in your presence and offer what I’m doing to you.

For Further Reflection: Fewer have reflected on “the one thing necessary” more than St. Augustine, particularly in his Confessions.

Riley Connors was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied classical humanities and philosophy with the Legionaries of Christ. He enjoys running, thinking, praying, and, on occasion, all three.

October 7, 2026 – How to Pray

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Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Luke 11:1-4

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

Opening Prayer: Father, teach me to pray just as you taught your disciples. You do not seem to speak as we do; teach me to listen to your word.

Encountering Christ: 

  1. “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”: Deep down, every heart longs for prayer, which is different from longing to “say prayers.” This “prayer” that we all want is a deep connection with the Father. The disciples must have seen it in Christ. Luke 5:16 says that, as more and more crowds gathered around him, he would “withdraw to deserted places to pray.” It must have been a common occurrence for Christ to go missing, only for the disciples to find him lost in prayer with the Father. Until they saw Christ praying, prayer for them was reciting the Psalms out loud in the synagogue. Jesus seemed to actually speak to God, as we would in a personal relationship. Unable to contain their curiosity, they mustered up the courage one day after Christ finished praying to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.” We can make the same request any time we struggle with prayer.

     

  2. When You Pray, Say…: The disciples probably imagined that Jesus would teach them something revolutionary, or at least new. After all, no one had ever prayed like Christ. But what he said was really nothing new—in fact, it was rather simple. Christ taught them that God is our Father, that God is our dad. No matter what the qualities or failings of our human father are, there will always be a Father who loves us. That is why we can speak to him normally—speak our mind to him. If we need something, we should ask! If we’re worried about something, we should let God know! If we’re happy, God wants to share in it. When we feel awed by beauty or truth, we recognize the handiwork of the Father and praise him. We are sons and daughters of the King.

     

  3. Forgive Us Our Sins As We Forgive Others: When we pray the words of the Our Father slowly, thinking about what it says, we might pause when we reach this line. The actions of others can cause deep wounds, and we know from experience that we can truly forgive only by the grace of God. When we’re struggling to forgive another, one tried and true way to call down the much-needed grace of God is to reflect deeply on how much and how often God has forgiven us. Receiving mercy and showing mercy is a continuous cycle; one leads to the other. So if we have a hard time forgiving, let’s ask God to show us his mercy.

Conversing with Christ: Jesus, thank you for your love. Make my heart more like yours. Help me forgive my neighbor, remembering that you never cease to forgive me.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will slowly and thoughtfully pray a decade of the Rosary in honor of Our Lady, meditating especially on the Our Father.

For Further Reflection: Pope Francis has a beautiful book on the Our Father, titled Our Father: Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer.

Riley Connors was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied classical humanities and philosophy with the Legionaries of Christ. He enjoys running, thinking, praying, and, on occasion, all three.

October 8, 2026 – God the Friend, God the Father

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Thursday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

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, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I know that you listen to me, I know that you love me, and that you will always provide for me exactly what I need. I trust in you; help me to trust you more.

Encountering Christ:

  1. A True Friend: Ask anyone what they look for in a friend, and more likely than not they will say, “someone I can count on,” or “someone I can trust.” While we are able to trust our friends with our material goods, or to pick us up from the airport, we might fear what they would say if they saw the hidden, perhaps less flattering side of us. There are still things in our lives that we are afraid to entrust to anyone, especially things deep within us—our hopes, fears, desires, and conflicts. Jesus wants to befriend us—all that is good in us, all that is hidden, and all our weaknesses. No matter what we ask of him, no matter what we reveal, he will listen and help. He is completely trustworthy.

     

  2. The Ultimate Dad: Jesus has revealed to us that God the Father is the ultimate father. Or perhaps it is even better to say the ultimate Dad. If even human dads, who are clearly imperfect, are capable of true sacrifice, even heroic sacrifices out of love for their children, just how much more does God the Father, God the Dad, love us? He loves us so much that he has promised the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. The Holy Spirit bears gifts and fruits that are essential to our spiritual well-being. God knows that, no matter what circumstances we face, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit are our remedy!

