…love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:27-28 Here’s one of those Bible verses that’s easy to remember, sounds simple enough, but is one of the most difficult virtues to live out as a Christian disciple: love your enemies. We think to ourselves, “Yes, I strive to love everyone, even my enemies.” But then when the rubber meets the road…
Reflecting on the Beatitudes always brings about a sense of repentance in me. They have a way of holding up a magnifying glass to my motivations. They make me ask myself: what makes me make the choices I make each day? Are my intentions motivated by love of God and my neighbor, or love of myself? In the Beatitudes, Jesus addressed the reality that each of us face daily: our priorities and motivations. Our Gospel…
When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. –Luke 5:11 What does it “cost” to be a Christian disciple? Some might say, “Nothing! Discipleship is free!” While that is true on one level, it’s also true that discipleship is actually “expensive.” It costs us time for prayer, worship, and fellowship. It costs conversion of heart, discipline, the acceptance of suffering, and more. The Cost of Discipleship was written by…
…and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. – Luke 2:35 Do you ever find yourself burdened by worrying, ruminating over events and words of the past, or anxiety over things to come? Do your troubled thoughts ever overwhelm you? I can relate, and if so, this reflection is for you! Did you know that Mary has a very special role in our salvation as mediatrix of…
Have you ever felt far away from God? Perhaps you can relate to the Lost Sheep who wandered away from the Good Shepherd or the Prodigal Son who exiled himself and then returned to the Father (see Luke 15). Maybe you have found your way back to Him through a friend or by encountering the Lord in a new way. Call to mind this feeling of “exile” or feeling far away from God as you…
Imagine you’re there with Jesus, the disciples, and Mary at the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11). No one knows it, but Jesus is about to perform His first sign of turning water into wine. However, a few things need to happen before that. First, the wine must run out. Next, Mary will employ her feminine gift of sensitivity to notice the newlyweds’ need, intercede for the couple to Jesus, then demonstrate her authority by…
On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Christmas season concludes. St. John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus in the Jordan, points us to Christ: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). This is the same scripture that the priest says when he holds up Jesus in the newly consecrated Eucharist for us to adore before we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. Christmas is a…
Go outside one night this week when the sky is dark and clear. Just take a little time for some stargazing. Notice how some stars are brighter than others. Pick out the constellations and clusters. Maybe you’ll even see a shooting star! Stargazing helps me to wonder or marvel at the majesty of God. That can also be called “fear of the Lord.” It’s not an “afraid” kind of fear, but more of an “awe”…
This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We imagine their happy, loving home as a prayerful place of wholesome work and togetherness. Pope Francis said, “The family of Nazareth is holy because it was centered on Jesus.” Here a few ideas to help you consider how to center your family on Christ. First, if we are parents or grandparents, then we can strive to grow in our…
My Advent song wells last to love, the greatest of virtues, most true. It never will fade, endures for all time. It’s patient, enduring, and kind. It’s the one thing most needful, the goal of all longing hearts. Love is greater than fear, St. John tells us this. Then let love grow strong and sure. Let it ring out! Sweet melodious bells. Join the harp, pipe and strings from before. The song and the wreath…