Heart to Heart: Faith Seasons Podcast

Receive the Breath of God | John 20:19-23 by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ | Season of Joy

Sun, 24 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael leads us in one final guided meditation, praying for the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts, our minds, and our whole selves.

John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked where the disciples were,
out of fear,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
When He had said this,
He showed them His hands and His side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again,
“Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me,
so I send you.”

And when He had said this,
He breathed on them and said,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

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Open Your Heart Just a Little More | Psalm 23:1-4 by Crystal Meisaan Chan | Season of Joy

Fri, 22 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

In her final meditation, Crystal reflects on Psalm 23 line by line, showing how this beloved psalm offers a roadmap for deepening and strengthening that God bond, inviting us to open our hearts "just a little more" to God's love.

Psalm 23:1-4
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

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Rediscover Your God Bond | Exodus 20:2-3 by Crystal Meisaan Chan | Season of Joy

Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:00 -0500

Crystal Meisaan leads us into Exodus 20, where the Lord commands, “I am the Lord your God; you shall not have other gods besides me.” This meditation is designed to strengthen our relationship with the one true God—what Crystal calls “the God bond.”

Exodus 20:2-3
I am the Lord your God; you shall have no gods beside me.

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Soul Medicine | Isaiah 43:1-4 by Crystal Meisaan Chan | Season of Joy

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Crystal Meisaan Chan guides us in the first of her three meditations. She invites us to contemplate the opening verses of Isaiah 43, where the Lord tells us, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.” This meditation helps us experience the deep healing that comes when our self-worth is rooted in God’s love—untouched, unshakable, and ever-present.

Isaiah 43:1-4
I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; nor will the waters engulf you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, and in my eyes you are precious. You are loved and I love you.

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When Will the Kingdom of God Come? | Luke 17:20-25 by Sharon Krone | Season of Joy

Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Sharon Krone leads us in a classic Ignatian prayer of imagination. She invites us to walk with Jesus toward Jerusalem and to enter into the longing of the people who yearn for the Messiah. Their question may become our own: “When will the Kingdom of God come?” We are invited to bring our deepest longings to Jesus.

Luke 17:20-25

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Put Yourself at the Foot of the Cross | John 19:25-30 by Fr. Kevin Menard, SJC | Season of Joy

Mon, 18 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Kevin takes us to the foot of the Cross, where we hear Jesus say, “I thirst.” His thirst is not only physical, but spiritual: Jesus thirsts for us. Even in the midst of his agony, he is interceding for us. Because Jesus holds nothing back, but gives himself completely for our sake, we can trust in his love and mercy.

John 19:25-30
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth.
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

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How Much More Will the Father Give? | Matthew 7:7-11 by Fr. Kevin Menard, SJC | Season of Joy

Sun, 17 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Today, Fr. Kevin Menard reflects on Jesus’ words in Matthew 7, reminding us of the generosity of God. Jesus encourages us to ask, trusting that God—who is love and mercy itself—desires to give us only good things, especially the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

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Do You Believe That Jesus Can Heal You? | Luke 24:30-31 by Fr. Jacob Willig | Season of Joy

Fri, 15 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Jacob leads us into an eye-opening experience. Like the disciples at Emmaus, we are invited to look back on moments when it seemed as though God had not provided the answer we needed. And yet, in the breaking of the bread, Jesus reveals Himself. Fr. Jacob calls us deeper into the mystery of Christ’s love for us in the Eucharist, where our eyes are opened and our hearts are renewed.

Luke 24:30-31
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and give it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

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Become the Unnamed Disciple | Luke 24:15-17 by Fr. Jacob Willig | Season of Joy

Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Jacob Willig, nephew of Fr. Jim Willig, leads us back to one of the great Easter stories: the disciples on the Road to Emmaus inviting us to become the unnamed disciple walking beside Cleopas.

Jesus asks, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” That question becomes personal for us. What frustrations, hurts, worries, or disappointments are we carrying? What burdens have been weighing us down?

Fr. Jacob invites us to bring them honestly to the Lord and ask for the help we need.

Luke 24:15-17
While they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”

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Completely Filled By God's Love | Ephesians 3:14-19 by Terri Davis | Season of Joy

Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In today's reflection, Terri prays with St. Paul’s beautiful words from Ephesians 3, asking that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, and that we may come to know the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ.

She then invites us into a brief practice of awareness and communion with God, praying: “Breathe in me Your Spirit, Lord.”

To go further with Terri’s prayer practice, check out her music video meditation: BREATHE IN

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Breathe in the Love of Jesus | Mark 5:25-34 by Terri Davis | Season of Joy

Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Terri reflects on the woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years (Mark 5:25-34).

Her story becomes an invitation to steadfast faith. Faith is both a gift we receive and a choice we make—to reach out, to trust, and to accept the healing love God offers.

Terri then leads us into a prayer of resting in the loving and healing gaze of our God.

To go further with Terri’s prayer practice, check out her music video meditation: BREATHE IN

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Live in the Gaze of Jesus | Luke 19:5-6 by Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ | Season of Joy

Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Today Fr. Radmar turns to the story of Zacchaeus.

Many of us carry the feeling that we are not enough, and so we settle for only a glimpse of Jesus from a distance. But in the Gospel, Jesus looks up, calls Zacchaeus by name, and invites Himself into his home.

Fr. Radmar invites us to imagine Jesus doing the same for us: seeing who we truly are, not simply what we have done.

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Inhabited by Christ | Galatians 2:19-20 by Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ | Season of Joy

Sun, 10 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ—a former professional actor turned Jesuit priest—helps us reflect on what it means to become living tabernacles of Christ.

Fr. Radmar reflects on St. Paul’s words in Galatians: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Drawing from his own experience as an actor, he invites us to consider how Christ desires not simply to influence our lives, but to live within us and through us.

youtube.com/watch?v=obeBXPy15u0

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Do Not Be Afraid | Matthew 14:33 by Fr. Keith Romke | Season of Joy

Fri, 08 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We close the week with Fr. Keith reflecting on Matthew 14, where Jesus comes to the disciples in the midst of a violent storm, walking on the water. After feeding the multitude, Jesus had commanded them to get into the boat—and they obeyed.

But obedience did not spare them from the storm. In their fear, Jesus speaks the words they most need to hear:

"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."

Fr. Keith invites us to place ourselves in that boat and ask: Am I willing to let Jesus’ command—Do not be afraid—settle into my heart?

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Be Still and Know That I Am God | Psalm 46:10 by Fr. Keith Romke | Season of Joy

Thu, 07 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Keith Romke guides us in a meditation on the powerful words of Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” He shares how this verse became deeply personal to him after a retreat confession, when a priest reminded him that God’s love cannot be earned. Love is not a wage; it is a gift. In stillness, we are invited to stop striving, stop proving ourselves, and simply receive the love God is already offering.

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Emotional Healing Through Christ | Romans 8:37-39 by Dr. Willie Cobb | Season of Joy

Wed, 06 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Today Dr. Cobb reflects on Romans 8, where St. Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. At times we may feel overwhelmed by worry, fear, anxiety, or pain. We may even feel distant from God. But Paul proclaims a deeper truth: no suffering, no failure, no fear, no darkness can cut us off from God’s love. This meditation invites us to surrender our anxieties and allow Jesus to heal the places in us that feel separated or alone.

Romans 8:37-38
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

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The Woman at the Well | John 4:11-13 by Dr. Willie Cobb | Season of Joy

Tue, 05 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Chaplain Dr. Willie Cobb leads us into the story of the Woman at the Well from John 4. This is a story of emotional and spiritual healing. Jesus meets a rejected and wounded woman exactly where she is. He listens, reveals the truth, offers Living Water, and transforms her into a disciple.

Dr. Cobb invites us to ask: What keeps us from growing closer to God and neighbor? Are we willing to drink deeply of the Living Water Christ offers?

John 4:11-13
...the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself,

Jesus answered,

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

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Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled | John 14:1-6* by Rosanne Coury | Season of Joy

Mon, 04 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Rosanne continues today with John 14, where Jesus speaks tenderly to His troubled disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” In a moment of uncertainty and fear, Jesus assures them—and us—that we are not abandoned. He prepares a dwelling place for us, a home of peace, belonging, and renewal. We are invited to place our anxieties in His hands and trust that He is the way, the truth, and the life.

*John 14:1-2a, 3, 6a
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places… I go [to] prepare a place for you [and] I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be… I am the way and the truth and the life.”

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Yearning to be Whole, Known & Loved | John 10:11-18 by Rosanne Coury | Season of Joy

Sun, 03 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We begin on Sunday with Rosanne Coury, whose meditation flows naturally from Fr. Michael’s Saturday homily on the Good Shepherd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sprd_kSHyTM). Drawing from John 10, Rosanne reflects on Jesus as the Shepherd who knows us intimately, loves us completely, and lays down His life so that we may live abundantly. She invites us to trust that the Lord sees the deepest truth of who we are and embraces us with a love that heals and makes us whole.

John 10:11-18

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Healing For Those We Don't Know | Isaiah 57:18b-19 by Lauren Hackman-Brooks | Season of Joy

Fri, 01 May 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Today, Lauren invites us to stretch our prayer even further.

Rooted in the promise of the Book of Isaiah (57:18–19), we are invited to intercede for those beyond our immediate circle—those we may never meet, yet whose suffering calls forth our compassion. Our prayer becomes wider, more generous, more like the heart of Christ.

Isaiah 57:18b-19
I will lead them and restore full comfort to them
and to those who mourn for them,
creating words of comfort.
Peace! Peace to those who are far and near,
says the Lord; and I will heal them.

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Healing Those Near to Us | Mark 2:2-4 by Lauren Hackman-Brooks | Season of Joy

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Jesus was at home and the people flocked to him, bringing their loved ones for healing.

Mark 2:2-42
When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them.

Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.

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God Chose You | John 15:16 by Fr. Sean Grismer | Season of Joy

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Can you accept that you didn't choose God but that God chose you?

John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed
you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.

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Become a Friend of Jesus | John 15:15 by Fr. Sean Grismer | Season of Joy

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Sean Grismer invites us into the intimacy of friendship with Christ.

In the Gospel of John (15:15–16), Jesus says:

“I no longer call you servants… I call you friends.”

We are not distant followers—we are chosen companions. And from this friendship flows our mission: to bear fruit that will last. As we surrender unhealthy attachments and the need to control, Christ gently lifts the burdens we were never meant to carry. In their place, He gives us freedom, fruitfulness, and a deeper joy. And then, with hearts healed and grounded in friendship, our prayer begins to expand outward.

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Let Jesus Transform Your Wounds | Isaiah 53:5 by Fr. Ryan Browning | Season of Joy

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Ryan draws us to the suffering servant in the Book of Isaiah (53:5):
“By his wounds we are healed.”

The saints have long known this truth: when we place our wounds into the wounds of Christ, healing begins. What was once a place of pain can become a place of grace… even a place of glory.

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Healing Through Trust & Mercy | Matthew 11:28-30 by Fr. Ryan Browning | Season of Joy

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Ryan Browning reflects on healing through trust and mercy. In the words of the Gospel of Matthew (11:28–30), Jesus extends a tender invitation:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

The image of the yoke is striking. A yoke is made for two. We are not meant to carry life alone.

We are invited to lay down what is heavy—our fears, our wounds, our anxieties—placing them at the foot of the Cross, and to take on the yoke of Christ, which is light because He bears it with us.

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Holy Spirit Healing Meditation | 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 by Jennifer Falbo-Negron | Season of Joy

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Today, Jennifer reflects on the importance of holy self-care—tending to our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. For our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

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Walking with Jesus | Psalms 147:3 & 23:3 by Jennifer Falbo-Negron | Season of Joy #easter

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In this “Walking with Jesus” meditation Jennifer Falbo-Negron draws from Psalm 147:3 and Psalm 23:3, inviting us to ponder: What in your life is in need of resurrection?

How does it feel to be chosen by God?

Psalm 147:3

Psalm 23:3

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I Choose You, 1 Corinthians 4-7, 9 by Anne Rometty | Season of Joy #easter

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

In her second meditation, based on 1st Corinthians, Anne reminds us that God has invited us into partnership with Jesus. Imagine that—Jesus chooses us as His partners.

How does it feel to be chosen by God?

from 1 Corinthians 4-7, 9
I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has
given you, ... and he has invited you into
partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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Peace Within Our Hearts, John 20:20-21 by Anne Rometty | Season of Joy #easter

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Anne Rometty guides us today and Wednesday. She begins with Jesus’ first words to the disciples on the night of the Resurrection: “Peace be with you.” And the disciples were filled with joy. Joy is one of the primary graces we are praying for in this Easter season. Anne asks you to reflect on what brings you joy? Ask for the gift of joy— a fruit of the Spirit.

John 20:20-21
Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them. “Peace be with
You,” he said. As he spoke he showed them the wounds in his hands
and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again
he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am
sending you.”

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Surrender Your Wounds to Jesus, Hebrews 12:1-2 by Fr. Jim Kubicki, SJ | Season of Joy #easter

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0500

In today's meditation, drawn from Hebrews, chapter 12, Fr. Kubicki invites us to envision the great cloud of witnesses who surround us—encouraging us to persevere as we run the race, with our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:1-2
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.

For the sake of the joy that lay before Him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken His seat at the right of the throne of God.

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Fix Your Eyes on Jesus, Luke 24:15-17, 21, 27 by Fr. Jim Kubicki, SJ | Season of Joy #easter

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Where are you looking in your path of life? Down at the road in front of you, or up at Jesus?

Luke 24:15-17, 21, 27

It happened that while they were conversing, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

They stopped, looking downcast…. ‘We were hoping that Jesus would be the one to redeem Israel.’

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

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Joy After Grief, A Meditation on 1 Peter 1:8 by Paula Kowalkowski

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Paula reflects on the paradox of Easter joy amidst sorrow and grief the disciples felt and that we feel in our own lives as we suffer our own grief and loss.

1 Peter 1:8

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him.
And even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious.

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Jesus, The Risen Christ Meets His Mother by Paula Kowalkowski | Season of Joy #easter

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Paula shares her own prayerful vision of what it might have been like when Jesus visited his Mother after rising from the dead.

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Restored in Love, A Meditation on John 21:15-17 by Nancy Hulsebosch

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

It's early in the morning, you are Peter, tired from fishing all night but elated when you realize the risen Lord is waiting for you with a warm fire on the beach...until you get there and He starts grilling you about how much you love Him.

John 21:15-17
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

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John 20:11-16 Called by Name Meditation by Nancy Hulsebosch | Season of Joy #easter

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Nancy invites us to imagine being outside the empty tomb of Jesus and to experience what Mary Magdalene felt as Jesus called her by name.

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John 20:26-28 "Touch My Wounds" Meditation by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ | Season of Joy #easter

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael continues his reflections on John 20 as Thomas refuses to believe that his friend, his teacher, his savior has risen from the dead.

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John 20:26-28
Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said,
“Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him,
“My Lord and my God!”

About Season of Joy 2026
Jesus' words to the apostles on Easter Sunday were: “Peace be with you!” Jesus wants each of us to experience that same peace—a peace the world cannot give.

But our world is not at peace. Wars rage. At home we are divided. We need healing—emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

It is into this very world, just as it is, that Jesus comes to offer us His healing peace—and with that peace, the gift of joy. Pope Leo asks us to pray very intentionally for this peace.

Our series begins today on Divine Mercy Sunday and concludes on Pentecost, May 24. Each Sunday thru Friday, one of our 16 prayer guides—8 men & 8 women—lead us in prayers for healing and peace using the gift of our imaginations.

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John 20:19-23 Meditation for Divine Mercy Sunday by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ | Season of Joy #easter

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael reflects on John 20, the gospel for Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus’ comes to his disciples and to us not to shame or blame, but to bestow his peace.

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John 20:19-23
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

About Season of Joy 2026
Jesus' words to the apostles on Easter Sunday were: “Peace be with you!” Jesus wants each of us to experience that same peace—a peace the world cannot give.

But our world is not at peace. Wars rage. At home we are divided. We need healing—emotionally, spiritually, and physically.

It is into this very world, just as it is, that Jesus comes to offer us His healing peace—and with that peace, the gift of joy. Pope Leo asks us to pray very intentionally for this peace.

Our series begins today on Divine Mercy Sunday and concludes on Pentecost, May 24. Each Sunday thru Friday, one of our 16 prayer guides—8 men & 8 women—lead us in prayers for healing and peace using the gift of our imaginations.

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Water | Matthew 21:9 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

What water has Jesus given me this Lent to grow the seeds I have planted?

Matthew 21:9

The crowds preceding him and those following
kept crying out and saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest."

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Seeds of Hope: Stories for Lent (Season 3) is a 40-day video parable series to guide our Lenten journey of spiritual renewal and preparation for Easter.

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United | John 11:47-48 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

What brings us together as friends and family? What drives us apart?

John 11:47-48

So the chief priests and the Pharisees
convened the Sanhedrin and said,
“What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”

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Tension | John 10:31-32 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Sometimes doing the right thing just isn't appreciated by those around us...even if they are our friends.

John 10:31-32

The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus.
Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of these are you trying to stone me?”

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Brave Heart | Genesis 17:5 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Sometimes doing what is right requires a leap of faith.

Genesis 17:5
“No longer shall you be called Abram;
your name shall be Abraham,
for I am making you the father of a host of nations.”

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Match Made in Heaven | Luke 1:36-38 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Sometimes God puts what we need right in front of us; we just don't always see it...

Luke 1:36-38
“And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

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My Work | John 8:29-30 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Today's story seed reminds us to focus on our own work and to trust in those who trust us.

John 8:29-30

“The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him.”
Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him.

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Fluttering | John 8:4-5 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Today's scripture and parable deal with the topic of infidelity, while nothing explicit is said in the story, it is a mature topic. We recommend discretion when listening with younger children.

John 8:4-5

“Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?”

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The Explanation | John 11:25-26 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0500

If you haven't watched a Seeds of Hope parable lately, watch this one.

John 11:25-26
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.
Do you believe this?”

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The Shoveler | John 7:51 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

How easy it can be to be blinded to simple truths.

John 7:51
"Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him
and finds out what he is doing?"

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My House | John 7:28 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

If you went back to where you grew up, how would people treat you today?

John 7:28
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said,
"You know me and also know where I am from.
Yet I did not come on my own,
but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."

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Old Jessie | Matthew 1:20 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

When have you followed a dream that you knew was right but you didn't know why?

Matthew 1:20

Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.”

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Treehouse | John 5:19 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

We often think of Lent as a time to stop doing something. Today's parable invites us to imagine something we can build for the future.

John 5:19
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own,
but only what he sees the Father doing;
for what he does, the Son will do also.”

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Irish Eyes | John 56:5-6 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

What memories of your ancestors do you work to keep alive?

John 5:5-6
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
When Jesus saw him lying there
and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him,
"Do you want to be well?"

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Wonders | John 4:48 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0500

Sometimes what we want and what God gives aren't always the same. What prayers has God answered in a way you weren't expecting?

John 4:48
Jesus said to him,
“Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”

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I Don't Believe You | John 9:26-27 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0500

What message has God given that is difficult to hear?

John 9:26-27

“How did he open your eyes?”
He answered them,
“I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?”

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Gratitude | Mark 18:11-12 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Cultivate a proper attitude of gratitude for God's gifts.

Luke 18:11-12
“The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself,
‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity —
greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector.
I fast twice a week,
and I pay tithes on my whole income.’”

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Love | Mark 12:30 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Love: Yes, we love each other and we love ourselves, but how do we love God?

Matthew 12:30
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.

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Listen | Jeremiah 7:28 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

God speaks but do we hear? Do we listen for God's voice?

Jeremiah 7:28

This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

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Rabbit | Deuteronomy 4:9 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

How can I best share my faith with people I love?

Deuteronomy 4:9
“…take care and be earnestly on your guard
not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen,
nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live,
but teach them to your children and to your children's children.”

View on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UrRplvXuSw

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Little Artists | Matthew 18:32-33 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

A classic parable retold from the eyes of children and a loving father.

Matthew 18:32-33
His master summoned him and said to him, “You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?”

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Reception | Luke 4:24 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

Just like Jesus returning to Nazareth, sometimes it is hard for us to go back when we have changed but our friends or family have not.

Luke 4:24
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth:
“Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.”

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Seeing is Believing | John 4:42 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0500

What have you seen (or not seen) that strengthens your belief in God?

John 4:42

“We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves,
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

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Two Sisters | Luke 15:37-38 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sat, 07 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0600

We all know the Prodigal Son, but what about the Prodigal Sister?

Luke 15:3-38

“My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.”

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Life and Death | Matthew 21:38-39 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0600

No matter our situation, there is always something bigger going on. A deeper truth to realize.

Matthew 21:38-39

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

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Trust | Jeremiah 17:7 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0600

When all seems to be going wrong, trusting in God's unwavering love can often be the hardest truth to accept.

Jeremiah 17:7
Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.

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Servant Leader | Matthew 20:25-26 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0600

When have you had to set your own ego aside to show true leadership?

Matthew 20:25-26

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.”

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Hypocrite | Matthew 23:3 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0600

"Do as I say, not as I do..." Can be so much easier to say than actually following our own advice.

Matthew 23:3

“Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.”

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Peace and Quiet | Luke 6:37 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #pararbles

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0600

What judgments are best left un-said?

Luke 6:37
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

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The Choice | Matthew 17:5 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Matthew 17:5
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”

--

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Love, Not Like | Matthew 5:43-45 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Loving someone when they actively persecute you may be one of the hardest things we Christians are called to do...

Matthew 5:43-45

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”

--

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The Judgment | Matthew 5:21 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Matthew 5:21
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment.”

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Knocking on Heaven's Door | Matthew 7:7-8 | Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Fr. Michael recalls the bittersweet memory of his mom's passage into eternal life.

Matthew 7:7-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

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The Shift | Jonah 4:4-5 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Is there a time you have seen false assumptions lead to false division?

Jonah 4:4-5
“Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth.

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Our Daily Bread | Matthew 7:11-12 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

What sustains you in the face of challenges and hardships?

Matthew 7:11-12
“Give us this day our daily bread:
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;”

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Buen Camino! Leviticus 19:18 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Fr. Michael learns a lesson in humility and charity as he walks 140 miles of the Camino de Santiago, in northern Spain.

Leviticus 19:19
“Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

--

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Seeds of Hope: Stories for Lent (Season 3) is a 40-day video parable series to guide our Lenten journey of spiritual renewal and preparation for Easter.

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The Leaves of Temptation | Matthew 4:8-10 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Temptation can hit us anytime. Sometimes it's easy to spot, but other times the truth is harder to see. Pray, and ask God for clarity.

Matthew 4:8-10
Then the devil took Jesus up to a very high mountain,
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you,
if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”
At this, Jesus said to him,
“Get away, Satan!
It is written:
The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.”

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Seeds of Hope: Stories for Lent (Season 3) is a 40-day video parable series to guide our Lenten journey of spiritual renewal and preparation for Easter.

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Speaking Up | Isaiah 58:9-10 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Who do you know that could use a kind word, and what would you like to say?

Isaiah 58:9-10
Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness,
and the gloom shall become for you like midday;

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The Book of Grievances | Isaiah 58:3 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Is there some practice or behavior you are being called to fast from this Lent?

Isaiah 58:3
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
Afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”

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The Cross of Cold | Luke 9:23-24 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent #lent #parables

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0600

What cross are you called to carry who burden you would rather not hold?

Luke 9:23-24
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

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Left and Right | Matthew 6:3-4 - Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0600

Today's scripture and parable remind: Give in secret, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Who can you bless with a secret gift this Lent?

Matthew 6:3-4
“But when you give alms,
Do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
So that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent (Season 3) is a 40 day video parable series to foster the Lenten journey of spiritual renewal and preparation for Easter.

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Fr. Michael Homily - Perfect Love Repels Fear

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0600

When we accept the true and perfect love of God we cannot have fear over what might happen in this life because God's love transcends the physical world and offers an eternal embrace.

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from Mark 6:45-52
After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied,
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat
and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd.
And when he had taken leave of them,
he went off to the mountain to pray.
When it was evening,
the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore.
Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010726.cfm

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Journeying to the Light of Christ | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: The Epiphany

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0600

On the Feast of the Epiphany, Fr. Michael reflects on the Magi as the first pilgrims to Christ, following the light that revealed God not only to Israel, but to all nations. Epiphany reminds us that faith is not passive belief, but a living journey with Love made flesh.

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The Best Christmas of My Life | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: 10th Day of Christmas

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0600

Fr. Romke reflects on a Christmas spent serving in Moscow, discovering that beyond words, culture, or gifts, the Incarnation teaches us a universal language — the language of love.

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Jesus Truly Gives Us His Heart | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: 9th Day of Christmas

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0600

Fr. Romke reflects on a moment of prayer that revealed the Incarnation as God’s radical gift of His human heart — not merely offered, but given — and invites us to receive the Sacred Heart Jesus continually places before us.

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Standing Before the Manger | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Mary Mother of God

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on his own pilgrimage to Bethlehem, Fr. Romke shares how he discovered that Jesus doesn’t always change us by words or actions, but often by the quiet, loving stillness of his presence.

View on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a423-UmGizE

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A Christmas Gift from Jesus | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Octave Day 7

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on Dickens, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, and her own story, Rachel invites us to discover and cherish the personal grace Jesus gives each of us at Christmas — a gift meant to be carried throughout the year.

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Perfection is Not the Goal | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Octave Day 6

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on Christmas with a newborn, Rachel invites us to let go of perfection and learn from Mary and Joseph what it means to show up fully and be lovingly present to Jesus.

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Where is God Showing up this Christmas? | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Octave Day 5

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on family Christmas traditions and personal loss, Rachel invites us to notice how God’s presence and hope remain with us — whether our Christmas feels full of comfort and joy or marked by absence, change or loss.

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Find Holiness in Simple Living | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Christmas Octave Day 4

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

On a day of dual feasts — the Feasts of the Holy Family and the Holy Innocents — Fr. Michael reflects on how even the Holy Family experienced the ordinary ups and downs of daily life. They were happy and sad, euphoric and down-trodden, just like us — and in that ordinariness is holiness.

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God Chose to Become Flesh | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Christmas Octave Day 3

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

In her final Incarnation reflection, Val invites us to contemplate the startling truth of Christmas: that God did not merely visit humanity, but chose to dwell fully in our flesh, sanctifying ordinary human life from the inside out.

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Real Love, Without Conditions | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Christmas Octave Day 2

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

ValLimar's second Christmas reflection proclaims the heart of the Incarnation: a God who loves without condition, who comes anyway, and whose love took on flesh so that nothing could ever separate us from it.

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God Is With Us! | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas: Christmas Day

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on the name Emmanuel, ValLimar proclaims the heart of the Incarnation: not a distant God who fixes everything from afar, but a God who enters our mess, our pain, and our lives to be with us — always.

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Praying Through Breathing: God Among Us | A Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Erin shares how an Ignatian practice of prayer breathing centered on the word “among” helped her experience anew the mystery of the Incarnation — Jesus, the Word made flesh, dwelling among us and drawing us into deeper connection with God and one another.

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Family Traditions, New & Old: Imagine that Holy Night | a Virtual Pilgrimage for Advent & Christmas

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Drawing on a family Advent tradition and Ignatian prayer, Erin invites us to imagine the holy night of Jesus’ birth by entering the nativity scene with our senses, memories, and hearts.

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Praying with the O' Antiphons | A Virtual Pilgrimage on the Incarnation for Advent - Week 4

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on the O Antiphons of Advent, Erin invites us to slow down, speak the many names of Jesus, and ponder anew the question He asks each of us: “Who do you say that I am?”

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The Virgin Shall Be With Child | A Virtual Pilgrimage on the Incarnation for Advent - Week 4

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Fr. Michael reflects on the dual visits from an Angel to Mary and Joseph. Why does Joseph trust his dream and trust that his wife has not betrayed him?

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Was There a Dog at the Birth of Jesus? | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Sat, 20 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Fr. Kubicki invites us to imagine a humble dog alongside the shepherds at the manger, reminding us that the birth of Jesus drew not only people, but all of creation, to adore him.

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Which Nativity Piece Inspires You? | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Inspired by his time in a Jesuit community that prayed with the characters and items in the manager scene, Fr. Kubicki reminds us that to truly receive Jesus we must be empty of the things which would block His coming into our own hearts.

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What Does the Creche Say to You? | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on nativity scenes and the words of Saint Francis, Father Al Lauer, and Pope Francis, Fr. Kubicki invites us to rediscover the startling truth of Christmas: that the all-powerful God really became a helpless baby out of love for us.

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When Our Hope Feels Fragile | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Paula concludes her Advent reflections on grief and suffering, inviting us to discover a deeper kind of hope — not in outcomes or expectations, but in Jesus, the light who walks with us through darkness and stays when answers do not come.

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When Our Hearts Are Heavy | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Paula reflects on grief during Advent, encouraging those who mourn to honor their limits, be gentle with themselves, and trust that God meets them tenderly as they wait and take heart.

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Where Have You Gone, God? | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Paula reflects on the Longest Night of the year, offering hope to those carrying grief and loss by reminding us that even in our darkest seasons, God has not forgotten us and holds us tenderly in love.

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Finding Joy in Times of Sorrow | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 3

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Fr. Michael returns to introduce this week's new speakers and to explore what it means that "the desert will exult!" Or put another way, what it means to be joyful when we are grieving.

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Trust in God's Providence | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 2

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Fr. Grismer invites us to see every moment through the lens of God’s providence, discovering that the Incarnation assures us we never face life’s uncertainties alone — for God provides in all things, great and small.

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Blessed & Joyful Anticipation | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections for Advent - Week 2

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Fr. Sean encourages us to pray for the gift of Joy this Advent season and to anticipate the coming of Jesus just like John the Baptist did.

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Blessed & Joyful Anticipation | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 2

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Fr. Sean encourages us to pray for the gift of Joy this Advent season and to anticipate the coming of Jesus just like John the Baptist did.

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Was it Enough? | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 2

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Imagine Jesus telling his Father, that wasn't enough, I need to do more for those I love. Dr. Terry invites us to make Christmas, the celebration of the Incarnation, about more than a symbol.

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Good for you...Here I come! | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 2

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0600

Dr. Terry reflects on how his own mortality, the changes he notices as he ages, is a reminder that Jesus too was a unique and particular person; not some abstract being, but one of us; fully human.

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This Close! | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 2

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Dr. Terry tells a story of wonder, awe and discovery about his own daughter and draws parallels to the leap of faith Jesus took to enter humanity.

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Faith - Truth - Joy | A Virtual Pilgrimage Reflecting on the Incarnation - Week 2 | Matthew 3:1-3

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Fr. Michael kicks off week two of our Virtual Pilgrimage by focusing on John the Baptist and how he stood apart calling for repentance and truth. Telling the story of his friend, Ken Feit, Fr. Michael shares a sound poem that Ken composed on John the Baptist and his own poem touching on the true joy of the season.

Week 2 of Heart to Heart's Virtual Pilgrimage exploring stories of the Incarnation of Jesus seen in everyday life.

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Into this Chaos, God Comes | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 1

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0600

In her final reflection, Lauren invites us to look with God upon the world as it is today, seeing its chaos, beauty, and need through the loving gaze of the Trinity who still comes among us.

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Imagine Mary Saying "Yes" to God | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 1

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0600

For Friday of the 1st Week of Advent Lauren Hackman-Brooks guides us in an imaginative prayer watching with God as Mary says "Yes" to the the Angel Gabriel.

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Let Us See As God Sees | A Virtual Pilgrimage of Incarnation Reflections - Week 1

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0600

For Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent Lauren Hackman-Brooks begins leading us in a Contemplation on the Incarnation, an Ignatian meditation of God's love for all.

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Say "Yes" to the God Who Enters Our Mess | A Virtual Pilgrimage Reflecting on the Incarnation - Week 1

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0600

Join Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ for this reflection on Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent.

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Clear the Clutter, Make Room for More | A Virtual Pilgrimage Reflecting on the Incarnation - Week 1

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Join Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ for this reflection on Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent.

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Allow God to Do the Work | A Virtual Pilgrimage Reflecting on the Incarnation - Week 1

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0600

Join Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ for this reflection on Monday of the 1st Week of Advent.

Receive each daily reflection by email: htoh.us/advent

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Awaken to Hope! A Virtual Pilgrimage Reflecting on the Incarnation - Week 1 | Isaiah 2:4-5

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Week 1 of Heart to Heart's Virtual Pilgrimage exploring stories of the Incarnation of Jesus seen in everyday life.

Sign up at https://htoh.us/advent

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A Virtual Pilgrimage: And the Word Was Made Flesh, Incarnation Stories for Advent & Christmas

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Fr. Michael introduces the new virtual pilgrimage from Heart to Heart: And the Word Was Made Flesh, Incarnations Stories for Advent & Christmas. It runs from Nov 30th through Jan 4th.

Each Sunday from the first Sunday of Advent through Epiphany Sunday Fr. Michael will release a video on the Incarnation and introduce two speakers who will each offer 3 audio reflections released daily during the week (Mon-Wed for the first speaker, Thu-Sat for the second).

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Accept God's Mission | Luke 9:1-6 with Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Repentance. Forgiveness. Mission.

from Luke 9:1-6
esus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092425.cfm

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Novena of Prayer & Fasting for Peace | Concluding Prayer on the Feast of the Transfiguration

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Thank you for praying and fasting with us these 40 days.

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Guided Examination of Concscience - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 6

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael leads a Guided Examination of Conscience based on James 4:1-2 inviting us to trade self-reliance for gratitude, trust, and peace. Let the wars within give way to healing that radiates outward.

"Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask."
— James 4:1–2 (NABRE)

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Prayers for Peace in a World at War - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 6

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael offers prayers for Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan in this culminating prayer for our 40 Day Novena of Prayer and Fasting for Peace.

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Guided Prayer for Peace Inspired by the Teachings of Saint John Paul II

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Still your hearts and minds and find inner peace in Christ Jesus.

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Prayer for World Peace Inspired by Saint John Paul II - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 5

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Saint John Paul II, one of the most influential voices for peace in the 20th and early 21st centuries, tirelessly proclaimed the dignity of every human life as the foundation of a just and peaceful world. Throughout his papacy, he called on individuals, nations, and the Church to build what he called a “civilization of love,” where justice, solidarity, and forgiveness triumph over hatred and division.

In his many addresses for the World Day of Peace and writings like Centesimus Annus, Evangelium Vitae, and Solicitudo Rei Socialis, he taught that true peace is rooted not just in diplomacy or policy, but in the conversion of hearts, the respect for life, and the recognition of each person as a child of God.

This prayer is drawn from those teachings. It seeks to echo his urgent call to become peacemakers in a world torn by violence, fear, and injustice—by becoming people of compassion, truth, and mercy, beginning in our own hearts and homes.

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Guided Imagery Meditation inspired by Pope Francis - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 4

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael leads a guided meditation inspired by Pope Francis' writings on care for our common world.

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A Litany Prayer for Peace inspired by Pope Francis - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 4

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

In this 4th week of our novena for peace we invite you to pray on the writings and teachings of our late beloved pontiff, Pope Francis. He consistently taught that peace is rooted in justice, dialogue, and care for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

In the third year of his pontificate, in 2015, he issued his landmark encyclical Laudato Si’. In it, he links care for creation to peace, warning that environmental destruction fuels conflict. He urges religious leaders and all people of goodwill to work together for reconciliation, forgiveness, and the dignity of every person.

In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis calls for a culture of encounter, solidarity, and fraternity beyond borders. He condemns war, nuclear weapons, and the arms trade as failures of humanity. Francis emphasizes nonviolence as a political and personal path, echoing the Gospel’s call to love enemies.

Our prayer this week is inspired by Pope Francis’ teaching in especially these two encyclicals. It’s written in the form of a call and response litany. If possible, we encourage you to pray it with others. Or you may wish to simply pray it by yourself.

Thank you for joining us in this 40 day Novena of Prayer and Fasting for Peace.

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Guided Imagery Meditation with Mary - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 3

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael leads a guided imagery prayer for peace inspired by the apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje and his own pilgrimages to that holy site.

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Prayer for Peace inspired by Mother Mary - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 3

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

This week's novena prayer for peace is inspired by Our lady's message of peace appearing at Medjugorje.

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Prayers for Peace Week 3 Introduction

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael introduces the apparitions at Medjugorje and the impact they have had on the world and how they have sustained him as a priests.

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Guided Imagery Meditation inspired by Pope Leo XIV - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 2

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Fr. Michael leads a guided imagery prayer for peace inspired by the teachings of Pope Leo XIV.

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Prayer for Peace Inspired by the Teachings of Pope Leo XIV- Novena Prayers for Peace Week 2

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 09:00:00 -0500

Prayer for Peace Inspired by the Teachings of Pope Leo XIV

Lord Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Shepherd of all nations, look with mercy upon this world so often torn apart by pride, indifference, and violence.

You who calmed the winds and stilled the waves, speak Your word of peace over our hearts and over every place where hatred has taken root.

Send forth Your Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth and reconciliation, to renew the face of the earth. Convert the hearts of those who plot destruction. Strengthen all who labor to build bridges between peoples and cultures. Comfort those who mourn their loved ones, whose lives have been stolen by war and terror.

Lord, teach us never to grow accustomed to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. Awaken in us a holy restlessness, that we may not remain silent before injustice, nor numb before the cries of the innocent.

O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, remember the land of Your Promise. Grant that swords may be turned into plowshares, and all Your children may dwell secure in Your peace.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, wrap Your mantle around all nations. Intercede for us, that hatred may yield to understanding, revenge to forgiveness, and war to peace.

May the day soon dawn when every people and nation lift their voices together in a hymn of praise, and all humanity recognize in one another the image of our loving God.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Fr. Michael Homily - Sacred Heart of Jesus | Luke 15:3-7

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Given on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Fr. Michael shares two images that Jesus gives for His sacred heart: the sun bursting with love and the vulnerable heart, pierced and on fire with love.

from Luke 15:3-7
Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes:
"What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062725.cfm

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Prayers for Peace: Guided Imagery Meditation - Week 1

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Listen as Fr. Michael guides us in this imagery prayer for peace.

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Prayer for Peace in a World at War - Novena Prayers for Peace Week 1

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:00:00 -0500

Prayer for Peace in a World at War

God of All Nations,
You created every person in Your image—
each one beloved, each one bearing Your breath.
Yet today Your world groans under the weight of war.
So many lands are scarred with violence,
so many hearts torn by loss,
so many children know fear instead of play.

Lord of Mercy,
We cry out to You for peace.

Stretch Your hand over the earth, O God.
Let Your Spirit hover again over chaos,
not to destroy, but to heal and to renew.

Disarm the hearts of those who wage war.
Convert the thirst for power into a hunger for justice.
Break the bows and burn the chariots,
and let the nations learn war no more.

Inspire leaders with the courage to seek peace,
not the peace of silence or suppression,
but the peace born of dignity, dialogue, and truth.

Comfort the grieving.
Protect the innocent.
Strengthen the peacemakers—
those who serve in dangerous places,
those who speak truth in trembling voices,
those who shelter the displaced,
those who dare to hope.

Let Your Church be a light in dark times,
not allied to any flag or faction,
but bound to Your Gospel of love,
a voice for the voiceless and a balm for the broken.

And when the night feels long,
remind us, O Lord:
You are still the God who brings life from tombs,
and peace from the midst of storms.

We pray in the name of Jesus,
Prince of Peace and Hope of the world.
Amen.

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Prayers for Peace: A 40-Day Novena of Prayer & Fasting

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Today marks a powerful convergence of grace—the feast of the birth of Saint John the Baptist, the 24th anniversary of Fr. Jim Willig’s entrance into eternal life, and the anniversary of the Blessed Mother’s first appearance in Medjugorje. In this spirit, Fr. Michael invites you to begin a 40-day novena of prayer and fasting for peace. With heartfelt conviction shaped by his own pilgrimages and decades of prayer, he offers this introduction as a call to action in a world torn by war and suffering. Listen now to discover how you can take part and become a channel of peace, starting tomorrow.

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Seeds of Joy | Epilogue

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Joy | Carlo Acutis

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

"It shall come to pass. I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions." Joel 3:1

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Seeds of Joy | The Fork (49/50)

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven…” Matthew 5:12

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Seeds of Joy | Why Worry?

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“…Jesus replied… ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not spoken of myself; it is the Father who lives in me accomplishing his works.’” John 14:9-11

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Seeds of Joy | The Empty Chair (47/50)

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“We do not fix our gaze on what is seen but on what is unseen. What is seen is transitory; what is unseen lasts forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

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Seeds of Joy | Right as Rain (46/50)

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

"For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

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Seeds of Joy | Time for Love (45/50)

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

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Seeds of Joy | Bear Life Lessons (44/50)

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 03:00:00 -0500

“But now thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

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Seeds of Joy | Looks Can Be Deceiving (43/50)

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Jesus then said to His disciples: ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, they must deny their very self, take up their cross, and begin to follow in my footsteps. Whoever would save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.’” Matthew 16:24-25

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Seeds of Joy | The Window (42/50)

Sat, 31 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for in weakness, power reaches perfection. And so I willingly boast of my weaknesses instead, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

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Seeds of Joy | More Than Many Sparrows (41/50)

Fri, 30 May 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So, do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29–31

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Seeds of Joy | Dreaming and Drawing (40/50)

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

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Seeds of Joy | A Prophet's Reward (39/50)

Wed, 28 May 2025 01:00:00 -0500

Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous person because they are a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. Matthew 10:41

https://youtu.be/bjAceeWe5pM

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Seeds of Joy | The Barefoot Messenger (38/50)

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:00:00 -0500

“If you want to avoid judgment, stop passing judgment. Your verdict on others will be the verdict passed on you. The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you. Why look at the speck in your brother’s or sister’s eye when you miss the plank in your own?” Matthew 7:1-3

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Seeds of Joy | A Magic Touch (37/50)

Mon, 26 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“…O God, great and mighty, whose name is Lord of hosts, great in counsel, mighty in deed whose eyes are open to all the ways of humans…” Jeremiah 32:18-19

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Seeds of Joy | The Sense of a Goose (36/50)

Sun, 25 May 2025 01:00:00 -0500

"Therefore, comfort and upbuild one another, as indeed you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

https://youtu.be/il5oWloYkOs

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Seeds of Joy | St. Teresa of Avila (35/50)

Sat, 24 May 2025 07:00:00 -0500

“Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

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Seeds of Joy | The Eagle (34/50)

Fri, 23 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31

https://youtu.be/RpblJWzHagw

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Seeds of Joy | The Hedgehogs (33/50)

Thu, 22 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another.
Such as my love has been for you, so must your love be for each other." John 13:34

https://youtu.be/mrylEsE39DA

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Seeds of Joy | The Garbage Truck (32/50)

Wed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Treat others the way you would have them treat you: this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12

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Seeds of Joy | The Lumberjacks (31/50)

Tue, 20 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all his work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation.” Genesis 2:2-3

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Seeds of Joy | The American Dream (30/50)

Mon, 19 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it." Psalm 118:24

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Seeds of Joy | The Black Dot (29/50)

Sun, 18 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

"We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who have been called according to God’s decree." Romans 8:28

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Seeds of Joy | The Other Side (28/50)

Sat, 17 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in them will produce abundantly, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

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Seeds of Joy | The Battle of the Beetles (27/50)

Fri, 16 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“For all these reasons, let anyone who thinks they are standing upright watch out lest they fall!” 1 Corinthians 10:12

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Seeds of Joy | Keep Singing (26/50)

Thu, 15 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations, among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.” 1 Chronicles 16:23

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Seeds of.Joy | The Cracked Pot (25/50)

Wed, 14 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“He said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for in weakness, power reaches perfection.’ And so I willingly boast of my weaknesses instead, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

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Seeds of Joy | The Pencil's Lesson (24/50)

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Do you not know or have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.” Isaiah 40:28

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Seeds of Joy | The Trouble Tree (23/50)

Mon, 12 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“Peace is my farewell to you, my peace is my gift to you; I do not give it to you as the world gives peace. Do not be distressed or fearful.” John 14:27

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Seeds of Joy | The Riddle (22)

Sun, 11 May 2025 06:00:00 -0500

“If any of you is without wisdom, ask for it from God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given.” James 1:5

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Seeds of Joy | St. John Francis Regis (21/50)

Sat, 10 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“If you have Faith the size of a mustard seed….” Matthew 17:20

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Seeds of Joy | A Wonder-filled Life (20/50)

Fri, 09 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“… Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them. The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

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Seeds of Joy | Choices (19/50)

Thu, 08 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

"My brothers and sisters, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial. Remember that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance." James 1:2-3

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Seeds of Joy | Too Old To Dream?

Wed, 07 May 2025 03:00:00 -0500

“I came that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

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Seeds of Joy | The Shepherd's Voice (17/50)

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” John 10:27

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Seeds of Joy | Time (16/50)

Mon, 05 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Psalm 90:12

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Seeds of Joy | Turtles (15/50)

Sun, 04 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“Love one another with the affection of brothers and sisters. Anticipate each other in showing respect.” Romans 12:10

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Seeds of Joy | The Glass (14/50)

Sat, 03 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30

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Seeds of Joy | The Rescue

Fri, 02 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1

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Seeds of Joy | The Monkey Trap

Thu, 01 May 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“Wherever your treasure lies, there your heart will be.” Luke 12:34

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Seeds of Joy | Show Me the Money!

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you worth than they?” Matthew 6:26

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Seeds of Joy | God and the Spider

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0500

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

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Seeds of Joy | Cooking Lessons for Life

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill." Matthew 5:6

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Seeds of Joy | The (Holy) Fence

Sun, 27 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

“The patient man shows much good sense, but the quick-tempered man shows folly at its height.” Proverbs 14:29

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Seeds of Joy | The Elephant and the Rope

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

“Shake off the dust, rise up, ascend to the throne, Jerusalem; Loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion!" Isaiah 52:2

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Seeds of Joy, Stories for Easter | Rising Up To Our Destiny (3/50)

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0500

What was meant to bury the donkey became the very thing that helped him rise. God can use our struggles to lift us into the people He’s calling us to be.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not; In all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Watering the Seeds

Have you ever looked back on a problem and realized it offered some surprise grace or lesson?

What are you dealing with today that you’d like God to help you with?

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Seeds of Joy, Stories for Easter | Lou Gehrig (2/50)

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:00:00 -0500

Lou Gehrig chose gratitude over despair, even as he faced the end of his career and life. Like Easter after Good Friday, hope can change how well we live, even if it can’t change how long.

“…We know that affliction makes for endurance, and endurance for tested virtue, and tested virtue for hope." Romans 5:3

Watering the Seeds

What are you focusing on today? Is it positive or negative?

How can you reflect on the unexpected joy of the disciples on Easter and apply it to your life?

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Seeds of Joy, Stories for Easter | Surrender (1/50)

Sun, 20 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0500

When surrender seemed inevitable, an Austrian village rang out the church bells for Easter—and the attacking French army fled before the sounds of hope and joy.

Jesus told Martha: ‘I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live…’” John 11:25

Watering the Seeds

What does “Easter Joy” mean to you?

How could you add "Easter Joy" into your life today?

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Seeds of Hope | The Power of Blood (40/40)

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0500

With corruption and scandal seemingly around every turn in the adult world, watch and learn the power of a child's innocence and purity.

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Healing Through God's Word produced by Heart to Heart with some original material from Shalom World USA: shalomworldtv.org

Intro music by Bensound
Main underscore, Hope, by Dyathon
Closing music licensed from Soundstripe

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Seeds of Hope | Healed Through God's Word (39/40)

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Is God trying to get your attention? Open the Gospels today, and see what message God is sharing with you.

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Seeds of Hope | Problems to Pearls (38/40)

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

What are the pearls in your life? Those things that began as nuisances and annoyances but over time were transformed into something worthwhile?

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Problems to Pearls produced by Heart to Heart with some original material from Shalom World USA: shalomworldtv.org

Intro music by Bensound
Main underscore, Hope, by Dyathon
Closing music licensed from Soundstripe

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Seeds of Hope | We Are Like Lazarus (37/40)

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Have you ever felt trapped in fear, darkness, or doubt? Today’s story—set in the actual tomb of Lazarus—reminds us that Jesus calls each of us to life beyond our mortal fears.

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Seeds of Hope | Our Lady of Guadalupe (36/40)

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | Make Suffering a Blessing in Disguise (35/40)

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | Seek Spiritual Training (34/40)

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Just as we need physical training to keep our bodies in shape, so too do we need spiritual training to keep our souls aligned with God's will.

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Seeds of Hope | Abraham Lincoln: A Testament to Perseverance (33/40)

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

When life is too hard... When you are ready to give up... Think about today's Story Seed and the trials and tribulations this man went through...and the great things he accomplished.

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Seeds of Hope | God Saved a Wretch Like Him (32/40)

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Sometimes it is easy to see God at work in our lives and in the world. Other times we wonder if God really cares about humanity. Today's story that inspired the popular song "Amazing Grace" shows how God works through imperfect people.

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Seeds of Hope | St. Thérèse of Lisieux, A "little way" to Great Holiness (31/40)

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

It is never easy to fully embrace humility and admit we are not strong enough on our own. Today's Story Seed comes from a "Little Flower" who learned through prayer the express path to sanctity.

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Seeds of Hope | Juggling is a Lot Like Living (30/40)

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

The simple rules to help you become a better juggler just might help you become better at living a busy and hectic life. Watch as Fr. Michael tries to teach...and keep all the balls in the air.

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Seeds of Hope | Saint Francis of Assisi (29/40)

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | The Most Widely Read Author in History? (28/40)

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Who is your go-to person for wisdom? Do you look to the flashy celebrity or the humble Saint? Maybe we should look to a boy who could never quite get it right...

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Seeds of Hope | The Secret to Sanctity (27/40)

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Hint: The secret doesn't start with us, it starts with God. We must take time each day to invite God to guide our thoughts and actions so that each day will be lived for God.

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Seeds of Hope | Thy Will Be Done (26/40)

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500

Listen and obey. These are often the commands we give our children. Should we expect any less of God?

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Seeds of Hope | A Mother's Love (25/40)

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | Bitter or Better? (24/40)

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | A Lesson on Impact (23/40)

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Today's story seed teaches that the impact of our good deeds is meaningful regardless of how big or small. Many seemingly little things, done one by one each day, will change the world around us.

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Seeds of Hope | Find a Saintly Mentor (22/40)

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0500

In life we have many heroes and people we look up to and emulate. Our spiritual lives need the same. Pick a Saint to emulate so that some of their holiness might trickle down from heaven to you.

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Seeds of Hope | God's Real Tweets Might Say... (21/40)

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

I imagine God's Twitter/X name would be: RealGodOfficial (or similar) and God's tweets would probably sound a lot like the messages in today's Story Seed...

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent | God's Language of Silence (20/40)

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Did you ever have a secret language? God does. The language of silence. Watch this story to learn some insight from Fr. Michael on how to decode God's Language of Silence.

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Seeds of Hope | Thorns in the Flesh (19/40)

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | Seek the Heart of Jesus (18/20)

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

By loving God with our whole self and loving others as we love ourselves we can enter into the heart of Jesus. That heart of pure love and concern for each of us. Pray daily, as St. Mother Teresa did, for Jesus' heart of love.

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Seeds of Hope | Strength Through Struggle (17/40)

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | Saving Millard Fuller's Marriage (16/40)

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | Walking on Water (15/40)

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

When we put our trust in the Lord and focus on His calm and reassuring presence, we too, like Peter, can do miraculous things.

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Seeds of Hope | Copernicus (14/40)

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

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Seeds of Hope | House Building (13/40)

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Life is like a DIY project. Don't short change yourself.

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Seeds of Hope | Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star (12/40)

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0500

When childlike innocence and the creativity of a master are combined, wonderful things can happen. So it is with us and God.

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Seeds of Hope | Mother Teresa's Advice (11/40)

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

A tree grows from a tiny seed into a large, towering presence. Saint Teresa of Calcutta offers simple seeds of wisdom to help each of us grow our own impact on the world for the greater glory of God.

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Seeds of Hope | Garden of Gethsemane (10/40)

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Jesus went away to a quiet place to pray with three of his closest friends. Look to Jesus in your own suffering and struggle. Remember to pray as He did that God's will be done.

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Seeds of Hope | Pursuit of Happiness (9/40)

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Does the pursuit of happiness drive your life? If you found happiness, would you really be content?

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Seeds of Hope | The Daily Decalogue of Saint Pope John XXIII (8/40)

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

These 10 daily seeds helped Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli grow in holiness as Pope St. John XXIII...

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Seeds of Hope | Alfred Nobel's Epitaph (7/40)

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

If you woke up one morning to read your own obituary, what kind of impact would that have on the rest of your life?

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Seeds of Hope | Biblical Directions (6/40)

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Are God's directions leading you to heaven or have you been sidetracked by your own ideas of how to get there?

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent | Baby Giraffes (5/40)

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0500

Immediately after birth the mother Giraffe begins to put her baby to the test. Not out of malice, but out of instinctive love. So too the Lord requires us to pass the test of hardship by never giving up hope.

