“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life.” These words that begin the Catechism of the Catholic Church reveal the very beginning of our story.

We need to always begin moments of prayer, and even each day, with the recognition that God planned to have us share and partake in his perfect, blessed life. However, when we reflect on the fact that God has called us to this great love, we sometimes forget how the plan actually played out. It’s easy to forget that God, in his plan of goodness, sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to take on our sins and draw us into the life of the Trinity. He achieved this by sacrificing himself to pay our debt. It’s easy to forget that because of Jesus Christ, we have been saved from death and free for all eternity to participate in the great love of God!

This reading today helps us to never forget exactly how important the Incarnation of Jesus actually is. We were all born in a world where Jesus already came and took on human flesh. We never knew a time when we did not have the promise of eternal life; we never knew a time when we were all waiting for a Savior to come and rescue us. Israel was not always as fortunate as we are today. The reading from Zechariah reminds us of the hope and anticipation that Israel once had for their Savior. They never forgot the story- they never forgot the great love of God that He has shown to us by taking on our flesh.

​What this reading reminds us of is that God’s perfect plan to help us share in his blessed life hinged upon the Incarnation. Jesus didn’t take on flesh and become like us in all things but sin for no reason; he did it to draw us into the Divine life of God! Today, we have a chance to reflect on God’s plan for us- the plan that is fulfilled in Christ’s drawing us into the love of the Trinity. Pray for the same hope that Israel once had and to always remember the plan that God fulfilled in his Son.

How often do you consider God's plan of love? 

Do you see yourself as part of this plan of love? ​

Do you trust that God has good plans for you? How can you grow in trust?

"You are love."

"You have the perfect plan."

"Dwell within me."

Take time in prayer to meditate on God's plan of salvation. Think about how much love God has shown you through His loving sacrifice. Talk to God about His plans and ask for His help to follow them. 

​In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. 

Every one of us nowadays days know at least one friend or relative who has stopped going to church. Once in awhile, I would meet a person who asks me to pray for them because they have not been to church for a long time.  Sometimes, I have asked them why they stopped going. Some of them say something like: “I stopped going to church because as long as I am not doing harm to others that should be alright." Others have said: “as long as I am not judging others that should be enough” or “as long as I am charitable towards my neighbor that is good enough”. Some would even ask me: “Isn't that what is church made for, isn't church just supposed to make us good people?” 

Yes, going to church or attending Mass should produce in us charity, goodness, kindness, and the ability to be people who abide in moral virtues. But, going to church is not just that. We are made for something more than just moral people. We are made for something better than just being good people. We exist to be totally united in joy, in love, and in adoration of the One God Who loves us and cares for all that we care about. The Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael - whose feast we celebrate today - have done their good deeds for our salvation, as was recounted in the Scriptures, but their eternal work is to sing praises to God. You and I are called to the same thing: to sing the praises of our God forever, in the sight of His angels.

So let’s begin today, but also in every Mass that we attend. Sing God’s praises in your room or even in others’ company. Thank Him for His love and mercy. Practice singing now, for in heaven, it’s going to be a an eternal sing-along with the choirs of angels. Heaven is going to be a blast! An eternal song for those who are eternally in love!

What are some of the excuses you've made for times you've not been to Mass, to prayer, or some other commitment you've made to God? How can you commit to God even in the midst of those times when there are easy excuses to keep your commitment to Him?

When you are at Mass, how do you allow yourself to encounter God and grow in relationship with Him?

What do you think of when you imagine heaven? What do you think it will be like to spend eternity in relationship with God singing His praises in union with all of those around you?

"I will sing your praises."

"I long for You, Lord."

​"Thank you, Jesus."

Find a way today to sing God's praises to the world. Share your joy in Him with another person, or take time throughout your day to pause and draw your heart to the heavenly joy that you are called to. 

