Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary First Reading: Galatians 3:7-14 Brothers and sisters: Realize that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, Through you shall all the nations be blessed. Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law. And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for the one who is righteous by faith will live. But the law does not depend on faith; rather, the one who does these things will live by them. Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Majesty and glory are his work, and his justice endures forever. He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. He has given food to those who fear him; he will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Gospel: Luke 11:15-26 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. “When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.” NAB Today is the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. Being a recent convert to Catholicism, the Rosary is not a tradition that I grew up with. As a young Protestant I saw the string of beads and the prayers that accompany them as foolish and superstitious, a distraction from true worship of Christ Jesus. As far as I knew, the rosary was used for worshipping Mary. It’s true that in praying a full rosary you end up saying 53 Hail Marys. And it’s true that meditating on the life of Mary and her perfect trust in God can benefit our spiritual lives. But the Rosary, like any true Marian devotion, doesn’t stop at Mary—it always points to Christ. In the seven years since I entered the Catholic Church I have come to see the Rosary for what it really is: a beautiful meditation on the Life of Christ. Or as Venerable Fulton Sheen puts it, “where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known.” The Rosary is the story of our faith, of God’s love for us, and a means to express our love back to Him. In today’s First Reading Saint Paul emphasizes the importance of faith. False teachers had arisen in the Church at Galatia who were telling the new gentile Christians that they needed to adhere to the laws of the old Mosaic covenant to be saved. But Saint Paul was reminding them that it is only through faith in Jesus that we receive salvation. Any ritual or tradition, if it is devoid of faith, is worthless. The power of the Rosary is revealed when we use it to deepen our faith in Jesus, and invite Him into our hearts once again. The repetition of the prayers becomes sanctifying when we infuse them with love. “Love is never monotonous in the uniformity of its expression . . . when we say the Rosary, we are saying to God, the Trinity, to the Incarnate Savior, to the Blessed Mother: ‘I love you, I love you, I love you.’” –Venerable Fulton Sheen. Quotes taken from 'The World's First Love,' by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, publisher McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York, 1952. [bctt tweet="The rosary is where souls see & there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known." username="blessedisshe__"] Say a Rosary today to meditate on the amazing love story that is our Faith. If you’re having trouble staying focused, try offering each decade for a specific intention. Anna Coyne is a Saint Paul native, wife, mother, and convert to the Catholic faith. When not chasing after her two young children you can probably find her teaching piano lessons, knitting, tripping over wooden train sets, or writing. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 Brothers and sisters: After fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. I went up in accord with a revelation, and I presented to them the Gospel that I preach to the Gentiles– but privately to those of repute– so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter to the circumcised, for the one who worked in Peter for an apostolate to the circumcised worked also in me for the Gentiles, and when they recognized the grace bestowed upon me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas their right hands in partnership, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, we were to be mindful of the poor, which is the very thing I was eager to do. And when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he clearly was wrong. For, until some people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to draw back and separated himself, because he was afraid of the circumcised. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not on the right road in line with the truth of the Gospel, I said to Cephas in front of all, “If you, though a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 117:1BC, 2 R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News. Praise the LORD, all you nations, glorify him, all you peoples! R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News. For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. R. Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News. Gospel: Luke 11:1-4 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” NAB One thing that drew me to the Catholic Church was the rich tapestry of prayer practices. Our voices can pray—chanting the Psalms, reciting beautiful, centuries-old texts, or repeating simple, short prayers as mantras. Our bodies can pray—fasting, walking labyrinths on cathedral floors, making pilgrimages, or dedicating our work as prayer. Our minds can pray—reading Scripture carefully in lectio divina or meditating on sacred art. Or we can simply sit and converse with God. In the days of the early Church, there was also variety in practice. While some new Christians were Jews who followed Jewish laws, some had previously been pagans and didn’t follow those same laws. Disagreements arose about which specific Jewish laws a person needed to follow before he could become a Christian. We read today in Galatians about Saint Peter (Cephas), who had eaten with Gentiles. He decided to stop eating with them because of pressure from others who felt Gentiles (who did not follow Jewish dietary laws) were unclean. Saint Paul, as a fellow bishop to the first pope, calls this hypocrisy and says it is not in line with the Gospel. Of course, we’d never behave this hypocritically, right? Do our favorite prayer practices become so important to us that we hold them up as a standard for faith? What about people who don’t like the Rosary, or people who attend a different liturgical style of Mass or like different hymns than we do? Do we ever think, even just a little bit, that they are less holy or that they are practicing their faith less correctly than we are? In Saint Luke’s Gospel today, when Jesus’ disciples ask how they should pray, He gives them the simple prayer that we now know as the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. There are no complicated formulas for how many times to pray it or what time of day to say it or how they should position their bodies when they pray. He just gives them the words . . . and He tells them to call God “Father.” This invitation to call God “Father” makes us sisters in Christ. Whether we pray the Divine Mercy chaplet daily or just call out “Lord, have mercy!” at tough moments in the day, we are all God’s daughters. [bctt tweet="This invitation to call God “Father” makes us sisters in Christ. // @dere_abbey" username="blessedisshe__"] We can each grow in our faith by using the prayer practices that bring us closer to God. Let’s encourage our sisters in Christ to do the same—without judgment from us. Abbey Dupuy writes her life as a homeschooling mama of four while relying on coffee and grace. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi First Reading: Galatians 1:13-24 Brothers and sisters: You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race, since I was even more a zealot for my ancestral traditions. But when he, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me; rather, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to confer with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. (As to what I am writing to you, behold, before God, I am not lying.) Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. And I was unknown personally to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only kept hearing that “the one who once was persecuting us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” So they glorified God because of me. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1B-3, 13-14AB, 14C-15 R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Gospel: Luke 10:38-42 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” NAB Saint Francis of Assisi, ora pro nobis, pray for us. Who among us cannot sympathize with Saint Martha in the Gospel today,troubled and anxious as she bustled about her tasks? You know how much I can relate to that! The bills, the dinner for eight, the school work, the prayers on my knees for my family, the birthday cards sent late, the deadlines rushing upon me while I cradle a feverish infant, the constant needs from my children . . . . Maybe your troubles are schoolwork. Seeking employment, navigating a relationship, seeking treatment for a medical need or a spiritual need, or maybe simply the mundane daily wake-eat-work-eat-sleep pattern. But, oh!, my sisters! I know it might feel glorious to leave the cares of the world and collapse at the feet of Jesus, as Mary did, and God knows our need for that. He also knows what we must do, and calls to us to relieve our burden. Seek Him in the tasks. Pursue Him while you work. By His mercies and graces, as you navigate the oh-so-hard moments in life (Lord knows there are plenty), let Him be your constant companion as you work and play. Quiet your mind to hear His voice. Pursue greatness in the mundane, work with intention and love, and meet Him in every thing and everyone. Even though we cannot spend our whole days resting in Christ’s presence at His feet as Mary was called to do, we can choose to not complain and be with Him while we work. In our busy and burdened lives, we can meet Christ. The great thing is, is that Saint Martha eventually did, and went on to become a saint despite her anxiety and need to bustle. Surrender it all to Him, and He will be pleased to meet you there. He will sanctify every task and every breath. Simply invite Him there, into your busy world and your troubled heart. The more we surrender, the more His peace will reign. [bctt tweet="The more we surrender, the more His peace will reign." username="blessedisshe__"] What troubles can you surrender to God today? Choose the better part, and meet Christ in every task. Gina Fensterer is a wife, daughter, mother, friend, homeschooling mama and Colorado native. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Galatians 1:6-12 Brothers and sisters: I am amazed that you are so quickly forsaking the one who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel (not that there is another). But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111:1B-2, 7-8, 9 AND 10C R. (5) The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. The works of his hands are faithful and just; sure are all his precepts, Reliable forever and ever, wrought in truth and equity. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. He has sent deliverance to his people; he has ratified his covenant forever; holy and awesome is his name. His praise endures forever. R. The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” NAB Reading Saint Paul’s words to the Galatians in today's First Reading hit me between the eyes when I first read it: Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ. As a recovering people-pleaser, I struggle to release my desire for acceptance and esteem from others even as I realize the only One I should strive to please is God Himself. When we decided to move across the country, leaving family, friends, ministry and community behind, some people thought we were crazy. Why would sell our home and move to a place we knew so very little about? Frankly, I didn't know how to respond to their disapproving queries. I wondered if we were making the biggest mistake of our lives. Eventually, however, I saw God's hand opening doors both small and large as we progressed in our plans to drop our nets and follow Him. The more we trusted and obeyed Him, the more easily I was able to lovingly detach myself from others' expectations and criticisms. With practice, I've found that the previously endless cycle of 'what ifs'—what if I say or do this, and it makes him or her respond like that?—doesn't plague me nearly as much now as I seek to align my words and actions with the desires of my Heavenly Father. As Saint Paul explains to the Galatians, when we're busy focusing all our time and energy on pleasing those around us, how will we have anything left with which to please our God? And isn't pleasing Him what matters most? Is there some way God wants you to serve Him yet you've been reluctant because of what others may think? Do you trust Him enough to potentially put others' approval aside in favor of His? [bctt tweet="Do you trust Him enough to put others' approval aside in favor of His? // @realcatholicmom" username="blessedisshe__"] Sit with your Heavenly Father for a moment today, dear sister. Breathe in His peace and listen with the ears of your heart to how He is leading you. Ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom and courage to hear and obey His will. Seek to please Him alone. Heather Renshaw is a writer, speaker, and uplifter on a mission to love and serve God with her husband and five children in the Pacific NW. You can learn more about her here.

First Reading: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. Then the LORD answered me and said: Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 R. (8) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him. R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us bow down in worship; let us kneel before the LORD who made us. For he is our God, and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides. R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Oh, that today you would hear his voice: “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me; they tested me though they had seen my works.” R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Gospel: Luke 17:5-10 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” NAB Have you ever seen a real mustard seed? Not the ones you find at the grocery store, but a real Jerusalem mustard seed. It is so small, like a little speck, as small as a tiny piece of dirt or grain of sand. It is so small that it is able to be easily lost if you don't keep your eyes on it while holding it on your finger. While working as a catechist for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, I presented the parable of the mustard seed to a young three year old boy. We read the Scripture and then opened the box, and I placed one tiny mustard seed on his little pointer finger. Seeing the seed, his face lit up with an indescribable joy I have never seen anyone express. His smile was so big it seemed that it might somehow extend even off of his face. In fact, in a sense it did, because his joy and illuminated the entire room as he looked at the mustard