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent | Unanswered Prayers (4/40)

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Sometimes we pray, and pray and pray for something without getting the answer we want. Is God ignoring us or did He simply answer in His way...?

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent | Noah's Ark (3/40)

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0600

12 simple lessons to learn and apply in life from Noah and his example of trust in the Lord.

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent | One Year to Live (2/40)

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0600

Fr. Jim Willig, a dynamic Gospel evangelist, faced a devastating cancer diagnosis with steadfast faith, turning his suffering into a witness of God's love and mercy.

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Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent | Michelangelo's David (1/40)

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0600

Michelangelo could see the man in the stone when others could not.
Let us learn similar perseverance in faith this Lent.

Get the free eBook: htoh.us/sdm_downloads/seeds-of-hope-ebook (no email required, but if you'd like to join our small community of faith visit: htoh.us/join

What is Seeds of Hope?

Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent is a video series based on the booklet, Inspiration, written by the late Fr. Jim Willig. Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ produced the series in collaboration with Shalom Media USA.

These daily Lenten reflection videos will run from today, Ash Wednesday, through Holy Saturday (but skipping other Saturdays). We will send an email for each story (scroll down and click the image to watch).

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Adore Him with Sr. Alicia Torres | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 01:00:00 -0600

Sr. Alicia reflects on Eucharistic adoration, encountering Jesus’ presence in the Blessed Sacrament and drawing parallels to Mary’s womb, deepening her joy.

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Pure Joy with Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0600

A 64-year-old woman named Carol revealed Jesus’ real presence, teaching love, forgiveness, and Eucharistic awe, transforming Fr. Radmar forever.

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Walking with Jesus: A Humble Encounter with Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

The Eucharistic Congress revealed Christ’s presence in profound silence, joyful children, and humble hearts, renewing hope through the Word made flesh.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
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Eucharistic Reconciliation with Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

A powerful reconciliation between Cardinal Bernardin and his accuser reveals God’s healing love, inspiring hope for forgiveness in families, faith, and the Church.

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Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
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The Eucharist is a Beacon of Hope with Claire Noonan | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Sat, 28 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Amid unrest on a college campus, a Eucharistic procession united hearts through prayers, reflections, and Christ’s call to love, justice, and communion.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

The Dance of Surrender & Grace with Betsey Beckman | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

The Eucharist calls us to embody Christ’s surrender, transforming our lives into vessels of grace.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

The Greatest Act of Love with Fr Jim Kubicki, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Fr. Jim highlights the transformative power of the Eucharist to bring God’s love to us, calling us to become and manifest that love to the world.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
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Becoming What We Receive with Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson | Eucharistic Encounters #christmas

Wed, 25 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

The Eucharist calls us to become nourishment for others, just as Jesus did—living his love and care in a broken world. I saw this first-hand in my own mom.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Jesus and I Share a Love Language with Lauren Hackman-Brooks | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Feeding others connects me to Jesus’ love language—sharing meals, building relationships, and embodying Christ in the Eucharist to nourish my loved ones.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Show Me Christ! with Fr Michael Graham, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas #advent

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Fr. Graham experiences Christ’s transformation in the Eucharist, called to embody His love and to reveal Him daily.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

The Vulnerability of Christ with Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Christ’s dual vulnerability in the Nativity and Eucharist transforms us into His body, uniting worship and service through love, humility, and self-sacrifice.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Daily Mass Opened My Heart with Elise Giles | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Daily Mass deepened Elise's relationship with Jesus, transforming her faith through the Eucharist’s nourishment, His real presence, and unconditional love.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Transfixed on Beauty with Mark Duffey | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas #advent

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Deacon Mark shares a profound Eucharistic moment as light illuminated Christ’s presence in the bread and wine, awakening a deeper connection to his faith.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Wonder & Awe: The Eucharist Made Me Catholic with ValLimar Jansen | Eucharistic Encounters

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

The deep, personal connection to Jesus in the Eucharist drew ValLimar from Baptist roots to Catholic truth, transforming her faith through His real presence.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Marked for Life with Eric Styles | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas #advent

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Through ritual and imagination, the Eucharist transformed Eric's life, marking him forever and leading him to encounter Jesus in a profound, personal way.

Watch/Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7FluaTJJtkY

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

My Eyes Were Opened, My Heart Awakened with Sharie Bowman

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Witnessing scripture come alive in drama opened Sharie's heart to Jesus and the Eucharist, deepening her faith and calling her to serve as a Eucharistic minister.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

From Symbol to Sacrament with Tammy Bundy | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Raised Protestant, Tammy struggled with the Eucharist's meaning until God revealed its reality—transforming her understanding and love for communion.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

The Eucharist is Joy with Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

On this Gaudete Sunday the Eucharist fills Fr. Michael's heart, unites the Church, and inspires him to share Christ’s love.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

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Grace Above Prejudice: United by the Eucharist with Dr. Willie Cobb | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Transcending barriers of language, race, and culture, the Eucharist unites people in Christ's compassion, offering hope, and fostering communion across divides.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
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Fed by Love, Sent to Serve with Nina O'Connor | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

The Eucharist calls us to loving service, expanding love through acts of justice, compassion, and care, rooted in Christ’s enduring presence and nourishment.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
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What Keeps Me Catholic with Geralyn Sparough | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

The Eucharist sustains Geralyn's faith, offering connection, renewal, and enduring love even amid the broken humanity of the Church.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
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Coming Back for More with Tom Sparough | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Each encounter with the Eucharist is unique, but through listening and stillness, peace, comfort, and love reveal God’s presence, drawing us back for more.

Learn More
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Refusing to Not Believe with Terri Davis | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Overcoming deep doubt, the Eucharist became a transformative source of peace and hope for Terri, affirming God’s infinite presence, love, and sustaining grace.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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We Do Not Love Alone by Becky Eldredge | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

In a crisis, God revealed his love to Becky through the Eucharist, reigniting hope and faith. Even in darkness, love is rooted in its source: our God, always with us.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
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420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
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Gifts of Faith with Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters for Advent & Christmas

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Believing in the Eucharist can be challenging, especially when faced with doubts or life’s struggles. Yet, gifts of faith and grace have a way of breaking through.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
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Living the Gift of Eucharist through Service by Peggy Arizzi | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

An unexpected encounter with Jesus in Eucharistic adoration revealed his comforting presence in the midst of deep struggles. This profound intimacy with Christ became a call to share his love through service and to live out his command: “Do this in memory of me.”

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
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Pausing to Pray, Adoration Goes Both Ways by Jenéne Francis | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on moments of awe and stillness—whether gazing at the stars or adoring Christ in the Blessed Sacrament—offers a profound sense of God’s presence and love. Advent invites us to pause, rest in grace, and celebrate Christ’s coming with renewed wonder and gratitude.

Additional Resources recommended by Jenéne

Take a few minutes to listen to Stars, a choral work based on Sara Teasdale’s poem by Ēriks Ešenvalds (~5 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LO4AyhRDkM

Or watch a video of Creator of the Stars of Night, the traditional chant accompanied by beautiful star gazing images (Recorded by St. John’s Episcopal Church, Boulder, CO, ~3 min): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zibWoP4RJ14

You can learn more about Ignatius and the Stars in an essay by Tim McEvoy, published at https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/ignatius-and-stars, May 24, 2021

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Daily Bread: Depending on the Eucharist by Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600

From the innocent curiosity of a five-year-old to the humble reliance of adulthood, the Eucharist has been a source of joy, transformation, and profound connection with Christ for Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Moments of Grace in the Eucharist by Rachel Forton | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Reflecting on moments of profound connection with Jesus in the Eucharist reminds us of his constant presence and the transformative power of his love, even in the midst of ordinary life.

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Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with "Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist." From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Sign up now at htoh.us/advent.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayers

Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Beyond Fear & Doubt - Healed with Daily Communion by Al Gustafson | Eucharistic Encounters

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Through the challenges of fear and doubt, daily communion with Jesus became Al's foundation for surrender, healing, and a lifelong journey of grace and trust.

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Let this Advent and Christmas be a time of true renewal and joy!

Sign up now at https://htoh.us/advent for daily reflections by email.

Experience a profound journey this Advent and Christmas season with Eucharistic Encounters: Advent & Christmas Reflections on the Gift of the Eucharist. From the first Sunday of Advent through the Octave of Christmas ending on January 1st, immerse yourself in daily reflections that deepen your connection to the Eucharist and the heart of our faith.

Each Sunday, join Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ, for an inspiring video reflection that sets the tone for the week ahead. Then, from Monday to Saturday, receive daily audio reflections from 27 diverse and insightful contributors, each bringing a unique perspective on the transformative gift of the Eucharist.

Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual life during this holy season. Sign up today to receive these free daily emails and journey with us toward a more intimate encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

Learn More
Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us
420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200
Barrington, IL 60010

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Support our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

The Eucharist is Jesus Himself, Lovingly Given by Fr. Sean Grismer | Eucharistic Encounters #advent

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 01:00:00 -0600

The Eucharist is Jesus himself, lovingly given to heal our broken connection with God and fill the deepest hunger of our hearts. In his calling, a priest discovers the profound privilege of holding Christ’s very presence—a gift beyond anything the world can offer—so he can bring God’s love to those longing for communion with Him.

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Receiving the Holy Spirit - Season of Joy | John 20:19-23 by Fr. Sean Grismer #pentecost

Sun, 19 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 20:19-23 is by Fr. Sean Grismer.

Father Sean was ordained a priest on June 4, 2016 for the Diocese of Rockford. He served as an associate at St. Mary in Huntley, St. Bridget in Loves Park, and will begin the role of Spiritual Director to Aurora Central Catholic High School this coming school year. He has led several parish missions and continues to lead pilgrimages to Lourdes and Rome.

from John 20:19-23
...Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052823-Day.cfm

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Our World is the Book - Season of Joy | John 21:20-25 by Sr. Sharon Zayac, OP

Sat, 18 May 2024 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 21:20-25 is by Sr. Sharon Zayac, OP.

Sr. Sharon is a Dominican Sister of Springfield, IL. She has degrees in Secondary Education, Hospital Administration, and Earth Literacy. She is co-founder of Jubilee Farm, her congregation’s 164-acre eco-center, just west of Springfield, IL. She is a writer, speaker, retreat leader both in and outside of the U.S.

from John 21:20-25
...It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that Jesus did,
but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain the books
that would be written.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060422.cfm

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Do You Love Me? - Season of Joy by Leah and Sean Reynolds

Fri, 17 May 2024 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 21:15-19 is by Leah and Sean Reynolds.

Leah and Sean live in Cincinnati, OH where they do marriage ministry, serve as CASAs (Court Appointed Special Advocates) on behalf of children from troubled families, and enjoy retirement (and all the time it allows for family and especially grandchildren). Leah recently retired from nursing and Sean from full-time youth and young adult ministry.

from John 21:15-19
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them,
he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
He then said to Simon Peter a second time,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep...”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060322.cfm

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We Are One in Christ - Season of Joy | John 17:20-26 by Susan Carson

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 17:20-26 is by Susan Carson.

Susan is a writer, speaker, spiritual director and Founder of Roots & Branches Network, a ministry creating safe space for transformational encounters with Jesus through listening prayer. Susan is the author of rooted (IN): Thriving in Connection with God, Yourself, and Others, and host of the rooted (IN).ten.tionally podcast. Find out more at susancarson.net.

from John 17:20-26
Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying:
“I pray not only for these,
but also for those who will believe in me through their word,
so that they may all be one,
as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that they also may be in us,
that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me,
so that they may be one, as we are one,
I in them and you in me,
that they may be brought to perfection as one,
that the world may know that you sent me,
and that you loved them even as you loved me...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060222.cfm

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Find Joy in Giving Back - Season of Joy | Acts 20:28-38 by Fr. Terry Charlton, SJ

Wed, 15 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 20:28-38 is by Fr. Terry Charlton, SJ.

Fr. Terry, a Jesuit from Indianapolis, has worked in Nairobi, Kenya, since 1990. He is the Director of Mwangaza Jesuit Spirituality Centre and the Co-Founder, Chaplain, and Director of Development at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School, a fees-free school serving bright students from Kibera slum who are AIDS-affected youth or other orphans and vulnerable children. For more, visit schoolofhopekenya.org.

from Acts 20:28-38
And now I commend you to God
and to that gracious word of his that can build you up
and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.
I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.
You know well that these very hands
have served my needs and my companions.
In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort
we must help the weak,
and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said,
‘It is more blessed to give than to receive...’”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060122.cfm

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Replacing Judas - Season of Joy | John 15:9-17 by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ

Tue, 14 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:9-17 is by Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ.

Father Mitch is a Jesuit priest, world renowned lecturer, spiritual director for over fifty Holy Land pilgrimages, respected scripture scholar, published author, and the host of EWTN's television and radio shows. He is also the President and Founder of Ignatius Productions, a Catholic media production apostolate.

from John 15:9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love. ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051424.cfm

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Worship the True God - Season of Joy | John 16:29-33 by Fr. Esequiel Sanchez

Mon, 13 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:29-33 is by the Very Reverend Esequiel Sanchez.

Father Esequiel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago serving for the past 27 years serving in various capacities and parishes. He is currently the Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, as well as Dean for Vicariate I in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

from John 16:29-33
The disciples said to Jesus,
“Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.
Now we realize that you know everything
and that you do not need to have anyone question you.
Because of this we believe that you came from God...”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051324.cfm

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Ascending with Jesus - Season of Joy | Acts 1:1-11 by Emily Jaminet #easter

Sun, 12 May 2024 07:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 1:1-11 is by Emily Jaminet.

Emily is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, podcaster, wife, mother of seven children, and the Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network, found at www.welcomeHisHeart.com. Her most recent book is Holy Habits from the Sacred Heart, Ten Ways to Strengthen More Loving Relationships. Emily can be found at www.EmilyJaminet.com.

from Acts 1:1-11
... When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, “Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051224-Ascension.cfm

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God Loves Us So Much - Season of Joy | John 16:23b-28 by Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson

Sat, 11 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:23b-28 is by Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson.

Dr. Terry served on the faculty of the Loyola Academy Jesuit High School for eighteen years and is Founder of Soul-Play, LLC. He is Resident Theologian and Animator of Faith at Old St. Patrick’s Church, holds a master’s degree from Loyola University, and a Doctor of Ministry from the University of St. Mary of the Lake.

from John 16:23b-28
“I have told you this in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures
but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have come to believe that I came from God...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052822.cfm

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God's Labor of Love - Season of Joy | by Fr. Richard Bollman, SJ

Fri, 10 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:20-23 is by Fr. Richard Bollman, SJ.

Father Richard is a Jesuit priest living in Cincinnati at Xavier University. He works in retreat and spiritual ministry, and assists with worship at St. Robert Bellarmine parish where he was once pastor. Ordained in 1969, he also served at the University of San Francisco, and as Director of the Jesuit Renewal Center in Milford. Since his time as a pastor, he has been able to focus more on the ministry of spiritual direction.

from John 16:20-23
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051024.cfm

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Can We See Jesus? - Season of Joy | John 16:16-20 by Deacon Ron Yurcus #easter

Thu, 09 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:16-20 is by Deacon Ron Yurcus.

Deacon Ron, ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Joliet, follows in the footsteps of St. Stephen and Francis of Assisi. In addition to ministering at St. Petronille Church, Ron was employed as hospice chaplain, volunteer state police chaplain and occasionally served as a parish mission and retreat director.

from John 16:16-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051823-Weekday.cfm

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One More Gift - Season of Joy | John 16:12-15 by Sr. Mary Ann Barnhorn, SND

Wed, 08 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:12-15 is by Sr. Mary Ann Barnhorn, SND.

Sr. Mary Ann most recently served as Director of Development for the Ohio Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Prior to that, she was provincial leader and coordinated her Congregation's International Policy making meeting. She was Program Director at the National Pastoral Life Center in New York and Executive Director of the National Association of Church Personnel Directors. She holds a Masters in Pastoral Theology from Loyola University in Chicago.

from John 16:12-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052522.cfm

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Earthquake Events - Season of Joy | Acts 16:22-34 by Sister Marcelline Koch, OP

Tue, 07 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 16:22-34 is by Sister Marcelline Koch, OP.

Sister Marcelline, a Dominican Sister of Springfield, IL, directs her congregation’s Office of Justice. Her ministry includes education and advocacy around antiracism, immigration, socially responsible investing, and many other justice issues. She believes in networking with others and grounding the work in prayer and contemplation.

from Acts 16:22-34
About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying
and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,
there was suddenly such a severe earthquake
that the foundations of the jail shook;
all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.
When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open,
he drew his sword and was about to kill himself,
thinking that the prisoners had escaped...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052422.cfm

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Rest in God's Divine Design - Season of Joy | Acts 16:11-15 by ValLimar Jansen

Mon, 06 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 16:11-15 is by ValLimar Jansen.

ValLimar was a university professor, who by popular demand became a national speaker, a composer, and recording artist. For over 25 years, she has served as a keynote speaker, workshop presenter, catechist, and evangelizer. ValLimar developed a signature blend of dramatic art, music, Scripture proclamation, prayer and inspirational exhortation.

from Acts 16:11-15
On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river
where we thought there would be a place of prayer.
We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.
One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth,
from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened,
and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention
to what Paul was saying.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/monday-sixth-week-easter

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Astonished by the Holy Spirit - Season of Joy | Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 by Lauren Hackman-Brooks

Sun, 05 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's reflection is by Lauren Hackman-Brooks

Lauren is an educator and lay minister who has dedicated her career in service of Catholic secondary and higher education. A trained spiritual director and retreat guide, Lauren lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family where she spends as much time outside as possible.

From Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him
and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.
Peter, however, raised him up, saying,
"Get up. I myself am also a human being."
Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,
"In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly
is acceptable to him."

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050524.cfm

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The World is Us - Season of Joy | John 15:18-21 by Eric T. Styles

Sat, 04 May 2024 03:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:18-21 is by Eric T. Styles.

Since 2016, Eric has served as the Rector of Carroll Hall at the University of Notre Dame. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Loyola University Chicago, and has worked at Saint Benedict the African Catholic Church, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, as well as the Theatre School of DePaul University. Eric collaborates with the music art ensemble, Afro House, and writes about theology, liturgy, and contemporary culture.

from John 15 verses 18-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052122.cfm

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I Look Forward to the Resurrection - Season of Joy | 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 by Fr. Bob Sherry #easter

Fri, 03 May 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 is by Fr. Bob Sherry.

Father Bob, a Rockford Diocese Priest, serving for 57 years, asks God to tell him whose feet he should wash these days. In retirement he leads pilgrimages for Dynamic Catholic, raises funds for the poor with Cross Catholic Outreach and helps in parishes and Cursillo retreats.

from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures; ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050323.cfm

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God is Bigger Than Our Rules - Season of Joy | John 15:9-11 & Acts 15:7-21 by Laurie Roche

Thu, 02 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:9-11 & Acts 15:7-21 is by Laurie Roche.

A retired journalist and public relations executive, Laurie now devotes herself to environmental conservation and education, community gardening, and habitat restoration. She chairs the Healthy Earth Team at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Cincinnati and is active in its community gardening initiatives in a neighboring lower-income community. Laurie is a wife of 43 years, a mother, and grandmother.

from John 15:9-11
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051922.cfm

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Cut to the Quick - Season of Joy | John 15:1-8 by Geralyn Hoxsey Sparough

Wed, 01 May 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:1-8 is by Geralyn Hoxsey Sparough.

Geralyn is the Director and curator of classes at The Hive: Center for Contemplation, Art, and Action in Cincinnati. She is also a fabric artist and creator of the Social Fabric DNA Experience. Geralyn and her husband, proud parents and grandparents, offer marriage enrichment retreats across the country.

from John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051822.cfm

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Fershimmered - Season of Joy | John 14:27-31a by Deacon Mark Duffey

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14 verses 27-31a is by Deacon Mark Duffey.

Deacon Mark is a husband, father, and grandfather who has served in ministry for 40 years in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and now Chicago; the past 23 years as a Deacon. He serves in a variety of parish ministries, his retreat ministry Deacon Speakin’, and as a Global Fellow for Catholic Relief Services.

from John 14 verses 27-31a
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051722.cfm

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Moved by the Holy Spirit - Season of Joy | John 14:21-26 by Erin Maiorca

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14:21-26 is by Erin Maiorca.

Erin and her husband Tom have two sons and live in Glenview, Illinois. She served at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House since 2012, and as the Executive Director since 2019. She’s on the Board of Directors for the Ignatian Spirituality Project, holds a BA from University of Illinois, as well as a Culinary Arts Degree and enjoys cooking, reading, day-hiking, and kayaking.

from John 14:21-26
“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name --
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051622.cfm

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Father Knows Best - Season of Joy | John 15:1-8 by Peggy Arizzi

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

from John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;

Read the full scripture: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042824.cfm

Peggy has served her entire career with Catholic Charities agencies in four different American dioceses. She is currently Vice President of Programs & Services with Catholic Charities USA. She is also a Spiritual Director trained in the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. She grew up in Wauconda, Illinois.

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Show us the Father! - Season of Joy | John 14:7-14 by Fr. Roc O'Connor, SJ

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14:7-14 is by Fr. Roc O'Connor, SJ.

Roc became a member of the Jesuit staff at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL in October 2022, gratefully so, and still continues his ministry to the church as a composer of liturgical music and an author of books on spirituality.

from John 14:7-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to Jesus,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050623.cfm

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Jesus Lives Within You - Season of Joy | John 14:1-6 by Bill Damato

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14:1-6 is by Bill Damato.

Bill was a religious Brother from 1961 to 1996. He served as Director of Formation & Recruitment, Educator, Secondary President, and Director of Institutional Advancement. Bill has provided mental health services in underserved regions in Appalachia; he was the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in Long Island & Westchester School Districts; and he consults with boards on issues of governance and board integration.

from John 14:1-6
Thomas said to him,
“Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051322.cfm

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Cast All Your Worries On Him - Season of Joy | 1 Peter 5:5b-14 by Fr. Jim Strzok, SJ

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

from 1 Peter 5:5b-14
Beloved:
Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for:
God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.
So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you...

Full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042522.cfm

My father was a cattleman in northern Wisconsin. I often traveled with him trucking cattle. When riding I began to notice that when driving directly north or south, directly east or west of St. Peter’s Catholic church in my home town he tipped his hat exactly when we crossed these compass points. I learned directions from my father, and I also learned God was back there at the center of our village. And, that God was important. My father prayed in the morning before work, he read the bible. We said the family rosary. If a farmer would come to visit him during rosary, he was invited in to join us. We knew who God is, the center of our life. Dad showed us it is important to place our worries on Him. He cares for us. He loves us.

A key word in today’s first reading is “Beloved”. “Beloved” is an intimate term used among people who are in love, who give love and receive love. Who are your “Beloved”? I have deep, powerful memories of men and women who called or named me “beloved”.

Who is speaking these words? Peter, the fisherman, called by Christ to be a fisher of men and women, was renamed, by Christ, “the rock” on whom he would build his church. Whom we heard saying to Christ at their last supper “I will die for you!” But who, a few hours later, faced by a servant girl and the crowd proclaims: “I don’t even know the man!” A coward – crumbling sandstone, not granite. As the cock crowed, Christ looked at him. We are told Peter wept, recognizing his sad state, but later turned back to Christ, (unlike Judas who despaired and killed himself thinking there is no forgiveness). So, who is this failed rock, now calling us “Beloved” in today’s reading? It is Peter, but changed. Humbled. Humbled by his experience of weakness, but now graced. Who writes: “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God”.

What can I learn here? A beginning grace is “to KNOW I am a sinner, but loved. It is to know that God’s name for me is “Beloved” even though I sin. Anthony Patovano once wrote “To be forgiven is to be loved without any reason”. Peter learned this. We need learn this. We Jesuits (sons of Ignatius) describe ourselves as “men who know they are sinners and yet called to be companions (eat bread with) Jesus under the cross.” This is the first great grace of the Spiritual Exercises we make as novices.

Peter continues in today’s reading: “Cast all your worries upon the lord” (being too worried is because you are listening to the devil and not trusting God). Why? “Because, (as Peter says and my father showed us), God cares for you!” Because he loves you.

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Let Us Be Led By the Holy Spirit - Season of Joy | Acts 12:24-13:5a by Fr. Damian Torres-Botello, SJ

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

from Acts 12:24-13:5a
The word of God continued to spread and grow.

After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.

Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042424.cfm

We see in our passage from Acts that the Word of God increases and multiplies. This kind of holy contagion highlights the growth and spread of the message of God's Word. Barnabas and Saul, after completing their service in Jerusalem, returned to Antioch with John, also known as Mark. In Antioch, there were prophets and teachers, including Barnabas, Saul, and others. As they were worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit spoke to them, calling them to be set apart for a specific work. Barnabas and Saul, led by the Holy Spirit, went to Seleucia and then sailed to Cyprus.

Upon arriving in Salamis, they began proclaiming the Word of God in the synagogues. John was with them, assisting in their mission. This passage highlights the importance of being receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Barnabas and Saul were chosen and set apart for a specific work by the Holy Spirit. Isn’t this true for all of us? Some of us are parents. Some of us are teachers, spouses, and caretakers. We all are set apart in our own way, within our communities to spread Christ's message through action and being and loving.

Just like Barnabas and Saul, who obediently followed the Spirit's guidance and embarked on their mission to proclaim the Word of God, so too do we. The presence of John, who assisted Barnabas and Saul, shows the importance of teamwork and collaboration in spreading the message of God. Together they worked to proclaim the Word of God in the synagogues, which is to say, to be disciples of Christ is to be in partnership, in community, not in a bubble; not alone.

Our scripture reading reminds us of the power and impact of the Word of God. It is a living and active force that increases and multiplies. It also emphasizes our vital role in carrying out God's work and the importance of being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As we reflect on this Scripture, let us consider how we can be receptive to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. We can also consider how we can collaborate with others in spreading the message of Christ's love and mission, and be active participants in the growth and multiplication of the Word of God.

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Do You Admire or Follow Jesus? - Season of Joy | John 10:22-30 by Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0500

Today’s Season of Joy reflection on John 10:22-30 is by Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ.

Fr. Radmar is the Vocation Director for the Jesuits West Province, based in Los Angeles, CA. Before joining the Jesuits in 2001, Radmar was a professional film, TV, and stage actor. He's also a spiritual director, retreat leader, and travels to give presentations on Ignatian Spirituality and discernment.

from John 10:22-30
The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem.
It was winter.
And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him,
"How long are you going to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe.
The works I do in my Father's name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050223.cfm

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We are the Living Church - Season of Joy | Acts 11:1-18

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 11:1-18 is by Mark Huddy.

Mark serves the Catholic Diocese of Columbus as Director of Catholic Charities and Social Concerns and is a member of the senior executive team. Mark and his wife Beth have four children and four grandchildren. They are members of St. Matthew the Apostle parish in Gahanna, Ohio.

from Acts 11:1-18

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them
as it had upon us at the beginning,
and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said,
‘John baptized with water
but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us
when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,
who was I to be able to hinder God?”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050922.cfm

Here we are on Day 23 of the Easter season, fully immersed in the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts is a wonderful book, telling the story of the Apostles after the Resurrection of Jesus, the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the Church all through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We can read it as a history or we can think of it as evidence of the hand of God guiding the Church through obstacles and challenges to the ends of the earth. Sometimes we forget that we, as baptized believers, are the Church and that those miracles are still happening today.

In fact there is an organization called Acts XXIX (in Roman numerals) working to energize the Church to live out the next chapter of Acts in our day, following Our Lord’s mandate to carry the Gospel message to the ends of the earth.

The first reading for today is a beautiful guide for us in two ways:

First, in this time of Easter joy we are enthusiastic about sharing the message of God’s great love through our words and our deeds.

But our humanity sometimes clouds our best efforts.

We have a human tendency to categorize things and even people into groups and, based upon our own experiences and understanding we also tend to place value judgments on those groups.

This is what happened to Peter when he goes to Jerusalem after baptizing a Roman centurion named Cornelius and his family in Caesarea, staying with them and eating with them.

The circumcised believers in Jerusalem confront Peter about this. Peter had violated the legal barriers between Jew and Gentile.

It was an honest question based upon their lack of understanding and their not knowing at that moment the specifics of the divine direction Peter had received in Joppa.

We are prone to making similar mistakes. We can be tempted to limit our evangelizing outreach in word and Charity to the “deserving,” or to those who don’t cross certain boundaries that we have established.

Thus, we rob our actions of their power as a sign of the incredible gratuitous love of God for us sinners. We want to protect ourselves or the Church or God from being taken advantage of by the unscrupulous.

But maybe it is precisely our willingness to take that risk that the unscrupulous are transformed by the human echo of divine love. Maybe, by allowing God’s love to flow freely through us, we are transformed as well. ...

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We Can Know Jesus - Season of Joy | 1 John 3:1-2 by Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500

from 1 John 3:1-2
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042124.cfm

I remember looking through family photo albums when I was a kid, seeing pictures of my dad when he was little, my grandfather when he was little. You know, there's something kind of startling about that, right? My gosh, my dad was a little kid just like me. You know, my grandpa, the photos were in black and white, so I knew that was a long time ago. But I could see the resemblance; their eyes, their haircuts, you know, they looked a little bit like me and my boy cousins. Then jumping ahead a couple of years, also this experience, being in high school... Went to a big all boys Jesuit high school, you know, being a freshman there first year, right? I'm skinny. I'm nervous. I see these big seniors. You know, some of them have on the letterman jackets in the hallways. They're talking to each other. You know I’m getting a sense, gosh, some of these guys are smart, friendly, you know, help out the freshmen, others ignore us, make fun of us.

You know, when we're young and when we're older, we keep asking that question, don't we? Who am I? Who do I want to be? And of course, we're always looking around for guidance, for models. You know, my dad, okay, he was young, like me. He's now big. He's an adult. My grandpa, he's a grown man. You know these teenagers who are a little older than me. As Christians, we see Jesus, we want to come to know him. And we trust that knowing him will help us to know ourselves. Knowing him, we're going to become who he wants us to be.

This week, in the first letter of Saint John, at Mass, we'll hear that we are God's children. He tells us, beloved, we are God's children now. What we shall be has not yet been revealed. You know just that, right? We are God's children, okay? God, our Father knows us, loves us. Well, who's another child of God? Well, Jesus is the Eternal Son. And in the Gospels, we see Jesus. He's a model for us, also that we can actually know him. You know, he's not like a pro athlete on TV where it's just kind of a one way relationship, right? We just sort of watch him. But, he's never going to get to know us. No, Jesus is different. We can know him in prayer. He knows us. He can speak to us through the Scriptures, in our faith, through the Sacraments.

But again, with the Lord, okay, we're not just doing this on our own. Christ is with us. Jesus is showing us. He is revealing himself to us. He is shaping our hearts. Mother Mary, also a child of God, she who is a beloved daughter of the father, mother of Jesus. You know she too models for us what's possible, right, when our heart is truly united with the Lord. We see Mary, this model of compassion, mercy, closeness to her son. One more time that line, “Beloved, we are God's children now. What we shall be has not yet been revealed. We know that when it is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

Dear friends, Jesus gives us a model. Jesus shows us what's possible. He shows us what our lives can look like when we're united with the Father. And Jesus is a friend walking with us, nourishing us in the Eucharist with His Body and blood. In this Easter season, we celebrate his glory. We ask him, Lord Jesus, make our hearts more like your Sacred Heart.

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Let Me Listen, Before I Speak - Season of Joy | Acts 9:31-42 by Heather M. Swiger

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

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How is Jesus Talking to You? - Season of Joy | Acts 9:1-20 by Terry O'Connell

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 9:1-20 is by Terry O'Connell.

Terry has been happily married to his wife Cindy for 44 years. They have 3 children and 3 grand children. He’s a retired senior executive who worked for Time Warner Cable for 30 years. His hobbies include golf (which he enjoys most often), fishing (which he seldom does) and reading.

from Acts 9:1-20
He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
He said, “Who are you, sir?”
The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050622.cfm

As we just heard in the reading from The Acts of the Apostles, it's about a man named Saul whose job it was to locate the followers of Jesus, place them in chains, and imprison them.

Clearly Saul was a very bad man.

One day Jesus came to Saul instructing him to go to Damascus and await instructions. He did as he was told. Jesus told one of his disciples in Damascus, "Do as I ask." saying, "This man Saul is a chosen instrument of mine."

Those are the words that really hit home with me. If God could choose a sinner like Saul, he truly is all about forgiveness and giving second chances.

Here is my story.

Ten years ago my family and I found a small, relatively new, nonprofit charity in Columbus, Ohio, called Star House. Their mission was to care for homeless youth ages 14 to 24. I had no idea our city—or any city—had a homeless youth problem, much less with people that young.

I knew right away Star House needed help, and I had the time since I had recently retired from my job. Jesus was already talking to me, but I didn't realize yet what was taking place in my life. Nevertheless, his message was clear. This was to become my new calling in retirement.

These young homeless people were the forgotten ones on our streets. These kids were alone and completely without love of any kind in their lives.

Just imagine.

Star house needed a larger building which would allow the needed growth to expand its mission and reach many more of these at-risk young people. This is a story of how my eyes were opened, and when I heard God talking to me, guiding me every step of the way, even though I could not see him nor could I hear his spoken words.

I found a larger building which needed a complete renovation. The building was valued at $600,000 with the renovation costing another $1.4 million dollars. I had no money for this project, not one cent; nor did I have any experience raising money for charities.

By the time I signed the purchase agreement, I had $10,000 in the bank from a friend. I needed to find another $590,000 by the closing, in just three short months. I began praying, hard.

At the closing, in 90 days I had raised the money, and was able to write a check for the full amount. I was overcome with emotion. I began to realize there was a higher power at work in this project. This wasn't my project but God's.

Like Saul, God had chosen me—of all people—to be his instrument. I now had to raise another $1.4 million for the renovation of the building. It was a daunting task.

How would I ever find that much money? ...

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God is Active Today - Season of Joy by Acts 8:26-40 Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 8:26-40 is by Fr. Michael Rossman, SJ.

Fr. Michael is a Jesuit priest currently working on a doctorate at the Gregorian University in Rome. He is a native of Iowa and a graduate of Notre Dame, Loyola Chicago, and Boston College. He shares a video each week at amdg.substack.com.

from Acts 8:26-40
Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
“I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
About himself, or about someone else?”
Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
he proclaimed Jesus to him.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050522.cfm

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Our Daily Bread - Season of Joy | John 6:35-40 by Neal Tew #easter

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today’s Season of Joy reflection on John 6:35-40 is by Neal Tew.

Neal Tew is a husband and father living in Cincinnati, OH. He has a BA in English from Harvard College and a Masters in Philosophy from Catholic University. He spent three years living in a monastery and wrote a book about the experience. Today he runs Brandstrength, a communications firm.

from John 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042623.cfm

So we are in the long discourse of Jesus in the 6th Chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus has multiplied the bread and the fish, he has fed 5,000 people with food left over. He has appeared to his disciples at night, in the midst of a storm, walking on the water. He has uttered, in his own voice, the divine name to his astonished apostles – “I AM, do not be afraid.” And now he speaks to the crowd that has come to Capernaum searching for him.

We are approaching the mid-point of this great discourse on the miracle of the multiplied bread. I want to explore this theme of bread. What did Jesus want his audience to understand and what might he wish for us to hear anew today?

In our opening verse today, Jesus says to the people, “I am the bread of life.” In saying so, he is ascribing to himself a meaning he has just excavated from an Old Testament story. He has said that the manna described in the book of Exodus was not bread from Moses, but it was the bread from heaven, given by the Father. It was the bread of God which descends from heaven to give life to the world.

The people respond: “Lord, give us this bread always.” That’s verse 34.

This is the question that prompts Jesus to say: “I am the bread of life.” I want to stop there. When Jesus says this – I am the bread of life – we need to hear him to picking up on the meaning he just teased out about the bread of God. Putting verses 33 and 35 together – we should hear Jesus say: “I am the bread of life which comes down from heaven to give life to the world.”

This is a beautiful Theophany all by itself. We can think of Jesus standing in our midst and saying, in all gentleness: I am the bread of life which comes down from heaven to give life to the world.

But there is another point I want to draw out of this exchange. The people’s question to Jesus – what does it remind you of?

“Lord, give us this bread always.”

In the people’s minds, they are asking each day to be given the bread which descends from heaven to give them life. Jesus responds that he is this mystery that descends from heaven to give life to souls. He is the life-giving bread. He is the bread of life.

What I want to underline is that this question, this prayer of the people, is our own daily prayer. It’s the fifth line of the Our Father. When we ask the Father for our daily bread, at the deepest level we are asking Him for the bread of life. We are asking for that which descends from heaven and gives life to our souls. We are asking for Jesus, in His Word, in the Eucharist, in His presence mediated through the Holy Spirit.

A brief prayer to close:

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the Living God, you are the bread the life, the bread we need each day. The bread which comes down from heaven to give life to our souls. Have mercy on us sinners. Give us this bread today and always. The bread of life. Your own presence in our hearts. Amen.

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No More Pain - Season of Joy | John 6:30-35 by Tom Sparough

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 06:00:00 -0500

When Jesus speaks about hunger and thirst, I imagine him including pain in the list of things that will be no more. Sometimes I have back problems. Whether it is from our back, or perhaps some other part of our body, pain can take over our life. We can hurt so badly that we can't think of anything else but that pain.

When this happens to me, I have learned to turn it over to prayer. Well, one night I woke up and was instantly in pain. Earlier that day, I had some discomfort, but somehow I must have done something in my sleep that aggravated my back. I lay there in agony, not able to get comfortable in any position. Trying not to wake up my wife, I managed to get myself out of bed. I began to slowly walk back in forth in our hallway, which helped to keep the pain at bay. I navigated down our steps and tried to stand still, but the pain kept increasing, I had to keep moving to keep the pain manageable.

After about a half hour of pacing, I was so tired that I decided to sit down on our reclining chair. At three in the morning, I squealed with discomfort as I sat down. I just wanted to fall back asleep, but I couldn't sleep.

I asked, "Why is this happening, Lord?" No response. Then I prayed that the pain would subside, but it didn't. I asked, "Lord please allow me to sleep, help me to sleep, let me get some rest I have a lot to do tomorrow." This pleading went on for perhaps an hour.

I started concentrating on my breathing, no words, only breath. And suddenly I had a moment of no pain. Wow, this is working I thought, but then the pain came back. So I tried to let go of my thoughts and focus on only my breath, my breath which I related to the Spirit of God in me. Breathing in life, breathing out pain. I fell back asleep.

When Jesus says these beautiful words, "Whoever comes to me will not hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst," I think we can easily add in something like, "whoever embraces me will never be in pain." It's a comforting thought.

What good news. Embrace Jesus and never have back pain again. Who wouldn't want to be a Christian.

And, like the crowd that Jesus is addressing, we too, want a sign, a proof that this really is the truth. A clue to this truth is that after being baptized and spending forty days in the desert, we read in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus "was hungry." And similarly as reported by John at the crucifixion, Jesus says, "I thirst." The one who promises no more hunger or thirst evidently experienced both of them.

The Easter season doesn't mean that all our problems go away. As we follow the savior of the world, we are in the world, and pain and thirst and hunger will remain.

And yet, the message is more than: everything will be set right in heaven. Yes, that's true, but for now we also have hope. All things are possible. The bread of heaven comes down to us, and just like the Israelites caught in the desert with not enough to eat, God provides.

The Spirit of God is in us and we can rest in the Lord knowing that Jesus will be with us always. It may be a spec of bread with the morning dew, or it might be sleep on a night filled with pain, or it could be the answer to our next prayer.

Whatever the case, I don't think we get to rationalize it. We don't get to say, "what sign will you show me Jesus?" Just as when I thought that focusing on my breathing was taking away my pain, that pain returned. I had to stop thinking and just be with the Holy Spirit. All of us are invited to let down our guard, stop demanding proof, and come experience the one who gives life to the world. Amen. Amen.

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Do You Believe in the One God Sent? - Season of Joy | John 6:22-29 by Terri Davis-Hayden #easter

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 6:22-29 is by Terri Davis-Hayden.

Terri Davis-Hayden is a vocalist, teacher, writer, and producer, with a career spanning over thirty years. As owner of Cincinnati-based Respected Artists International (RAI), Terri creates and performs live, musical events, coaches career-bound singers, and produces meditation podcasts for Advent and Lent for her RAI YouTube channel.

from John 6:22-29
[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there,
and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,
but only his disciples had left. ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042423.cfm

Today's gospel reading, which we just heard proclaimed, ends with the question: What can we do to accomplish the works of God? Jesus's answer: This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent. Jesus's answer puts another question to us today; a question that each of us can only answer for ourselves. Do you believe in the one God sent? I believe. And it began like most, with having faith handed down to me. A cradle Catholic, and the fifth of six children, I was raised in a devout, strongly conservative Catholic family. I was taught morals, values, and standards and was expected to live by them. I was well versed in the religious practices of prayer, attending Mass, and receiving the Sacraments. This became my road map for life, and the map helped to keep me anchored no matter the challenges in life.

I naturally expected to be able to pass along the faith to my children. Proud and happy to be able to afford to send my children to Catholic schools, my children grew up in a God-centered, Christian environment at home and at school, throughout their formative years. Imagine my surprise when my children became adults and rejected the Catholic faith, religion in general, and two of my three children rejecting a belief in the existence of God. I brought this heartbreaking matter to my beloved and trusted Spiritual Director, a Jesuit priest and Retreat Master. He assured me that my experience was common. He offered me a loving strategy:

1) Pray for your children.

2) Offer up small sacrifices for the renewal of their faith.

3) Extend invitations to them, and often, and without pressure. ‘Hey, I’m going to 10 a.m. Mass. Would you like to go?’ Want to go out to dinner? If they decline, just kindly say, ‘Okay.’

4) When they do engage with you, be careful to listen. Listen and do not offer advice unless asked for your opinion.

5) Be a good example of love, faith, hope, understanding, and forgiveness.

Easy peasy, right? Well, I'm here to tell you that after about ten years of working, and often enough failing, to incorporate the above practices, I had a powerful, sweet experience with my youngest, now 25. The child with whom I most often have discussions about God, higher power, and our own empowerment, my youngest looked at me compassionately and said, “Mom, I don't get it. What is it that you're worried about for me because I do not believe? What are you afraid of?” My response? “It's not that I think that you're going to hell when you die. What makes me sad or concerned is what you're missing out on right here, right now, on Earth by not believing in Jesus the Christ. And not realizing how the light of Christ shines now, and often so brilliantly so, in your life.

Read the full transcript: https://conta.cc/3W18law

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The Sudden Appearance of Blessing - Season of Joy | Luke 24:35-48 by Rachel Forton

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500

from Luke 24:35-48
The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. ...

Read the full gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041424.cfm

Our gospel today begins with the two disciples who have just encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus and recognized him in the breaking of bread. As they are sharing this incredible news with their friends, Jesus suddenly appears again, and even though they have just seen him, they are startled and terrified. They think he is a ghost. They still don't get it.

Jesus offers them peace and asks why they are troubled and why they question who he is. He offers the tangibility of his presence. "Touch me and see." He eats fish in front of them. He is really there, really alive. The gospel tells us these two disciples are incredulous for joy and amazed.

I am reminded of the words of medieval mystic Julian of Norwich, who I spent a great deal of time with this Lent. In the visions she received from the Lord, she was struck again and again by the constancy of God's love and mercy, and the depth of his yearning for us. She wrote, “We believe that we hardly see God at all, but what He desires is for us to believe that we see Him continuously. It is through this belief that we receive His grace. He wishes to be seen and to be sought. He wants us to yearn for Him and to trust in Him.” The kind of trust Lady Julian counsels is full and complete. She says: “Actively trust Him, knowing that He is likely to appear suddenly and without warning, raining blessings upon all His lovers. Although He appears when we least expect it, He wants to be trusted.”

Doesn't this sound like the Jesus our two disciples have just been surprised by again? The sudden appearance of blessing; this is how God works. He appears when and where we least expect it. But He wants us to trust that He is always working in our lives.

My dad's friend, in his mid-fifties, is in hospice now. A sudden illness, that turned out to be bacterial meningitis, left him in a coma just before Christmas. And for the last few months he has come out of the coma against all odds, had moments of lucidity and progress, and then got worse again. His wife and two young adult daughters have hoped against hope for a miracle of healing so that he might regain his memory, recognize them, and make a full recovery. A couple of days after he entered hospice, Rod was awake for a few moments and his wife heard him whisper something amazing. “Jesus is coming,” he said, and then he began to recite the Lord's Prayer. Dozing off before he could finish it, this dying man who does not know who he is or who his wife is, or what is happening, recognized Jesus with him. He said it out loud so that his family might have the peace of knowing that their beloved husband and father knows where he is going and who is coming for him.

Even though their prayers for his healing have not been answered the way they want, God gifted them a sliver of peace to hold on to: The sudden appearance of blessing. What Jesus tells the disciples that he's appeared to again, is an explanation of what he has just done. Just as he said he would, Jesus suffered and rose from the dead on the third day for the forgiveness of sins because of his great passionate love. They, and we, can be reborn to eternal life.

We have a God who will patiently appear again and again when we just don't get it, until we understand what He has done for love of us.

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Jesus Calms the Storms Within - Season of Joy | John 6:16-21 by Tammy Bundy #easter

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 6:16-21 is by Tammy Bundy.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043022.cfm

Seeing Jesus in the midst of the storms of life is such a comforting reminder, isn’t it? I mean it’s easy to feel the presence of God in the sunshine, when all is going well. We feel so blessed, so assured. But those days when those storms roll in, they can really rock us—they can really rock our faith.

I love this Gospel of the disciples in the boat. The timing of it all seems to echo in my life.

They’d just come off a miracle—the multiplication of the loaves and fish! Can you imagine how confident they felt when they were witnessing the whole thing?

Can you imagine what was in their heads? Wow! We are in the right spot. We are certainly blessed.

It must have been so easy to believe in the power Jesus when you're standing right there seeing the miracles first hand. The Son was truly shining on them.

And how natural would it have been for the disciples to ask to stay right there—with the proof of the miracle with the people who also saw and believed the miracle? I’d want to dwell in that moment—can I just bask here in the glory of you Lord, for just a little while please?

But of course, when those miracle moments in our lives happen, God knows our spiritual growth doesn’t occur from sitting and basking, it usually occurs when we're tested. And nobody likes to be tested.

Not too long ago, I was basically basking in God’s goodness.
Life was good.

My four kids were grown and happy in their adult lives. My husband and I had just purchased a new home where we could only imagine family gatherings throughout our golden years to come. Retirement was peeking around the corner. And of course, I’d just been given the most marvelous miracles of all—my first grandchild. I was basking.

It’s easy in those moments to feel you really are on God’s good side. Like the disciples witnessing the miracles they’d just seen—I was confident in my faith, and my future. I felt so blessed.

Then, something wasn't quite right.

One doctor’s visit led to another. More questions arose and fewer answers seemed to be found.

Several specialists and several months later, I was finally diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Scleroderma. There's no secret in the fact that an autoimmune diagnosis is a grand spectrum of disorders that can result in things as small as an annoyance, all the way up to life-threatening issues.

This is the case with Scleroderma. It might forever be a nuisance that I will live a long time with, or it might cause complications with my organs and shorten my life.

Some days I'm sailing my metaphorical boat in the sunshine. I feel the Lord’s face shining on me. I’ve got this. I’m once again confident in my faith and in my future.

But then the storm comes. There’s doubt. There’s worry. There’s a suspicious spot on my lungs. It might be nothing—it might be something big. That storm is brewing. And it's gonna be three months before the pulmonary specialist can see me. The storm starts raging.

It's natural for the winds and worry to hit then. I would think that Jesus would be surprised if I didn’t get scared. It just wouldn’t be natural and it certainly wouldn’t be truthful.

When those storms hit, I am reminded of my friend—the amazing priest—Fr. Jim Willig; the founder of Heart to Heart, and author of Lessons from the School of Suffering. ...

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Humility & Faith - Season of Joy | John 6:1-15

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 6:1-15 is by John Willig.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042922.cfm

After we sold our family business, my preference would have been to continue working, but I felt God calling me to get more involved in doing his work.

This gospel reading, of the loaves and the fishes, pretty well summed up my feelings. I have too little to offer and there's too vast a crowd of hungry people that need God's love. Fortunately along the way, I met an incredible nun, Sister Christine, at the St. Vincent de Paul clothing center.

She would say, "You can do it John!"

I found two things are needed: humbleness and faith. Humbleness to let go and allow God to take control, and faith to believe that Jesus could actually use my hands, my mouth, my legs, my smile, my intellect to accomplish things.

Here's a simple example. My job at the clothing center was to sign in every visitor. I was the first point of contact, and one day a gentleman in good physical shape came in, his name was Roger. I felt an inner prompting to pay a little attention to him. I'll call it, you know, God's prompting.

So I asked him if there's anything else he needed besides clothes. As we talked, I found out that Roger had just been released from prison.

I asked how many years. He said, "36 years." I told him that he had come to the right place.

But he said, 'You know, he had no place to stay—no family wanted him around—and no hope of ever getting a job because no one wants to hire an ex-con.'

This wasn't the first time I had heard this so for the several previous months, I had been collecting names of companies that hire people with a record, and I also made the effort to meet several of the owners. I handed Roger the list, circled three companies, then signed my name, saying: "Roger will work hard for you."

So I turned and talked to Roger, I said, "I guarantee they will hire you; one of these companies will hire you." So Roger left with a couple new shirts, some clean underwear, and a renewed faith and hope in the world. He was, simply put, a different man.

Here's another story. Another young man came in, his name was Robert, and he told me that he had had a job interview, but he didn't have any clothes that would be suitable for an interview.

I have found that having a steady job solves a lot of problems in that so many young men and women come from families where this is never discussed.

So I got him a couple of nice white shirts then found out he needed, he needed, pants too. We got him a nice pair of black pants and a nice pair of black leather shoes. His first pair by the way, and it became immediately [clear] also that he could use a tie, but he didn't know how to tie a tie.

We spent the next 20 minutes, I was teaching him how to tie a tie and while we were doing that, I was prompting him with some suggestions on how to ask questions, to show interest, and to just talk a little bit about yourself.

Robert went away very happy, he came back a couple weeks later, but not to get clothes. He came back, asked for me, and he said, "John, I got the job!"

Humbleness and faith.

These are the two secrets of allowing God to use you to feed his people.

And you know, there's a second miracle that occurred in the loaves and the fishes. And that's the people that serve get twelve baskets.

They get an abundance of reward.

God bless you and have a good day.

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Trust is Built on Truth - Season of Joy | Acts 5:27-33 by Sr. Rita Sturwold #easter

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

For many years I did not appreciate the readings from The Acts of the Apostles in the weeks after Easter. However, being a member of a religious congregation, reading about the development of the early Christian community caught my attention. People of different social classes, drawn together by the Holy Spirit, shared their lives, their possessions, and their faith.

Their strong community life, the powerful preaching of the Apostles and the works the Apostles did, drew others to join them. Then I began to appreciate the transformation of Peter, and the other Apostles, that St. Luke describes in the Acts of the Apostles.

How did the Apostles—locked in the upper room on Easter Sunday night—overcome their fear of those who condemned Jesus?

Can you imagine Jesus coming to them in the upper room on Easter and saying, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. Receive the Holy Spirit."

Surely Jesus understood their fear and their human weakness.

Pentecost changed the Apostles dramatically. They experienced even greater strength in preaching Jesus' message of love, peace and forgiveness. There was a tremendous outpouring of the Holy Spirit on thousands of people. The conversion of many people, and the miracles that the Apostles performed, were a great threat to the religious leaders, so they arrested the Apostles several times.

Once again, the religious leaders met in full assembly, wanting to put an end to the Apostles' preaching once and for all. They sent police officers to bring the Apostles from jail to the court. You can imagine how embarrassed the police officers were, when they had to admit that the Apostles had escaped from prison and were preaching in the Temple again.

You can also imagine the consternation in the courtroom. When the Apostles arrived, the high priest scolded them again for not obeying his order to stop preaching.

They replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. We are witnesses and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

The Apostles tried to convince the religious leaders that Jesus was the Savior for whom they were longing. He was the Savior sent by God to invite the people of Israel to repent and to offer them forgiveness of their sins.

Once again, the religious leaders were infuriated and decided to put the Apostles to death. How might this passage from the Acts of the Apostles inspire or challenge us today?

The Apostles are enthusiastic to share the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

How is the Holy Spirit inspiring you during this Easter season to be a person of light and life for others?

The Apostles were committed to tell the truth about Jesus even when facing imprisonment and possible death. Is there a situation right now that challenges you to search for the truth or to speak the truth under difficult circumstances?

How do you prepare to do so? Do you invite the Spirit to inspire and strengthen you?
Trust is built on truth.

How does our society view truth today? How can you contribute to a more truthful society?

Let us pray to the Holy Spirit, that we may continue to be light and life for others.

Let us pray that we may be people of integrity, guided by our faith in God.

Let us also pray to the Holy Spirit to bless our civil and religious leaders with the courage to be people of integrity, unafraid to speak the truth, and to seek justice for all people.