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

Last night, one of my roommates was telling us of a friend of hers that has been diagnosed with an inoperable form of cancer. When this girl was told the news that the cancer had spread so far that it was unlikely they would be able to do anything, her response was, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry.” Now I’ve heard this quote from St. Padre Pio probably a hundred times, but it’s never stayed in my head for more than 3 seconds before. Until now.

In the first reading for today, the Lord says, “You have sown much, but you have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; you have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; and whoever earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.” 

As I was reflecting on and praying about this passage, the Lord prompted me with a question. “My child, what do you put your trust in?” 

So often, my answer to that question is anything but Him: my parents, my friends, my hobbies, the things I’m good at, and most of all, myself. I live my life apart from Him, except maybe the time I spend in prayer every day. During that time in prayer, it’s easy for me to have the Lord as center of my life, as the thing in which I place my trust. But as soon as I walk out of that chapel or close my bible, I’m back at the center of my life, with Him only as a part of it. I don’t trust Him or anyone but myself with my life: with my work, my friendships, my relationships, my future. 

And living this way, I’m often frustrated at the lack of peace that I seem to have. I sow much, but I reap little. I eat, but I’m not satisfied. I clothe myself, but am still cold. I gain things, but only to put them in a bag with holes in it. I’m so often riddled with anxiety and worry. What if I fail in this? What if I don’t make enough money? What if I don’t find someone to love me?

But when we model our lives after this quote from Padre Pio, something changes. Pray, hope, and don’t worry. When we choose to do this, we’re saying, “God, I trust you. I entrust these things to You in my time of prayer, I hope in Your goodness because I’ve seen it at work in my life, and I know that I need not worry because You are my good Father.”

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.

Who or what do you put your trust in? What are the areas of your life that you are failing to trust the Lord?

What are the parts that aren’t bearing fruit because you’re placing your hope in yourself rather than Him?

How can you choose to pray, hope, and don’t worry this day?​

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.

"Pray."

"Hope."

​"Do not worry."

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?

Live out the words, "Pray, hope, and don't worry." Take time for prayer, place all your hope in the Lord, and do not worry about the things of this world.

"Consider what He has done for you." It is very easy to get caught up in our frantic amount of wants and needs in this life. In a culture where consumerism and capitalism rule, we are programmed from a young age to want more, always more. We are programmed to compare ourselves and our lives to the lives of those around us and see all the things that other have and we lack.

Often times, this mentality bleeds over into our spiritual life as well. We often only pray or come to God when we want something. Yet if this is the foundation of our relationship with Him, it is bound for failure. We are sure to end up frustrated and discouraged in our prayer life.

Yet today we receive this invitation from Tobit in our responsorial psalm: "Consider what He has done for you." A practice recommended to me by a wise man many years ago was to spend 5 minutes every day in silent gratitude. This is how I begin my prayer time every day. I stop and consider what He has done for me, because there is much to consider. It helps me to ground myself in reality every morning, to put things into proper perspective when it is all too easy for me to lose perspective in the craziness of life.

I always spend the first two of those five minutes in sheer gratitude for my very existence. Before I thank God for anything that He has done for me, I spend time thanking Him for the fact that there is a "me" at all. Because the reality is, there didn't have to ever be a "me", but there is. This is a very sobering fact to face every day. I do not have to exist. But I do. Therefore, there must be a reason I exist and my existence must be good. Then I proceed to thank God for particular blessings in my life right now and all that He is doing for me. It helps me to become more aware of how active He is in my life and thus open to His movements and His voice throughout the day. Plus, it helps bring me out of whatever funks I find myself in throughout various seasons of life. When I stop and consider all I have to be thankful for, it makes it harder to dwell on all that is not as I would like it to be in life.

So, stop and consider what He has done for you. If nothing else, you exist, so you can always start there.

What has the Lord done for you? 

Do you give the Lord gratitude for all things including your very existence? 

What blessings has God given you in your life? How can you thank Him?

"God made my existence."
​
"Consider what He has done."

"Thank you Lord."

Make a list of all the blessings God has given you and thank Him for them today.