seed, smiling and smiling and smiling and then breaking into laughter his joy was so great it could not be contained. "It's so TINY!" he said looking at the mustard seed and then up at me then back again at the tiny seed. He just kept smiling and smiling and then laughing as he delighted in the existence of the little seed. This went on for some time, his face radiating with sheer delight as he basked in the joy he felt. For a long time we simply smiled and laughed together, delighting in the presence of this little seed. Sometimes life can be so painful and rough and it can be so hard to allow ourselves to delight in the little things. "How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen!" the First Reading cries out with such honesty of how often might feel. Life often times does not turn out according to the vision we had in mind. But "the vision still has its time . . . and will not disappoint . . . wait for it . . . . The just one because of his faith, shall live." All we need is a little—tiny faith as small as a mustard seed. And like that young boy, in seeing and recognizing the goodness and power of something so tiny, we also will be open to experience great great joy. [bctt tweet=" Open our eyes to truly see your goodness and power present in your creation." username="blessedisshe__"] Lord Jesus, increase our faith. Open our eyes to truly see your goodness and power present in your creation. May we respond to your gifts with great joy and delight. Amen. Mary Catherine Craige is a lover of creativity and learning new things. When she is not guiding the development of young children through Montessori methods, you can find her behind her harp, taking an art class, or writing in her journal. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church First Reading: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. And he had seven sons and three daughters, of whom he called the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch. In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren. Then Job died, old and full of years. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 R. (135) Lord, let your face shine on me. Teach me wisdom and knowledge, for in your commands I trust. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just, and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. According to your ordinances they still stand firm: all things serve you. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. I am your servant; give me discernment that I may know your decrees. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. Gospel: Luke 10:17-24 The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” NAB Growing up I loved J.R.R. Tolkien's classic works "The Hobbit" and his "Lord of the Ring" trilogy. There are many things to love about these books—the epic language, the adventures, the subtle yet striking wit, the triumph of Good over Evil, but to me one thing in particular always stood out: small people can save the world. It is not the towering giants of men, the statuesque elves or even the stocky dwarves to whom the triumph of Good over Evil is entrusted. The saviors of Middle Earth are "a little people" with "little to no magic about them" who lead uneventful lives filled with the families and neighbors, rarely ever venturing too far from home and having no need for grand adventures, thank you very much. I don't know about you, but the older I get the more hobbit-like I become. Tolkien picked his heroes out of the same stock that God chooses His saints. Today's feast day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus along with the readings remind us that God calls and challenges the smallest of us, the ones who seem to be so unimportant or useless to do great things. It says He writes our names in Heaven, not our bank accounts, not our job titles, not the square footage of our homes—just our names. He called Job by name who seemed so insignificant and so weak. He called Saint Therese by name who was so little and unimportant. He called all the disciples by name, not by rank or nationality, to go and do great work in His name. He calls each of us by name to great things if only we'd listen; if only we'd stop say "No, God you can't mean me" or "No, God I'm not important enough." He is calling each of us to greatness in Him. He has shown us time and time again that the "smallest person can change the course of the future" and that the least important, the least significant among us can be the life-changers and the world-savers. So one question remains—will you answer His call today? [bctt tweet="One question remains—will you answer the Lord's call today?" username="blessedisshe__"] He is calling each of us to greatness in Him. photo credit Molly Walter is a Catholic convert, wife and mother to one crazy five year old, a new baby girl and four saints in heaven. She uses her degree in Theatre more as mother than she did while in the business. She enjoys reading, knitting, and rescuing third class relics from Goodwill. Find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church First Reading: Job 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5 The LORD addressed Job out of the storm and said: Have you ever in your lifetime commanded the morning and shown the dawn its place For taking hold of the ends of the earth, till the wicked are shaken from its surface? The earth is changed as is clay by the seal, and dyed as though it were a garment; But from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm of pride is shattered. Have you entered into the sources of the sea, or walked about in the depths of the abyss? Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell me, if you know all: Which is the way to the dwelling place of light, and where is the abode of darkness, That you may take them to their boundaries and set them on their homeward paths? You know, because you were born before them, and the number of your years is great! Then Job answered the LORD and said: Behold, I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth. Though I have spoken once, I will not do so again; though twice, I will do so no more. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14AB R. (24b) Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. O LORD, you have probed me and you know me; you know when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea, Even there your hand shall guide me, and your right hand hold me fast. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. R. Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Gospel: Luke 10:13-16 Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.’ Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” NAB I’ve never really had a deep understanding of the God of Wrath we see in today’s readings. Even images of God exhibiting power, like that famous mosaic in the National Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, unsettle me. So today’s readings really left me at a loss. How do I process a Jesus with words of condemnation or the words of God to Job? I reached out to my sister Blessed is She writers for help. One of the women responded jokingly with a series of emoji: waves, lightening, fire, wind. I realized this is exactly how I could begin to understand. God asked Job to look at the glory and power of creation and to understand the human smallness in the midst of it. My parents raised me with a deep love and respect of nature. Together, we played in the waves of the beautiful ocean and the Great Lakes. We watched storms roll in on summer nights. We built bonfires and roasted s’mores. But all of these were tempered by the awe and fear that we needed to understand our world. We were reminded of riptide as we played on the beach. We sheltered in the basement when the midwestern storms got too wild. We never got too close the flames and made sure that the fire was tamped down before retreating to our tents. None of these boundaries kept us from a enjoying the outdoors— they actually helped us appreciate the gifts of creation even more. Likewise, our awe and fear of the Lord help us to appreciate His deep love for us even more. This all-powerful God has chosen to love us, to show us mercy, to embrace us gently. [bctt tweet="Our awe and fear of the Lord help us to appreciate His deep love for us even more. // @br1gid" username="blessedisshe__"] Appreciate God’s power through the natural world today. Take time outdoors to look to creation and see His beauty, glory, and love for you. Brigid Hogan loves the view of the Washington Monument from her apartment, her standing desk, the Green Bay Packers, and a good mystery. She tolerates taking the Metro to the office, where she works as a communications consultant. You can find out more about her here.

Feast day of the Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 As I watched: Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was bright as snow, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. Or Revelation 12:7-12AB War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2AB, 2CDE-3, 4-5 R. (1) In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth; And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD: “Great is the glory of the LORD.” R. In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. Gospel: John 1:47-51 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” NAB Today is the feast day of the Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Their very real presence is a beautiful reminder of God’s great love for us. I never heard much about angels in my home growing up, but I had a sort-of-hippy aunt who loved the idea of angels. The angels she spoke of were like fairies from the stories—sweet and loving and gentle. They were guardians and protectors. Exactly what we were being protected from was never mentioned. When I joined the Church as an adult, I wasn’t even sure if Angels were legit. Of course there are hundreds of scriptural references to Angels, but I still had a very one-dimensional non-academic view of the celestial beings. My idea of Angels lacked any context or awareness of their purpose or of the spiritual battles they fight around us. Good angels (as opposed to the fallen angels) are part of the Mystical Body of Christ, and as such are fellow members of the Church. As Catholics, we don't worship the Angels. We venerate or honor the Angels along with the Saints, and join them as together we worship God. Angels surround the heavenly throne, but they also are present here on earth. We each have a Guardian Angel whose main task is to help us to get into Heaven; there are Angels who have authority over nature, and Angels for each church, city, and nation. These messengers of God are pure spiritual beings, individual in person, who have immortal souls like ours. When my children get lonely or scared I remind them that they have their Guardian Angel with them at all times. As comforting as Angels are to the little ones, they should be equally comforting to us; they even ministered to Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. They act unseen around us, guiding and guarding our path to Heaven. No matter how old we grow, we will never out grow the need for our Angels. [bctt tweet="The Archangels' real presence is a beautiful reminder of God’s great love for us." username="blessedisshe__"] How can you celebrate the Archangels on their feast day today? Say a special prayer or reach out anonymously and help someone in need. MaryRuth Hackett is a full-time wife and mother doing her best to teach her four children to love God and country. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Job 9:1-12, 14-16 Job answered his friends and said: I know well that it is so; but how can a man be justified before God? Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed? He removes the mountains before they know it; he overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble. He commands the sun, and it rises not; he seals up the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea. He made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south; He does great things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning. Should he come near me, I see him not; should he pass by, I am not aware of him; Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay? Who can say to him, “What are you doing?” How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him! Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me. If I appealed to him and he answered my call, I could not believe that he would hearken to my words. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 88:10BC-11, 12-13, 14-15 R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord. Daily I call upon you, O LORD; to you I stretch out my hands. Will you work wonders for the dead? Will the shades arise to give you thanks? R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. Do they declare your mercy in the grave, your faithfulness among those who have perished? Are your wonders made known in the darkness, or your justice in the land of oblivion? R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. But I, O LORD, cry out to you; with my morning prayer I wait upon you. Why, O LORD, do you reject me; why hide from me your face? R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. Gospel: Luke 9:57-62 As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.” But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.” And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” NAB Daily prayer—Scripture in particular—is hard for me. And here I am a devotional writer for our community of Blessed is She! Maybe that is why I do it: I like a challenge. Maybe you've also heard the lyrics, “When I rise / Give me Jesus,” from that song by Jeremy Camp, but it’s not like that for me most mornings. Most days, I wake up and I’m craving a shower. Then I want breakfast because I’m SO hungry. And I just need to check my email really quickly to see what is in store for today. And I’ll just answer a few of those emails—the easy ones. And I’ll make a list of what I need to do; be sure to add prayer to the list! Then, I’ll just start with the simple-to-cross-off items so I can really focus on the Lord. Once I get those things done, I will be ready to pray. But first, let me just . . . . Gosh, even when I see a deadline approaching for my work here, out come the distractions. I’ll just hop on Facebook to see what is new. Then I will peruse the readings. Man, those are deep. I might be too tired. Maybe I will do it tomorrow. Besides, I need to research a new gym bag because mine is hideous. And then let me just . . . . And don’t we see this phenomenon in today’s Gospel? Lord, let me go first and or I will follow you, Lord, but first let me . . . . These to-do items seem really important too: burying the dead and bidding farewell to family. But that is where Jesus makes His point. It’s not important. Nothing is as important as following Him. Right now. For me, I see that I need to discipline myself to crave Jesus first thing in the morning. I would love my world to stop until I have spent time with Him. And maybe the first few weeks, it is five agonizing minutes of making space beyond the to-do list. With practice and habit, it will feel easier and more regular. Wanting to spend more quality time with the Lord is a prayer He will always answer. [bctt tweet="Nothing is as important as following Him. Right now. // @callherhappy" username="blessedisshe__"] What is it for you that you need to decide to put Jesus first? Is it morning prayer? Is it clearing your mind on the commute to work? Is it just deciding to go to Adoration or Mass today? Jenna Hines has teeny army of three children and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. A former high school English teacher, she now stays at home where she blogs and runs a crafty embroidery business. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest First Reading: Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23 Job opened his mouth and cursed his day. Job spoke out and said: Perish the day on which I was born, the night when they said, “The child is a boy!” Why did I not perish at birth, come forth from the womb and expire? Or why was I not buried away like an untimely birth, like babes that have never seen the light? Wherefore did the knees receive me? or why did I suck at the breasts? For then I should have lain down and been tranquil; had I slept, I should then have been at rest With kings and counselors of the earth who built where now there are ruins Or with princes who had gold and filled their houses with silver. There the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Why is light given to the toilers, and life to the bitter in spirit? They wait for death and it comes not; they search for it rather than for hidden treasures, Rejoice in it exultingly, and are glad when they reach the grave: Those whose path is hidden from them, and whom God has hemmed in! Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8 R. (3) Let my prayer come before you, Lord. O LORD, my God, by day I cry out; at night I clamor in your presence. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my call for help. R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. For my soul is surfeited with troubles and my life draws near to the nether world. I am numbered with those who go down into the pit; I am a man without strength. R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. My couch is among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, Whom you remember no longer and who are cut off from your care. R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit, into the dark abyss. Upon me your wrath lies heavy, and with all your billows you overwhelm me. R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord. Gospel: Luke 9:51-56 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. NAB Today is my oldest son’s baptism anniversary. If he would listen, this is what I would say to him. (Turns out, it’s exactly what I need to hear, too.) Your life is not going to be easy, dear one. I’m sorry, but this is the truth. There will be days when you despair like Job: Why was I born? What is the point? Why does everyone have it better than me? There will be moments when you lament like the Psalmist: Where are You, God? Why have You forgotten me? Why did You let this happen? There will be times when you want to lash out in anger like the disciples. Why won’t people listen to me? Why won’t they do what I want? Why is everything so hard? But God will always offer you a quieter, wiser way—if you open your ears to hear and your heart to listen. The life of faith is a journey. Yours will wind from home to school to work to wherever God leads. Plans and people lie ahead of you that you cannot imagine now. The only certain truth is that the journey will twist and turn where you least expect. But by the gifts of birth and baptism, God has promised you goodness. God has plans for you, and they are full of hope. By birth you have been created and called into a world that needs your gifts. By baptism you have been claimed for Christ and transformed into His follower. So if you are refused, remember that Christ was rejected, too. If you are distressed, remember that He was determined despite every obstacle he faced. Set your face like His, committed to follow where God will lead you—even all the way to the cross. Follow where God calls, and you will never be left alone. This is the promise of your baptism. This is God’s gift for every one of us. This is the way love transforms life. [bctt tweet="By the gifts of birth and baptism, God has promised you goodness. // @laurakfanucci" username="blessedisshe__"] Give thanks for the gift of your baptism today. Let your prayer come before God like the Psalmist. Ask for the strength to follow where Christ leads and to journey where the Spirit calls. photo credit Laura Kelly Fanucci is a mother, writer, and theological researcher. She and her husband are raising three little boys in the suburban wilds of Minnesota. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Job 1:6-22 One day, when the angels of God came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “Whence do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming the earth and patrolling it.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand upon his person.” So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were ploughing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you.” Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 17:1BCD, 2-3, 6-7 R. (6) Incline your ear to me and hear my word. Hear, O LORD, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word. From you let my judgment come; your eyes behold what is right. Though you test my heart, searching it in the night, though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me. R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. Show your wondrous mercies, O savior of those who flee from their foes to refuge at your right hand. R. Incline your ear to me and hear my word. Gospel: Luke 9:46-50 An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” NAB Let's look closely at the Psalm today, shall we? David is teaching us a thing or two about how and what to pray. He offers God a just prayer, one that he truly believes is crying out from a place of wanting to be in God’s will. Sometimes, we are tempted to pray to change God’s mind or to orchestrate what we want. Always, we need to begin with God’s will. He has a plan and as much as He wants to hear our hearts (so much!), He doesn’t need us to tell Him what to do. Instead, He wants us to ask Him for the grace to do whatever He tells us. Incidentally, He will “tell” us if only we’ll listen hard. David feels unduly persecuted by his enemies and he wants God’s help. So often, the enemies of the Old Testament seem far from our present plight. But what if our enemies are fear or anxiety or envy or impatience—the things that tear away at our relationships, both with others and with God? If those are our enemies, can we cry out to our Lord as confidently as David does? We sure can. When we do, when we pray without lips of deceit—that is with a sincere and contrite heart—we draw close to the God who wants to save us from every enemy, even the demons in ourselves. So often, life seems unfair and we look at our days (and our nights) and we wonder why we are afflicted with the unique “enemies” that are ours. It simply doesn’t seem just. Sometimes, there are genuine injustices between ourselves and the people in our lives. Sometimes, life deals us a bad hand. When we look at our relationship with God though, there are no scales of judgement. If God were to judge us justly, we would always be condemned. Instead, we ask our Lord for mercy, not justice. We ask Him to help us even when we’re tested, even when it feels like the whole world is against us. We beg Him to find us to be without malice. Of course, there’s no chance that will happen unless He helps us make it happen. Cry out to Him right now. Don’t wait. Name your enemies, the demons that torment you. Ask Him to bring you peace. Let Him send you out today to be a messenger without malice. [bctt tweet="Cry out to Him right now. Don’t wait. // @elizabethfoss" username="blessedisshe__"] Please Lord, in the face of injustice and sorrow and my own internal demons, give me the strength and grace to always be humble, gentle, and kind. photo credit Elizabeth Foss is a wife, the mother of nine, and a grandmother. She finds the cacophony of big family imperfection to be the perfect place to learn to walk in the unforced rhythms of grace. You can learn more about her here.