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Conversion - Season of Joy | John 3:16-21 by Dan Roche

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Chapter 3 of John's gospel, describes three people, who either reject, ponder or accept Jesus' teaching: the Jewish priests, Nicodemus, and John the Baptist.

The priests are obsessed with ritual purity, strict observance of the law, and self-righteous Orthodoxy. Jesus calls them hypocrites and they reject his teaching as a threat to their authority.
The second person is Nicodemus, a Pharisee who comes to Jesus at night, thinking he must be from God. But Nicodemus is doubtful and literally in the dark. Jesus challenges his blindness saying, "No one can see the reign of God without being reborn from above."

Nicodemus responds: "How can this be?"

Jesus answers prophetically: "The Son of Man must be lifted up so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

Nicodemus is every man, every woman. He appears two more times in John's narrative. He along with Joseph of Arimathea, bravely go to Pilate requesting the body of Jesus. He later brings oil for ritual burial. With these acts of kindness, he is birthing Christ's Spirit being reborn.

The third person is John the Baptist who hears Jesus' words, sees his deeds, and affirms him as the Messiah. This recognition, this conversion, comes to John in stages as it did to Nicodemus. He says, "Christ must increase and I decrease."

My contemporary example of conversion, is Joseph from Cleveland. I met him at a maximum-security prison during a Kairos retreat. He was serving 30 years to life for a crime he did not commit.

Joe sat next to me and I heard his story. When he was 21, his drug-dealing cousin pleaded with Joe to accompany him to a meeting with a drug supplier to whom the cousin owed money.
Joe naively went with him as a show of support. The cousin told the supplier he didn't have the money. The supplier drew a gun, the cousin beat him to the draw, and killed him.

Later, the cousin, then Joe were arrested. The prosecutor offered a separate plea agreement to whomever would testify as to who pulled the trigger. Joe refused to testify. His cousin said, "Joe did it." The cousin got 10 years as an accessory. Joe, 30 years to life.

When I met Joe, he had served 25 years. He was possessed with hatred for his cousin. The third night of the retreat is about forgiveness. We ask retreatants to list those they hold in unforgiveness and then ritually burn the lists.

I was next to Joe when he threw his list with his cousin's name into the fire. He was tearful and trembling. That evening Joe called his mother and told her he had forgiven his cousin.

She paused and told him his cousin was in the house. He told her to put him on the phone. Joe told his cousin that he forgave him and was at last free from hatred. The cousin broke down in tears.

Joe was reborn that night from above. He experienced a conversion. His act of forgiveness opened his eyes to Jesus being lifted up. Jesus' betrayal and forgiveness opened Joe's eyes to the reign of God and freed him from the burden of hatred.

John's gospel speaks to me of our daily conversion journey. Each day we begin again. We suffer from the illusion that one day we'll arrive and have it all together.

We birth God's spirit anew each day. God's spirit increasing and mine decreasing.

Living no longer, "I", as Paul says, but Christ living in me. As me.

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Healed in the Spirit - Season of Joy | John 3:7b-15 by Jane Newberry

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 3:7b-15 is by Jane Newberry.

Many years ago, Jane married her wonderful high school sweet heart. They were blessed with 3 incredible children and now have 9 equally incredible grand children. She is a retired nurse and now spends her time helping family, friends and others. She’s involved in two parishes and also part of a group called “Discerning Women Deacons.”

from John 3:7b-15
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Read the full scripture: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041823.cfm

I love how John compares the wind to the Holy Spirit. We all see the results of wind and air and oxygen. Trees are moving; children are running. We know that wind and oxygen are there because we need these to live. We also know the Holy Spirit, who really is the oxygen of our spiritual life, is with us as he sends us thoughts and people to help guide us. Sometimes this is in subtle ways in the whispers of our lives. And sometimes this is in louder ways as He repeats events that can shape our lives.

We know the Holy Spirit has a plan for each of us. Maybe he's sending you to help at mass as a server. Yes, women can be servers. Or to become a lector or Eucharistic Minister. I have heard people say they feel unworthy to serve as a Eucharistic Minister or lector, but isn't this how we all feel, unworthy? Don't let this stop you.

Surely the Blessed Mother must have felt unworthy and overwhelmed when the angel appeared to her and asked her to be the mother of the Savior of the World. I have often thought about this. Mary was an unmarried teenager who had never had relations with a man. She could actually have been stoned for being pregnant before she was married. Yet Mary humbly and boldly said, "Yes" to the angel, to God the Father, and to the Holy Spirit.

Wow, what an amazing person she is.

The Holy Spirit uses all of us in some special way. Parents are guiding their children to be good and kind people. Other adults have chosen a single life and are involved in community outreach programs. Children are asked to help others at home, or in their neighborhoods. Young adults are discerning how they can serve others in their careers and community. Maybe the Spirit is calling you to volunteer in a school or take Holy Communion to those who are homebound.

There are so many ways to serve others. Just like the wind, we don't know where these actions will sometimes take us and we don't know how they affect the people whose lives we touch. Being open to where we are being sent can reveal many opportunities as we are doing the work of the Holy Spirit.

One way God has used me is through a program called Healing Touch. I admit I was initially unsure if Healing Touch was really for me and unsure of the benefits for recipients. Early on, I felt very inadequate. Through much prayer and practice, I believe the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to pursue this type of service to others. I feel that I am a small straw that the Holy Spirit is able to work through and I know that healing comes from God.

Read the full reflection: https://youtu.be/fDKJqlzw-3c

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The Annunciation - Season of Joy | Luke 1:26-38 by Fr. James Kubicki, SJ

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Have you ever held your breath waiting for someone to reply, hoping almost desperately that they will say yes to something that you ask them to do? Well, back in the 12th century, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux imagined the Archangel Gabriel waiting desperately for the Blessed Virgin Mary to respond to God's proposal that she become the mother of his child.

In a homily, Bernard said the following: “You have heard of Virgin that you will conceive and bear a son. The angel awaits an answer. It is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion. The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. Tearful Adam, with his sorrowing family, begs this of you O loving Virgin, in their exile from paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it, all the other holy patriarchs — your ancestors — ask it of you as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole world waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, indeed, salvation for all the children of Adam and Eve, the whole of your race. Answer quickly O Virgin. Reply, in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Why do you delay? Why are you afraid? Let humility be bold. Let modesty be confident. This is no time for simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the creator. See, the Desired of all Nations is at your door knocking to enter.”

And then, it is as though Saint Bernard breaths a sigh of relief along with Gabriel as he quotes Mary's response: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me, according to your word.” With those words, Mary said “Yes” to God and God's plan to save the human race from the sin and death which entered the world because another woman and her husband said “No” to God. Mary's obedient “yes,” overcomes the disobedient “no” of our ancestral parents.

Let's imagine again that moment of Mary's “yes” to God. At that moment, a new life was conceived in her womb. And little by little, cell by cell, this new life developed into a little baby who would be born in a stable and placed in a manger.

At World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in the year 2005, in his homily at the closing Mass, Pope Benedict talked about the transformation that occurs when we say “Amen” and receive the body of Christ. He said, “The body and blood of Christ are given to us so that we ourselves will be transformed in our turn. We are to become the body of Christ. His own flesh and blood.” Did you catch that? We are to become Christ's own flesh and blood in the world today. Only that way will sin be overcome. Only in that way, is the knot of death undone. And it's all because of one woman's affirmative response to God's request that came to her through an angel. Thank you, Mother Mary, for saying “yes.” And please help me — help us — to do the same. One day at a time.

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Jesus Invites Us To Believe - Season of Joy | John 20:19-31 by Fr. James Martin, SJ

Sun, 07 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 20:19-31 is by Fr. James Martin, SJ.

Fr. James is a Jesuit priest, writer, and editor-at-large for the Jesuit magazine, America. In 2017 Pope Francis appointed him as a consultant to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications. A New York Times Best Selling author, he is a sought after public speaker and media commentator on faith, culture, and spirituality.

From John 20 verses 19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Read the full Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042422.cfm

In today's beautiful gospel, we read the story of the Apostle known as "Doubting Thomas."

Now, I've always thought that Saint Thomas gets a rather bad rap. After all, he was one of the most faithful of Jesus' disciples. You'll remember that in the story of the raising of Lazarus, in the Gospel of John, some of the disciples were worried about returning to Bethany, Lazarus's home, because it was in Judea where things were dangerous for Jesus.

Jesus had just been threatened with a stoning, but Thomas was undeterred, and encouraged everyone to go with Jesus. Beyond that, Jesus had chosen Thomas as an Apostle—one of the 12—so must have seen something good in him.

But because Thomas was not with the other disciples, at one of the original appearances of the Risen Christ, he doubted the resurrection. He says that unless he himself puts his hands in the wounds of Jesus he won't believe. Now, let's step back a bit. The beginning of the Gospel of John tells us that the disciples were locked behind closed doors out of fear.

But a closer look at the gospel shows us that Mary Magdalene had already had her encounter with the Risen Christ at the tomb on Easter Sunday and had already proclaimed the good news of the Resurrection to the disciples. In other words, they were still cowering behind closed doors after they had heard about the resurrection. So let's remember that everyone was struggling and was a little fearful and a little doubtful after the resurrection; it may simply have been human nature. But let's get back to Thomas.

On the one hand, Thomas should have known that nothing was impossible with God. On the other hand, no one had ever been raised from the dead in that precise way before—even Lazarus—and so Thomas can be forgiven his doubt.

But like the other disciples, Thomas had seen many miracles including ones where Jesus raised someone from the dead. Lazarus isn't the only one. There is also the son of the Widow of Nain and Jairus's daughter. It's a reminder to all of us that nothing is impossible with God. Even if Thomas and the disciples had a hard time getting that, we know it to be true. So the call of the Christian is not to hide behind closed doors.

It is to both hope and expect that God will be with us in all things. And that again, nothing is impossible with God. But Jesus knows that the disciples need more than just the report from Mary Magdalene. So as today's Gospel tells us, he appears despite the locked doors and gives them what they need: Peace.

Now Thomas, as we've said, is not there. And when the Risen Christ appears again, he knows now what Thomas needs and he shows him his wounds. God speaks to us in very personal ways, tailored to our own circumstances. Jesus gave Thomas just what he needed and asked for: physical proof.

Read the full homily: https://youtu.be/4vwdb0gnLFs

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They Did Not Believe | Season of Joy | Mark 16:9-15 by Sr. Francis Maag #easter

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0500

This Season of Joy reflection on Mark 16:9-15 is by Sr. Francis Maag.

Sister Francis took her vows with the Congregation of Divine Providence 68 years ago. Over her career she served as principal with seven different schools, in four different states and five different dioceses. She remains an active participant of Divine Mercy parish in Bellevue, KY.

from Mark 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042322.cfm

"Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature."
This is the call to everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus. This call to proclaim the gospel is the universal mission of every Christian. It is to proclaim Jesus. It is to share his teachings, and example of living his divine truths about life.

How can one carry out this mission unless one knows the gospel? How can a person know the gospel if there's no one to teach it? How can one share the truth of Jesus and the gospel if one is not sent?

To proclaim Jesus one must not just know about Jesus, one must know Jesus—have an experience of Jesus—and become a true believer. A true believer will be motivated to share the good news of the gospel with enthusiasm. All true believers are sent by Jesus himself to share the gospel with every creature.

Excuses abound. I am too young; too old; too uneducated; too busy; too...
It is well to note that Peter and John—Jesus's close Apostles—were considered uneducated by the people of their time. Yet they were recognized as companions of Jesus. They knew Jesus. They had experienced Jesus.

The Jewish leaders had seen the man who was cured by Peter's intercession. Nevertheless, these leaders ordered Peter and John not ever again to speak in the name of Jesus. The apostles retorted: "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."
To enthusiastically proclaim the gospel. One must have a personal experience of Jesus and truly know him and his message. Become a true believer. One cannot pass on to another what one does not have in their own heart and soul.

When Mary Magdalene excitedly reported that Jesus was risen and alive, the apostles didn't believe her. When the two disciples on the way to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem with joy, to tell the apostles they had seen Jesus, they weren't believed.

Eventually the apostles too experience the Risen Jesus and initiated the church. To proclaim this good news—the news of salvation and restoration of our relationship with God, through Jesus—we need courage and commitment.

Let us enthusiastically respond to the beautiful and challenging call. Let us, in the words of Saint Paul, "Be ambassadors for Christ. Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature."

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The Rising Son - Season of Joy | John 20:1-9

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

from John 20:1-9
On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

The Rising Son

So often over the years, I’ve noticed that we put a tremendous effort into our Lenten observance and then when we get to Easter, we lose our spiritual steam, our fervor fades. Oh, for sure there’s the happy exuberance of finally being able to break our Lenten fast. But all too quickly for many of us, it’s back to same old / same old.

Today’s gospel begins before dawn. Only gradually does the darkness of night give way to the brilliance of that first Easter morning. Only gradually is the truth of what has transpired come to light.

Mary Magdalene goes to the grave, discovers that the stone has been rolled away, assumes that it’s grave robbers, and hurries to tell Peter and the Beloved Disciple. They run to the tomb and discover for themselves that indeed the tomb is empty. But grave robbers don’t strip a dead body of its clothes and leave them behind folded neatly. They go away believing but not fully comprehending what they have just seen.

So, I think it is with us. Only gradually is our sadness transformed into joy, our discouragement become anchored in hope, our confusion give way to faith.

For many years as a young man, I struggled with depression, a kind of low-grade sadness that I simply couldn’t seem to shake. I know I’m not alone in that many Americans have reported similar struggles with anxiety and depression. Through some therapy, regular exercise, poetry, spiritual direction, and lots and lots of prayer, the depression finally lifted for me. But most importantly, this malaise led me to hunger and thirst for a deeper joy and a more lasting peace. In short, I hungered to taste the fruits of the resurrection.

Who has not longed for something more in life? I believe it’s precisely in sitting in the empty tombs of our own efforts that a deep prayer rises up in our hearts for something more, for something and someone so much larger than ourselves.

On this Easter Sunday, perhaps you will be blessed with an immediate experience of joy and hope. And if that gift is given, savor it, rejoice in it. But if you find that after the sugar high from the chocolate bunnies and multi-colored jelly beans wears off, that there is still some hint of sadness lingering, do not despair.

Remember today’s gospel. On Easter Sunday morning, Magdalen is frightened and confused. Peter and John belief but don’t understand. Coming to a deeper faith, a fuller understanding, and a long-lasting joy – THIS is the journey of this Easter season. Indeed, it’s the journey of our lifetime. And it takes time, prayerful patience, and persistent faith.

Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God. Pope Francis has called us to an evangelization with this joy as our calling card. In these 50 days of Easter, ask for this gift of joy. And know that joy is a choice. Choose a joy that is more than a feeling. Live with a joy that is not here today and gone tomorrow. Pray for a joy that is not dependent on external circumstances but is rooted in the victory that Christ has won for us on that first Easter morning. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and like all fruits it needs to ripen slowly in God’s time.

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Before the (Easter) Dawn - More Seeds of Hope | Psalm 51:12 #lent #holysaturday

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today’s story seed is Before the Dawn.

From Psalm 51, verse 12
A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

No one knows, but what if… after Jesus was taken down from the cross and his body laid in the tomb, Mary, Mother of Jesus, sat in the house of a friend. Devastated as she was, people came to express their condolences.

We can imagine the trauma of those people, who believed Jesus would set Israel free. Their whole world was shaken.

Maybe Mary showed concern for those people as best she could, even though under her consoling outer politeness, she was ready to scream, ready to crawl under a rock, ready to give her life so that her son might live.

And the next day was the same. People coming, talking, crying, praying, sitting, eating, leaving. A blur for the Mother of Jesus. When she lay down for sleep, she felt her whole world ending.
Just suppose that she woke up long before the dawn on that second night. One phrase from her son stuck in her mind. She said out loud, “The kingdom of God is at hand.”

As she said this, she remembered the angel Gabriel coming to her. She said once again very quietly, “The kingdom of God is at hand.” Now she saw in her mind’s eye her pregnant cousin Elizabeth. Then she saw herself pregnant and Jesus being born and laying on her chest.

“The kingdom of God is at hand.” She remembered his first step and how Joseph used to toss him in the air and catch him. Mary remembered his first words, his first prayer, and the time he fell out of a tree and nearly broke his neck.

“The kingdom of God is at hand.” Now she remembered the wedding feast at Cana and how Jesus’ disciples drank a bit too much. And she recalled the multitudes eating on the hillside, sharing bread and fish. She had a vivid image of when a blind man regained his sight, and a paralyzed man stood up and walked.

“The kingdom of God is at hand.” And then it came, the image of Jesus on the cross.

In the silence, and pain, that image lingered. But slowly a thought surfaced. The kingdom of God is love. And love cannot be stopped. Perhaps he had to die so that all that would remain would be the love he taught.

She pledged to carry that love always, to continue what he had started. Her eyes wet with tears, she rolled over, felt his calming presence, and fell back to sleep.

We all know what happens when Mary rises the next day, but what we don’t know is what will happen in our lives later today. We could say that it’s a clean slate. We have been emptied out. We have been trying all Lent to clean up our heart, to rip open the callousness that keeps us from being a loving person.

Whatever happens, like Psalm 51 says today, “…a steadfast spirit renew within me.”

Good things and bad things will happen. Can we hang in there through it all and spread the love that Jesus taught? At this moment, the kingdom of God is at hand. Pause, breathe, and feel that which is coming into your life. Mother Mary and her son are sending you love.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

How do you stay steadfast in your love?

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In the Middle - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 19:18 #lent #holyweek #goodfriday

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today’s story seed is In the Middle.

From the Gospel of John chapter 19, verse 18
There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.

The mother looked at her son. A breathing tube was down his throat. The beeps and buzzes of the equipment rang out in the hospital room. Her sobs were muffled by her hands over her mouth as she prayed for him, her beautiful baby boy, laying helpless in this bed, hanging on by a thread of life.

He was one of three people shot that day. They were destined to become a statistic that would never find justice.

She had done everything she could to keep him safe. She made sure he went to school, did his homework, had something to eat at night. But she couldn’t keep him safe. More than one gang wanted him.

“If I don’t join, they are going to come gunning for me,” he said.

“Don’t you do it,” she told him. “You have managed this long. You’re about to finish high school. God’s watching over you.”

“God may be watching over me, but they are after me every day. They told me they ain’t playing no games.”

She had closed her eyes during that conversation. She saw images of the past that couldn’t be repeated. She said, “You’re not ending up like your father and your uncles. You’re not selling drugs. You’re not going to prison. You’re not going to die from bullets.”

“Momma,” he said. “It will be a miracle if I make it to my next birthday.”

“Son, Jesus is in the business of miracles, and I’m praying hard for you.”

That was four days ago. As she thought about this, she burst into tears and her cries filled the hospital hallway. His best friend came into the room. His eyes were bloodshot. He was biting his lip to keep it together for her.

At just that moment, her son opened his eyes. He recognized the two of them together. Glancing from one to another, he seemed to be pleading that they be there for each other, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to stay.

His eyes went blank. His spirit slipped away. He was one of 797 that year in the city of Chicago.

Jesus died for our sins. We are saved. Everything is fine, right?

Clearly everything is not fine. Our world is filled with pain. When we imagine the pain of Mary and the beloved disciple seeing Jesus hanging on the cross about to die, is that any worse than when mothers see their kids shot on our streets?

Let’s not make a list of all the pain in the world, yet let’s acknowledge that Jesus didn’t die alone. He was in the middle.

Does anyone really deserve to be crucified? Were there mothers and fathers who were weeping that their boy was being crucified next to Jesus? How had things gone so wrong?

Jesus tells one of those hanging next to him that they will be together in paradise. He also unites Mary and the beloved disciple. Perhaps he unites all of us.

On this day of sadness, let us remember that it is not only Jesus that has suffered, is suffering, and will suffer.

Jesus is in the middle of it all. His body. His blood.

We are witnesses. We must remember to love others as he has loved us. That includes the 797 who were murdered in Chicago last year. And countless others around the world.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What is your heart telling you today?

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The Last Supper - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 13:8-9 #lent #holyweek

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From the Gospel of John chapter 13, verses 8 and 9
Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”

Grandmother had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. While she still had the strength, she gathered her children and grandchildren to her house for dinner. Everyone pitched in to make the meal.

They ate, laughed, cried, cleaned up, and lit the fire in the fireplace. Gramma was in her rocking chair. She had been thinking about this moment. She understood that this might be the last time she was together with her whole family.

When everyone had a seat in the room, with difficulty, she stood up and said, “It’s time for a drink. She took a glass off the tray near her chair and handed it to her son. Then she took another glass off the tray and handed it to one of the grandkids.

When she turned to get yet another glass, all 17 people in the room seemed to have the same thought. Her son spoke up, “Mom, what are you doing? Sit down. We’ll pass out the glasses.”
“No,” she said. “You will stay seated. Be patient.”

Slowly, she hand delivered a glass to each person. When they all had their glass, she picked up a decanter of her plum wine. As she poured the wine into the first glass, she instructed, “Nobody drinks, until everybody drinks.”

One by one, she put a bit of wine in each of the glasses. One time as she moved across the room, she nearly fell. “That’s enough,” said her daughter. “Let us help. Have a seat.”

“I love you,” said her mother, “and I know you mean well. But this is my job, and I want you to always remember this lesson. Sit down, my love.”

When everyone else had their drink in hand, she poured herself a splash of the wine. “Raise your glasses,” she said. “Here’s to bringing love into the world.” With those words, she put the glass to her lips and drank. Everyone else did the same.

After that, seated in her chair, she smiled and said, “What can a dying woman say to her family so that they will always remember? I have found there is nothing more satisfying than serving others and sharing the simple pleasures of life. That’s a taste I want you to savor every day of your life.”

Like Jesus, this grandmother is trying to convey what really matters. Today we celebrate the last supper. It is easy to imagine that Jesus carefully thought about what he wanted to say to his apostles.

It’s pretty clear that service to others is near the top of the list. He washed the feet of those at the table. Most of us embrace that.

What is less clear is that we have to appreciate the gift of those who serve us. Peter seemed to be missing that part of the lesson. He says, “you will never wash my feet.”

We have been taught that it is better to give than receive. Like Peter, we want to be the ones to give. But without receiving there is no giving. It wasn’t long ago that Jesus received his feet being washed with tears and anointed in oil.

We take turns doing both roles. At this moment, Jesus is about to give his life for us. He wants us to remember what’s most important. Go ahead, let your feet be washed, and be sure to accept the cup when it comes to you.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What lesson of Jesus will you always remember?

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Willpower - More Seeds of Hope | Isaiah 50:6 #lent #holyweek

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0500

From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 50, verse 6
I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.

The early church is filled with martyrs, people who gave their life to see the faith continue. Today is the feast day of St. Martin I.

When he became Pope in 649 there was a popular belief called Monothelitism that Jesus had a divine will, but not a human will. At the time, much of the church was controlled by the Roman Emperor Constans II.

That Emperor endorsed Monothelitism and forbade this teaching from being changed, and outlawed discussion of it. One of the first things Pope Martin I did in his papacy was to gather a council of more than 100 bishops to refute that teaching and clearly state that Jesus had two wills. He was fully human and fully divine and thus had two wills.

The Pope and his bishops also denounced the ban on discussion about the topic. This infuriated the Emperor. He ordered his soldiers in Rome to arrest the Pope. That was not such an easy task, but after three years of trying, they did apprehend him and put him on an arduous voyage to Constantinople. When he arrived there, the Pope was immediately put into jail.

He was left there for three months in filthy, freezing conditions, and fed disgusting food. He suffered greatly and was not allowed to wash. He was then given a trial in which he was not permitted to offer a defense. The Pope was found guilty of treason. After spending another three months in the squalled conditions of the prison, he was exiled to a remote area and died within two years.

He gave his life trying to spread the truth as he understood it about Jesus. Saint Martin I is considered a martyr. We don’t know this, but perhaps during his humiliations in prison he recited the Isaiah passage that we shared today. “I gave my back to those who beat me, my checks to those who plucked my beard.”

Maybe those words gave him the willpower to not renounce his position and stand firm in his belief about Jesus.

We know that tomorrow will be Holy Thursday. Jesus will finish his day by going to the garden of Gethsemane. There he will pray and ask for the cup of suffering to pass him by if it be God’s will. When we read about the anguish of Jesus on that night, it seems clear that he was trying his best with his human will to follow his divine will.

Perhaps he, too, on that night, recited the words of Isaiah to try to find strength and comfort in the monumental task ahead of him. Maybe it helped him to feel like he wasn’t alone. “I gave my back to those who beat me, my checks to those who plucked my beard.”

Perhaps when they arrested him and had him scourged, as the whip cut into his skin over and over again, he said those words of Isaiah trying to find the willpower to withstand the pain.

How’s your willpower doing? Is there something going on in your life that is hard? Are you suffering along with Jesus and Pope Martin I? Let the words of Isaiah inspire you and give you the willpower to follow God.

“I gave my back to those who beat me, my checks to those who plucked my beard.”

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

When do you feel your willpower is at its strongest?

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Betrayal - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 13:21 #lent #holyweek

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today’s story seed is Betrayal.

From Gospel of John chapter 13, verse 21
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

She didn’t go to college. When she finished high school, she began to work full time at the diner. She was a hard worker and good with people.

She got the nickname, “Smiley.”

One of the regulars took a special interest in her. He began to ask her questions about goals, her hopes, her dreams. She didn’t reveal a whole lot, mostly because she wasn’t sure what she wanted in life. One thing was for sure, though; she appreciated the large tips he left her.

Even though he was about 10 years older than her, one day he said, “Smiley, you work all day at this greasy spoon. Would you let me take you out to a real restaurant?”

She laughed in his face. “An old man like you—taking out a sweet young thing like me—I don’t think that is going to happen.”

“Suit yourself. I just think you deserve to be pampered a bit.” That day he left a $5 tip for a $10 meal.

Over the next month, he asked her to the movies, to a car race, to the ballet, to the comedy club, but it was the picnic to the beach that got her to say “yes.” Even though the ocean was a mere three hours away from their town, she had only been there once.

On her day off, they made the trip. He was a perfect gentleman. He had made sandwiches and brought soft drinks. They sat on a blanket in the sand under a rented umbrella. It was picture perfect.

They started dating regularly and became romantic. Six months later she agreed to marry him.

Three weeks before that wedding, she saw him walking with another girl, someone even younger than her. She followed them. They were holding hands. They paused under a streetlight and began to kiss.

She came out of the shadows quietly. Her voice quivering, she said, “It’s over.”

Later, she said some more choice words. She was left with the feeling that she could never love again.

Gradually, though, she recognized that she was never really comfortable with him. She became grateful for that moment when she found him with another girl. That betrayal became her freedom.

What happened after that? Well, she met a certain plumber who was rather rough around the edges, but it didn’t take long to realize he had a heart of gold.

This is one of those stories that you wouldn’t wish on anybody. Nobody wants to get engaged only to find out that your intended is cheating on you. That’s a heartbreak that will stick with a person for the rest of his or her life.

Betrayal sears a wound deep inside of us.

Jesus experienced it. In today’s gospel he knows it is coming. Soon it will be sealed with a kiss as Judas identifies him to the authorities.

Betrayal is part of the story. Perhaps it is a necessary element, and maybe not just for Jesus’ story, but yours and mine as well.

Can you identify one of these wounds of betrayal deep inside of you? If you can, it may be possible for you to continue with the story. Unite with Jesus. His pain and your pain can be carried together. That’s a relationship you can trust.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

How have you been betrayed?

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The Hand of the Lord - More Seeds of Hope | Isaiah 42:6 #lent

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0500

From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 42, verse 6
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand;

In school, he always got top marks on his report cards. Many years later he would be the top story in the newspaper.

In primary school, reading came easy. Writing came easy. Math came easy. He seemed to remember everything he was taught.

In high school, he found that not everything was easy, but he liked learning and he had a near-perfect grade-point average. He finished college in the next three years. Then it was on to medical school.

His faith was important to him. He felt the hand of God was leading him, that he had been blessed with a strong intellect and knew right from wrong. He felt called to use his talents for the greater good. He became a heart surgeon.

He was well liked and extremely competent in his profession. This doctor became a teacher and a mentor to many.

He was promoted to a job that was part administration and part medical staff. That’s when he noticed it. There was something going on at the hospital that would change his life and end his career.

It was about diagnosing certain illnesses that lead to profitable procedures and a systematic way of processing claims that lead to higher revenues. When he went to his superior and hinted at what he knew, he was told in no uncertain terms to mind his own business and to concentrate his efforts on saving lives.

He tried to look away. He reasoned that this was just how the business side of health care sometimes worked. It wasn’t his job to try to fix the problem.

That didn’t work. He woke up one night in a sweat, filled with anxiety. He felt he was being led to expose everything that he had witnessed. He resisted, and his discomfort rose.

God would not leave him alone. He contacted the federal authorities and testified to what he had been witnessing. He was ostracized from the staff and went on permanent leave of duty. There were years of court battles. In the end, the hospital had to pay multimillion dollar fines.

He was of an age that retirement made sense. There were people who clearly hated him. There were others who just as clearly loved and admired him.

What mattered to him most, though, was that at night, he didn’t wake up in distress, trying to resist the pull of God’s hand. He woke up in the morning refreshed.

Isn’t it a beautiful thought that the spirit of the Lord would be upon you? And how wonderful it is, as our scripture today says of God, “I have grasped you by the hand.” Off you go with God’s spirit upon you.

Earlier this Lent, we were reminded of Jesus coming from his baptism with John. The Spirit of the Lord was with Jesus as he was led into the desert to be tempted.

Wait a minute—aren’t good things supposed to happen to us when the spirit of the Lord is upon us? Yes, of course they are. But not all good things are easy. Before long, Jesus will be hanging on the cross.

Is there something we are putting off, because we are afraid we don’t have the strength or courage to face it? This is the week to find where your courage and strength come from. Go ahead, take the hand of the Lord, let the spirit be upon you, and trust the path forward. It’s just what the doctor ordered.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

Where is God leading you today?

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The Wedding Vow - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | Luke 22:33-34 #lent "Sometimes, marriage is hard."

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500

From the Gospel of Luke chapter 22, verses 33 and 34.
Peter said to him, “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.” But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you know me.”

A man got down on one knee, looked up at the woman he loved, and asked, “Will you marry me?”

She said, “Yes.”

The wedding was planned, the guests invited. On the big day everyone clearly heard them exchange their vows. They pledged to love each other in sickness and in health, in good times and in hard times, till death do they part.

The woman and the man felt an overpowering sense of love for each other. They were swept up in the emotion of the moment. Their feelings were true.

It didn’t take long for that emotion to change. One day, when the woman came home from work, she found bread crumbs all over the counter once again. She was so aggravated that she began to yell at her husband. “Didn’t I tell you to use a plate when you butter your toast? Once again, you have left crumbs all over the counter. I’m sick of cleaning up your mess.”

The man responded, “I am just trying to NOT use more DISHES so that we don’t have so much washing to do.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you have a brain in your head?” she retorted. “It’s a lot easier to put a plate in the dishwasher than it is to clean the crumbs off the counter, the floor, and the table!”

“Yeah,” he said, “It’s not like you spend a lot of time cleaning. Our house is a wreck, and it’s not because I don’t use a plate with my toast. Why don’t you try vacuuming once in a while?”
“Why don’t you try vacuuming?” she taunted. “It might help you to lose some weight.”

“Why don’t you try shutting your mouth,” he said.

“I guess doing the laundry, cooking the food, and walking the dog isn’t enough for you?” She stomped her foot on the ground and shouted, “This is not what I signed up for!”

This same story has been played out a billion times. People make vows. They believe with their whole heart they will follow them always, and then life happens. All of us make mistakes. All of us say things we later regret.

It seems pretty clear that Jesus knows about this. Why do you think he tells Peter in front of everyone that Peter will deny him three times? Is he trying to humiliate Peter? Is he saying, Peter really doesn’t love him? Of course not.

It seems clear that Jesus is teaching all of us a lesson. Even the person who loves him the most, who would do anything for him, is, at least at times, weak. We all come up short at some point.
This is good news for married couples. You can work out your differences. Love is more than an emotion. It is a decision to act in loving ways, and when we fail, we try again.

As we begin the holiest of weeks, let’s look for chances today to fulfill our vows, to find our strength in the Lord, to put our actions behind our words. Let us get down on one knee and profess our love for the Lord, then get up, and bring that love to the world.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What do you need a second, third, or fourth chance to accomplish?

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The Miracle of St. Julie Billiart - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 10:37-38 #lent

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

Today’s story seed is The Miracle

From the Gospel of John chapter 10, verses 37 and 38
If I do not perform my Father’s works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

Today is the Feast Day of St. Julie Billiart, the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She experienced a profound miracle in her life. She was born in 1751 and died 64 years later. She was joyful, prayerful, and full of wisdom even though her legs were paralyzed for much of her life.
At a very young age, Julie learned to love God and showed that love through her devotion to the Lord. By 16 years old, she was helping her family by working as a teacher. She was described as “a woman overflowing with energy” as she worked to fulfill her spiritual calling.

One day at her home, while speaking with her father, a large rock was thrown through the window and a gunshot fired. Although neither she nor her father were physically wounded, the event was such a shock to Julie’s overworked system, she was confined to her bed and became seriously ill. The treatment for this at the time was blood-letting through the feet. This process was performed so many times, Julie’s legs became paralyzed.

In her pain, she grew stronger in her love for God.

One day, she had a vision and saw Jesus crucified with a large group of religious women surrounding him. They were wearing a habit that she did not recognize. An inner voice told her that these were to be the women of the congregation she would start. It would be dedicated to serving the needs, and the Christian instruction, of poor girls.

While her legs were still paralyzed, she started her congregation and retook her vows along with two others. Her legs had been paralyzed for decades when a priest friend secretly began a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus praying for the recovery of her ability to walk.

On the fifth day of the prayer, the priest, Fr. Enfantin visited Julie. While they were together, the congregational records describe what he said to her: “‘If you have faith, Mother, take a step in honor of the Heart of Jesus.’ Julie rose and took a step, something she had not done for twenty-two years. ‘Take another,’ he said. ‘Another.’ Then, ‘That will do; you may sit down now.’ Julie took her seat, though she assured Father that she was able to walk even further.”

Can you imagine that moment? Her ability to walk returned. For the remainder of her life, 12 years, Mother Julie was on the move doing the work of organizing and inspiring her congregation. Today, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are in five continents and 20 countries.

St. Julie’s story is an example of what Jesus is talking about in our scripture passage today. The Jews Jesus is addressing don’t believe in him. Jesus says, “OK, don’t believe in me, but believe in the works that the Father is doing through me. Can you at least believe in that? Come on, the blind see, the lame walk, what more do you want?”

But they won’t have it. They focus on him claiming out to be the Son of God. They want to kill him right then and there. St. Julie lost the ability to walk, and she loved God even more. How about you? Is your heart touched by Jesus? If not, will any amount of miracles sway you?

Holy Week will soon start. This is a time to be drawn closer to Jesus. Like St. Julie, you’re never too old to learn to walk again with the Lord.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What hardship draws you closer to God?

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Was Jesus Possessed? - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 8:51-52 #lent

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0500

John 8:51-52
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed.”

A seven-year-old girl went back in time. She had made a time machine out of a cardboard box. When she opened her eyes and stepped out of her cardboard box, she didn’t recognize her surroundings.

Her house was gone. The car in the driveway was missing. The streetlights weren’t there. She called for her mother, but there was no answer. She began to cry and scream for “Mommy.”

A woman wearing old-fashioned clothing came to her side. “What’s the matter child?”

“I can’t find my mom and my house is gone.”

“Oh my,” said the woman as she took a good look at this strange girl in unusual clothes.

“Well, your house couldn’t have been here. This is a field, and there has never been a house on it. How about I take you to see the sheriff. He’ll know how to find your folks.”

“I’m not leaving,” said the girl. “I’ll just get back in my box. When she turned to go back to her cardboard box, she couldn’t find it. My box is gone!”

“Missy,” the young woman said, “you’re acting mighty strange. Sit yourself down in the comfortable grass. I’ll get some help.”

Before long there was a group of people standing around the little girl. She repeated, “My family’s house is gone. Our car is gone. The street lights are missing.”

“Now, just hold on, little lady,” said one of the men of the group. “What do you mean by a car?”

“I’m talking about an automobile, a car, our family car that drives me to school.”
“Do you use a horse or a mule to power it?” asked the man.

The little girl laughed. The engine powers it. We put gas in it, but it’s a hybrid, so we also plug it in for power.”

“Plug it into what?”

The girl was puzzled. “We plug it into the power socket to get electricity. Don’t tell me you don’t know about electricity.”

“What is it?” asked the woman who had found this girl.

“It’s what powers your lights so you can see at night.”

“Candles?”

“No, you flip the switch and that turns on the light so it can be like daylight at night,” said the girl.

The crowd stared at her. Then the man said, “Now, we know you are possessed. You are telling us you can make night into day by flipping a switch.”

Do you think people from the past would believe you if you told them about electricity, computers, and cellular phones? They would think you, too, were possessed. And they would have proof, because the things you would be telling them would be impossible in their day.

They would be sure of it.

The people Jesus is talking to in our scripture today have proof positive that Jesus is possessed. He is telling them if they listen and obey his word that they will never die. They know everyone dies. Jesus must clearly be deranged.

Here’s the important part. Jesus tells them, and us, he is not talking about the world as we know it. He is talking about another truth. It is the world that he belongs to, the world of his Father, the world of the Spirit.

He makes a promise. If you come to this world, you will never die. He is not saying your life on earth will never end. He is promising that there is something else, another kind of reality.

He invites us to join him. Your Lenten journey is a step in this direction. Join him. You won’t need a cardboard box to enter.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What do you know about the kingdom Jesus is talking about?

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The Love of Family: Alberta Williams King - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 11:21 #lent

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Today’s story seed is The Love of Family

From the Gospel of John chapter 11, verse 21
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Without her love, the United States of America would not be the same. It still hasn’t reached the potential she prayed for, but she did her best to bring that dream forth. The struggle continues.

Alberta Williams King lived a life devoted to God, to her family, her community, and her country. Her father was the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent her 69 years of life devoted to the success of that church and the gospel message of Jesus.

Extremely intelligent, she earned her B.A. from Morris Brown College. When she married Martin Luther King Sr. (at the time known as Michael King) she helped him with his studies and tutored him through college.
Eventually, her husband became the pastor of her father’s church. They had three children—Christine, Martin, and Alfred. She used her teaching skills to guide them through school.

After completing his schooling, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. joined his father as co-pastor of Ebenezer Church. He wrote that his mother “was behind the scenes setting forth those motherly cares, the lack of which leaves a missing link in life.”

Her daughter, Christine King Farris wrote in her memoir Through It All, “…I have to chuckle as I realize there are people who actually believe ML just appeared… ready to change the world…Take it from his big sister, that’s simply not the case.”

A woman of faith and service, Momma King, as she became known, started the church choir and taught hundreds of singers and instrumentalists. She was the church’s organist from 1932 until 1972. She was active in a long list of community and national organizations.
When her son was assassinated, she continued with her church duties, volunteering, and community work. It was said that a question she often asked was: “Why should we be spared from a difficult time?”

The following year, her other son died in a tragic drowning accident. Momma King and her husband continued to devote their lives to their church ministry.

Five years later, on a day her husband was away, she was at the organ about to play the Lord’s Prayer. A gunman came into the church and fatally shot her in the head, and killed another man as well.

The assassin said he did it “because all Christians are my enemies.” Although his lawyers plead insanity for him, he was sentenced to death. That ruling was appealed and overturned to life in prison, at least in part because the surviving King family was against the death penalty.

We are all going to face death, and many of us already have seen our loved ones go.

Death, it comes for us all.

And in our scripture today, Martha says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

A question that lots of us ask is: “How could you let this happen?”
One thing is for sure. It’s going to happen. We are going to die. Before long, we will be reading about Jesus’ crucifixion.

The message of Jesus, and that of Alberta Williams King is not about death. It’s about life. It’s about the way, the truth, and the resurrection. It is about giving your life to what you believe in. It is about following the example of those who showed us how to love.

That love is for God, and for the world, our country, our community, and our family. That’s a mother’s dream worth holding on to.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What dream are you working toward?

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The High Road - More Seeds of Hope | John 8:23 #lent

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

John 8:23
He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.”

There was a certain priest, a rather charismatic, young fellow. He was often requested to visit other churches to say mass. On one such occasion, he was driving across town during early morning rush hour. The sun had not yet come up, but the traffic certainly had.

He had gotten up early that morning so he wouldn’t have to worry about being late, yet he had looked at his emails before he left and saw an urgent prayer request. Father took the time to open that email, prayed about it, and sent a thoughtful response.

Just before he got into his car, the maintenance man of the parish said hello. The priest said, “How are you today?” The maintenance man revealed that his back had gone out the previous night, and he was in significant pain. He had forgotten his Ibuprofen and wondered if the priest had some, which, of course, he did. So, Padre Perfect, as he was sometimes called, rushed up three flights of stairs to get the medicine.

After all this, his GPS showed that he would arrive at the church about five minutes before mass began. He had hoped to be there 30 minutes ahead of time. And now, he was stuck in traffic. The GPS added a minute to his arrival time.

The lane next to his was moving, so when there was an opening, he darted into that lane. The driver in the car he cut in front of laid on the horn, not a polite little tap, but a jarring, blaring, extended honk. When Padre Perfect looked in his rearview mirror, the man behind him raised up his hand with his middle finger prominently above the other clinched fingers.

The priest said a prayer for the driver behind him. Really, he did. And the priest felt a bit of calm as he said the prayer.

When the priest looked again in his rearview mirror, the driver behind him was now tailgating him. They were inches away from an accident. Padre Perfect sped up a bit, but the car behind him kept right on his rear end.

To get this fellow off his back, the priest switched lanes, but a blinding light was suddenly hitting his mirror and going directly into his eye.

The car from the other lane had followed him and the driver had now turned on his bright lights. Padre Perfect flipped his rearview mirror so the lights were no longer shining in his eyes. And since his hand was already up in the air, he considered flipping the driver off as well. He resisted that temptation but found himself slowing his vehicle down to a snail’s pace. The car in front of him pulled away, but he barely budged. “How do you like that?” he asked out loud to the driver behind him.

A few seconds later, the car behind him pulled into the other lane and sped away—obnoxiously honking as he passed by.

When we get caught up in a shouting match, or try to outdo each other in being nasty, nobody wins. And you can tell this, because you never feel good about it. You become all worked up—can’t think straight, can’t enjoy dinner, can’t sleep. Does this sound familiar? It’s the low road.

That is not the way of Jesus, which isn’t to say he never gets upset, or he never speaks his mind. He does speak his mind. He does get upset. He is trying to save as many people as he can. He wants them to believe in what the Father has revealed to him.

That message is to take the high road, to devote yourself to caring for others even when they attack you. Remember that—next time you’re in rush-hour traffic.

Take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What’s a time you took the high road?

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My Light - More Seeds of Hope | John 8:12 #lent

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0500

From the Gospel of John chapter 8, verse 12
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

She never would have guessed that this would be the night that she would have a nightmare. And yet it came. She woke up terrified in her sleeping bag nestled in the tent.

For weeks she had been waiting for this camping trip, longing for it. So far it had been everything she wanted. The cave tour was particularly wonderful. The thing that impressed her the most was the dark.

When they were deep into the cave, the guide said, “I’m going to turn off the lights, and it will become totally dark. No walking, no talking, just experience total darkness.”

The guide flipped three switches and one by one, the strands of lights in the cave went off. The tour group was engulfed in total darkness. After a few seconds, the guide said, “Raise your hand so it’s right in front of your face. Wave it back and forth. It can’t be seen.”

It was amazing and a bit frightening to not be able to see anything. It felt like a thick blanket was over the crowd of people. The guide continued, “Now, I’m going to light a single match. Notice what it does to the cave.”
The guide struck the match on the flint. The sound and the sudden glow were simultaneous. Suddenly she could see again. She could see the whole crowd from her tour group. She could see the walls and ceiling of the cavern she was in—all from a single match.

That night after sunset, she sat by the campfire. The blaze of the branches and logs seemed to have new meaning. Any one of those sticks could light up an entire cave of darkness.

Her flashlight in her hand, she made her way down the trail to the bathroom. She heard something moving through the woods. Her light caught the yellow eyes of a raccoon. It startled her, and she quickly moved away from the creature. When she left the bathroom, she walked the camp road, not the dirt path.

Sleep came easy, but in the middle of the night, she dreamt she was walking along a hiking trail. Her footing gave way, and the earth opened up. She rolled deep underground and found herself in total darkness. She couldn’t see anything, but she heard something walking on the stones near her.

“Who’s there?” she asked. There was no response. The sound of footsteps on loose gravel kept getting closer and finally she saw it. Yellow eyes coming from the ground. Not just one set of eyes, but dozens of them surrounding her. That’s when she woke up. She laid in her sleeping bag shaking.

After a couple of minutes, she noticed through the screen window of the tent the stars shining brightly in the sky. She slipped out of her sleeping bag and unzipped the door of the tent. There were no street lights, no fires, no lanterns.

Tilting her head back, her jaw went slack as she looked at the sky. She saw more stars than she could ever remember, all set in the beautiful blackness of night. She felt she was standing in God’s house. A tremendous calm came over her, she yawned and returned to the tent where she fell peacefully back to sleep.

Do you sometimes feel like you are stuck in total darkness, no way out.

Our passage from scripture today is reassuring. Jesus is the light of the world. No matter your situation, Jesus can bring light to help you.

Sometimes, all we need is a single match to suddenly see everything clearly. Kindle a prayer in your heart. Waiting for you in the dark is the light of the world.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What darkness are you experiencing?

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Green as Ireland - More Seeds of Hope | Jeremiah 17:7 #lent St. Patrick's Day

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Today’s story seed is Green as Ireland.

From the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah chapter 17: 7
Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.

It is sometimes said that on St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish, and many support the tradition by wearing green.

Americans don green hats, green shirts, green dresses, green socks. If you can wear it on St. Paddy’s day, wear it in green.

Here in Chicago, we even dye the river green. And we don’t stop with the river, we dye the beer green, too!

It is interesting to note, though, that originally the color associated with St. Patrick was actually blue. A sky-blue color was chosen for the order of St. Patrick to differ in tone from the Irish Coat of Arms, which used a darker blue.

Legend has it that St. Patrick taught the trinity by using a three-leaf clover. Many of our greatest teachers use the simplest lessons to convey important truths of life. The lesson had such an impact, that people started to associate St. Patrick with the color green, like the clover. And it certainly helped that with all the rain Ireland receives, it was, and is, known as the Emerald Isle, because it is so green.

But it is not the color of the clover that St. Patrick taught. Faith in God was his teaching. He taught his listeners to trust in the strength of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that it was as abundantly available as the clover that grew on the hillsides.

He knew great pain in his life. He was once a slave, brought to Ireland. But God turned around his life. And that is what God will do for us—turn our life around, send us back to some place to change it for the better.

St. Patrick, as a free man, returned to Ireland to convert it to Christianity. There is no doubt that he was successful in his efforts. Four out of five people today identify as Christian in Ireland.

God does that—converts us. The conversion isn’t about always getting our way. The conversion is about trust.

Do you feel trust in God growing in your life? If not, seize the opportunity in lent to turn your life around so that you find yourself growing closer to God.

God grows something new inside of us. It could be the belief, like St. Patrick had, that all things are possible, even the conversion of an entire nation. More commonly for us, it’s little things like the ability to be patient, like the insight to find the words for forgiveness, or like the awareness to take delight in the small children that cross our path.

We could say that God is always growing something new in our life. We are forever green, even into our ripe old age.

So, sport your green today, and your blue on this St. Patrick’s Day. Raise a glass of green beer if you choose, but remember, this day is about faith in the Lord.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What new thing is God starting to grow in your life?

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April Fools - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | Wisdom 2:19 #lent

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 06:00:00 -0500

From the Book of Wisdom chapter 2, verse 19
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.

He sat on the grass reading his book as the other fourth-grade kids raced around the playground and field. Three boys were huddled together, their knees resting on the playground woodchips as they figured out the final details of their hilarious plan.

A moment later, they got up, and two of them went off into the field. The other boy walked over to the one sitting quietly on the grass reading. “Hey,” said the taller boy to the one reading, “you need to get some exercise and have some fun. Come with me.”

“No thanks.”

“Seriously, you’re coming with me. Too much reading is bad for your eyes.” He reached down and grabbed the arm of the other boy and pulled him up.
“I really don’t feel like playing. I just want to read.”

“No way! You’re coming with me. Let’s have some fun.” The bigger boy pushed the book out of the other’s hand and carried him onto the playground.

“Cut it out. I told you, I don’t want to play.”

“Let’s just do the swings for a little bit.” They were now next to the three unoccupied swings.

“Alright,” said the smaller boy. It was the one thing on the playground he liked. They began to swing.

The bigger one said, “Let’s see who can jump off farthest. I’ll go first.” He released himself from the seat, soared through the air, and landed on the mulch.

The smaller boy did two more pumps of his legs to go higher and higher, then jumped from the swing. He landed further than the first boy had gone.

“That’s crazy. You beat me by like a mile. Let’s do it again. This time, I know I can beat you.”

They hopped on the swings. Higher and faster they went. The two boys jumped at the same time. They flew through the air together. When they landed, the small boy had gone further than the other.

“You’re amazing at that! I don’t know how a kid who reads all the time could be that good.”

“You might try reading some time. You learn about everything in books.”
The bigger boy shouted, “Come on, let’s do the slide.” As he had hoped, the smaller boy followed. When they got to the ladder, he said, “Champions go first.”

The smaller one climbed the steps, pushed himself off the platform, and slid down the curving track. As he came to the bottom, he was surprised to see a group of kids waiting for him. There was something else waiting for him as well. He tried to stop, but he wasn’t quick enough. He slid into the pile of dog poop squished onto the end of the slide.

An enormous burst of laughter came from the group of kids. “April Fools,” they shouted.

April Fool’s Day is something many of us love. It is fun to do innocent, little pranks on each other. This story is clearly not about that. These kids have done something disgustingly cruel. Could something like this actually happen? You bet it could, and has, and will continue.

It seems there is no limit to the cruelty of people.

Where do you stand? Have you been the perpetrator? The victim? The witness? What would you do if you were this boy?

We learn from our mistakes. Being God’s people, following the path of love and gentleness is a blueprint embedded in our soul, but we have to take the time to look at the directions.

When we find what matters most in life, cruelty is never our path. Our laughter comes from genuine joy, not the misery of others.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What do you know now that you didn’t as a kid on the playground?

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God says: "Ask Me." - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 5:44

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From John 5:44
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?

Her daughter cleared her throat and said, “Mom, it’s time for you to move into a retirement home.” Those words struck a chord of terror into this mother’s heart. She was worried that her daughter would suggest this, and now she had. No more subtle hints. She had said it plainly.

At 79 years old, she didn’t feel that old. She was still able to dress and bathe, cook, and drive. She went for a walk most days. She enjoyed reading. Her life was good.

But the yard work was beyond her, and walking down the steps to the laundry was certainly not as easy as it had been even five years ago. She and her husband had been determined to stay in the house as long as they could, but, of course, he got sick. She watched him slip away from 190 pounds to 110 pounds, and then one long, dark night, he smiled and took his last breath.

The retirement home was actually a campus with a variety of levels of care. “It’s perfect for you, Mom,” said her daughter. “There are games, activities, travel possibilities, and a variety of meal plans. Certainly, it would be nice to not have to cook every meal.”

“But I’m not that old. I don’t need to go to the old folks home. At least not for some years to come.”

Then she had the fall. She was fine. All that happened was that her wrist was bruised and sore, but she didn’t break anything.

“It happens to all of us,” said her neighbor. “It doesn’t mean that you’re old. You just have to remember to pay attention.”

She started praying about her situation. She said a decade of the rosary each day and asked Mother Mary to help her make the right choice. After praying like this for a few days, it became clear to her that her husband would have definitely wanted her to stay in the house, and so she should stay.

But she continued over the next few days to pray about this, and it became clear to her that she loved her children, and they clearly thought it was best for her to move, and so she should follow their advice.

After another week of prayer, the good intentions of her neighbor tugged on her heart. That neighbor loved her and wanted what was best for her, and so she should stay in her house.

One night after praying, two words lingered in her mind: “Ask me.” But she didn’t know who to ask. In the subsequent days, the same two words kept surfacing for her. “Ask me.” After another week, one night she said out loud, “Lord, I don’t even know who to ask. Who is ‘me?’”

“It’s me,” came the answer. She didn’t hear this voice, she more or less, felt it. She sat still for a couple of minutes and then asked, “What should I do, Lord?”

She felt the answer was, “You already know. Where are you at peace when you think of the options. That peace is my gift to you. Use it to make your decision.”

“Thank you, Lord,” she said.

How about you? Are you listening to everybody but the Lord? Or maybe you’re listening to everybody including the Lord. It’s hard to make decisions.

