The life of a Christian is a divisive one. It forces us to choose God as our primary and central relationship. But when we do so, just as our saint today John Paul II did, we embrace that universal call to holiness which beckons all of us. And it is this holiness which will set the earth ablaze with love.

Today is the Memorial of Pope St. John Paul II.

For the daily readings, see the USCCB.

There is the anxiety which threatens to overwhelm us, the psychological anxiety of the world, but as religious people we must remember that we are also in another state of religious anxiety as we await the fulfillment of the Kingdom and Christ's coming again.

For the daily readings, see the USCCB.

The rich fool in the Gospel today radically miscalculates what it is that makes us wealthy. In reality his surplus has isolated him from God and neighbor and cut him off from grace. Do we, in our own lives, calculate rightly what is of value?

Today is the Memorial for Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs.

For the daily readings, see the USCCB.

Br. Jordan DeGuire, O.P. preaches on 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5 for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.     

Br. Jordan preaches on St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians on the importance of being steadfast and faithful in following God's call, seeing the journey as hard work, but marked by hope in knowing that God is with us.  

"Remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope"

Br. Thomas Mary Wagaman, O.P. preaches on Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6 for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  

Br. Thomas Mary preaches to remind us that all we have has come from God, the King of Kings, who calls us to use our gifts, talents, and skills for God's glory.  

"I have called you by your name, giving you a title,... I am the Lord and there is no other."

We are called to be leaven for the world through our prayer and our action. But often we are afraid, we allow what others might think of us to throw us off and to distract us. Fr. Patrick reminds us today of those beautiful and comforting words from Pope St. John Paul II, "Be Not Afraid!"

For the daily readings, see the USCCB. 

Do we ever take the time to count our blessings? We have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavens, but do we acknowledge that reality and do we offer blessings to others?

Today is the Memorial of St. Teresa of Avila.

For the daily readings, see the USCCB.

Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees should hit us hard, it should be an arrow to our gut. These men did want to follow the Law, in fact, they loved the Law. But they loved the Law more than they loved God?

What about us? Do we love our own righteousness more than God? Or do we live in and follow the Spirit?

For the daily readings, see the USCCB.

Sin distorts our vision, preventing us from seeing things as they truly are. But time spent with Christ, particularly through the Eucharist, can help correct and purify this distorted vision, helping us to see everything anew.

For the daily readings, see the USCCB. 

Why do we preach? Do we preach for ourselves and for what we gain, for our egos and our pride? Or do we preach for Christ and embrace both abundance and difficulty for his sake? These are the questions Br. Joseph poses to us today.

Br. Joseph reflects and preaches on Phillipians 4:12-14, 19-20 for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"I know how to live in humble circumstances;

I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things

I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,

of living in abundance and of being in need."