“Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.”
Psalm 147:1

Life, as we know, is full of paradoxes. Where there is joy, there will also be pain. Where there is order, there will always be things that need fixing. Our lives are like that—contrasts and opposites. But they are also opportunities along the way to find God and the healing we long for.

The first reading today is from the Book of Job, a blameless man who knew setbacks and flat-out misery. Can you relate? Most of us can. Yet even in moments of despair Job never lost sight of God’s presence. We can take comfort from a man who gave himself over to God with the wisdom of faith and the knowledge that his Creator would never abandon him. Here’s what Job said:

“Yet he knows my way:

if he tested me, I should come forth like gold.

My foot has always walked in his steps;

I have kept his way and not turned aside.

From the commands of his lips I have not departed;

the words of his mouth I have treasured in my heart.”

– Job 23:10-12

I believe Job is telling us an important lesson: When we are willing to see beyond the moment, God will lead us through the challenges toward new life. That’s the Paschal Mystery, a theme we will explore very soon during Lent. The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the very work that God the Father sent his Son to accomplish on earth. And it’s a sign of our own passage to new life from disappointments and setbacks each time we put ourselves in God’s hands.

Yes, there will be challenges, and even broken hearts. God never says life will be easy. Just that the presence of the Lord in our lives is eternal, no matter the hardship. Our challenge is to accept that we can’t always lift ourselves out of difficulties on our own. But with God’s help we can. We only need to be like Job: praise God, affirm God’s presence, and allow the Paschal Mystery to transform us as inheritors of the kingdom.

Friend, can I give you a homework assignment? Think about a time when God helped you heal at a difficult moment. If you can remember the steps you took, you know that you didn’t heal alone. Your faith was the necessary healing agent. God was there to offer comfort and encouragement: in the words of the Gospel, in Christ’s promise of salvation, at Mass and in the Sacraments. And let’s not forget the kindness of family and friends. They know us almost as well as God does. For the times you may be passing through a difficult moment, remember that God is with you. That’s when the healing begins. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus, healer and divine physician

stretch forth Your healing hands

and touch my wounded heart.

May the power of Your presence

lift my spirit, strengthen my soul

and, if it be Your will, drive far from me

any illness, disease or affliction

that keeps me from living life

to the full, as You promised.

Jesus, Son of God, and son of Mary,

visit me in my darkness and doubt.

Let Your light dispel the shadows

of sadness and depression

to help me find anew

the joy and peace I long for.

Lord, I am not worthy

that You should enter under my roof.

Say but the word and my soul,

my mind, and my body will be healed.

Stay with me, Jesus, when night falls

and fears grow, and my faith falters.

Fill me with sweet assurance

that you who died to set us free

will never abandon me to face

life’s trials alone.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:  “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.”

Psalm 95: 7-9

Do I really want to be tested?  Does anyone?  The answer to my Sunday morning rumination is obvious.  “God, please don’t test me too much!  Just enough to know I’m worthy of your love.”

When the Israelites left Egypt, their journey became more difficult than what they bargained for.  Some wanted to turn back.  And isn’t that us at times?  When life takes an unwanted turn, we immediately want to know where God is and ask, “Why is this happening to me?  How do I get out of this mess?”

I don’t pretend to know God’s will.  None of us does.  But we know that God is the source of all goodness and the foundation of our faith.  We have the promise of Our Lord who, in teaching the apostles to observe all that he has commanded, added words   that never fail to comfort me:  “Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:20).  The evangelist is reminding us of God’s eternal and ever reliable presence, no matter the challenge at hand.

Two practices can help you find the road “back home” when you feel that God is distant:  I recommend prayer and meditation.  Talk to God as you would to a close friend or confidante.  Share your deepest thoughts.  Then be still and listen.  Think of prayer and meditation as important to your life as breathing.  Take moments during the day to be in God’s presence so that you can accept the grace that is yours for the asking.  Remember that God is with us always, ready to lift us above whatever challenge we face.     

Friend, God has given us a great gift—the promise of eternal life.  We are destined for glory one day with our Creator and all the saints of heaven.  So the challenge is, how do we get there safely given all the ups and downs of life?  St. Teresa of Avila says that prayer and meditation are not so much about thinking a lot, but loving a lot.  So be a reflection of God’s love in all you do and know that God isn’t testing you or me or anyone.  God is always near, ready to help welcome us home.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 5^th Sunday

Lost, confused, frightened, and anxious

I wandered through the desert

of my own imaginings, O Lord,

feeling You had abandoned me

in my hour of need, uncaring or worse,

indifferent to my loneliness.