Most of us want reassurance from others that we have chosen wisely. We are after the praise of those surrounding us. That’s not necessarily bad. There is something deeper, though.

That is seeking the praise of the one who dwells in each of us, the one who came to show us the way to live our life. The one who offers us peace. The one who whispers, “Ask me.”

What’s the question you need to ask the Lord?

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Your Next Shot (a story about a blind golfer) - More Seeds of Hope | Isaiah 49:13

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 49, verse 13
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the LORD comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted.

He played golf on his 90th birthday. That in itself is quite an accomplishment, to be agile enough to continue to play a game that you have loved throughout your life. But it is how Bert Rosenberg came to play the game that I really want to share with you today.

You see, Bert is legally blind. He is not physically fit. He walks slowly and with small steps. He can see a little bit, but certainly not well enough to drive a car. That’s why on his 90th birthday, he kissed his wife goodbye for now, and he walked down the hill from his condo and waited for the bus.
It wasn’t a quick trip to the bus stop. Bert had to be extra careful not to fall. But he made it with a smile.

He took the metro across town and once again walked down the long driveway to the golf course. There he met a friend and together they played golf. His friend, of course, spotted the ball every time Bert hit it. His friend told him what direction to hit the ball, how far to hit the ball, and how well he was doing.

By Bert’s account, they had a great time. And Bert was filled with gratitude.
Bert loved it, that’s why he was doing it on his 90th birthday. After they finished, he took the bus back to his wife to have a rest and then some birthday dinner.

Later that evening, back at his condo, Bert walked his dog. A friend rolled down his window and said hi to him from his parked car. Bert, walked toward the car not immediately recognizing the voice. “Who’s that?” he asked.

Soon they were laughing together. Bert reached out and took his friend’s hand. “It’s good to see you. I’m so glad you’re well. I was thinking about you the other day…please tell your wife hello for me.”

Do you know someone like this? Are you trying to be like Bert, cheerful, active, kind?

As we deepen our experience this Lent, some of us come to terms with serious issues. Sickness, isolation, pain, stress, our own sinfulness, unrest in our family… The list goes on and on.

Sing out O heavens and rejoice O earth…For the Lord comforts his people.
Sometimes we don’t feel that comfort. All we can think about is the cross we are carrying, or the cross we are watching someone else carry. It can make our life gloomy anytime of the year, but especially during Lent. We know the crucifixion is coming.

And yet this is not a time of gloom. This is a time to find inner strength. To exercise the capabilities, you have to live life fully and joyfully.

You may be mostly blind and can hardly walk, but look around, there is always something good in your life. Go ahead. A bus will be by soon. Take the road toward happiness. Take your next shot like it’s your 90th birthday.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What joy can I have in hardship?

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A Technicality - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 5:16

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From the Gospel of John chapter 5, verse 16
…the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.

A company put out an internal request for proposals. They were looking to expand their market share and wanted to see what ideas their employees could offer. They would select up to three ideas to be implemented that year.

Anyone who had a winning idea would receive a substantial bonus at the end of the year. There were more than 1,000 people who worked for this company, and many of them were excited by the offer. The proposals were to be hand delivered in paper form to a designated manager of the effort.
There were dozens that came in. One person had a brilliant idea that showed tremendous potential, but when she went to hand deliver the proposal, the manager was away at lunch, so she left it in his mailbox. He found it and put it with others.

When the reviewers read the proposals, that one stood out. Everyone saw that it indeed could make the company substantial profits, but there was a problem. The very people reviewing the proposals might lose their jobs because of a suggested streamlining of production.

They discussed this and decided that this proposal could not be considered because it had been delivered not by hand but left in a mailbox, something that was clearly against the published rules. They were firm in their decision. To protect themselves further, from that day, they began to find a way to force the woman out of the company who had submitted the proposal.

In today’s scripture, Jesus healed a man who had been ill for 38 years, but this happened on the Sabbath. Yet, what an amazing miracle. Jesus told him to get up and carry his mat. And he did! The Jews who witnessed this cured man carrying his mat aren’t interested in the cure. They are upset that he has broken the law and was doing work on the Sabbath.

Where do you fall in this story? Are you like the cured man? Or are you a stickler for details and take the side that no work should be done on the sabbath. That’s the law. End of story. Break the rules and face the consequences.

Or is there something more going on here? Is this about control? Jesus can’t be controlled by the law which is clearly written so he must be stopped?

This Lenten season, are you fasting because you are supposed to fast? Are you following the law simply because that’s what you are supposed to do? Would you even consider not fasting on a fast day? Perhaps fasting on a day that you are not required to fast?

Let’s remember that our God is not about technicalities. Yes, little things matter. Following the rules matter, but there is something more important. Jesus shows us that following the Holy Spirit, bringing good to the world, is even more important.

That’s a message that has been hand delivered, although some of you may have received it in your email box.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What rules get in the way of you drawing closer to God?

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Sometimes Forgiveness Takes Time - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 4:53

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500

From the Gospel of John chapter 4, verse 53
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe.

This is a true story. Once upon a time, a man named Pat Molloy was trying his best to live his Christian faith. He was taking classes working toward completing a program in pastoral ministry.

He and his wife were raising their family of four kids. Pat was volunteering in various ways at his church and in the community. He was taking retreats and sometimes helping out by giving witness talks about his faith.

There came an event he was interested in attending at Notre Dame University. It was a day of worship bringing together people in the charismatic prayer movement. Along with thousands of other people, Pat went to that event some 30 years ago. They filled the Notre Dame football stadium. Something happened to him that day that etched the experience into his very being.

In the early afternoon, there was an activity presented entitled The Healing of Memories. Participants were instructed to think through their lives and to find memories that they were holding onto that produced resentment, sorrow, or anger. They prayed to release those memories so that they could move on in a healthy way for the rest of their lives.

A question asked was “Who do you need to forgive?” And “What’s a grudge that you are holding on to that needs to be healed?” Pat searched his memories and wasn’t coming up with anything. Then one thing surfaced. It was so small he almost didn’t think that it mattered. In fact, he couldn’t remember the details.

What he did remember was that when he was about 13 years old, his mother got word that he had done something wrong and she punished him for it. The thing was, Pat hadn’t done it. He was innocent, but still he was punished. Pat remembers now that “I looked guilty, and if I was a parent, I would have thought that I was guilty, too.”

During the healing service, when this memory came up, he thought to himself, “Oh, that’s an easy one…I forgive you mom.”

That was it. He forgave his mom. When he got back home and stopped in to see his mother later that week, his mother asked him, “Were you praying for me this weekend?”

Pat didn’t remember at first and said, “No, but why do you ask?”

“Well,” said his mother, “at about 1 p.m. on Sunday, I felt this tremendous burden be lifted from me. It felt like a millstone was taken off my neck.”

Pat realized that was the exact time he had forgiven his mother. Thirty years later the memory of that realization is still vivid. The power of God working in his life was wonderfully revealed in that instant.

“If a small matter like that can make such a difference, just imagine what forgiving something bigger can mean,” he said.

God’s timing is not always the same as our timing, but it certainly seems that in some instances, timing helps us to believe. This is something that most of us have experienced. It often comes in small ways, like someone is thinking about a loved one who recently died and had a strong affection for cardinals, and at just that moment, a cardinal flies over to the tree in front of that person.

Or there is an insight you have about how to get along with someone you are struggling to forgive, and suddenly you hear a church bell ring and it feels like confirmation. Many of us see these moments as God working in our life—helping us to believe in the divine Holy Presence.

God’s timing is always on schedule.

When have you found God’s timing to be perfect?

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Hello Darkness - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | John 9:2-3

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0600

From John 9:2-3
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

Sanford Greenberg went blind in college. A misdiagnosed case of glaucoma took away his sight, and he thought, at least at first, his life. He dropped out of Columbia University, went home to his parents, and fell into a depression.

Art Garfunkel, who was to later become a mega star in the Simon and Garfunkel band, came to the rescue. Garfunkel had been Greenberg’s roommate in college, and Garfunkel convinced him to come back to school. From then on, Garfunkel got him to class, read to him, and generally helped him to succeed in college.

Greenberg recently released a memoir entitled Hello Darkness, My Old Friend. “Darkness” was the name Garfunkel referred to himself as he helped Greenberg. Garfunkel would say, “Darkness is going to read to you today.” Greenberg explained that this was Garfunkel’s way of voicing solidarity, because he knew that he was now a voice in Greenberg’s darkness.

There was a time when it seemed Garfunkel abandoned Greenberg. He left him at Grand Central Station in New York to fend for himself. Greenberg tripped, stumbled, cut, bruised, and humiliated himself, but eventually found his train to get back to Columbia University. When he was finally back on campus, he bumped into someone.

It was Garfunkel. In reality, Garfunkel had never left his side. He was there the whole time looking out for his friend, but not assisting him. Greenberg said Garfunkel knew “…it was only when I could prove to myself I could do it that I would have real independence. And it worked, because after that I felt that I could do anything.”

Greenberg not only finished his undergraduate degree, he went on to graduate school. Eventually he earned his doctorate degree from Harvard University. He became an inventor, entrepreneur, and the chairman of the board of governors of the John Hopkins University’s Wilmer Eye Institute.

He also helped fund the first album Simon and Garfunkel released. One of the songs on the album was “The Sounds of Silence” which begins, “Hello darkness my old friend.” Paul Simon wrote the song, but that lyric came from Garfunkel and Greenberg’s experience.

Greenberg, a Jew, considers himself both religious and very spiritual. He said in an interview with the Times of Israel, “For me, being religious means you must wonder at the blessings all around us. We must model God’s creation, otherwise we miss the magic of daily living.”

As you listen to this story, do you wonder what Sanford Greenberg’s life would have been like if he hadn’t gone blind? Would he have been so successful? And how about Art Garfunkel, would he have had the same career if he hadn’t had the experience of helping his friend?

The very first hit for Simon and Garfunkel was the Sounds of Silence. Would the song have ever been written if Greenberg hadn’t have gone blind?

As we pass the halfway mark in Lent, each of us has a chance to do our share to make the works of God visible in our life. Whatever our circumstances, there is something possible for us that will please God.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What challenge have you faced that has made you stronger?

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Yes, I Will Answer the Call - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | Luke 1:38

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0600

From the Gospel of Luke chapter 1, verse 38
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

There was a young woman who was called into the boss’ office. She was startled by this and a bit intimidated. She recalled that since she was hired at her job a year ago, the only time she was in the boss’ office was for her six-month review. That had worked out well, but there was no review planned for today.

As she went toward the office, she felt the eyes of her co-workers upon her. Her hand shook just a bit as she knocked on the door. Her boss opened the door, and there they were, the two of them face to face with each other. She felt like melting into the floor as his gaze looked deep into her eyes.

“Relax,” he said. “I have good news for you. Have a seat.”

She tried to relax, but her breathing was off. She sat down and looked across the desk. Her boss smiled, and said, “I’ve been watching you—the way you interact with your coworkers, the example you set by always showing up on time, the way you file your summary reports, and the quality of your writing.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“We are starting a new department, and I want you to manage it. You will be at the helm. You are my top choice for this position.”

She was stunned. She never expected this. “But, how could that be? I’m too young. You have 50 people that work for you. I’m one of your newest employees. How could you want me to be a manager? I’ve never managed anything in my life.”

“When you have been at this as long as I have, you get a sense for people. I’ll work with you, and some of the other senior staff as well. You’re the person we want. What do you say? Will you accept?”

On this feast day of the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, we can remind ourselves that we all face this question that the young woman in our story is facing. Do we say yes to the opportunity at hand?

We are talking about the chance to bring something good into the world. The right manager of a business can do a world of good. Any one who has had a good manager in their life knows this to be true. But this isn’t just about being a manager. This is about answering the call of what God is asking of us.

Of course, it’s highly unlikely God is going to appear to you and ask you the question. The angel Gabriel came to Mary. In our story today, the boss came to our talented young woman. How about for you? Who has come and given you a request? or showed up and you saw an opportunity to help?

Many times, when a request comes, an opportunity arises, or a yearning in our heart surfaces, we think we are not qualified, that we are not the right people for the job. We come up with logical reasons why this won’t work.

Maybe that is why the story of the Savior of the World starts this way. It reminds us that with God all things are possible, but we have to say “yes.”

What a beautiful reminder tucked in the midst of our Lenten experience—to answer the call of the Lord with a heart-felt yes.

Answering the call for you might mean that you bend over and pick up some trash off the sidewalk, or that you smile tenderly at a stranger that looks troubled, or spend a day with your kids, or take an extra 15 minutes in prayer, or perhaps…accept a new position as the youngest manager in your company’s history, or maybe the oldest.

In all these cases, during this Lent, may we mirror the words of Mother Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.”

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What “Yes” am I willing to give today?

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God's House - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | Jeremiah 7:23

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0600

From Jeremiah 7:23
Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.

As is sometimes the case, one spouse was clearly more religious than the other. This time, it was the husband who always wanted to go to mass. He would get up early to go to daily mass whenever he could. He never missed on Sundays. If he was sick, he watched mass on TV or his computer.

The wife wasn’t anti-religious, but she didn’t feel inclined to go to mass each day, and many Sundays she struggled to pay attention during the services. She told her husband, “It’s just not the way I connect with God.”

The woman was an avid gardener. She loved flowers, vegetable plants, and trees. Even during the winter months, she was always growing things. She paid special attention, making sure her plants got the light they needed.

The man loved to read devotional books. He was involved in a men’s fellowship group at church and regularly listened to Fr. Jim’s Bible Study podcast. The woman liked to go to garden club meetings.

One day, the man said, “I really think you need to pay more attention to your faith life. It seems to be slipping away. Why don’t you care more about God than you do your garden?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe it’s because I can’t see or hear God, but I can see my plants grow. I can hear their leaves rustle in the wind. I can smell their freshness. I feel alive when I am in the garden.”

“Well, you are never more alive than when you receive the Eucharist,” said the man. “It is the summit of our Catholic experience. You actually become one with God.”

“And what’s that like for you?” asked the woman.

He said, “I love the idea of God coming into me in a real way. God isn’t just an idea. The Eucharist is a tangible expression of God’s love for me. I become one with Jesus.”

She asked, “Does Jesus talk to you? What do you hear when you have received communion?”

“I don’t hear words,” he said. “It is a bit different each time I receive, but usually what I experience is a sense of peace. I find myself wanting to share that peace with others, to try to make the world a more peaceful place.”

“That’s beautiful,” she said. “It is not what I usually experience, although sometimes I do. Usually, I get distracted. I find myself worrying about all the things that need to get done.”

He paused before he spoke, and then said, “Do you get that sense of peace somewhere else? Do you feel like God speaks to you at another time rather than in church?”

“When I am in the garden, perhaps God is always talking to me—about how things grow so gradually, but then burst to life in a single week. I see colors forming, bees pollinating, and seeds sprouting. It is the place I have no distractions, no worries. It’s just me and I guess God in the garden. That is where I find my peace.”

Is it OK to experience God more in nature than in church? Should this woman do less gardening and more church going? These questions get to the crux of our scripture for today.

“Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.” We don’t get to pick where God speaks to us. For some it is in church. For some it’s not. I’m not saying don’t go to church. Please do. Participate in all the sacraments by all means.

The important thing is that you listen to God’s voice in your life. This lent, open yourself to God. Find the places where it is easiest for you to listen, to pray, to be with God.

Where is the place that is easiest for you to listen to God?

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The Greatest of These is Love - More Seeds of Hope for Lent | Matthew 5:9

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600

From Matthew 5:19
“…whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

Even when we don’t know the names of people in our neighborhood, we often get a sense for people that we see as we drive by their houses, or as we walk our dogs down the sidewalk, or when we haul our trash out to the street. And this guy clearly stood out.

He stood out because he didn’t look like he belonged in this neighborhood of computer programmers, medical professionals, and project managers.

On one fall day, he was out raking the leaves in his yard. He wanted his yard to look nice, because he liked it that way, and because he wanted it to look nice for the people who walked by. He said hello to anyone who looked his way and took time from his raking to chat with anyone who wanted to talk.

One of the neighbors did want to chat. She explained that the couple from the house just down the street was splitting up, probably getting a divorce, and their house was being foreclosed. She had heard that all of their possessions were going to be auctioned off. She said, “I can’t wait to get that Tiffany lamp that they keep in their front hallway!”

“I’m sorry to hear this,” said the man.

“It’s no surprise,” she said. “They were terrible at managing money. They ate out every night and bought those fancy cars. I heard that he had a wandering eye. I guess his wife wasn’t good enough for him. I’ll tell you, though, I wouldn’t mind spending some quality time with that man. They don’t make ‘em any better looking than him.”

Silently he said a prayer for the couple. He had noticed in recent months that they had seemed unhappy. He had talked with the woman recently, and it looked like she was about to cry while they talked. Now he knew why.

When the raking was done, and he had cleaned up, the man pulled out some extra chicken from his freezer. He peeled potatoes. He mixed a salad. When he was done cooking, he divided up the meal and put the largest portions in some disposable containers.

The woman opened the door, looked surprised, but said, “Hi, can I help you?”

“No,” said the man, “but I had some extra dinner that I made tonight. I do that, occasionally. It reminds me how I used to cook for my wife and the kids, you know, before they grew and went out on their own, and before she got sick, and passed. God, I miss her. And so occasionally I cook like she is still here, but it’s more than I can eat. I was wondering if you and your husband might enjoy a home cooked meal tonight.”

The woman nodded her head, yes, and reached out and took the bag with the food in it. Her eyes were misty as she thanked him, and closed the door.

Before the man walked away, she heard the woman say, “That was the old guy who lives around the corner. He made us dinner tonight.”

How are you doing this Lent? Are you following the commandments? Are you striving to be one of the greatest? Do you even know all 10 of the commandments, or can you name the Beatitudes? This isn’t something to fret about.

Jesus made it simple for us. He said it is all about loving God, and just like loving God is loving your neighbor.

All of us have difficulties, and it’s easy to spend our time worrying about ourselves and concerned only with our needs.

While we do well to pay attention to our needs, we also do well to pay attention to the needs of our neighbors. God wants us to care for others. Go ahead and love God, love your neighbor; and you, too, will be counted among the greatest.

Which commandment do I need to pay closest attention to on this day?

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How Often Must I Forgive? - More Seeds of Hope | Matthew 18:21-22 #lent

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is How Often Must I Forgive?

From the Gospel of Matthew chapter 18, verses 21 and 22
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

A woman opened up her journal, turned to the page where she was keeping her list, and she put in her latest entry.

She wrote, “It’s past 10 p.m. and he is blaring the music again.”

Pushing her black hair out of her eyes, she closed her journal and went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. She was aggravated. She hated her neighbor. That’s why she was keeping a list of all the things he did wrong.

On the day they met, he had called her “sister.” He was clearly not her brother, and she took offense, although she half-heartedly smiled at him. Later that night, when he was out of his apartment and his dog was barking, she decided she did not like this “brother” who lived next door.

Later, after he had left his stinking garbage bag next to his front door, which was only 10’ from her door, she started keeping a list of reasons she disliked him so much.

As the months went by, the pages in her journal filled up—the smelly fish he liked to cook, jump roping in his room that made her glasses rattle, late-night parties with drunk people laughing while she tried to sleep.

At this point she was looking for a new apartment to get away from this “brother” once and for all. She couldn’t find anything suitable so she was stuck living next door to the most inconsiderate imbecile on planet earth.

She noticed that even when he wasn’t doing something annoying, she was still upset. She felt aggravated at work, and he was nowhere near.

He left for the weekend. “Finally, some peace,” she thought to herself, but she couldn’t relax. She spent her time thinking about how offensive he was and how terrible he had made her life.

She started plotting ways she could get even with him. Although she never acted on her plans, she thought about nailing his door shut, leaving her garbage in his doorway, blasting music when she knew he was asleep. These thoughts were the only joy she had.

Such a sad story, but Jesus has a simple answer. Forgive.

In reality, of course, this is not simple. There is a lot going on in this story that needs to be addressed. Forgiveness doesn’t mean there are no consequences to actions. Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we become a doormat, or tolerate injustice.

Chances are good that you are experiencing someone who is irritating to you, or has wronged you in some way. It’s natural to want to get even. However, the time spent hating someone, or plotting revenge, isn’t healthy. The world might tell you that it will make you happy, but it won’t. The joy of revenge is false.

In AA circles it is often said, “Resentment is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person dies.”

When Jesus tells us to forgive not seven times, but seventy-seven times, he is revealing one of the basic truths of a life lived to the fullest. Always forgive. Do not let your heart be burdened. This is for our good, as well as the person being forgiven.

We all know it is not easy, but when it does occur, is it not a gift to ourselves more than the person being forgiven? Letting go of anger, resentment, rage, irritation and other troubling emotions is indeed a gift.

Ask Jesus how to do it in your situation. You don’t need a calculator to know if you should forgive yet again. Forgiveness is always the number one choice.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

Who do I need to forgive?

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Filled with Fury - More Seeds of Hope | Luke 4:28 #lent

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0600

From the Gospel of Luke chapter 4, verse 28
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury.

A family had a small reunion. The parents were thrilled to have their daughter and son back at home. Both of the children were grown at this point. They didn’t yet have families of their own, but they had launched their careers. The son has a significant other who was not at the gathering. The daughter wasn’t in a romantic relationship.

At first, everyone was delighted to see each other. They had a drink and helped cook the dinner together. The food was delicious. Then a cloud of contempt seemed to descend upon the grown children.

“Oh, my sweet sister, I guess I can’t do anything up to your standards,” said the young man.

“That’s what I am talking about,” said the sister. “You think everything I say is a criticism. I’m just saying that there are other jobs out there. If you’re not happy with where you are at, you should leave. That’s what I did and look at how happy I have been since then.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re miserable. You work 50 plus hours every week. You don’t have time to date. You’re always exhausted.”

“I am not. I’m happy. I like to work hard. I’m building a career.”

“So that’s what you’re doing?” said the boy. “You’re building a career. I guess it has nothing to do with avoiding a serious relationship, nothing to do with being scared to interact with other people, nothing to do with being a loner.”

“I get it,” she said. “You have it all figured out. You have a serious relationship—who you are afraid to bring to dinner! You’re pathetic. You have a job you hate and you can’t even bring your ‘special someone’ to dinner.”

The father pounded his fist on the table and said, “OK, this is going to stop right now.”

“Let’s not lose our tempers,” said the mother.

The boy said, “Dinner is over. It’s time for me to go.” He threw his napkin on his plate and left the house.

The daughter soon followed.

It is hard to get along as siblings, as extended family, and as community. We know each other so well that it is easy to get upset. We have an investment in people being the way we think they have always been. To some extent, we want people to conform to our image of who they are.

In today’s scripture selection, the people are filled with fury at Jesus. Just a moment ago, they were admiring him. Now they are upset with him. They ask themselves, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son? Where does he get off thinking he is better than us?”

In fact, they push him to the edge of the hill and are ready to throw him off, but Jesus walks through the crowd and leaves unharmed.

So let’s learn the lesson of Jesus from this story. He doesn’t start yelling, or pushing people. He is not filled with furry and rage. He even lets the people take him to a place where they might kill him. In short, he doesn’t engage in fighting back, although he does speak his truth.

Not engaging in anger is the first lesson.

Perhaps there is another lesson. How is it that he walks away through the crowd when they are ready to kill him. It has been suggested, and this is just one person’s prayer experience, that at the moment they were about to kill him, Jesus looked in the eyes of the person closest to him, and silently said, “I forgive you.”

Our second lesson is more important than the first. Be forgiving. It’s not about saying the words. It is about what goes on in your heart. Continue to work on it this lent.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What fury do I struggle with?

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I AM - More Seeds of Hope | Exodus 3:13-14 #lent

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is I AM.

From the Book of Exodus chapter 3, verses 13 and 14
Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.”

A young couple had a baby girl, and within a year, she was walking and talking. One of the first words she learned was “sure.”

“Would you like something to eat?” her parents would ask her.

“Sure,” she would reply. Almost anyone who heard her fell instantly in love with this child. She had long, curly blond hair—the kind of curls some people dream of! And her personality was filled with excitement and wonder.

She quickly learned the words, “please” and “thank you,” and she regularly used them. When she would see her aunts and uncles and grandparents, or when her parents would come home after work, she would run to them with a huge smile and get scooped up for a hug.

By age three she was correctly using words like “peculiar” and sentences like, “Oh, we are content with having root beer popsicles.”

Her baby brother arrived that year. He was not quite as quick to walk, nor was he near as quick to talk. This is a real couple. It’s not a fictional story. The parents have given me permission to tell it. As the little boy moves toward his second birthday, he says very few words.

Occasionally his parents hear him say, “Mamma” or “Dada.” Every once in a while it sounds like he is saying a sentence, but it is hard to tell exactly what he is saying. Mostly what he does is grunt. “Ahh” or “uhh” and other such utterances.

He clearly understands things like, “Do you want an apple?” and “Put that pot back in the cupboard.”

Lately, though, the little boy has been saying, “I am.”

It is not always clear when he says it, but his mother loves to hear him say it. She thinks it is a beautiful place for him to begin his speech. “I am.”

She explained that he uses it, she believes, to convey “I am hungry” or “I am tired” or “I am ready to go outside.” What he says, though, is “I am.”

We use this phrase “I am” a lot in life. For instance, “I am a priest. I am a Jesuit. I am a man. I am a storyteller. I am a good listener. I am a friend.”

The first child in this story, we describe as a quick learner, enthusiastic, beautiful, polite. We can also use descriptions for the second child. Sometimes a parent’s fears and reality suggest the boy is “slow” or “delayed” or “deficient.” As we continue in life, these descriptions can become titles, and we start to think our titles and descriptions are who we really are.

I am a doctor. I am a lawyer. I am a football star. I am a mayor. I am a scientist. I am a garbage collector. I am a Nobel Prize winner. I am a convict. I am a wife. I am a husband. I am divorced. I am happy. I am sad.
At our core, we are not any of these labels. Learn the lesson that this not-yet two-year-old boy is teaching us. Before the labels society puts on us, we are part of the great I AM.

It is a lesson worth remembering. Moses was at the burning bush when God told him that I AM was the one sending him. Moses didn’t get the Israelites out of Egypt alone. God was always with him. This Lent, take some time to slow down and ponder that.

Underneath all the words and titles and descriptions is the core of who we are—the God spirit that dwells in each of us. Spend some time with the great I AM in you.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

How do I experience the I AM in me?

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The Correct Answer - More Seeds of Hope | Genesis 37:4 #lent

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is The Correct Answer.

From the Book of Genesis chapter 37:4
When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him.

Fifth grade can be a wonderful year of school for many children, but it wasn’t for Roberta. She was a new kid at her school and didn’t yet have friends.

When the teacher asked, “What city is the capital of New Mexico?”
A hand shot up from the girl sitting next to Roberta. She answered, “Albuquerque.”

“No,” said their teacher. “Who knows the correct answer?”

Slowly Roberta raised her hand. It was the only hand to go up. “Santa Fe,” she said timidly.

“That is correct,” the teacher said. “What a smart young lady you are.”

Roberta smiled and the teacher smiled back. The whole class seemed to notice, but especially Cyndi, the girl who had answered incorrectly.

It was true; Roberta was a smart young lady. Time after time, she was the one who knew the right answer when the teacher asked a question. She was often first to finish her math worksheets.

When the teacher designated Roberta to be the class helper to pass out papers, her fate was sealed. Cyndi and the other girls refused to have lunch with Roberta or to let her play with them at recess. One frigid winter’s day, they locked Roberta out of school as the class came in from recess. Cyndi told Roberta to go get the ball that was left on the playground, and when she came back with the ball, the door was locked.

Roberta had to trudge through the snow on the long walk around the school to get to the front door and be let inside. While she was out, the girls laughed and Cyndi said, “I hope she freezes.”

Later that year, Roberta led the girls as they defeated the boys in a spelling bee contest. The prize was a pizza, and the girls fixed Roberta’s plate with the smallest piece of pizza.

When the year finished, Roberta still had no friends. Cyndi made sure of that.

What’s a lesson you learned in grade school that can help you today?

You may well remember situations like this from your grade-school experiences. Who’s in the in-group and who’s not? Who’s the teacher’s pet? Ruthless kids who exclude the people they don’t like?

Aren’t we glad we have grown out of that? Except, of course, many of us haven’t. Jealousy, envy, pettiness, distrust, revenge—sometimes we have days where this is all we think about.

We find ourselves not liking people and everything they do bothers us. It’s not our fault. Those people are rude, or self-serving, or deceitful, or always have to have the spotlight shining on them.

In actuality, those people may be all those things, or they may not. It is not our job to fix them. Our job is to work with God to be the best person we can be. Our job this Lent is to draw closer to God.

God invites us to focus our attention on ourself, so that when we do reach out to others, it is not to place blame or ridicule; it’s to be kind, caring, and forgiving. That’s always the correct answer.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What's a lesson you learned in grade school that can help you today?

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Into the Oven - More Seeds of Hope | Daniel 3:19-20

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is Into the Oven.

From the Book of Daniel 3:19-20
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.

The man knew he hadn’t hit his goals for the year. He had discussed this with his boss, who was behind him 100 percent. They were taking a long-term approach as they tried to woo some of the top clients from the industry.

It seemed like a solid plan, and they were making progress, but last month when the quarterly numbers were reported to the central office, his boss got fired.

Late last night, he received a text to report to his new manager first thing in the morning. He was watching TV with his wife when he read the text. “I’m about to be fired,” he said to her.

“You’re kidding? They just sent that to you in a text?”

“No,” he said. “I’ve been told to report to my new manager first thing in the morning. I’m pretty sure that can only mean one thing. They will let me go as soon as I arrive.”

She said, “Let’s pray about this.”

They held hands and closed their eyes. He prayed, “Lord, help us to get through this and to trust that you will walk with us in this period of uncertainty.”

Going up in the elevator in the morning, he was surprisingly calm. When he sat down in his manager’s office, she smiled at him. “I’m sorry to have to do this, but we have to let you go. We appreciate your work over the last seven years.”

A security guard stepped into the office. “Officer Maxwell will accompany you while you empty your desk and leave the building. There are boxes in the storage closet if you need them.”

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The Greatest Principal

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is The Greatest Principal.

From the Gospel of Matthew chapter 20:26
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.

Two principals in the same school district wanted to be great, to be well thought-of, to be respected, and liked, to be leaders in their school and in the district.

One of them signed her picture which was displayed in the front office. She wore exceptionally stylish clothes. This principal had an expensive car and a special parking spot with a sign that read: RESERVED FOR PRINCIPAL. She demanded that her teachers perform to the highest standards. When guest speakers came to the school, the principal always introduced them to the students and talked at length before handing the microphone over to the featured speaker.

The other principal had her picture displayed in the office as well, and next to it she placed a picture featuring the student of the week. Her clothes were modest, as was her car. She didn’t have a special spot reserved for her to park. She monitored the performance of her teachers closely and would often invite them into her office to support them when they were having unusual challenges. Whether guests came to the school or not, this principal was insistent that the school be clean and tidy. When she saw the janitor was having a particularly busy day, she would grab a broom or mop and help out with the cleaning.

The first principal would ask the students, “Who’s your favorite principal?” She loved to hear them say, “You are!”

The other principal would say to every student she saw, “You’re one of my favorite students and don’t forget it!”

When a child had a behavioral issue, the first principal often told the child, “I don’t have time for this nonsense. Shape up or ship out.”

The other principal was more sympathetic. She would ask the kids to tell her what happened. She would connect with them and not shame them, and when she saw that they were ready to listen, she would explain the consequences of their actions.

The district had a contest for the greatest principal. Every family in the district got a vote. The first principal reminded the students for a full week to make sure their parents placed a vote for her. She sent home a special flyer to help her win the contest.

The second principal never mentioned the contest to her students or parents or faculty. She told her secretary, “It’s a silly contest. Let’s not spend effort on it.”

When the votes were tabulated, the first principal won by a landslide. She put her first-place ribbon on her autographed photo. She was very proud.
As the years rolled by, students would occasionally come back to the first school and say hi to their principal.

But at the second school, on a regular basis, students would reach out and thank their principal for being so wonderful. That principal remained at the school for 38 years. High schoolers, college students, and some parents would all return to school to say hi to the greatest administrator they had ever known.

We can all see the basic difference between these two principals. All of us have a bit of both sides in us—the proud, and the humble. If we want to be a leader, Jesus invites us into servant leadership.

Tap into that place inside of yourself that wants to see others succeed. Find ways to help others. Authentically model what you want others to do. Follow Jesus’ example, and you, too, can get your picture up on the office wall as student of the month.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What is one way that you can joyfully serve others?

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A Quick Bike Ride - More Seeds of Hope | Isaiah 1:16-17

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0600

Isaiah 1:16-17
Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.

When I was 14, my family took a trip to Europe. On the day we were to leave, all five kids and our parents were doing our final packing. The youngest two in our family, Tom and Steve, were five and seven years old and dressed in matching striped shirts and shorts.

Little Tom had his own suitcase and was carrying it all around the house and getting in the way of everyone else. So, my Dad told him to go for a quick bike ride and use up some of his energy.

Tom rode his red sting ray bike over to the new park which was two blocks from our house. An Olympic-sized swimming pool was being built. My little brother rode up to the temporary fence around the construction site, got off his bike, and noticed a hole in the fence. Even though he had been told to stay out, he wiggled his way through the fence, and climbed down a ladder into the pool, which at this point was only a hole in the ground. It had been raining throughout the week and so the whole site was covered in mud and deep puddles of water.

My five-year-old brother was careful to walk on the large boards which the workers used to keep out of the mud.

But…he slipped and one of his feet ended up in the mud. When he pulled his foot out, one of his new shoes was missing. Now Tom was an exceptionally smart five-year-old, and he knew he couldn’t go home without that shoe. He laid down on the board and reached his hand into the mud to fetch his shoe.

It was then that he slipped off the board and toppled into the mud. He never did find that shoe. When he arrived home, pedaling his bike as fast as he could, the whole family was waiting for him in the driveway.

My father was so upset he couldn’t talk. My mother shouted, “What have you done?”

“I lost my shoe,” Tom said. “I was checking out the new pool, and I slipped into the mud.”

My parents did a knowing glance at each other. They seemed to be alarmed. Then my mom went and washed Tom off with the garden hose, got him clean clothes, and we made it to the airport without further trouble.

We can feel uncomfortable when we hear the words of the prophet Isaiah today, “Wash yourself clean, put away your misdeeds from before my eyes, cease doing evil, learn to do good.”

For a moment, I invite you to think of it in terms of what happened to Tom. He clearly needed to be washed, and just as clearly, he had been told to stay out of the construction area and he hadn’t listened. He had broken the rules. So, he was in trouble.

And you can be darn sure my parents wanted him to cease this behavior.
But there is something else more important here. It came in the knowing glance that my parents exchanged when they found out what their five-year-old son had done. You see, they realized he could have easily died in that pool which was a quagmire of mud. He might have slipped off that board and never climbed back on.

When you do something you know you shouldn’t do, you may worry that God sees you and is mad at you, angry with you, disappointed in you.

What most of us don’t remember is that God always loves us, like my parents loved their youngest child who was covered in mud. The mud makes almost no difference to them compared to losing their child.

So don’t worry about your new shoe stuck in the mud. Save your life and climb the ladder out of the pool.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What is a time you were upset with someone you love for doing something unsafe?

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First Prize - More Seeds of Hope | Luke 6:37 #lent ~ Stop judging, even yourself.

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is First Prize.

Luke 6:37
Jesus said to his disciples…Stop Judging and you will not be judged.

There was a 19-year-old woman who entered her pumpkin pie in the county fair pie contest. She won first prize. It was only her first attempt at competing. She was thrilled. Congratulations came pouring in. Everyone had something good to say about her and her delicious pie.

She won the next year as well, and the year after that. As the years continued, she didn’t always win. Some years she didn’t even place in the top three.

Although her pies were delicious, she became bitter and hyper-critical. She could no longer enjoy her own cooking. She found fault with every pie she made. In fact, no one could make a pie good enough for her. The crust was too hard, the filling too sweet, not enough cinnamon, slightly over cooked…the list of possible criticisms became seemingly endless.

It wasn’t just about pies. The salad didn’t have enough carrots. The meat wasn’t basted sufficiently. The soup was salty.

Like a virus it spread from the kitchen to the whole house—the lumpy couch, the fading paint—and onto everyone she came in contact with—her husband’s jokes, her colleagues lack of punctuality.

And finally, her harsh judgement turned upon herself. She noticed her teeth were yellowing. Her hair was graying. Her clothes never fit right.

Do you know someone like this? Do you recognize yourself in this story? Do you have some advice for this person?

Jesus offers advice for all of us. Stop judging. Scripture tells us no one is perfectly good but God. We all have faults. Let go of the judgements and you won’t be judged. Stop looking for perfection and just try to do well.

The lady in our story did just that. She heard the message in church one day. That night at supper when she realized the corn on the cob was not as sweet as she liked, she let go of her dislike and accepted the corn in her hand for what it was—pretty good, but not perfect. It was still fairly sweet, had a pleasing color, and had just the right crunch.

About a month later while looking in the mirror, she decided she liked her hair with gray in it. She was of that age when gray hair enters one’s life. There was nothing to be ashamed of. She even felt a sense of confidence as she looked at herself.

It was only a week later that she laughed at one of her husband’s bad jokes. She thanked God that she married a man with a sense of humor.
She never entered the pie contest again, but she loved to go to the fair and enjoy any piece of pie she could get to taste.

Stopping our judgements isn’t just about getting into heaven after our death. When we are able to stop judging, we are kinder to ourself and others. It makes life on earth as it is in heaven.

Give it a try this Lenten season. Give up judging. It’s not easy, and if you stumble while attempting it, be kind to yourself. God will give you another try. God will help guide you to improve, but remember, there is no perfection. Nobody permanently takes first prize, but everybody gets a slice to enjoy.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What judgment have you made that is hurting your relationship with others or yourself?

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Love the One You're With - More Seeds of Hope | Luke 9:35 Howard Storm's story

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Luke 9:35
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”

Howard Storm died and lived to tell about it. Storm, the chair of the art department at Northern Kentucky University was on a trip in 1985 to view artwork in Paris when he had a medical emergency. He was rushed to the hospital with a perforation in his stomach. He and his wife were told that his life expectancy was two hours unless the hospital could find a doctor to operate on him.

It was 10 hours before the operation took place. In the meantime, Storm experienced death, and yet survived. He described his experience in a book, My Descent into Death, and a series of interviews available on Youtube. His near-death experience started when he woke up in the hospital room and felt better than ever, but he saw himself lying on the bed and his wife crying. He couldn’t communicate with her.

People called to him, and he got up and went to them in the hallway. They led him down a gray hall which little by little became totally dark. When he refused to go further, they began to pull him, punch him, and eventually rip at his skin. Storm says that he was entering hell and he didn’t know what to do. Lying on the floor he felt he would be there forever, and although he was an atheist, a song verse from his youth came into his mind. He said out loud, “Jesus loves me.” When he said those words, he saw the people tormenting him back off.

This adamant atheist was confused. As a child he believed in Jesus, and felt a deep love for his savior, but as an adult he had denounced that belief. In that moment, he felt an overpowering yearning to feel the love for Christ he had experienced as a child. He said, “Jesus, please save me.”

“And with that, a tiny light appeared in the darkness and it got very bright, a white light brighter than the sun and it was overwhelming because it was so bright. I wasn’t afraid, but I didn’t know if it was going to consume me. It was so bright. But instead, it was wonderful—filled with love. So, it wasn’t really light but a radiance, and out of it emerged hands and arms and he reached down and touched me.”

Held in Jesus’ arms, he became aware that they were traveling upward and eventually came to see what he described as “trillions of beings of light. God was there.” Storm called it, “God’s House.”

Jesus remained with him, and angels, beings of light, showed him scenes of his life. There was nothing about his honors or successes. “What they were showing was how I interacted with other people.” He saw how much he hurt his mother, and how he rejected attempts by his father to reconcile their differences.

Storm said he didn’t want to see any more. Jesus said to him, “You really need to see it. You need to understand.”

It became time for Storm to return to his life. Jesus instructed him “to love the person he was with.” Storm said to Jesus that he would build him a shrine to honor him. Jesus responded, “I don’t want you to do that. I don’t need a shrine. I just want you to love the person you’re with.”

He asked, “What good will that do?” “It will change the world,” Jesus said.

Storm awoke in pain but to the good news that the doctor had arrived and the operation was about to happen. He lived, and the atheist art professor decided to go to divinity school. After that, he became a pastor at St. Mark’s United Church of Christ in Northern Kentucky.

Storm listened to what Jesus said to him. Few of us will have an experience as vivid as his, yet each of us has a chance to answer as clearly as he did.

What feeling does Jesus give you in this very moment?

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In the Church Parking Lot - More Seeds of Hope | Matthew 5:23-24 #lent

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is In the Church Parking Lot.

Matthew 5:23-24
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

It started out as such a good day. As the sunlight streamed through the window, the man quietly got out of bed as to not disturb his wife. It was Sunday, his favorite day of the week.

As was his custom on Sundays, he put on his running shorts, socks, shoes and shirt. He did a few stretches. Then off he went on a five-mile run. The birds were singing, the sky was blue, and he felt at peace.

When he got back home, his wife was still sleeping. After showering and putting on his church clothes, he kissed his wife on the cheek to wake her up. This was the only day of the week she got to sleep in. She smiled at him and dragged herself out of bed. He went to the kitchen and began to read the news on his computer.

When it was just about time to go to church, he called to his wife and asked, “Honey are you ready?”

“Almost,” she responded.

He waited a couple more minutes, and then impatiently said, “It’s time to go.”

“Just give me a minute. I’m brushing my hair.”

After another minute he knocked on the bathroom. “We’ve got to leave!”

“I’m going to the bathroom. For heaven’s sake, just give me minute.”

The ride over to church was rather chilly even though it was a warm day. He said, “I don’t know why every time we go to church you have to make us late.”

“We’ll be fine, and watch your speed you’re driving too fast.”

A traffic light turned yellow, and he accelerated through the intersection. “My God, why are driving so fast?”

“Because you’ve made us late. You always do this, and you don’t seem to care.”

They arrived at church not talking to each other. When they went in, they acted as if nothing had happened, but inside they were full of anger with each other.

And how about you? Or me? Do we go into church so upset we aren’t talking? Things happen and we get upset. No doubt God understands that. It is good to bring our problems to God. It’s not good to pretend everything is fine.

When we know what to do, it is best to take care of it. Do you know what this couple would have benefitted from before they went into church? What works for you? Perhaps all it takes is to reach out and take your spouse’s hand. I have heard experienced couples say that “you can’t fight while your holding hands.”

Maybe what works for you is taking a few breaths to try to let the disagreement pass. A brief heartfelt apology can do wonders. Some couples like to call for a “do over” where they get a second chance at getting along.

Reconciling our differences is not a small thing, and it’s not a one-time event. Furthermore, it’s not something just for spouses. That’s why I know about it. The whole family gets in on this one.

And the lessons also apply to those who are in religious orders. We have to reconcile our differences about who was supposed to clean the kitchen, why is the TV up so loud, and who likes conversation in the morning and who doesn’t.

It could be a small thing you need to reconcile. It could be a large thing. Only you and God know for sure.

Stop and look at your life this lenten season. Ask yourself, “What do you need to reconcile?” And get a move on it. We don’t want to be late for church.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What reconciliation are you longing or dreading to make?

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Shut the Window - More Seeds of Hope | Luke 11:29

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is Shut the Window.

Luke 11:29
While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.”

Listen to today's story seed. A person learned something important about why they were always cold in the house. It came as an insight as the person wondered what was the problem. It was like a voice of remembering something long forgotten.

The voice said, “It’s winter, and your attic window is open. You must close it or the cold wind will continue to make you sick. Plus, not only is your window open, but look around; all the people in this town leave their attic window open. It makes sense in the summer, but not now. You must close your window and tell all your neighbors to do the same.”

The person said, “I can’t do that; my neighbors would think I was meddling in their business, peeping through their windows.”

But the voice persisted, and eventually that person closed the attic window and spread the word that others should do the same, and everyone found comfort and warmth from those words.

Yet many years later the attic windows were all open again during the winter. This time, the home builder himself relayed to them that the windows were not meant to remain open during the cold months of winter. Yet the people would not listen.

“You want to talk about my house, my windows. Really? I don’t think so. I’m not cold. We keep our heat on constantly. We don’t feel any draft.”

And so it is today. Some people listen. Some people don’t. We want to be open to God’s message. Perhaps that is why we open the window, but there are times to shut the window, to savor the graces that have been given to us, to be warmed by the Holy Spirit.

We can’t stay stuck in one position throughout our whole life, we must follow the seasons of God’s love in our house.

We can learn from the past so that we may be closer to God in the future, and more importantly, closer to God in this very moment. There may be something as simple as closing a window that you need to address.

Maybe you need to stop visiting a certain website, or perhaps put your credit card in a drawer, or lock your liquor cabinet. Some of us need to join a support group, make a phone call we’ve been postponing, or follow through on a promise we’ve made.

God will help you. Go ahead and shut the window.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What small way are you being called today to change your life?

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God Knows But You May Not - More Seeds of Hope | Matthew 6:8

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is God Knows But You May Not.

Matthew 6:8
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

There is more than one way to pray. Jesus taught us the Our Father, but it isn’t the only way to pray effectively.

There was a proud man who was very religious. He said a rosary each day. He never cheated or lied. He paid his taxes, raised his family, loved his wife, and yet, deep down, he was miserable.

He thought he needed more prayer so he said two rosaries each day. Of course, he increased the speed at which he prayed, but still he felt he was being sacrificial and his pride increased. His tolerance for others decreased. He had a short fuse and easily became angry. He alienated his children who no longer wanted to be around him.

His wife suggested that he might pray to God about his challenges. He responded, “God already knows what I need. To prove my faithfulness, I say two rosaries a day! What more could God want?”

“I am not sure,” his wife said. “Why don’t you ask God?”

The man dismissed this suggestion, but later he felt that he should listen to his wife. He knelt down, did the sign of the cross, and leaning on his bed, he began, “Lord, what do you want from me? How can I help you?”

The response was immediate. It came as a thought surfacing in his mind, “Tell me about your life. Tell me how I can help you. Spend time with me.”
Jesus doesn’t want us to babble on, using lots of superficial words in our prayer. But I hope you agree that Jesus encourages us to open ourselves fully to God, to share the intimate details of our life with our Lord.

Often times when we talk about ourselves and our lives, we recognize things that we had not yet understood about our own lives. Insight come to us as we share.

Try telling God today what’s on your mind, your concerns, hopes, fears. God wants to hear. When we pray about what matters most in our lives, clarity comes to us. We get to know ourselves better.

And as it turned out in our story, the man began to get along better with his kids, and neighbors. And his wife never even had to say, “I told so.”
No one knows us better than God, not even ourselves. Come, pray, and find out what God already knows.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What do you want to share with God today?

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The Child is Lost - More Seeds of Hope | Matthew 25:35

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0600

Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave me food,I was thirsty and you gave me drink…

Listen to this story seed. The Queen lost track of her child. The palace staff could not find the little one. No one was quite sure how it happened, but the girl was clearly missing and could not be found in the castle. The child was but 3 years old and had wandered off. Despite her royal upbringing, the child was not yet able to speak.

The daughter had no fear. She delightfully crawled through the mud of a stream bank near the castle, and rolled down a grassy hillside. She no longer looked like royalty.

Hungry and tired, the girl toddled into a poor village. Making her way down the street, a wagon driver shouted at her to get out of the road. This upset her. She saw people eating and went over to them. She motioned that she was hungry, but the adults at the table told her to go home and get her own food. She began to cry.

Others saw this vulnerable child and took her hand to comfort her. They fed her, gave her something to drink, and cleaned her up. They noticed that her mud-stained clothes were actually fine garments. When they heard the news that the Queen’s daughter was missing, they brought her to the castle.

The Queen was overjoyed. She said, “Whatever you have done for my little one, you have done for me.”

The people who had helped the child responded, “My queen, we would have done this for any child.”

It is easy to imagine that those people would be greatly rewarded by the Queen.

When we think a bit more about the story, we begin to understand that the people received another, more immediate reward as well. It is what happens to us when we help others.

Imagine what they felt inside when they saw this distressed girl stop crying, calm down, and begin to eat. The feeling from coaxing a child from tears to laughter should not be underestimated. We feel blessed and alive when we get to help people.

During this Lenten season, we are all surrounded by people who are lost, or in need of comfort, or hungry for something positive, or imprisoned by their circumstances.

When we help others, we don’t have to wait until God says, “Good job. You have done this for me.” The reward for helping others is today. Do something kind and notice how you feel afterwards.

Bless your day by helping someone else. You won’t need to look far. Opportunities to help arrive at your doorstep.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What can you do today to bring love more fully into the world?

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Milky Way & Honey - More Seeds of Hope Deuteronomy 26:8-9

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0600

Today's story seed has an estimated 300 million reasons to pay attention.

Deuteronomy 26:8-9
He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.

Many call the United States of America the greatest nation on Earth, but one doesn’t have to look far to see people suffering, and most likely that includes you.

We all have hardship and pain. We struggle to repair broken relationships. Our health, or that of a loved one, may be slipping away. Unemployment can strike without warning. Some of us wake up every day in grief or despair.
Is God big enough to help each of us? Keep in mind there are more than 7 billion people on our planet. How could God possibly keep up with everyone? It’s a good question to ask during Lent. For just a moment, let’s consider news that recently came from top NASA scientists.

The Kepler spacecraft was sent deep into the Milk Way to chart and calculate how many stars are in our galaxy, and how many of those stars have planets that are similar to earth in size and orbital distance from their sun.

After a decade of research, the answer is—you guessed it—300 million! That’s right, in our galaxy alone, some of the smartest people in the world estimate there are 300 million earth-like planets.

As we look into the sky from our cities and towns, it is hard to see what is shining in the skies above us. Our Milky Way galaxy has perhaps 100 billion stars in it. And there are estimates that there are some 200 billion galaxies in the universe.

We cannot fathom the depth and breadth of the possibilities God contains, but yes, if God created the cosmos, God can keep track of each of us.
Every star shines through the night, and every one of us is part of this beautiful universe. God urges us to shine brighter, to get along with the billions of other people on our planet, and find our place in the land of milk and honey that we call the Milky Way.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What are the big dreams that God has put in your heart?

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Ice Cream Alms - More Seeds of Hope | Isaiah 58:6-7

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is Ice Cream Alms.

From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 58:6-7
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly…Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.

Listen to this story seed. From the starting moment he was elected, Pope Francis has kept the poor and vulnerable on his mind. He modeled for the world that he didn’t need a driver and a special car, that he would be happy to take the bus and to carry his own bags. These were acts of solidarity with the poor.

In recent years, he has turned to the Our Father prayer to convey a simple but often overlooked message. When we pray “give us this day our daily bread” the Pope says we must remember that the bread we ask for is not mine but ours.

The Pope teaches us that the bread is not just bread, but “water, medicine, home, work…all that is necessary to live.”

And as it turns out, ice-cream, as well.

Like much of the world, Rome experienced record hot days this summer and fall. Conditions in the prisons were very difficult. The Pope and his charitable team arranged to have a special delivery to two Rome prisons. They brought 15,000 ice-creams to be distributed to the prisoners.

They were delivered in the Pope’s name by Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who is known as “the pope’s almoner.” That is the person who distributes alms to the needy.

As reported in the Vatican News, the ice-creams were part of a series of “small evangelical gestures” designed “to help and give hope to thousands of people in Rome’s prisons.”

The donations and thoughtful gestures from Pope Francis didn’t stop with ice-cream. They have given food, medical equipment, and money to needy people around the globe.

Alms giving is one of our traditions during Lent. But, notice these charitable gifts given by Pope Francis’ team did not take place during Lent. That’s because what we do in Lent is not about the 40 days before Easter. It is about changing our lives for the long run.

Ideally, we don’t reach out to the poor to fulfill simply an obligation during Lent. Reach into your heart and find what God is asking, inviting, encouraging you to do—not just during Lent, but throughout the rest of your life.

Here’s the final scoop. Share your ice cream!

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

How can you show your solidarity with the poor?

Written by Tom Sparough
Dramatized by Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ
Produced by Nathaniel Stubblefield
Copyright 2022 by Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry Inc.

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Man of the World - More Seeds of Hope

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is Man of the World.

Luke 8:24-25
“For whoever wishes to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit oneself?”

Listen to this story seed. There was a young salesman who was eager to please his boss and worked hard at his job. His sales were adequate. One day his boss told him that he could sell more product if he would put some pressure on his clients to buy more quickly.

“How do I do that?”

“You tell them,” instructed the boss, “that we are running short on product and that if they want it in the next two months, they have to order now.”
The new salesman asked, “Are we running short on product?”
“No,” said the boss, “but they don’t know that.”

“But why would I lie to them? Don’t they need to trust me?”

The boss shrugged his shoulders slightly and said, “It’s how the game is played. You have to instill a need for urgency. If you want to be a winner, you have to learn the tricks of the trade. Give it a try and see what happens.”

