Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

​We have been “saved through the bath of rebirth,” (our baptism) and renewed by the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, so our lives should be radically different. Even though it is difficult, we “are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone” and obedient to those who are in authority over us. This sounds really simple, but it is really hard to live out. 

Even we do not always agree with our leaders, we are called by Christ to obey them. There are a ton of authorities in our lives, like teachers, parents, and coaches, and we also have spiritual and political authorities too. As long as what they ask does not break any of God’s commandments, especially the commandment to love God above all else and to love your neighbor as yourself, then we are bound to obey their rules and requests. This requires respect for those who have authority over us, but it can be hard to respect someone just because of an office they hold. It’s a challenge we all face by God has given us the grace to overcome these difficulties and live according to love.

What if someone is a gossip and a bully? What if all they do is insult people and hurt those around them? Well, God still loves them, so we do too. We all sin and struggle with envy and our desires. Everyone has their problems and St. Paul shows us that, through Christ and His grace, we can turn away from all of our sins. When I try on my own to live by this passage and avoid envy, malice, and try to deny myself of my desires that are not of God, I often fail. We need God’s help, and it is available. Living according to grace, mercy, and love looks contrary to what is considered normal, but its the way that leads to joy and love. 

We are so often told that, if it makes you feel good, then do it. However, our lives should be radically different as followers of Christ. This is our mission as Christians: to live out the love God has for us through our concrete actions of love and kindness, the actions that St. Paul mentions to Titus. We have the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and strengthen us to live according to God’s mercy and love. Even if we do fail sometimes, being rooted in prayer and through His mercy and grace, we all can live out this passage from Scripture as St. Paul encourages us to. This might be difficult and considered weird by some, but it is the road that leads to the greatest happiness and love that we could ever imagine.

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

​How do I struggle to be respectful and obedient?

What sins do I find myself repeatedly struggling? With God's grace, how can I begin to conquer these bad habits?

How can I live a radically different life as a follower of Christ?

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Your grace is enough for me."

"I want to live for you, Lord."

"I will lead where you follow, Lord."

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?
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Live out the love of God through concrete actions and kindness towards at least one person today. That kind of love is radical in and of itself. Take some time to pray for those that you have a hard time loving or obeying.

​"We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do."

"Congratulations, you've done the bare minimum and now you want a gold sticker." That's a little what it feels like the Gospel is saying today. 

At the end of my life I want to go to Heaven. Why? Well, the other option seems not so great, extraordinarily hot, and lonely since God's love is never there. So I continue to ask myself "what do I need to do to get to Heaven?"

There are the basics: Mass on Sundays & Holy Days of Obligation, Fast 2 days of the year (Ash Wednesday & Good Friday), and Go to Confession once a year. This list is from the precepts of the Church.

There are also the ten commandments: no swearing, no killing, no cheating, no lying, no coveting. 

But have I just 'met my obligation' if I interpret them so simply? Am I approaching the Lord and saying, "what's the least I can do to be saved?" or, "what's the least I can do and it still counts as loving you?"

I think this attitude will probably be what keeps me from Heaven. Love doesn't ask "what's the least I could do." Jesus doesn't say "what's the least I could do to show Katie that I love her today? Let's see, she's awake and breathing, that's about enough." He doesn't say that because He Is Love and Love gives everything. 

He GAVE and continues to GIVE everything to us because He LOVES us. 

Am I giving everything out of love for Him? Am I asking "how can I serve you today with my whole heart?" Am I seeking to know, love, and serve Him with my whole being to give glory to Him? Or am I just doing what I'm obliged to do? Are you?

How am I seeking just the minimum in my relationship with God?

In what ways do I experience the fullness of God giving everything for me?

​How can I serve you today with my whole heart?

"Thank you for giving me everything."

"I want to give you more."

"You are all I need."

Today don't just do the minimum. Find a way to push a little bit more in prayer today- maybe an extra 5 or 10 minutes, doing a selfless act for someone who needs to be loved, or something above the minimum.

Today’s Gospel passage serves as a harsh, but just reminder of the importance of living the Gospel and not leading others astray. As a teacher, this is a passage that has always, and will always remain on my heart and in my mind, because Christ is not playing games. He says, “It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.”

