First Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13B, 30-32 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: “Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children’s teeth are on edge”? As I live, says the Lord GOD: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die. If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer, or lends at interest and exacts usury– this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault. Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live! Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God. A clean heart create for me, O God; and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15 Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away. NAB This summer, my heart has been heavy and full. The news continues to roll in with city names and death tolls alongside the faces of victims whose stories take up my prayers. The anxiety hangs heavy on me. What does God want me to do? How can I move from prayer into action? What kind of heart can I cultivate to be open to the suffering in the world without succumbing to it? Today’s Gospel helped me to formulate an answer. Jesus wants me to have the heart of a child. We don’t ask children to take on tragedies of this world. We guard their hearts from the messiness that surrounds us. We encourage them to be open hearted, sharing the love they have to give with the world. I want to fill my heart up with love. I want to carry love with me as I move through the world. I want to respond in love to the people I meet. Sometimes the love will be a love of justice, to be sure, but I will move and live in love. Today’s Psalm is the perfect way to start. I beg the Lord for the humble and contrite heart that lives in His presence, full of His spirit. For the clean and pure heart of a child, that finds joy in the world. For the willing spirit that perseveres, unafraid of what may be ahead that I cannot control. Our world is broken and fallen, but we don’t have to let the brokenness live in us. We can choose to enter into the brokenness with the healing love of Christ in our hearts. We can cultivate a child’s heart in ourselves: whole, loving, and pure. [bctt tweet="Our world is broken and fallen, but we don’t have to let the brokenness live in us."] If the trials of the world around you are weighing on your heart, pray today’s psalm. Ask the healing of the world to begin in your own heart. A clean heart create for me, O God; and a steadfast spirit renew within me. - Psalm 151:12 photo credit 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.

First Reading: Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations. Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: By origin and birth you are of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, the day you were born your navel cord was not cut; you were neither washed with water nor anointed, nor were you rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling clothes. No one looked on you with pity or compassion to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out on the ground as something loathsome, the day you were born. Then I passed by and saw you weltering in your blood. I said to you: Live in your blood and grow like a plant in the field. You grew and developed, you came to the age of puberty; your breasts were formed, your hair had grown, but you were still stark naked. Again I passed by you and saw that you were now old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover your nakedness; I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you; you became mine, says the Lord GOD. Then I bathed you with water, washed away your blood, and anointed you with oil. I clothed you with an embroidered gown, put sandals of fine leather on your feet; I gave you a fine linen sash and silk robes to wear. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms, a necklace about your neck, a ring in your nose, pendants in your ears, and a glorious diadem upon your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver; your garments were of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. Fine flour, honey, and oil were your food. You were exceedingly beautiful, with the dignity of a queen. You were renowned among the nations for your beauty, perfect as it was, because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord GOD. But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry on every passer-by, whose own you became. Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you, that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord GOD. Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 R. (1c) You have turned from your anger. God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation. R. You have turned from your anger. Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. R. You have turned from your anger. Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth. Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel! R. You have turned from your anger. Gospel: Matthew 19:3-12 Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?” He said in reply, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate.” They said to him, “Then why did Moses command that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?” He said to them, “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) and marries another commits adultery.” His disciples said to him, “If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” He answered, “Not all can accept this word, but only those to whom that is granted. Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so; some, because they were made so by others; some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it.” NAB Have you ever seen what happens to an orange or grapefruit after it falls off the tree? First, it stops growing, of course. Next, it gets a little soft and mushy and wilts a bit. Finally, it turns really really really hard. As hard as a rock. It actually changes form and you cannot get into the good stuff inside. If you hit it with a hammer or run over it with your car, it actually crumbles. The good stuff inside is gone. In our Gospel reading today, Jesus explains that the Israelites were allowed to divorce because of the hardness of their hearts. The Israelites did quite a few things differently before Jesus came. Now Jesus was holding them to a higher standard. The very laws and customs of their culture were turned on their heads. Jesus recognized that it was a big change and He responded to their question of whether single life was preferable to married life with the answer of for some, yes. We are not all called to follow the same path in this life. We are, however, all called to discern God's will for our lives. His will is far more delightful than anything we could dream of ourselves, because His will is for us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. There is nothing better than that. This road on which we travel prepares us for that eternal life. For some that will be a vocation of marriage, for others it will be a vocation of single life, and for others still, it will be a vocation to the religious life. Not too long ago, I was talking with a friend of mine who is having some troubles in her marriage. She said that her heart was hardened. It made her incapable of moving forward until she opened that heart to Jesus to repair. Regardless of our calling, a hardened heart can befall any of us. When our hearts are hardened, a relationship is impossible. Coworkers, children, spouses, friends and family alike, challenge us to greatness by challenging us in our everyday interactions. We can respond with a hardened heart, or we can respond as Jesus not only taught us, but commanded us. We are to love one another. And we aren’t alone. Our hearts are not destined to wilt and harden like fruit forgotten on the ground. He showed us ultimate love when He died for our sins. As His disciples, we are asked to show others love. As long as our hearts are actively loving those around us, they will refrain from hardening. Love in action is the preventative measure against hardened hearts. Jesus’s love for us was a sacrifice and our love for others can be made up of small sacrifices too. Loving isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. [bctt tweet=" Love in action is the preventative measure against hardened hearts."] Where in your life do you find your heart hardening? What can you do to show love today where it is most difficult? Ask Jesus to soften your heart today and open you up to love. photo credit 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.

