El Shaddai Windsor Outreach
St. Alphonsus Church 85 Park Street East N9A 3A8 Windsor, ON, Canada

SATURDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - APRIL 10, 2021 Observing the boldness of Peter and John . . . (Acts 4:13) What a change from the events of Jesus’ passion! Was this the same Peter who stood in the shadows of the high priest’s courtyard, hoping not to be recognized? Were these the same men who, after the death of Jesus, huddled together in a locked room in fear for their lives? Now they were at a pointas they told the religious leaderswhere it was impossible for us no...t to speak about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20). Where did this fearless confidence come from? The events we’re reading about from the beginning of the Book of Acts come soon after the disciples received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But while the gift of the Holy Spirit marked the start of a new way of life for Peter and John, it wasn’t a one-step process. Peter and John saw the Spirit at work when they acted on his promptings. They saw conversions, the formation of a community of believers, even miraculous healings. All this helped the disciples see the fruit of exercising their faith, and that built their confidence and helped them act even more boldly. You have received the Holy Spirit too. If you want some of the boldness you see in Peter and John, try looking back on the lives of the saints throughout history to see how the Spirit was moving even before you were born. But make sure to look back on your own life too. Look for those times when the Spirit led you or answered your prayers. Then take advantage of the opportunities you have today to step out in faith and see the Spirit at work in and through you. The more you see the fruit of exercising your faith, the more confident you become. When you see an answered prayer, you want to pray even more often. When you see a struggling friend open their heart to the Lord because you talked to them, you want to reach out more often. You become more excited at the prospect of acting in faith, more inspired to take a bold step. Let the Holy Spirit build up your faith today and give you fearless confidence in him. Holy Spirit, make me bold in trusting you and sharing the gospel.

FRIDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - APRIL 9, 2021 Simon Peter . . . tucked in his garment . . . and jumped into the sea. (John 21:7) The apostles’ lives had changed so much in so little time. Jesus had washed their feet on Holy Thursday and then faced his death on Good Friday. Three days later came the news of his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Some had seen him a few times since that morning, but the apostles must have longed to see Jesus again, to be with him one more time.... But he didn’t come back. So you might forgive them for being a bit slow to recognize Jesus when he appeared on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. All that changed with the miraculous catch of fish and with John’s cry of recognition: It is the Lord! (John 21:7). Immediately Peter jumped into the water and waded to the shore. Like the apostles, we can have days when we feel as if the Lord is distant from us. We try to pray to him, but we just don’t sense his presence. Even now, just a few days after Easter, the excitement may have worn off, leaving us with the sense that everything has returned to the ho-hum way it was before Ash Wednesday. It’s okay to feel that way every now and then. After all, it’s just a feeling. It’s not as if Jesus has changed his mind and decided to stop loving you or caring for you. You could be having a bad day. Questions at home or at work may be weighing on you. Or maybe you just didn’t get enough sleep the night before. Whatever the case, you can still trust that Jesus is with you and that he is looking out for you. When you find yourself feeling discouraged like this, take a few moments to reflect on why Peter jumped out of that boat. He had waited long enough; he couldn’t wait even a few more minutes to be next to the Lord! Similarly, know that a moment of recognition is in your future as well, a moment when the clouds clear and you sense his presence once again. Until that day, stay watchful in prayer, confident in his love, and ready to jump into the sea as soon as you spot him. Lord, help me to hold fast to you in faith.

THURSDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - APRIL 8, 2021 Of this we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15) Peter and John were firsthand witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. They had seen him with their own eyes. But when Peter healed the crippled man in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, everyone who was there that day became witnesses as well (Acts 3:6). They saw firsthand the power and glory of Jesus.... Witness could actually be a good job description for Christians. The apostles were the first witnesses, and through their preaching and healing, other people became Christians. And so it has been from one generation to the next. Today that role has been passed on to you! God has called you to be a witness by the way you live. But he also calls you to share your faith openlyand not only of the historical event that happened a long time ago, but of the risen Jesus, alive and present today. How? You don’t have to get up in front of a crowd and preach as Peter did. But every day gives you opportunities to share creatively and tactfully how Jesus is living and working in your life. For example, you might share with a friend an incident from the past when you saw God answer a prayer. Or you could talk about what you think the Lord is saying to you today. You might even want to share some of your own struggles and doubts as a way of showing that these can exist alongside real faith. It’s not just creativity that is important; you also need tact. That starts with being sensitive to where another person is coming from. It means doing more listening than speaking and refraining from forcefully pushing your beliefs onto them. Even if someone seems closed off to the idea of faith at the moment, you could offer to pray for any special need for themselves or their family. This is the Easter season, a time when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. So be ready to witness to his power and glory in your own life. You never know just how important you can be in continuing that chain of witnesses that stretches across the centuries and well into the future. Jesus, give me a greater desire to witness to you!

WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - APRIL 7, 2021 Stay with us. (Luke 24:29) The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were dejected and confused. So when a stranger drew near to them, they were eager to talk about the painful events of the previous two days. Yet when he opened up the Scriptures to them, they were so intrigued that they weren’t ready to let him go. Stay with us, they asked (Luke 24:29).... Stay with us. Those three words changed everything for these disciples. When their fellow traveler broke the bread, they recognized him as Jesus, risen from the dead. He had been walking by their side all along! We know the risen Christ is always with us. Through our baptism, he lives in us. At Mass, he is there in the breaking of the bread. And yet this prayer, Stay with me, can be life changing for us as well because it reflects the true desires of our hearts and invites Jesus to respond. When we ask Jesus to stay with us, it shows our deep longing for him. We don’t want him to leave our sideeverbecause, as he did for the disciples, he opens our eyes to spiritual realities we would otherwise miss. He is always ready to fill our hunger for him. When we make that plea, it’s also an acknowledgment of how much we need Jesus. We need him to stay with us so that he can give us his grace, wisdom, and guidance. We need him to stay with us so that we can hear his voice and do his will. And when we bring our needs to Jesus, he responds by giving us even more than we have asked for. Finally, this prayer shows we want moremore of Jesus’ love, mercy, and light in our lives. It reflects an awareness of God’s abundance and generosity. No matter what we have received from him yesterday, there is always more that he wants to give us today. St. Padre Pio wrote a beautiful prayer that echoes these two disciples’ words. The prayer ends like this: Stay with me, Lord, for it is you alone I look for, your love, your grace, your will, your heart, your Spirit, because I love you and ask no other reward but to love you more and more. Today, may we make that prayer our own. Lord, I love you with all my heart. Stay with me.

TUESDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - APRIL 6, 2021 Jesus said to her, Mary! (John 20:16) Mary was distraught. Not only had Jesus been publicly and brutally executed, but his body was missing. Undeterred by her burden of grief and misery, she pressed on to try to find out what had happened to him. As she peered into the tomb where Jesus had been laid to rest, she saw two angels. But rather than reacting with fear, she didn’t even flinch. No other consideration mattered, not... even that Peter and John had already seen the empty tomb and had come back without having solved the mystery (John 20:9). She was focused wholeheartedly on finding Jesus. Then Jesus spoke her name, and she recognized him. Few of us will ever hear Jesus speak our names audibly. But when you pursue him as Mary Magdalene did, you can count on his promise that my sheep will recognize my voice (John 10:16). You will recognize it when a Scripture passage stands out in your mind or stirs your heart. You might hear his voice in your thoughts when an idea occurs repeatedly urging you to talk to, care for, or repent to someone. And sometimes you will recognize his voice through a new insight into God’s love for you. So pursue Jesus even if you are dragging along a burden of grief or guilt or any other strong emotion. Turn your thoughts to the Lord and ask, What are you doing right here, Jesus? as you sit in a hospital waiting room or the carpool line at school. Stop for sixty seconds every hour to examine your conscience, or try to see what Jesus is doing around you at that moment. Jesus is with you always, though sometimes it’s not easy to recognize him. But if we are as willing and determined as Mary Magdalene to set things aside and to focus wholeheartedly on him, we will hear his voice. The burdens you carry are not an obstacle to Jesus, nor do they disqualify you from finding him. When you look for me, you will find me, the Lord promises. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Holy Spirit, help me to seek Jesus today so that I might hear his voice.

MONDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER - APRIL 5, 2021 He foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ. (Acts 2:31) Did David really know about Jesus and his resurrection? Not exactly. But he had received a promise from God that one of his descendants would reign forever, and he clung to that promise (2 Samuel 7:12-16). And not just David. All of Israel eagerly looked forward to the promised Son of David who would restore Israel (Matthew 12:23).... So what does all this have to do with us on Easter Monday? Simply that, in Christ, we have received an even better promise: because death could not overcome Jesus and because we have been baptized into Christ, then death won’t defeat us either. Death is not the end for us! Let’s take a few moments to reflect on some of God’s other promises to uspromises that are also fulfilled in Jesus’ resurrection. God has promised to renew creation. As Jesus’ crucified body was resurrected and glorified, ours will be too. Disease, pain, and anxiety will be swallowed up. Jesus will make all things new, not just us (Revelation 21:5). He will restore all of creation. God has promised to reconcile his people. There will be no more war, injustice, or division. Jesus will gather his Church from across all time and space, and he will make us into one family of God. We’ll even be reunited with our loved ones in Christ who have passed away. God has promised to reward his servants. We can’t imagine the joy that awaits us in God’s presencebut it doesn’t hurt to try. Even now, he’s preparing to reward every sacrificial act of love, no matter how small. Like David, no one knows exactly how or when these things will happen. But God will keep his word. Is there an element of God’s promise that’s especially meaningful for you today? As you pray, try to take hold of it and let the hope of Easter fill your heart. Lord, thank you for your faithfulness to your promises!

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 20, 2020 In my mouth it was . . . sweet . . . , but . . . my stomach turned sour. (Revelation 10:10) Sometimes a thought arises suddenly in your mind during prayer. Maybe a Scripture verse stands out to you, a song fills you with hope, or tears flow as you recognize your need to repent or to forgive someone. In each of these instances, you have heard a message from the Lord. It can be stirring, even exciting, at the time. But the reality of livi...ng out that word can be bitter or sour in your stomach. John, the author of the Book of Revelation, knew what that felt like, as did the prophet Ezekiel more than five hundred years earlier. John addressed believers living in a society hostile to the gospel. He saw that bearing witness to Jesus in such a culture could be a bitter experience. Similarly, God commissioned Ezekiel to assure his people living in exile of God’s abiding faithfulness to them. Their lives seemed helpless and hopeless, so his words were surely sweet. But Ezekiel also found it bitter to announce to these exiles the terrible news that Jerusalem, their home, was about to be destroyed. It’s a sweet thing to know God has said something to you, and not only big things like those that John and Ezekiel were called to convey. Most of us will hear the Lord on the subject of smaller things: forgiving someone, having a sensitive conversation with one of your children, or encouraging a friend or coworker with a verse from Scripture. To be given a word for someone else, to be given a direction by the Lord, is exhilarating! Right up until you actually have to act. Then you might find yourself with that nervous, sour stomach. But take heart! Remember that God loves you and entrusts you with his word, whether it is a message for someone else or some guidance for your own life. Take time as well! The Lord is patient and understanding. He knows you might need a while to digest what he says. Finally, take courage! Your Father promises, [I] . . . will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8). Lord, thank you for the sweet words you speak to me. I trust you to help me through whatever might follow.

