4th Week in Ordinary Time 2026 - Wednesday (School Mass) - David Trusts in God's Mercy

 

Today’s readings tell us two stories that might seem very different—a story about King David sinning against God and a story about Jesus being rejected by the people of his home town. But these stories are really about the same problem—the same choice.

In the first reading, we heard about King David. David was a good king. He loved God. But one day, he made a mistake. He told his army to count how many soldiers he had. That doesn’t sound very bad—until we understand why he did it. For a moment, David trusted numbers and power more than he trusted God.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for David to realize his sin. And notice, he didn’t make excuses. He didn’t blame anyone else. He said: “I have sinned. I have been very foolish.”

Then God gave David a choice about what would happen next—and David said something very important: “Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful.” In other words, David was saying: “If something bad has to happen, I would rather put myself in God’s hands—because God is kind, and God knows when to stop.”

David remembered something very important: God is always more merciful than we expect.

Now let’s look at the Gospel. Jesus goes back to his hometown—the place where everyone knew him growing up. He teaches in the synagogue, and the people are amazed… but instead of trusting God, they start to doubt. They say: “Isn’t this just the carpenter?” “Isn’t this Mary’s son?” “Who does he think he is?” And the Gospel says: “They took offense at him.”

In other words, they rejected Jesus—not because he did something wrong, but because they thought they already knew him. They trusted their assumptions instead of trusting what God was doing right in front of them. And because of their lack of faith, they were unable to witness the miracles of Jesus.

Here’s the connection between the two readings: both are stories about how we fail to trust God. Like David, we trust in our own strength, thinking we can overcome life’s obstacles by our own power, or military might. Like the people of Nazareth, we fail to take the time to know Jesus.

But David shows us what we must do when we fail to trust God: run back to God as soon as you can. Sometimes, like David, we mess up. But the good news—the very good news—is this: God is merciful. When we admit we’re wrong…When we say we’re sorry…When we trust God again…God always wants to forgive, to heal, and to begin again.

So today, let’s remember: Don’t be afraid to trust God, even when it’s hard. And when we fall, let us trust in God’s mercy—because, like David said, “The Lord is most merciful.” For the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Trusting in the mercy of God, who is always faithful even when we struggle to trust Him, let us bring our prayers before the Lord.

 For the Church throughout the world: that she may always trust in God’s mercy and help all people turn back to the Lord when they fall away.

For our Holy Father, bishops, priests, and teachers: that they may humbly serve God’s people and help others recognize Christ.

For all students in our school: that we may grow in faith, learning to trust God more than our own fears, assumptions, or doubts.

For those who struggle to believe or who have turned away from God: that they may encounter His mercy and be given the grace to trust Him again.

For those who are sick, sad, or in need of healing: that they may be comforted by God’s loving care and feel His mercy close to them.

For those who have died, that they may rest in the peace and mercy of God forever.

 Merciful Father, you are slow to anger and rich in compassion. Hear the prayers we offer today with trust in your love, through Christ our Lord.

4th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Jesus enters our misery and brings new life

 There is an old Irish saying that "old sins cast long shadows." In other words, Sin has consequences. In the readings from Samuel, we’ve been hearing about the consequences of David’s sins in his own family.

David's sins of adultery and murder reverberated beyond his relationship with Bathsheba. His sins affected his entire family as his son and heir followed his example of sexual sin by defiling his own sister, Tamar. 

David's failure to give his daughter justice created a resentment that festered in her brother Absalom until he sought revenge against both his brother and his father. Absalom murdered his brother and became next in line to the throne.

Yesterday’s reading detailed how David had to flee Jerusalem when the loyalty of the people was transferred to Absalom. The consequences of David’s sin rippled into the life of the nation, and David was cursed by his own people, they threw stones and dirt at him as he passed by.

Today, we read how David’s servants murdered Absalom. And even though Absalom was seeking to kill David, the death of his son struck him to the heart. Sin has consequences, in our families and to our nation.

In the Gospel, we read of another child who had died, not the son of a king, but the daughter of a synagogue official. At her apparent passing, there was weeping and commotion much like David’s own weeping in the first reading. And Jesus enters into this grief-filled scene, and restores the life of young girl. 