Using this technique, the young salesman doubled his orders. With his boss’ help, he mastered one slightly dishonest technique after another. He went on to become the manager of the company. He expertly coached his team to sell with no remorse.

He became wealthy. He was always watching the bottom line, which just kept increasing. Even though he married and had kids, money, and the things the almighty dollar could buy, were what mattered to him most. And he had everything—more than one house, more than one boat, the most stylish clothes, a wall of TV, and a manicured lawn.

Eventually he retired. He played golf almost every day. He was not one for charity or service. But he did like to travel. When he died, no one had anything particularly good or bad to say about him. One of his golfing partners said, “He was a man of the world. He traveled everywhere, drank the best scotch, but couldn’t sink a putt to save his life.”

That is what is at stake here—saving your life. The world has a way of shaping us, dictating to us what we supposedly should care about—money, prestige, pride. It is hard to buck that system. It is tempting to let go of your moral compass to embrace the glamour of the world.
There is a career opportunity for you this Lent. Come, find out what life God has in store for you. There is a requirement, though. You will have to spend time in prayer. You will have to share your life with God and listen to what God says to you.

We don’t usually hear God speak out loud to us. In prayerful moments, things stir inside us. Ideas come to mind. Your heart may begin to yearn for something new.

None of us are permanently lost here on earth. God always offers us the chance for new life, a kind of career advancement. When you compare the calm, the joy, and the perseverance that God offers with the glitz, the buzz, and the worry that the world offers, you start to see the benefits of living in the Lord.

You may find ridicule instead of honor, and pain instead of pleasure. That happens when we open ourselves to those truly in need. God leads us on a life well lived even if it may not be easy. That said, it may include the best scotch, and sinking putts, but it won’t be centered on worldly, media-driven desires, or anything dishonest.

The truth will set you free.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

What is your heart’s desire?

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The Perfect Party - More Seeds of Hope

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0600

Today’s story seed is the Perfect Party.

From the Book of Joel 2:13
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment.

Listen to this story seed. A family was about to host an annual party. They had invited all of their friends and many other acquaintances. Each member of the family truly wanted the party to be perfect.

They wanted people to see their beautiful house. They cleaned and decorated until it looked remarkable. They wanted their friends to notice the details, like the way the napkins were folded, the way the fresh-cut flowers were displayed, and how the family was providing expensive wines and top-choice meats.

Yet the preparations were filled with arguments over who was to do what chores. They refused to help each other. They begrudgingly finished the tasks to prepare for the party. Once finished, they were disgruntled as they put on their nicest clothes for the gathering.

When the guests arrived, the family smiled, but to each other they sneered. Their clean house, elaborate decorations, and expensive food and drink were not enough to change the atmosphere of the party. The guests were cordial, but didn’t stay long. Laughter was stifled. The whole affair was uneasy.

And everyone was glad when it was done.

Can you picture a party like that? Perhaps you have even experienced it. You see, this well-intentioned family, missed the most important part. It is not the appearance that matters most. It is the authentic hospitality of the people that truly matters.

Who wants to go to a party where the hosts are fighting with each other?

As we start this Lenten season, we do well to pay attention to what is most important. The scripture today tells you to “rend your hearts, not your garments.”

In other words, you have to do the work inside yourself. It is not about the things people see you do. If you make extra charitable gifts, recite more Our Fathers, and don’t eat chocolate, all those can be good things. But they make no difference if they don’t affect you from the inside, if they don’t rend your heart, if they don’t tear at your callous behavior and allow room for you to grow closer to God.

And the good news is that as you get closer to God, you find mercy, forgiveness, and love. That is the generous hospitality of our Lord who invites you into the sacred house. Most people don’t think of Lent as a party, but when you visit God’s house, you will always be welcomed with open arms. Come, and be refreshed during this annual gathering that invites us to find what matters most in life.

Join the party smiling from your inside and out.

Now let’s take 30 seconds to water the seed…

How can you let go of appearances and truly draw closer to God this Lenten season?

Written by Tom Sparough
Dramatized by Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ
Produced by Nathaniel Stubblefield
Copyright 2022 by Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry Inc.

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Mary, Mother of God & World Day of Peace - Ornaments of Grace | Luke 2:16-21

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Luke 2:16-21
The Shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger; once they saw, they understood what had been told them concerning this child. All who heard of it were astonished at the report given them by the shepherds. Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. …

Mary, of all the saints, is the most important, so it is ideal that we honor her first in the New Year. She is the Mother of Jesus and, through Him, our mother as well. Those who celebrate this feast realize the loving care Mary has for us and how powerful her intercession is for us. We know she wants to be involved in our lives every single day, and we can ask her to help us give ourselves completely to whatever God calls us to be and to do, just as she did.

Mary understood, from the beginning, the importance of not just jumping into anything we think is a call from God. She reflected, as today’s Gospel says, on all that was happening. Growing up as a faithful Jew, Mary would have been familiar with the words of the Old Testament prophesying the coming of the Messiah. So, when the Angel Gabriel came to her, she understood the Angel’s words in the context of the Old Testament. They resonated with truth. Also, Mary was unafraid to ask for specifics on how this could happen, and she listened to the Angel’s explanation. Of course, she said to let everything happen to her in accordance with God’s will. Finally, the Angel told her about her cousin Elizabeth being with child. So, Mary set off to help Elizabeth, and Elizabeth confirmed what the Angel had told Mary.

These are good lessons for us, too. Let us listen to the voice of God as He speaks in our hearts, but let us not be afraid to ask the Lord to confirm what we believe we have heard. Is what we heard in keeping with Scripture? It is important to check. Is there someone holy and truthful who can pray with us to help confirm what we think God is asking? Is it really of God? Do we feel the peace of Jesus and Mary within us as we accept our call? Do we continue to reflect on the Spirit’s actions in our lives and on how those around us are benefiting from our choices? The shepherds certainly rejoiced because of Mary’s acceptance of God’s call, and we find joy that Mary helped to bring us God’s salvation in Jesus.

Since Mary has the most successful experience in discerning and accepting the will of God, let us ask her for help. Mary treasured her child’s life from the beginning all the way to the end. She treasures, as our mother, all that happens in our lives as well; so, we would be wise to turn to her with whatever needs we have. She will nurture us along our journey; she will rejoice with us when we are happy, and she will hold us close in times of sorrow. She will never desert us.

At the Annunciation, she said, “Let it be done to me according to your will.” At Cana, she directed, “Do whatever he tells you.” She reinforced with words what she had already shown by example. She accepted her call to be our mother as Jesus was dying on the Cross and said, “Behold your mother.” As her children, we are brothers and sisters of all. Embracing our brothers and sisters everywhere is the only path to peace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you show that you are a true child of Mary by embracing a brother or sister who is different than you in some way, perhaps racially, socially, religiously, or politically?

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The Holy Family - Ornaments of Grace | Colossians 3:12-17

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

from Colossians 3:12-17
Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues, put on love which binds the rest together and makes them perfect. …

St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading that we are chosen and beloved by God, a God who does not make mistakes. Since we are chosen and loved, we are called to practice mercy, kindness, meekness, patience, and love. We cannot do this alone. We do this as part of our human family.

God, Who loves us, deigned that we would be born to an earthly mother and father. We might not know the mother who gave birth to us or the one who fathered us, but someone made sure we survived as babies and children. From that person or those persons, we learned about life from an early age. Jesus was no exception. Happily, He had two very holy people as parents: Mary and Joseph. They taught Him to pray, to read Scriptures, to do household chores and to ply a trade. Best of all, they taught Him, by example, to obey God and to find joy in doing so.

Jesus did not grow up alone; nor do we grow up alone, even if we have no living parents, no cousins or siblings. We grow as part of a community, and we can, at any age, choose to grow within a community of faith. When we embrace our brothers and sisters in a community of faith, we learn to love. As God’s children, we will find joy in learning to practice the virtues St. Paul outlines in today’s reading. If we practice these good habits, God will wrap them all together in love, making them perfect.

Jesus needed to practice how to bear with others in His community as He grew. People are sometimes unkind, cruel, thoughtless or unaware. Bearing with all kinds of people along His early journey helped Jesus endure His later journey, one filled with difficulties and sorrows. He had to be patient in teaching His followers and in facing the challenges the Pharisees and Sadducees threw at Him. He had to endure desertion by his good friends when He needed them most.

Horrific suffering followed by a death on the Cross were His lot; yet, He forgave those who put Him to death. Families today need to learn endurance as well, how to bear with one another within community; for no life is without difficulties that try faith and have the power to destroy it.

Joseph and Mary obeyed God and found joy in that obedience. Look at Joseph’s quick and unquestioning response when the angel told him to flee to Egypt. He did not groan about losing material possessions or worry about what he would do to support his family in a new land. He obeyed immediately, saving Jesus’ life.

Read Mary’s joyful song of praise in the Magnificat. She did not question God’s calling her to be the Mother of the Messiah, even though it might bring public disgrace and an uncertain future. She simply trusted, finding great joy in humble obedience.

So, while Jesus was blessed with great example from His parents, we might not be. Nevertheless, God will always supply what we need – teaching us to love. We are His beloved children, born into a holy family, the whole human family. ...

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How can you help your family prepare for difficult days ahead by obeying God joyfully?

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J. R. R. Tolkien - Ornaments of Grace | 1 John 2:12-17

Sat, 30 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

1 John 2:12-17
Little ones, I address you, for through his Name your sins have been forgiven…Have no love for the world, nor the things that the world affords. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love has no place in him, for nothing that the world affords comes from the Father. ...

While most recognized today for his highly successful works of fantasy such as The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings about a world called Arda and, within it, Middle Earth, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote about a wide variety of subjects. Born in 1892 in the South African Republic, his father was a bank manager. When Ronald (the name his family called him) was three, he went with his mother Mabel and his brother to visit family in England. Before his father could join them, he died of rheumatic fever, leaving the family without a means of support. So, his mother took Ronald and his brother Hilary to live with her parents in Birmingham. Mabel taught the boys at home, and Ronald was eager to learn. She showed them the beauty of plants and taught them basic Latin. By the time he was four, he could read, and his mother encouraged him to read all kinds of books.

Over the protests of her Baptist family, Mabel chose to enter the Catholic Church in 1900. By 1904, the family cut off all financial support for Mabel and her two boys. She labored long and hard to support her sons in a rental cottage, teaching them the Catholic faith as well as secular subjects. Sadly, Mabel died of diabetes when she was only 34 and Ronald 12. Insulin had not yet been discovered, so Mabel lived as long as any diabetic could in those days. She had given guardianship of her two boys to a Father Francis, a priest she admired greatly. He ensured they received an education and were brought up in the faith.

At just sixteen, Tolkien and Edith Mary Bratt fell in love. Both had been orphaned and both shared a great deal in common. Fr. Francis told Ronald he was too young and should cut off all communication with her until he was twenty-one. Ronald was obedient. Even though Edith was going to marry someone else by then, he contacted her on his 21st birthday. Soon afterward, Edith cut off her engagement. She became a Catholic and married Ronald. In the beginning, he had nothing to offer her except his love.

When England entered World War I, Ronald finished his degree and then served in the army. There he got trench fever and was sick with it often throughout the war. When World War II broke out, Tolkien was asked to be a code breaker. He attended school for this work but was never called to use his skill. Together Tolkien and Edith had four children. Both parents loved the children fiercely.

J.R.R. Tolkien was particularly devoted to his faith and once wrote to someone seeking the answer to our purpose in life. He said that it was “to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all the means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.” Seeing Tolkien living his faith helped his good friend C.S. Lewis move from atheism to Christianity.

J.R.R. loved the Eucharist deeply and urged all to receive Communion frequently. He once wrote to his son: “The only cure for sagging or fainting faith is Holy Communion.” That is where his treasure was – in God. He did not care about wealth or fame, things that came to him in later years. Rather, his focus was on doing God’s will.

J.R.R. Tolkien is today’s Ornament of Grace.

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Is your faith more important to you than riches and career and power? How can you tell?

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Simeon Who Recognized Jesus - Ornaments of Grace | 1 John 2:3-11

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

1 John 2:3-11
The way we can be sure of our knowledge of him is to keep his commandments. …Dearly Beloved, it is no new commandment that I write to you, but an old one which you had from the start. …The man who claims to be in light, hating his brother all the while, is in darkness even now. The man who continues in the light is the one who loves his brother… .

Today’s Gospel speaks of a holy old man named Simeon. He exemplifies John’s words in the first reading since he lived in the light. Simeon could recognize Jesus as soon as Mary and Joseph brought their Son into the Temple to present Him to the Lord because his sight was not merely human sight. There is no way he could, with ordinary human vision, have picked out Jesus from all the other little boys being brought to the Temple day in and day out, including the day recorded in the Gospel. Simeon had waited patiently many years for this moment. Because he lived a life of faithful, patient prayer, he could see with the eyes of the Holy Spirit Who lived within him. The Spirit is light.

John’s letter today tells us that if we want to live in the light and not be blinded by darkness, then we need to love one another. This is the command he heard from Jesus; the command he saw Jesus carry out in His earthly life. Simeon, while born long before Jesus, knew the command. He prayed, and so he was in relationship with the God of love. He understood how he was loved, and he knew how to love others. He studied scripture and waited patiently for the Messiah to come. What joy he had when he picked up Jesus and held Him after so many years! He was so excited that he lifted up this prayer, “Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: a revealing light to the Gentiles, the glory of your people Israel.”

If we want to recognize Jesus in our midst as Simeon did, we need to walk in the light. Simeon called God His Master and himself, God’s servant. Simeon was called by God to serve in the Temple, to wait patiently in prayer, to look for the Messiah and to welcome Him. He did this right up until the end of his life, and his life ended in joy because he had light enough to reach for Jesus.

We are called to serve, but we have been given a vision of Jesus through the Gospels, something Simeon did not have. We know Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We know He went about feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching those who wanted to know about God, praying, and forgiving. At the Last Supper, washing His disciples’ feet, He called us to serve one another in the same way. Finally, Jesus offered His life for us.

The Old Law required love of neighbor to protect the other’s life, interests, and welfare. Jesus brought love to a whole new level, asking His followers to love unconditionally. Sharing in another’s delight, showing compassion to a person in pain, and patiently waiting in prayer, we can begin to have light – not night – vision, the kind of vision Simeon had.

To really see Jesus and reach out to hold Him this Christmas season and always, we need to see Him among the many who stream into our lives each day. That kind of vision only comes if we live in the light of love.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How has the light of the Holy Spirit helped you love intensely, making you eager to serve others?

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The Holy Innocents Across the World - Ornaments of Grace | 1 John 1:5-2:2

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

1 John 1:5 – 2:2
Here, then, is the message we have heard from him and announce to you: that God is light; in him there is no darkness. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while continuing to walk in darkness, we are liars and do not act in truth. But if we walk in light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Today’s first reading is, like that of yesterday, from John. Today he does not mince words. He tells Christians to quit pretending that they are good and holy if they continue doing sinful deeds. Of course, everyone sins, and that is why Jesus came to save us. But hypocrisy runs rampant in our country and our world, dividing people and causing little children the greatest harm. We cannot say we are for life if we fail to act in life-giving ways.

Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a day when we remember those boy babies under the age of two who were slaughtered in and around Bethlehem by order of King Herod. Herod, thinking Jesus could be the Messiah, wanted to eliminate him for fear he would someday usurp his power. Herod’s lust for power caused unimaginable suffering. Lust for power still does today.

An average of around 15,000 children under the age of 5 die each day. Some die because of preterm birth or birth trauma, some from infectious diseases, others from injuries and drowning. Most die from treatable diseases and other preventable causes. Poverty, inequality, discrimination, and illness still stalk and kill our children. War and other conflicts deny children the safety they need to grow in security. They lack healthcare and intact family life in war-torn regions, so they cannot be properly nurtured.

Children everywhere, even in our own country, lack proper nutrition. Many more children are in school than ever before, but more than half the children do not achieve even minimal educational goals. Often, in some countries, girls are denied education altogether. Children of all ages often suffer violence or the threat of violence in their own schools and neighborhoods.

Walking in the light means working so that all the children have clean water, clean air and a safe climate. Obviously, our changing climate is endangering the lives of many – if not all – children. It contributes to drought, flooding, and the destruction of crops. Malnutrition and starvation result. Many children die painful deaths daily. Others have to flee from their homes due to increasing natural disasters driven by climate change. Some die in the process of migration; others make it to a new destination, only to live in dire poverty, with little or no healthcare, facing a slow death.

Nearly 300 million children live in areas with severe toxic outdoor pollution – air, groundwater, toxic waste areas. Over 600,000 of these are under five and will die. Those who survive will suffer damage to their bodies and minds. If we do not work against all these evils, then we walk in darkness, not in the light.

Little children are the first victims of war and poverty. How are we working for peace in order to save our Holy Innocents today?

Herod, by other names, still seeks to kill the little children. God entrusted the care of his children to us. Let us walk in the Light of Love.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How will we help to stop Herod’s forces today – forces of environmental degradation, war, poverty, hunger, fear – from killing our little ones?

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St. John, Apostle & Evangelist - Ornaments of Grace | 1 John 1:1-4

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

1 John 1:1-4
This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched – we speak of the word of life. …This fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Indeed, our purpose in writing you this is that our joy may be complete.

Today’s first reading is from the short letter of John, proclaiming the same idea as the Gospel of John with a slightly different emphasis. In John’s Gospel, the divine nature of Jesus is prominent. We hear about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead today. But, by the time the letter of John is written well after the resurrection, some people based everything on Jesus’ divinity and tended to forget that He was truly human as well. So, John’s letter reminds us that Jesus, while one with God, became one of us, truly sharing in our humanity.

Having just celebrated Christmas, when Jesus became man, it is a good time to remember that Jesus spent His time on earth loving. That is John’s message over and over. God is love, and Jesus is love in the flesh. Love, for Jesus and in John’s messages, is not an abstract concept. It is love embodied in human actions. John says today that Jesus invites us into communion with His Father and with Him. So, we, too, embody love in the way we speak, in the way we are present to one another, in our actual living in this human community.

John’s emphasis is also on joy. If we live in right relationship with God and one another, then he says our joy will be complete. John knew Jesus personally and loved Him as a human walking this earth; he heard Jesus, touched Him, and saw Him reaching out to the poor, the sick, the marginalized. John knew what Jesus was about and, therefore, what we need to be doing if we want to experience true joy.

John, along with his brother James, was among the first apostles called by Jesus, after Peter and Andrew. Early in Jesus’ ministry, John witnessed many signs and miracles performed by Jesus. He was present when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead. Jesus took him up the mountain at the Transfiguration, where he witnessed Jesus’ glory and heard the voice of the Father. He heard Jesus prophesy about the last days when they were on the Mount of Olives, and he was nearby when Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus trusted John with the care of his beloved mother when he was dying on the Cross. John saw the empty tomb after the resurrection, and he was in the upper room when Jesus appeared. John was present at Jesus’ last appearance at the Sea of Galilee prior to the Ascension. Likely, these are just the highlights, but John knew Jesus extremely well and wants us to know Him, believe in Him and love as Jesus did so that we, too, can know perfect joy.

In establishing the early Christian Community, John worked first in Jerusalem along with Peter. He was with Peter when he healed a lame man in the Temple. When Peter went to confer the Holy Spirit upon the Samaritans converted by Philip, John accompanied him. His mission of preaching never ended during his life, and he tells us today the same message: God is Love. We can listen to John, for he knew Jesus intimately.

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What difference has your relationship with Jesus made in your life?

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St. Stephen the Martyr - Ornaments of Grace | Matthew 10:17-22

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

from Matthew 10:17-22
Be on your guard with respect to others. They will haul you into court; they will flog you… You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings… When they hand you over, do not worry about what you will say or how you will say it. When the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say…The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ...

As we begin the Octave of Christmas, we continue to celebrate Jesus’ coming. Yet, the happiness of Christmas seems to stand in stark contrast with the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The words of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel today remind us that Jesus’ birth cannot be somehow separate from His death and resurrection. Neither can our birth by baptism be separated from our death and resurrection in Jesus.

After Jesus’ resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles needed more help to serve the growing early Christian community. Disputes began to arise between the Greek-speaking Jews and the Hebraic Jews about fair food distribution to their widows. The Greek-speaking Jews felt their widows were not being treated as well as the others. Stephen was highly respected as a man of faith and fairness. An added benefit was that he spoke Greek. So, the Apostles asked Stephen to be one of seven deacons to distribute food and other necessities to those in need.

Stephen had many talents, though, and he not only served food, but he preached in the synagogues of the Greek-speaking Jews. There, he spoke powerfully and worked miracles among the people. The prominent members of these synagogues argued with him. Stephen engaged in their debates and showed all the truth of his teachings.

Unfortunately, winning the debates humiliated those who had challenged Stephen. So, the leaders of the synagogues made up lies, saying Stephen had showed contempt for God and a lack of respect for Moses. Such blasphemy was considered a serious crime, a crime that would have to go to trial before the supreme court of the Jewish elders, the Sanhedrin.

Angry members of the synagogues dragged Stephen before the Sanhedrin for trial. There, they accused him of preaching against the Temple and the Law of Moses. Stephen must have remembered Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel because he did not get upset. He gave a long speech to the Sanhedrin, carefully outlining his understanding of the history of Israel. Speaking of Abraham, the patriarchs, and Moses, he explained how the Chosen People disobeyed God and needed the Messiah. He showed how Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to destroy it.

Stephen bravely told those before him how they were, by falsely accusing him, doing what their ancestors had done by persecuting the prophets. He warned them that they were not listening to the Holy Spirit, and he reminded them that they even killed the Messiah who came to save them.

Stephen’s words angered the crowd who began to throw stones at him. Stephen looked up to heaven and cried out, “Look! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God!” As he died, he asked the Lord to receive his spirit and forgive those who stoned him.

We will suffer in following Jesus, but Christmas reminds us that He lives among us to give us everything we need to stay faithful in the moments, days, or years ahead.

Today's Ornament of Grace is St. Stephen, the Martyr.

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Who are some people who have spoken ill of you? Have you forgiven them?

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Jesus, Prince of Peace - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 52:7-10

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” Hark! Your watchmen raise a cry, together they shout for joy, for they see directly, before their eyes, the Lord restoring Zion… The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

Today, we celebrate Jesus’ birth as God made flesh and what that means for us and for all creation. May we offer everyone around us a hearty greeting of “Peace be with you,” for the Prince of Peace has come and dwells with us!

The first reading for Christmas Day was written long before the birth of Jesus by a prophet called to bring hope to God’s chosen ones. The people of Judah had been defeated by a pagan king who destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Many Judaeans were slaughtered, and those who didn’t die were sent into exile in Babylon. Suffering as slaves in a strange land, God’s people wondered if they had been abandoned. So, the prophet reminds the people that God will never forget His people. In fact, in today’s reading, we hear a shout for joy that God has won the battle (through King Cyrus of Persia) and redeemed his people from captivity.

Even more, God did not just save Jerusalem, but Isaiah states all the ends of the earth, all nations everywhere, have been redeemed. How beautiful, the prophet says, is this good news of peace and salvation! It is a cosmic victory, a victory for everyone and every part of God’s creation.

While we have not had to serve as slaves in Babylon, God has sent his son to rescue us from all that might enslave us. If we idolize anything but God, we are enslaved. We can be enslaved to food or drink. We can be held captive by a desire for money or fame. But today, we are called to put everything under the Lordship of Jesus. For we are called to freedom. The message is one of peace and salvation. It is not just peace from outright war but from all reasons for war. Jesus dwelling among us means the peace is limitless because He is God made flesh and God is limitless.

Jesus, as God, bursts through all barriers. He comes from heaven to earth, embracing all of creation and all people everywhere. We no longer have to be afraid to move out of our fears and isolation to reach out to our brothers and sisters. We can see the sacred earth with new eyes and the universe with wonder.

On this Christmas Day, we may be aware of battles going on around us and within us, but we do not have to fear. God, in Jesus, has the power to save us. God, in sending His Son Jesus, showed us He wants us all to be triumphant. Let us sing with all the angels, “Peace on earth and good will toward all!” Let us live this song of love joyfully every day of our lives. Let us never forget for a second that God dwells with us because Jesus loves us without any limits, infinitely.

Jesus, Prince of Peace, is today’s Ornament of Grace.

How can you tell you really believe God became flesh and dwells with us?

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Corrie ten Boom - Ornaments of Grace | Luke 1:26-30

Sun, 24 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

from Luke 1:26-30
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.” ...

Blessed Mary lived in an obscure Galilean village, and yet God chose her to change history for all time. ... When she heard his voice through the angel, she listened. Though not understanding all that would unfold in her life, Mary trusted. We know she acted courageously in saying yes to God’s call.

Many years later, another woman listened to God every day and acted courageously. While not called to be the Mother of Jesus, Corrie ten Boom – like all of us – was called to give witness to God’s love and give birth to Jesus in the hearts of many.

Born in Haarlem, Netherlands, in 1892, Corrie was the youngest of four children born to a watchmaker. She took care of the house while her elder sister Betsie worked alongside her father in the shop below their home. When Betsie became ill for a time, Corrie was sent to work in the shop. Corrie loved learning the trade and was gifted with financial organizational abilities. ...

In the ten Boom Dutch Christian home, Corrie and Betsie listened to their father’s daily reading of Scripture and took it to heart. The family actively served their community, helping those in need and bringing up many foster children. ... This prepared them for a time when even greater courage would be required, a faithfulness that required total trust in God.

... The Nazis invaded the Netherlands in 1940. Gradually, the Gestapo rounded up the Jewish people, sending them to concentration camps where they were put to death. Corrie, Betsie and their father managed to get ration cards for their Jewish brothers and sisters since food was scarce. At the same time, they began to hide Jews in their home ... and probably saved around 800 Jews from death during this time.

The home was raided in February,1944, and the ten Booms imprisoned. Mr. ten Boom died soon afterward, but Corrie and Betsie were sent to Ravensbruck Camp in Germany. A Bible they had smuggled in was a source of comfort to them. They prayed with their fellow prisoners, bringing many to Jesus through their kindness and compassion. Betsie died of illness and starvation in May. Due to a clerical error, Corrie was released less than two weeks after Betsie’s death.

Corrie spent the rest of her life telling people of God’s forgiving love and practicing it until she died in 1983. That was not always easy. After giving a talk in a church basement about God’s forgiving love, she saw a former guard from Ravensbruck. Her blood seemed to freeze, she said, and she could see the prison room with this guard’s crop swinging from his belt. He had been cruel. Then he reached out his hand and told her he had become a Christian and believed God had forgiven him but wanted to hear Corrie say it to him. She asked Jesus to help her move her hand to take his; she asked Jesus to supply the feeling she did not have at that moment. Then it came, and she cried out as she took his hand in hers, “Brother, I forgive you!”

Corrie ten Boom is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How does daily prayer help you practice daily acts of selflessness while preparing you for any future trials?

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Rais Bhuiyan - Ornaments of Grace | Malachi 3:1-2

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Malachi 3:1-2
Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye.

In today’s reading, Malachi was giving the suffering Israelites hope for the future and foretelling the coming of John the Baptist. However, he was warning them as well because they were asking God for justice, not mercy. They wanted to prosper like their neighbors who were not worshiping the one God. But they were not being honest with God. So, asking God for justice in this case might bring them the refiner’s fire or the fuller’s lye so that they would remember to ask for mercy. One person in our world today did not demand justice for wrong done to him; rather, he asked mercy on the sinner and showed God’s merciful love.

When September 11, 2001, rocked the United States, some people wanted what they called justice. In fact, it was really revenge on people who had not even done a crime. This caused many innocent individuals to suffer. One of these was Raisuddin Bhuiyan, known as Rais who was a Bangladeshi American working in Dallas, Texas. After 9/11, Mark Stroman decided to get revenge by killing people he thought were Muslims. On September 15, he killed a Pakistani immigrant. Less than a week later, Stroman came into Rais’s store with a double-barreled shotgun. Assuming he was going to be robbed, Rais began gathering money from the register to give the man. Stroman asked him, “Where are you from?” Before Rais could answer, Stroman shot him in the face. Someone in the store called 911, and Rais rushed to the barbershop next door for help. Then on October 4, Stroman killed an Indian immigrant, before he was finally captured. From prison Stroman sent a letter brimming with hate to a friend, admitting the killings were revenge for 9/11.

Rais went through numerous surgeries. The doctors were able to save his eye but not his vision. Also, he had 35 pellets lodged on the right side of his face. Rais lost his job, his home, his money, and his sense of security. Then, in 2009, he made a pilgrimage to Mecca and experienced a transformation. He realized that Stroman, now on death row, was a man like himself and forgave him. He even went further and worked with the legal system and the Islamic Community to try to save Stroman from execution. While he was unsuccessful in that cause even though working to the end, he certainly made a difference in Mark Stroman’s life. They had been reconciled years earlier, but hours before the execution, Rais and Mark spoke on the phone. Rais said, “I forgive you and do not hate you.” Mark responded, “Thank you… You touched my heart! I would never have expected this.” Rais said, “You touched mine too.”

Rais Bhuiyan started a movement called “World Without Hate” to stop hate crimes by educating people and by working with Amnesty International. Both men faced the refiner’s fire. The love shown by Rais Bhuiyan is like God’s mercy: life-giving forever.

Rais Bhuiyan is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Have you ever demanded justice from God for what has happened in your life? How is that different from loving mercy?

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Louis Braille - Ornaments of Grace | 1 Samuel 1:24-28

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once Samuel was weaned, Hannah presented him at the temple in Shiloh…Hannah approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.”

Samuel, dedicated to the Lord by his parents as shown in today’s reading, changed the course of Israel’s history by anointing Saul as the first king. Louis Braille, dedicated to the Lord by his parents at Baptism, changed the course of many lives by developing a system of touch reading for the blind.

Born in a small French town, Louis Braille was not unlike children everywhere who try to imitate their parents. He saw his father working as a leatherer. So, the three-year-old picked up an awl to do the same. Unfortunately for little Louis, the awl unexpectedly bounced back from the leather and hit him in the eye. The hole in his eye became infected and extremely painful. In the early 1800’s, there was no effective treatment, and the infection spread to the other eye as well. By the time he was just five, little Louis was completely blind.

But God had gifted Louis with a bright mind, a beautiful sense of music, and a caring father. His father taught him to move safely but independently using a cane. He was devout and learned to play the organ. He used this gift in many churches in France. He also won a scholarship to one of the only schools in the world at that time for blind youth. It was in Paris. There he learned a system of reading using raised letters. His father made Louis a set of thick leather letters that he could trace to write home. The young twelve-year-old realized using such a system to produce books was more than cumbersome. Few books for the blind were available. He had become familiar with a system of dots and dashes used by soldiers to communicate silently in the dark, but it was complicated.

After three years, Louis Braille developed a simpler system for the blind, not unlike the system of dots and dashes but far less complicated. Ironically, Louis used an awl to impress the letters, mathematical symbols, and musical notations into paper. It could be accessible to all. He did this because of his caring nature, believing the blind should be able to communicate on an equal footing with those who could see. What an amazing vision for a 15-year-old boy!

By twenty-four, Braille was a full professor at the Institute for the Blind in Paris and remained in that position until his death from tuberculosis at age forty-three. His system was not accepted widely in his day. After his death, however, it took hold and is used to this day, even with the advent of electronic devices. Look on public bathroom signs or elevator panels or public signs of any kind. When you see this code which has been a blessing to countless people, you can remember a man whose loss of sight led him to find a way to help others. Yes, Louis Braille was dedicated to the Lord at his Baptism, and he practiced his faith all his life. It was that faith and using the gifts God gave him that changed for the better the lives of so many.

Louis Braille is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How did Louis use the many gifts God gave him to uplift and encourage others instead of wallowing in self-pity?

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Sts. Marie Azelie Guerin Martin and Louis Martin

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 17:00:00 -0600

Song of Songs 2:8-12
Hark! My lover - here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag…My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth…”

Louis Martin wanted to be a monk but was turned away because he had not learned Latin. Marie-Azelie Guerin wanted to be a nun but was denied entrance due to respiratory trouble and recurring headaches. God had other plans for the young handsome watchmaker and the pretty lacemaker. Zelie was passing Louis on a bridge one night and heard a holy inner voice telling her that this was the man God wanted her to marry. Zelie’s aunt was able to introduce them in 1858. Both prayerful people, they fell deeply in love, and were married three months later. They lived in Alencon, France.

Zelie became so successful in lacemaking that Louis gave up his trade as a watchmaker and became a partner with his beloved wife in her business. It was unusual in their time for the husband to give up his trade to take on the business of his wife, but they made it work. Together they had nine children, but their love was not without great suffering. Only five daughters lived beyond infancy. The Martins lost two little boys before they saw their first birthday, and two girls died in 1870, one who was five and one who was just seven weeks old.

While the Martin family did not have money worries, they chose to live a simple lifestyle. They helped the poor and prayed together as a family every day. Zelie’s letters reveal what great joy both she and Louis found in their daughters. Still, they also show what sorrow they felt when losing a child. She wrote to her sister-in-law, “When I closed the eyes of my dear little children and buried them, I felt sorrow through and through… People said to me, ‘It would have been better never to have had them.’ I couldn’t stand such language. My children were not lost forever; life is short and full of miseries, and we shall find our little ones again up above.” Zelie and Louis trusted God’s plan always.

The youngest Martin child is probably the best known. She is St. Therese of the Child Jesus, also known as The Little Flower or St. Therese of Lisieux. The latter name applies because when Therese was only four years old, her mother died of breast cancer. Louis then sold the lacemaking business and the home in Alencon and moved the family to Lisieux. He did this so that one of Zelie’s sisters could help care for his girls. He loved Alencon and had many friends there, but he always put the needs of his children first. From Lisieux, one by one, his five daughters chose to enter religious life.

In his final years, Louis developed dementia and was placed in a caring asylum. He saw, in his lucid moments, the humiliation of his disease as a blessing, bringing him closer to the Lord. He never stopped praying and placing his life in God’s loving hands.

In 2015, Pope Francis canonized Zelie and Louis together, saying, “The holy spouses Louis Martin and Marie-Azelie Guerin practiced Christian service in the family, creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, among whom was Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.”

Sts. Louis Martin and Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin are today’s Ornaments of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you, by example, help to teach children about the love of Jesus for them?

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Blessed Maria Sagheddu - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 7:10-14

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0600

Isaiah 7:10-14
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered: “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord.” Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men; must you also weary my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.
Born to shepherds in the Sardinian Region, an island to the west of Italy, Maria Sagheddu recognized the sign given by a loving God as Immanuel, God with us!

Maria’s father and one brother died in 1919 when she was only five; two more brothers died in childhood. Such grief surely brought little Maria to an early understanding of how quickly life on earth can pass. Though excelling in school, she had to leave after an elementary education to help her mother care for the other children and the home.

Maria’s sister, Giovanni Antonia, just a year younger, was her closest sibling in every way. In 1932, Giovanni died at age 17. After that, Maria’s devotion to the Lord grew. She began to teach religion to children and teens. She also reached out to help elderly people in the area in any way she could. These good works seemed to spur Maria to spend more time in prayer and study.

Soon, she felt called to religious life. With the help of her Jesuit confessor, she entered the Trappist Convent near Rome and received the name Maria Gabriella. Making her vows on the Feast of Christ the King in 1937, she entered wholeheartedly into the Trappist way of life and learned much about the need for ecumenism, a closer relationship among all Christian churches. She suffered from bouts of anxiety, but abandoned herself completely into the hands of God and found relief. The Sisters found her trusting, humble, cheerful, and always ready to do the most tiring jobs happily.

Maria Gabriella gave thanks to God for allowing her to be at one with Him through her vowed life. Still, she longed for all Christians to grow in understanding of one another and to develop a relationship with one another in Jesus. In January, 1938, during a time of special prayer for Christian unity, Maria offered herself as a spiritual sacrifice so that all might be one. This sacrifice, in God’s plan, was not only to be spiritual but physical as well. By May of the same year, doctors told her she had incurable tuberculosis. After suffering with the disease for over a year, Maria peacefully gave herself to the Lord and died on April 23, 1939. It was Good Shepherd Sunday, and the Gospel proclaimed “… and there will be one fold and one shepherd.”

During her very short life of 25 years, her love for unity had been welcomed by the Anglican Church and other believers as well. After her death, vocations flocked to her religious community. St. Pope John Paul II referred to Maria Gabriella in his encyclical That They May Be One as an example to follow: someone who realized it is our duty at all times, everywhere, to pray and work for unity. The Pope beatified her on January 25, 1983.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you work for greater unity among all Christian faiths?

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St. Elisabeth Hesselblad - Ornaments of Grace | Luke 1:5-25 #advent

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0600

from Luke 1:5-25
Then, when Zechariah’s time of priestly service was over, he went home. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth conceived. She went into seclusion for five months, saying: “In these days, the Lord is acting on my behalf; he has seen fit to remove my reproach among men.”

Born in 1870 to Lutheran parents in Sweden, Elisabeth Hesselblad was the fifth of thirteen children. By the time she was sixteen, she had to go to work to help support the family. Emigrating to the United States in 1888, she studied nursing in New York City and provided home health care to many of the poor. Some of those she served were Catholic, and they influenced Elisabeth profoundly.

Elisabeth gave herself to prayer and study, wanting to know and follow the Lord’s plans for her. So, it was with joy on the Feast of the Assumption, 1902, that she embraced the Catholic faith. Later, reflecting on her conversion, she wrote: “In an instant the love of God was poured over me. I understood that I could respond to that love only through sacrifice and a love prepared to suffer for His glory and for the Church. Without hesitation I offered Him my life, and my will to follow Him on the Way of the Cross.”

A short time after her conversion, Elisabeth left for Europe where she made a pilgrimage to Rome. There she visited the house of Bridget of Sweden, then a Carmelite Monastery. She wanted to join the Carmelites in Rome, but her health was not good due to her care for the sick poor in New York City. The Order felt the life would be too difficult for her, but they welcomed her as a guest on probation. Elisabeth fell critically ill there, so she could not join the Carmelites. Still, feeling called to religious life, she asked the Pope to allow her to make vows under the Rule of the Order St. Bridget had founded. She professed her vows to her Jesuit spiritual director in 1906.

Elisabeth, knowing the Order was strong in Sweden prior to the Protestant Reformation, wanted to bring it back to life. She was unsuccessful in that attempt but proposed a new Order dedicated to care of the sick. By the end of 1911, three women had joined her to pray and work. The Order grew, and Elisabeth continued caring for the sick poor. In 1928 the Carmelites left their Monastery in Rome, and Elisabeth’s new Order of Bridgettines moved in, establishing a foundation in Rome.

During World War II, the convent in Rome was a place where she, as Superior, hid twelve Jews fleeing the holocaust. The Germans occupied Italy in 1943, sending many Jews to Auschwitz. This particular family of Jews roamed the countryside for some months but eventually returned to Rome. Friends suggested they take refuge in the Bridgettine Monastery. Elisabeth and her community welcomed them, risking their lives. The Jews were able to hide in the monastery until they could safely leave after the liberation of Italy in 1944, a period of six months. Like nursing the sick, Elisabeth offered her life for all her brothers and sisters.

Elisabeth became quite ill on April 23, 1957. She raised her hands to bless her sisters saying, “Go to heaven with hands full of love and virtues.” She received the sacraments and died early the next morning. Pope Francis canonized her in 2016.

Today's Ornament of Grace is St. Elisabeth Hesselblad.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we reach out and provide safety for the poor, the sick, and those whom society has cast aside?

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St. Jude the Apostles - Ornaments of Grace | Jeremiah 23:5-6

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, Israel shall dwell in security. This is the name they give him: “The Lord our justice.”

In today’s first reading, we hear the prophet Jeremiah speaking to the Israelites who were scattered and in exile. Not only will their king one day be both wise and good, but he will bring peace. Even more, he promises to share his justice with all the people. While the people were in such pain at the time of this prophet, it’s likely that most could not even fathom, let alone believe, this message. But the message was carried forward by those who could believe and hope – from generation to generation. St. Jude, not to be confused with the Judas who betrayed Jesus, was one who hoped, believed, and spread the news of Jesus around the world.

St. Jude, sometimes called Thaddeus (which means sweetness or gentleness), was the son of Mary of Clopas, a cousin of the Virgin Mary and therefore a relative of Jesus. But it was more than genes that held Jude close to Jesus. He is one of the twelve apostles who left everything to follow Jesus. He was present at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on those gathered in the upper room. From there, he bravely spread the Gospel in Samaria, Syria, Judea, Idumaeia (part of Israel and Jordan today), and Libya (northern Africa bordering the Mediterranean Sea). He also brought the Good News to areas today known as Iraq, Kuwait, and Turkey. As with most of the apostles, Jude was martyred.

So, while not much else is known about St. Jude, we do know he was a faithful follower of Jesus even in dire situations. He trusted in God’s promises, and he understood that God poured out on us the justice he promised, promised even long ago in the time of Jeremiah. That justice means our sins are forgiven, that God acts wisely and compassionately for us in all things, and that he will bring us to the land of peace.

The last letter in the New Testament, just before the Book of Revelation, is a short epistle attributed by some scholars to St. Jude. Maybe he is best known as the Saint of Impossible Cases, but that is because he is truly an apostle of faith and hope. Faith in God’s promises is what makes miracles possible, and hope helps us realize that even if things are difficult here on earth, a better home awaits us in heaven.

St. Jude’s letter teaches us this way: “But you, beloved, grow strong in your holy faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit. Persevere in God’s love, and welcome the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which leads to life eternal… There is one who can protect you from a fall and make you stand unblemished and exultant in the presence of his glory…”

St. Jude is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Why do you think St. Jude or other saints in heaven are happy to intercede for us when we call upon them?

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St. Paul - Ornaments of Grace | Philippians 4:4-7 #advent

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again: Rejoice! Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude. Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.

By the third Sunday of Advent, we are often in the throes of Christmas pain. Pain? Well, maybe there are last-minute gifts we have not yet found. We might be disappointed because people we were hoping to join us on the Feast itself will not be able to come. Perhaps we think we should be saints because we have worked hard to listen to the Holy Spirit this Advent season. Maybe someone we love is sick or we are thinking of those who have died and will not be part of our usual festivities this year. Yes, pain. Then out comes the priest to say Mass in his pink, happy vestments. A pretty party-pink candle is being lit, and we might feel just a little more blue. When the lector reads today’s second reading, we ask “How? How can I rejoice always? Really??”

St. Paul, who is generally considered the author of the words of today’s reading, suffered greatly. Yet he knew the great peace and joy that comes to those who live for the Lord. Saul, born between 5 BC and 5 AD, was raised in a well-educated, pious Jewish family in Tarsus. Tarsus was one of the largest trade centers on the Mediterranean Sea in Asia Minor. He felt it his duty to persecute and kill Christians, including St. Stephen, you might recall. He felt this way since the new followers of Jesus seemed to have deserted the faith he had been taught to live and die for. But around 36 AD, he was on the road to Damascus when he experienced a vision of Jesus. Jesus said to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Saul asked, “Who are you?” Then he heard, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” The encounter left Saul blind for three days, so he had to be led into Damascus. There, he spent his time in prayer and penance. Jesus sent Ananias to restore Saul’s sight, and Saul – now Paul – was baptized.

St. Paul then spent the rest of his life preaching the Good News of Jesus. During this time, he had to keep journeying long distances. Robbers threatened travelers. Paul was beaten with rods. Three times he was shipwrecked and spent a night and day in the sea. He was thrown into jail. His message was often rejected. Sometimes those who did accept the message of faith lost their interest and fell away. Even some of his close friends deserted him. So, when he tells us to rejoice in the Lord always, to dismiss anxiety from our minds, and to pray with grateful hearts, St. Paul is not speaking as someone who had no reason to be anxious or sad or upset. Rather, he is speaking to us as someone who has chosen to put all his trust in the Lord. He is speaking as someone who, by putting his life in the hands of the Lord, knows a peace that is beyond human understanding. He holds out this truth to us, and we can choose joy and peace no matter what difficulties we face daily. Yes, light the joyful pink candle!

St. Paul is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Have you ever experienced great peace in the midst of suffering? How do you explain that?

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St. Vincent Ferrer - Ornaments of Grace | Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

…The disciples put this question to him: “Why do the scribes claim that Elijah must come first?” In reply, he said: “Elijah is indeed coming, and he will restore everything. I assure you, though, that Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him and did as they pleased with him. The Son of Man will suffer at their hands in the same way.” The disciples then realized that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptizer.

Today’s Gospel picks up just after the Transfiguration where Peter, James, and John saw Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah and being transfigured. Jesus showed these disciples that he valued the law and the prophets. Now Jesus explains to them that John the Baptist is the new Elijah preparing the way for the Messiah. Jesus also shows that true prophets must suffer as John suffered and warns the disciples of His own suffering to come.

St. Vincent Ferrer was a follower of Jesus and lived much like John the Baptist in preparing people of his time to recognize Jesus as Savior through true repentance. Like John, Vincent got an early start in knowing the Lord. Finishing his classical studies at 8 years of age, he began to learn theology and philosophy at 14. By 18, Ferrer had decided to enter the Dominican Order where, in the novitiate, he suffered great temptations to leave. Through penance, he conquered these desires, was professed, and, by age 29, was ordained a priest. He then earned a doctorate in theology and taught at the university level. He served as spiritual director for one of the three men claiming to be Pope at the time. Soon, Vincent set out to evangelize Western Europe.

Though mild-mannered and kind, Vincent was an eloquent, fiery speaker like John the Baptist before him. He converted many over twenty-plus years. Vincent practiced penance, showing by his life the beliefs he promoted, offering his suffering so that others could desire eternal life.

Vincent did not eat grasshoppers or wear animal skin as John the Baptist had, but he wore very poor clothing and lived simply. Fasting constantly, he would rise at 2:00 a.m. to pray. Every day he celebrated Mass, preached for hours, tended the sick, and carefully prepared his homily for the next day before retiring. In Jesus’ name, he worked miracles.

While Vincent is known for converting many Jewish people to Catholicism, he would not consider that his goal. One source said that he led mobs to seize a synagogue and make it into a church, but another reliable source relates that the Jewish converts made their synagogue into a church. No one is perfect, and we do not know the whole truth. Another reliable source explains that Vincent stopped riots against Jews and, with his eloquence, talked people bent on persecuting the Jews to be at peace with them. Since he was mild-mannered by nature, it is hard to imagine he used his voice for anything other than good.

What we know for sure is that Vincent, called by God as all of us are, used his gifts and his life to prepare the way for Jesus, our Savior, to come into their hearts. Was he imperfect? Yes. Is that hopeful for us all? Yes.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

This Advent, how can we, like St. John the Baptist or St. Vincent Ferrer, use our gifts to prepare our own heart and the hearts of others to receive the Savior?

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St. Catherine Labouré - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 48:17-19 #advent

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Named Zoe Laboure at her birth in the Burgundy region of France in 1806, she was usually called Catherine, her Baptismal name. She was the 9th of 11 children. When she was only nine years old, her mother died. After the funeral, she went to a statue of Our Lady, kissed it and said, “Now you will be my mother.”

Her father’s sister who lived a few miles away cared for Catherine and her sister after their mother’s death for a few years. While at her aunt’s, Catherine had a dream of a priest who asked her to serve the sick. Later, she would recognize the priest as St. Vincent de Paul who had been canonized many years earlier. At the age of 12, Catherine returned to work on the family farm. She often went to the parish church and spent time in deep prayer. When she grew older, her father became concerned that she might have a calling to religious life. So, he sent her to work for his brother in Paris. Her uncle had a place that provided meals to poor laborers. There, Catherine became acutely aware of the suffering of the poor and wanted to help them. This reinforced her call to religious life. At the age of 24, Catherine entered the religious Order founded by St. Vincent de Paul, the Sisters of Charity, noted for their care for the sick and suffering.

When she was in the novitiate, Catherine was awakened in the night by the voice of a child who said “God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace to do what is necessary. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world.” Catherine went to the chapel where she found the Blessed Mother with whom she conversed. Four months later, the Blessed Mother again appeared to Catherine as she knelt at the altar. Mary seemed to be standing on a globe with the message, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Mary asked Catherine to take the image to her spiritual director and tell him to put it on medallions so that all those who wore the blessed medal and who prayed its words in faith would receive great graces. Catherine did as she was told. But, always humble, she never revealed who she was to anyone except her spiritual director until she was on her deathbed. The Miraculous Medal was adopted by millions of Catholics and is worn by many today.

As for Catherine, she took her vows and went to work in a hospice nursing the sick and elderly poor. She also worked on the hospice farm, caring for poultry and cleaning the stables. She was loved for her devotion to the infirm, for her prayer, and for her humility. She died at that hospice farm when she was 70. The Lord and his Mother certainly taught Catherine what was for her good and led her on the way she was to go. She walked the path they showed her right into eternal life, bringing many with her.

St. Catherine Laboure is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How might saying the words on the Miraculous Medal, remind you to have confidence in your heavenly Mother during difficult times?

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

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St. Ambrose - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 40:9-11 #advent

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Isaiah 40:9-11
Go up onto a high mountain, Zion, herald of glad tidings; cry out at the top of your voice, Jerusalem, herald of good news! Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God!

St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan in the 4th century, was a noted theologian and doctor of the church, who still influences Christianity today. He is recognized as a saint not just in the Roman Catholic Church but in the Anglican Communion, some Lutheran denominations, and the Eastern Orthodox faith. He did not fail to cry out, as today’s reading directs, that God is with all people.

The fourth century was a time of social, religious, and civil upheaval. Paganism was still the belief of the majority. The Church was struggling to listen to how the Holy Spirit might help to clarify its doctrines, unify it, and bring people to hear the Good News of salvation. Ambrose was particularly well-suited for this challenge. Born into a well-educated and pious Roman Christian family, Ambrose studied literature, law, and public speaking. He became a public servant and quickly rose to become the popular Governor of Aemilia-Liguria in northern Italy. When a heretical Bishop died in Milan, Ambrose went into the Church there to quell what he thought might become a riot between those supporting the former heretical Bishop and those wanting to elect a Bishop who held true beliefs. Instead, he found himself hearing, “Ambrose, Bishop!” This cry became a thunderous acclamation by all present. He appealed to both sides because while he believed the truth, he also showed understanding and charity toward those who held heretical beliefs. Though he was not a priest, not trained in theology, and not even baptized, he listened to the call of the Holy Spirit. Within a week, he was baptized, confirmed, and ordained. He gave his money to the poor, adopted a disciplined lifestyle, and studied theology in earnest. Soon he was named Bishop of Milan.

As Bishop, Ambrose presided at Mass regularly. He constantly preached the Good News and untiringly reasoned with those who could not understand true doctrine. At the same time, he wrote hymns to uplift the people and personally served the poor. The Emperor, however, embraced heresy and demanded that two churches in Milan be handed over for use by the heretics. Ambrose refused. When the emperor’s forces came and surrounded one of the basilicas while Ambrose was praying the Liturgy of the Hours, he told the emperor: “If you demand my person, I am ready to submit: carry me to prison or to death, I will not resist; but I will never betray the church of Christ. I will not call upon the people to help me; I will die at the foot of the altar rather than desert it.” The emperor withdrew.

Truly, St. Ambrose can teach us how to courageously defend the truth with charity for all concerned. He was unafraid to cry out to all, “Here is your God!”

St. Ambrose is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Do you know anyone who, like St. Ambrose, not only gave up a former lifestyle, but totally embraced a new calling in the spirit of service?

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St. Monica, Mother of St. Augustine - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 40:25-31

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Wednesday of the second week of Advent is St. Monica.

Isaiah 40:25-31

The Lord is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. Though the young faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, they that hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar as with eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.

Monica, patron saint of mothers, was born in present-day Algeria, western North Africa. Her parents, small landowners, gave her in marriage early in life to Patricius, a Roman pagan with authority in their city. He had an abusive mother who caused Monica a great deal of sorrow. But she drew strength from prayer and accepted her mother-in-law. Her husband also led a wild life of infidelity and extreme sensual pleasures. While all this would cause most of us to “faint and grow weary,” Monica remained faithful to prayer, daily Mass, and good works, renewing her strength day by day.

Monica counseled women who complained of difficulties at home, saying, “If you can master your tongue, not only do you run less risk of being beaten, but perhaps you may even, one day, make your husband better.” Her gentle kindness soon brought her mother-in-law around. And, after thirty years of Monica loving her husband into wholeness, he converted.

Monica and Patricius had three children who survived infancy, two boys and a girl. One of her sons and her daughter became religious. The other son became well-known later as St. Augustine of Hippo. His road to sanctity was not an easy one for his mother, as he would admit in his famous book, Confessions.

Augustine was a lazy boy, so Monica sent him to Carthage to study when he was 17. HIs father died while he was there, and Monica watched Augustine’s progress carefully. He excelled in school and became a teacher. Monica was proud of her son for that. Sadly, though, he was converted to Manicheanism which saw the world dualistically, with the material part being dark or bad and the spiritual as light or good. Such dualism did not leave room for the goodness of all creation. As we know, creation is a gift from God that we are to treasure. To heighten Monica’s distress, Augustine chose to live with a mistress for around ten years.

