NETWORK DIFFICULTY

St. Andrew

Romans 10:9-18, Psalm 19:8-11, Matthew 4:18-22
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/113013.cfm

"They immediately abandoned their nets and became His followers." -Matthew 4:20

Andrew brought people to Jesus. He brought his brother Simon (Jn 1:40-42) and the young boy with five loaves and two fish (Jn 6:8-9) to Jesus. When some Greeks asked Philip to bring them to Jesus, Philip asked Andrew what to do (Jn 12:20-22). This may imply Andrew was known for bringing people to Jesus.

How many people have you had at least a part in bringing to Jesus in the last year? Like Andrew, are you known for bringing people to Jesus? Many of us have not had a good year in fishing for men and women (see Mt 4:19). We may be hardly known as Christians, much less as evangelists who bring people to Christ.

To rectify this situation, we need to do what Andrew did before he brought even one person to Christ. First of all, Andrew left his nets (Mt 4:20). To bring people to Christ, we must leave behind a "net-work" of attitudes, habits, and patterns which limit our opportunities and effectiveness in proclaiming Jesus. For example, many Christians have the attitude that our relationship with Jesus is a private matter. Most have the habit of talking about the news with no reference to Jesus. We all have patterns of disobedience in our lives where we repeatedly ignore Christ's command to witness. We must repent and change patterns of selfishness into patterns of evangelization.

Prayer: Father, recycle me so I can win as many people to Christ as possible (1 Cor 9:19).

Promise: "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." -Rm 10:9

Praise: St. Andrew led the first pope to Jesus (Jn 1:40-42).

THE BATTLE OF THE FLESH

Daniel 7:2-14, Daniel 3:75-81, Luke 21:29-33

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112913.cfm


"Up, devour much flesh." -Daniel 7:5

During yesterday's Thanksgiving feast, many obeyed the command to devour much flesh (Dn 7:5). We hear Jesus' command to not become bloated (Lk 21:34), lest by devouring too much flesh and drink, we starve our souls by overindulging our desires (Prv 13:19). When we constantly indulge our flesh, we then "feed the beast" (see Dn 7:7ff). Our fleshly nature is never satisfied; it always wants more. It cannot be tamed. The Lord teaches us that the proper way to deal with our fleshly nature is not through education, self-control, or self-gratification; instead, we must crucify our flesh (Gal 5:24; 6:14; Rm 6:6; Col 3:5).
When enough people in a nation feed their fleshly nature, it becomes a nation of the flesh, that is, an ungodly, pagan nation. Today many nations are devouring "much flesh" in the holocaust of abortion. Those nations resemble the beast of today's first reading, which speaks in arrogance and lives only to crush and trample (Dn 7:7). How can such a nation be converted to godliness?
God has devised an ingenious plan to win the battle for the flesh. He commands us: "Up, devour much flesh" (Dn 7:5). The flesh that God gives us to eat is the eucharistic body of Jesus, Who says: "Let Me solemnly assure you: if you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. He who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood has life eternal, and I will raise Him up on the last day" (Jn 6:53-54). Go to Mass frequently, daily if possible. Eat the flesh of the eucharistic Jesus, win the battle of the flesh, and make your nation holy.


Prayer: Father, when I receive Jesus in the Eucharist, His flesh renews my flesh. I give You thanks and I give You my life in return.

Promise: "The heavens and the earth will pass away, but My words will not pass." -Lk 21:33

Praise: Robert's mother's prayers were answered twenty years later when he returned to Confession.

FEAR, FAITH, AND THE END OF THE WORLD

Daniel 6:12-28, Daniel 3:68-74, Luke 21:20-28

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112813.cfm


"Men will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth." -Luke 21:26

On this Thanksgiving Day, the Lord reminds us of the last day, which can be the worst day in history or the greatest Thanksgiving Day. At the very end, people will be so stressed out that they will drop dead because of fear. However, we who love the Lord will "have confidence on the day of judgment; for our relation to this world is just like His (1 Jn 4:17). The Lord will make "all things work together for the good of those who love Him" (Rm 8:28).
This promise especially applies to the end of the world. When the world ends, we will have reason to thank the Lord, stand up straight, and raise our heads high, for our ransom will be near at hand (Lk 21:28). When the world ends, Jesus will return and we will be caught up in the clouds to meet Him in the air (1 Thes 4:17). We will see Him face to face (1 Cor 13:12) and live with Him forever. We will sit forever with Jesus on His throne (Rv 3:21). He will shepherd us, lead us to springs of life-giving water, and wipe every tear from our eyes (Rv 7:17).
At the very end of the end, we will break out in song: "Alleluia! The Lord is King, our God, the Almighty! Let us rejoice and be glad, and give Him glory! For this is the wedding day of the Lamb" (Rv 19:6-7). Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus! May the world end this Thanksgiving Day or as soon as possible.


Prayer: Father, may I hasten the coming of the kingdom by my repentance, evangelization, holiness, and intercession (2 Pt 3:12).

Promise: "He is a Deliverer and Savior, working signs and wonders." -Dn 6:28

Praise: Scott and Timothy founded their business with Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone. Despite the advice of potential investors, they continue to operate in a proudly Christian company.

DIE WITH A SMILE

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28, Daniel 3:62-67, Luke 21:12-19

Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112713.cfm

"I bid you resolve not to worry about your defense beforehand, for I will give you words and a wisdom which none of your adversaries can take exception to or contradict." -Luke 21:14-15

The book of Daniel was probably written around the time of the Seleucid Empire's persecution of the Jewish people. Although this was such a severe and brutal persecution (see 1 Mc 1:60-63), the author of Daniel could still poke fun at those persecuting him and his people. He pictured the persecutors as half-cocked and all shook up when they saw a disembodied hand and wrist writing on the wall. The author seems to enjoy describing the king of the persecutors thus: "When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked" (Dn 5:5-6). In the midst of some serious teaching about persecution, punishment, justice, and God's sovereignty, the author of Daniel still liked to crack a few jokes.
We too can smile even when we are manhandled and persecuted (see Lk 21:12). We can be light-hearted even when betrayed by our own family (see Lk 21:16) or when facing execution. The Lord will give us a special grace not only to speak up for Him at our trial (see Lk 21:15), but also to trust Him completely and  know that He will either rescue us or give us a glorious death. Therefore, "when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, for your ransom is near at hand" (Lk 21:28).
Anybody can crack jokes at a party, but only a child of God can do it at a martyrdom. Smile, laugh, suffer, die, live for Jesus, and love Him with all your heart.


Prayer: Father, may I die with the sense of humor that St. Lawrence and St. Thomas More had at their deaths.

Promise: "By patient endurance you will save your lives." -Lk 21:19

Praise: Jesus gave Robin calmness during her husband's rages. Eventually, her husband found Jesus and lost his ill temper.

THE LAST KING

Christ the King

2 Samuel 5:1-3, Colossians 1:12-20, Psalm 122:1-5, Luke 23:35-43
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112413.cfm

"There was an inscription over His head: 'THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.' " -Luke 23:38

On the last Sunday of the Church's year, the Lord is calling us to harvest all the graces of this past year and express their life-changing power by making the greatest act of faith we have ever made. The Lord Jesus is calling us to acknowledge Him as King of kings and Lord of lords even in the worst circumstances. Religious leaders continue jeering at Jesus as they compromise with the ways of the world (Lk 23:35). Soldiers still make fun of Jesus and of those who refuse to join them (Lk 23:36). Criminals persist in blaspheming Jesus (Lk 23:39). Most people, even Christians, just stand there watching (Lk 23:35). They know if they speak up for Jesus, they may be crucified too.

However, we must be like the good thief and speak up for Jesus (Lk 23:40). Maybe we'll be the only ones to acknowledge Jesus as our King. We may even be crucified because we aren't "going along with the crowd." Nonetheless, we will speak up for Jesus even if that means repentance, the daily cross (Lk 9:23), rejection, and persecution. We will rejoice to live as subjects of King Jesus. Then we will be kings and queens ourselves (1 Pt 2:9; Rv 5:10). Later, we will live with King Jesus forever in paradise (Lk 23:43).

Prayer: King Jesus, may I live no longer for myself but for You (see 2 Cor 5:15).

Promise: "He is before all else that is." -Col 1:17

Praise: Alleluia! King Jesus, we adore You and submit our lives to You.

FULL HOUSE

St. Cecilia

1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59, 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Luke 19:45-48
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/112213.cfm


"My house is meant for a house of prayer." -Luke 19:46

In today's first reading, the people of Israel rededicated the house of God, the Temple, with a spirit of holiness and joy. God's house was filled with prayer and rejoicing (1 Mc 4:54ff). First, however, they had to empty it of unholiness (1 Mc 4:43ff).
A mere two centuries later, the people of God, and particularly their leaders, treat the house of God not much differently than the marketplace which surrounds it. God's house and its environs are full of commerce and busy-ness. Jesus had to empty the Temple of merchants and animals and fill it with teaching and prayer (Lk 19:45ff).
Most of us belong to parishes with a church building less than two centuries old. When first constructed, these church buildings were dedicated and blessed, undoubtedly with joy and a measure of holiness. Years after the dedication, how do our churches compare with the Temple of Jesus' time? Have we filled the house of God with unholiness, busy-ness, and commerce, either through the hearts of the people or the actions of the leaders? Do we still treat the house of God, the church building where Jesus dwells in the tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament, as a place of prayer? Have we fallen from our first love? (Rv 2:4) After beginning in the Spirit, will the people of our church end at the level of the flesh? (Gal 3:3)
Jesus wants His house to be full of prayer (Lk 14:23). Repent of any behavior or attitude which fosters the decline of prayer in church, and lead the way in filling the house of God with prayer.


Prayer: Father, I rededicate myself completely to You.

Promise: "The entire populace was listening to Him and hanging on His words." -Lk 19:48

Praise: St. Cecilia was "the most perfect model of the Christian woman because of her virginity and the martyrdom which she suffered for love of Christ."