     

  3. Learning to Trust: It’s beautiful to think about God the Friend and God the Father, but it does not always seem like he hears us when we ask, seek, or knock. We pray for peace, and the family keeps bickering. We pray for patience, and then turn around and lose our temper. We pray for a cure, but our loved ones don’t get better. Of course, we all know the intellectual answers deep in our hearts—that God knows what’s best for us, that God speaks through circumstances, that God’s time is not our time—but we continue to suffer. Evil—sickness and suffering—is a mystery. Our lives may feel scary or even hopeless at times, but Christ remains the light of the world, and the darkness cannot overcome him. Our faith, which is exercised in times of trial, tells us that God is truly a friend and truly a Father; let’s pray for the grace to trust him as a true friend, to love him as a Father.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, I trust in you. You are my friend. Thank you for this time of prayer, for working in my heart, although perhaps I am not always able to feel it. Give me the grace of persistence and patience as I endure the large and small trials in my daily life. I want to glorify you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will offer up some little sacrifice that you present to me and reflect on how it is a gift from you.

For Further Reflection: John Eldredge and his wife Stasi have written several books for men and women, particularly on our relationship with God: Fathered by God and Captivating.

Riley Connors was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied classical humanities and philosophy with the Legionaries of Christ. He enjoys running, thinking, praying, and, on occasion, all three.

October 9, 2026 – Driving Power

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Friday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 11:15-26

When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I come before you this morning, renewing my gratitude at the privilege I have to address you, listen to your words, and hear you speak into my life. Help me to understand the Scriptures you give me today and draw from them an unmistakable message by which to live.

Encountering Christ:

  1. The Power of God: The crowd in this Scripture passage obviously recognized in Jesus an incredible power. They had witnessed him driving out a demon. What they couldn’t see, however, was the origin of this power. They attributed Jesus’ power to the devil. And they followed up by asking for a sign—as if expulsion of devils wasn’t enough. What caused their blindness? Were they hungry for truth or just anxious about preserving the status quo? Therein is a lesson for us. When we find ourselves afraid of change or confused by circumstances, let us not “test” Jesus by asking for a sign. Rather, let us proclaim our faith in God Almighty and trust, like children of the King, that he has our best interests at heart.

     

  2. He Meets Us Where We Are: Jesus responded to the crowd’s challenges, not with complex theological language, but by drawing on their own experience to make his point. “If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out?” His goal was not to insult or belittle. He wanted them to step away from the emotion of the moment and use their reason to come to the conclusion that “the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Strong emotion or fear can prevent us from receiving from Jesus the truth that offers us the ultimate consolation: Jesus is always present, near us, loving and supporting us, suffering with us. This truth is not a complex reality. When we take the time to quiet our hearts, read and reflect on the Scriptures, and pray, we can have very personal, intimate experiences confirming that Jesus knows and loves us.

     

  3. God Is Bigger: Jesus encountered and conquered evil in the person of Beelzebul, and he continues to do so today. Where Satan is concerned, we do well to take this advice from C. S. Lewis: “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” We know Satan is powerful, but we are assured that “the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against the Church” (Mt 16:18). Therefore, we pray for delivery from evil and for the grace to remain peaceful and secure in the love of God, if and when we feel its presence in our lives. And we continue to put on the armor of God (cf. Eph 6:11), gathering on his behalf the souls he places in our lives.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, may I never doubt your power to conquer evil in the world or in my heart. Equip me with the armor I need to be your foot-soldier. I declare my confidence in you, even in the midst of the world’s chaos. Knowing you love me personally strengthens my resolve to do your will in all things.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will take a moment to renounce Satan and renew my desire to do your will in all circumstances.

For Further Reflection: Any books by C. S. Lewis.

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.

October 10, 2026 – Blessed Are We

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Saturday of the Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, I put myself in your presence. Open my heart to hear your word, to speak your language. I hope in you, trust in you, and love you. Make my heart more like yours.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Blessed Are You: Most of us would agree with the woman in the crowd: Mary must have been very special to be the Mother of God. We now know that Mary was conceived without original sin, so she is certainly purer and holier than the rest of us ordinary people. Yet, the “blessedness” of Mary was not merely due to the special graces she received, but to the fact that she listened to what God was asking and courageously responded “Yes.” In my life, do I assume that it is up to the Mother Teresas of the world to be saints? Or do I seek holiness in my own life by using my own gifts and surrendering my weaknesses to God?

     

  2. Blessed Mother Mary: Mary was visited by an angel at the Annunciation, the very beginning of her journey, but after that, she relied on St. Joseph’s dreams and the events of Jesus’ life to guide her. She knew Christ had a mission. She saw and understood the meaning of his miracles and healings. She correctly interpreted her son’s actions because, Scripture tells us, she pondered and reflected (cf. Lk 1:29, Lk 2:19). In our fast-paced society, people are starving for the opportunity to ponder and reflect. Apps like HeadSpace and Calm boast millions of subscribers seeking to find peace through meditation. Yet, Christians know that spending some time each day with the Scriptures is truly what slakes our thirst and fills our souls.