Monica, however, never gave up on her son, praying for him with tears every day for many years. Monica followed her son to Rome, but she found he had gone to Milan from there. So, she followed him to Milan. There, she asked St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, to speak with Augustine. Ambrose was an instrument of grace for Augustine. At 28, Augustine opened his heart to God.

After this, Monica and Augustine enjoyed six wonderful months together in the Italian Lombardy region, both striving for holiness. Then, Monica and Augustine headed back to Africa, stopping in the Roman seaport city of Ostia on the way. There, Monica died in peace, knowing that her wayward son, all her children, as well as her husband and mother-in-law were now in God’s hands. Monica never gave up, and she drew upon strength from God to walk with those who needed her by them. Surely, she sailed right into heaven!

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

During the Advent Season, who can you pray and sacrifice for who is struggling with the faith?

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Our Lady of Guadalupe - Ornaments of Grace | Zechariah 2:14-17

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent is Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Zechariah 2:14-17
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

Today is surely a day to sing and rejoice – and maybe even dance! This is a time for celebration, for we know that the Lord does dwell with us. Realizing this, even in a very small way, should bring us deep joy and true excitement.

Before the Incarnation, God’s Chosen Ones waited in expectation while the prophets offered them hope. One choice for today’s reading is from Zechariah. It explains that God is about to do something totally unexpected and wonderful for all nations. People then did not have the gift of knowing how Jesus came to live with us. Today we may know it in our minds, but we might need someone to help us open our hearts to such a wonder. Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast we celebrate, might just be the perfect someone to help us because she loves us so much.

This is a true, familiar story to many. Briefly, Juan Diego, an indigenous man in what is now Mexico, had a vision of Our Lady on this day in 1531. She directed Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a church at the site of her appearance so that all would know that she, the Mother of God, was their mother too. The bishop needed to be sure of the apparition, so he asked Juan for a sign from heaven as proof. When Juan asked Mary for the sign, she told him to gather roses from a rocky, wintry hillside. He did so. Then he went to the bishop, opened his cloak, and the roses fell out. Greater still was the image of Our Lady imprinted on Juan Diego’s cloak.

If you have the good fortune to have a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you see her eyes are cast down in humility. Juan Diego would easily have recognized her beautiful dark skin and hair as one of his own people. She is looking lovingly at her beloved child. Around her waist is a band indigenous women wore when pregnant. On her loose cloak or mantle are stars. These 46 stars represent the constellations visible over Mexico on Dec 12, 1531. While we cannot see the sun because Our Lady’s image blocks it from our view, it is surely present, as the rays emanate from behind her. She stands on the moon. The picture might remind us of a passage from the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child…”.

The best news is that Our Lady of Guadalupe promised all who come to her that she would hear and answer them, for she is our mother and loves us as her children.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What in the story or in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe draws you to prayer?

#guadalupejubileo #ourladyofguadalupe #catholic #hearttoheart #frmichael

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St. Katharine Drexel - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 29:18-19

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0600

from Isaiah 29:18-19
On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; and out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1858, Katharine Mary Drexel’s mother died five weeks after giving birth, leaving Katharine and her older sister. Her father, an extremely successful investment banker, remarried when Katharine was around two. A third sister came along soon. The girls were tutored at home but traveled extensively as well. Katharine and her sisters learned kindness early as the Drexel family distributed food, clothing, and money for shelter to the poor three times a week from their own home. If widows or others in need were too proud to come to their home for assistance, Katharine’s father and stepmother would quietly seek them out and offer them help.

As a young, wealthy woman, Katharine made her social debut in 1878, but she knew money could not buy happiness or safety from sorrow. She had seen her kind stepmother fight and succumb to cancer. A book she had read about the plight of Native Americans greatly affected her. She wanted to do something to help them. When her family visited the West in 1884, she saw firsthand the suffering of Native Americans and was determined to take action. She and her sisters donated money to various missions. After their father’s death in 1885, they contributed to the St. Francis Mission on a reservation in South Dakota. Katharine asked her spiritual director about possibly joining a contemplative community of nuns, but he advised her to wait and pray. In the meantime, she had many young men interested in marrying her.

In 1887, the three sisters had a private audience with Pope Leo XIII while visiting Rome. They asked the Pope to send missionaries to help the Native Americans. The Pope asked Katharine to become a missionary herself. So, upon returning to Philadelphia, she asked her spiritual director for guidance. He then encouraged her to become a religious.

She decided to give herself and her inheritance totally to God in service of the Native Americans and African Americans. She and thirteen volunteers began the Blessed Sacrament Sisters. Their desire for social justice was not easily received and, when building their Motherhouse, dynamite was planted nearby to frighten the Sisters. Still, Katharine was undeterred.

Requests for help started pouring in from all over the country. In response to these requests, Mother Katharine Drexel established 145 missions, 50 schools for African Americans, and 12 for Native Americans. Her desire to help the poor rejoice in the Lord continued until she died at the age of 97. Her Order’s work continues today.

Katharine Drexel is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you use what you have been given to bring hope to those in need?

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John Robert Lewis - Ornaments of Grace | Luke 3:3-6

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Luke 3:3-6

...as it is written in the words of Isaiah the Prophet: “A herald’s voice in the desert, crying, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be leveled. The windings shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.’”

Isaiah, like all the prophets, certainly suffered for wanting people to prepare a way for the Lord. He preached truth in spite of the powerful wanting to silence or ignore his message. John Robert Lewis, like the prophet, wanted everyone to experience the salvation of God. So, he worked toward that goal his whole life, even when persecuted for the truth.

Born in rural Alabama in 1940, John Lewis attended a Rosenwald School, one of many state-of-the-art schools built across the South for African-American students by Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, then President of Sears Roebuck. John, in recalling his school days, said he had a great teacher who encouraged him to read. He followed his teacher’s advice and read as many books as he could find. When he was sixteen, he and his siblings went to nearby Troy, Alabama, to get a public library card. They were told the library was only for Whites and were turned away. In the next few years, as he went to town more, he realized how segregated Troy was. In 1955, he heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the radio. He followed the Montgomery bus boycott, later meeting Rosa Parks who, by refusing to move to the back of the bus, played a significant role in that boycott.

Lewis graduated from the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, and was ordained a Baptist minister. From there he attended Fisk University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in religion and philosophy. Both were historically Black Colleges. While studying, Lewis became an activist for Civil Rights. He managed, with other students, to desegregate lunch counters in downtown Nashville. Lewis was arrested and jailed often, but he strictly adhered to nonviolence. During this period, John said it was essential to cause “good trouble, necessary trouble” in order to bring about racial justice.

In 1961, Lewis was one of the original 13 Freedom Riders, a group of both whites and blacks trying to desegregate bus seating in the South. He and others were brutally beaten. John was even imprisoned for his actions. Still, he persisted. In 1964, he launched a campaign to engage college students throughout the country to register voters in Mississippi. In 1965, John organized the Selma Voting Rights Campaign along with the Selma to Montgomery marches to bring national recognition to the cause. On March 7, 1965, now called “Bloody Sunday,” Lewis and Hosea Williams led more than 600 marchers over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. When the group stopped to pray, they were attacked by State Troopers who beat them mercilessly. Lewis suffered a skull fracture but was blessed to escape with his life.

John Lewis knew that laws needed to be just, and so he began a political career. Elected to Congress in 1986, he served the cause of justice until his death in 2020 at the age of 80. During that time he tirelessly taught us how to make rough ways smooth and crooked ways straight in a nonviolent way. This was John’s way of preparing for meeting his Savior and for bringing others along with him.

John Robert Lewis is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What are some ways you can work for the justice and good of all people?

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St. Juan Diego - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 41:13

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

from Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”

Juan Diego, whose feast we celebrate today, belonged to the Aztec people. Born in what is today part of Mexico City, Mexico, in 1474, Juan was baptized when he was around 50 years old by one of the first Franciscan missionaries to the area. He was a devout convert. The first Catholic saint indigenous to the Americas, Pope St. John Paul II canonized Juan Diego at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City July 31, 2002. It seems fitting that his feast follows right after that of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception because Juan was a missionary of Mary. He cooperated as she did in God’s saving plan. This is something we are all called to do.

Mary first appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill, just outside of Mexico City, as he was on his way to Mass. Mary spoke to Juan in his native tongue and asked him to go to the Bishop and instruct him to build a shrine to her there. She wanted any of her children in need to have a place where they could go and know that she was close to them. Juan Diego did as he was told. The Bishop said he needed some time to think about the request and sent Juan away. On his way home, the Blessed Mother again appeared to Juan, and he told her he had failed to convince the Bishop. He also said that he was a simple man. He politely suggested that she might be successful if she sent someone more important to talk to the Bishop. But, according to tradition, Mary replied, “Listen, least of my sons. You must try to understand that I have many messengers and servants whom I could charge with the delivery of my message… But it is altogether necessary that you, yourself, should undertake this entreaty and that through your own mediation and assistance, my purpose should be accomplished.”

Juan obeyed the Blessed Virgin and returned to the Bishop the next day, but the Bishop asked for a sign. Mary said she would provide a sign the day after that. Unfortunately, Juan’s uncle became mortally ill and wanted a priest to hear his confession and minister to him. So, Juan avoided Tepeyac Hill so that he would not be delayed on his way to get a priest. But on a different route, the Virgin appeared to Juan, and chided him as a mother might, assuring him that his uncle was better. She told him to pick roses from the rocky hillside, flowers that could not have normally grown there. He put them in his tilma or cloak and Our Lady arranged them. Then Juan went to see the Bishop, opened his tilma and the beautiful roses fell to the floor while an image of Mary appeared on the tilma. The Bishop believed and did as instructed. When Juan returned home, he found his uncle cured. His uncle said Mary had appeared to him as well and told Juan to tell the Bishop that she wanted to be known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. Juan Diego, trusting and obedient, did as he was asked.

Since he loved the Virgin Mary so much, Juan, who was by that time a widower, asked to live in a little hut next to the Church. There he lived until he died seventeen years after the apparitions. There he cared for pilgrims who came to honor their Blessed Mother. Today visitors can see the tilma with the image of Our Lady on it. Many miracles occurred. More importantly, many came to believe in Jesus because of St. Juan Diego’s willingness to be a missionary for Mary.

St. Juan Diego is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you realize your call to be a missionary even within your own home, place of work, city or parish?

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The Immaculate Conception of Mary - Ornaments of Grace | Luke 1:26-28

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600

Luke 1:26-28

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Upon arriving, the angel said to her: “Rejoice, O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

The Immaculate Conception

Even though this lovely feast finds its way into the Advent season, it celebrates Mary’s own sinless conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. It is celebrated nine months before what we call Mary’s birthday on September 8. The faithful observed this feast since the 7th century and Pope Clement XI declared it a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics in 1708. But the feast began being formally observed adding the words “Immaculate” when Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1854. Mary herself confirmed this truth when she appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes just four years later and said, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it this way: To become the mother of Jesus, (Quote) “Mary was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” (End quote) So, Mary remained free of sin all her life, from the moment she was conceived until her death. The story of the Annunciation in Luke’s Gospel helps us understand how completely Mary loved the Word of God. She said in reply to Angel Gabriel, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” And, it is this response that can guide all of us who were not conceived sinless. We have the freedom to choose to do whatever God asks of us, just as Mary did. While we may not always be sinless in this life, Jesus came through Mary to bring us God’s loving salvation. As we grow in God’s life, becoming purified through suffering, through joy, through our entire journey here, we can be immaculate someday too, rejoicing forever along with Mary in heaven.

So, let us hurry to offer ourselves completely to the Lord. Let us make room in our hearts, bodies, and spirits for the Lord who wants to dwell within us. Yes, we may suffer occasional backaches from carrying the Lord. We may feel a little sick when we are called to humanly unpleasant and tiring tasks for the sake of preparing the way. But we can say as Mary did, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.” Jesus can then be born again in our lives and touch the lives of those around us with his miraculous healing power of love. As we share in Mary’s gift of bringing Jesus into our world, so she will share the joy of her Immaculate Heart with us in heaven.

The Immaculate Conception is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Can you name a specific time when you abandoned yourself to the will of God, saying: Let it be done to me as you say…

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Florence Nightingale - Ornaments of Grace | Matthew 7:24-25

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Florence Nightingale is today's Ornament of Grace.

from Matthew 7:24-25
“Anyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on rock. When the rainy season set in, the torrent came and the winds blew and buffeted his house. It did not collapse; it had been solidly set on rock. Anyone who hears my words but does not put them into practice is like the foolish man who built his house on sandy ground. The rains fell, the torrents came, the winds blew and lashed against his house. It collapsed under all this and was completely ruined.”

We know that Jesus is the rock of our salvation, the one on whom our lives must rest if we are not to be carried away by the inevitable winds and storms of life. One person who understood and lived this truth well was Florence Nightingale who said, “How little can be done under the spirit of fear.”

Born in Florence, Italy, in 1810, and named after her birth city, Florence lived a brilliant, unselfish life, dying in 1910 at the age of 90. Florence’s father, a wealthy British gentleman, educated his two daughters in history, mathematics, philosophy, various languages, and classical literature. The family also traveled extensively. Florence loved learning and mastered each subject. Both her parents influenced her with a liberal humanitarian view of life. Florence’s education and her outlook proved valuable, especially after Florence received what she believed was her first call from God in 1837. She heard God calling her to devote her life to the service of others. An attractive young woman, Florence was courted by several affluent men. But she felt marriage would interfere with her desire to pursue a nursing career. So, she studied medical science.

When the Crimean War broke out, a friend who was the Secretary of War asked Florence, 38 volunteer nurses whom she had trained, and 15 Catholic Sisters to go to handle the masses of wounded and dying soldiers in a location across the Bosphorus Strait from modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. There she found inadequate supplies, food, and sanitation, along with an uncooperative staff. She and her volunteers got supplies sent from Britain, established the protocols of cleanliness, wound dressing, adequate meals, and comfort for the soldiers. There she earned the name “Lady of the Lamp.” This was because after a full day of working in the wards, she would carry a lamp to find her way among the wounded at night, offering help and encouragement as needed.

Suffering from fever and severe joint pain for at least 25 years, Nightingale continued serving whenever she could. After the war, she raised funds to educate nurses. By the 1860’s, she provided the first nursing staffs to care for the poor in London’s workhouses. She wrote a book outlining good nursing practices. The American Union Forces asked her for advice on setting up and running field hospitals during the Civil War. In the 1870’s, she mentored America’s first nurse, Linda Richards, who then had the ability to set up the first nursing schools in the United States. Florence continued writing, mentoring, and unselfishly caring for all she could until her death.

She did not build her life’s work on sand. No, she built the house of her life on God, her rock.

Florence Nightingale is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How is trusting in God in all life’s circumstances like building a house on rock?

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St. Maria Goretti - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 25:8-9

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Isaiah 25:8-9

He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken. On that day it will be said: “Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

St. Maria Goretti died a martyr’s death as an eleven-year-old in July, 1902. Her family was very poor but devout and close. When Maria was six, her father moved the family from the east side of Italy to the west in an attempt to find a better life. Sadly, just three years later, when Maria was nine, her father contracted malaria from a mosquito bite and died. Her mother was forced to move in with another family as she and Maria’s brothers and sisters, except for the baby, worked in the fields. Maria cleaned the house, cared for the clothes, cooked the meals and watched over her baby sister each day. She also had to cook and clean for the neighbors with whom they shared living quarters. The neighbors, a man and his 20 year-old son Alessandro, helped in the fields.

Alessandro began saying impure things to Maria, and she would try to keep away from him. When he started to make sexual advances and she told him it was wrong and would be a sin, he threatened to kill her. Still, she held onto her virginity. One day, when Alessandro knew the family would be in the fields where he should also have been working, he saw Maria sitting on the front steps doing some sewing. He tried to rape her and said he would stab her with his awl if she refused. Still, she was able to stop him from doing so at the cost of her life. She screamed, “No! It is a sin! God does not want it!” Alessandro stabbed her fourteen times. Maria’s baby sister, awakened with the commotion, began to cry, and her mother came to see what was wrong. She found Maria on the floor bleeding. The family rushed her to the hospital, but the surgeon could not do enough to keep her alive. He asked Maria to remember him when she got to heaven, and she said she would. Even more astounding, the next day as she lay dying from her wounds, Maria said, “I forgive Alessandro Serenelli.” She also expressed the desire that he, too, should go to heaven. Alessandro, unrepentant at the time, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The judge took into consideration that his father was an alcoholic and that mental illness plagued his family.

During his prison sentence, Alessandro saw Maria in a dream. They were in a garden and she handed him some lilies which immediately burned in his hands. Even more, though, she also expressed forgiveness and love. This filled Alessandro with sorrow for his crime, and his life changed forever. He became a holy man, even becoming a lay brother and serving his Franciscan brothers until his death at age 81.

While Maria has worked countless miracles, she stands out as one who knew the Lord would wipe away her tears. That knowledge gave her the power to forgive her attacker, to love him into holiness of life. Both Alessandro and her mother were present when Maria was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1950. Today she continues her work of loving forgiveness to those who ask for her intercession.

St. Maria Goretti is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Can you forgive someone who caused you physical, emotional, or spiritual pain? How do you show forgiveness?

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Nelson Mandela - Ornaments of Grace | Isaiah 2:4-5

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0600

Isaiah 2:4-5
He shall judge between the nations, and impose terms on many peoples.They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

Born in Transkei, South Africa, on July 18, 1918, Nelson Mandela was the son of a local tribal leader. He grew up taking part in the activities of his Tembu tribe. Later, he rejected becoming chieftain in order to study law. Educated at two excellent universities, Nelson acquired a law degree in 1942. In 1944, he joined a Black Liberation Group, the African National Congress (ANC), as leader of the youth league. Holding other leadership positions in the ANC as well, Mandela helped to bring many to oppose the apartheid policies, policies based on racial segregation and discrimination, of the ruling National Party in South Africa.

In Johannesburg, Mandela partnered with another ANC leader to set up the first Black law practice. They took cases resulting from apartheid laws. Soon they joined with others to defy South Africa’s pass laws which required non-whites to carry pass books to allow them to be in areas restricted only to white people. Mandela traveled all over South Africa, promoting non-violent protests against laws upholding racial discrimination. His work for justice brought the authorities down on him. They banned him from traveling, from associating with certain people, and from speaking freely. Still, in 1955, he and others drafted the Freedom Charter which called for a nonracial social democracy in South Africa. In 1956, he was arrested on charges of treason, a fake charge designed to scare antiapartheid activists. His case, along with the cases of 100 other activists, went to trial that same year. Unfortunately, it dragged on for several years. Finally, Nelson was acquitted in 1961.

Mandela founded the military wing of the ANC and strayed from his nonviolent message for a time after the massacre of unarmed Blacks by the police at Sharpeville in 1960 and the banning of the ANC. He was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to 5 years in prison. He admitted to some involvement in sabotage in 1963 and was imprisoned from then until 1990. During those years, he was offered freedom conditionally several times, but he stood by his people, stating that only free people could negotiate. It seems that during his incarceration, he decided to embrace peace.

In 1991, Mandela led the ANC in negotiations with the President of South Africa to end apartheid and begin a peaceful transition to democracy. Universal voting rights allowed Mandela to be elected president of the country. He initiated many programs to improve the living conditions of the country’s Black population. He did not seek a second term as president. Instead, he focused on advocating for peace, reconciliation, and social justice internationally. He promoted peaceful conflict resolution and community service. He was willing to die for the cause of justice. Fearless, moral, committed to the cause of freedom, Nelson Mandela learned, through suffering. He lived, in the end, Isaiah’s call to beat swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.

Nelson Mandela is today’s Ornament of Grace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can suffering change your perspective, as it did Nelson Mandela’s, on how to work toward justice peacefully?

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The Roman Centurion - Ornaments of Grace 2023

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the first week of Advent is the Roman Centurion.

from Matthew 8:5-11

As Jesus entered Capernaum, a Centurion approached him with this request: “Sir, my serving boy is at home in bed paralyzed, suffering painfully.” He said to him, “I will come and cure him.” “Sir,” the Centurion said in reply, “I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just give an order and my boy will get better…”.

The Roman Centurion in today’s Gospel seeks out Jesus to help his servant who is extremely ill. How did he know to do that?

Roman Centurions were generally not loved by the Jewish people. They commanded 100 soldiers of the occupational force. Charged with keeping order among the conquered people, Centurions were often very involved in the daily life of those they ruled and kept their forces busy with projects in the occupied towns. They even constructed synagogues, as a favor to the Jews, though Romans worshipped pagan gods.

While this Centurion had to be tough to keep his job, he may have had the good political sense to be friendly with the Jewish people in order to hear any news that might be going around. Since Matthew’s Gospel with the Sermon on the Mount comes just before this incident, it’s possible word might have reached the Roman soldier about Jesus, His great love for His people, and His miraculous powers.

Perhaps that is why this Centurion sought Jesus’ help when he got word his servant was so sick. That raises another question. How did he have such faith, trusting that Jesus could cure his servant without even coming to his home? True, he compared Jesus’ power to his own ability to give orders to his soldiers and expect them to be carried out. Yet, it seems to be more than that. The Centurion had to have an open heart, a heart that Jesus could touch, and a heart that could trust Jesus completely. This Centurion set all his pride aside and asked a Jew to help him. He put away any spite he may have had for the Jews who hated him, and just looked at Jesus’ goodness. So, the Centurion was a man with a humble heart, and Jesus recognized this.

Let us reflect on this faith-filled, humble soldier the next time we say the words of the Centurion at Mass: “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof…,” This Roman was also selfless, in one way at least. He was asking Jesus for a favor, not for himself, but out of love for his servant who was so deathly ill.

We can bring our requests before the Lord – truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - in the Blessed Sacrament Will Jesus find our hearts humble and open, trusting that He wants to heal and make us and those for whom we pray wholly alive in His love? Can we really believe and hold onto that faith, even if things don’t seem to be moving in the direction we expect? Will He be amazed at our faith as He was with that of the Roman Centurion? Maybe this Advent, as we take time to reflect on how the Lord became a tiny, helpless baby in order to save us, we can begin to put ourselves helplessly in the hands of an almighty God and simply learn to believe His is the only power that can save.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What Advent activities might help us open our hearts humbly in faith before an all-powerful Savior?

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St. Raphael - Ornaments of Grace 2023

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the first week of Advent is the Archangel Raphael.

Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus said to his disciples: “The coming of the Son of Man will repeat what happened in Noah’s time. In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and being married, right up to the day Noah entered the ark. They were totally unconcerned until the flood came and destroyed them. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man… Stay awake, therefore! You cannot know the day your Lord is coming.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is not asking us to go without sleep. Rather, He is warning us against sleepwalking through life, missing the very moments He is present with us in ordinary people or in our everyday routine. He reminds us to be aware of His presence when we face interruptions in our schedule or when this fragile life of ours is threatened by serious crises.

To begin our Advent journey and to ask for the healing which will help us keep alert to the actions of God in our lives during this time of expectation, we might turn to the Archangel Raphael, one of the Archangels revered along with Gabriel and Michael. The Old Testament’s Book of Tobit tells us much about the healing presence of St. Raphael and the importance of recognizing the face of God in our daily encounters.

Tobias was sent by his blind father, Tobit, to recover money he had lent to a man some distance from his home. Tobias obeyed his father and went to collect the debt. The Archangel Raphael appeared in the form of a young man to Tobias and offered to accompany him on his journey. Tobias recognized his companion’s goodness and, in so doing, found an unending source of help along the way.

Early on, Raphael rescued Tobias from a sea monster on the banks of the Tigris River. Shortly thereafter, he urged Tobias to go to a father whose only daughter brought death to all who married her because she was possessed by a demon; Raphael urged Tobias to ask for her hand in marriage. Sara, the daughter, had prayed unceasingly that whatever curse she suffered could be removed. When Tobias hesitated, Raphael said, “Heed me well… and thou shalt hear why the demon has power to hurt some and not others. The fiend has power over such as go about their mating with all thought of God shut out of their hearts and minds, wholly intent on their lust…”

So, trusting his good companion, Tobias married the once “dangerous” daughter. The couple prayed together, and the evil spirit fled. After that, as the young couple celebrated, Raphael went to collect the debt for Tobias’s father and returned to accompany the newlyweds home. Once there, Raphael restored sight to Tobias’s blind father.

As Tobias and his father thanked Raphael and wanted to share their money with him, Raphael said, “Prayer, fasting, and alms… here is better treasure to lay up than any store of gold… When thou, Tobias, were praying, I all the while, was offering that prayer to the Lord… Who am I? I am the Angel Raphael, and my place is among those seven who stand in the presence of the Lord… And the angel left them.

We all sometimes need to be healed from our blindness, so that we see the people – and maybe even the angels in disguise – who come to journey with us through life.

Observing the Beautiful Ornaments

What are some ways we can find healing from daily distractions that keep us from recognizing and trusting in the goodness of those around us?

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Season of Joy | Receiving the Holy Spirit

Sun, 28 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | Our World is the Book

Sat, 27 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | Do You Love Me?

Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | We Are One in Christ

Thu, 25 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | Find Joy in Giving Back

Wed, 24 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | One in the Father

Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 17:1-11a is by Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ.

Father Mitch is a Jesuit priest, world renowned lecturer, spiritual director for over fifty Holy Land pilgrimages, respected scripture scholar, published author, and the host of EWTN's television and radio shows. He is also the President and Founder of Ignatius Productions, a Catholic media production apostolate.

from John 17:1-11a
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
"Father, the hour has come.
Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,
just as you gave him authority over all people,
so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.
Now this is eternal life,
that they should know you, the only true God,
and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth
by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.
Now glorify me, Father, with you,
with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/tuesday-seventh-week-easter

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Season of Joy | Worship the True God

Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:29-33 is by the Very Reverend Esequiel Sanchez.

Father Esequiel is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago serving for the past 27 years serving in various capacities and parishes. He is currently the Rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, as well as Dean for Vicariate I in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

from John 16:29-33

The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God ...”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/053022.cfm

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Season of Joy | Heart Healing

Sun, 21 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Matthew 28:16-20 is by Emily Jaminet.

Emily is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, podcaster, wife, mother of seven children, and the Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network, found at www.welcomeHisHeart.com. Her most recent book is Holy Habits from the Sacred Heart, Ten Ways to Strengthen More Loving Relationships. Emily can be found at www.EmilyJaminet.com .

From Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052123-Ascension.cfm

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Season of Joy | God Loves Us So Much

Sat, 20 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:23b-28 is by Dr. Terry Nelson-Johnson.

Dr. Terry served on the faculty of the Loyola Academy Jesuit High School for eighteen years and is Founder of Soul-Play, LLC. He is Resident Theologian and Animator of Faith at Old St. Patrick’s Church, holds a master’s degree from Loyola University, and a Doctor of Ministry from the University of St. Mary of the Lake.

from John 16:23b-28

“I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. ...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052822.cfm

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Season of Joy | God's Labor of Love

Fri, 19 May 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:20-23 is by Fr. Richard Bollman, SJ.

Father Richard is a Jesuit priest living in Cincinnati at Xavier University. He works in retreat and spiritual ministry, and assists with worship at St. Robert Bellarmine parish where he was once pastor. Ordained in 1969, he also served at the University of San Francisco, and as Director of the Jesuit Renewal Center in Milford. Since his time as a pastor, he has been able to focus more on the ministry of spiritual direction.

from John 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052722.cfm

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Season of Joy | Can We See Jesus?

Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:16-20 is by Deacon Ron Yurcus.

Deacon Ron, ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Joliet, follows in the footsteps of St. Stephen and Francis of Assisi. In addition to ministering at St. Petronille Church, Ron was employed as hospice chaplain, volunteer state police chaplain and occasionally served as a parish mission and retreat director.

from John 16:16-20
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A little while and you will no longer see me,
and again a little while later and you will see me.”
So some of his disciples said to one another,
“What does this mean that he is saying to us,
‘A little while and you will not see me,
and again a little while and you will see me,’
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks?
We do not know what he means.”

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051823-Weekday.cfm

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Season of Joy | One More Gift

Wed, 17 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 16:12-15 is by Sr. Mary Ann Barnhorn, SND.

Sr. Mary Ann most recently served as Director of Development for the Ohio Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Prior to that, she was provincial leader and coordinated her Congregation's International Policy making meeting. She was Program Director at the National Pastoral Life Center in New York and Executive Director of the National Association of Church Personnel Directors. She holds a Masters in Pastoral Theology from Loyola University in Chicago.

from John 16:12-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. ...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052522.cfm

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Season of Joy | Earthquake Events

Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | Rest in God's Divine Design

Mon, 15 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 16:11-15 is by ValLimar Jansen.

ValLimar was a university professor, who by popular demand became a national speaker, a composer, and recording artist. For over 25 years, she has served as a keynote speaker, workshop presenter, catechist, and evangelizer. ValLimar developed a signature blend of dramatic art, music, Scripture proclamation, prayer and inspirational exhortation.

from Acts 16:11-15

On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. ...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/monday-sixth-week-easter

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Season of Joy | Living the Resurrection

Sun, 14 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14:15-21 is by Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob.

Bishop Grob was reared on a dairy farm just outside Cross Plains, WI and ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1992 and an auxiliary bishop in 2020. Over the years, he has been blessed by God to serve in various positions from associate pastor and pastor to Chancellor and Judicial Vicar.

from John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always,
the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,
because it neither sees nor knows him.
But you know him, because he remains with you,
and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. ...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051423.cfm

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Season of Joy | The World Is Us

Sat, 13 May 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:18-21 is by Eric T. Styles.

Since 2016, Eric has served as the Rector of Carroll Hall at the University of Notre Dame. He holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati and Loyola University Chicago, and has worked at Saint Benedict the African Catholic Church, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, as well as the Theatre School of DePaul University. Eric collaborates with the music art ensemble, Afro House, and writes about theology, liturgy, and contemporary culture.

from John 15:18-21
Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052122.cfm

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Season of Joy | Love One Another

Fri, 12 May 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:12-17 is by Rev. Howard Storm.

Rev. Howard was ordained in 1992. He served at Zion United Church of Christ and United Church of Christ of Covington, both in Ohio, and was the pastor at Saint Mark United Church of Christ in Kentucky. He’s made over 30 mission trips to a village in Belize — building a church, schools, and homes, and sending hundreds of students to high school and college.

from John 15:12-17

Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052022.cfm

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Season of Joy | God is Bigger Than Our Rules

Thu, 11 May 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:9-11 & Acts 15:7-21 is by Laurie Roche.

A retired journalist and public relations executive, Laurie now devotes herself to environmental conservation and education, community gardening, and habitat restoration. She chairs the Healthy Earth Team at St. Robert Bellarmine Parish in Cincinnati and is active in its community gardening initiatives in a neighboring lower-income community. Laurie is a wife of 43 years, a mother, and grandmother.

from John 15:9-11
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love ...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051922.cfm

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Season of Joy | Cut to the Quick

Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 15:1-8 is by Geralyn Hoxsey Sparough.

Geralyn is the Director and curator of classes at The Hive: Center for Contemplation, Art, and Action in Cincinnati. She is also a fabric artist and creator of the Social Fabric DNA Experience. Geralyn and her husband, proud parents and grandparents, offer marriage enrichment retreats across the country.

from John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051822.cfm

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Season of Joy | Spiritual Road Tripping

Tue, 09 May 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 14:19-28 is by Deacon Mark Duffey.

Deacon Mark is a husband, father, and grandfather who has served in ministry for 40 years in three cities, 24 years as a Deacon in suburban Chicago. He serves in various of parish ministries, his retreat ministry Deacon Speakin’, Catholic Relief Services, and currently as Business Manager for Heart to Heart.

from Acts 14:19-28
In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050923.cfm

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Season of Joy | Moved by the Holy Spirit

Mon, 08 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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United in Purpose | Season of Joy

Sun, 07 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 6:1-7 is by Peggy Arizzi.

Peggy has served her entire career with Catholic Charities agencies in four different American dioceses. She is currently Vice President of Programs & Services with Catholic Charities USA. She is also a Spiritual Director trained in the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. She grew up in Wauconda, Illinois.

from Acts 6:1-7
As the number of disciples continued to grow,
the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews
because their widows
were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men,
filled with the Spirit and wisdom,
whom we shall appoint to this task,
whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer
and to the ministry of the word."

Read the full scripture passage:

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Show us the Father! | Season of Joy

Sat, 06 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14:7-14 is by Fr. Roc O'Connor, SJ.

Roc became a member of the Jesuit staff at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL in October 2022, gratefully so, and still continues his ministry to the church as a composer of liturgical music and an author of books on spirituality.

from John 14:7-14
Jesus said to his disciples:
"If you know me, then you will also know my Father.
From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to Jesus,
"Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050623.cfm

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Jesus Lives Within You | Season of Joy

Fri, 05 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 14:1-6 is by Bill Damato.

Bill was a religious Brother from 1961 to 1996. He served as Director of Formation & Recruitment, Educator, Secondary President, and Director of Institutional Advancement. Bill has provided mental health services in underserved regions in Appalachia; he was the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in Long Island & Westchester School Districts; and he consults with boards on issues of governance and board integration.

from John 14:1-6

Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051322.cfm

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Blessed Are You | Season of Joy

Thu, 04 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 13:16-20 is by Tom Sparough.

Tom is an inspirational and humorous speaker who mixes the arts of juggling and storytelling. Tom authored this year's Heart to Heart series More Seeds of Hope, Stories for Lent. And he is the author of The Spiritual Exercises of the Coffee Filter, among other books. Tom is a spiritual director. Learn more at https://spacepainter.com .

from John 13:16-20
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051222.cfm

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I Look Forward to the Resurrection | Season of Joy

Wed, 03 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy Reflection on 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 is by Fr. Bob Sherry.

Father Bob, a Rockford Diocese Priest, serving for 57 years, asks God to tell him whose feet he should wash these days. In retirement he leads pilgrimages for Dynamic Catholic, raises funds for the poor with Cross Catholic Outreach and helps in parishes and Cursillo retreats.

from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
I am reminding you, brothers and sisters,
of the Gospel I preached to you,
which you indeed received and in which you also stand.
Through it you are also being saved,
if you hold fast to the word I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
that he was buried;
that he was raised on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050323.cfm

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Do You Admire or Follow Jesus? | Season of Joy

Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | We Are the Living Church

Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 11:1-18 is by Mark Huddy.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050922.cfm

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Season of Joy | Hear the Shepherd's Voice

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 10:1-10 is by Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ.

Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ is National Director of the Apostleship of Prayer [the Pope's Prayer Network], a 175-year-old ministry uniting hearts to the Heart of Jesus. He is a National Eucharistic Preacher for the Eucharistic Revival. He is the author of two books on the Sacred Heart and Ignatian spirituality.

from John 10:1-10
Jesus said:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate
but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.
But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice,
as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him,
because they recognize his voice.
But they will not follow a stranger;
they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."
Although Jesus used this figure of speech,
the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them. ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043023.cfm

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Season of Joy | Let Me Listen, Before I Speak

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 9:31-42 is by Heather M. Swiger.

Heather is a Non-Profit Director with extensive public and private sector experience including more than 30 years in leadership roles in the homeless system and insurance industry. Heather has thirteen years of experience working within the community that she serves. She is also a wife and mother of four.

from Acts 9:31-42
Since Lydda was near Joppa,
the disciples, hearing that Peter was there,
sent two men to him with the request,
“Please come to us without delay.”
So Peter got up and went with them.
When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs
where all the widows came to him weeping
and showing him the tunics and cloaks
that Dorcas had made while she was with them.
Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed.
Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.”
She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
He gave her his hand and raised her up,
and when he had called the holy ones and the widows,
he presented her alive.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042923.cfm

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Season of Joy | How is Jesus Talking to You Today?

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | God Is Active Today

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

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Season of Joy | Our Daily Bread

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today’s Season of Joy reflection on John 6:35-40 is by Neal Tew.

Neal Tew is a husband and father living in Cincinnati, OH. He has a BA in English from Harvard College and a Masters in Philosophy from Catholic University. He spent three years living in a monastery and wrote a book about the experience. Today he runs Brandstrength, a communications firm.

from John 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds,
"I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042623.cfm

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Season of Joy | Cast All Your Worries on Him

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on 1 Peter 5:5b-14 is by Fr. Jim Strzok, SJ.

Fr. James is an 82-year-old Jesuit, born in north central Wisconsin when the world was, in the words of poet E. E. Cummings, “Muddy luscious and puddle wonderful.” By training he is a chemist and physicist with higher degrees in earth sciences and ascetical theology. Most of his life he has been a teacher and missionary - 18 years among the Sioux Indians in South Dakota and then for 30 years, a missionary to E. Africa. He has worked among many indigenous people, which helped him understand and make the ecological conversion that Pope Francis calls us to.

from 1 Peter 5:5b-14
Beloved:
Clothe yourselves with humility
in your dealings with one another, for:
God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.
So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time.
Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042522.cfm

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Season of Joy | Do You Believe in the One God Sent?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 6:22-29 is by Terri Davis-Hayden.

Terri Davis-Hayden is a vocalist, teacher, writer, and producer, with a career spanning over thirty years. As owner of Cincinnati-based Respected Artists International (RAI), Terri creates and performs live, musical events, coaches career-bound singers, and produces meditation podcasts for Advent and Lent for her RAI YouTube channel.

from John 6:22-29
[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea
saw that there had been only one boat there,
and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat,
but only his disciples had left.
Other boats came from Tiberias
near the place where they had eaten the bread
when the Lord gave thanks.
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042423.cfm

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Season of Joy | Unexpected Encounters with the Love of the Risen Jesus

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Today’s Season of Joy reflection is by Rachel K. Forton

Originally from Des Moines Iowa, Rachel is a wife and mother of two beautiful children, spiritual director, retreat leader, writer, and editor in Palatine, IL. She served as Retreat and Communications Coordinator for Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House for six years and completed Ignatian Spiritual Direction Training there.

from Luke 24:13-35
That very day, the first day of the week,
two of Jesus' disciples were going
to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus,
and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.
And it happened that while they were conversing and debating,
Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,
but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042323.cfm

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Season of Joy | Jesus Calms the Storms Within

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 6:16-21 is by Tammy Bundy.

Tammy is the author of several books, including Lessons from the School of Suffering with Fr. Jim Willig, and the recent picture book, Lullaby Prayer. Her weekly column has appeared on EWTN global Catholic radio. You can follow her on all social media platforms, and at TamaraBundy.com.

from John 6:16-21
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043022.cfm

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Season of Joy | Humbleness & Faith

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 6:1-15 is by John Willig.

John received an engineering degree from Marquette University and followed it with a 40-year career at his family business. Since retirement, John has volunteered at St. Vincent De Paul, The Little Sisters of the Poor, a clothing center serving the needy, and as a communion distributor at The Christ Hospital. He is happily married with 8 grandchildren.

from John 6:1-15
Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” ...

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042922.cfm

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Season of Joy | Trust is Built on Truth

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 5:27-33 is by Sr. Rita Sturwold, SND.

Sister Rita is a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, an international congregation of women religious serving on five continents. She is a lifelong, enthusiastic, innovative, Catholic school educator and administrator. With a keen interest in Catholic education, fundraising and marketing, spirituality and holistic living, Sister Rita is a frequent speaker at local, national, and international conferences.

Acts 5:27-33 excerpt
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in
and made them stand before the Sanhedrin,
the high priest questioned them,
“We gave you strict orders did we not,
to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042822.cfm

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Season of Joy | Conversion

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 3:16-21 is by Dan Roche.

Dan is a certified spiritual director with experience in social justice work and church administration. He was a Jesuit before serving as a community organizer in China and India. Dan directed the Family Life Office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and was Director of the Jesuit Spiritual Center, where he continues to lead retreats. He also is active with the Kairos Prison Ministry. Dan is a husband, father and grandfather.

from John 3:16-21
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

Full Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042722.cfm

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Season of Joy | Healed in the Spirit

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 01:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 3:7b-15 is by Jane Newberry.

Many years ago, Jane married her wonderful high school sweet heart. They were blessed with 3 incredible children and now have 9 equally incredible grand children. She is a retired nurse and now spends her time helping family, friends and others. She’s involved in two parishes and also part of a group called “Discerning Women Deacons.”

from John 3:7b-15
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Read the full scripture: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041823.cfm

I love how John compares the wind to the Holy Spirit. We all see the results of wind and air and oxygen. Trees are moving; children are running. We know that wind and oxygen are there because we need these to live. We also know the Holy Spirit, who really is the oxygen of our spiritual life, is with us as he sends us thoughts and people to help guide us. Sometimes this is in subtle ways in the whispers of our lives. And sometimes this is in louder ways as He repeats events that can shape our lives.

We know the Holy Spirit has a plan for each of us. Maybe he's sending you to help at mass as a server. Yes, women can be servers. Or to become a lector or Eucharistic Minister. I have heard people say they feel unworthy to serve as a Eucharistic Minister or lector, but isn't this how we all feel, unworthy? Don't let this stop you.

Surely the Blessed Mother must have felt unworthy and overwhelmed when the angel appeared to her and asked her to be the mother of the Savior of the World. I have often thought about this. Mary was an unmarried teenager who had never had relations with a man. She could actually have been stoned for being pregnant before she was married. Yet Mary humbly and boldly said, "Yes" to the angel, to God the Father, and to the Holy Spirit.

Wow, what an amazing person she is.

The Holy Spirit uses all of us in some special way. Parents are guiding their children to be good and kind people. Other adults have chosen a single life and are involved in community outreach programs. Children are asked to help others at home, or in their neighborhoods. Young adults are discerning how they can serve others in their careers and community. Maybe the Spirit is calling you to volunteer in a school or take Holy Communion to those who are homebound.

There are so many ways to serve others. Just like the wind, we don't know where these actions will sometimes take us and we don't know how they affect the people whose lives we touch. Being open to where we are being sent can reveal many opportunities as we are doing the work of the Holy Spirit.

One way God has used me is through a program called Healing Touch. I admit I was initially unsure if Healing Touch was really for me and unsure of the benefits for recipients. Early on, I felt very inadequate. Through much prayer and practice, I believe the Holy Spirit has encouraged me to pursue this type of service to others. I feel that I am a small straw that the Holy Spirit is able to work through and I know that healing comes from God.

I want to be clear up front that Healing Touch is an energy approach to healing. It does not replace medical treatment. When we think of the different aspects of healing, we consider physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual healing.

Read the full reflection: https://youtu.be/fDKJqlzw-3c

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Season of Joy | Born from Above

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 3:1-8 is by Fr. Jim Kubicki, SJ.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Fr. Jim entered the Jesuits in 1971 and was ordained in 1983. He has worked in retreat houses and in ministry, was the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer and currently serves as a spiritual director at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

from John 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God,
for no one can do these signs that you are doing
unless God is with him."
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man once grown old be born again? ...

Full scripture: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041723.cfm

What was the greatest day of your life? Do you remember it? I suspect that most of us don't. I sure don't. That's because the greatest day of any of our lives was the day on which we were “born from above.”

That word that Jesus uses in his conversation with Nicodemus created confusion for him. It could be translated, “born from above,”or, “born again,” which is the way Nicodemus took it. Or it could also mean, “born anew.” Those are all different ways that Jesus told Nicodemus about the requirement for entering the Kingdom of God.

What’s it mean to be “born from above?” Jesus went on to explain that it means to be “born of water and Spirit.” It seems pretty clear that Jesus was talking about baptism. Now, baptism isn't just an initiation right into an organization. It's much bigger, more important, mysterious and life changing.

Water is used to clean things, and the water used in our baptisms cleansed us of sin. But it did something more. Though water is necessary for life, it is also dangerous and can destroy life. People drown in water and lose their lives, and that's what happened to us when we were baptized.

We believe that we were drowned when we were baptized, that we died to an old life and were born to a new life. Baptism killed our old selves and gave us a new life with Jesus who died for us and then rose to a new life, a resurrected life, a life that he shares with everyone who was baptized.

But, you may say, after baptism people don't look any different. And if they're baptized as adults, they would probably say that they don't feel any different, but they truly are different. Through baptism, they're joined to the risen body of Christ, whose divine life flows into and through them. They're temples of the Holy Spirit who takes up residence in them.

Think of that. The word for Spirit can also mean wind or breath. So just as the wind is a mysterious and powerful force that comes from who knows where and goes to who knows where, so is the Spirit, the breath of God. Like the wind, which we cannot see, so is the Spirit of God.

We can't see the Holy Spirit, but like a powerful wind, like the wind at Pentecost that can shake a house, so we can see the effects of the Spirit. And if we're temples of the Spirit, that means that God is not far from any of us, but very close, as close to us and as necessary for us, as our breath. Throughout the centuries, Christians have prayed with a breath prayer.

They filled their lungs with a deep breath, imagining the Holy Spirit within them, sustaining their new life. And then they exhaled and, as it were, breathed God's loving breath upon the world. Through baptism, we were adopted into God's family. We became true sons and daughters of God. But this can be a bit misleading. Human adoptions are beautiful, but they don't change a child's genetic makeup; their DNA.

Read the full transcript: https://youtu.be/RG8piaEQuM8

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Season of Joy | Jesus Invites Us To Believe

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 20:19-31 is by Fr. James Martin, SJ.

Fr. James is a Jesuit priest, writer, and editor-at-large for the Jesuit magazine, America. In 2017 Pope Francis appointed him as a consultant to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communications. A New York Times Best Selling author, he is a sought after public speaker and media commentator on faith, culture, and spirituality.

from John 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

full Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042422.cfm

In today's beautiful gospel, we read the story of the Apostle known as "Doubting Thomas."

Now, I've always thought that Saint Thomas gets a rather bad rap. After all, he was one of the most faithful of Jesus' disciples. You'll remember that in the story of the raising of Lazarus, in the Gospel of John, some of the disciples were worried about returning to Bethany, Lazarus's home, because it was in Judea where things were dangerous for Jesus.

Jesus had just been threatened with a stoning, but Thomas was undeterred, and encouraged everyone to go with Jesus. Beyond that, Jesus had chosen Thomas as an Apostle—one of the 12—so must have seen something good in him.

But because Thomas was not with the other disciples, at one of the original appearances of the Risen Christ, he doubted the resurrection. He says that unless he himself puts his hands in the wounds of Jesus he won't believe. Now, let's step back a bit. The beginning of the Gospel of John tells us that the disciples were locked behind closed doors out of fear.

But a closer look at the gospel shows us that Mary Magdalene had already had her encounter with the Risen Christ at the tomb on Easter Sunday and had already proclaimed the good news of the Resurrection to the disciples. In other words, they were still cowering behind closed doors after they had heard about the resurrection. So let's remember that everyone was struggling and was a little fearful and a little doubtful after the resurrection; it may simply have been human nature. But let's get back to Thomas.

On the one hand, Thomas should have known that nothing was impossible with God. On the other hand, no one had ever been raised from the dead in that precise way before—even Lazarus—and so Thomas can be forgiven his doubt.

But like the other disciples, Thomas had seen many miracles including ones where Jesus raised someone from the dead. Lazarus isn't the only one. There is also the son of the Widow of Nain and Jairus's daughter. It's a reminder to all of us that nothing is impossible with God. Even if Thomas and the disciples had a hard time getting that, we know it to be true. So the call of the Christian is not to hide behind closed doors.

It is to both hope and expect that God will be with us in all things. And that again, nothing is impossible with God. But Jesus knows that the disciples need more than just the report from Mary Magdalene. So as today's Gospel tells us, he appears despite the locked doors and gives them what they need: Peace.

Now Thomas, as we've said, is not there. And when the Risen Christ appears again, he knows now what Thomas needs and he shows him his wounds. God speaks to us in very personal ways, tailored to our own circumstances. Jesus gave Thomas just what he needed and asked for:
physical proof. ...

Read the full transcript:

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Season of Joy | They Did Not Believe

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Mark 16, 9-15 is by Sr. Francis Maag.

Sister Francis took her vows with the Congregation of Divine Providence 68 years ago. Over her career she served as principal with seven different schools, in four different states and five different dioceses. She remains an active participant of Divine Mercy parish in Bellevue, KY.

from Mark 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom he had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that he was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

To read the full scripture passage, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041523.cfm

"Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature."
This is the call to everyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus. This call to proclaim the gospel is the universal mission of every Christian. It is to proclaim Jesus. It is to share his teachings, and example of living his divine truths about life.

How can one carry out this mission unless one knows the gospel? How can a person know the gospel if there's no one to teach it? How can one share the truth of Jesus and the gospel if one is not sent?

To proclaim Jesus one must not just know about Jesus, one must know Jesus—have an experience of Jesus—and become a true believer. A true believer will be motivated to share the good news of the gospel with enthusiasm. All true believers are sent by Jesus himself to share the gospel with every creature.

Excuses abound. I am too young; too old; too uneducated; too busy; too...
It is well to note that Peter and John—Jesus's close Apostles—were considered uneducated by the people of their time. Yet they were recognized as companions of Jesus. They knew Jesus. They had experienced Jesus.

The Jewish leaders had seen the man who was cured by Peter's intercession. Nevertheless, these leaders ordered Peter and John not ever again to speak in the name of Jesus. The apostles retorted: "It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."
To enthusiastically proclaim the gospel. One must have a personal experience of Jesus and truly know him and his message. Become a true believer. One cannot pass on to another what one does not have in their own heart and soul.

When Mary Magdalene excitedly reported that Jesus was risen and alive, the apostles didn't believe her. When the two disciples on the way to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem with joy, to tell the apostles they had seen Jesus, they weren't believed.

Eventually the apostles too experience the Risen Jesus and initiated the church. To proclaim this good news—the news of salvation and restoration of our relationship with God, through Jesus—we need courage and commitment.

Let us enthusiastically respond to the beautiful and challenging call. Let us, in the words of Saint Paul, "Be ambassadors for Christ. Go into the whole world, and proclaim the gospel to every creature."

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Season of Joy | We Can't Stay on the Seashore

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on John 21:1-14 is by Sr. Leslie Keener, CDP.

Sr. Leslie is a Sister of Divine Providence of Kentucky and the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati.

from John 21:1-14
Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
He revealed himself in this way...

Full Gospel: https://bit.ly/3oh9xHF

The Gospel for today from John finds us with Peter and some of the others on a seashore after a long night of fishing but catching nothing. Does this feel like déjà vu? Well, we have been here before, but it’s in the Gospel of Luke. That lakeshore, after a long night of unsuccessful fishing, is where Jesus first catches Peter’s attention. Like this story from John, Jesus tells him to cast out the net again, and, like this story, Peter catches an abundance fish. Despite his great success, Peter decides at that very moment to leave everything, including that great catch, and follow the one who called him. He becomes a fisher of people and no longer a fisher of fish.

And yet, here he is again at the seashore doing the exact same thing. It’s like nothing has changed. Except everything has changed.

A cosmic shift has taken place, and Peter is trying to go back and pick up his life as if nothing happened. But Peter is not the same person who followed the advice of Jesus in that first encounter. Since then, he’s experienced terrible suffering, but he’s also seen the glory of God. He may have had the ordinary experience of breakfast with Jesus every day when he traveled with him, but he also witnessed Jesus healing people, casting out demons, and calming the sea. He felt Jesus remove his sandals and tenderly wash his feet, and he’s been to the mountaintop to see Jesus transfigured. After everything, how could he be the same?

Breakfast by this seashore with the resurrected Christ may feel beautifully familiar, but Peter is going to have to recognize that his life has changed. Jesus called him to fish for people, and it’s time to follow his call and stop clinging to the past.

And he does follow that call. As we see in our first reading from Acts, he takes up the mantle of leadership and becomes a surprisingly eloquent preacher. It may have been easier to keep returning to his old life, the familiar, the comfortable, but he lets go of that and moves forward to share the Good News.

Even though Peter seems slow in following Christ’s call, I do feel for him. For me, too, the familiar and comfortable have a sort of appeal to them, particularly during hard times or times of transition. And yet, God hardly ever calls me to do what’s easy and comfortable. God usually calls me to go out on a limb, to reach farther, to grow. God’s call often feels risky. Sometimes it is risky.

And that’s what Gospel living is. Just when we get used to something, God calls us to something more – to love more deeply, to move toward an encounter with someone I don’t know, to adjust my attitude to embrace someone I may have judged before. God loves in giant, abundant, and expansive ways, and if I’m to love like God does, I’m going to have to stretch. That’s uncomfortable sometimes, but also deeply satisfying and energizing, as only a call from God can be.

Here we are in this Easter season, these fifty days of resurrection that may not feel dazzling every single day. We still need to earn a living, take care of loved ones, do the dishes, mow the grass. We live in the ordinary, but that doesn’t mean we have to cling to what’s familiar. Let’s stay open so that we keep growing. We, like Peter, are called to keep sharing the good news of God’s abundant love, to extend the reach of God’s love. When we say yes to Christ’s call, whatever that might look like for each of us, it may feel uncomfortable at first. That’s ok. Christ, the one who calls us, is with us.

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Season of Joy | Jesus is the Healing Miracle

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's reflection on Luke 24:35-48 is by Fr. Kevin Flaherty, SJ.

