First Reading: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21 Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me. When I found your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, Because I bore your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit celebrating in the circle of merrymakers; Under the weight of your hand I sat alone because you filled me with indignation. Why is my pain continuous, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You have indeed become for me a treacherous brook, whose waters do not abide! Thus the LORD answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand; If you bring forth the precious without the vile, you shall be my mouthpiece. Then it shall be they who turn to you, and you shall not turn to them; And I will make you toward this people a solid wall of brass. Though they fight against you, they shall not prevail, For I am with you, to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD. I will free you from the hand of the wicked, and rescue you from the grasp of the violent. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18 R. (17d) God is my refuge on the day of distress. Rescue me from my enemies, O my God; from my adversaries defend me. Rescue me from evildoers; from bloodthirsty men save me. R. God is my refuge on the day of distress. For behold, they lie in wait for my life; mighty men come together against me, Not for any offense or sin of mine, O LORD. R. God is my refuge on the day of distress. O my strength! for you I watch; for you, O God, are my stronghold, As for my God, may his mercy go before me; may he show me the fall of my foes. R. God is my refuge on the day of distress. But I will sing of your strength and revel at dawn in your mercy; You have been my stronghold, my refuge in the day of distress. R. God is my refuge on the day of distress. O my strength! your praise will I sing; for you, O God, are my stronghold, my merciful God! R. God is my refuge on the day of distress. Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” NAB When I was first falling in love with Christ and His Church, I experienced some pretty emotional and spiritual highs. My love for this Truth swelled. It poured out and over me. It was intoxicating. And over time, that intensity faded. And I mourned it. Maybe you’ve had a similar experience? I went through several years of spiritual dryness. It was painful and frustrating. Years later, I learned that there was a name for those highs: spiritual consolation. I also learned that in a spiritual desert, those consolations are like little treasures that I could collect and store in a sort of spiritual treasure chest. When times were especially difficult, I could recall those sweet moments, and remember the power and beauty of God’s love for me. The truth is, the majority of my adult faith life has been dry as chalk. Dusty A desert. How can I turn away, though? This faith walk can be so challenging. The world might find this delusional. The world would have me believe that things would be easier if I just did "this" or accepted "that." But like the man who found a treasure hidden in a field, I know what I’ve found. I was in search of treasure, and found it in Him. Christ is the pearl of great price, and I am willing to let go of so much in order to hold onto Him. [bctt tweet="I was in search of treasure, and found it in Him."] What is the Kingdom of Heaven worth to you? What in your life are you willing to give up for Heaven? photo credit Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saints Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: Jeremiah 14:17-22 Let my eyes stream with tears day and night, without rest, Over the great destruction which overwhelms the virgin daughter of my people, over her incurable wound. If I walk out into the field, look! those slain by the sword; If I enter the city, look! those consumed by hunger. Even the prophet and the priest forage in a land they know not. Have you cast Judah off completely? Is Zion loathsome to you? Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? We wait for peace, to no avail; for a time of healing, but terror comes instead. We recognize, O LORD, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you. For your name’s sake spurn us not, disgrace not the throne of your glory; remember your covenant with us, and break it not. Among the nations’ idols is there any that gives rain? Or can the mere heavens send showers? Is it not you alone, O LORD, our God, to whom we look? You alone have done all these things. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 79:8, 9, 11 AND 13 R. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low. R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. Help us, O God our savior, because of the glory of your name; Deliver us and pardon our sins for your name’s sake. R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you; with your great power free those doomed to death. Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; through all generations we will declare your praise. R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43 Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom. The weeds are the children of the Evil One, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” NAB Okay, show of hands: How many among us have ever prayed for healing, but felt as if our cries fell on deaf ears? Having traversed my twenties and marched well into my thirties I feel as though I've come to terms with some of my own wounds and finally just begun to realize the simple truth that no matter how stellar we might appear on the outside, we all have wounds that gnaw at our spirit and keep us from flourishing in our relationships with the Lord and with each other. They come in every shape and size and depth, these wounds: that time when we really hurt a friend; when we lost a family member; when we received criticism of something we had poured our heart and soul into; when we endured an attack at work or on Facebook or (dare I say it) in the Church community; when we got lost in a past sin that just lingers and eats us up. Sometimes even the most unintentional of comments, when we are doing the best job we possibly can, just sting and leave us with a wound of bitterness and resentment that can eat us up for what feels like eons. Whether we lived in Jeremiah's time or in 2016, it makes no difference. Humanity is frail. In a spiritual sense, we truly are the "walking wounded." Jeremiah's writing cuts straight to the heart of the discouragement and abandonment we feel when our wounds overwhelm us and we feel far away from Him: Why have you struck us a blow that cannot be healed? It's like Jeremiah took that phrase right out of my journal, circa 2002, 2011, or 2015: Why can't You just heal me? Why does this have to be so hard? Where are you in all of this? Perhaps the most important lesson I've learned is that it's in the asking that the healing happens. It is in the turning of our faces and our hearts to God, like Jeremiah did, that our hearts are softened and we can receive the rain of grace and mercy. For most of us, healing doesn't happen in an instant. Just like our physical bodies need time to recover from illness or injury, our spiritual and emotional wounds also take time. If healing did happen with the snap of our fingers, perhaps our hearts wouldn't be prompted to return to the Father when we need to most. Rather than despairing over our wounds, let us turn our faces to Him, and trust that healing is happening even when we can't see it. [bctt tweet="Rather than despairing over our wounds, let us turn our faces to Him."] Take a moment today to reflect on a wound of your past that you've endured and come to see our Lord's mercy on the other side. Offer thanks for your own healing, and offer your