Weekly Meditation
Please join us and the spiritual community throughout the world as we ponder the same words and share in the same prayers each week.
Fill out the form below to receive your free weekly meditation from Catholic Extension President Emeritus, Bishop William R. Houck.
September 2009
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Weekly Meditation September 28, 2009
Posted: 9/28/2009
I have a small book published in 1985, written by Ruth Burrows entitled "Living Love: Meditations on the New Testament." The jacket says that "it is written for all Christians who wish to deepen their commitment to Christ through personal reflection on the Scriptures." I share one with you.
God is always
at work in us,
prompting us to the good
and enabling us
to perform it.
?O that today
you would hear his voice.'
This constant listening
for his voice
demands
deep
sustained
self-denial.
Often we are occupied
in listening to ourselves
our little grievances,
our petty wishes,
our mean desires.
We busy ourselves
with other peoples affairs
when they are
no business of ours.
While we live
in this manner
how can we tune in
to the Father's voice?
Jesus our brother
understands
our self deception.
Nevertheless
he goes on
exhorting us
to follow him,
to lay down
our miserable lives
in order to live
by his abundant life...
...that
the works of God
might be displayed. -
Weekly Meditation September 21, 2009
Posted: 9/21/2009
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. He was a man who made a quick but life-long decision to embrace Jesus and his way of life, his value system. We read in Mt.9:9: "As he moved on Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his post where taxes were collected. He said to him, 'Follow me'. Matthew got up and followed him."
Jesus later spoke so clearly to his disciples.
"If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross and begin to follow in my footsteps. Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
Matthew 16:24-25
Jesus Christ is our Savior who loves us but who also believes in "tough love." He makes challenges and demands hard work. He is a leader whose teachings wrench us out of apathy and complacency but also give us hope and the truth with a way of life that leads us to eternal success!
So...we "followers of Christ" are challenged in our time and here in our own country to renew and deepen our faithful commitment to follow Jesus and to be grateful and proud of our Catholic faith. St. Matthew, help us to love Jesus who is our Way, our Truth and our Life and help us to stand up and speak up for the values we hold dear. -
Weekly Meditation September 14, 2009
Posted: 9/14/2009
Today we celebrate the Feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Church lifts up the Cross as the noble trophy of Christ's compassionate ministry of our salvation, his conquest of sin and evil. We relish the Cross as a sign of God's extreme love for us and a central symbol in our Christian life.
In yesterday's gospel from St. Mark, Jesus spoke so clearly to those who wanted to be his disciples. "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."
God our Father, in obedience to you your only Son accepted death on the cross for the salvation of mankind. We acknowledge the mystery of the cross on earth. May we receive the gift of redemption in heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Prayer, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
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Weekly Meditation September 7, 2009
Posted: 9/7/2009
This year's annual Labor Day Statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is entitled: The Value of Work; The Dignity of the Human Person. It is issued by the chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Bishop William F. Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Center. A few brief selections offer reflection for us. The entire statement is available at www.usccb.org.
Labor Day this year comes at a time when we face a number of challenging problems, many of which cause us to reflect and ponder on what the future will bring. As complex and challenging as the current economic situation is and the new elements that challenge us all, Americans are still fundamentally an optimistic people?Earlier this summer, Pope Benedict XVI published his long awaited encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. This teaching of Benedict brings together a whole range of theological and social issues in a perspective that is in some ways very new and challenging?
This Labor Day comes as our nation is engaged in a wider debate on reform of the health care system. As Congress discusses various proposals, the USCCB is committed to bring to this challenging issue the principles of Catholic social teaching as important truths that have the capacity to analyze and measure each serious proposal brought forward. The Catholic bishops continue to work for health care that is accessible, affordable, and respects the life and dignity of every human being from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death?
On this Labor Day, let us remember those without work and without hope. Too often in our public discourse anger trumps wisdom, myth outweighs fact, and slogans replace solutions. We can work together and rebuild our economy on the moral principles and ethical values outlined by Pope Benedict in his new encyclical? May God bless you this Labor Day and may God watch over and bless those who are committed to the care and protection of all the members of our nation who share the American dream of ?liberty and justice for all.?
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