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 25, 2020 They sang the song . . . of the Lamb. (Revelation 15:3) The Book of Revelation is filled with elaborate imagery and apocalyptic visions of the end of all thingsand that can make it difficult to understand. But the richness and beauty of this book lies in its extraordinary witness to Jesus. True to its name, Revelation unwraps the mystery of Christ and draws back the curtain to reveal Jesus in new ways. In every chapter it uses distinct...ive names to describe different facets of Jesus’ calling and his attributes. Today, for instance, we read about Jesus as a lamb. We first encounter the image of a lamb in chapter 5 of Revelation. First, Jesus is introduced as a triumphant lion of . . . Judah (5:5). But then surprisingly, when that lion appears, he is shown to be a lamb instead (5:6). Even more astounding, he is a lamb who was slain (5:6, 9). This seems illogical because lionsand humanswin by killing. But Jesus triumphed by being killed. It’s through his death and resurrection that Jesus conquered all sin, all evil, all death. No wonder all the saints sing a song to the Lamb of God! The people of Israel sang the Song of Moses after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 15). In heaven, everyone will sing to Jesus, the Lamb who delivered all people from slavery to sin. One day, we will join them. We too will praise the Lamb who bore our sins, who died that we might live, and whose blood has washed us clean. On that day, we will see him face-to-face and rejoice in his victory. On that day, freed from every weakness, we will join our departed loved ones and all the heavenly hosts in singing this new song. But why wait? You can sing this song right now. In fact, you sing it at every Mass: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. It’s so important, in fact, that you sing it three times! And by doing so, you sing of what Jesus has already done, what he is doing right now, and what he will do when he returns. You sing this song in faith, but one day you will sing it in nothing but pure joy. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Grant us peace.

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 19, 2020 He saw the city and wept over it. (Luke 19:41) It’s clear why Jesus is weeping: he knows what will happen to Jerusalem in the near future. In AD 70, the Roman general Titus and his legions will besiege the city. In the horrific days that follow, many of its citizens will starve to death. Then the Romans will kill nearly everyone else and destroy the Jewish Temple. Knowing Jerusalem’s fate must have broken Jesus’ heart!... And yet the very fact that Jesus is weeping should give us some comfort because his tears are a sign of his compassion. He’s not condemning Jerusalem; he’s lamenting over it. He sees that this destruction will be the result of the people’s sin and their rejection of him and the prophets God had sent. He knows it will happen, but he still decides to go to the cross and offer his life for his people. He refuses to abandon them. Despite their sin, he still wants to save themand the whole world besides. Jesus never abandons us either. But he certainly weeps for our sins because he sees the needless suffering they cause us. He sees that they keep us from our purpose in life, which is to know and serve him. He came to earth, died, and rose for us so that we could be rid of those sins and live the abundant life he intended for us (John 10:10). Even when we stray, he waits patiently for us to return to him. Jesus doesn’t condemn anyoneand he won’t condemn you (John 3:17). He wants to save you. In fact, he has provided a way for you to experience that salvation more and more deeplythrough the Sacrament of Reconciliation. So don’t let your sins burden you. Take them to Confession! If you haven’t been for a while and you’re nervous about going, just remember the image of Jesus weeping. That’s how much he cares about you. That’s how much he wants to help you. Once you’ve been absolved of your sins and have said your penance, stay silent for a moment or two. Now picture Jesus again. Imagine him smiling or even laughing with joy. He is delighted that you, his beloved son or daughter, have come to receive his mercy! Jesus, thank you for your boundless love and mercy.

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 18, 2020 I, John, had a vision. (Revelation 4:1) Human language can scarcely describe the reality of heaven. The images John uses herea sparkling throne, an emerald-like halo encircling it, flashes of lightning and peals of thundergive us some idea of heaven’s glory and majesty (Revelation 4:2-5). The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel had a similar vision of heaven (see chapters 1 and 10). But in the end, no one can really describe the Lord God al...mighty and his dwelling place. It is something that we one day hope to experience, but until then, we can only live in faith, trusting that we will be filled with joy when we finally see God our Father face-to-face. That’s what’s so amazing about the Eucharist. At every Mass, ordinary bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ, right before our eyes. When the priest raises the Host and Chalice at the consecration, the bread and wine don’t look outwardly different. But Jesus is present in them, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. God is really with us in all his majesty and gloryand in his mercy, he has provided us a way to see him, touch him, and even consume him. In John’s vision in today’s first reading, whenever the four living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to God, the twenty-four elders also fall down before their own thrones to worship him (Revelation 4:9-10). Praise and worship is the only appropriate response to God. It will surely be our response as well when we meet him in heaven. Isn’t it awesome that we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven? Every day in prayer, as well as at every Mass we attend, we have the opportunity to give God thanks and praise. We may be sinners, but God is so generous, so gracious and merciful, that he holds nothing back from us. In his great love, he reveals himself to us and allows us to receive him into our own bodies and souls. So how will you respond? By joining the heavenly choir that is singing even at this moment: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty! (Revelation 4:8). Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power (Revelation 4:11).