day for someone in the thick of their own woundedness. photo credit Karen Schultz is a Birth Doula who hails from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6 R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, They shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28 The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, “What do you wish?” She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” They said to him, “We can.” He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” NAB Every Friday the eight piles stare me down. Laundry piles, that is. Ah, life in a household of six very busy kids. Never mind the kitchen sink filled with last night’s dinner plates, the minivan littered with all sorts of stuff, beds unmade, homework unfinished, hair to be brushed or snacks to be replenished. Then, there are volunteer obligations, friends in need of dinner, and that charity in need of my time and talent. My days are full of opportunities to serve and I’m betting yours are, too. If we’re being really honest, for many years I served others for the validation, the confirmation that I was a good mom, a good Christian, a good wife, a good person. It wasn’t until our fifth child was born premature that the roles were flipped. I became the beneficiary of servant leadership and it wrecked me. There is nothing more humbling than asking, and gratefully receiving, the gift of people’s hearts when your own is so very broken. People gave, abundantly and with such great love, that my definition of a servant’s heart was turned upside down. There’s something about suffering and receiving God’s grace that puts into laser-focus just how much you have to learn. Just how far He wants you to go to love. Our son’s suffering was almost unbearable, but as I look back six years later, I finally get it. God wanted me to know just how important it is—as in, my salvation depends on it—to serve others with His heart, not mine. To serve with charity, not accolades. To dig deep to grow closer to Him, not further away. The servant’s heart isn’t our doing, it’s His. Be the gift God wants you to be to someone today. It may wreck you, but it will transform you. That, I promise. [bctt tweet="Be the gift God wants you to be to someone today."] Before you give of yourself to someone who needs help today, stop and say a prayer for your pure heart to serve them the way God intends. photo credit Kathryn Whitaker and her husband, Scott, have 6 awesome kids, teen to toddler. She is a former public relations consultant turned freelance graphic designer, party planner, organizer, and preemie advocate who hails from the Lone Star state. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32 In those days, the LORD said: "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave, that I must go down and see whether or not their actions fully correspond to the cry against them that comes to me. I mean to find out." While Abraham's visitors walked on farther toward Sodom, the LORD remained standing before Abraham. Then Abraham drew nearer and said: "Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?" The LORD replied, "If I find fifty innocent people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." Abraham spoke up again: "See how I am presuming to speak to my Lord, though I am but dust and ashes! What if there are five less than fifty innocent people? Will you destroy the whole city because of those five?" He answered, "I will not destroy it, if I find forty-five there." But Abraham persisted, saying "What if only forty are found there?" He replied, "I will forbear doing it for the sake of the forty." Then Abraham said, "Let not my Lord grow impatient if I go on. What if only thirty are found there?" He replied, "I will forbear doing it if I can find but thirty there." Still Abraham went on, "Since I have thus dared to speak to my Lord, what if there are no more than twenty?" The LORD answered, "I will not destroy it, for the sake of the twenty." But he still persisted: "Please, let not my Lord grow angry if I speak up this last time. What if there are at least ten there?" He replied, "For the sake of those ten, I will not destroy it." Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8 R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. When I called you answered me; you built up strength within me. R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees, and the proud he knows from afar. Though I walk amid distress, you preserve me; against the anger of my enemies you raise your hand. R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Your right hand saves me. The LORD will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14 Brothers and sisters: You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross. Gospel: Luke 11:1-13 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test." And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,' and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.' I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? NAB Lord, on the day I called for help you answered me. Can I be honest with you, sisters? Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. Sometimes it really doesn’t feel like the Lord answers me when I call for help. I’ve had many days, weeks even, where praying this line of Psalm 138 would be really tough. My prayer would not feel genuine. Because somedays it feels like my prayers are not heard. Somedays it feels like no one is listening. But that’s the danger of feelings, sister. Feelings are not always a reflection of Truth. What a beautiful gift that we have His Word to cling to when our feelings lie to us. I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. How often, then, must we fail to ask? How often do we forget to seek Him? How often do we not make the time to knock on His door and spend time with Him? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? This is good news, sisters! But when was the last time you specifically asked for more of the Holy Spirit in your life? I believe God will always answer that prayer. We know from Galatians 5:22 that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In what ways do you need the Spirit in your life right now? Let’s pray today for more of the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray that we might be persistent in prayer. Let’s pray in a special way for the grace to pray through those times where it feels like God is not listening to us. We have to trust that God, Our Father, knows what is best for us, and that He will bless us with what is for our good. Let us pray that our desires might be aligned with the desires of His heart for us. Though I walk amid distress, you preserve me . . . . The Lord will complete what He has done for me. Praise God. Amen. [bctt tweet="Though I walk amid distress, you preserve me. The Lord will complete what He has done for me."] Ask the Holy Spirit to pour out God’s Love into your heart today. Pray: come, Holy Spirit. photo credit 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.