     

  3. Two-Part Instruction: In these few short verses, Jesus tells us to hear and observe the word of God. Those who hear the word but don’t act on it are like the seed that is swallowed up by birds as soon as it’s planted (cf. Mt 13:4). Their faith is fruitless, as Saint James says: “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas 2:17). Each of us has a unique and unrepeatable mission to accomplish, by God’s grace, for his glory. “For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them” (Eph 2:10). Every successful mission begins by hearing and observing the word.

Conversing with Christ: Lord, may I never take for granted the grace-filled opportunity to ponder and reflect on your holy word. I know that you want me to be a saint. And you have plans for me that I cannot even imagine. Teach me to listen to you. Mary, I want to learn from your example. By your actions, you transformed your simple life into a beautiful offering to God. Help me to become more like you.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will set aside ten minutes of silence, with no distractions, just to consider what you have done in my life during the day.

For Further Reflection: Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Venerable Pope Pius XII):

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to you, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as you wish to accomplish your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to you, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home. Amen.

Riley Connors was born in Dayton, Ohio. He studied classical humanities and philosophy with the Legionaries of Christ. He enjoys running, thinking, praying, and, on occasion, all three.

October 11, 2026 – A Banquet Invitation

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Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Opening Prayer: Lord, today I come to you with deep hope and desire to know you and recognize your grace at work in my life. I know that my life here on earth is a short journey moving closer to the eternal wedding feast in the Father’s house. Help me to persevere through any difficulty or challenge I encounter on my journey with you this day. How I need your help, your guidance, and your protection! Increase my faith in your presence and your goodness toward me, granting all I need as your chosen and beloved child.

Encountering Christ:

  1. Accepting the Gift: God is never outdone in generosity. How consoling to know his generosity is not dependent upon what we deserve, but rather on his abundant goodness, love, and desire for our happiness. No one who had been invited to the feast was there because of merit or status, but purely by decree of the king’s initiative. Christ himself is the banquet of divine life and abundant grace. We don’t deserve to receive him (“Lord, I am not worthy,” Mt 8:8). It is his longing to share the joy of his existence with us that overflows in bountiful generosity. Our first duty in response to God’s loving generosity is to accept his gift of grace. Let us run forward, embracing the opportunity to receive grace through the regular reception of the Eucharist, frequent confession, and openness to his will.

     

  2. Called and Chosen: Three times the king dispatched servants to extend his invitation far and wide to anyone interested. We see that many were foolish and self-absorbed, preoccupied by their own worldly pursuits. Attached to good things (work, well-being, and profitability), they sadly rejected the opportunity for something far better. Here lies the mystery and drama of our human freedom. We overlook admitting how indebted we are to God’s goodness as the cause and purpose of our very being. In our own lives, self-reliance, distraction, and busyness can lead us to consider God’s plans an interruption to our own, and forget that ours have no meaning if not centered and focused on his. The possibility that we could reject God’s invitation should motivate us to continually care for our life of grace in friendship with Christ and to share with others an invitation to the feast.

     

  3. Christian Joy: Wedding feasts are a time for great joy, celebration, and happiness. Jesus often used this favored image for heaven—for his Kingdom. It describes what he longs to share and promises to us if we follow the way of faithful obedience to his will. The joy that awaits us will far exceed and outlast any suffering we may carry in this life. Hope in the Resurrection and life with God for all eternity should fill us with overwhelming joy and happiness. How does my faith and hope for heaven influence my witness to living as a joy-filled Christian before the challenges in this fallen world?

Conversing with Christ: My Lord, you want to offer me every good gift and grace I need to draw closer to you as the source of my happiness. You offer your intimate friendship to every single person. Your goodness, love, and mercy are for everyone, including me. Please forgive me for the moments I have rejected you out of foolishness over my own concerns. You know how hard it is for me to overcome attachments to seeking security in my achievements, in how others perceive me, and in worldly comforts. Help me to respond freely to seeking your grace and expressing my gratitude with a generous and joy-filled heart each day.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will spend a moment contemplating and fostering my longing for heaven. With hope in the Resurrection, I will seek to give witness to living with Christian joy in responding to any challenge today.

For Further Reflection: The Kingdom Without End: A Retreat Guide on Christ the King

Lucy Honner is a Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi and the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry at University Catholic, a community of students in the Nashville area who are serious about their faith. Since 1998, she has exercised her apostolate as a speaker, spiritual director, integrated health coach, and retreat director throughout North America.

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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!