First Reading: Amos 6:1A, 4-7 Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the flock, and calves from the stall! Improvising to the music of the harp, like David, they devise their own accompaniment. They drink wine from bowls and anoint themselves with the best oils; yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph! Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be done away with. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul! Blessed he who keeps faith forever, secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free. R. Praise the Lord, my soul! The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down; the LORD loves the just. The LORD protects strangers. R. Praise the Lord, my soul! The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia. R. Praise the Lord, my soul! Second Reading: 1 Timothy 6:11-16 But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen. Gospel: Luke 16:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’ He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’” NAB If Saint Paul were to write you a letter today, he might say something like this: But you, [wo]man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called. This is the kind of thing I could read everyday to remind me of how I am supposed to live. I have a similar passage on the wall in my bedroom, for I love to read the litanies in the letter of Saint Paul. He was able to embody in a few words how Christians are to live, and gives the life we are called to such a noble sound. For it is a noble call; greater than that which we are naturally inclined. We are to pursue, compete, and lay hold of eternal life. This is not something we can do complacently, but something we must do purposefully. Yet so often life can be overwhelming and burdensome; it is hard to think of pursuing more than what we are already doing. The call to holiness sounds exhausting. But doing what Saint Paul asks will make life lighter, not harder. When we seek passionately after eternal life, our burdens are made light and we receive the grace that we need. I have often found that it is when life is more difficult that seeking grace becomes second nature. I am more able to automatically offer my burdens to God. It is when my life is easier that I become complacent. And that is a real danger to the spiritual life. We must not let the joys of life or the cares of life keep us from laying hold of eternal life. [bctt tweet="We must not let the joys of life or the cares of life keep us from laying hold of eternal life." username="blessedisshe__"] So take a look at your life, where you are. Has life become burdensome, and you need to seek God’s grace through your burdens? Or is life lighter these days? Are you praying as you should? Are you seeking eternal life? What can you do to pursue these things? How can you go deeper? Do not be overwhelmed, but be encouraged by Saint Paul’s call. Susanna Spencer once studied theology and philosophy, but now happily cares for her three adorable little girls, new baby boy, and her dear husband in Saint Paul. She loves beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious meals, baking amazing sweets, reading good books, raising her children, casually following baseball, and talking to her philosopher husband. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:8 Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this God will bring you to judgment. Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence, though the dawn of youth is fleeting. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them; Before the sun is darkened, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, while the clouds return after the rain; When the guardians of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, And the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind; When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low; When one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed; And one fears heights, and perils in the street; When the almond tree blooms, and the locust grows sluggish and the caper berry is without effect, Because man goes to his lasting home, and mourners go about the streets; Before the silver cord is snapped and the golden bowl is broken, And the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the broken pulley falls into the well, And the dust returns to the earth as it once was, and the life breath returns to God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, all things are vanity! Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17 R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, Which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Gospel: Luke 9:43B-45 While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying. NAB Fill us at daybreak with your kindness. Our world is so upside down and inside out right now. It seems like each unthinkable tragedy barely hits headlines before the next is fresh on its heels. While today's faces and events are different, they're rooted in the same ancient evils plaguing humanity in our First Reading, in a world when the sun seems darkened . . . the guardians of the house tremble [and] the doors to the street are shut. In this Year of Mercy, Satan appears especially persistent in his efforts to use tragedy to turn us against each other, and we as a culture have snapped up the bait. From the vantage of our own human experience, we flounder to comprehend such incomprehensible, degrading evils against human dignity. Yet when understanding is impossible, we jump to conclusions, we crave a responsible party, we clamor to find a motive, and allow ourselves to be incited and provoked. In this age where everyone has a voice and a platform, we rush to broadcast generalizations and assumptions which degrade humanity all the more. We are compelled to take a stand, to be heard. But truly, respectfully, hearing one another? This is a dismal rarity. And so the complexity and depth of humanity’s beauty is lost, devolving into the chaos of a thousand splintered factions all battling one another in self-righteous indignation. Whether or not truth is on “our side,” God’s sacrosanct truth is never so absent as when we dismiss the dignity and personhood of those on the "other" side. Always—and without fail—Satan seeks to divide. Yet God—our sovereign Lord—who created us calls us to unite. Pope Francis once said, “Human dignity is the same for all human beings; when I trample on the dignity of another, I am trampling on my own.” (Message of Pope Francis for Lenten Brotherhood Campaign in Brazil.) Today, let us ask—and answer—ourselves honestly: how well do we love those least like us? And then sisters, let us be the ones to uphold our own dignity by upholding the dignity of others, no matter how foreign their circumstances from our own. Let us be the ones to extend mercy that unites over judgement that only further divides. Let us be the ones filled each new day with God’s kindness. Let us be the ones to more carefully consider our words, our comments, our thoughts, our tone as either weapon or remedy, and actively choose to carry the remedy of God's love into our broken world as a balm of healing. [bctt tweet="Let us ask ourselves honestly: how well do we love those least like us?" username="blessedisshe__"] Let us be united in God's love as His children. Megan Hjelmstad is a wife, mom, writer and sometimes soldier whose real passion is equal parts faith and chocolate. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every thing under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What advantage has the worker from his toil? I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 144:1B AND 2ABC, 3-4 R. (1) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! Blessed be the LORD, my rock, my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust. R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! LORD, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him? Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow. R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! Gospel: Luke 9:18-22 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” NAB The First Reading is surely one of the most beautiful in the Bible. There is an appointed time for everything . . . a time to be born, and a time to die. I find these words comforting in light of the recent death of my grandmother. Gardener that she was, she knew about the turn of seasons, about planting and uprooting, about keeping and giving away. Though my family members miss her terribly, she was ninety-seven when she died, and I am aware that we can’t ask for much more time than that. But this verse is less comforting when thinking about other deaths. So often, those who leave us seem to do so much too early, through terrible violence. I think of recent teenage suicides in my community, of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, of soldiers killed in combat. I think of those lives and I don’t feel the same sort of acceptance that I do at the death of my grandmother. How can we possibly say “It was their time to die”? I just can’t believe that it was their time. Perhaps some can say “These deaths happened for a reason,” but I personally have never found that a comforting phrase in the face of such losses of life. I believe in an omniscient God, but I also believe that our human free will sometimes leads us to make choices that run counter to what God wishes for His children. And yet the Gospel itself acknowledges this reality. Jesus tells His followers that He will suffer greatly, and be rejected and killed. There’s a message here: Pain happens. It happens to the least blameless among us. We suffer and die, and the people who love us suffer too, watching it happen—particularly if the dying happens before it seems we have even had a chance to live. But then we have the final line: the Son of Man will be raised on the third day. And this resurrection promise is what keeps me from despair. It doesn’t keep me from pain. It doesn’t keep me from grief, or anger at what feel like tragically ill-timed loss, and it doesn’t need to; I know that God can handle all of my emotion. But it does assure me that the time for dying is not in fact the end. There is life, there is death, and then—wonderfully, miraculously—there will be life again. And when that happens, there will be no more mourning or weeping, only dancing and laughing. And with that promise, we can keep on going. [bctt tweet="There is life, there is death, and then—wonderfully, miraculously—there will be life again." username="blessedisshe__"] When has the thought of the resurrection brought you joy? photo credit Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a mother, high school English teacher, and BBC period drama junkie. She is the author of Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God with Our Five Senses and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two boys, and about thirty thousand Legos. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! What profit has man from all the labor which he toils at under the sun? One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays. The sun rises and the sun goes down; then it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. All speech is labored; there is nothing one can say. The eye is not satisfied with seeing nor is the ear satisfied with hearing. What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun. Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!” has already existed in the ages that preceded us. There is no remembrance of the men of old; nor of those to come will there be any remembrance among those who come after them. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17BC R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, Which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. Prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Gospel: Luke 9:7-9 Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”; others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him. NAB Our thoughts are so important. The Church offers us powerful readings today to remind us just how important they are. That famous “vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!” reading stings, doesn’t it? It stings me a bit. In the Gospel, we meet the complex, confused character of Herod who was so fascinated with Saint John the Baptist. He is still disturbed by the saintly man he had murdered. And Herod seems similarly intrigued by Jesus of Nazareth because he kept trying to see him. What haunting words. Herod, for all his evil acts, kept trying to see him. What do I hope to see? What do I look for in my day-to-day life? What do I long to see when I look at others? Our thoughts are so important. The readings today help us to call a duck a duck. Do you know this saying? “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck . . . it’s a duck!” If it’s a duck, or a vanity, leave it. Continue to spend your day looking for Christ. If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck . . . leave it alone. Don’t chase ducks. We’re about building the Kingdom of God. Most of you are building the domestic Kingdom of God. High-five. Just wear your woman-cap, mom-cape, or in my case, sister-head-cape and leave the duck (or vanity)! The founder of the my religious order, the Daughters of Saint Paul, Blessed James Alberione, gave us lots of different flavors of what I call ‘Spiritual Red Bull.’ They are powerful spiritual practices that launch us way beyond the ducks, the unessential vanities of life, and into the heart of the mysticism of the Saints. Here are some practical tips inspired by Blessed James Alberione and today’s Gospel: 1) When I am feeling overwhelmed, upset, or in any way unsettled, I stop to call a duck a duck. 2) Next I make an act of faith (leave the duck). “Lord you are huge. You are my Protector, Provider, and Savior. You are bigger than this, so I give it to you.” 3) Then I repeat some powerful short prayer, like: Jesus, I trust in you. Your love is enough for me. or like my sisters you can pray, Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus, make us Saints! As I seek Jesus in my day-to-day life, I discover He has been looking for me all along. The heart of the spiritual life is allowing Love to look at me and for me to remain. Right. Here. In His Love. [bctt tweet="The heart of the spiritual life is allowing Love to look at me." username="blessedisshe__"] Lord Jesus, help me to seek Your face at every moment of my real (and often hectic) life. Help me to allow myself to be seen by You at every moment. You are my home. May Our Blessed Mother help me to seek you. May she help me know that in You all will be well. I love you. Amen. photo credit Sister Maria Kim Bui is a Daughter of Saint Paul, women religious dedicated to evangelization in and through the media. She is originally from Tempe, AZ, spent most of her fourteen years in religious life in the northeast, and is part of a bilingual evangelization team of sisters serving in Texas. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day, and night to night imparts knowledge. R. Their message goes out through all the earth. Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. R. Their message goes out through all the earth. Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” NAB You. Yes, you. Not the girl beside you. Not someone you think might be behind you. You. To you, Jesus says, Follow me. He's calling you. In today's Gospel we hear of the brief and simple account of the call of Saint Matthew. Jesus is passing by. Saint Matthew is sitting at the post. Jesus says Follow me. He gets up and follows Jesus. The discipleship begins. This was Saint Matthew's story. Your story is probably much different. But the call remains, as well as the reminder to recognize God's personal invitation in your life. How has Jesus called you? How is He calling you even now to continue to follow Him today? Maybe you have been waiting for Jesus to call you. Maybe some of you would like to know and be certain of your vocation, the calling that God desires for you. Maybe some of you are wondering when that perfect guy will show up and you will finally be called to marriage. Maybe some of you are thinking about religious life. Maybe some of you are afraid of God's call. And for others, maybe you are overwhelmed with the daily demands of your vocation or current state in life—the meltdowns from young children, continued annoyances with your spouse, the loneliness or uncertainty of single life, financial pressures, exhaustion from work, health concerns, lack of time to take care of yourself or find time for prayer, the curveballs of life that you didn't know would happen, and all the things that you didn't sign up for when you first said "yes" to Jesus while He was passing by . . . . Or maybe you are just feeling like Jesus has passed you right by and forgotten to even give you a call . . . . Whoever you are (Saint Matthew was a tax collector and sinner, and Jesus wanted him, remember!), wherever you are, whatever is going on in your life right now, to you, Jesus says, "Follow me." How will you respond today? [bctt tweet="Wherever you are, whatever is going on in your life right now, to you, Jesus says, "Follow me."" username="blessedisshe__"] Saint Matthew, inspired by the example of your discipleship, intercede for me this day to hear and recognize the ways in which Jesus is calling me to follow Him. By the intercession of your prayers, help me to persevere in journeying with Christ along the path of holiness, living in a manner worthy of the call I have received and using my gifts for the glory of God. In Jesus' name. Amen. photo credit Mary Catherine Craige is a lover of creativity and learning new things. When she is not guiding the development of young children through Montessori methods, you can find her behind her harp, taking an art class, or writing little poems. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13 Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it. All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart– the tillage of the wicked is sin. The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty. Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares. The soul of the wicked man desires evil; his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes. When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser; when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The just man appraises the house of the wicked: there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin. He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44 R. (35) Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD. R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart. R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight. R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. And I will keep your law continually, forever and ever. R. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Gospel: Luke 8:19-21 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” NAB When most people visit Paris, they spend their time viewing the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. But there are other hidden treasures scattered throughout the city besides the world-renowned monuments and museums. One such place is the Missions Etrang. It is the house of missionary priests who minister to Asian countries. On a visit I made there, our group was told the story of Saint Theophane Venard, a martyr who died in Vietnam during the 19th century. Although, not well known in the United States, he is a saint beloved by the French. Saint Therese of the Child Jesus' spirituality was greatly influenced by the example of his life—his missionary zeal and martyrdom. Many Asian countries have been (and still are) very hostile to Christianity. During the 19th century, there was a very strong movement to evangelize Asia, but most who attempted lost their lives, usually in a very brutal way. A few of these brutalities ranged from the kind of instruments of torture and death used upon the missionaries and natives who practiced Christianity during that time to tiny cages in which they were captured making it impossible to sit or lie down. Even the saw blades used for beheadings were so dull they never finished the job with one cut. I was struck by the horror of these deaths, but equally inspired at the depth of love one must have for Christ to endeavor to spread His love when faced with the possibility of such an end. Today’s saint, Saint Andrew Kim, is a contemporary of Saint Theophane. He is the first native-born priest of Korea. For many years, Korea did not have priests on their soil. The faith spread solely through the efforts of laymen. They were unable to receive the Eucharist or any sacraments, but yet, they kept the Faith alive. All these faithful men and women are also remembered today. One of the Proverbs in the Reading today is: He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard. Those poor who are persecuted for the Faith immediately come to mind. Although we may not see it so frequently on our own soil, there are many today who still suffer greatly for Christ. [bctt tweet="Let us be inspired at the depth of love one must have for Christ when faced with martyrdom." username="blessedisshe__"] Let us remember in prayer today those in agony for the Faith, praying for their stamina and perseverance. They live for Christ; they give their all for Christ. Although we, too, have our sufferings, many of us are not so directly affected by practicing our Faith. These poor souls need our prayers for strength, guidance, and peace in the midst of persecution. Think of them today. Listen to the song “The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor” as we remember them today. Laurel Muff is a creator and appreciator of beautiful things. She resides with her husband and daughters in Northern California. You can find more about her here.