Couple of things: a millstone is a rock that is used to grind or mill grains and is at a minimum, over a thousand pounds. Christ very bluntly and seriously says it would be better for you to be cast into the sea with a thousand pound rock around your neck, than for you to cause anyone to sin. Christ is telling us here is that we need to be authentically living our lives, which should be lives in pursuit of Christ at all times and not just when it is convenient, or when we are around our Church friends. It is in those times when we are acting like someone else, or we are afraid to live our faith around our friends, boyfriends/girlfriends, or family that we allow ourselves to fall into sin, but we are also more likely to allow those around us to fall into sin as well. 

If you cannot live the life Christ calls you to around someone because you are scared or embarrassed or self-conscience that says just as much about them as it does you. Why would you be in a relationship or friendship with someone who you are scared or self-conscience around? Why do we allow ourselves to be one thing around our church friends, and someone else entirely around our teammates, classmates, or boyfriends/girlfriends? Here is the thing, as soon as we become ok with being someone else, whether it is in word, or more likely action, then we open the door for ourselves to sin and allow others to sin as well.

Christ calls us to so much more than mediocrity, which is what we are settling for when we pick and choose when to follow Him. Following Christ is not a matter of convenience, but choosing Him in each and every situation regardless of who we are with. Christ also calls us to remember that there are consequences for our actions and when we allow someone else to sin because of something we said, did, or even did not say or do we need to run to the Lord for mercy and grace, in prayer and the sacraments.

Think of the last week, when is one time you chose to follow the Lord regardless of who else was around?

Think of the last week, when is one time you did not follow the Lord because of what others might think? 

How can you follow the Lord with reckless abandon this week? 

"I choose Christ."

"I will follow." 

"Lord I need you."

Christ wants you to follow Him. How can you choose to do that this week? Maybe you can say grace in public? Maybe you can pray before a test? What is one way to follow the Lord?

Today’s Gospel reading is a challenging one for me. We encounter Jesus teaching about wealth and warning us about using our wealth for our own gain. As someone who has never experienced a ton of material wealth in my life, it’s easy to think I’m doing just fine. I’ve never spent a ton of money on fancy clothes, cars, or other possessions, but I think I’ve found ways to still live a life of luxury. The Lord is strong in His example of the scribes who flaunt their wealth by telling us they will be condemned. 

But even though I don’t have the experience of wearing the modern equivalent of fancy robes or sitting at places of honor at fancy banquets, I am certainly not the other subject of today’s Gospel reading- the poor widow. I think it’s important to realize that Jesus is using the scribe and the widow as examples in a beautiful metaphor; we don’t have to recognize ourselves as fully one or the other, but understand the message Jesus is sharing. The widow, though poor, is able to give out of her poverty. The rich are able to give large sums of money, just as those of us who are blessed are able to give more than those who don’t have as much as we do. But Jesus uses the example of the widow to show that it isn’t about how much we can give- it’s about how much of what we have that we’re willing to give.

The true measure of wealth is not how much we have, but how much we’re willing to give away. When it comes to our material possessions, a good gauge is how willing we are to share or to give away. When was the last time you purged your closet and dresser to give away that shirt you haven’t worn in six months? How often do you drop money into the basket at Mass during the offertory? How often are you willing to share your food or resources with your friends? Even though you may not have much to give and you may not be the richest person, remember that it isn’t about the total amount you can give, it’s about how much of what you have that you’re willing to give. Jesus is our example of this- God became poor and gave us everything. Be like Jesus, be like the widow. Don’t worry about the overall amount, be concerned with how much of what you have that you’re willing to give.

What are some ways you could be more generous in your life?

What are some areas you are poor and some areas you are rich?

Do you ever give from the areas that are poor, when it might hurt, or only when you have excess and it is easy to give?

"Jesus, I trust in You."

"Here's my heart, Lord."

"I give it all to You."

Be generous today. Be generous in a way that is actually a sacrifice. That may be money, clothes, time, whatever... just be generous for the glory of God.