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 17, 2020 Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house. (Luke 19:5) Luke’s story of Zacchaeus reveals a pattern we see repeatedly in the Gospels. It goes like this: Jesus seems to anticipate what is in someone’s heart and mind. He perceives a hunger, a restlessness, a searching for God, even if that person doesn’t fully realize it himself. Then Jesus shows up in some unexpected way that leads the person to new life and a ch...ange of heart. Somehow Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would be sitting up in that sycamore tree. He also understood that Zacchaeus, despite his occupation and wealth, was ready to repent and welcome Jesus into his heart and his home. And Zacchaeus did just that, even publicly committing to repay four times over those he had cheated. Where else do we see this pattern? Look at Simon Peter. After a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus shows up and tells him to try again. Peter is overwhelmed by the enormous catch of fish and leaves everything to follow Jesus (Luke 5:1-11). The Samaritan woman at the well is another example. Jesus notices her thirst and offers her living water instead, leading her to share the news that the Messiah had come (John 4:4-40). Or the two disciples on the road to Emmaus: Jesus sees their despondency and brings them hope and joy by revealing himself to them (Luke 24:13-27). You might see this same pattern in your own story. When has the Lord unexpectedly shown up and given you just what you needed from him? Perhaps he helped open your eyes to see yourself or someone else differently. Or maybe he prompted you to change your attitude, viewpoint, or perspective. Whatever it was, his grace helped you to take a step closer to him. The people Jesus encountered in the Gospels responded by placing a deeper trust in himin his ability to heal and set free and in his call to follow him. May we follow their example and do the same in those times when Jesus anticipates our need and comes to us. Jesus, thank you for anticipating and fulfilling my every need!

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 16, 2020 The appointed time is near. (Revelation 1:3) It’s probably no surprise that many people shy away from the Book of Revelation. It’s full of graphic language about cosmic events that we find hard to understand, let alone identify with! We are dimly aware that some religious leaders have associated certain world leaders and institutions with the evil forces portrayed in Revelation. Others have used this book to make specific predictions ab...out what will happen in the future. And when these predictions fail to materialize (at least in the anticipated way), new theories are born. So how could ordinary believers like ourselves hope to make sense of this puzzling book? Actually, Revelation wasn’t so puzzling to John’s first readers. Most of them were familiar with imagery like the moon turning to blood and stars falling from the sky. Earlier writers like Isaiah and Joel had used word pictures like these to talk about God’s action in bringing down power-hungry empires and upending a status quo in which the rich continued to exploit the poor. Because they themselves were being persecuted for proclaiming Jesus as Lord rather than Caesar, John’s readers knew that he was using language that could both veil and reveal. A pagan reader might have dismissed Revelation as little more than an imaginative story. But a faithful Christian would have found assurance in it that God had not abandoned his people. He was very much at work, moving history forward to its climax when Jesus would return in glory. This vision of a world totally renewed in the love of its Creator gave them hope in their darkest hours. As we turn again to the Book of Revelation at the end of the Church year, let’s catch the spirit of those early followers. Let’s look up to see the Lamb enthroned, eager to transform us and our world in the light of his glory. He is coming soon! Let’s be sure our preparations for his return are motivated by that love [we] had at first (Revelation 2:4), the love that Jesus had for us before we even began to respond to him. Come, Lord Jesus! Make me ready and eager to welcome you, both in my day today and when you return to bring me to your heavenly home.