First Reading: Jeremiah 7:1-11 The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: Stand at the gate of the house of the LORD, and there proclaim this message: Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah who enter these gates to worship the LORD! Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Reform your ways and your deeds, so that I may remain with you in this place. Put not your trust in the deceitful words: “This is the temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD! The temple of the LORD!” Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you deals justly with his neighbor; if you no longer oppress the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place, or follow strange gods to your own harm, will I remain with you in this place, in the land I gave your fathers long ago and forever. But here you are, putting your trust in deceitful words to your own loss! Are you to steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, go after strange gods that you know not, and yet come to stand before me in this house which bears my name, and say: “We are safe; we can commit all these abominations again”? Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves? I too see what is being done, says the LORD. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 84:3, 4, 5-6A AND 8A, 11 R. (2) How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the LORD. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young— Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God! R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Blessed they who dwell in your house! continually they praise you. Blessed the men whose strength you are! They go from strength to strength. R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! I had rather one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I had rather lie at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. R. How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30 Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’ NAB For many of us, over these last few months, we have encountered a slew of reasons to feel angry, frustrated, and scared for the world we live in. I hope this comes as a comfort, but for hundreds and hundreds of years, God’s people have felt the same way about their situations. In the First Reading today, Jeremiah is calling for his people to convert their hearts to God. How else will they be able to partake in the great joy of a Heavenly home? This problem isn’t new. In today’s parable, the Master reminds his hasty servants that there will be a time to separate the wheat from the weeds. But now isn’t that time. When I read this, my first thought was thank goodness because when I look at my own heart, I don’t always see wheat. More often than not, there are weeds there too. Saint Augustine reminds us that “it may so be, that they who today are weeds, may tomorrow be wheat.” I’m so very grateful for a patient God who knows that I need time, because in this Christian walk I’m clumsy and I stumble. And I’m so, so grateful for my beautiful, virtuous sisters who I can look up to and imitate. May God’s mercy pour over us, so that our hearts would conform to Him and we might enjoy His heavenly dwelling place. [bctt tweet="May God’s mercy pour over us, so that our hearts would conform to Him."] Take time today to pray for the conversion of all those who are far from God. Remember to also take time to pray for your own conversion. photo credit Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene First Reading: Jeremiah 3:14-17 Return, rebellious children, says the LORD, for I am your Master; I will take you, one from a city, two from a clan, and bring you to Zion. I will appoint over you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently. When you multiply and become fruitful in the land, says the LORD, They will in those days no longer say, “The ark of the covenant of the LORD!” They will no longer think of it, or remember it, or miss it, or make another. At that time they will call Jerusalem the LORD’s throne; there all nations will be gathered together to honor the name of the LORD at Jerusalem, and they will walk no longer in their hardhearted wickedness. Responsorial Psalm: Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ABCD, 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: The grain, the wine, and the oil, the sheep and the oxen. 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: John 20:1-2, 11-18 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her. NAB Saint Mary Magdalene is one of the most beloved, impressive, and inspiring saints of the Church. It's not wonder that great artists have painted her countless times because there are so many lens with which we can see her life; saved from demons by Christ she became his intimate, then the first of the disciples to see our Risen Lord, and the list goes on. When I think of Mary Magdalene the trait that I most desire is her intimacy with Christ. She clearly was profoundly close to Christ, as a friend, as her Saviour, as her God. Christ came in and dramatically saved her life, not only from being stoned, but by offering her the forgiveness and new life in the Spirit. And she knows this to be true because the way she lives reflects it. She responds to Christ with a deep, unabashed love that never shies away or hides. She cries at his feet, she clutches His risen body. She is freely intimate with Christ as man and as God. If only I could also have this intimacy with Jesus. If only I could lean on Him in my loneliness, my woundedness, my astonishment at being forgiven. And then to know His friendship, to experience His compassion and love in a tangible way. Then to let that knowledge change the way I live. If I let that change take place, if I allowed Christ's grace to transform me like Mary Magdalene, if I kept pursuing holiness like she did, what would my life look like? I think it would be free of worrying what other's thought of me. I think it would crush fear. I think it would uplift my heart and mind and realign my priorities. I think I would spend my time joyously loving Christ instead of wondering what I could do to somehow earn the forgiveness already given to me. That would be truly remarkable and that is how I want to emulate Saint Mary Magdalene. [bctt tweet="If only I could know His friendship and to experience His love in a tangible way."] Let's pray that we grow in intimacy with our Lord in the way that Saint Mary Magdalene did. Let her amazing example seep into our souls and may her intercession on her feast day help us grow in the virtue of the love of God. Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us. photo credit Christy Isinger is the mom to five lovely, loud children living in the Canadian wilds. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 This word of the LORD came to me: Go, cry out this message for Jerusalem to hear! I remember the devotion of your youth, how you loved me as a bride, Following me in the desert, in a land unsown. Sacred to the LORD was Israel, the first fruits of his harvest; Should any presume to partake of them, evil would befall them, says the LORD. When I brought you into the garden land to eat its goodly fruits, You entered and defiled my land, you made my heritage loathsome. The priests asked not, “Where is the LORD?” Those who dealt with the law knew me not: the shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols. Be amazed at this, O heavens, and shudder with sheer horror, says the LORD. Two evils have my people done: they have forsaken me, the source of living waters; They have dug themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that hold no water. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 36:6-7AB, 8-9, 10-11 R. (10a) With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. O LORD, your mercy reaches to heaven; your faithfulness, to the clouds. Your justice is like the mountains of God; your judgments, like the mighty deep. R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. How precious is your mercy, O God! The children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They have their fill of the prime gifts of your house; from your delightful stream you give them to drink. R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. For with you is the fountain of life, and in your light we see light. Keep up your mercy toward your friends, your just defense of the upright of heart. R. With you is the fountain of life, O Lord. Gospel: Matthew 13:10-17 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” NAB Today’s Gospel has never been an easy one to understand, but growing up, I had no doubt about my place in it. Of course I was one of the disciples—the ones who could see and understand. I knew Jesus, didn’t I? I had the inside track, the comfortable feeling of knowing the truth. As the years went by, I grew less confident and less comfortable. The older I got and the more of the world I saw, the less certain I was about most things. I no longer automatically counted myself in the camp of those who had seeing eyes and hearing ears. Many days, I had more questions than answers. I found myself helplessly railing at God, demanding to know why He allowed a particular injustice or suffering. My heart ached with the weight of all that I didn’t understand. Although I complained loudly to Jesus about being unable to see, when I look back on that time, I see that I had turned my back to Him and was facing the wall with my eyes screwed shut. I was so determined to figure things out on my own that I had shut out the One who could actually show me what I so longed to know. So often, the biggest obstacle to my understanding Him is me. I’m getting in my own way. It’s my stubbornness that keeps me from being able to truly see what He wants to show me. I’m not one of the disciples, after all . . . I’m one of the gross-hearted ones. The only solution for this kind of heart-blindness is to sit at Jesus’ feet and let Him show us the truth. We have to admit that we’re broken, then let Him reach in and bring wholeness and healing. Only then can we begin to understand what He has in store for us. Why is it so hard to let Jesus help our hearts to heal and understand? Why are we afraid to let Him in? [bctt tweet="We have to admit we’re broken, then let Him bring wholeness and healing."] One centuries-old prayer from Scripture that we can turn to when we don’t know what to say is known as “The Jesus Prayer”: Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner. When we become aware of being our own biggest obstacle, this prayer is a great place to start. The next time you realize you are struggling against yourself in your quest to know Jesus better, try praying this prayer and let His mercy cover you. photo credit Abbey Dupuy writes her life as a homeschooling mama of four while relying on coffee and grace. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, AI know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71:1-2, 3-4A, 5-6AB, 15 AND 17 R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation. In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. R. I will sing of your salvation. Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. R. I will sing of your salvation. For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. R. I will sing of your salvation. My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. R. I will sing of your salvation. Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” NAB Do you ever feel inadequate? Like you aren’t enough? Like you don’t have all the tools at hand to do the work you need to or to make the decisions that you're facing? The Prophet in today's First Reading struggled with some of those same feelings of inadequacy. Last spring, I was holding onto my fear, like the Prophet. And while I remained shuttered with fear, I couldn’t move forward. I felt like I was drowning in questions without answers. I couldn’t face the hard decisions. My prayers were asking for answers and a clear and easy way ahead, but nothing seemed to get easier. Finally, I let my prayer change. I started to pray that God just take me where I needed to be, that I would do my best to listen and follow. Soon, a stronger tide started pushing back against that undercurrent of insufficiency and uncertainty. That overwhelming flood was the knowledge that God wants the best for me. That God is protecting me and bolstering me. That no matter where my path wanders, He is leading me. As for me, I was accepted to graduate school, quit my job, and moved cross country in less than a month. The fear didn't go away. I sacrificed a career, an apartment, a community, for an uncertain path and a major life change. I just knew that God was stronger than any fears I could conjure up for myself. Your fears are probably different than mine. You might be welcoming a new child to your family, struggling with health issues, starting a new job or leaving an old one, letting a relationship go, discerning a vocation—the list is long, but the Lord offers us the same comfort. As he assured Jeremiah, He assures each of us that He orders our days and is with us always: “To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.” [bctt tweet="No matter where my path wanders, He is leading me."] What fear are you holding in your heart? Can you hand it over to God in prayer today? 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: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, That dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8 R. (8a) Lord, show us your mercy and love. You have favored, O LORD, your land; you have brought back the captives of Jacob. You have forgiven the guilt of your people; you have covered all their sins. You have withdrawn all your wrath; you have revoked your burning anger. R. Lord, show us your mercy and love. Restore us, O God our savior, and abandon your displeasure against us. Will you be ever angry with us, prolonging your anger to all generations? R. Lord, show us your mercy and love. Will you not instead give us life; and shall not your people rejoice in you? Show us, O LORD, your kindness, and grant us your salvation. R. Lord, show us your mercy and love. Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” NAB Today's Gospel illustrates one of several instances in which Jesus appears to totally disrespect His mama. "Who is my mother?," "Woman, how does your concern affect me?" (see John 2:4), "Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." (see Luke 11:28.) In instances like these, Jesus seems to disregard the mother who raised Him. But we know that can't possibly be how the Savior treats Mary. So what's going on here? I think what Jesus loves most about His mom is her faith and her obedience. Instead of highlighting her achievement or accomplishment of carrying Him in her womb and raising Him, He takes special care to emphasize that Mary's radical faith and unwavering obedience is what makes her so blessed. He doesn't question her importance, obviously, but rather He fixes His affections on what it is about Mary that makes her fit to be the Mother of God: her totally surrender. What does this mean for us? As Catholic women doing our best to imitate the life and virtues of Our Lady, I think Jesus is showing us where to concentrate our efforts. What makes Mary sweet, charitable, prayerful, pure, wise, patient, and humble is ultimately the depth of her faith in God and His Word. How can we be more obedient today? We may not be greeted with a proposition as large as Mary was during the Annunciation, but after her initial "yes," there were countless other, smaller "yeses" she whispered throughout her life. What's the Holy Spirit asking of us today? How can we deepen our faith in Him? How can we, like Mary, live one long "yes" to the Lord? [bctt tweet="How can we, like Mary, live one long "yes" to the Lord?"] Boldly ask the Holy Spirit what He desires of you and have the faith to live one continuous "yes." photo credit Olivia Spears is a middle school religion teacher turned SAHM who is married to her high school best friend. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 Hear what the LORD says: Arise, present your plea before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice! Hear, O mountains, the plea of the LORD, pay attention, O foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a plea against his people, and he enters into trial with Israel. The story of Israel my people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery I released you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow before God most high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my crime, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:5-6, 8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23 R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42 Some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” He said to them in reply, “An evil and unfaithful generation seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here. At the judgment the queen of the south will arise with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.” NAB One of the classes I took as an elective in graduate school was on the Old Testament prophets. One day in class, a question was brought up by one of my classmates: What was the point of the prophets? Our professor responded, "While the Egyptians no longer lived in Egypt, all the prophets were constantly trying to break Egypt out of Israel's heart." The role of a prophet is to remind, challenge, and help break the things inside us that are not of God or His plan for our lives. Micah ministered to the people of Israel in a time of political upheaval between Israel and Judah. Assyria was threatening the borders of Israel and Syria, and those two countries began to bully Judah to make an alliance together. It was also a time of great confusion. While Jotham did his best to be a good king, he still permitted idolatry under his reign and that obviously caused problems. Micah, like all the other prophets, confronted the people of their patterns of sin, and called them to repentance in their hearts. Reminding them how one kind of idolatry leads to another, which we see throughout the Old Testament. In the First Reading Micah reminds the people what God asks of them in this covenant relationship: do the right, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God. Just as God released Israel from the place of slavery in Egypt, He sent His Son into this world to set us free, to bring freedom to all people. We really aren't that much different than Israel. Their story is each of our story. God is clear on how we are to live our lives to experience His freedom. But how we respond is our choice alone. [bctt tweet="Where in our lives does God need to break the Egypt out of our hearts?"] Where in our lives does God need to break the Egypt out of our hearts? Where are we not living in the true freedom God desires for us? photo credit Patty Hubbard is a runner, youth minister ordinaire, and recovering know-it-all. When not fundraising for World Youth Day, she is learning to find grace in all things. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Genesis 18:1-10A The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre, as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, Abraham saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: “Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way.” The men replied, “Very well, do as you have said.” Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, “Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls.” He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before the three men; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate. They asked Abraham, “Where is your wife Sarah?” He replied, “There in the tent.” One of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15:2-3, 5 R. (1a) He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. One who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Who lends not his money for profit and accepts no bribe against the innocent. One who does these things shall never be disturbed. R. He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Second Reading: Colossians 1:24-28 Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory. It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Gospel: Luke 10:38-42 Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” “I rejoice in my sufferings . . .” It seems so counter-cultural. To take joy in your sufferings? Typically we are told to just partake in a little “me time” and our woes will be relieved. Yet I’ve never truly found that to be the case. When I was in college, or away from home for my first job, or even a newlywed, I would often call my mom to lament over a situation that I was in or a challenge I was facing. What I wanted her to do was lament with me, make me feel validated for what I was feeling. Instead, she would listen and then say these words, “Offer it up.” What?! Not exactly what I wanted to hear then. But when she spoke them, it usually pushed me to do two things: one, to take a deep breath and suppress my desire to simply say she must not understand, and two, to eventually see the situation in a different light. Now, a decade later, with five kiddos underfoot, I would like to say I finally get it. No, I don’t always handle suffering well, but I do understand that it has a purpose, and a great one at that . . . to unite ourselves with Christ and His suffering on the cross, in order to find meaning in what can easily be seen as useless pain. For the times when we’re slandered by another’s harsh words, let’s offer it up for the one who cannot hear . . . even a harsh word. For the times when our children are being stinkers, let’s offer it up for those who would give anything to have a child . . . even a disobedient one. For the times when the perfect job for you is given to someone else, let’s offer it up for those who cannot work . . . even at the most “imperfect” job. For the times when you don't feel supported by your husband, let’s offer it up for those who feel their lives would be complete in simply having a husband . . . even one who misunderstands. For the times when a loved one breaks your heart, let’s offer it up for those who pray to only have one more moment with a family member now gone . . . even if that moment was a tough one. Even if just for the current moment, let us all find joy in our sufferings, regardless of their size. We are in this together. And, united with Him, our suffering has meaning, for us, and all those surrounding us. Let’s find joy in that. [bctt tweet="Even if just for the current moment, let us all find joy in our sufferings, regardless of their size."] Write a list of people you can offer your sufferings for this day and take joy in knowing your pain wasn't wasted. photo credit Britt Fisk is the wife of Jeremy and mother of five young kids. She spends her days living simply in the-middle-of-nowhere-New Mexico helping with the family beef cattle operation. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Micah 2:1-5 Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power. They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and they take them; They cheat an owner of his house, a man of his inheritance. Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am planning against this race an evil from which you shall not withdraw your necks; Nor shall you walk with head high, for it will be a time of evil. On that day a satire shall be sung over you, and there shall be a plaintive chant: “Our ruin is complete, our fields are portioned out among our captors, The fields of my people are measured out, and no one can get them back!” Thus you shall have no one to mark out boundaries by lot in the assembly of the LORD. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14 R. (12b) Do not forget the poor, O Lord! Why, O LORD, do you stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? Proudly the wicked harass the afflicted, who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived. R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord! For the wicked man glories in his greed, and the covetous blasphemes, sets the LORD at nought. The wicked man boasts, “He will not avenge it”; “There is no God,” sums up his thoughts. R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord! His mouth is full of cursing, guile and deceit; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He lurks in ambush near the villages; in hiding he murders the innocent; his eyes spy upon the unfortunate. R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord! You do see, for you behold misery and sorrow, taking them in your hands. On you the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless you are the helper. R. Do not forget the poor, O Lord! Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21 The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place. Many people followed him, and he cured them all, but he warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I shall place my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not contend or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope. NAB Why, O LORD, do You stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? Do You not see my broken heart, my husband’s grieving, our son’s anxiety, our neighbor’s infertility, this friend’s cancer, that friend’s unemployment? Do You not see the mess we’ve made of our culture? The evil lurking in every day’s headlines? The collective despair for the future of our world and our children? Why, O LORD, do You stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? But the Psalmist says You do see. You see us; you see the poor. You see the hurting, lonely, sick, forsaken, depressed, lost, angry, jealous, confused, exhausted—You see all of us. For You behold misery and sorrow. You take us in your hands. On You we depend; You are our help. So when we are tempted to cry out that You do not see us, or when we despair that this world seeks our destruction, let us follow the example of Your Son. Let us withdraw from that dangerous place and draw closer to You. Let us place our trust in Jesus, the one upon whom You placed Your Spirit. Let us believe that He will see and heal us, too—that He will bring justice and victory, delight and hope. And as we begin to believe that You do see us, open our eyes even wider to start to see each other. Beyond the bright facades, the shiny veneer, the political bravado, the divisive rhetoric, the toxic judgment, the selfish comfort, the frightened isolation—help us to see that we belong to each other because we belong to You. Do not forget the poor, God. Do not forget any one of us. Do not let us forget each other. [bctt tweet="Help us to see that we belong to each other because we belong to You."] Meditate upon the Psalmist’s words again today. Ask yourself how you forget the poor. Bow your head and pray to God for the grace to see as He sees, beholding misery and sorrow, taking them into His hands. 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.

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor of the Church First Reading: Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 When Hezekiah was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him: “Thus says the LORD: Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you shall not recover.” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, remember how faithfully and wholeheartedly I conducted myself in your presence, doing what was pleasing to you!” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: “Go, tell Hezekiah: Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you: in three days you shall go up to the LORD’s temple; I will add fifteen years to your life. I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; I will be a shield to this city.” Isaiah then ordered a poultice of figs to be taken and applied to the boil, that he might recover. Then Hezekiah asked, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the temple of the LORD?” Isaiah answered: “This will be the sign for you from the LORD that he will do what he has promised: See, I will make the shadow cast by the sun on the stairway to the terrace of Ahaz go back the ten steps it has advanced.” So the sun came back the ten steps it had advanced. Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 38:10, 11, 12ABCD, 16 R. (see 17b) You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die. Once I said, “In the noontime of life I must depart! To the gates of the nether world I shall be consigned for the rest of my years.” R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die. I said, “I shall see the LORD no more in the land of the living. No longer shall I behold my fellow men among those who dwell in the world.” R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die. My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent, is struck down and borne away from me; You have folded up my life, like a weaver who severs the last thread. R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die. Those live whom the LORD protects; yours is the life of my spirit. You have given me health and life. R. You saved my life, O Lord; I shall not die. Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8 Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to the them, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry, how he went into the house of God and ate the bread of offering, which neither he nor his companions but only the priests could lawfully eat? Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the sabbath.” NAB I don’t know about the rest of you, but I was relieved to read this Gospel. After years of fighting a legalistic battle with Sunday duties and obligation instead of being rooted in love and joy, reading this Gospel took a huge weight off my shoulders. Jesus has mercy in our failings, and still calls on us to go deeper and do more than rote actions. Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests serving in the temple violate the Sabbath and are innocent? I say to you, something greater than the temple is here. If you knew what this meant, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned these innocent men. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. These words bring me great comfort. For me, Christ’s words tell me two things—the first of which is RELAX. He wants mercy. Mercy occurs when we are shown love and forgiveness undeservedly. If it is deserved, it isn’t mercy right? Christ reminds us that we must go above and beyond the letter of the law. We should seek out performing works of mercy on Sundays, making that day extra special and sacred. The Catechism talks about not making demands on others that would take away from their observance of Sundays as a day of rest. (CCC 2187). Cultivating your mind, setting aside time for reflection, and meditation will help grow your interior life. (CCC 2186). The second thing I take away from this is that because He is the Lord of the Sabbath, I serve Him by serving others and in doing so, honor Him. All seven days of the week. Fasting, almsgiving, penance—all key and important but as Christ tells us vis-a-vis the Pharisees, being legalistic is not the path to Heaven. Our new Sabbath—Our Lord’s Day is a day of joy and thanksgiving. Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice already. We are called to do our best, to get up when we fall down, and to serve Him in a special way on Sundays. [bctt tweet="Cultivating your mind, setting aside time for reflection, and meditation will help your interior life."] How do you set apart your Sunday for God? Beyond Mass attendance is there anything you do special on your Sundays to set that day aside as for the Lord? Are you acting out of love and joy or obligation? 