How I longed to return to the safe

security of selfishness and sin

from which You In Your mercy,

delivered me by Your love

life and death on the cross.

Fearful of this newfound freedom,

bought at so great a price,

I chose, instead, to wallow

in my unworthiness.

But You, infinite source of patience,

kindness and understanding,

came to be with me, despite my stubborn

foolishness and pride

to remind me of Your covenant

to remain always by my side

and with gentle prodding and humor

lead me home at last to You.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.”  Psalm 25:4-5

Last week we talked about the first intuition we had of God’s presence in our lives—and how that insight matches perfectly with our own very human desire for fulfillment.  Today, I’d like to dwell on the scripture from the Book of Psalms that gives us a path forward.

“Teach me your ways…”   We say this in prayer all the time.  We ask the Lord to show us how to better reflect his love and compassion.  And we pray for the strength to witness that love even when it’s hard.

This is what we pray for—an understanding of what God is calling us to be, and the courage to accept the invitation.  We pray about it because witnessing God’s love isn’t always easy, right?  Jonah is a good example of how our lives can go off track.  Today’s reading needs a little context but it’s still a teaching moment.  Jonah had disobeyed God and found himself in a tight spot.  But God being God, Jonah got a second chance.  When he obeyed God’s will by going to Nineveh to preach repentance, two things happened:  that act not only saved the lives of the Ninevites, it was going to save Jonah’s life, too.  But Jonah had trouble being magnanimous.  He was mad because God spared the Ninevites, too.

What does this story say about forgiveness—one of the central practices of our faith?  Is it only good “for me” but “not for you”?  The lesson is that God cares for all of us, even the sinner, and maybe especially the sinner.  God’s grace and offer of salvation are infinite.  Our calling is nothing more than to receive these gifts with gratitude and then pass them on.

Any of us, including Jonah and the Ninevites, can enter the Kingdom of God.  That’s because God practices mercy.  And that’s why we should, too

Friend, when you pray, asking God to show you the way toward salvation, accept that finding your unique path is linked to three healing graces:  mercy, forgiveness, and kindness.  Embrace all three.  Then yes, pass them on.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 4^th Sunday

Lord Jesus, your daughter Dorothy Day,

Servant of God, admonished us

saying, “We only love God as much

as the person we love the least.”

Help us, like her, to see you

even in the least likable people

for whom, like us, you also came

to live and die and rise again.

You gave us the sign of Jonah

not just by lying in the tomb

for three days but also in having

the Gentiles, the Ninevites,

respond to Your powerful

words of prophecy calling all to repentance.

May we never withhold Your mercy

from others especially those who seem to us most lost.

Help us to break down the barriers

that divide Your children between “us” and “them”

and to cross borders of race, religion, and politics

that from the diversity of cultures and peoples

we might help You establish Your kingdom

where all are welcome and equal In Your sight.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Come, and you will see. “So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day.  It was about four in the afternoon.”’  John 1:39

John’s Gospel is so precise about the exact time the apostles stayed with Jesus and came to understand that he was the Messiah.  How did John know that?

I have always been amused by this scripture.  And it makes me think:  What time was it when I first saw God?  When I first understood that I was being called to glory?  Here’s one I can think of:  When I was just a kid in grammar school, my hero was a priest that I knew.  The way he loved and cared for people was amazing to me and I wanted to be just like him.  Another moment came later in life.  As a young adult in formation to become a Maryknoll priest, I was assigned to Peru for overseas training.  The first time I got off the boat, after crossing Lake Titicaca, I knew immediately that I had come home.  And eventually that’s where I would spend 20 years of my life, serving the Aymaran community and experiencing the power of

God’s presence.

In the end, the exact moment each of us comes to know God may not be as important as the journey we’re on… the lifetime we devote to living the Gospel.  We are the apostles of today, longing for the completion that only God can provide.  When we are fulfilled, two all-consuming realities give us comfort:  We not only rest well in God’s hands, but by sharing our joy we are building God’s kingdom on earth. 

However we choose to share God’s love—with acts of kindness, with the ability to forgive, with understanding—we know that our relationships will only deepen.  And so will our faith.  We just need to be open to God’s many invitations to grow in love and compassion.  In my experience, they happen all the time.