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 24, 2020 The Lord . . . comes to rule the earth . . . with justice. (Psalm 96:13) The theme for the readings for the end of Ordinary Time is similar to what we will hear in the first two weeks of Advent: Jesus will come again. Our faith tells us that this is good news, but these readings can still scare us. Just look at today’s passage from Revelation: God’s angel wielding his sharp sickle and reaping the harvest of souls at the end of time!... The Church teaches us how to hear these difficult Scripture passages, and it’s exactly what today’s responsorial psalm proclaims: The Lord . . . comes to rule the earth. And how will he rule it? With justice (Psalm 96:13). What will that look like? Try to imagine a world in which every person is valued and respected, a world in which horrors like abortion, human trafficking, war, and racism no longer exist. Imagine a world that is freed once and for all from sin, death, and the lies of the evil one. We all long for this. We all look forward to the day when we are welcomed into the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21:1). It may begin with a high-stakes Last Judgment, but it is fulfilled when Jesus comes to reign and makes right all that is wrong in the world. We don’t know how or when this will happen. But God doesn’t want us to resign ourselves to the sad state of the world. Jesus inaugurated his kingdom when he came to earth, and he now asks us to work together to build a better world, in whatever area he is calling us to do that. God doesn’t want us to live in fear. He wants us to remember that he is not only just but merciful as well. As long as we stay close to the Lord, we have no reason to be afraid. Instead, we should see Jesus’ coming as a sign of joy and the promise of our final, glorious rescue. In spite of the darkness around us, we can place our hope in him and look forward to the reign of God when all things will be put right. Just imagine what a glorious day that will be! Lord Jesus, I trust in your mercy and wait with eager expectation for you to come again.

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 23, 2020 He noticed a poor widow putting in . . . more than all the rest. (Luke 21:2, 3) Show me the money! That line from a 1990s movie quickly became a popular catchphrase. In other words, money talks. This was just as popular a mindset in Jesus’ time as it is now. But Jesus was different. While the clinking coins attracted the attention and admiration of the Jewish leaders, he was not impressed. He saw the hearts of the contributors, not th...e amount they were giving. Rather than admiring their impressive sums, he was impressed by a poor widow’s humble offering. In her lowly attire and with her meager offering, this woman may have been practically invisible to everyone else in the Temple that day. But Jesus saw her. Perhaps that was because her humble trust that God would care for her reminded him of his heavenly home. It’s like the way you would feel if you were on a trip on the other side of the world and bumped into someone who spoke your language. In a similar way, Jesus found a kindred spirit in this woman. This story shows us that faith and humility are the surest way to Jesus’ heart. He longs to see in us what is at the center of his own lifethe generosity and trust in God’s provision that enabled him to go to the cross for us. This is what it means to be a kindred spirit with Jesus. It means trusting in his Father and offering ourselves to him and his people in whatever ways we can. It means not holding back on our money, our time, or our love when opportunities to give present themselves. It means believing that God will help provide for us if we decide to give just a little more than we have in the past. It means showing Jesus the money of a heart given over to him in trust and faith. So ask God today to give you a heart like this poor widow and like Jesus himself. Believe that whatever you offer to him in faith and trust, he can turn into a heavenly treasureeven two small coins! Jesus, may you recognize in me what you saw in this poor widow.