Kevin is a Jesuit priest from Cincinnati, OH who has lived in Lima, Peru for more than 30 years. He is the spiritual director for Jesuit seminarians and offers spiritual and psychological accompaniment for priests, sisters, and pastoral ministers. On weekends he helps in a poor parish where he was previously pastor.

from Luke 24:35-48
While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
“Peace be with you.” ...

Full Gospel: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042122.cfm

Our Gospel reading today from the 24th chapter of Luke places us with the disciples huddled in the upper room. They're listening to two disciples who had fled Jerusalem and returned to say, 'an unknown companion on the road became Jesus in the breaking of the bread.'

Jesus appears to them in their midst, with the greeting: "Shalom, peace be with you," but they can't hear that greeting. Their hearts can't take it in. They're trapped by their own fear; panic. They don't know what will happen to them. Will they too be tracked down as criminals and even tortured and killed?

They still think they're seeing a ghost and a ghost never brings anything good. A ghost comes to haunt and torment. So he says, "Give me to eat." and he eats with them. A piece of fish. Slowly, they open their eyes and their hearts and they realize: We are with Jesus.

The crucified Jesus is the Risen Lord. And that is our deepest mystery. Jesus is the fulfillment of all scripture. He has brought us his life. The Risen Lord isn't known by any new miracles. In fact, he often appears to people as with Mary, the gardener, an unknown companion on the road, the voice calling out from the beach, and he identifies himself through his wounds with Thomas; now with the disciples. That's the deepest mystery.

Jesus is the miracle. Jesus is life—the way the truth, and the life. That is what we receive in Jesus; in the resurrection. That's why we place a crucifix above our altar. That's why with any prayer that we make through the spirit—in the Risen Lord—to God, is done with the sign of the cross.

One of the things I've most appreciated and value in my life here in Peru, is sharing the life of poor people and their faith. Maria I first met in our Parish, in a very poor area, when she was a catechist 30 years ago.

She came from a very poor family; was always bubbly and a life-giver; loves working with children. And most of her life has been dedicated to caring for children in very, very poor areas of a slum; for children who often have nowhere to go after school and she creates community of learning and of joy and of faith.

That's her life, in the midst of which she's raised three kids, two of whom have finished college. She also carries a life-threatening illness, but you would never know it.

When you meet Maria, it's a smile, it's peace, it's joy, it's a joke, but inside, you know, she carries the Risen Lord; that all of her life and her suffering and her wounds have been united to Christ and she lives a faith giving life to others.

That's what makes us witnesses. Letting the Lord's Grace into our wounds—our vulnerability. Letting us be touched by God so that we can then live in peace in God's love. And when we have been touched by Christ and the Risen Lord, then we want to reach out to others.

Then we are gifted to discovering Christ in the poor—in the wounded—and those who share our journey of life.

So let us rejoice in the resurrection; be joyful and look to meet the Lord who appears to us in so many ways. Especially through the healing of our wounds and in caring for others.

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Season of Joy | Participate in the Kingdom

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection on Acts 3:1-10 is by Roger Auer.

Roger was the first campus minister at Elder High School and was there for 37 years. He and his wife Mary have three daughters and currently 5 grandchildren. He was a member of the New Jerusalem Community for 30 years. He is currently on the board of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing and the Western Wildlife Corridor. He has nothing but gratitude for the life he has been given.

from Acts 3, 1-10
...a man crippled from birth was carried
and placed at the gate of the temple called “the Beautiful Gate” every day
to beg for alms from the people who entered the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked for alms.
But Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
He paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them.
Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk...”

Read the full reading here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041223.cfm

Reflection
Today's reading is one of my favorites. It was only a short time after Jesus' death and Resurrection. The two disciples already had gotten it. They knew how to build and participate in this Kingdom that Jesus spent so much of his time talking about. It reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite plays, A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer is complimenting his friend, Jacob Marley, saying that he was a good businessman. And Jacob replies, "Benevolence, forbearance, the common good. They were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business."

He did not come to this realization until after he was dead. And I believe this truth is very difficult for Americans today to appreciate. Because [for us] it's all about my success; it's all about my life being successful. The challenge of seeing mankind, in fact, as your business is something I believe very few Americans come to.

Paul gave us a pretty good idea with a pretty sweet list on how to participate in this "Body of Christ" as he called it. The only problem is that the list is about 2,000 years old. For myself, I believe we can update the list.

I was the campus minister of an all-boys High School for a little over 25 years. [In that time] I was able to make some connections because one of my jobs was to organize community service for the boys. I got to know community members and community organizations that could really benefit from some intensive help from high school students over a short period of maybe two to three hours.

One of the greatest gifts that I can still appreciate is that even though I'm retired now, I can still use those connections with the school and with the community to set up service opportunities. Two weeks ago, we got about 50 young men from this particular high school out to clean up the neighborhood in eight different groups. It was a wonderful day interacting with the neighborhood and after it was over there were a lot of smiles on the faces of the neighbors and on the faces of the high school kids.

Now maybe we do have silver and gold that we can contribute to the building of the kingdom. Or maybe we have the gift of healing; the gift of healing relationships and interactions between people of different races and different backgrounds.

Maybe, just maybe, our contribution in that way will in fact be part of building this Kingdom. This Kingdom that we so want to live in before we die. And so during this time after Easter, maybe we need to ask ourselves what it is that we can contribute in order to participate in the building of the Kingdom. Thank you.

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Season of Joy | The Call of the Beloved

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Back in high school, eons ago, I was leaving a basketball game with a group of friends and was a bit downcast because a boy I had a crush on didn’t seem to even know or care I had come to the game. As my friends and I approached the exit, I heard someone call out, “Wait, Nina, I’ll give you a ride home.” I thought – as many teens have – that my heart would burst with happiness. But as we grow up and our love matures, we form deeper relationships. My mother, in her late 90’s was approaching death and lay in a coma-like sleep. Suddenly, she awakened, her face radiant with joy. She did not see those at her bedside, but she said, “Howard!” the name of my father and her beloved husband who had died over 40 years earlier. I would wager that he had called her name. Shortly thereafter, she entered eternal life. Mothers and fathers often wake out of serious slumber when one of their small children calls for them. Yes, we know the voices of those who love us and those whom we love.

Mary Magdalene, in today’s Gospel, recognizes Jesus when he calls her name. She was not asleep, of course, but her vision was shrouded in grief. She had faithfully and fearlessly stood by her beloved teacher when he had been put to death, a criminal’s death. She knew where he had been laid to rest, and she wanted to mourn his passing there. As if the past days’ traumas were not enough, she cannot find his body in the tomb and believes someone may have stolen even that.

Surely we can relate to her not recognizing the angels or Jesus at first. When someone dear to us dies, our eyes are not only blinded by tears but also by the pain of loss. This makes it difficult for us to see what is happening around us, what is our way forward. When that death is preceded by trauma, such as Mary experienced, then the grief is compounded. And now, she experiences another horrific blow when his body is gone and she has no idea where it is. She could not tell that the figures in white robes were angels when they asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She explained – probably through sobs – that her dear friend was missing, and then she turned to leave. As she was leaving, the person she assumed to be the gardener asked, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” She again told him that her Lord had been taken away, and she begged him to tell her where they had laid him.

Finally, she hears “Mary!” In that moment she recognizes the voice of her beloved and runs to hold him. Jesus, probably very gently, explained that he had something he needed her to do. Love made her eager to do whatever she could for him. So, Jesus sent her to the other disciples to tell them he had risen and would be ascending to his father in heaven. Her loving relationship sent her on this first of all the apostolic missions – to tell the Good News to Jesus’ friends. She went quickly and joyfully!

Do we hear Jesus calling each of our names? Of course, many things get in the way of our recognizing Jesus as he comes to us. But, do we spend time with him, get to know his voice, love him with all our hearts? When we are grieving, do we look for him even in what seems like emptiness?

When he calls your name, will you happily carry out whatever mission he calls you to – no matter how great or how humble? This is only possible, first of all, if we have grown to love him. And secondly, it is only possible if we listen to him because he does call each of us by name.

So, let’s find a quiet place, where we can become intimately acquainted with the One who loves us infinitely. Let us listen as he teaches us about the promise of the resurrection. Let us recognize the gentle, loving way he calls each of our names. And, when he does, let’s not waste any time in proclaiming to others the Good News of his resurrection!

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Witnessing to the Real - Season of Joy | Matthew 28:8-15 by Becky Eldredge

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's Season of Joy reflection comes from Becky Eldredge. Becky is passionate about inviting people closer to Jesus. She does this by accompanying people through deep waters via spiritual direction, retreats, writing, and as founder of Ignatian Ministries. You can learn more at beckyeldredge.com

To read the full Gospel of the day, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040923.cfm

Matthew 28:8
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.

Reflection
Welcome to our reflection on today's Gospel on this Easter Monday. In reading this gospel I was reminded of a moment, several months back, when I got an early morning phone call from a friend. And it was early enough that when the phone rang and the call came in I was a little bit nervous, curious, what was going to be going on when I answered the phone to hear what was happening.

And when I answered the phone and I heard my friend’s voice, the first moment that she spoke I could tell that her voice was full of both joy and tears. And she said to me, “Becky Becky, I understand something new today.”

And I asked my friend, “Well, what is it? What is it that has you this morning so full of both joy and tears? And what she said is, “I realize it all matters to Jesus.”

Now what my friend was referring to was that she had had a hard season of life years ago, and she was also in the throes of a hard season of life. And what God had brought her to that morning in prayer was the realization that everything that she had gone through, and was going through in that moment, mattered to Jesus.

My friend that morning reminded me of Mary Magdalene in today's Gospel. Where Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to the tomb in their grief; coming to acknowledge the real of what had happened to their friend. And they are unexpectedly met by the Angels, and then also by the Risen Christ.

Mary Magdalene is truly the Apostle to the Apostles. She is an apostle to each one of us because of what her model shows us. First, Mary Magdalene had the courage to name the real and acknowledge the real of her life. She went to the tomb and tended to her sadness, knowing that her friend Jesus was not there. And there in the real that she was acknowledging she is met by the Risen Christ in the present moment. And she is invited to look around and pay attention for the signs of New Life. The Angels; the empty tomb; Jesus himself.

And then here in this moment—acknowledging the empty, yet full tomb—feeling both fearful and yet overjoyed, Mary Magdalene is sent forth. And Jesus tells her, “Do not be afraid.” He tells her who to move towards in this new season of life and what to say. He says, “Go and tell your brothers.”

And I don't know about you, but I'm sure glad that she did because of her witness and all of the Apostles’ witness after her that we have the Risen Christ to believe in.

So, I invite you to look at your own life and to be like Mary Magdalene and have the courage to bring the real to Jesus's attention, as my friend did that morning on the phone. As Mary Magdalene did. I invite you to look around and look with Jesus and notice signs of new life that are happening before us. Before you.

And then listen for how Jesus is giving you your next steps forward to embrace the new life, even if you feel fearful, and yet overjoyed, that Jesus too will tell you—as he did Mary Magdalene—who to move towards, and what good news to share with them.

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Season of Joy | We Are Easter People

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

from John 20:1-9

To read the full Gospel of the day, please visit: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040923.cfm

Reflection by Dr. Allen Hunt

Easter is the main event. If you don't believe in the resurrection, then you're not a believer. A character in a novel says those words, and he's right. We are the people of the Resurrection. We are the people of the empty tomb.

In fact, Jesus wasn't much into funerals, caskets, and tombstones at all. Jesus did resurrections, not burials. So much so, that Easter defines who we are. We believe that Jesus actually, literally, physically, rose from the dead. He transformed death into life. Better yet, we believe he will do that for us too, and that conviction changes everything. It changes the way we live every day because we really are Easter people.

Pope Francis said the resurrection offers us the greatest hope because it opens our lives, and the life of the world, to God's eternal future; to complete happiness; to the certainty that evil, sin, and death can be conquered. This leads us to living our everyday lives more confidently; to facing each day, courageously, and with commitment. In other words, we are Easter people. We know that life conquers death; grace conquers sin; courage conquers cowardice; and faith conquers fear.

So let me ask you, do your beliefs in the resurrection affect the way you live your life? Is there an area of your life that needs resurrection or needs new life from Jesus? A relationship that needs fear to be erased and boldness to be infused? Or maybe an addiction that has destroyed a part of you or your life? Perhaps greed and materialism has snuck in and robbed you of your joy? Do you know your neighbors or have you shut them out? Or maybe something else?

Spend five minutes each day for three days—five minutes each day for three days—in prayer for that one, fearful area of your life. Enter the classroom of silence. Listen for how God speaks to you and how he desires to turn what appears to be dead into the living. Invite him to fill you with the courage and commitment Pope Francis points us toward.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor and he was a part of a group of Christians who stood up to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Bonhoeffer really helped create a resistance by organizing an underground church that refused to obey the Führer Hitler, and Bonhoeffer became well known for his deep convictions and courage in the face of the greatest suffering and persecution imaginable.

Eventually Bonhoeffer's leadership decisions attracted Hitler's attention and they landed Dietrich Bonhoeffer in prison. He was transferred a few times, and finally he arrived at the awful concentration camp known as Flossenbürg. But even there, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued to inspire the men all around him. He led prayer, he taught from scripture, and he stood tall and bold against the moral evil of Hitler.

But on a Sunday morning, in April 1945, just as worship was ending Dietrich Bonhoeffer was praying. The guards walked in and they shouted, "Bonhoeffer, come with us." The other Christians there gasped and got ashen looks on their faces because they knew what was about to happen. They were about to lose their leader. They knew Bonhoeffer was being led outside to be hanged.

Death saturated the room, but Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood. He stood to follow the guards out to his death. And as he stepped out of the space with the other Christians, he spoke to his fellow prisoners, and he fearlessly said, "This isn't the end, for me, it's just the beginning."

"This isn't the end, for me, it's just the beginning."

Easter is the main event. We are the people of the empty tomb. We are a people of hope. Death is not the end, for us, it's the beginning.

Why? Because we are Easter people.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 7: Feed My Lambs

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

We are called to go forth.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 6: The Resurrection

Sat, 08 Apr 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Jesus rises from the dead.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 5: The Burial

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Jesus is buried.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 4: The Crucifixion

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Jesus is crucified.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 3: Jesus Before Pilate

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Pilate condemns Jesus to death.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 2: The Denial

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

The Passion of Jesus Christ: Peter denies Jesus 3 times.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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The Passion & Resurrection Act 1: The Foot Washing

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

The beginning of the Passion of Jesus Christ: Jesus washes the disciples' feet.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ inspires with his portrayal of Jesus and all the other characters of St. John’s account of the Passion and Resurrection. Fr. Jim Willig shares his reflections on this scripture in light of his own cross – living with Stage 4 cancer.

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Seeds of Hope | The Power of Blood

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0500

With corruption and scandal seemingly around every turn in the adult world, watch and learn the power of a child's innocence and purity.

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Intro music by Bensound
Main underscore, Hope, by Dyathon
Closing music licensed from Soundstripe

#lent #catholic

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Seeds of Hope | Healing Through God's Word

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500

Open the Gospels today, and see what God has to say to you.

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Intro music by Bensound
Main underscore, Hope, by Dyathon
Closing music licensed from Soundstripe

#lent #catholic

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Seeds of Hope | Problems to Pearls

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

What are the pearls in your life? Those things that began as nuisances and annoyances but over time were transformed into something worthwhile?

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Intro music by Bensound
Main underscore, Hope, by Dyathon
Closing music licensed from Soundstripe

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Seeds of Hope | We Are Like Lazarus

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

“Jesus called loudly, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips, his face wrapped in a cloth. 'Untie him,' Jesus told them. 'And let him go free.'” John 11: 43-44

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Seeds of Hope | Our Lady of Guadalupe

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

It is easy to be skeptical and doubt that miracles really happen. This was the case with Bishop Juan de Zumarraga who asked Juan Diego for a sign that the Blessed Mother really had visited him. Miraculously, that "sign" still exists today...

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Seeds of Hope | Make Suffering a Blessing in Disguise

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Who are the people in your life who suffer? Maybe they are chronically in pain or maybe they have a terminal illness or debilitating addiction. Find them. Connect with them. Pray for them and love them.

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Seeds of Hope | Embrace Spiritual Training

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Just as we need physical training to keep our bodies in shape, so too do we need spiritual training to keep our souls aligned with God's will.

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Seeds of Hope | A Testament to Perseverance

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500

When life is too hard... When you are ready to give up... Think about today's Story Seed and the trials and tribulations this man went through...and the great things he accomplished.

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Seeds of Hope | God Saved a Wretch Like Him

Sat, 25 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Sometimes it is easy to see God at work in our lives and in the world. Other times we wonder if God really cares about humanity. Today's story illustrates just how God works through imperfect people.

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Seeds of Hope | A "little way" to Great Holiness

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500

It is never easy to fully embrace humility and admit we are not strong enough on our own. Today's Story Seed comes from a "Little Flower" who learned through prayer the express path to sanctity.

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Seeds of Hope | Juggling is a lot Like Living

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

The simple rules to help you become a better juggler just might help you become better at living a busy and hectic life. Watch as Fr. Michael tries to teach...and keep all the balls in the air.

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Seeds of Hope | St. Francis of Assisi

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Sometimes when God calls us, we think we know what God is asking of us...until we figure out that we had it backwards. This is what happened with Saint Francis, but when he realized what God really wanted of him, God's church began to flourish.

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Seeds of Hope | The Most Widely Read Author in History?

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Who is your go-to person for wisdom? Do you look to the flashy celebrity or the humble Saint? Maybe we should look to a boy who could never quite get it right...

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Seeds of Hope | The Secret To Sanctity

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Hint: The secret doesn't start with us, it starts with God. We must take time each day to invite God to guide our thoughts and actions so that each day will be lived for God.

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Seeds of Hope | Thy Wil Be Done

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Listen and obey. These are often the commands we give our children. Should we expect any less of God?

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Seeds of Hope | A Mother's Love

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0500

In this Story Seed we see a mother loving her son through presence and prayer. Fr. Michael reminds us that we all have our own spiritual mother who wants to be with us as well, if only we leave the door open for her.

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Seeds of Hope | Bitter or Better?

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Humanity was born to suffer...or so it seems to many. It is easy to wallow in the bitterness of suffering and our trials but as Christians we know better. God offers greatness and true happiness but we must choose better over bitter!

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Seeds of Hope | A Lesson on Impact

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Today's story seed teaches that the impact of our good deeds is meaningful regardless of size and breadth. Many small things done one by one each day will change the world around us.

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Seeds of Hope | Find a Saintly Mentor

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

In life we have many heroes and people we look up to and emulate. Our spiritual lives need the same. Pick a Saint to emulate so that some of their holiness might trickle down from heaven to you.

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Seeds of Hope | God's Real Tweets Might Just Say

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

I imagine God's real Twitter name would be: therealGod (or something like that) and God's tweets would probably sound a lot like the messages in today's Story Seed...

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Seeds of Hope | God's Language of Silence

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0500

Did you ever have a secret language? God does. The language of silence. Watch this episode to learn some insight from Fr. Michael on how to decode God's Language of Silence.

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Seeds of Hope | Thorns in the Flesh

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0500

As Christians, our faith in God through Christ often requires that we invert our human thinking. Today's story seed reminds us to diminish our desires and power so that we can be more open to God's divine strength.

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Seeds of Hope | Pray for the Heart of Jesus

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Often times the struggles in our lives can turn into sources of great strength, if we let them. Don't give up in the face of a struggle and you might just come out the other side stronger than you knew you could be.

Watch this story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P5aF-ZTSUkY

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Seeds of Hope | Strength Through Struggle

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Often times the struggles in our lives can turn into sources of great strength, if we let them. Don't give up in the face of a struggle and you might just come out the other side stronger than you knew you could be.

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Seeds of Hope | Millard Fuller's Marriage

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

If you've never heard of Millard Fuller, or his wife Linda, surely you know the organization that they founded together and its impact on the United States. But without love for God, this organization would not exist today.

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Seeds of Hope | Walking on Water

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

These 10 daily seeds helped Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli grow in holiness as Pope St. John XXIII...

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Seeds of Hope | Copernicus

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0600

As Christians we are called to witness our faith and hold to our convictions, even in the face of unrighteous persecution. Learn how Copernicus held true, even when his persecutor was the Church herself.

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Seeds of Hope | House Building

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Life is like a DIY project. Don't short change yourself.

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Seeds of Hope | Twinkle, Twinkle

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

When childlike innocence and the creativity of a master are combined, wonderful things can happen. So it is with us and God.

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Seeds of Hope | Mother Teresa's Advice

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 01:00:00 -0600

A tree grows from a tiny seed into a large, towering presence. Saint Teresa of Calcutta offers simple seeds of wisdom to help each of us grow our own impact on the world for the greater glory of God.

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Seeds of Hope | Garden of Gethsemane

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Jesus went away to a quiet place to pray with three of his closest friends. Look to Jesus in your own suffering and struggle. Remember to pray as He did that God's will be done.

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Seeds of Hope | Pursuit of Happiness

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0600

Does the pursuit of happiness drive your life? If you found happiness, would you really be content?

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Seeds of Hope | The Daily Decalogue of Saint Pope John XXIII

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 01:00:00 -0600

These 10 daily seeds helped Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli grow in holiness as Pope St. John XXIII...

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Seeds of Hope | Alfred Nobel's Epitaph (A case of mistaken identity)

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

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Seeds of Hope | Biblical Directions

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

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Seeds of Hope | Baby Giraffes

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

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Seeds of Hope | Unanswered Prayers

Sat, 25 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

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Seeds of Hope | Noah's Ark

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

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Seeds of Hope | One Year to Live

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

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Seeds of Hope | Michelangelo's David

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0600

Known the world over as one of the most famous marble statues, listen and learn about how this masterpiece almost never materialized.

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Mary, Mother of God - Ornaments of Grace

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 01:00:00 -0600

Today's final Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the Octave of Christmas is Mary, Mother of God.

Luke 2:16-21
The Shepherds went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger; once they saw, they understood what had been told them concerning this child. All who heard of it were astonished at the report given them by the shepherds. Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. …

Mary, of all the saints, is the most important, so it is ideal that we honor her first in the New Year. She is the Mother of Jesus and, through Him, our mother as well. Those who celebrate this feast realize the loving care Mary has for us and how powerful her intercession is for us. We know she wants to be involved in our lives every single day, and we can ask her to help us give ourselves completely to whatever God calls us to be and to do, just as she did.

Mary understood, from the beginning, the importance of not just jumping into anything we think is a call from God. She reflected, as today’s Gospel says, on all that was happening. Growing up as a faithful Jew, Mary would have been familiar with the words of the Old Testament prophesying the coming of the Messiah. So, when the Angel Gabriel came to her, she understood the Angel’s words in the context of the Old Testament. They resonated with truth. Also, Mary was unafraid to ask for specifics on how this could happen, and she listened to the Angel’s explanation. Of course, she said to let everything happen to her in accordance with God’s will. Finally, the Angel told her about her cousin Elizabeth being with child. So, Mary set off to help Elizabeth, and Elizabeth confirmed what the Angel had told Mary.

These are good lessons for us, too. Let us listen to the voice of God as He speaks in our hearts, but let us not be afraid to ask the Lord to confirm what we believe we have heard. Is what we heard in keeping with Scripture? It is important to check. Is there someone holy and truthful who can pray with us to help confirm what we think God is asking? Is it really of God? Do we feel the peace of Jesus and Mary within us as we accept our call? Do we continue to reflect on the Spirit’s actions in our lives and on how those around us are benefiting from our choices? The shepherds certainly rejoiced because of Mary’s acceptance of God’s call, and we find joy that Mary helped to bring us God’s salvation in Jesus.

Since Mary has the most successful experience in discerning and accepting the will of God, let us ask her for help. Mary treasured her child’s life from the beginning all the way to the end. She treasures, as our mother, all that happens in our lives as well; so, we would be wise to turn to her with whatever needs we have. She will nurture us along our journey; she will rejoice with us when we are happy, and she will hold us close in times of sorrow. She will never desert us.

At the Annunciation, she said, “Let it be done to me according to your will.” At Cana, she directed, “Do whatever he tells you.” She reinforced with words what she had already shown by example. She accepted her call to be our mother as Jesus was dying on the Cross and said, “Behold your mother.” As her children, we are brothers and sisters of all. Embracing our brothers and sisters everywhere is the only path to peace.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you show that you are a true child of Mary by embracing a brother or sister who is different than you in some way, perhaps racially, socially, religiously, or politically?

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Saintly Wisdom - Ornaments of Grace

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0600

John 1:1-18
…Any who did accept him, he empowered to become children of God. These are they who believe in his name – who were begotten not by blood nor by carnal desire, not by man’s willing it, but by God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of an only Son coming from the Father, filled with enduring love…

Today we are blessed with a Gospel that will make us want to rejoice, celebrate, make joyful noise, dance, and welcome in the New Year with happiness. God lives with us, right here and now. He sent His Son to bring us the fullness of love!

Tonight is New Year’s Eve, so what kind of resolutions do you have on your list? Maybe you can take some ideas from the saints you have studied this season before making resolutions.

St. Francis of Assisi: “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

St. Andrew, the Apostle: “We have found the Messiah.”

St. Angela Merici: “Reflect that in reality you have a greater need to serve (the poor) than they have of your service.”

St. Francis Xavier: “The better friends you are, the straighter you can talk, but while you are on only nodding terms, be slow to scold.”

St. John the Baptist: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

St. Sebastian: “The devil strains every nerve to secure the souls who belong to Christ.”

St. Nicholas: “The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic His giving, by grace, through faith.”

St. Monica: “This only I ask, that you remember me at the Lord’s altar, wherever you be.”

St. Vincent Ferrer: “If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask him simply to fill you with charity, the greatest of all virtues; with it you can accomplish what you desire.”

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne: “He will never let the trial surpass the strength He gives you, and at the very moment you think yourself overwhelmed by sorrow, He will lift you up and give you peace.”

St. Paul of the Cross: “Meditation on Jesus Christ crucified is a precious balm which sweetens all our pains.”

St. Angela of Foligno: “Humility exists only in those who are poor enough to see that they possess nothing of their own.”

St. Elizabeth Hesselblad: “I understood that I could respond to that love only through sacrifice and a love prepared to suffer for His glory and for the Church.”

St. Gianna Beretta Molla: “Our body is a cenacle, a monstrance: through its crystal the world should see God.”

St. Anthony of Padua: “The breadth of charity widens the narrow heart of the sinner.”

St. Stephen: “Lord Jesus, do not hold this sin against them.”

Mary: “Let it be done to me, according to your word.”

Jesus, the Christ: “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

Let us follow the example of these Ornaments of Grace throughout this whole new year.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What God-centered resolutions do you have for this new year?

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The Holy Family - Ornaments of Grace

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Friday of the Octave of Christmas is the Holy Family.

Colossians 3:12-17
Because you are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you. Over all these virtues, put on love which binds the rest together and makes them perfect. …

St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading that we are chosen and beloved by God, a God who does not make mistakes. Since we are chosen and loved, we are called to practice mercy, kindness, meekness, patience, and love. We cannot do this alone. We do this as part of our human family.

God, Who loves us, deigned that we would be born to an earthly mother and father. We might not know the mother who gave birth to us or the one who fathered us, but someone made sure we survived as babies and children. From that person or those persons, we learned about life from an early age. Jesus was no exception. Happily, He had two very holy people as parents: Mary and Joseph. They taught Him to pray, to read Scriptures, to do household chores and to ply a trade. Best of all, they taught Him, by example, to obey God and to find joy in doing so.

Jesus did not grow up alone; nor do we grow up alone, even if we have no living parents, no cousins or siblings. We grow as part of a community, and we can, at any age, choose to grow within a community of faith. When we embrace our brothers and sisters in a community of faith, we learn to love. As God’s children, we will find joy in learning to practice the virtues St. Paul outlines in today’s reading. If we practice these good habits, God will wrap them all together in love, making them perfect.

Jesus needed to practice how to bear with others in His community as He grew. People are sometimes unkind, cruel, thoughtless or unaware. Bearing with all kinds of people along His early journey helped Jesus endure His later journey, one filled with difficulties and sorrows. He had to be patient in teaching His followers and in facing the challenges the Pharisees and Sadducees threw at Him. He had to endure desertion by his good friends when He needed them most.

Horrific suffering followed by a death on the Cross were His lot; yet, He forgave those who put Him to death. Families today need to learn endurance as well, how to bear with one another within community; for no life is without difficulties that try faith and have the power to destroy it.

Joseph and Mary obeyed God and found joy in that obedience. Look at Joseph’s quick and unquestioning response when the angel told him to flee to Egypt. He did not groan about losing material possessions or worry about what he would do to support his family in a new land. He obeyed immediately, saving Jesus’ life.

Read Mary’s joyful song of praise in the Magnificat. She did not question God’s calling her to be the Mother of the Messiah, even though it might bring public disgrace and an uncertain future. She simply trusted, finding great joy in humble obedience.

So, while Jesus was blessed with great example from His parents, we might not be. Nevertheless, God will always supply what we need – teaching us to love. We are His beloved children, born into a holy family, the whole human family. Let us find joy in practicing forgiveness, patience, humility, and kindness. That way, we can live together in peace with our whole human family.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you help your family prepare for difficult days ahead by obeying God joyfully?

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Simeon - Ornaments of Grace

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0600

1 John 2:3-11
The way we can be sure of our knowledge of him is to keep his commandments. …Dearly Beloved, it is no new commandment that I write to you, but an old one which you had from the start. …The man who claims to be in light, hating his brother all the while, is in darkness even now. The man who continues in the light is the one who loves his brother… .

Today’s Gospel speaks of a holy old man named Simeon. He exemplifies John’s words in the first reading since he lived in the light. Simeon could recognize Jesus as soon as Mary and Joseph brought their Son into the Temple to present Him to the Lord because his sight was not merely human sight. There is no way he could, with ordinary human vision, have picked out Jesus from all the other little boys being brought to the Temple day in and day out, including the day recorded in the Gospel. Simeon had waited patiently many years for this moment. Because he lived a life of faithful, patient prayer, he could see with the eyes of the Holy Spirit Who lived within him. The Spirit is light.

John’s letter today tells us that if we want to live in the light and not be blinded by darkness, then we need to love one another. This is the command he heard from Jesus; the command he saw Jesus carry out in His earthly life. Simeon, while born long before Jesus, knew the command. He prayed, and so he was in relationship with the God of love. He understood how he was loved, and he knew how to love others. He studied scripture and waited patiently for the Messiah to come. What joy he had when he picked up Jesus and held Him after so many years! He was so excited that he lifted up this prayer, “Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: a revealing light to the Gentiles, the glory of your people Israel.”

If we want to recognize Jesus in our midst as Simeon did, we need to walk in the light. Simeon called God His Master and himself, God’s servant. Simeon was called by God to serve in the Temple, to wait patiently in prayer, to look for the Messiah and to welcome Him. He did this right up until the end of his life, and his life ended in joy because he had light enough to reach for Jesus.

We are called to serve, but we have been given a vision of Jesus through the Gospels, something Simeon did not have. We know Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We know He went about feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching those who wanted to know about God, praying, and forgiving. At the Last Supper, washing His disciples’ feet, He called us to serve one another in the same way. Finally, Jesus offered His life for us.

The Old Law required love of neighbor to protect the other’s life, interests, and welfare. Jesus brought love to a whole new level, asking His followers to love unconditionally. Sharing in another’s delight, showing compassion to a person in pain, and patiently waiting in prayer, we can begin to have light – not night – vision, the kind of vision Simeon had.

To really see Jesus and reach out to hold Him this Christmas season and always, we need to see Him among the many who stream into our lives each day. That kind of vision only comes if we live in the light of love.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How has the light of the Holy Spirit helped you love intensely, making you eager to serve others?

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The Holy Innocents - Ornaments of Grace

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Oranments of Grace for Wednesday of the Octave of Christmas are the Holy Innocents.

1 John 1:5 – 2:2
Here, then, is the message we have heard from him and announce to you: that God is light; in him there is no darkness. If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while continuing to walk in darkness, we are liars and do not act in truth. But if we walk in light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

Today’s first reading is, like that of yesterday, from John. Today he does not mince words. He tells Christians to quit pretending that they are good and holy if they continue doing sinful deeds. Of course, everyone sins, and that is why Jesus came to save us. But hypocrisy runs rampant in our country and our world, dividing people and causing little children the greatest harm. We cannot say we are for life if we fail to act in life-giving ways.

Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a day when we remember those boy babies under the age of two who were slaughtered in and around Bethlehem by order of King Herod. Herod, thinking Jesus could be the Messiah, wanted to eliminate him for fear he would someday usurp his power. Herod’s lust for power caused unimaginable suffering. Lust for power still does today.

An average of around 15,000 children under the age of 5 die each day. Some die because of preterm birth or birth trauma, some from infectious diseases, others from injuries and drowning. Most die from treatable diseases and other preventable causes. Poverty, inequality, discrimination, and illness still stalk and kill our children. War and other conflicts deny children the safety they need to grow in security. They lack healthcare and intact family life in war-torn regions, so they cannot be properly nurtured.

Children everywhere, even in our own country, lack proper nutrition. Many more children are in school than ever before, but more than half the children do not achieve even minimal educational goals. Often, in some countries, girls are denied education altogether. Children of all ages often suffer violence or the threat of violence in their own schools and neighborhoods.

Walking in the light means working so that all the children have clean water, clean air and a safe climate. Obviously, our changing climate is endangering the lives of many – if not all – children. It contributes to drought, flooding, and the destruction of crops. Malnutrition and starvation result. Many children die painful deaths daily. Others have to flee from their homes due to increasing natural disasters driven by climate change. Some die in the process of migration; others make it to a new destination, only to live in dire poverty, with little or no healthcare, facing a slow death.

Nearly 300 million children live in areas with severe toxic outdoor pollution – air, groundwater, toxic waste areas. Over 600,000 of these are under five and will die. Those who survive will suffer damage to their bodies and minds. If we do not work against all these evils, then we walk in darkness, not in the light.

Little children are the first victims of war and poverty. How are we working for peace in order to save our Holy Innocents today?

Herod, by other names, still seeks to kill the little children. God entrusted the care of his children to us. Let us walk in the Light of Love.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How will we help to stop Herod’s forces today – forces of environmental degradation, war, poverty, hunger, fear – from killing our little ones?

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St. John, Apostle & Evangelist - Ornaments of Grace

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Tuesday of the Octave of Christmas is St. John, Apostle and Evangelist.

1 John 1:1-4
This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked upon and our hands have touched – we speak of the word of life. …This fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. Indeed, our purpose in writing you this is that our joy may be complete.

Today’s first reading is from the short letter of John, proclaiming the same idea as the Gospel of John with a slightly different emphasis. In John’s Gospel, the divine nature of Jesus is prominent. We hear about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead today. But, by the time the letter of John is written well after the resurrection, some people based everything on Jesus’ divinity and tended to forget that He was truly human as well. So, John’s letter reminds us that Jesus, while one with God, became one of us, truly sharing in our humanity.

Having just celebrated Christmas, when Jesus became man, it is a good time to remember that Jesus spent His time on earth loving. That is John’s message over and over. God is love, and Jesus is love in the flesh. Love, for Jesus and in John’s messages, is not an abstract concept. It is love embodied in human actions. John says today that Jesus invites us into communion with His Father and with Him. So, we, too, embody love in the way we speak, in the way we are present to one another, in our actual living in this human community.

John’s emphasis is also on joy. If we live in right relationship with God and one another, then he says our joy will be complete. John knew Jesus personally and loved Him as a human walking this earth; he heard Jesus, touched Him, and saw Him reaching out to the poor, the sick, the marginalized. John knew what Jesus was about and, therefore, what we need to be doing if we want to experience true joy.

John, along with his brother James, was among the first apostles called by Jesus, after Peter and Andrew. Early in Jesus’ ministry, John witnessed many signs and miracles performed by Jesus. He was present when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead. Jesus took him up the mountain at the Transfiguration, where he witnessed Jesus’ glory and heard the voice of the Father. He heard Jesus prophesy about the last days when they were on the Mount of Olives, and he was nearby when Jesus suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus trusted John with the care of his beloved mother when he was dying on the Cross. John saw the empty tomb after the resurrection, and he was in the upper room when Jesus appeared. John was present at Jesus’ last appearance at the Sea of Galilee prior to the Ascension. Likely, these are just the highlights, but John knew Jesus extremely well and wants us to know Him, believe in Him and love as Jesus did so that we, too, can know perfect joy.

In establishing the early Christian Community, John worked first in Jerusalem along with Peter. He was with Peter when he healed a lame man in the Temple. When Peter went to confer the Holy Spirit upon the Samaritans converted by Philip, John accompanied him. His mission of preaching never ended during his life, and he tells us today the same message: God is Love. We can listen to John, for he knew Jesus intimately.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What difference has your relationship with Jesus made in your life?

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St. Stephen - Ornaments of Grace

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the Octave of Christmas is St. Stephen, the Martyr.

Matthew 10:17-22
Be on your guard with respect to others. They will haul you into court; they will flog you… You will be brought to trial before rulers and kings… When they hand you over, do not worry about what you will say or how you will say it. When the hour comes, you will be given what you are to say…The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will turn against parents and have them put to death.

As we begin the Octave of Christmas, we continue to celebrate Jesus’ coming. Yet, the happiness of Christmas seems to stand in stark contrast with the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. The words of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel today remind us that Jesus’ birth cannot be somehow separate from His death and resurrection. Neither can our birth by baptism be separated from our death and resurrection in Jesus.

After Jesus’ resurrection and the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles needed more help to serve the growing early Christian community. Disputes began to arise between the Greek-speaking Jews and the Hebraic Jews about fair food distribution to their widows. The Greek-speaking Jews felt their widows were not being treated as well as the others. Stephen was highly respected as a man of faith and fairness. An added benefit was that he spoke Greek. So, the Apostles asked Stephen to be one of seven deacons to distribute food and other necessities to those in need.

Stephen had many talents, though, and he not only served food, but he preached in the synagogues of the Greek-speaking Jews. There, he spoke powerfully and worked miracles among the people. The prominent members of these synagogues argued with him. Stephen engaged in their debates and showed all the truth of his teachings.

Unfortunately, winning the debates humiliated those who had challenged Stephen. So, the leaders of the synagogues made up lies, saying Stephen had showed contempt for God and a lack of respect for Moses. Such blasphemy was considered a serious crime, a crime that would have to go to trial before the supreme court of the Jewish elders, the Sanhedrin.

Angry members of the synagogues dragged Stephen before the Sanhedrin for trial. There, they accused him of preaching against the Temple and the Law of Moses. Stephen must have remembered Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel because he did not get upset. He gave a long speech to the Sanhedrin, carefully outlining his understanding of the history of Israel. Speaking of Abraham, the patriarchs, and Moses, he explained how the Chosen People disobeyed God and needed the Messiah. He showed how Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to destroy it.

Stephen bravely told those before him how they were, by falsely accusing him, doing what their ancestors had done by persecuting the prophets. He warned them that they were not listening to the Holy Spirit, and he reminded them that they even killed the Messiah who came to save them.

Stephen’s words angered the crowd who began to throw stones at him. Stephen looked up to heaven and cried out, “Look! I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God!” As he died, he asked the Lord to receive his spirit and forgive those who stoned him.

We will suffer in following Jesus, but Christmas reminds us that He lives among us to give us everything we need to stay faithful in the moments, days, or years ahead.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Who are some people who have spoken ill of you? Have you forgiven them?

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Jesus, the Christ - Ornaments of Grace

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Christmas Day is Jesus, the Christ.

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us; not because of any righteous deeds we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the baptism of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he lavished on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs, in hope, of eternal life.

Advent is over, and the wonderful celebration of the Christmas Season is here! St. Paul in his letter to Titus, from the second reading of the Mass at Dawn, calls us to rejoice that Jesus, God among us, is here to save us. He reminds us that we have not done anything to deserve saving; there is nothing we will ever be able to do to merit such love. But, God, in his infinite mercy, wants to save us so we can be one with Him.

Today is a good day to give thanks for our Baptism, our new birth in the Holy Spirit. In Baptism, Jesus renews our birth in His birth so that we can become pure and holy. We can share Jesus’ birthday in the truest sense, for we – like Christ – have been born through salvation today. Let us sing, dance, eat, celebrate, and never forget to do good works.

St. Paul tells Titus we are heirs in hope. I know someone who is totally bored with her life. She is not particularly depressed, but she is looking for something exciting to do all the time. Do you know anyone like that?

She has eaten at every restaurant within miles, gone to every gallery, taken courses, and shopped at every kind of store. Still, the boredom returns. Christmas decorations, gifts, foods, maybe a church service with uplifting music, and some visitors may bring her a little fleeting happiness today. But, what about tomorrow? What about all of us tomorrow? Will we hold onto Christmas joy then and throughout the year?

St. Paul’s letter to Titus reminds us that the Holy Spirit has been lavished on us. Lavished! The Holy Spirit has given us these gifts: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Using these gifts, we bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Using the gifts of the Holy Spirit to do good works will help us put down the roots to our life’s tree, and that tree will bear much good fruit.

Throughout Advent, we looked at saintly people’s lives. We have seen people who prayed (piety), studied God’s Word (knowledge), and used all the Spirit’s gifts. Their fruits of love, joy, peace and more were evident as well. So, Jesus, Our Savior, came to bring us the fullness of life in the Spirit. Let us, human like the saints, use our hands and feet, our talents, whatever we have to offer to make the saving love of Jesus real for people around us today. Deep joy will follow.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI knows this. He said, “Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money. We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us…”.

May we all find joy in the Holy Spirit Who has been lavished on us because Jesus, wanting to be one with us, chose to be born long ago as a helpless child and chose to give His life that we might live – and do the same as He did.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What is the best gift you can give a person on Christmas, and how will you present it to that person?

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Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati - Ornaments of Grace

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Advent is Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Luke 1:67-79
Then Zechariah, …filled with the Holy Spirit, uttered this prophesy: “…He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered the holy covenant he made, the oath he swore to Abraham our father he would grant us: that, rid of fear and delivered from the enemy, we should serve him devoutly and through all our days be holy in his sight…”.

Advent is coming to an end, and today’s Gospel cites Zechariah’s beautiful canticle. His prophetic song of praise reminds us that God is faithful to His promises, that He calls us to walk the path of peace, and that He brings us eternal salvation. One person who followed a path of just peace was Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Born in Turin, Italy, in 1901, Pier’s father was a newspaper man who became a senator and then an ambassador to Germany. His mother was an excellent painter. From an early age, Pier had a desire to help the poor. Once, when Pier was a child, a mother came with her son to the Frassati’s door, begging. The little boy had no shoes, so Pier gave his shoes to the boy.

Pier became a lay Dominican, influenced by Dominican Saints Thomas Aquinas and Catherine of Siena. A deeply prayerful person who attended daily Mass, he dedicated himself to caring for the poor and to changing social systems for the good of all. Well-liked by many because of his kind, humorous ways, he brought a lightness into heavy situations. Active athletically, he especially enjoyed mountain climbing and swimming.

Pier participated in anti-fascist rallies. He hated violence and had a calming presence wherever he went, even at the protests. Never afraid, he was often physically attacked by fascists. Arrested many times for peacefully protesting, he once had to fight back when the police became violent at a Church-backed demonstration. When people lauded his courage, he said, “One ought to go and one does. It is not they who suffer violence who should fear it, but those who practice it.”

Pier Giorgio studied at a university in Turin to become a mining engineer in order “to serve Christ among the miners.” In his free time, he served the poor, giving all he had to those in need. Once he gave his bus fare away and ran the long distance home on foot. Often, he gave up summer vacations at his family estate outside Turin because he felt that if everyone left the heat of the city, no one would be around to care for the poor.

Frequently spending his nights adoring the Blessed Sacrament, he meditated on St. Paul’s letters, especially 1 Corinthians 13, on the excellence of the gift of love.

Pier contracted polio in the summer of 1925, probably while caring for the sick. Boating with friends on June 30, he complained of pains in his back and returned home on July 1 with a severe headache and fever, only to find that his grandmother had died that day. Not wanting to draw attention to himself, he mourned with his family until he became too ill on July 2. He could not move when the doctor arrived. On the night before he died, his hand was partially paralyzed; yet, he wrote directions so that a friend would take needed medicine to a poor man Pier had served. His last words before he died on July 4, 1925 at only 24 years of age, were these: “May I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.”

The Turin poor turned out in droves, lining the streets on the day of his funeral. Pope St. John Paul II beatified Pier Giorgio Frassati in 1990, calling him the “Man of the Eight Beatitudes.”

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we, like Pier Giorgio Frassati, serve the Lord faithfully and devoutly without fear?

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Dr. Takashi Nagai - Ornaments of Grace

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Friday of the Fourth Week of Advent is Dr. Takashi Nagai.

Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me … But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord…

Today’s Scripture passage urges us to prepare the way for God’s coming into our hearts by our facing the metal refiner’s fire and cleansing with strong soap. Dr. Takashi Nagai emerged from fire and cleansing, shining with love and forgiveness.

Born in Matsue, Japan, in 1908, Takashi Nagai’s family was well-educated and raised him in the Shinto religion. In 1920, Takashi began higher studies at a boarding school and became interested in Christianity. Eight years later, he entered the Nagasaki Medical College. His mother died in 1930. This sadness prompted him to read Pascal’s works that focused on reasons for God’s existence. He boarded while in school with a joyful Catholic family, the Moriyamas, who led him to embrace Catholicism.

After a farewell party a few days before graduation from medical school in 1932, Takashi walked home in the rain and fell asleep soaking wet. The next morning, he had a severe infection which caused partial deafness, so he chose work in radiology since he could not use a stethoscope.

Beginning his required military service in 1933, Takashi cared for wounded soldiers in Manchuria, among other duties. Upon his return from the brutal war totally exhausted, he continued studying the Catholic faith. Baptized and confirmed a Catholic in 1934, he proposed to and married Midori Moriyama the same year. The couple eventually had four children.

Takashi joined the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, visiting not only his patients but the many poor in the area, bringing them food and whatever comfort he could. Food was scarce and conditions cramped in many places, so tuberculosis ravaged many. At this time, he met Fr. (later saint) Maximilian Kolbe who was living in a suburb of Nagasaki. War soon broke out between China and Japan, and Takashi was called back again to serve as surgeon. While in service, his father and daughter died. He returned home, grieving and weary, in 1940. He continued his demanding x-ray work and contracted leukemia from leaking radiation in the x-ray machines.

Japan declared war on the United States in December, 1941. On April 6, 1945, the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Takashi labored to serve the wounded. On April 9, the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, where Takashi was serving in the College Hospital Radiology Department, again caring for the wounded in spite of suffering a severe head wound himself.

On August 11, Takashi found his wife dead and his home destroyed. A few months later, he was near death due to the severity of his head wound. Praying through the intercession of his friend, Fr. Kolbe, unaware until later of the priest’s bravery in Auschwitz, Takashi received the strength to carry on his work for a little longer. He wrote a best seller, The Bells of Nagasaki, and used the money he made from it to plant hundreds of cherry trees to bring hope, saying, “… we pray to God: Grant that Nagasaki may be the last atomic wilderness in the history of the world.”

Confined to bed for his last five years, Dr. Nagai lived in his hermitage with his relatives, promoting love, forgiveness, and peace. Nearing death, he prayed: “Jesus, Mary, Joseph, into your hands I entrust my soul.”

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we work for peace and the end of storing nuclear weapons so that Christ’s peace may reign in our world?

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St. Anthony of Padua - Ornaments of Grace

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent is St. Anthony of Padua.

1 Samuel 1:24-38
Once Samuel was weaned, his mother Hannah … presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh, … approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! … I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.”

Fernando Martins de Bulhões, known as St. Anthony of Padua, was born in 1195 to a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal. Fernando dedicated himself to God from an early age. He joined the Canons Regular Order outside Lisbon around 1210. Well liked by family and friends, he found their frequent visits distracted him from prayerful study and asked to be transferred to the Order’s main house near Coimbra where he studied Latin and theology.

By 19, Fernando had been ordained a priest. As the one in charge of welcoming guests for the Canons Regular, he met Franciscans staying in the St. Anthony the Great Hermitage nearby. These Franciscans witnessed to God by their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, by their simple lifestyle, and by their mission to share the Gospel with all people. While there, the Franciscans got news that five of their Order had been beheaded in Morocco, the first of the Franciscan martyrs. Such courage inspired Fernando, so he asked his superiors to leave the Canons Regular and join the Franciscans. Upon entering the small hermitage of St. Anthony the Great, Fernando took the name Anthony.

Shortly, Anthony set out for Morocco where he became seriously ill. Trying to return to Portugal by sea, his ship was blown off course, ending up in Sicily. From there, he went to Tuscany and joined a Franciscan Convent. Due to his frailty, he was assigned to a hermitage near Forli, Italy, where he prayed and studied. Many Dominican friars came to Forli to participate in an ordination. Dominicans, known for their excellent preaching, were expected to give the homily. But they, as guests of the Franciscans, assumed the Franciscan friars would preach. So, the head of the hermitage asked Anthony to say whatever the Holy Spirit directed him to say. With his in-depth knowledge of Scripture and an excellent voice, all present were moved by Anthony’s words.

From Forli, Anthony was sent to Bologna. There, the young priest met St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis entrusted the studies of young members of his Order to Anthony, whom he found shared his vision. In Bologna, Anthony had written his many teaching notes in a Book of Psalms which was stolen by a novice who left the Order. A poor Franciscan would have found it difficult to replace such a book, so Anthony prayed to God to help him find it. The novice returned the book and also returned to the Order. Probably this is why we pray to St. Anthony when things are lost or stolen.

Later, Anthony was chosen Superior of the Order in Northern Italy, and he chose the city of Padua as his base; hence his title as St. Anthony of Padua. He died at the age of 35 from accidentally eating fungus-infected grain. Amazingly, less than a year later, he was canonized because, even in his own day, he was loved as a saint.

Since the 17th century, Anthony is often shown holding up the Christ Child. Jesus gave up His appearance as God, becoming a humble child, in order to be one with us. He kept God’s promise to save us. Anthony, adopting a poor and humble life, held up the Christ Child as an example for all through his preaching and loving works of caring for the poor.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we hold the Christ Child up so that many will want to know His love?

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St. Gianna Beretta Molla - Ornaments of Grace

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Advent is St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

Luke 1:39-45
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: Blest are you among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy. Blest is she who trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.

Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian wife, mother, and doctor, was born on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi in 1922. Always attentive in prayer, Gianna Molla made the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola prior to beginning university studies. Her schooling was interrupted in 1938-1939 due to poor health. But in 1942 she began her studies in Milan, getting a diploma in medicine from Pavia University there in 1949.

Since her brother Giuseppe was a missionary priest in Brazil, Gianna wanted to help there with gynecological services for the poor. She soon realized she could not do that due to her chronic health issues. In spite of her own frail condition, she enjoyed skiing and mountain climbing. Always reaching out to the poor in her area, she offered whatever services she could. In 1950 she began a practice in Mesero, Italy, and in 1952 pursued a specialty in pediatrics from the University of Milan.

Gianna met Pietro Molla, an engineer, in 1954; the pair married the following year. Just before their marriage, she wrote to Pietro: “Love is the most beautiful sentiment that the Lord has put into the soul of men and women.” Together they had four children who lived. One of her daughters, Mariolina, died as a young child. So, certainly this was a great suffering for Gianna, Pietro, and Mariolina’s siblings.

In spite of the suffering that often accompanies parenthood, Gianna and Pietro wanted to have more children and desired to bring them up in a loving and Christ-centered home. They would have recognized the joy that Elizabeth and Mary share in today’s Gospel. Gianna was inspired to help those in need by Mary, who ran to help Elizabeth. She had, like so many working mothers and fathers, to learn to trust God completely as she balanced family, prayer, professional duties, and outreach work.

Toward the end of September 1961, Gianna was just two months pregnant when she began having great pain. A uterine fibroma was discovered. The doctors told Gianna she could have an abortion, have a hysterectomy, or just have the tumor removed. She chose to just have the fibroma removed to preserve the life of her child. Her son later wrote that his mother loved her children unconditionally, and her first concern was her unborn child. He also said she wanted to have more children, so that may have influenced her choice as well. She understood all the implications since she was a pediatric surgeon herself. The surgery was successfully performed. For seven months, Gianna prayed for the safety of her child, that the baby would not suffer any pain in her womb.

On Easter Sunday morning in April, 1962, a baby girl whom Pietro and Gianna named Gianna Emanuela was delivered by Caesarean section. Yet, after the birth, Gianna continued to have excruciating pain. Suffering from septic peritonitis, Gianna died one week later as she prayed, “Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you.” Baby Gianna Emanuela grew up to become a physician and gives thanks to God that her mother loved her enough to give her life for her.

Gianna was beatified in 1994, and her husband Pietro and her children were able to attend her canonization in 2004.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What kind of relationship with Jesus empowers you to make decisions for the sake of others before yourself?

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Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu - Ornaments of Grace

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Tuesday for the Fourth Week of Advent is Bl. Maria Gabriella Sagheddu.