Memorial of Saint Clare, Virgin First Reading: Ezekiel 12:1-12 The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on, prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on, migrate from where you live to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage like an exile in the daytime while they are looking on; in the evening, again while they are looking on, you shall go out like one of those driven into exile; while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it; while they look on, shoulder the burden and set out in the darkness; cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel. I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden. Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing? Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile. The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug out in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62 R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord! They tempted and rebelled against God the Most High, and kept not his decrees. They turned back and were faithless like their fathers; they recoiled like a treacherous bow. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! They angered him with their high places and with their idols roused his jealousy. God heard and was enraged and utterly rejected Israel. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! And he surrendered his strength into captivity, his glory in the hands of the foe. He abandoned his people to the sword and was enraged against his inheritance. R. Do not forget the works of the Lord! Gospel: Matthew 18:21–19:1 Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan. NAB Seventy-seven times. That’s how much we’re supposed to forgive someone. You’ve got to be kidding me. Years later I still carry secret grudges from the ones who wounded me. The mean girl in grade school. The cool kids in high school. The college boyfriend who broke my heart. The co-worker whose gossip cut me deep. The friend who betrayed me. The in-law who tore me down behind my back. Maybe I secretly hope this laundry list of wrongs makes me a martyr. Maybe I selfishly want to stroke my bruised ego and console myself that I was in the right. Either way, it’s quicker for me to name seventy-seven reasons why I’d rather not forgive. But unforgiven wrongs weigh us down like heavy burdens. We know this. Jesus knows this. So He weaves yet another parable to try and teach His disciples that forgiveness is at the heart of what it means to follow Him. His clear words offer us the key to forgiving someone—anyone, yourself, your beloved, your best friend, your worst enemy—and to keep forgiving them, time after time after time. The key is patience. Listen to the comfort we miss if we hurriedly read this challenging Gospel. In the midst of harsh words, there is a quiet refrain: Be patient with me. The parable twists around these four words. When the servant asks patience of his master, compassion moves the good master to forgive. When the fellow servant asks patience of his debtor, the spiteful servant forgets to forgive in return. One responds with love, knowing the debtor needs patience and forgiveness. One responds with cruelty, grabbing any last shred of power to give himself the upper hand. Forgive the ones who most need forgiveness. This is the lesson Jesus teaches His disciples—over and over because they forget and sulk and brood like we do. Forgive because forgiveness is offered to you by a loving, merciful God. It will not be easy. It is never simple to be a sign of God’s compassion in the midst of a rebellious world. But it will be good and right and holy. This is Jesus’ promise. [bctt tweet="It will be good and right and holy. This is Jesus’ promise."] Be patient with yourself today. Be patient with those you need to forgive. Remember that you are loved wildly by God, beyond measure. Trust that you will be forgiven completely by God, when you seek with a repentant heart. 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: 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 Brothers and sisters: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes. R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need. Gospel: John 12:24-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” NAB The author and speaker Brené Brown writes that we live in a "culture of scarcity," our culture of "never enough." She writes that for many of us our first thoughts are that we have not gotten enough sleep to the end of the day when we go to bed thinking that we didn't do enough, get enough done, or didn't have enough time. This translates into a feeling that we ourselves, by ourselves, simply aren't enough. This sense of not being enough goes all the way back, in our tradition, to the Fall of humanity, that leaving Paradise, that choosing not to obey God. The readings today show us the solution to the "never enough" mentality that is actually part of fallen human existence. God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. In God we are enough. And in God we have everything we need. This truth can allow us to then give to others cheerfully and "sow bountifully" so as to reap abundant harvest through God's grace. Do you find yourself falling into "never enough" thinking? Have you found yourself comparing yourself to others and then feeling that you don't have enough? Not enough rest or vacation time, not enough nice clothes, never enough sleep? If married, not enough peace among your children, or enough time with your husband or time by yourself? For those single, not enough good men in world, or money to support yourself and the kind of life you'd like to live? Maybe you feel you don't look good enough, aren't pretty enough, fit, cute, funny, or even holy enough? The list I can come up with for myself is endless. It is so easy to feel that we are not enough and will never be enough. But because of our Baptism and because Christ atoned for us, that is a lie. The Christian faith is a great mystery that even through death, God can bring about resurrection and abundance of life. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that if a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it produces much fruit. Essentially, it is in the experiences of our limits, our falls, our sufferings, our struggles, our "not enoughs" that if we turn to God, He can use those to bring about abundant life and great fruitfulness in our lives. Maybe it is simply our belief that we are not enough that needs to die, so that Christ can raise us up and bring about abundant life within us today. [bctt tweet="Even through death, God can bring about resurrection and abundance of life."] Dear Jesus, I give you praise and thanks for all of the good gifts you have given me. Give me peace and confidence in the truth that you provide for all of my needs. When tempted to compare myself to others and find I come up short, bless me with Your grace and strength to turn to You in gratitude for Your abundant gifts in my life. Thank You, Jesus, for all of your goodness and love. 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: Ezekiel 2:8—3:4 The Lord GOD said to me: As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you: be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you. It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe! He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131 R. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise! In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches. R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors. R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! The law of your mouth is to me more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces. R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth! R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! Your decrees are my inheritance forever; the joy of my heart they are. R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! I gasp with open mouth, in my yearning for your commands. R. How sweet to my taste is your promise! Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” NAB When I was a little girl, I remember my parents treating me and my sister to honey sticks on occasion—when we were out shopping at a local store, farmer’s market, or fair. These straws full of honey were pure delight to drink. I can almost taste the oh-so-sweet goodness now when I close my eyes and think back on those precious memories. When the Prophet Ezekiel said, It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, he was not talking about enjoying a delectable honey stick. Oh no, my sisters. He was talking about eating a scroll. Hold up. What? A scroll which read “lamentation and wailing and woe” was sweet as honey? Yes. And why? Because Ezekiel was obedient to God. He was obedient even when it probably did not make much sense to him. It may have even seemed crazy. Yet he did what the Lord asked of him, and his reward was sweet. Is God calling you to greater obedience to Him? Maybe you are struggling in the vocation where God has called you. Maybe there is a Church teaching that you grapple with understanding. This is a reminder for me, and for each of us, that God calls us to be totally obedient to Him and His ways. If you’re anything like me, that can be hard sometimes! How can we do that? Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven, it says in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew. Humility. It takes humility to obey the Lord’s laws and to walk in His way—to rid ourselves of pride and to follow Him. My prayer is that we might be more like the Psalmist who gasp[s] with open mouth, in my yearning for your commands. Close your eyes for a moment, sister, and try to visualize this. Picture yourself as the Psalmist, mouth gaping wide open for God and gasping for His commands. Would that our desire for God might be so strong to move us to this place! Let us sing together: “How sweet to my taste is your promise!” Even when it’s difficult. Especially when it’s difficult. For His promises are our salvation and our joy, and obedience to His promises will lead us to the eternal sweetness of Heaven. [bctt tweet="Obedience to His promises will lead us to the eternal sweetness of Heaven."] May the way we live our lives reflect the sweetness of God’s promise in our hearts. May others be drawn to Him, like bees to honey. Elise Howe is a devoted wife, momma, and musician currently living in NYC, though she will always be a midwestern gal at heart. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest First Reading: Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28C On the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year, that is, of King Jehoiachin’s exile, The word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.— There the hand of the LORD came upon me. As I looked, a stormwind came from the North, a huge cloud with flashing fire enveloped in brightness, from the midst of which (the midst of the fire) something gleamed like electrum. Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human. Then I heard the sound of their wings, like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty. When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army. And when they stood still, they lowered their wings. Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire. Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man. Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor. Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14 R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights; Praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all you his hosts. R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Let the kings of the earth and all peoples, the princes and all the judges of the earth, Young men too, and maidens, old men and boys, R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven. R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. And he has lifted up the horn of his people. Be this his praise from all his faithful ones, from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia. R. Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Gospel: Matthew 17:22-27 As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief. When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.” NAB When I read this passage, I have to fight not to let my attention be diverted by the fish with a coin in his mouth. I imagine a smile playing at Jesus’ lips when He tells His friends how this is all going to go down. It’s a tax He should not have to pay. He was, after all, very much the Son and not the foreigner. Nevertheless He is going to pay it because He has, in this instance, an opportunity to show us that we have to obey the laws and customs of our land, so long as they don’t conflict with God’s laws. Jesus tells Saint Peter that He will pay the tax “that we may not offend them.” Sometimes, Christians are called to exercise prudence and remember that we can put stumbling blocks in another’s journey to meet Christ if we offend. So, Jesus isn’t going to offend. He’s not going to die on that hill. He’ll choose another. But how does He pay the atonement tax? He could have reached up and pulled the coin from behind Saint Peter’s ear or made it appear miraculously in His own pocket. Instead, He who rules over all creation, has it appear in the mouth of a fish. So . . . take that those who do not believe that He’s the Messiah. I don’t want to be distracted by the fish, however clever it was, and miss the other parts of the story. Jesus knew even before Saint Peter broached the subject exactly what was troubling him. He knew and He articulated for him everything that was needed. Before Peter even spoke, Jesus understood every dimension of his problem and had every solution. That’s God: the One who sees what we need and knows exactly how He will provide. Jesus also knows how He is going to die and He takes the opportunity to gently remind His friends of what will come and to prepare them for the pain they will endure as they travel with Him to Calvary. There is a greater debt to pay and Jesus is no more liable for that debt than He is for the temple tax. Finally, the part that speaks volumes: when Jesus pays the atonement money, He pays Peter’s tax, too. In a short time, He will willingly lay down His life for Peter—and you and me—a much greater debt paid in full. No fishing necessary. [bctt tweet="That’s God: the One who sees what we need and knows exactly how He will provide."] 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: Wisdom 18:6-9 The night of the passover was known beforehand to our fathers, that, with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they might have courage. Your people awaited the salvation of the just and the destruction of their foes. For when you punished our adversaries, in this you glorified us whom you had summoned. For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 R. (12b) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Exult, you just, in the LORD; praise from the upright is fitting. Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he has chosen for his own inheritance. R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, To deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us who have put our hope in you. R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Second Reading: Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God. By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age —and Sarah herself was sterile— for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth, for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol. Gospel: Luke 12:32-48 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” NAB For in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution. This verse from Wisdom reminds me of what is also in the Gospel of Matthew: Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Mt. 6:6.) Then later, Jesus tells the Apostles to "go forth and make disciples of all nations." Can we, can I, do both? How on earth do I evangelize without seeking attention in my faith life? The idea of doing and praying in secret feels comfortable and easy. No need to worry about making a fool of myself or being persecuted if I'm not going out into the hallways of school or being outspoken in my extended family about my faith. Keeping it private is easy and safe. I'm an introvert, after all, and I don't like to go "out there" and "proclaim from the rooftops" like so many amazing Saints. I had a teacher in high school who taught us that "our faith is always personal but never private." The idea, of course, is that we must have a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus, but not keep it private, hidden away from the world. HOW does one make the two possible at once? I struggled with this for quite a long time. I still do. "In secret," I believe, refers to the deeply personal interior life between my soul and Christ. The parts of my heart that only He knows, of course, are secret. But what happens here, the sacrifices I offer, the prayers I lift up throughout the day, these may be "secret," but they ought to have an effect on the entire rest of my life. The great Saints in Heaven didn't skip their personal, private prayer time. They also didn't keep mum about Christ's love for them. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta spent hours a day in prayer. HOURS! This was in addition to the continual service to the poor and teaching them about Christ. How can I imitate this, to bring about "the divine institution," the Kingdom of God? It begins with prayer, of course. A strong, consistent, deeply personal prayer life which is my relationship with Christ. And then? Then my faith will spill over into my actions, love and grace will move through my words and relationships, and even if I'm not as outspoken as others, I'll share the light of Christ as I go. [bctt tweet="Let faith will spill over into my actions, that I may share the let of Christ as I go."] Did this private versus public faith life make you think about how you share and live your faith? Any contradictions you want to address? photo credit Gina Fensterer is a wife, daughter, mother, friend, homeschooling mama and Colorado native. You can find out more about her here.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord 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, The one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 9 R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the LORD of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. Because you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. R. The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth. Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19 Beloved: We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Gospel: Luke 9:28B-36 Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen. NAB “It’s empowering to have a big vocabulary,” I tell my high school students. “If you know enough words, you can communicate any feeling you have.” Sometimes I tell them about the diary I started keeping in sixth grade, a scrawled record of my young dreams and fears. When I was eighteen, there came a moment when I suddenly realized that it was no longer a struggle for me to articulate my complicated teenage feelings. My ability to express myself in writing had reached the point where I could name, and thus more fully understand, nearly every feeling I experienced. It was a big moment. But as much as I believe in the power of words, of course certain experiences defy language. The love I have for my kids, deep moments of communion in prayer—every now and then, something happens that is simply too big to be captured in words. I wonder if that’s what Saints Peter, John, and James felt when they witnessed the transfiguration. The Gospel says that they told no one at that time, but it’s not clear why. I suspect that at least part of their silence must have been the sheer impossibility of putting an experience like this into words. And I must admit that as a reader, I’ve always had a hard time imagining what this scene was like. The Gospel account is vaguely unsatisfying, as if there is something missing without the visual and spiritual immediacy of experiencing it oneself. This story is helpful at clarifying something else, though. As much as I believe in the power of words, the truth is that words can only approach the light and life that is the core of our God. They can draw us toward it and help us recognize it, but God remains something that we can’t pin down, something that we can’t articulate neatly between the covers of a diary or in a blog post. That’s true of many spiritual experiences, in fact. Perhaps there is a maturity in simply accepting that God is not something we can ever fully grasp. Maybe we are most free when we accept that reality, and don’t attempt to pin it down. In the end, maybe what’s empowering is not capturing an experience in words, but simply resting in the mystery of the moments that leave us speechless. [bctt tweet="Let us simply rest in the mystery of the moments that leave us speechless."] Question to ponder: When have you encountered an experience too big for words? How did it make you feel? 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: Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7 See, upon the mountains there advances the bearer of good news, announcing peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah, fulfill your vows! For nevermore shall you be invaded by the scoundrel; he is completely destroyed. The LORD will restore the vine of Jacob, the pride of Israel, Though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined the tendrils. Woe to the bloody city, all lies, full of plunder, whose looting never stops! The crack of the whip, the rumbling sounds of wheels; horses a-gallop, chariots bounding, Cavalry charging, the flame of the sword, the flash of the spear, the many slain, the heaping corpses, the endless bodies to stumble upon! I will cast filth upon you, disgrace you and put you to shame; Till everyone who sees you runs from you, saying, “Nineveh is destroyed; who can pity her? Where can one find any to console her?” Responsorial Psalm: Deutoronmy 32:35CD-36AB, 39ABCD, 41 R. (39c) It is I who deal death and give life. Close at hand is the day of their disaster, and their doom is rushing upon them! Surely, the LORD shall do justice for his people; on his servants he shall have pity. R. It is I who deal death and give life. “Learn then that I, I alone, am God, and there is no god besides me. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them.” R. It is I who deal death and give life. I will sharpen my flashing sword, and my hand shall lay hold of my quiver, “With vengeance I will repay my foes and requite those who hate me.” R. It is I who deal death and give life. Gospel: Matthew 16:24-28 Jesus said to his disciples, “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 will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each according to his conduct. Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” NAB When my husband and I got married in 2009 we had it all planned out. We were going to get married, buy a house, wait a year to have kids, take a trip to Europe for our first anniversary, then come home and have babies. Well, we bought the house, we made it through our first year of marriage, we went to Europe and back, but no baby came. Month after month we prayed, tried, waited, and were disappointed. I met with doctors, altered my diet, took handfuls of vitamins and supplements, had countless vials filled with my blood for testing, and still no baby. For two years we tried to get pregnant, losing one baby to miscarriage during that time. I was beginning to feel far from God, like He had abandoned me and my prayers were falling on deaf ears. I feared the judgment of others at our lack of children—maybe they thought we didn't want them instead of just the opposite. I felt humiliated that our plans had not worked out. I wondered why God was allowing me to suffer this way. Why am I always so surprised and indignant when troubles come my way? We are guaranteed no perks or luxuries in this Christian life. If there’s one thing we are guaranteed, Scripture shows us time and time again that it’s going to be suffering. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mt. 16:24.) Infertility was the cross I was being asked to take up, and I could either let it drive a wedge between me and my Lord, or let it drive me to His side. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me . . . . For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt. 11:28-30.) The moment we turn to Jesus with our cross it ceases to be a burden and becomes a conduit of grace. Fear turns into trust, suffering turns into virtue, loneliness turns into fellowship with Him. Those two years of dealing with infertility were some of the hardest I have ever known. But they were also years of incredible spiritual growth. I learned humility and not to judge other people's family sizes. I learned to surrender my will to Him and trust in His plan for my life. My husband and I now have two children, and my cross has taken on the form of nursing a baby through the night and supporting my husband while he is in graduate school. And when it begins to feel like more than I can carry, I remember to draw close to the Lord. [bctt tweet="When we turn to Jesus with our cross, it ceases to be a burden and becomes a conduit of grace."] God used a cross to bring about salvation. So too our crosses, if we permit it, can become channels of Christ’s saving grace for us. Ask God to show you how He is using your particular cross to give you grace. photo credit Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, musician, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34 The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers: the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant, and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19 R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. R. Create a clean heart in me, O God. Gospel: Matthew 16:13-23 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” NAB In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples about who people say that He is. They reply with a litany of the usual suspects. But Christ probes more deeply: “Who do you say that I am?” Today, I hear Jesus asking each of us the same question: Who do we say that He is? It’s easy to list off various descriptive titles for Jesus: King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Messiah, Savior, Healer, Friend—yet do we really believe it? More importantly, do we live as if it’s true? The well-known author G.K. Chesterton said that the longest journey is the distance between our head and our heart. We can know something, yet still hold back. He has serious wisdom in that compact statement for us to consider. Recently I was blessed to attend a series of talks by Sister Ann Shields. Time and again, she implored us to pray for greater faith. Growing in faith, she said, means putting down roots so deep that no matter what happens, you remain unshaken. Sister Ann noted that growing in faith isn’t reserved for some moment in the future when we have a minute to spare. It's for today—it's for right now. God is on His throne today. Jesus is saving us today. We are His children today. Do we believe? Maybe we attend Mass weekly, Adoration occasionally, and Confession semi-regularly. Maybe we pray daily or frequently. But do we really know why we are doing these things? Or more importantly, do we personally know the God with Whom we are seeking relationship? And how do we get there? How do we find these answers? And so I ask, what would your life look like—how would it change—if you truly had the faith to believe that Jesus is Who He says He is? When we wholeheartedly believe the tenets of the Creed we profess, we have the power to change the world in Jesus’ name. Let us pray to live out of the fullness of our Catholic faith—not a flimsy faith borne of frustration or fear—but an unshakable faith rooted in the reality that we have a Heavenly Father Who infinitely loves us. Let's find and believe in those answers to the big questions in our life. [bctt tweet="I hear Jesus asking each of us the same question: Who do we say that He is?"] Praise and thank God for the faith you already have and ask Him to increase and strengthen it. Find community to deepen it and talk through questions you might be facing. Spend time with Him in prayer. Read His Word. Frequent the sacraments. Allow your faith to set you free. photo credit 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: Jeremiah 31:1-7 At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest, the LORD appears to him from afar: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits. Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim: “Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the LORD, our God.” For thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. Responsorial Psalm: Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12AB, 13 R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock. R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings. R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will console and gladden them after their sorrows. R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock. Gospel: Matthew 15: 21-28 At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. NAB This woman in today's Gospel! She teaches us all a lesson in the holy daring that can be ours in Christ if we will be place our trust in Him and in His goodness. How much our Gospel friend here has to teach me about who my Jesus really is and who I can be in Him! This woman, the one who is not supposed to “get” Jesus, not supposed to understand who He is, gets it perfectly well. She knows that she can be courageous, approach Him with boldness, because she trusts that He is good. She knows she is unworthy to approach Him but she is not counting on that; she is counting on the compassion of His heart and flinging herself into the arms of mercy. She begs even for just a scrap of it, as if the nearness of her encounter with Him has given her a whiff of His kindness and she is trailing its scent. Where we see a stiff, terse response, Jesus knows what He is offering is an opportunity for a heart to be truly revealed for what it is. And our Syrophoenician sister, with her eyes of humble faith, receives it is as an invitation to enter into conversation with the good man that she has come to believe has the power to save her from the enemy’s hold on what she values most. Sometimes when Jesus offers an unexpected answer like this in the Gospel, I sort of sit with it uncomfortably, wondering what to make of it. He doesn’t seem like a very nice guy if you take this response at face value. When I come to Jesus with what feels like a desperate circumstance and He directs me to an unexpected answer like this one, I am tempted to feel like He is just being mean, or unfair, or doesn't really love me. It is hard for me, in my own hunger, to remember that when Jesus refuses the easy answer, it is almost always because He is waiting for an opportunity to show us a bit of His glory. In our most desperate of circumstance, He knows just what we need and how best to provide it to us. No matter if it seems impossible to us. Often His provision looks and feels a little like a miracle. [bctt tweet="Jesus knows just what we need and how best to provide it to us."] Are you asking and feeling unanswered? Have you considered the answer might look differently than you think? It's hard, sisters, but it's God's will manifests itself in mysterious ways at times. photo credit Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks pre & post-partum. Today's devotion is a modified excerpt from Colleen's newly released book, Who Does He Say You Are?: Women Transformed by Christ in the Gospels. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22 The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book. For thus says the LORD: Incurable is your wound, grievous your bruise; There is none to plead your cause, no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you. I struck you as an enemy would strike, punished you cruelly; Why cry out over your wound? your pain is without relief. Because of your great guilt, your numerous sins, I have done this to you. Thus says the LORD: See! I will restore the tents of Jacob, his dwellings I will pity; City shall be rebuilt upon hill, and palace restored as it was. From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them. His sons shall be as of old, his assembly before me shall stand firm; I will punish all his oppressors. His leader shall be one of his own, and his rulers shall come from his kin. When I summon him, he shall approach me; how else should one take the deadly risk of approaching me? says the LORD. You shall be my people, and I will be your God. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 AND 22-23 R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory. The nations shall revere your name, O LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory, When the LORD has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory; When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory. Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the LORD: “The LORD looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory. The children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in your presence, That the name of the LORD may be declared on Zion; and his praise, in Jerusalem, When the peoples gather together and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory. Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36 Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed. NAB In my first few years of motherhood I felt like Saint Peter must have as he began to drown in the sea. I had boldly stepped out of the boat to follow Christ into my vocation as wife and mom but something wasn't right. To paraphrase the Christian band Jars of Clay, I wasn't afraid of drowning, it was the breathing that was taking all the work. And I was exhausted. I was also confused—where did this anger and anxiety come from? Here I was living out my vocation! I was embracing my cross! But daily, hourly, I would run through the litany of all that was wrong with me and it was an unending one: I must be a horrible failure of a mother, stupid, worthless, ugly, and even an embarrassment of a wife. My pain was without relief. I was awash in untreated postpartum depression, and let me tell you, PPD struck me as an enemy would strike and punished me cruelly. The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed that Israel's wound was incurable. How astonishing then that God, in His mercy, healed their wound just as He pulled Peter out of the water and just as He brought healing to me. My bruise was grievous but God healed me through the use of prescription anti-depressants, rest, a community who cared for my family and me, and the understanding that my children, marriage, and I deserved to be healed. You are not unworthy of help. God wants you healed, too. [bctt tweet="You are not unworthy of help. God wants you healed."] If you are struggling with depression or anxiety I pray that you will seek help. I pray that you, too, will be pulled out of the water and healed. Ask for help. Look for help. Don't carry this cross alone. photo credit Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker and homemaker. She lives with her husband and five children in central Illinois. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 28:1-17 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people: “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will restore to this place all the vessels of the temple of the LORD which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon. And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled in the house of the LORD, and said: Amen! thus may the LORD do! May he fulfill the things you have prophesied by bringing the vessels of the house of the LORD and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place! But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing and the hearing of all the people. From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms. But the prophet who prophesies peace is recognized as truly sent by the LORD only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled. Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, and said in the presence of all the people: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Even so, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from off the neck of all the nations.’” At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away. Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: Go tell Hananiah this: Thus says the LORD: By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke! For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: A yoke of iron I will place on the necks of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him. To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said: Hear this, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people. For this, says the LORD, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth; this very year you shall die, because you have preached rebellion against the LORD. That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102 R. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes. Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law. R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for in your ordinances is my hope. R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Let those turn to me who fear you and acknowledge your decrees. R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Let my heart be perfect in your statutes, that I be not put to shame. R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Sinners wait to destroy me, but I pay heed to your decrees. R. Lord, teach me your statutes. From your ordinances I turn not away, for you have instructed me. R. Lord, teach me your statutes. Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21 When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over— twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children. NAB Do you want to live a truly good life? I don’t mean a hedonistic life, one merely filled with self-interested pleasure, but, rather, one in which you are truly pursuing what is good, what is true, what is beautiful. A life in which the things you do, the choices you make, draw you ever-closer to the source of all Goodness. Our saint today and the Responsorial Psalm in today's readings draw us to reflect on this more deeply. Being a Christian requires more than just saying our prayers and going to church on Sundays. It requires a harmony between what we believe and the way we live our life. The natural law, written on hearts, helps to direct us on this path of goodness, but sometimes there are questions we face that are not so black-and-white. In her wisdom, the Church provides us with moral theology, a wonderful resource that guides us in “how one ought to act.” It is our responsibility to inform our conscience in these truths to the best of our ability so that our actions and our choices best jive with what is right. Each must act according to one’s conscience, but it is our duty to train our conscience well. (CCC 1782-1785.) Don’t let this training talk be a burden to you, dear soul! I have always found “the yoke easy and the burden light” when I make the effort to allow these truths to shape me, rather than just going off of my whim. There is a ‘lifting’ even in the midst of difficulty knowing my heart acts in accord with God’s will. Our saint today, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, was a man greatly concerned with this practical aspect of living a Christian life. First studying law and then continuing on to theological studies when he became a priest, he sought to understand and teach others these moral precepts well. He desired the good life, the life rooted in God’s law that resulted in true freedom, and wanted to lead others along this path. May we, too, be desirous of this. And may we, too, strive to the best of our abilities to understand how we are to live the life given to us. Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law.... Let my heart be perfect in your statutes, that I be not put to shame. [bctt tweet="Do you want to live a truly good life, a life rooted in God’s law that results in true freedom?"] What issues of morality do you find difficult to understand or accept? Take some time today to read and pray over them, asking the Holy Spirit for better understanding so that you may live a truly good life. photo credit 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.