Considering these two readings side by side, we see a powerful parallel. Sin, and the consequences of sin, namely, disease and death bring us misery. But Jesus enters into this miserable state of ours and brings new life. We may not be able to avoid the misery brought about by our own sins. But Jesus enters into our misery and brings new life. 

The Gospel passage also foreshadows how those who die in Christ will be raised to new life in the resurrection. But notice, how Jesus brings healing as a result of the pleas of the synagogue official.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor. The Lord hears the prayers we offer for the sick, for family members who have gone astray. And we need to persist in our prayers for those in need. But also, recall, that we are anointed Christians, and that the Lord wishes to bring healing, relief, a new life, through us. We must respond to the cries of the poor, entering into the misery of others, as the chosen instruments the Lord wishes to use to bring about his glorious will, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For ourselves and our own community, that the Lord may graciously receive us as a sacrifice acceptable to himself.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

2nd Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - David's humility, mercy, and peace

 Continuing our reading from the first book of Samuel, we hear of a very strange story today. To review, the anointed King Saul had hardened his heart toward God and was deemed unworthy of the kingship of Israel. So God sent Samuel to Bethlehem, where Samuel anointed the shepherd boy, David.

In his guilt, Saul sought out a skilled harpist to ease his troubled heart, and his servants located one—the very same shepherd boy that had just been anointed, David of Bethlehem. David enters into Saul’s service, and Saul comes to trust David so much that Saul makes David his personal armor-bearer. It is during this time of service of Saul, that David, guided by his faith in God, defeats the philistine giant Goliath.

David grows in fame and admiration among the people of Israel, and Saul begins to grow jealous. Desiring to keep his enemy close, Saul offers David the hand of his daughter as a bride. The two marry, and David becomes royalty. Saul sends David to the front lines of battle, and David is so successful that Saul’s jealousy escalates into hatred and he attempts to kill David with a spear. 

So, David flees into hiding, and as we heard today, as Saul is in pursuit of David, Saul, has a call of nature, and goes to relieve himself in the very cave where David was hiding. David had a chance to kill Saul. Davids cohort even urges him to take Saul’s life. But David spares Saul out of reverence for his holy anointing. Even though Saul was a bad king, and killing Saul would enable him to assume kingship of Israel, David’s faith and reverence for God guides his decision to spare Saul.

David announces his presence, giving up his advantage, and approaches Saul in a spirit of humility. And realize, Saul could have commanded his troops into the cave to slaughter David right there. Guided by faith, David makes himself vulnerable to a man who wanted him dead. David's speech moves Saul emotionally and he remembers the affection he once had for David. For the first time in many chapters, Saul calls David by name, a name he once used in friendship. And maybe it’s out of self-pity, or maybe it’s out of remorse that he had become obsessed with killing an innocent man, but Saul breaks down in tears, and the two are reconciled. 

David’s humility and faith transformed this hostile relationship—a hostility that could have had devastating effects on Israel—a civil war between the supporters of David and the supporters of Saul. David’s humility and faith healed a national division, and a broken friendship. Through David’s humility and faith, God delivered Israel and Saul from evil. 

How might God be calling you to imitate David’s example? How might God be calling you to humble yourself—to trust in God—in order to bring about the healing of division or some other good that God desires? Is there anyone in your life toward whom you might be called to imitate David’s humility and mercy? 

May we be guided by humility, mercy, peace in all of our relationships. For Jesus proclaims “blessed are the humble”, “blessed are the merciful”, “blessed are the peacemakers”. Humility, mercy, and peace are blessed. May we seek that blessedness for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among us.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For ourselves and our own community, that the Lord may graciously receive us as a sacrifice acceptable to himself.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

2nd Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - The heart of a shepherd

 Over the last week, we have read in our first readings the call of Samuel and the defeat of the Israelites at the hands of the philistines and the loss of the ark. Samuel rallys the Israelites and takes lead of their army and subdues the philistines. After a period of some relative peace in Israel, the Israelites go to Samuel, in his own age, and ask for a king. And this was a disappointing request because it illustrates israel’s failure to allow God to be their king.

But God tells Samuel to give in to this request, and they receive what they asked for. A man named Saul from the time of Benjamin is anointed king—a king of some successes and some failures, but ultimately he is disobedient with God. Yesterday, we heard how Saul’s disobedience—his rebellion against God—has leads to him being rejected by God.