Friend, St. Augustine says we are restless until we rest in God.  You might not remember the exact day or hour that you came home to God.  But what you do remember will be the joy of knowing that God’s grace lives within you, now and always.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 3^rd Sunday

O Lord, my God, who am I

that You should care for me

or call me by name to follow you?

I am not worthy to draw near to You

and so You, in Your wisdom,

draw nearer to me.

Help me cast of sins of pride

selfishness and greed

to cleanse my soul and

make it a temple worthy of You

and a tabernacle of Your glory.

May I share Your Good News

with everyone I meet

that they too might find

forgiveness, peace, and joy

in Your presence.

Forever and ever.

Amen

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” Isaiah 55:3

Today’s scripture offers calming words for troubled souls.  So many of us are grieving losses and setbacks after a painful year that left no one unchallenged.  Yet we know that God is with us.

The invitation to life—eternal life—is the central core of our faith.  The best way I know to find God is to focus on all the blessings we have received, and to get reacquainted with our priorities.  What is most important in our lives?  What is God calling us to be?  Can we discern God’s presence even when times become difficult?

Prayer is a key part of the discernment process.  Being still—allowing for the presence of God in quiet moments of meditation—and being open to the work of the Holy Spirit can renew us.

For me, being still means expressing gratitude for so many things:  my family, my vocation, my fellow Maryknollers, my unforgettable years as a missioner in Peru, and for acts of kindness that have come my way… at times from the most unexpected of sources.  But to be honest, my priorities for this year are not my own.  I fully expected to return to mission in 2021 after serving in leadership for six years.  But the pandemic made it impossible for us to hold our General Chapter last fall to elect a new leadership team.  So here I am.  Not doing what I necessarily want to.  But fulfilling an unexpected role that God has given me.

What are you grateful for?  And what are your priorities for the New Year?  Taking a moment in prayer each day is a great way to “listen heedfully” and be renewed in God’s love.  New paths open up to us when we put ourselves in God’s hands.  Regardless of where I am, I know my role is to bring the joy of our faith to more people, and to be a better missioner.  That’s what I pray for every day.

Friend, it’s a sign of humility when we can admit that God’s priorities are always better than our own.  The “someone” that God is calling us to be is unique and special, and will be revealed no matter the circumstance as long as we let God in.  Even things that cause us difficulty can be pathways to glory.  So today, be hopeful because God is here, ever present and ever comforting.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 2^nd Sunday

Speak to me, Lord, in the silence

of my heart, that I might learn

to listen for Your voice

and heed Your word ever present

in the people, places, and events

around me.

Help me to quiet my mind

when worries and problems upset me

and in the stillness fill me with Your peace

mindful of the countless blessings

I have received from Your merciful hands.

Grant that I may be ever grateful

for all the gifts You have given me:

Life, family, friends, health, joy, and love.

And may I thank you too for all the trials

that come my way that teach me to rely

on Your Holy Will to make things right

Through Christ, our Lord

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the Lord shines, and over you appears his glory.” Isaiah 60:2

Our faith tells us, and Isaiah does, too:  No matter the circumstance of our lives, we are surrounded in God’s glory.

  May the light of the Lord shine upon you today on the feast of the Epiphany!

Please accept my blessings for the New Year, one that we pray brings us deep spiritual renewal and strength for the journey.

The new life we crave is born in our call to mission, a reaching out to the entire world in the name of Christ our Savior.  The Magi were the first to recognize the Messiah with precious gifts—and signs of humility.  Just imagine:  three kings honoring an infant born in a stable!  In our own way, we are called to acknowledge the blessing of salvation in the Christ Child, and make the Good News known to the ends of the earth.

An epiphany, we know, is an insight into the essential meaning of something.  An intuition that is undeniable.  The Epiphany of Our Lord is all that and more.  Today’s feast day acknowledges the divine nature of the Infant Jesus, a blessing from God that offers us the promise of salvation and eternal life.

This is the light Isaiah speaks of that pierces through the darkness. Today, we recommit ourselves to delivering the message of Christmas with joy in our hearts.  God’s love has been revealed.  Sharing the love and building God’s kingdom on earth is how the Christmas spirit will live on all year long.

The Epiphany reminds me how the light of Christ was offered to the world one day many years ago in another most remarkable way.  On the feast of the Epiphany in 1912, three laywomen arrived at Maryknoll to found the Maryknoll Sisters.  To this day, we call them the Three Wise Women!  God called them to leadership and service, and they led by example.  Their legacy of mission and healing continues to inspire women to Sisterhood all over the world.