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 Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin First Reading: Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 The way of the just is smooth; the path of the just you make level. Yes, for your way and your judgments, O LORD, we look to you; Your name and your title are the desire of our souls. My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you; When your judgment dawns upon the earth, the world’s inhabitants learn justice. O LORD, you mete out peace to us, for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. O LORD, oppressed by your punishment, we cried out in anguish under your chastising. As a woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so were we in your presence, O LORD. We conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind; Salvation we have not achieved for the earth, the inhabitants of the world cannot bring it forth. But your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust. For your dew is a dew of light, and the land of shades gives birth. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:13-14AB AND 15, 16-18, 19-21 R. (20b) From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. You, O LORD, abide forever, and your name through all generations. You will arise and have mercy on Zion, for it is time to pity her. For her stones are dear to your servants, and her dust moves them to pity. R. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. 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. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. 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. From heaven the Lord looks down on the earth. Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30 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 I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” NAB I remember it like yesterday, even though it's been more than twenty-four years. Waking in the morning with that ache that comes with sleeping stiffly while nursing through the night, I thought to myself, "I cannot do this one more day. He's too heavy to carry all day long even one more day." The passages in today's Gospel came to mind readily. They were my passages, committed them to memory two years before, as I was battling cancer. Now, this baby born so soon after doctors had said there'd be no more—the baby I'd pleaded for—was bringing me to my knees, wailing with exhaustion. I'd named him Matthew Christian. He was named for this message of our Lord. God knew I'd need a constant reminder that would come every time I uttered that blessed name. He weighed 24 pounds at 4 months old—a heavy load in the most literal sense of the word. All through chemotherapy and radiation, I'd begged God to bless me with a baby when the cancer journey was finished. The writhing and crying in pain spoken of in Isaiah had not been limited to childbirth in this case, but had stretched over the year of cancer and the subsequent year of high risk (though miraculous pregnancy). And here I was, like a spoiled brat, having everything I'd wanted, and moaning because the thought of putting my beautiful (if heavy) baby in sling and carting him around all day was more than I could bear. My God had brought me from the shadow of death into this place of literal birth and new life. I wanted to awake and sing. But I was tired and sore. The reality is that life is full of struggle and suffering. Even after the big things like cancer are conquered, there are heavy burdens to bear all along the journey to Heaven. Jesus promises us grace sufficient to carry to them. [bctt tweet="The reality is that life is full of suffering. Jesus promises us grace sufficient to carry to them."] At the start of the day, eyes still closed, ask Him to shoulder the yoke, to carry with you, to carry you. Moment by moment, step by step, do the day together. 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: Isaiah 7:1-9 In the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah, king of Israel, son of Remaliah, went up to attack Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it. When word came to the house of David that Aram was encamped in Ephraim, the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind. Then the LORD said to Isaiah: Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the fuller’s field, and say to him: Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail before these two stumps of smoldering brands the blazing anger of Rezin and the Arameans, and of the son Remaliah, because of the mischief that Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, plots against you, saying, “Let us go up and tear Judah asunder, make it our own by force, and appoint the son of Tabeel king there.” Thus says the LORD: This shall not stand, it shall not be! Damascus is the capital of Aram, and Rezin is the head of Damascus; Samaria is the capital of Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son the head of Samaria. But within sixty years and five, Ephraim shall be crushed, no longer a nation. Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm! Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 48:2-3A, 3B-4, 5-6, 7-8 R. (see 9d) God upholds his city for ever. Great is the LORD and wholly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth. R. God upholds his city for ever. Mount Zion, “the recesses of the North,” is the city of the great King. God is with her castles; renowned is he as a stronghold. R. God upholds his city for ever. For lo! the kings assemble, they come on together; They also see, and at once are stunned, terrified, routed. R. God upholds his city for ever. Quaking seizes them there; anguish, like a woman’s in labor, As though a wind from the east were shattering ships of Tarshish. R. God upholds his city for ever. Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24 Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum: Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” NAB Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the nether world. Christ pulls no punches when He explains to those to whom His gifts have been given what happens to the unappreciative, the unimpressed, the unmoved. These towns have been witness to most of His miracles, His mighty deeds, and they go unflinchingly forward in their old ways. No one is rending his clothing! No one is repenting in ashes. Of course, when I read this Gospel, I shiver a little inside. Here I sit in a country with freedom of religion, when I can attend daily Mass, adoration, any number of beautiful liturgies in our vibrant Archdioceses of Minneapolis & Saint Paul. I can read any number of illuminating books and essays, turning my heart closer to Our Lord and an appreciation for His gifts to me, personally. The possibilities to both experience my faith and deepen it are seemingly endless. I shiver because I do not appreciate these possibilities. I barely make it to Sunday mass and never daily. I veg out for an hour of Netflix instead of an hour of adoration. My plausible excuse and rationale? I'm an at-home mom to three small kids, pregnant with my fourth and sick, and my days vacillate between visiting the bathroom and arbitrating baseball card related fights. Appreciation and adoration of Christ is not limited to the easily mobile and non-at-home-moms. I forget this and believe, and maybe you fall into this trap, too, that if I'm not doing all the things, I should really just take a break from pursuing any of them. I'll be a super Catholic when I'm not sick. I'll be a super Catholic mom when I can drive my kids from liturgy to liturgy. Do it now, sisters. Do it with me, today. Offer up that inconvenient commute. Say a prayer instead of a curse word for that obnoxious coworker. Ask Our Lord to enter into your heart as you suffer a breakup, your mother is diagnosed with cancer, your offer on that house falls through. Little ways of appreciation, little prayers, these all add up. So maybe we're going to be exalted in Heaven by our simplest of ways. [bctt tweet="In what little way, can you show Christ your appreciation for Him and His sacrifice today?"] In what little, attainable way, can you show Christ your appreciation for Him and His sacrifice for you today? A small prayer, a sacrifice, a smile for a friend in need? photo credit Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot First Reading: Isaiah 1:10-17 Hear the word of the LORD, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah! What care I for the number of your sacrifices? says the LORD. I have had enough of whole-burnt rams and fat of fatlings; In the blood of calves, lambs and goats I find no pleasure. When you come in to visit me, who asks these things of you? Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings; your incense is loathsome to me. New moon and sabbath, calling of assemblies, octaves with wickedness: these I cannot bear. Your new moons and festivals I detest; they weigh me down, I tire of the load. When you spread out your hands, I close my eyes to you; Though you pray the more, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean! Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:8-9, 16BC-17, 21 AND 23 R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you, for your burnt offerings are before me always. I take from your house no bullock, no goats out of your fold.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your mouth, Though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “When you do these things, shall I be deaf to it? Or do you think you that I am like yourself? I will correct you by drawing them up before your eyes. He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me; and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1 Jesus said to his Apostles: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s enemies will be those of his household. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple– amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” When Jesus finished giving these commands to his Twelve disciples, he went away from that place to teach and to preach in their towns. NAB When the Christian faith is passionately lived out it looks beautiful. When love of the Blessed Trinity fills us to overflowing it is beautiful. When people see holiness we are attracted to it because it. is. beautiful. But sometimes we meet people who cannot find beauty in any of it. Sometimes when we live out our faith with great joy, love, and humility people turn away from us, treating us like we are marred. This is where today's Gospel comes in. "I have not come to bring peace but the sword." It can be incredibly painful and lonely when we come to believe and are convinced that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, because with that conviction we now have to act. Choices and beliefs we once were satisfied with no longer sit well. Our lives look different because we are different. It is true that some loved ones will accompany us as we grow closer to God, but some will not. Some will resent us; some will gossip about us; some will dislike us very much. Even our parents, siblings, friends, and even the people sitting next to us at Mass. It can be a temptation to dwell on that pain, as it can be a temptation to try to win everyone's approval, but that is not what Christ wants of us. We must love God more than we love the approval and love of others. We must trust that these pains are crosses He is inviting us to take up as we follow Him. Jesus is not giving us permission to cut people out of our lives with anger, but He is telling us that just because we have upset people does not mean we are "doing it wrong." In fact, we may be doing it exactly right. [bctt tweet="We must love God more than we love the approval and love of others."] Pray for the people who have hurt you and leave the pain and those broken relationships with Christ. photo credit Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker and homemaker. She lives with her husband and six children in central Illinois. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Moses said to the people: "If only you would heed the voice of the LORD, your God, and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this book of the law, when you return to the LORD, your God, with all your heart and all your soul. "For this command that I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you. It is not up in the sky, that you should say, 'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?' Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?' No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37 R. (cf. 33) Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God! In your great kindness answer me with your constant help. Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness: in your great mercy turn toward me. R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. 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. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. "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. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. The descendants of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall inhabit it. R. Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live. Second Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. Gospel: Luke 10:25-37 There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." NAB Does anyone still collect stickers? Well, when I was little, everyone did. The scratch and sniff ones were great, the puffy ones, the fuzzy ones, all excellent. But my favorite was a lenticular sticker of a kid on a slide. If you looked at it from one side, he was at the top of the slide, but if you tilted it, boom, he was at the bottom. Mind blown. Every time. The parable of the Good Samaritan is kinda like that. If you look at it one way, Jesus is pretty clearly giving some good advice to the scholar who asked Him the question, and to us. The priest and the Levite crossed the road and kept going. Don’t be those guys. The hated Samaritan is the one who treated the injured man with love and compassion. So . . . DO be that guy. Also, don’t be a xenophobe. But if you tip the parable over just a little, you can see it a whole different way. Origen, a third century theologian, put forth an allegorical interpretation that he indicated was already an established tradition of the early Church. If we see the story as an allegory, it looks something like this: The man left for dead on the side of the road is Adam (and, by extension, us). Jerusalem is paradise. Jericho is the world. The robbers are sin and vice. The priest is the law. The Levite is the prophets. The Samaritan is Christ. The inn is the Catholic Church. The two silver coins are scripture and tradition. The Samaritan’s promise is the second coming. Mind blown? Me too. The story of the Good Samaritan, seen from this side, isn’t just some once upon-a-time-type good advice. It’s the story of each of us, still going on, right this very moment. WE are that victim, suffering the effects of sin and vice, but redeemed by Christ, ministered to by the Church, and awaiting the second coming. And THAT is pretty cool. Like, front of the sticker album cool. Do you need a perspective shift on something that's been bothering you in life right now? Can you look at it through a totally different lens to get perspective? Ask a close friend, or a spiritual director. See if there's a better way to get the whole picture. photo credit Kendra Tierney lives in Los Angeles, CA where her interests include blogging, homeschooling, looking after her eight children, and fixing up a hundred year old tumbledown mansion. You can find out more about her here.