So, today’s reading opens up with Samuel being sent by God to Bethlehem, he encounters Jesse of the tribe of Judah, and Samuel chooses, not the strong first born son of Jesse, but the scrappy red-cheeked youngest of Jesse’s sons as the new king, the shepherd boy David.

God wants a king who doesn’t just appear to be strong, or simply physically strong—God is not interested in physical attributes but in interior purity of heart.

This isn't the first time God shows special favor to shepherds: Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses were shepherds. Shepherds make good kings. And God’s favor of David is certainly evident, for as he is anointed, God’s Spirit rushes upon David. 

David, the anointed shepherd king, foreshadows of course, Christ our Lord and king, who identifies himself as the Good Shepherd in the Gospels.

God loves shepherds. Shepherds love for their sheep is not unlike God’s love for us. After all, David will later compose that most-loved psalm 23, “the Lord is my shepherd”.

But if God loves shepherds, and Jesus is the good shepherd, and we are to imitate Jesus, then we do well to consider what it means to become more shepherd-like. We are to cultivate gentle-loving care for sinners, courage in retrieving the lost sheep from evils of the world, diligence and focus, purity of heart, who considers the good of the flock, the church. With the heart of a shepherd, we are to protect, guide, and nurture, and lay down our life for the ultimate spiritual good of others for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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To God the Father Almighty we direct the prayers of our heart for the needs and salvation of humanity and the good of His faithful ones.

For the holy Church of God, that the Lord may graciously watch over her and care for her.

For the peoples of the world, that the Lord may graciously preserve harmony among them.

For all who are oppressed by any kind of need, that the Lord may graciously grant them relief.

For ourselves and our own community, that the Lord may graciously receive us as a sacrifice acceptable to himself.

For our beloved dead, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for X, for whom this Mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

4th Week in OT 2018 - Monday - Haters gonna hate

In this age where everyone feels entitled to publicly express their negative opinions, there’s an expression the kids use these days to deal with cruel, ignorant, or hateful comments. They say, “Haters gonna hate”. In other words, there are always going to be people who criticize you, who love to see you fail.

Well King David encountered a so-called “Hater” at one of the low moments of his life, even lower than when he was being hunted down by Saul. David’s third son Absalom had mounted a rebellion against this aging father, and had murdered his brother, the crowned prince Amnon, David’s first born and inheritor of the throne of Israel.

David had been driven out of Jerusalem when he comes across this vicious hater, Shimei. Shimei curses David for mistreating Saul, claiming he brought ruin to the house of Saul. Now none of this was true. Remember, it was Saul who bitterly mistreated and hunted David; it was Saul who brought ruin to his own house.

Now, David’s soldiers were more than willing to kill Shimei for cursing their king. But what does David do? He doesn’t raise arms against Shimei, he doesn’t even defend himself.  He perhaps foreshadows the Lord's own teaching, that he who lives by the sword, shall die by the sword. He deals with the calumny with humility.

One, David recognizes that “haters gonna hate.” Some people, especially the ignorant, will revel in seeing you fail. So David, wisely chooses not to engage this buffoon.

Secondly, notice, David was willing to hear what God might be saying to him through this cursing critic. That’s pretty profound. David teaches us to see the hand of God in every circumstance—even when we are being calumniated.

Thirdly, David trusts that if he suffers injustice now, the unjust insults of Shimei, God who is just will vindicate him in God’s time.

David was able to defeat the giant Goliath through his humble trust in God, and that humility shines forth here, again. David’s humility kept him from engaging this giant fool, and thus he emerged the bigger man.

May true humility mark all of our conversations, disagreements, and endeavors, may it prevent us from foolishness, and strengthen us in following the will of God, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness, and turn to the Lord in their sins with sincere contrition.

As we begin Catholic Schools Week, we pray for all students, that the Spirit of God may grant them the gifts of wisdom and understanding, and that teachers may share their knowledge with gentleness, patience, and competence.  We pray to the Lord.

For parents, the first teachers of their children, that by their faith and love, they may be blessings to their families, and for a strengthening of all families in faith.  We pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

3rd Week in OT 2018 - Tuesday - Dancing with abandon

David the King was so full of joy at the ark being brought into Jerusalem that he danced with abandon. These days you might see that level of joy, perhaps at a really festive wedding. But ecstatic dancing is pretty rare. What was the ark, and why and how did it elicit such a powerful response in the King?