Friend, the past year has challenged us mightily.  But we know that in Christ, we are never abandoned to darkness.  We have the blessing of faith—the light of Christ—and the promise that one day we will enjoy the gift of eternal life.  Our priorities are nothing more than reflecting God’s love each day, especially where it is needed most.  May this New Year bring you peace.  And may each day be a personal epiphany of faith that shines a light for others to follow.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 1^st Sunday

Epiphany

Shine Your light in our darkness, Lord Jesus,

that we may walk in Your ways and live

according to Your truth. Dispel the

shadow of doubt, sadness and fear

that fill our hearts and our world

and grant we might live in Your peace.

Lord, You guided the Magi with a star

help us, like them, to seek and find

You In the least likely and most unexpected places.

Surprise us with Your presence

as we make our way through life

that we might know Your love

and share Your Good News with all.

Remain with us, Lord, throughout our days

and keep us secure in Your loving embrace

that we might trust only in Your Will

and reflect Your glory to all who still live in darkness

and the shadow of death.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another.”  (Colossians 3:12)

The celebrations that surround Christmas have been wonderful—liturgies, caroling, being with family and friends.  But I still have to ask myself:  What exactly changed?  Am I a better person now?  Has the Christ Child shown me something I didn’t know before?

Today on the feast of the Holy Family we have a lot to contemplate about the role love plays within our families—and the role it plays beyond.  We are called to witness God’s love in many spaces:  communities, towns, our nation and the world.  A single act of courage or kindness is never wasted.  Neither is a single act of forgiveness.  They can change someone’s life forever—including lives we may never know personally.  The circle of love widens at each turn because that’s how love works.  That’s how God works.

Lessons of love start within our families.  When Mary gave birth to the Christ Child, we saw the model of a loving family.  Mary and Joseph welcomed Jesus completely even as events clouded their future together.  Soon after the arrival of the Magi, they fled home, traveling to Egypt to protect their infant son from imminent danger.  Mary and Joseph did everything they could to remain an intact family during and after their exile.

The ripple effect of their love is the central theme of every Gospel story we read about today—and Christmas is where it all began.  God’s love is inevitable.  It strengthens and grows each time we become Christ-like, too, in our families, in our communities, in our world.

Friend, to answer my own question:  What has changed for me is the belief that Christmas is not just a celebration; it’s an obligation to nurture loving relationships in honor of the Holy Family.  It’s an obligation to share God’s love at every turn within our nuclear families and beyond—even when things seem risky.  With prayer, I know you and I will be up for the task.  And with that… No more questions for 2020. 

May God bless you throughout the New Year with happiness and good health.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 4^th Sunday

Jesus, Mary and Joseph

show us the way to become a Holy family

where even in times of uncertainty

danger and difficulties we learn

to live by faith in Emanuel: God-With-Us.

Teach us how to be living temples

where the Spirit of God dwells

and strengthens the bond of love

between us and our family.

Draw us closer to one another

by drawing us closer to You.

Above all may we too be blest

by relying on Your mercy and grace

even when the road is uncertain

and the way forward unclear.

Consecrate my family to Your will

and abide with us now and forever.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” (Luke 1:38)

Pausing at the words of Luke’s Gospel makes me ask the “What if” question of the day:  What indeed if Mary had said “no”?

Think about it:  Mary was afraid.  She didn’t fully understand what the Angel Gabriel was asking of her.  How could she?  But she accepted the message as the Word of God.  She placed her complete faith and trust in God and said, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

How often in our lives do we face a crossroads and have to make a difficult decision?  We pray, we seek counsel.  Then we place our trust in God and say “yes” to what we know is the only answer:  affirming all life.  Seeing Mary’s example of humility and grace can help us say “yes” when the Holy Spirit is inviting us to give witness to the power of God’s love.  She is our model.

As Christmas approaches, I have this thought:  God is incarnated in us each time we help someone through a crisis, lend a helping hand, or just say a reassuring word.  By saying “yes” to God, we have the ability to transform the world, too.  Mary’s example of trust is all we need to remember.  In time, God’s plan for us will be revealed just as it was for Mary. 

Friend, we are days away from the Nativity of Our Lord.  Accept the challenge of our faith by saying “yes;” then be hopeful.  For we are about to celebrate the promise of salvation in the Christ Child.  All because one day, many years ago, Mary said “yes.” 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 3^rd Sunday

Hail, O Blessed Virgin Mother of God

Daughter of Nazareth

and glory of Your people, Israel,

help us in times of uncertainty and trial.

