discipleship – Word, Life, Light

Bearing Good Fruit Through the Sacraments

By Carey | February 28, 2025February 26, 2025 by Carey

A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit (Lk 6: 43). What is this “good fruit” that Jesus speaks of in our Gospel this Sunday? Fruits of the Holy Spirit are “perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory…[they are]: ‘charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity’” (CCC 1832). These are most definitely “good fruits.”…

The Cost of Discipleship

By Carey | February 7, 2025February 3, 2025 by Carey

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…

A Christ-Centered Family

By Carey | December 27, 2024December 18, 2024 by Carey

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…

Surrendering My Worries to Jesus

By Carey | October 25, 2024October 21, 2024 by Carey

Jesus, son of David, have pity on me. – Mark 10:47 In the early days of the faith, Christianity was called “The Way.” In our Gospel passage for Sunday (Mark 10:46- 52), Blind Bartimaeus “followed Jesus on the way” after his healing. He became a disciple! Bartimaeus recognized his need for a savior. He knew he couldn’t save or heal himself. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” What a good…

Visio Divina: Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

By Carey | October 11, 2024October 7, 2024 by Carey

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21 Changing up different styles of prayer is one way to encounter Jesus in new, unexpected ways. This week, I decided to use visio divina to help me think about our Gospel passage for this Sunday on the…

Lift Your Cross Triumphantly

By Carey | September 12, 2024September 12, 2024 by Carey

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it (Mark 8:35). This Sunday’s Gospel reading is the heart of discipleship: deny yourself and lift up your crosses every single day in imitation of Jesus. To follow Jesus—to truly be His disciples, day-in…

Remaining in Christ: Free Will and Fidelity

By Carey | August 23, 2024August 19, 2024 by Carey

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.(John 6:56) We all have a choice in who we choose to follow. What person or group to follow on social media, what bands we listen to, and what authors we will read. We can also choose whether or not we will follow Jesus. In our first reading, the Israelites had been through some difficult times, to say the least. Moses…

Virtuous Magdalen

By Carey | July 19, 2024 by Carey

Penitent Magdalen, Jesus forgave you of much. Pray for us that we might learn to accept the Lord’s forgiveness like you. Restored Magdalen, Jesus healed you of seven demons. Pray for us that the Lord will heal our dark places, too. Loving Magdalen, your healing and restoration led to a great love for the Lord. Pray for us that we might love Jesus more and more. Devoted Magdalen, you peacefully sat at the Lord’s feet…

How Can I Witness to God’s Love?

By Carey | May 31, 2024May 31, 2024 by Carey

In a homily Pope St. John Paul II gave on an apostolic trip to America, he offered this inspiring description of the Eucharist as the fullest expression of God’s love: “The Gospel of God’s love…finds its highest expression in the Eucharist. In the Mass and in Eucharistic Adoration we meet the merciful love of God that passes through the Heart of Jesus Christ.” Take a moment and imagine how this might work: God sends us…

Love, Friendship, and Purpose in the Lord

By Carey | May 3, 2024April 25, 2024 by Carey

Our Gospel reflection for this Sunday (John 15:9-17) is awe-inspiring. It’s part of the Last Supper discourses where Jesus spoke directly to His disciples about the most important aspects of discipleship, as well as the mysteries of salvation and the Holy Trinity. Jesus and the eleven apostles (Judas had already left to betray Him) had finished the Last Supper and He imparted these important truths to them before His Passion. This passage is part of…