The ark of the covenant had been assembled at the base of Mt. Sinai at the instruction of God himself. It was a symbol of freedom from Egyptian slavery, and the presence of God with his people. Within the ark contained the tablets of the commandments, the rod of aaron, and the manna from the desert. It was a symbol of God’s care, his rule, his sovereignty. It was also the symbol around which the twelve tribes would be united.

But the ark had been held in dusty storage in Israel’s western borderland, almost forgotten for over forty years, ever since it had been captured by the Philistines.

Now, as David began his Kingship, the Ark was recovered, faith, in a sense was rediscovered, and the ark was processed into his city. David’s people would know that God was with them as they begun this new chapter in Israel’s history, fulfilling the promises God made to Abraham nearly a thousand years before. It couldn’t get any better than this, and so David danced, filled with passion and faith and hope and love.

David’s joyful dancing before the ark challenges us to consider our own religious sentiments. In every Catholic Church is something greater than the ark. What the ark merely symbolized is fulfilled, here, in the Eucharist. Where the ark pointed to the God who set free the captives from Egyptian slavery, here dwells the God of freedom. Where the ark was the symbol of unity for the twelve tribes of Israel, the Eucharist is the unity of all peoples of all time gathered into the unity of the Catholic Church. Within the ark contained the manna from the desert, but as our Lord himself taught, those who ate the manna stilled died, those who eat and drink his flesh and blood will live forever.

Catholics possess a treasure greater than the ark, in the Eucharist; not a mere representation of God, but God himself.

I don’t think it’s realistic to be in a sort of continual joyful ecstasy every time we come into Church, or at every moment of the Christian life, that’s something we’ll only experience in heaven. But joy should permeate our life, in our religious worship, in our prayer, and in our charitable service.

May the Holy Spirit teach each of us to dance joyfully before the Lord, that we may lead others to the joy and life that only comes through Him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That Catholics may live out their baptismal call with ever greater conviction, faithfulness and joy.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

2nd Week of OT 2018 - Friday - Insincere Repentance and Deepest Conversion

Yesterday, King Saul, jealous of the adulation of his people for young David, seemed to heed his son, Johnathan’s wisdom, that nothing is to gained by his hatred for David. Saul swears to God that David shall not be killed. So, it might have come as a surprise, that we read this morning, a few chapters later, that Saul and three thousand of his men are hunting down David.

We read how David had the perfect chance to kill his pursuer, literally catching Saul with his pants down, but when David spares Saul’s life, and gives an impassioned speech, again showing himself to be a friend of the king, Saul weeps and acknowledges David’s goodness.

Two chapters later in first Samuel, Saul forgets his contrition, and begins to hunt David again, and David again spares Saul’s life, yet even after that, we’ll find David fleeing Saul’s murderous plots.

Many mourn for their sins, but do not truly repent of them. Many will weep when they get caught in a misdeed and have to face the consequences of their actions, but they aren’t sorry for the action, they are sorry they got caught. I hear it in the confessional often, a child confesses getting in trouble for fighting with their sibling. They aren’t confessing the fighting, they are confessing getting caught.

Saul, was for a time ashamed of his envy and hatred of David, yet he did not rid himself of the deep bitterness in his heart, and so his hatred and treachery returned.

Insincere repentance might cause our sins to sleep for a bit, but likely they will return with greater force.

The Old Testament will chronicle, not just Saul, but Israel, exhibiting over and over again, half-hearted, insincere repentance, a failure to turn to the Lord completely.

Since, we are imbued with the Spirit of Christ, who himself completely surrenders to the will of the Father,  we, the Lord’s brothers and sisters, are able to practice the profound conversion. But we must desire, pray for and work for the deep personal conversion the Lord wants for us. We will always regret not handing over to God our selfishness and insecurities, but we will never regret allowing him to convert, change, and transform. us. For in complete surrender, we find perfect joy, for his glory and the salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness, and turn to the Lord in their sins with sincere contrition.
That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.
That the March for Life in Washington D.C. this Friday will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.
For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

2nd Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - Envy Kills

When David returned from slaying the giant Goliath, King Saul became jealous of his servant’s fame.  He allowed anger and resentment to shape his behavior, and he began to plot to kill David, the Lord’s anointed.  It’s not the first time we hear about envy in Scripture. In fact, it goes back to the very beginning.  Adam and Eve were envious of God, and so they ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in disobedience to God, and committed the first sin which would mark the race of man for all generations.