Isaiah 7:10-14
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered: “I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord.” Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men; must you also weary my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Born to shepherds in the Sardinian Region, an island to the west of Italy, Maria Sagheddu recognized the sign given by a loving God as Immanuel, God with us! She learned to trust Him even in difficult times. Unlike Ahaz who was a king and rejected a prophet’s guidance, Maria let Jesus be her king, allowing Him to care for her.

Maria’s father and one brother died in 1919 when she was only five; two more brothers died in childhood. Such grief surely brought little Maria to an early understanding of how quickly life on earth can pass. Though excelling in school, she had to leave after an elementary education to help her mother care for the other children and the home.

Maria’s sister, Giovanni Antonia, just a year younger, was her closest sibling in every way. In 1932, Giovanni died at age 17. After that, Maria’s devotion to the Lord grew. She began to teach religion to children and teens. She also reached out to help elderly people in the area in any way she could. These good works seemed to spur Maria to spend more time in prayer and study.

Soon, she felt called to religious life. With the help of her Jesuit confessor, she entered the Trappist Convent near Rome and received the name Maria Gabriella. Making her vows on the Feast of Christ the King in 1937, she entered wholeheartedly into the Trappist way of life and learned much about the need for ecumenism, a closer relationship among all Christian churches. She suffered from bouts of anxiety, but abandoned herself completely into the hands of God and found relief. The Sisters found her trusting, humble, cheerful, and always ready to do the most tiring jobs happily.

Maria Gabriella gave thanks to God for allowing her to be at one with Him through her vowed life. Still, she longed for all Christians to grow in understanding of one another and to develop a relationship with one another in Jesus. In January, 1938, during a time of special prayer for Christian unity, Maria offered herself as a spiritual sacrifice so that all might be one. This sacrifice, in God’s plan, was not only to be spiritual but physical as well. By May of the same year, doctors told her she had incurable tuberculosis. After suffering with the disease for over a year, Maria peacefully gave herself to the Lord and died on April 23, 1939. It was Good Shepherd Sunday, and the Gospel proclaimed “… and there will be one fold and one shepherd.”

During her very short life of 25 years, her love for unity had been welcomed by the Anglican Church and other believers as well. After her death, vocations flocked to her religious community. St. Pope John Paul II referred to Maria Gabriella in his encyclical Ut Unum Sint (That They May Be One) as an example to follow: someone who realized it is our duty at all times, everywhere, to pray and work for unity. The Pope beatified her on January 25, 1983.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you work for greater unity among all Christian faiths?

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St. Elisabeth Hesselblad - Ornaments of Grace

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent is St. Elisabeth Hesselblad.

Luke1:5-25
Then, when Zechariah’s time of priestly service was over, he went home. Afterward, his wife Elizabeth conceived. She went into seclusion for five months, saying: “In these days, the Lord is acting on my behalf; he has seen fit to remove my reproach among men.”

We know from today’s Gospel that Elizabeth, trusting the Lord to come to her aid, became pregnant in her old age. Her trust brought us John the Baptist who pointed the way to Jesus. St. Elizabeth Hesselblad also trusted God. She did not bear a son named John, but she herself was fruitful in pointing the way to the Savior for many.

Born in 1870 to Lutheran parents in Sweden, Elizabeth Hesselblad was the fifth of thirteen children. By the time she was sixteen, she had to go to work to help support the family. Emigrating to the United States in 1888, she studied nursing in New York City and provided home health care to many of the poor. Some of those she served were Catholic, and they influenced Elizabeth profoundly.

Elizabeth gave herself to prayer and study, wanting to know and follow the Lord’s plans for her. So, it was with joy on the Feast of the Assumption, 1902, that she embraced the Catholic faith. Later, reflecting on her conversion, she wrote: “In an instant the love of God was poured over me. I understood that I could respond to that love only through sacrifice and a love prepared to suffer for His glory and for the Church. Without hesitation I offered Him my life, and my will to follow Him on the Way of the Cross.”

A short time after her conversion, Elizabeth left for Europe where she made a pilgrimage to Rome. There she visited the house of Bridget of Sweden, then a Carmelite Monastery. She wanted to join the Carmelites in Rome, but her health was not good due to her care for the sick poor in New York City. The Order felt the life would be too difficult for her, but they welcomed her as a guest on probation. Elizabeth fell critically ill there, so she could not join the Carmelites. Still, feeling called to religious life, she asked the Pope to allow her to make vows under the Rule of the Order St. Bridget had founded. She professed her vows to her Jesuit spiritual director in 1906.

Elizabeth, knowing the Order was strong in Sweden prior to the Protestant Reformation, wanted to bring it back to life. She was unsuccessful in that attempt but proposed a new Order dedicated to care of the sick. By the end of 1911, three women had joined her to pray and work. The Order grew, and Elizabeth continued caring for the sick poor. In 1928 the Carmelites left their Monastery in Rome, and Elizabeth’s new Order of Bridgettines moved in, establishing a foundation in Rome.

During World War II, the convent in Rome was a place where she, as Superior, hid twelve Jews fleeing the holocaust. The Germans occupied Italy in 1943, sending many Jews to Auschwitz. This particular family of Jews roamed the countryside for some months but eventually returned to Rome. Friends suggested they take refuge in the Bridgettine Monastery. Elizabeth and her community welcomed them, risking their lives. The Jews were able to hide in the monastery until they could safely leave after the liberation of Italy in 1944, a period of six months. Like nursing the sick, Elizabeth offered her life for all her brothers and sisters.

Elizabeth became quite ill on April 23, 1957. She raised her hands to bless her sisters saying, “Go to heaven with hands full of love and virtues.” She received the sacraments and died early the next morning. Pope Francis canonized her in 2016.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we reach out and provide safety for the poor, the sick, and those whom society has cast aside?

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St. Angela of Foligno - Ornaments of Grace

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the Fourth Week of Advent is St. Angela of Foligno.

Romans 1:1-7

Greetings from Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart to proclaim the gospel of God…Through him we have been favored with apostleship, that we may spread his name and bring to obedient faith all the Gentiles, among whom are you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Paul, in today’s second reading, reminds us that, like him, we are called to be servants of God who proclaim the Good News in obedient faith. St. Angela Foligno took this calling seriously, at least later in life.

Born to a wealthy family around 1248 in Foligno, a town in central Italy not far from Assisi, Angela’s father died when she was young. Her mother did not have much interest in passing along the faith to her daughter. Intelligent and beautiful, Angela married early and had several children. Her focus, like many today, was on amassing wealth as well as bettering her social position. When she was about 40 years old, she began to realize that, although she loved her family, working for wealth and social position had not brought her true joy. She felt empty inside. Perhaps a serious earthquake, a war, and a wild hurricane around that time also pushed her to consider more lasting things.

Angela sought help from God in prayer. In the Sacrament of Penance, a wise confessor told her to ask God to forgive her sins, pray, and give her life to good works. About three years later, her mother died. Several months after that, her husband and children also died. At that point, Angela began divesting herself of all her possessions. She joined the Franciscan Third Order and asked a Friar Arnoldo to be her spiritual director and confessor. Friar Arnoldo served in this capacity until around 1296 when Angela’s mystic revelations became, he said, too complex for him. Up until then, he had directed her to write down all her experiences and the knowledge she attained from her deep prayer life. She continued to do this for the rest of her life.

Prayer was Angela’s central theme. One translation of her many works states, “No one can be saved without divine light. Divine light causes us to begin and to make progress, and it leads to the summit of perfection. Therefore, if you want to begin and to receive this divine light, pray. If you have begun to make progress, pray. And if you have reached the summit of perfection and want to be super-illumined so as to remain in that state, pray. If you want faith, pray. If you want hope, pray… .”

She advised all to pray with Scripture. Prayer for Angela was oneness with God. And, for her, oneness with God meant oneness with all. That is why she served those in need.

Between 1296 and her death in 1309, her sanctity drew both men and women to follow her as Third Order Franciscans. Later, she gathered a group of women in the Third Order who took vows to be in community as well. Her group realized they could not be enclosed in a cloister – as most women religious were at the time – because they felt called to be out serving those in need.

At Christmastime in 1308, Angela told her sisters in community that she would die shortly and that Jesus, Himself, said He would come to take her to heaven. She died as she slept peacefully in early January, 1309. Pope Francis canonized St. Angela in 2013.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

If you have a particular virtue you are striving for this Advent, what advice do you think St. Angela would give you?

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St. Peregrine - Ornaments of Grace

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Saturday of the Third Week of Advent is St. Peregrine.

Genesis 49: 2, 8-10
…Judah, like a lion’s whelp, you have grown up on prey, my son. He crouches like a lion recumbent, the king of beasts – who would dare rouse him? The scepter shall never depart from Judah, or the mace from between his legs, while tribute is brought to him, and he receives the people’s homage.

Today’s first reading is one of the blessings Jacob is giving his sons on his deathbed. Jacob is saying that Judah will assume leadership over his brothers, but it is a prophesy about Jesus coming from the tribe of Judah, a promise that took around 640 years to get to King David but some 1600 years to be fulfilled in Jesus. If Advent seems long, just think how long the Chosen People waited for the Savior!

Advent is a time of waiting, but it is also a great time to think about how Jesus is the One Who leads us to salvation. Knowing this, we can trust that His promise to care for us will be fulfilled, no matter how long it seems to take. Sometimes, when we are ill or in pain or a loved one is suffering, time seems to stretch out. It is easy to allow ourselves to forget that Jesus will help us. A saint who never forgot Jesus’ promise is St. Peregrine.

Peregrine Laziosi was born in Forli, a town in Northern Italy which was, at the time, part of the Papal States. His family, along with many in that town, was against the Pope. Others were for the Pope, so a deep divide caused problems among the townspeople. To try to get the two factions to reconcile and unite, the Pope sent the Superior of the Servite Order, Philip Benizi, to preach to the people. Eighteen-year-old Peregrine, whose family had taught him to hate representatives of the Pope, dragged Philip from where he was preaching, mocked him, and beat him.

Peregrine felt bad about what he had done and asked for Fr. Philip’s forgiveness. The priest looked up at the young man and smiled, treating him with kindness. After that, Peregrine began to spend much time in prayer and in works of mercy. A few years later, he joined the Servites and was ordained a priest. He preached powerfully and spent his life caring for others, especially the poor and sick, and doing penance. People sought his advice, sensing he was filled with the Holy Spirit.

When Peregrine was 60, he developed a severe cancerous infection in his leg and foot. The pain was excruciating, and the doctor decided the leg needed to be amputated. Peregrine spent the night before surgery in prayer before a fresco of the crucifixion. He fell into a trance there and saw Jesus coming down from the Cross and touching his leg. When the doctor arrived the next morning, he found no sign of the cancer.

While Peregrine did experience a wonderful miracle, the main thing is that he put himself in the heart and hands of Jesus, whom he knew had always and would always care for him in the best way possible.

Peregrine went on preaching the good news, caring for the poor and sick, and continuing his life of prayer, penance, and praise. Patiently he waited for the day he would see his Savior. He died of a fever at the age of 85, after a long life trusting in Jesus. Peregrine is the patron saint of those suffering with cancer or other potentially fatal illnesses.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

When you are ill, how might Peregrine’s life help you to trust that Jesus will keep His promise, no matter how long it might seem to take?

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Priscilla and Aquila - Ornaments of Grace

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornaments of Grace for Friday of the Third Week of Advent are Priscilla and Aquila.

Isaiah 56:1-3a, 6-8
Let not the foreigner say, when he would join himself to the Lord, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people”; nor let the eunuch say, “See, I am a dry tree.” And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants –… them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer…

Priscilla and Aquila are introduced to us in the Acts of the Apostles; they are also mentioned in Paul’s letters to the Romans, the Corinthians, and Timothy. This power-couple had much to do with the spread of Christianity. Priscilla, mentioned before Aquila in four of six Scriptural references, might have been the more influential since the wife was generally not mentioned before the husband in those days, if mentioned at all. Nevertheless, the couple worked together to live and teach the Good News.

Isaiah, in today’s Reading, speaks of how the Lord welcomed “foreigners” and would make them joyful in His presence. The Lord did this for and through Priscilla and Aquila. The couple were among the earliest Jews converted to Christianity and were living in Rome. When Emperor Claudius came to power and began to purge the Jewish population, they fled to Greece and set up a tent making business in Corinth.

Paul, in his own words, said he came to Corinth in fear and trembling. We are unsure of the reason he felt this way, but Priscilla and Aquila welcomed him there. They gave him an ideal job because he was also a tentmaker. The couple invited him to live in their home, and Paul did so for a year and a half. Since Priscilla and Aquila had been refugees, they understood the need Paul had for support in a new place. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he sends greetings to the people not only from himself but from Priscilla and Aquila as well. This may mean that he considered them co-founders of the Church in Corinth; at the very least, they were instrumental in helping it thrive.

After 18 months, Paul felt called to continue his missionary journey. Paul was planning to head to Syria but stopped in Ephesus (modern-day Turkey) on the way. Priscilla and Aquila accompanied him, and Paul left them in Ephesus to continue sharing the Good News. In Ephesus, the couple met a wonderful preacher named Apollos. Apollos taught about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. However, he taught the baptism of John the Baptist, rather than that of Jesus. So, Priscilla and Aquila, already in a new land themselves, welcomed the Egyptian Apollos into their home. There, they explained to him how Jesus’ baptism was not only a sign of repentance as John preached, but was also a sharing in the very life of Jesus.

Priscilla and Aquila continued their work in the early church. Paul says in his letter to the Romans that Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for him, so we know they remained connected to the early church even if we do not know what specific risks they took for Paul.

While little is known beyond this about the couple who, refugees themselves, welcomed others, tradition holds that they died together as martyrs. They could embrace missionary life because they realized that their real home was in Jesus Christ.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

Who might Jesus be asking you to welcome into your home or heart?

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Venerable Carla Ronci - Ornaments of Grace

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Thursday of the Third Week of Advent is Venerable Carla Ronci.

Isaiah 54:1-10
Raise a glad cry, you barren one who did not bear, break forth in jubilant song, you who were not in labor, for more numerous are the children of the deserted wife than the children of her who has a husband, says the Lord. Enlarge the space for your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly.

Today’s reading from Isaiah reminds us that barrenness can be a great sorrow for a woman, but we can learn from those women who opened their hearts in love to receive the Lord as their spouse and found joy, even if they could not bear children. One woman who enlarged the tent of her heart to make room for those who might otherwise be left outside was Venerable Carla Ronci.

Carla Ronci was born in Rimini, Italy, in 1936. Carla was a good child, full of life, happy, and charismatic. After finishing elementary school, she learned to be a seamstress.

When Carla was 14, she received the grace to give her life to God. She began to teach the faith to young people, encouraging them to reach out to those in need. Her teaching brought her into contact with the Ursuline Nuns. Carla often attended meetings at the Ursuline convent, especially during the Holy Year of 1950.

In 1956, Carla made private vows of poverty and chastity. She then decided to enter the Ursuline novitiate but realized, after a very short time, that this was not her vocation. Wanting always to do God’s will, she asked Jesus, “What is happening to me? Why do I feel so weird and unsatisfied with my new life? What do you want from me, my Lord? When will I know with certainty where you want me to serve you?” Leaving the convent, she returned to her former life.

Trusting the Lord would lead her, Carla threw herself back into sharing the Good News with the young, caring for the poor, and spreading joy wherever she went on her motorbike, her Vespa. The Lord certainly rode with her. In 1960 she met Teresa Ravegnini who introduced her to the secular institute “Ancelle Mater Misericordiae.”

After studying the rules of the Institute, Carla knew where she belonged. She could stay in her hometown working, teaching religion, and reaching out to all in need. At the same time, she could take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Witnessing to Jesus’ presence in everyday life would be her ministry. In 1961, she applied to become part of the Institute and was accepted.

Carla knew Jesus had answered her question about where and how He desired her service. In her journal, she wrote happily: “Lord, thank you for being so good to me.” Gratitude to the Lord defined her life. Her almost constant smile showed this. It fueled her service and gave her the eyes to see Christ in everyone and everything. It was for love of her spouse, Jesus, that she bore fruit. She said, “It is only for him that I am committing myself for my life to be a living witness, everywhere I may be, and in everything I may do.” People in her area called her the joyful saint, the smiling saint, or the Vespa saint.

In 1969, Carla was diagnosed with lung cancer. Her loving response was this: “Lord, you can no longer suffer in your own body, so take mine to continue your passion and redemption.” Less than a year later, on April 2, 1970, at the age of 33, she was lying on her deathbed, hands folded in prayer. Her last words were, “Here comes the spouse.”

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What kinds of barrenness do you sometimes suffer, and how can you change that to fruitfulness?

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St. Paul of the Cross - Ornaments of Grace

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent is St. Paul of the Cross.

Luke 7:18b-23
“John the Baptizer sends us to you with this question: ‘Are you ‘He who is to come’ or do we look for someone else?” ...Jesus gave this response: “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard. The blind recover their sight, cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached to them. Blest is that man who finds no stumbling block in me.”

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist was suffering in prison. Probably having doubts about whether Jesus was truly the Messiah, he sent a couple of his disciples to ask Jesus if He was truly the Anointed One of God. John did the right thing. When we have doubts, we simply need to go and share those doubts with Jesus and hear His answer.

St. Paul of the Cross understood the suffering that doubt can bring, but he also knew to bring his doubts to Jesus. He suffered the darkness of doubt for forty years, but he moved ahead with his ministry, trusting in the power of God to give him strength. He knew that Jesus would not forget him in his emotional prison of doubt.

Born in 1694 in Italy, Paul of the Cross died there in 1775. His father read to Paul and his brother John about the lives of the saints. When the boys had difficulties in life, their mother would point to the crucifix and remind them of Jesus’ love for them.

After leaving school, Paul worked for his father in a dry goods store. Always active in the Church, Paul dedicated himself to the Passion of Christ at age 19. At 21, he became a soldier but soon realized that was not his vocation. So, returning to the family business, he dedicated himself to many hours of prayer and penance. Five years later, Paul began to have visions of founding a community dedicated to Jesus’ Passion. His bishop encouraged him. Paul made a 40-day retreat during which he wrote a Rule for the future community. They were to pray, do penance, and live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Their ministry was to teach the poor and marginalized, emphasizing meditation on Christ’s suffering and death.

Paul’s first recruit was his brother John. A Cardinal in Rome heard about the two and invited them to come to Rome to help him start a hospital. Paul and John nursed the sick and taught the staff how to pray with Jesus in His Passion. The two also took a course in theology and were ordained priests in 1727. After ordination, they taught in many parishes, especially remote regions which had difficulty finding priests to provide Mass and the sacraments.

While Paul was extremely popular as a preacher and greatly loved for his kind acts, his community, known as Passionists, grew very slowly. Their life was demanding, and his prayer was often dry, and he continued to be assailed by doubt. Still, by the grace of God, the community had 180 members by the time Paul died. He had also founded an Order of nuns dedicated to the Passion of Jesus Christ.

Paul of the Cross, like John the Baptist, knew where to bring his doubts. Since he buried them in the wounds of Jesus and trusted they would be healed eventually, he had the spiritual energy to share Jesus’ love with others. His last years were filled with consolation. He found no stumbling block in Jesus. He found joy.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How might it be helpful to meditate on the passion and death of Jesus, even in Advent, when we are remembering His coming in history, welcoming his coming in mystery, and anticipating His coming in majesty?

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St. Rose Philippine Duchesne - Ornaments of Grace

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent is St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13
For then will I remove from your midst the proud braggarts, and you shall no longer exalt yourself on my holy mountain. But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord…

In 1769, Rose Philippine Duchesne was born to a prominent family of Grenoble, France. The parish her family attended welcomed missionary priests who served in Louisiana, colonized by the French. Rose listened and wished she, too, could serve the Native Americans there. Later, this desire would be realized, but it took a long time.

When she was around twelve, Rose was sent to a monastery to be educated by the Visitation nuns. When Rose’s father found out she was becoming enamored with monastic life, he brought her home to be tutored. Yet, Rose’s desire to enter religious life did not go away. In 1788, she entered the Visitations against her family’s wishes.

Just four years later, revolutionaries shut down the monastery during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, scattering the nuns. Rose returned to live with her family in a country home, trying to remain faithful to the Visitations’ Rule of Life while caring for her family, prisoners, and others impacted by the Reign of Terror. When Napoleon came to power in 1801, Catholics were again allowed to practice their faith openly. Rose returned to the monastery only to find it practically destroyed. By this time, most of the nuns were elderly and found it too difficult to live there. Rose, now the Superior, had only three companions.

In northern France, Madeleine-Sophie Barat founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, an active order educating young women. Wanting to establish a community in Grenoble, southeastern France, Barat was introduced to Rose by her spiritual director. The women agreed to merge their communities since they shared an educational ministry. After the Napoleonic Wars, Barat sent Rose to establish a convent and open a school in Paris. A bishop from Louisiana visited the convent in 1817, seeking religious to teach the Indian and French children of his diocese. Rose’s childhood desire was reawakened, and she asked Barat to send her there.

Rose, with four other Sisters, went to New Orleans in 1818. After a ten-week trip at sea, they arrived to find the bishop had arranged no housing for them. So, taking a steamboat up to St. Louis, Missouri Territory, they settled in nearby St. Charles. There, they established the first free school west of the Mississippi, a simple log cabin. A year later, the bishop moved them to Florissant, Missouri, where they opened a school and novitiate.

Many settlers were very poor, and the new foundation struggled. The Sisters had to learn English and suffered from the cold in poor housing. They lacked money for school, convent, and novitiate needs and often went hungry. Still, by 1828, the group had established six communities and was operating several schools.

Asked by the Jesuits to join them in educating the Potawatomi Indians in Kansas, the Sisters went enthusiastically. Rose, now elderly, could not teach there because she could not master their language, but she was sent to pray. That is what she did until she became too feeble and returned to St. Charles. There, in a cramped room under the stairway, she lived the rest of her life. Blind, weak, with little companionship, she felt no human or divine consolation. Still, Rose Philippine Duchesne faithfully sought refuge in the Lord until she died at 83.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can faith help us seek refuge in the Lord and trust in His love even when we feel like a failure, are fearful, or suffer sickness?

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Our Lady of Guadalupe - Ornaments of Grace

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the Third Week of Advent is Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Zechariah 2:14-17
Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

Today is surely a day to sing and rejoice – and maybe even dance! This is a time for celebration, for we know that the Lord does dwell with us. Realizing this, even in a very small way, should bring us deep joy and true excitement.

Before the Incarnation, God’s Chosen Ones waited in expectation while the prophets offered them hope. One choice for today’s reading is from Zechariah. It explains that God is about to do something totally unexpected and wonderful for all nations. People then did not have the gift of knowing how Jesus came to live with us. Today we may know it in our minds, but we might need someone to help us open our hearts to such a wonder. Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast we celebrate, might just be the perfect someone to help us because she loves us so much.

This is a true, familiar story to many. Briefly, Juan Diego, an indigenous man in what is now Mexico, had a vision of Our Lady on this day in 1531. She directed Juan Diego to tell the bishop to build a church at the site of her appearance so that all would know that she, the Mother of God, was their mother too. The bishop needed to be sure of the apparition, so he asked Juan for a sign from heaven as proof. When Juan asked Mary for the sign, she told him to gather roses from a rocky, wintry hillside. He did so. Then he went to the bishop, opened his cloak, and the roses fell out. Greater still was the image of Our Lady imprinted on Juan Diego’s cloak.

If you have the good fortune to have a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, you see her eyes are cast down in humility. Juan Diego would easily have recognized her beautiful dark skin and hair as one of his own people. She is looking lovingly at her beloved child. Around her waist is a band indigenous women wore when pregnant. On her loose cloak or mantle are stars. These 46 stars represent the constellations visible over Mexico on Dec 12, 1531. While we cannot see the sun because Our Lady’s image blocks it from our view, it is surely present, as the rays emanate from behind her. She stands on the moon. The picture might remind us of a passage from the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child…”.

The best news is that Our Lady of Guadalupe promised all who come to her that she would hear and answer them, for she is our mother and loves us as her children.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What in the story or in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe draws you to prayer?

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Jeremiah the Prophet - Ornaments of Grace

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the Third Week of Advent is Jeremiah the Prophet.

James 5:7-10
Be patient… until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer awaits the precious yield of the soil. He looks forward to it patiently while the soil receives the winter and the spring rains. You, too, must be patient. Steady your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is at hand… As your models in suffering hardships and in patience… take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Jeremiah, because he had a tender heart and cared about his people, is sometimes called the “Weeping Prophet.” He did weep before the Lord as we might in challenging times, but he did whatever God asked of him. When the Chosen People did not listen to God’s truth, Jeremiah patiently waited in great suffering for God’s redemption.

Born into a priestly family around 650 BC in a town just northeast of Jerusalem, Jeremiah heard God’s call as a young man. He felt that call as if it were a burning fire within him. Trying to resist, he told God he was too young and could not speak for Him. But God assured young Jeremiah that He would put His words into the prophet’s mouth; so, Jeremiah accepted his call, trusting God.

Jeremiah lived during a period of transition in the Near East. The Assyrians had been the world power for about two hundred years, but, as with all world powers, their empire declined. Tiny Judah, which had been under Assyrian control, realized a brief bit of independence. Babylonia, which includes present-day Iraq and parts of Syria, emerged as the strongest power in the region.

The Babylonians had been decent to Judah, though they expected payment because they provided protection from other invaders. During the reign of good King Josiah, the tribute arrangement worked out. After Josiah’s death, his son Jehoiakim refused to pay tribute to the Babylonians. Jeremiah told the King to pay tribute and all would be well; the prophet also warned that, if Jehoiakim did not pay tribute, Judah would be destroyed.

The King did not listen, but he died before he saw total disaster. His son then assumed the throne and also refused to listen to God’s guidance through Jeremiah. So, the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem; the King of Judah surrendered and went into exile with many of his subjects. The lucky ones died in the battle. Jeremiah’s word had proved true. Yet, the faithful prophet had to live through the attack, watch Jerusalem be destroyed, and see his people taken into captivity,

For forty years, Jeremiah suffered intensely to bring God’s message to all who would listen. Early on, his own family wanted to kill him. Over and over, he was beaten, attacked, threatened by kings, mocked, thrown into jail, and even left to die in an empty well. God rescued him, not from suffering, but from death, and Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry continued – alone. God had commanded him not to marry or have children, so even that comfort was denied him.

Though he argued with God, weeping before Him many times, Jeremiah continued to urge the people of God to listen to their Maker. Moreover, he gave them hope for the future. He wanted them to wait for the refreshing rains that would pour salvation into the world. He told them, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can the virtue of Hope help us to patiently prepare the soil of our hearts to receive Jesus this Advent?

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St. Vincent Ferrer, OP - Ornaments of Grace

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Saturday of the Second Week of Advent is St. Vincent Ferrer, OP.

Matthew 17:9a, 10-13

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Tran Minh Nhat - Ornaments of Grace

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Friday of the Second Week of Advent is Tran Minh Nhat.

Matthew 11:16-19

“What comparison can I use to describe this breed? They are like children squatting in the town squares, calling to their playmates: ‘We piped you a tune but you did not dance! We sang you a dirge but you did not wail! In other words, John appeared neither eating nor drinking, and people say: ‘He is mad!’ The Son of Man appeared eating and drinking, and they say, ‘This one is a glutton and drunkard, a lover of tax collectors and those outside the law!’ Yet, time will prove where wisdom lies.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls out those who write off John because they did not like his way of life; they specifically complained about John’s sacrificing food and drink. Then, this same group apparently finds fault with Jesus because He eats and drinks. Obviously, it’s not a lesson about food or no food. Rather, Jesus confronts harmful biases and unfair preconceived opinions of others. He shows the childishness of quick, closed-minded decisions to shut a person out.

Of course, our human brains are wired to categorize almost instantly based on our experiences, our education, and much more. This can be handy. If we need to pick up fruit from the produce department, we don’t have to head down the cereal aisle. It’s not so good, however, if we do not allow ourselves to find true wisdom because we categorize people, writing them off before really trying to understand them.

Being open to understanding both the gifts and the needs of all our brothers and sisters can be costly. Jesus welcomed all: the tax collectors, the outcasts, the poor, the sick, and those from other regions and faiths, and it cost Him everything. If we try to do the same, we can expect to suffer, too. Yet, what wisdom it is to know the joy awaiting those who suffer for justice!

As a Catholic Christian, Tran Minh Nhat understood the need for openness to opposing views and to just practices. As a journalist, he wrote articles for the Vietnam Redemptorist News, established by The Catholic Order of Redemptorists who have been bringing the Good News of Jesus to the poor and abandoned of Vietnam since 1925. Tran’s articles focused on human rights, social justice, and religious freedom.

In 2011, Tran Nhat wrote in support of a multi-party political system and for freedom of speech. He also organized protests against China’s mining operations in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and other toxic practices. For these good works, he was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City for “…activities aiming to overthrow the people’s government.” This was a legal clause that empowered the Vietnamese government to criminalize people promoting democracy in any form.

In 2013, Tran was sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years of probation. Prison conditions were inhumane, and he did not receive needed medicines; nor was he allowed reading materials. He went on a hunger strike to protest not only his own treatment, but also the treatment of his fellow prisoners who suffered grievously. Finally, he was released in 2015. Still, even after his release, Tran and his family continued to suffer almost constant verbal and physical harassment. He was beaten and subjected to toxic substances. His family’s plants and property were damaged and then burned.

Tran Minh Nhat chose truth and justice, Jesus’ way, over safety. This Advent, let us be as courageous as Tran. Let us listen in love to all our brothers and sisters before we judge too quickly, miss the light of wisdom, and lose our way to Bethlehem, Calvary, and, finally, eternal joy.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How do your biases and prejudices sometimes keep you from listening and perhaps learning from someone with a different viewpoint?

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The Immaculate Conception of Mary - Ornaments of Grace

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Thursday of the Second Week of Advent is The Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has bestowed on us in Christ every spiritual blessing in the heavens! God chose us in him before the world began, to be holy and blameless in his sight, to be full of love...

Today is a solemn feast of Mary, our Mother. Sometimes people think of this Advent feast as being about Mary’s conception of Jesus, but it is not. Still, it is appropriate for Advent. For Mary’s Conception was God’s way of preparing a mother for Jesus. He preserved her from original sin from the instant she was given life. That is why today we celebrate Mary’s conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.

Pope Pius IX stated the teaching of the Immaculate Conception in an encyclical titled “Ineffabilis Deus,” which means “Ineffable God,” a God too great to be expressed in words. In this letter the Pope said, “…from the moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was, by the singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of Mankind, kept free from all stain of original sin.” Our Lady herself, appearing to St. Bernadette at Lourdes in 1858, confirmed this. She told Bernadette: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

According to Tradition but based upon non-canonical sources, Mary’s mother Anne (Hannah in Hebrew) was born in Bethlehem, and she married Joachim. After their marriage, they lived in Nazareth, leading holy lives. They did not have any children, so Joachim suffered ridicule at the Temple. He went away to the country to seek help from God. Anne, missing him, suffered even more from being childless. So, she asked God to please let her bear a child. If she did conceive, she promised God she would dedicate that child to Him. We can conclude that Joachim returned to Nazareth. Anne, grateful to have her husband back with her, conceived. And, she certainly seems to have kept her promise to dedicate her child to God.

We may not know much about Anne and Joachim factually. Still, we can surmise a great deal about them. The Holy Spirit would have prepared their hearts to bring such a child as Mary into the world. We can guess that they were loving parents to raise Mary, and excellent grandparents for Jesus. Surely, they taught Mary to listen to God, to trust in His promises, and to do as He asked. They certainly instructed her in the Scriptures and taught her to pray, something they would have known well. Mary, then, would have been given by her parents, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the foundation she needed to be the holy Mother of God.

We do know that Mary learned well the Word of God, contemplated it, and obeyed it. So, when we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, we might also remember Mary’s parents, Anne and Joachim, and their part in our salvation history. How they would have rejoiced when they knew they could bring a child of God into the world, a joy so many parents find when they know they will be sharing in God’s act of creation.

On this feast, let’s share the happiness of Anne and Joachim that our own Blessed Mother was conceived, lived a sinless life, and said “Yes” to God for each of us. She made it possible for us to receive, as St. Paul says in today’s letter to the Ephesians, “… every spiritual blessing in the heavens!”

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

In addition to participating in Mass, what are some ways we can celebrate this wonderful feast of the Immaculate Conception?

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St. Monica - Ornaments of Grace

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Wednesday of the second week of Advent is St. Monica.

Isaiah 40:25-31

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St. Nicholas - Ornaments of Grace

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Tuesday of the second week of Advent is St. Nicholas.

from Matthew 18:12-14

“… A man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away; will he not leave the ninety-nine out on the hills, and go in search of the stray? If he succeeds in finding it, believe me he is happier about this one than about the ninety-nine that did not wander away. Just so, it is no part of your heavenly Father’s plan that a single one of these little ones shall ever come to grief.”

Ho! Ho! Ho! O what a happy feast comes along in the second week of Advent! St. Nicholas – the man behind the legend of Santa Claus, wants to bring a smile to old and young alike. While our little ones may find a small treasure or sweet treat in the shoes they have left out for St. Nicholas, those who are older may learn to walk in shoes of grace. Both will have big smiles as they find what awaits them!

St. Nicholas, a Bishop, did not want anyone entrusted to his care to wander away and come to grief. He understood Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel of the man going after the single lost sheep and rejoicing when he found it.

Born in Lycia on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, Nicholas journeyed to a region of ancient Egypt. He is said to have ruled a great monastery for a time. He became the Bishop of Myra in Lycia and was one of the most influential religious leaders of the 4th century. Fearing Nicholas’ influence in bringing many to the Christian faith, Emperor Diocletian imprisoned the gentle Bishop. Constantine, a convert to Christianity, then rose to the throne and freed Nicholas.

One gruesome legend tells of three children who, while playing, wandered into town, losing track of time. They went into a butcher’s shop to ask for a bite to eat, and the butcher invited them inside. Then he cut them up to sell as meat. Later, Bishop Nicholas came to the butcher, put his hand over the salting tub and, praying, asked God to raise the children up. The little children awakened and went home to their joyful families. Since that time, Nicholas has been the patron and protector of children.

Another legend tells of a father who could not afford his three daughters’ dowries and planned to sell his girls. For each, a gold purse was thrown from the street, and at least one landed in a daughter’s shoe. The father, forever grateful, repented of his wish to sell his girls and praised Nicholas everywhere. This probably accounts for the shoes being put out for surprises from St. Nicholas.

Mainly, St. Nicholas loved God, the Church, the poor, and children. He distributed his wealth to the poor. When cast into prison under Emperor Diocletian, he taught the faith fearlessly. He loved justice and is said to have successfully defended falsely accused men, freeing them from execution. He participated in the Council of Nicaea which gave us the Creed we recite at Mass. While still alive, he was already considered a saint. People found peace and comfort in his presence during difficult times.

Children may happily put out their shoes on the night of December 5 so that St. Nicholas can fill them with sweet surprises to be discovered on his feast. Adults may want to ask St. Nicholas to give them “graced shoes” to help them journey through life with generosity, justice, mercy, and the desire to protect and love children. When we walk with the gifts of St. Nicholas, we walk with joyful grace everywhere we go.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

In this Advent season, what gifts can we share with the poor and needy as St. Nicholas did?

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St. Sebastian - Ornaments of Grace

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the second week of Advent is St. Sebastian.

from Romans 15:4-9

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s words to the Romans in today’s second reading offer us encouragement. Sometimes our Advent journey becomes a little more difficult by the second week. St. Sebastian, a saint who endured and encouraged, might inspire us to continue.

Sebastian was born in Narbonne, Gaul (now France) around 255 A.D. His parents were from Milan, Italy, and raised him in that city. Sebastian, strong in the Lord, saw Christians being martyred for their faith by Emperor Diocletian. He wanted to help his brothers and sisters in Christ by going undercover. To do this, he enlisted in the army around 283 and quickly became a captain. He distinguished himself and was assigned to guard Emperor Diocletian.

As part of this elite Praetorian Guard, Sebastian was able to bring supplies to persecuted Christians. Secretly teaching many about the risen Jesus, he encouraged them to be faithful, no matter how great their suffering, and to look forward to eternal life.

Twin brothers, Marcus and Marcellinus, were deacons in the Christian Church. They had been condemned to death for refusing to publicly offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. Their parents were not Christians and asked the emperor to give the boys three days for reflection. The parents hoped the boys would renounce their faith and be saved from execution. The request for time was granted.

During that brief period, Sebastian was able to convert the twins’ parents. He also converted the son of the local prefect as well as other prominent officials. Among these were Nicostratus with his wife Zoe. Zoe had been a mute for six years but was able to make Sebastian know she wanted to become a Christian. As soon as she was baptized, she could speak. Her husband Nicostratus then brought 16 more prisoners to Sebastian, and all were converted. Seeing this, the guard with power over the prison set all the prisoners free.

Sebastian, after converting so many high-profile individuals, could no longer fly under the emperor’s radar. In 286, someone reported him as a Christian, and the emperor ordered Sebastian put to death. Sebastian did not blame anyone for reporting him. He kept his eyes on Jesus, accepting even those who betrayed him.

Sebastian was tied to a stake on a training field so soldiers could use him for target practice. His body was filled with arrows. A holy Christian widow went to get his body for burial, found him alive, and secretly nursed him back to health. When he was better, the widow begged Sebastian to get away from Rome. Sebastian, bravely staying on, went to the emperor and told him to stop persecuting Christians. While at first shocked that Sebastian had lived through the target practice ordeal, the emperor had no intention of changing his ways. So, he ordered Sebastian to be cudgeled to death and thrown into the city sewers. Another holy woman found his body and buried it in the catacombs.

We may never find our bodies riddled with arrows, but we may suffer intense pain some time, and we can pray to St. Sebastian for help to endure our suffering. We may not be able to go undercover to support one another in faith, but we might find inventive ways to encourage our brothers and sisters every day.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What are some ways we can encourage others to endure when their bodies or spirits are suffering?

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St. John the Baptist - Ornaments of Grace

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the second week of Advent is St. John the Baptist.

from Matthew 3:1-12

“Reform your lives! The reign of God is at hand… John was clothed in a garment of camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist. Grasshoppers and wild honey were his food…When he saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were stepping forward for this bath, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who told you to flee from the wrath to come? Give some evidence that you mean to reform…”

John the Baptist, the wild looking cousin of Jesus, attracted many to the desert. Sincere people came from all over to hear him speak with authority and truth, a clear truth that cut through to their hearts and made them want to change their ways. Others came just to make a show of repentance in order to impress the many sincere people who sought the Messiah. But John called all to repent and be baptized, and he spoke fearlessly.

Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were among those who went to be baptized for appearances. John, seeing their hearts, was unafraid to challenge them. He asked them to provide proof that they really wanted to change their ways. He told them to quit relying on the fact that they were children of Abraham to secure their salvation. This is a lesson for those of us who sometimes rely on things other than a change of heart and action to open ourselves to saving grace.

Our religious education, our holy parents, grandparents, siblings or children cannot secure our redemption. Big donations do not bring us salvation. Showing up for Mass on Sunday, teaching, preaching, or saying prayers without heart are not the way to eternal life. According to John, if we do not repent and truly change, then nothing else really matters. For the record, Jesus said the same thing.

Advent is a great time to listen to John the Baptist. He was pointing the way to Jesus. That was his mission, and he was totally focused on it. He was not pointing the way to the birth of Jesus because Jesus was already an adult when John appeared on the scene. John pointed to the Messiah, as Jesus ministered by showing compassion.

John brings hope when he says that Jesus will baptize not with water, but with the Holy Spirit and with fire. This can give us all, even the Pharisees and Sadducees among us, great hope. When we are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, who shares with us the power we need to change. We cannot change by ourselves. Jesus and John understood this.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to give us the strength and gifts we need to do the will of God, no matter how difficult that may be for us. One of the gifts of salvation is to share in the very life of God through Baptism and the other sacraments. The only requirement is that we welcome this grace, that we really want to change and do all we can to cooperate with God’s plan for us. We cannot fake goodness; it has to come from the heart or it is nothing at all.

John the Baptist lived without fear. He was so bold that he did not hesitate to call King Herod Antipas to repentance. Herod threw John into prison. Herod’s illegal wife Herodias schemed so that a drunken Herod would have the Baptist beheaded. But John stood strong until the end of his earthly life, and he still calls us to do the same.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we repent sincerely and focus fearlessly on pointing the way to the Lord?

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St. Francis Xavier, SJ - Ornaments of Grace

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Saturday of the first week of Advent is St. Francis Xavier, SJ.

from Isaiah 30:19-21

The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone; all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate and leave the just man with an empty claim.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Francis Xavier, one of the greatest missionaries of all. Born in Xavier castle in 1506 in what is now northern Spain, he died December 3, 1552 on Sancian Island, China (now Shangchuan Island).

In just 46 years, his zeal for God empowered him to convert thousands to Christianity. Francis traveled to India, the Malay Archipelago, and Japan. In each place, he welcomed the people by reverencing them, their food, customs, and language. A humble man, Francis did not insist that his former way of living was somehow better than the way he encountered in other lands. Instead, he worked diligently to learn difficult languages and to understand the heart of the people he served as he worked for their good.

Educated first at home, Francis was the youngest son of a nobleman. According to the practice of the time, he was expected to follow a career in the Church. So, when he was 19 years old, he went to the University of Paris, the theological center of Europe, to continue his studies. There he roomed with Peter Favre who became his good friend.

A few years later, Ignatius of Loyola came to the University of Paris. Ignatius, converted earlier from his military and romantic ventures, was fifteen years older than Francis. He soon won over Peter Favre and then Francis, and eventually four others to join him in seeking nothing more than to imitate Christ. On August 15, 1534, these seven men went to a Chapel on Montmartre in Paris. There, they vowed celibacy and poverty, promising to take a pilgrimage to the Holy Land before beginning their new ministry.

Unfortunately, war broke out between the Venetians and the Turks, preventing the planned pilgrimage. The group then gathered in Venice where Francis was ordained a priest in 1537. This original group, together with some new recruits, went to Rome where they offered their services to the Pope as the newly formed Society of Jesus.

Returning from Rome, Francis zealously followed the promises he had made to God. The new Society cared for the sick and preached the Gospel throughout central Italy with great love. King John III of Portugal wanted some of these dedicated men to care for and evangelize all those under his dominion in Asian nations.

Francis, assigned to India by Ignatius, eagerly embraced his new ministry, arriving there in 1542. In 1549, Francis went to Japan and continued his fruitful ministry. Jesus worked many miracles through Francis as he brought thousands to believe in the Lord. Francis also founded churches and colleges, but he taught those who wanted to be baptized with as much fervor as any other work he did.

Finally, he set off for China in 1552, but he never realized his dream there. A fatally ill Francis would have died abandoned on the shore of a nearby island if it were not for a poor man rescuing him and carrying him to his hut. There, Francis died as humbly as he had lived.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can we imitate Francis Xavier’s humility and zeal for the Lord?

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St. Angela Merici - Ornaments of Grace

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Friday of the first week of Advent is St. Angela Merici.

from Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus moved on from there, two blind men came after him crying out, “Son of David, have pity on us!”. When he got to the house, the blind men caught up with him. Jesus said to them, “Are you confident I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they told him. At that he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith it shall be done to you”; and they recovered their sight.

Born around 1474 on a farm in the Lombardy region of Italy, Angela Merici was only about ten years old when she and her older sister Giana Maria were left orphans, along with their brothers. The brothers were allowed to remain at the family home, but the girls were sent to live with an uncle in a small Italian town. There, her sister became sick and died suddenly. Angela worried that her sister had not been anointed before her death, and she prayed that Giana would be in heaven. Apparently, she prayed with great faith because she was granted a vision of Giana in heaven surrounded by the saints.

Angela joined the Third Order of St. Francis, dedicating herself to God in prayer and sacrifice. When she was twenty or so, her uncle died, and she returned to her family home which she had inherited. She knew that young girls needed a Christian education, so she opened her home to help them learn about the Lord. During this period, she had another vision. In it, she was told to gather an association of virgins to work with her to teach religious education to young women. She began this work with enthusiasm.

Tradition holds that on one of her pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Angela was struck blind on the Island of Crete. Trusting God’s power, she continued her journey. On the return trip, her sight was restored as she prayed before a crucifix at the same place where she had lost her sight.

While this period of the Renaissance in Italy helped rational thought to develop more fully, it sometimes caused people to embrace humanism to the extent that they forgot about God and morality. So, in 1535, Angela gathered twelve faithful virgins she knew, and together they began the Company of St. Ursula in a small house in the town of Brescia. These virgins committed themselves to teaching young women who would become wives and mothers.

Angela and her companions did this holy work while remaining in the world, wearing no particular habit, and taking no religious vows. Angela chose as their patron St. Ursula who suffered martyrdom rather than give up her right to virtue when attacked. Angela also wrote a rule for her companions to follow.

The Company grew quickly and, by the time of Angela’s death, had 150 members. Later, a Bishop would change the rule and establish the Company of St. Ursula into an Order that still performs the work of education.

More importantly than having her physical sight restored by faith, St. Angela Merici saw with her heart the love Jesus had for all. She heard His call to educate the young women of her day, and she followed that call faithfully until her death.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What kind of vision has God restored for you, perhaps in your heart or mind, to let you better see how you can bring His word to others?

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Jacqueline Novogratz - Ornaments of Grace

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Thursday of the first week of Advent is Jacqueline Novogratz.

from Isaiah 26: 1-6

Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal Rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty city he brings down; he tumbles it to the ground, levels it with the dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor.

In 2009, Jacqueline Novogratz published a book titled The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World. The title is a reference to an experience Jacqueline had in Kigali, Rwanda. Rwanda is located south of the equator in east central Africa, and Kigali is its capital city located in the center of the country.

There it was that Jacqueline saw a boy wearing a blue sweater, a sweater she recognized. It appeared to be one she had donated to Goodwill many years before, so she checked it out. Her name tag was still in it, and she realized as never before how we are all connected across the globe. She understood that we must be one with all, including the poor, using whatever gifts we have to bring about a more just society.

After graduating from the University of Virginia where she studied Economics and International Relations, Jacqueline Novogratz earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. At only 22, she began a career as an international credit analyst for Chase Manhattan Bank. Seeking a new way to make a meaningful difference in the world, she left Chase and served as a consultant for the World Bank and UNICEF in Rwanda.

In that position, she helped establish a microfinance institution called Duterimbere which, loosely translated, means “Let’s Develop.” Microfinance Institutions provide capital to business owners and individuals who cannot get traditional loans from banks because they lack sufficient credit, collateral, or other ways to secure loans. Her organization has freed many in Rwanda from devastating poverty.

By 2001, after educating many through Leadership Programs at the Rockefeller Foundation, Jacqueline founded Acumen, a nonprofit impact investment fund. Acumen’s mission is “to change the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas. Acumen invests patient, long-term capital in innovative and sustainable startups that deliver critical goods and services to the world’s poor.”

So, Jacqueline Novogratz has the intelligence, the background, and – above all – the understanding heart that empowers her to help people globally, especially the poor. Like Isaiah, Jacqueline understands we are in this together. Isaiah realized a Savior would come to care for the poor, promising Hope.

This Advent, let’s not forget that the Savior needs our hands and hearts, our skills and gifts, to care for our brothers and sisters everywhere. We may all have different ways of expressing our beliefs, but we all want a chance at life; we all want to live in dignity and with hope. When we reach out with what we have to help one another, we find happiness – true and deep happiness. Jacqueline has found a way to make a difference. Maybe we can too.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

How can you get to know someone outside your usual contacts and learn to see that person as your brother or sister, whether physically close or far away?

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St. Andrew - Ornaments of Grace

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Wednesday of the first week of Advent is St. Andrew.

from Romans 10:9-18

For if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Faith in the heart leads to justification, confession on the lips to salvation.

St. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, had a Greek name meaning “courageous,” and he certainly lived up to that name. Born in Bethsaida, Andrew and his brother followed in their father’s footsteps and became fishermen. Both Andrew and his brother Simon (later called Peter) settled in Capernaum to establish their fishing business near the northern shore of Lake Tiberias, also known as the Sea of Galilee, the largest freshwater lake in Israel.

Andrew often traveled to listen to John the Baptist, and he became one of his disciples. One day he and another disciple were with the Baptist in Bethany when they heard John say about his cousin who was passing by, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” Hearing these words, Andrew and the other disciple then followed Jesus. Seeing them, Jesus asked them what they were looking for, and they replied, “Rabbi, where do you stay?” Jesus said, “Come and see.” So, Andrew and the other disciple followed Jesus to his lodging and remained with him the rest of the day.

The first thing Andrew did after that was go to his brother Simon Peter in Capernaum and tell him they had found the Messiah. He then brought his brother to meet Jesus. Later, they returned to their fishing enterprise, continuing as they had before. But after John the Baptist was thrown into prison, Jesus left Nazareth to minister in Capernaum. There, Jesus began to preach repentance as John had done. Jesus told everyone the Kingdom of God was at hand.

In Capernaum, Andrew and Simon Peter were fishing on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus saw them and said, “Come and follow me; I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately, they dropped their nets and followed Jesus. After this, we do not hear much about Andrew, except as part of the group of Jesus’ twelve apostles. He does emerge as the one who, when Jesus was feeding the five thousand, said, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fishes; but what is that among so many?” We know how that turned out!

Like the other apostles, Andrew did not fully understand Jesus’ infinite power yet. He is mentioned a few other times. The important thing, though, is that Andrew followed Jesus immediately when he was called, and he followed Jesus faithfully until the end of his life.

Like most of the apostles, he was martyred for his faithful love. Tradition tells us that Andrew preached the Gospel in the districts around the Black Sea. Legend holds that he was bound, rather than nailed to a cross, to prolong his suffering. The cross was in the shape of an X because Andrew said he did not deserve to die on a cross shaped like the cross of Jesus. The X-shaped cross now always bears St. Andrew’s name.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

If Jesus calls you to do something in His name, can you give an example of how you can drop everything to do that?

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St. Francis of Assisi - Ornaments of Grace

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Tuesday of the first week of Advent is St. Francis of Assisi.

from Isaiah 11:1-10

But he shall judge the poor with justice and decide aright for the land’s afflicted… Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them….

St. Francis of Assisi has influenced art, literature, and religious practices maybe more than any other saint, except the Mother of God. He has touched the lives of people everywhere - the faith-filled, the heretics, the rich, the poor, the humble and the haughty - from the time he lived in the Middle Ages even until today.

Pietro, Francis’ father, was a successful Italian cloth merchant. His mother, Pica, was from Provence, France. Pica gave Francis the name Giovanni at his baptism while his father was out of the country doing business. When his father returned from his business trip, he began to call little Giovanni by the name Francesco or Francis since his son seemed to love everything French.

As a young man with plenty of money to spend on clothes, food, and fun, Francis had many friends who found his company delightful. He loved adventure and engaged in street battles in nearby towns. When he was around twenty, Francis joined a military expedition to Perugia. Perugia had declared war on Assisi and soon defeated Assisi. Francis was taken prisoner. He suffered severe deprivation in jail until his father was able to ransom him about a year later.

Francis returned to his former carefree life in Assisi - briefly. Chastened by physical suffering while in jail, though, Francis began to accept God’s grace at work in his heart. In 1203, he set off to enlist in another army. However, on the way, Jesus spoke to Francis from the Cross, and Francis returned to Assisi a changed man.

Taking to heart the words of the Gospels, Francis decided that he would imitate Our Lord in everything. Instead of fine clothes, he put on rough and ragged garments, begged barefoot at the city gates, and showed love to all around him – especially the poor and outcasts. His pure heart and peaceful ways brought other young men to join him. By 1209, he began to form the Order of Friars Minor which grew rapidly because of the Brothers’ love for all. By 1212, a young woman named Clare sought guidance from Francis to follow his way of life. With his help, Clare established the Second Franciscan Order, the Poor Clares. A Third Order flourishes today as well.

Francis’ goodness brought his life into harmony with all of God’s creation. Many legends grew up around this fact after his death, but we can guess that St. Francis would have easily believed that the wolf could be a guest of the lamb or that a child could lead the lion, as Isaiah predicts in today’s Reading. Francis knew that God created a world that was beautiful and good but that suffers because of our sin. That is why God sent a Savior. Following Jesus and with His grace, we can all be at peace with one another and, in Francis’ words, with “Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth.” All creation, Francis said, praises God.

On October 3, 1226, Francis lay down on his dear earth, literally, and welcomed his sister Death. Because of his great love – feeding the hungry, caring for lepers, encouraging others, and living respectfully with all creatures – Francis was canonized only two years after his death in 1228.

OBSERVING THE BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTS

What inspiration did Pope Francis take from his namesake, St. Francis, in writing his encyclical Laudato Si?

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The Roman Centurion - Ornaments of Grace

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Monday of the first week of Advent is the Roman Centurion.

from Matthew 8:5-11

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Archangel Raphael - Ornaments of Grace

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0600

Today's Ornament of Grace for Sunday of the first week of Advent is the Archangel Raphael.

Matthew 24:37-44

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