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23 Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity! Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to another who has not labored over it, he must leave property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun? All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 R. (1) If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 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. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 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. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 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. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 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. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry. Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all. Gospel: Luke 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.” ESV What is it that I am always wanting more of? The Greek word used for "greed" is pleonexia, which translates literally to 'a desire to have more.’ I chuckled at writing a reflection about greed for so many thousands of women who give so much of themselves and what they have day in and day out. I watch it in action every day. I also chuckle because hoarding great wealth is not something I see many Catholic women doing—many I see are trying to put their pennies together to scrape by—in college, in ministry, and within their families. But when I look through a different lens, and look at this Greek translation of greed—a desire to have more—it is something many of us know well in our hearts and lives. Perhaps it is a desire to have more money—perhaps to have more followers, more readers for our blogs, more attention, more people recognizing our achievements, more friends, more possessions, more clothes . . . there are many things in our lives to want more of, and the world has conditioned many of us toward a continual striving and desire for more. Christ tells us through this parable to be vigilant against these desires—to be on guard against the quiet whisper of the enemy that attempts to push us toward wanting what could be and away from gratefulness for what is. This kind of greed kills us spiritually—for when we are wanting more of things there is little room left for wanting more of Jesus. I am always amazed how the desire for more just wears me out but the desire for more of Jesus propels me toward the holiness I am seeking. That’s the beauty of it—we can take ownership over what we desire more of. In your life, is it things or is it Jesus? [bctt tweet="What is it that I am always wanting more of?"] Take inventory today of what you have been finding yourself in want of lately—is it more things, or is it more of God? photo credit Emily Wilson planned her whole life to become a sports reporter but turned out to be a Catholic musician and speaker at the hand of God. She lives out of her suitcase and travels across the world speaking to people of all ages. The heart of her ministry is offering encouragement to teen girls in search of their true identity, and she loves ever second of it. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24 The priests and prophets said to the princes and to all the people, “This man deserves death; he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” Jeremiah gave this answer to the princes and all the people: “It was the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and city all that you have heard. Now, therefore, reform your ways and your deeds; listen to the voice of the LORD your God, so that the LORD will repent of the evil with which he threatens you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me what you think good and right. But mark well: if you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves, on this city and its citizens. For in truth it was the LORD who sent me to you, to speak all these things for you to hear.” Thereupon the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man does not deserve death; it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.” So Ahikam, son of Shaphan, protected Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34 R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me. Rescue me out of the mire; may I not sink! may I be rescued from my foes, and from the watery depths. Let not the flood-waters overwhelm me, nor the abyss swallow me up, nor the pit close its mouth over me. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me. I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive! For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.” R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12 Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, “This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus. NAB After reading today’s passages, I considered what to reflect upon—Saint John’s fearlessness and hard core devotion to God or perhaps Herod’s cowardice. I could reflect on the theme of persecution and the beatitude: “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” However, none of these are grabbing me. Instead my heart keeps going back to the Responsorial Psalm. “Lord, in your great love, answer me. But I am afflicted and in pain; let your saving help, O God, protect me. I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving. Lord, in your great love, answer me.” I can’t focus on anything but these words because right now I feel afflicted and in pain. It seems that wherever I turn someone I care about is suffering—my mom is fighting cancer, a friend lost her baby, another friend lost a family member, numerous friends are carrying heavy crosses. Violence is all over the news. At the moment, it just feels a little overwhelming. But it is times like these when our faith is put to the test. We may not have someone like Herod threatening to cut off our heads but we all have situations when our faith is seriously tested. Sometimes we are being persecuted for our beliefs and how we live our Catholic faith by coworkers, acquaintances or even family members. Sometimes we are faced with a heavy cross and we have to decide if we will let grief or anger consume us or if we will be brave and humble enough to lay it at the feet of Christ and breathe in the words, Jesus, I trust in you, and continue to glorify God despite what is happening around us. Living a life of surrender and trust in God is its own form of martyrdom—a martyrdom of our wills so that we more fully embrace the path God has laid before us. If today you are feeling the weight of something that is troubling you, recall the words of the Psalm, “See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!” Seek God and He will revive your heart. He will strengthen your spirit and bring you peace and comfort. You are not alone. [bctt tweet="Seek God and He will revive your heart. You are not alone."] Are you carrying a cross? Close your eyes and speak to God from your heart. Let Him refresh your spirit and comfort you. Reach out to a friend and ask them to pray with you. Or if you know of someone else who is hurting, reach out to them and be a source of God’s mercy and love. photo credit Bobbi Rol is a wife, a mama of four and a blogger learning to love God in the midst of dishes, laundry and swinging light sabers. You can find out more about her here. Save