Be our inspiration when doubt

makes us question God’s will.

Pray for us now and forever

that we, like You, might say Yes

to God in our lives.

May we too surrender to the Holy Spirit

treasure God’s Word in our heart

give flesh to God’s Word with our lives,

offer Christ to the world

by our actions of mercy

and words of comfort and peace.

O holy Mother of God’s Incarnate Word,

intercede for us who struggle here below

and give us Your courage and strength

to stand at the foot of the cross

when our loved ones suffer and die.

Be our consolation as we make our way

to God’s kingdom when you reveal

Your divine Son to us.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.”

(Isaiah 61:1-2)

It’s already the third Sunday of Advent, and we are almost home.  Yet I like to think of December 25 as less of a fixed date than a “continuum of the spirit”—a gift that is meant to help us build the Kingdom of God on earth, every day, all of the time.

We know that God is constantly at work in our lives if we just let the spirit of the Christ Child in.  With the strength of his divine presence, we are called by God to do things as Isaiah says:  to heal the brokenhearted, to comfort the sick and dying, and to celebrate all that is good and life-giving in one another.  This is the heart and soul of mission:  sharing the joy of our faith through acts of kindness, and inviting others to join us in the celebration of our faith.

Is there someone you can reach out to now as you prepare for Christmas Day?  We have all had a difficult year.  Why not be the one to fulfill the promise of the prophet who brings good tidings.  I promise you that when you release someone’s pain or anxiety you will find peace, too.

Friend, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”  As Christmas Day approaches, let’s remember that light always pierces the darkness. The third candle of Advent reminds us convincingly that we can overcome adversity and loss by placing our trust in God and our faith in one another.  Think of the light we share this day as a symbol of goodness, grace, and hope.  I don’t know of a better way to approach Christmas Day and the arrival of our Christ Child.  Be hopeful.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 2^nd Sunday

Come, Lord Jesus,

into our hearts purified by

Your grace and love.

Make straight the paths

of righteousness and peace

that You might enter our hearts,

our homes, and our world

with Your saving power.

May we share the joy of Your coming

by comforting those who mourn,

healing the broken hearted,

proclaiming Your Good News to the poor

by sharing our goods, our faith,

and our time.

Let Your light shine in our darkness

and lead all to Your manger bed

where God is found in human form,

in weakness, small, and humble.

Give all people hope

as our guiding light

that we might walk in truth

and peace all the days of our life.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso

“We await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you await these things, be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.” (2 Peter 3:14)

There is a difference between waiting and being idle.  One act can have purpose; the other doesn’t.  That’s an important lesson to keep in mind during the weeks of Advent because our souls need attention, too—just as much as our social calendars. 

Right now we anticipate the arrival of the Christ Child, our Lord and Savior.  Preparations abound in our homes but there are things we can do each day to make the waiting an act of spiritual fulfillment.

As part of your Advent practice of “waiting with purpose,” think about the one thing you want to grow in—not just in the weeks before Christmas but all year long.  Maybe it’s patience or forgiveness.  Perhaps it’s seeing the good in someone or a circumstance before (or instead of) focusing on the negative.  Advent is a good time to make purposeful waiting an act of spiritual growth, realizing that God is already here to help.   

Accepting the presence of God in our lives means we can never really fail.  We just get better at reflecting the compassion of Our Lord.  Pope Francis often reminds us that even before we seek Christ, he is present lifting us back up after we fall, and helping us grow stronger in faith.  “Turn your heart to God,” is how our pontiff puts it, and be fulfilled. 

Friend, as you prepare for the Christ Child, know that in the second week of Advent the Lord is already here… never late… always on time… available to comfort and reassure anytime and every time you pray.  Knowing that will make waiting for Christmas Day truly a season of joy and fulfillment.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Father Raymond J. Finch, M.M.

Prayer for 1^st Sunday

How long must we wait, O Lord,

for our prayer to be answered,

our hope fulfilled and

our dreams realized?

We await Your coming again

in glory even as Your people

awaited Your birth 2,000 years ago.

We long for Your peace, justice,

love and forgiveness more than

sentinels wait for the dawn.

Yet even in our waiting

grace and holiness abound

as you teach us the virtue

of patience and perseverance.

Come, Lord, abide and be with us

as we await the fullness of Your kingdom

when every tear will be wiped away

and every wound sanctified and healed

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer by Maryknoll Missioner, Father Joseph Veneroso