St Mary Catholic Church

10/14/2026

October 14, 2026, Wednesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time-a

If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

“Woe to you Pharisees! ...you pay no attention to judgement and to love for God. Luke 11:42

Lord, baseball teams are currently competing to reach the ultimate goal: the World Series. Each game is decided by which team scores the most runs. Keeping score is what sports is all about. You called out the Pharisees for keeping score in their religious observance. Their vigorous and inflexible practices left no room for the fruits of the Spirit related by your servant Paul. When we are guided by the Holy Spirit, we aren’t following checklists or keeping score of our accomplishments. We allow the Spirit to develop generosity within us to those in need, patience with spouses and coworkers, kindness toward those who treat us badly and self-control over passions. You are love itself. When I am open to your Spirit, Lord, I can let go of keeping score and of trying so hard to be perfect or earn the love I already have from you. Come, Lord Jesus, fill me with your Spirit and I can live in the freedom of your abundant life. Amen.

10/13/2026

October 13, 2026, Tuesday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time-A

…the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe… Rom 1:16

The Pharisee was amazed to see he did not observe the prescribed washing… Lk. 11:37

Lord how blessed the Pharisee was to invite you to dinner. He was shocked that you didn’t follow the legalism he held so highly. You didn’t hold back in your correction of your dinner host. This was an opportunity to help him come to faith. This was his chance to hear the real Gospel truth that conversion of heart is more important than empty rituals and burdensome laws. He would be saved by faith in you and not by how he washed his hands. We don’t know if he got the message. Lord, correct me when I don’t get it too. I invite you to come into my house and change my heart. You can make everything about me clean and new. Make the good news of your love and mercy the foundation of all I think, say and do. Remove from me any spiritual blindness or legalism that can be obstacles to my faith in you as my savior and redeemer. Keep me close to you, O Lord. Thank you for accepting my invitation to fill me with yourself. Amen.

10/12/2026

October 12, 2026, Monday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time-A

“This generation…seeks a sign…” Luke 11:29

Lord, the people of your time wanted a sign as proof of who you were and from where your power came. Not much has changed in twenty-plus centuries. People of today look for evidence and signs of your presence and even of your existence. So many don’t see what they seek. Some see signs of you everywhere, others see nothing. For those who have faith, the physical world is full of signs of your awesome design. For those with faith your presence is in every sunrise, every breath we take and every gesture of love. The greatest sign of all is a God becoming human and giving his life for sinful humanity. Lord, help me to become more aware of your presence in and around me. Make me a sign to others of your love and compassion. Open my heart to all the wonders you have prepared for me. Give me a faith-filled vision to see more signs than I can count from the rising of the sun to its setting. Amen.

10/11/2026

October 11, 2026, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time-A

I can do all things in him who empowers me. Phil 4:13

Lord, life is a continuous adjustment to limitations. Our physical and mental abilities can come and go as we deal with the effects of aging and the wear and tear of life. Paul tells us we can possess the strength to handle everything through you. Really--everything? Lord, most of the time I feel like there are so many things I am not equipped to handle. Things like a diagnosis of cancer, temptation to sin, sudden poverty, another hurricane or loss of my spouse are all fears that could be just too much for me. I have even told others in distress that you will not allow any of your children to be tried beyond their strength. But do I really believe those words? Lord, help me to have the confidence that you know exactly what I need to survive and to thrive. Your word is given to me to guide and encourage me in times of fear. I know the Eucharist is the nourishment that empowers me with the strength and courage I need. Lord, thank you for hearing my prayer today.

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

October 10, 2026, Saturday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time-A

For through faith, you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

“…blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Luke 11:28

Lord, I am enjoying the beauty of a bouquet of flowers on my kitchen table. They give joy to me and brighten up the room with their vivid colors. I know all these flowers came from seeds planted in the ground, but I don’t focus on the seeds, as necessary as they were, but on the loveliness of the blooms. You told the people to put their attention on listening to God and living his message. Where and from whom you came was not the urgent need right then. Your mother Mary witnessed to God’s word by being open to it and followed his will in all things. Her priority was, first and foremost, to trust and surrender to whatever the Father’s will was for her. Mary never takes credit or tries to be the center of attention but always points the way to you. Lord, we are so blessed to have the example of Mary as an obedient servant of God. I lift up my open heart to be filled with the truth of God and ask for the strength to live that truth. May I be a flower in your bouquet today as I imitate the example of Mother Mary. Amen.

10/09/2026

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10/09/2026

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10/09/2026

October 9, 2026, Friday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time-A

“If it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons…” Luke 11:20

Lord, in your word today we read that your divine spirit was more powerful than the demon that possessed a man who was mute. Today we no longer believe that demonic powers cause this condition. But demons do exist and we seek your protection from them. But what about the demons we invite into our lives or those we accept or even encourage? The demon of pride is powerful. The demon of greed can possess us. The demon of power and control can be devastating to marriages and families. Lord, what demons do I tolerate or hang on to? What demons separate me from receiving the life you promise? Try as I might they resist my efforts to be driven out. Please help me, Jesus! Turn my heart and mind to you. I release my grip on the demons that possess me and surrender in faith to your power. Drive them out so I can live as your faithful child free from all that harms me. Amen.

10/08/2026

October 8, 2026, Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time-A

“Ask and you will receive… Lk. 11:9

Lord, prayer is a mystical encounter with you. I hear your promise of watching over all my ways. I believe in your love for me for I see the image of it in the crucifix. And I trust you hear all my prayers: the formal and informal. Today you urge me to persevere in seeking a response from you. You want me to ask, seek and knock continually in prayer. I know I can sometimes ask for what is not good for me; seek what I’m not ready for; or knock on the wrong doors. There are times I can grow weary of not seeing the answer I’m looking for. Lord, I want to trust in you and your goodness. You see into the depths of my heart and out of love will provide what is best for me. I may miss your response because I am looking for something different. I may not be ready for what it is you wish to give me. You may wait until I’ve grown enough in faith to handle the answer. Lord, I need your grace to hang in there and wait on you. My prayer: “Thy will be done.” Amen.