Tuesday 24th August

Feast Of Bartholomew,

Apostle Play a stirring role

Bartholomew, also called Nathanael, was one of the original 12 apostles and later, a traveling missionary. He embodied what it means to become a missionary disciple—one who, upon being led to Jesus, wishes to lead others to him, too. As the U.S. bishops say in Go and Make Disciples, Jesus “gave the Church the unending task of evangelizing as a restless power, to stir and to stimulate.” Where can you stir interest in Jesus today?

Today's readings: Revelation 21:9b-14; John 1:45-51 (629).

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

Wednesday 25th August

The past is present

Today, we are becoming aware of the deep truth that wrongs committed in the past, even generations ago, can still perpetuate evil. Such is the sin of racism, which the U.S. Catholic Bishops have repeatedly called “an evil which endures in our society and in our Church” (Brothers and Sisters to Us). Each of us is called to help dismantle racism, to reject profiting from the oppression of others, and to listen to the voices of those who have been silenced too long—for the sake of our past, present, and future.

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:27-32 (427).

“You are like whitewashed tombs.”

Thursday 26th August

Be alert!

Wakefulness is a term often used in spiritual writing. In today’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “Stay awake! You do not know on which day your Lord will come.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains at least 20 references to being awake, usually in regard to “awakening faith.” The church wants its members to be vigilant and tells us in the catechism that the “Holy Spirit constantly seeks to awaken us to keep watch!” Ask the Holy Spirit to help you awaken to God’s presence today.

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Matthew 24:42-51 (428).

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake!’”

Friday 27th August

Memorial Of Monica

Hang in there

Sometimes it feels like all of our small choices and actions will never amount to anything. Go big or go home, we’re told. Yet the stuff of transformation, healing, and love is knitted together one small thing at a time. Our call is to have faith and persist. Take a look at Saint Monica, a laywoman from North Africa, who day in and day out offered “small” acts of kindness, love, and care for her beloved yet wayward son Augustine. She never tired of believing in him, even storming heaven on his behalf. Persisting in the small things that are good, beautiful, and true can make a big difference. What small things are you called to persist in?

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Matthew 25:1-13 (429).

“Stay awake.”

Saturday 14th August

Memorial Of Augustine

Let happiness be your song

Like all larger-than-life historical figures, Saint Augustine and his legacy are subject to debate. Some find in his vast work reason to take a pessimistic view of humanity. But he was quite life-affirming in his conviction that the happiness found in following God is indeed the only worthy and lasting happiness. “Happy is [the one] who has God,” he succinctly put it. To “have” God for Augustine meant to love God, citing Psalm 72: “For me it is good to cling to God.” Or, as Pharrell Williams put it in his blockbuster song “Happy” a few years back, “Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.”

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; Matthew 25:14-30 (430).

“You yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.”