33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - NOVEMBER 15, 2020 A man . . . called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. (Matthew 25:14) Valued at nearly twenty years’ wages, even one talent was an astonishing amount of money. So the master was not giving his servants a small gift or an insignificant coin. While we often think these talents represent our own gifts or abilities, a number of commentators suggest that we look at them as the extremely valuable gifts of mercy an...d love that God lavishes on us. And as we learn from the servant who hid his talent, those gifts multiply, not when we try to guard and keep them, but when we use them! That’s where our first reading comes in. The worthy wife of Proverbs 31:10-31 is not just a quaint lesson, or worse, the product of a patriarchal society. Her story is much closer to the servant in today’s Gospel who doubled his five talents by using themby multiplying mercy and love by sharing it. Look at how she is described: She works busily within her household and does it with loving hands (Proverbs 31:13). But she doesn’t stop there. She reaches out her hands to the poor, and extends her arms to the needy (31:20). She does not hoard the self-giving love and compassion she has received from God. She generously gives it away, both to her family and to anyone she sees in need. You see, it’s not her charm or beauty that gives her value. It’s her fear of the Lord, her reverence for God. It’s the way she recognizes the wideness of his mercy and love and imitates him by sharing them. That is what brings her, and her whole family, such joy. Each one of us has received God’s precious gifts of mercy and love. Each of us has the opportunity to open our hands and our hearts to give them away to the people around us. The wife from Proverbs 31 did it. Let’s go out and do the same. Father, you have given me precious gifts. Help me to multiply them by sharing them.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE (SOLEMNITY) - NOVEMBER 22, 2020 Inherit the kingdom. (Matthew 25:34) Today, on the feast of Christ the King, we celebrate Jesus’ sovereignty over all creation. We celebrate the fact that all things were created through him, all things are redeemed through him, and all people will be judged by him.... It’s this last pointJesus as judgethat today’s Gospel focuses on. It tells us that as our King, Jesus has the right to set the standard by which we will be judged. Other judges exercise their office based on the existing laws of the land. But Jesus is the law of the kingdom. His life, his way, is the standard by which we will be judged. If you want to be a judge in this world, you have to know the law intimately. Just one word in one statute can affect the entire outcome of a case. Not so with Jesus. His law is simple. We will inherit the kingdom based on this guiding principle: Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:34, 40). That’s the standard: mercy, generosity, and self-giving love. It’s often said that you can’t take it with you, and there is a lot of truth to that. All our money, all our honors, all our possessions are temporary. They won’t follow us to heaven, and they can’t help us get in. But there is something we can take with us: our acts of charity. In fact, they are the very things that will open the gates of heaven to us! Jesus will not be impressed if we have many possessions, and he will not be disappointed if we have just a few. What matters is whether we have let him soften our hearts so that we feed the hungry, forgive those who have sinned against us, and reach out to the lonely. Because his kingdom is not a kingdom of wealth and power; it is a kingdom of humility, love, and service. Jesus, my King and my Judge, teach me to love as you love.

TODAY'S WORD OF GOD - NOVEMBER 21, 2020 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. (Luke 20:38) The Sadducees in today’s Gospel present Jesus with a tragic but unlikely situation. A woman marries and is widowed seven times, and her husbands were all brothers. She leaves no children behind. In heaven, they ask, Whose wife will that woman be? (Luke 20:33).... The Sadducees weren’t really interested in this theoretical woman and her marriages. They were only trying to trip Jesus up. Yet they raised an interesting question, and Jesus gave them an interesting answer. People in heaven will not be married, at least not in the sense we understand on earth. Have you ever wondered what it will be like being in heaven with your family members? We all know people who have been divorced or widowed and then remarried. What will their relationship with their ex-spouses and stepchildren be like in heaven? Even those who go through life with only one spouse, or who have never been married, may still have worry about unresolved family strife. The good news is that we won’t have conflicts in heaven. There, Scripture tells us, God will wipe every tear, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain (Revelation 21:4). We won’t suffer or be weighed down by the sins that result in so many of our difficulties. There may be more than one spouse waiting for us in heaven or maybe a sibling we didn’t get along with. It may be hard to imagine these relationships without all the problems, complications, or bad feelings, but that’s how it will be. And we will love it! As we go through our days trying to bring peace to our households, neighborhoods, and workplaces, it’s comforting to remember that someday our relationships will be healed and perfected. In fact, these struggles can bring us closer to God and prepare us for the life to come! So take comfort from Jesus’ words today. He is the God of the living. That means he can bring new life and hope to all your relationships now. It also means that he is eager to welcome you into heaven with a love far beyond anything you have experienced here on earth! Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on heaven, my true home.