An Invitation to Humility

 

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Today we remember St. Martin de Porres, 

the saint of humility and healing.

True humility does not begin 

with looking at ourselves.
It begins with looking at God.

St. Paul tells us that Christ, though He was God,
emptied Himself, took the form of a servant,
and humbled Himself even to death on a cross.
Humility is not thinking less of ourselves.
It is placing God above ourselves.

In Jesus' parable, the invited guests all had excuses.
Ours sound familiar:
"I have too much work."
"The kids' activities keep me busy."
"I'll focus on God when life settles down."

These things are not bad.
The problem is when we put them ahead of God.

Pride whispers, 

"My plans, my schedule, my priorities come first."
Humility answers, "Lord, You come first,
and everything else finds its place."

Those who accepted the invitation
were not the powerful or the successful.
They were the poor, the forgotten, the needy,
people who knew they needed God.

Like St. Martin, may we set aside our excuses
and gladly accept the invitation to His table.
For the foundation of humility
is not confidence in ourselves,
but surrender to God.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Free me from the pride 

that places my will 

before Yours.
Give me the humility to surrender totally,
may I joyfully accept 

Your invitation each day. 

Amen.

St. Martin de Porres, pray for us

Hope Does Not Disappoint

 

Readings 110226 

"Hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God 

has been poured out into our hearts."

This summer has been a lesson 

in weakness and grace. 

Health issues were difficult, 

but honestly, the medications were worse. 

They left me drained. 

A short walk 

brought shortness of breath. 

My muscles ached, 

and even simple tasks felt heavy.

Saturday, I was walking a hillside cemetery. 

I was wheezing, 

stopping often to catch my breath. 

Family members watched with concern 

as I made my way 

among the graves of loved ones. 

I wondered how much farther I could go.

The next day, I set out again 

to bless graves at two more cemeteries. 

Early on, every step was a struggle. 

My legs felt weak, 

and my breathing was still labored. 

Yet I kept moving 

from graveside to graveside. 

And as the day went on, 

something changed. 

My strength began to return. 

My breathing became easier. 

By sunset, I felt alive again.

Then, as I made one final pass through the cemetery, 

I saw a man placing flowers. 

I asked if he would like me 

to bless the grave of a loved one. 

He replied, "I'm not Catholic." 

I smiled and said, 

"God loves you, 

and maybe that's why I'm here."

Together we prayed 

over the graves of family members. 

Then he said, 

"Would you come 

to the other side of the cemetery 

and bless my wife's grave?" 

In that moment, I realized 

God had sent me back 

for a reason.

Jesus said, "I will not reject anyone 

who comes to me." 

And on this All Souls Day, 

remember "the souls of the just are in the hand of God." 

What appeared to be loss is not the end. 

They are at peace. 

And because God's love has been poured into our hearts, 

hope does not disappoint. 

It keeps us walking when we are weak, 

trusting when we cannot see, 

and believing that God is always leading us 

exactly where we need to be.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

Thank You for loving us 

even in our weakness.
When our strength fails, remind us 

that Your grace is enough.
Fill our hearts with the hope 

that never disappoints 

and the peace that never fades.
May we trust that our loved ones 

rest safely in Your hands 

until we meet again. 

Amen.

What Kind of Witness Will We Leave?

  

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Blessed be God. Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit. Fill us with Your joy,
set our hearts ablaze with Your presence. Amen.

Yesterday, I was the funeral of my Aunt, Gloria Jeanne Kerry,
a woman of deep faith, quiet holiness, and steadfast love.
Afterward, I stayed behind to bless the graves
at the cemetery behind Holy Rosary Catholic Church.
My grandfather built that church.
He built the pews.
He helped build a community of faith
that kept those doors open for generations.
But time changes things.
The young people moved away.
Earlier this month, Holy Rosary closed its doors.

As I walked among those graves,
I was surrounded by memories:
my great-grandparents, my grandparents, my father,
aunts, uncles, and cousins
stretching across generations.
And I was reminded that our lives are much bigger
than the few years we spend on this earth.
We are part of a story
that began long before us
and, by God's grace, will continue long after us.

That is the Solemnity of All Saints:
Holiness is both our calling in this life
and our destiny in the next.

A saint is an ordinary person
who allowed God's grace
to do extraordinary things.
Holiness is not for a special few.
It is the invitation for each of us.

Saint John says to us today:
"See what love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we may be called children of God."
Notice what he does not say.
He does not say, "Work hard enough, and God might love you."
He says we are God's children. Already.
We do not pursue holiness to earn God's love.
We pursue holiness because God has already loved us.

As I finished blessing those graves,
people came and asked for a blessing.
Conversations began. Seeds were planted.
The community is smaller than it once was,
but God is still working.
Faith is still passing from one heart to another.

One day, others will stand where we now stand.
They will visit our graves.
They will tell our stories.
So the question becomes:
What kind of witness will we leave behind?

Today the saints answer with one voice: "It is possible!"
Not because they were perfect,
but because they allowed God to transform them.
May we do the same.

Be good. Be holy.
Let us preach the Gospel
by the way we live,
by the way we love,
and by the way we forgive.

Praise be Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.

The Habit of the Heart

 

Readings

One of the great truths of the spiritual life is 

we become what we repeatedly practice. 

Habits are not formed in a day,

but over time, 

they shape the kind of people 

we are becoming. 

The generous person 

gives almost effortlessly 

because generosity 

has become a way of life. 

The dishonest person 

deceives without hesitation 

because dishonesty 

has become second nature. 

Habit makes goodness easier, 

but it can make sin easier too.

The same is true in our faith. 

Prayer, gratitude, kindness, forgiveness, 

and trust in God all grow stronger 

when they are practiced. 

Yet religion itself can become 

a habit in the wrong sense. 

The Pharisees kept the Sabbath perfectly, 

but failed to see the suffering man 

standing before them. 

When Jesus asked, 

“Is it lawful to heal?” 

their silence revealed hearts 

more attached to a habit of rules 

than to the practice of mercy.

Ask yourself: 

What am I practicing? 

What am I becoming? 

Saint Paul urges us to let our love

increase ever more and more 

in knowledge and insight, 

learning to discern what truly matters. 

When we practice 

love, mercy, prayer, and discernment, 

we are gradually filled 

with the fruit of righteousness

that comes through Jesus Christ, 

all for the glory and praise of God. 

The habits we form today

 help prepare us for the day 

we stand before Him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, 

teach me to practice 

what leads me closer to You.
Form in me habits of 

prayer, mercy, generosity, and love.
Give me wisdom to discern 

what truly matters in Your sight.
May my life bear the fruit of righteousness 

for Your glory and praise. Amen.

Our Actions Reveal What is in Our Hearts

 

Readings 103126

Every action has a reason behind it.
We eat because our body needs food.
In the same way,
what we do
shows what is in our heart.

Jesus is at a banquet.
It sounds like a lesson in table manners.
But he is teaching something deeper.

He tells the guests,
don’t fight for the best seat.
Then he tells the host,
welcome people who can’t pay you back.
Both lessons say the same thing:
stop keeping score.
Live by grace.

Paul lived that way.
He wrote, “As long as Christ is being proclaimed,
I rejoice.”
Praised or ignored,
Paul only wanted Christ to be known.

Real faith can’t stay hidden.
When we truly know God,
it shows up as humility,
service,
kindness,
and joy.

We welcome the stranger.
We serve without needing credit.
We take the lower place, gladly.

Our actions say what we believe.
So let our lives
speak the Gospel.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, 

free me from the need for recognition.
Teach me the humility that seeks You above all else.
May my actions reflect the faith I profess in prayer.
Let my life proclaim Your grace and glory each day. 

Amen.

Put On the Armor of God

 

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Not too long after I was ordained a Deacon, 

I was preparing the funeral service 

for my wife's great-aunt. 

A family members gave me the book 

Manual for Spiritual Warfare. 

Its opening words were simple and direct:

"Like it or not, we are at war."

Whether we recognize it or not, 

every Christian is engaged in a spiritual battle. 

St. Paul reminds us that our struggle 

is not against flesh and blood. 

The real battle is against 

the powers of darkness 

seeking to draw us away from God.

That is why Paul tells us, 

"Draw your strength from the Lord 

and from His mighty power. 

Put on the armor of God."

The Belt of Truth 

keeps us anchored in Christ. 

The Breastplate of Righteousness 

protects our hearts. 

The Shoes of the Gospel 

help us walk in peace 

and bring peace to others. 

The Shield of Faith 

extinguishes the lies and fears of the evil one. 

The Helmet of Salvation 

guards our minds against discouragement and despair. 

And the Sword of the Spirit, 

the Word of God, 

gives us the strength to stand firm.

But notice that Paul does not stop with the armor. 

He concludes by saying, 

"With all prayer and supplication, 

pray at every opportunity in the Spirit." 

Prayer is not just another piece of the armor. 

Prayer is what puts the armor on. 

Prayer is what strengthens it. 

Prayer is what keeps us connected 

to the One who has already won the victory.

So put on the armor of God. 

Pray always. 

Stand firm. 

And remember, the battle belongs to the Lord.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, clothe me today with Your armor 

and strengthen me with Your power. 

Fasten me with Your truth 

and guard my heart in Your righteousness.
Shield me with faith, 

renew my mind with the hope of salvation, 

and guide me by Your Word.
Teach me to pray always in the Spirit 

and to stand firm in every battle. 

Amen.