Memorial of Saint Martha First Reading: Jeremiah 26:1-9 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the house of the LORD and speak to the people of all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD; whatever I command you, tell them, and omit nothing. Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way, so that I may repent of the evil I have planned to inflict upon them for their evil deeds. Say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you disobey me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them, I will treat this house like Shiloh, and make this the city to which all the nations of the earth shall refer when cursing another. Now the priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the LORD. When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the LORD bade him speak to all the people, the priests and prophets laid hold of him, crying, “You must be put to death! Why do you prophesy in the name of the LORD: ‘This house shall be like Shiloh,’ and ‘This city shall be desolate and deserted’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14 R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me. Those outnumber the hairs of my head who hate me without cause. Too many for my strength are they who wrongfully are my enemies. Must I restore what I did not steal? R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. Since for your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother’s sons, Because zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. But I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. R. Lord, in your great love, answer me. Gospel: John 11:19-27 Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” NAB When I was reading today’s Psalm, my inner voice was reading it like, “Lord, in your great love, answer me," LIKE NOW, COME ON. Um, hello? Answer me! Sometimes I feel like I am on call waiting with God. Like I am listening to that horrible generic music with the occasional interruption of, Please stay on the line as your call is very important to God. You’re the next caller. Most of the time, my prayers consist of a generic blanket of gratitude for the blessings of my life. I know I am blessed and I do not forget that. I met and married the love of my life. We have a beautiful daughter and a son on-the-way. I'm a dentist who gets to both work part-time and be home with my family, too. I am blessed. And I remember to thank God daily. It's not all perfect, of course. I have my struggles. I have anxiety and control issues. People close to me are struggling in their faith lives. There are real difficulties and obstacles in our lives and I cannot wrap my head around them sometimes. I question why these things happen to my loved ones. Why is it that I feel like I can ramble on freely about thanking the Lord for this or that but struggle to find the words for the hard times? Instead of turning freely to Him for help, I've built this wall between us of frustration and pain. Am I distancing myself from God because I don't want to hear the hard stuff from Him? When He's asking for me to do trust Him? Follow Him? I think if I tell Him my troubles, I'll be expected to trust and listen, too. Martha trusted the Lord and turned to Him when she struggled. In return, not only did He help her grow in faith, but gave her more than she had even expected! When we can be like Martha, we can allow God to answer our prayers and bring good from our troubles in an even greater way than we expect! I want to sit at His feet like Martha, open my suffering, and tell Him I believe He is the Christ, the Son of God. Then, maybe, just maybe, He’ll whisper something to my heart. [bctt tweet="I want to sit at His feet, open my suffering, and tell Him I believe He is the Christ."] Do you put God on call waiting? How do you let go and allow His voice to wash over you like Martha? photo credit Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife, mom, and dentist currently living in the Bay Area, California. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-6 This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Rise up, be off to the potter’s house; there I will give you my message. I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6AB R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. Praise the LORD, O my soul; I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live. R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. Put not your trust in princes, in the sons of men, in whom there is no salvation. When his spirit departs he returns to his earth; on that day his plans perish. R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD, his God. Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53 Jesus said to the disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” “Do you understand all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there NAB Round and round and round we go, our pliable hearts bending beneath His life-giving hands. We spin and shift and change until we are new again—right there in that confessional, right there on the potter’s wheel. And it’s easy for a time. It’s easy when the clay is still supple and your heart is still pure. It’s easy right up until the moment that potent dose of reality collides with your elastic soul. Because that’s when the clay begins to harden. That’s when the cracks begin to show and the passion begins to fade. That’s when you become stagnant. And I wonder what it would be like to allow our souls to linger, loose in His hands. I wonder how beautifully our hearts would be fashioned and how ceaselessly our love would flow. But it gets me every time—reality. It snatches up my prayer time with a mound of dirty dishes and an abounding list of tasks. It captures my heart with selfishness and occupies my head with fears. It molds me. But the work of the potter is not yet finished. He will form your hardened heart if you let Him. So, let's allow Him to get to work. “[L]ike clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.” [bctt tweet="He will form your hardened heart if you let Him. So, let's allow Him to get to work."] Seek out confession! It's a perfect way to start over. photo credit Brittany Calavitta is an enthusiastic advocate for a good book, strong coffee, and a hopeful heart. She currently resides in Irvine, California with her hipster husband and overweight Chihuahua. You can find out more about her here.