Cain was envious of his brother Abel. He let that envy turn to rage, and committed the first homicide and fratricide—murdering his brother.

The Scribes and Pharisees seemed to envy Our Lord’s authority. They refused to put their jealousy to death, and instead, they put God to death after brutally torturing Him.

Envy is listed as one of the deadly sins. It was the motive for the first murder and the worst murder. Archbishop Sheen states that, What rust is to iron, what moths are to wool, what termites are to wood, that envy is to the soul - the assassination of brotherly love.

John Vianney said, “I do not believe there is a more ugly and dangerous sin than envy because it is hidden and often covered by the attractive mantle of virtue or friendship…people will employ a hundred and one devices to conceal their envy from others.”

Envy says that if I can’t have it, you shouldn’t have it either. Cain didn’t have God’s favor, so Abel shouldn’t have it either. Saul didn’t have God’s favor, or the adulation of the people, David shouldn’t either. St Paul places envy among the works of the flesh and declares that “those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God”

Envy often leads to explosions of rage, but I think it can just as easily lead to lives of quiet rage, and much misery. Envy has been called “the most joyless of the Seven Deadly Sins.” Envy causes us to be overly competitive and overly comparative. Achieving the object of our envy may bring a temporary pleasure, but that pleasure is fleeting and tainted and filled with regret.

In the first reading, it was the empathy of Johnathan which helped to asway the envy of Saul toward David. Johnathan, the true friend, stuck up for David, and it appeared to change Saul’s attitude. Calm, compassionate and rational thinking helps to cure the disease of envy. Generosity is especially the opposite of envy. Whereas envy brings only sorrow and pain, generosity is the seedbed of joy.

May we be delivered from all envious thoughts and pursuits, and may generosity and joy be spread among us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. this Friday will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

2nd Week of OT 2018 - Tuesday - "Not as man sees does God see"

“Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart." In both of our readings today, God shows how he works in ways that are mysterious and surprising to us mortals.

In the first reading, Jesse of Bethlehem presents seven fine, strapping, capable sons for Samuel to anoint as the next king of Israel. The first son, Eliab, had “king” written all over his face—he was lofty and handsome. But the Lord, rejected him, and rejected each one of fine young men Jesse presented. Rather, God chose the most unlikely candidate: the eighth son, the child too young to take upon him the major responsibility of running a kingdom with this crazy, anti-king, Saul opposing him.

It’s challenging and comforting at the same time, isn’t it, that God isn’t preoccupied with outer images, with social conventions. How different our world would be if, like God, we valued inner character over outer appearance; the moral corruption of Hollywood elites would certainly have less effect in our culture.

Over and over in the Gospels, Jesus shows himself to be quite a different Messiah than people were expecting. When they looked at Jesus, they saw, “Joseph, the carpenter’s kid”, not the incarnate son of God. The Pharisees saw an upstart, a heretic, a fool; the Romans saw a nuisance.

Jesus, walking through the grain fields with his disciples, picking off the heads of grain to eat, appears to be violating the Sabbath law, but through his grasp of the truth of the Scriptures and the will of His Father, Jesus reveals himself to be Lord of the Sabbath. He reveals, too, that God is working in ways that man does not initially expect.

In Jesus, God’s power and might, are revealed, not in military victory, but in humble self-sacrifice and unrelenting mercy. Victory over death is accomplished through the embrace of the cross. What appears to the world as defeat, to God, is victory.

In a society where it seems everyone is out for themselves, Christians need to trust in the ways of God: preaching the truth unabashedly, reaching out to the needy unreservedly, practicing forgiveness unconditionally. We are to adorn ourselves and our lives not with the riches of the world, but knowing God looks to the heart, we are to adorn ourselves with the wisdom of God and with virtue, especially faith, hope, and charity, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all members of the Church may live out their baptismal call with greater conviction and faithfulness.

That those in civic authority may submit their minds and hearts to the rule of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Hope of the nations.

That the March for Life in Washington D.C. this Friday will help to transform our culture and inspire many to adhere to the Gospel of Life.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord