I love the sense of the Kris Kristofferson song, “Why Me Lord?” God notices humility and honesty. Part of the Good News is that God accepts us when we come humbly.
When we elevate ourselves by putting someone down, we act presumptuously toward God and others. Remember: God elevates the humble and humbles the proud and arrogant. (Luke 18:9-14).
Let us pray to God our Father as we learn to love the Word he speaks to us: God our Father, you keep speaking to us today in the words and deeds that bind us to you. May we listen attentively to your Son with his message of faith, hope and love. May it bring us wisdom in our confusion, and encouragement in our trials. Help us to respond to his words with deeds of justice and compassion through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture inspires us to become a living inspiration of God’s love and compassion. Through the leading of the Holy Spirit, Holy Scripture inspires us to love God and our neighbor. Ask the
Holy Spirit to guide you in your reading of Scripture and reveal God’s Word, Jesus Christ, more fully to you, and more fully align your life with the revelation of God in Jesus Christ.
Let us thank our loving God for all his goodness: God our Father, we are your graceful work of art. When we were doomed to death through sin you called us to life through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Open us to your love and life given for free as a gift without charge or regret. Give us thankful hearts so that we learn from you and your Son to share our friendship with others. Accept our thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Even with a little faith, you can make a big difference, but that big difference is in the small, everyday things of life that make a difference in human life and society (Luke 17:5-10). May we beWhen God blesses us do we give thanks? Think over the events of your life in the past week, the past few weeks, the past few months, the past few years. What has happened to you for which you would like to say thanks? If it is a person and you have the chance, tell that person. If it is God, God’s listening at this very moment. Take this moment and reflect on that which you are thankful (Luke 17:11-19). thankful for the privilege and opportunity to serve God. “May we be motivated by love for God and not by a sense of self-importance or by a sense of greed for reward (C. H. Evans).”
Let us pray that our faith be strong and bold: Lord our God, you desire that our lives be full of truth and love. You have entrusted it to us as a task to be brought to a good end in partnership with you. Give us, your servants, a trusting faith, firm, loyal, enduring and bold. May we grow in the conviction that you can overcome might and evil with what is weak and little and that your kingdom will come by the power and love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
Even with a little faith, you can make a big difference, but that big difference is in the small, everyday things of life that make a difference in human life and society (Luke 17:5-10). May we be thankful for the privilege and opportunity to serve God. “May we be motivated by love for God and not by a sense of self-importance or by a sense of greed for reward (C. H. Evans).”
Let us pray to God for compassionate and generous hearts: Our generous and loving God, your Son Jesus is risen from the dead and tells us to see the needs of the poor and to give them food and drink. May we recognize your Son in them. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
The prophet Amos points out that those who could have made a difference chose not to make a difference. Abundance had blinded them to the plight of those who had no abundance (Amos 6:1-8). In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man thought he had no responsibility for the poor, sick beggar named Lazarus; but in the end, the rich man was judged harshly because of neglect, indifference, and a lack of compassion (Luke 16:19-31).
Whom do we neglect for whom we could make a difference? I mean this in a personal way and social way as a Church, a community, and a nation. Does abundance blind us to the plight of those who no abundance? Do we heed the words of the prophet Amos? Do we heed the words of Jesus Christ?
