Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga First Reading: 2 Kings 19:9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36 Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent envoys to Hezekiah with this message: “Thus shall you say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by saying that Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria. You have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all other countries: they doomed them! Will you, then, be saved?’” Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then he went up to the temple of the LORD, and spreading it out before him, he prayed in the LORD’s presence: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned upon the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear, O LORD, and listen! Open your eyes, O LORD, and see! Hear the words of Sennacherib which he sent to taunt the living God. Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and cast their gods into the fire; they destroyed them because they were not gods, but the work of human hands, wood and stone. Therefore, O LORD, our God, save us from the power of this man, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.” Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, in answer to your prayer for help against Sennacherib, king of Assyria: I have listened! This is the word the LORD has spoken concerning him: “‘She despises you, laughs you to scorn, the virgin daughter Zion! Behind you she wags her head, daughter Jerusalem. “‘For out of Jerusalem shall come a remnant, and from Mount Zion, survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.’ “Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He shall not reach this city, nor shoot an arrow at it, nor come before it with a shield, nor cast up siege-works against it. He shall return by the same way he came, without entering the city, says the LORD. I will shield and save this city for my own sake, and for the sake of my servant David.’” That night the angel of the LORD went forth and struck down one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. So Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, broke camp, and went back home to Nineveh. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 48:2-3AB, 3CD-4, 10-11 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, Athe 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. O God, we ponder your mercy within your temple. As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Of justice your right hand is full. R. God upholds his city for ever. Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” NAB The lie of “the pill” and the sexual revolution is that our sexuality is something we women can use as we like, consequence-free. But it’s easy to get so swept up in the “good old days” misconception that we forget how timeless this thing really is. Certainly, societal norms in the Western world have changed in important and unfortunate ways since the sexual revolution, but the Bible is chock full of stories of fornication and adultery and all that jazz. Misusing the gift of our sexuality is almost as old as sexuality itself. The temptation has always been there, to throw our pearls before swine. To give in to sweet talk or flattery or the desire for attention. To believe the lie that to wield our sexuality as a tool or a weapon is to empower ourselves. When nothing could be further from the truth. This is what Jesus wants to tell us in today’s parables. Whether we are unmarried women, or divorced or separated women, or happily or unhappily married women . . . we have our pearls. Whether they’re on our necks, clean and pristine, or whether they’ve been thrown down and trampled and gathered back up, they are ours again today. We get to choose what we’ll do with them. As unmarried women, are we using our beauty to get attention that doesn’t last, that tramples us . . . every time? As married women are we using our sexuality in a way that’s life-giving to our marriages, or as a way to punish and manipulate? Are we letting ourselves and our marriages get torn to pieces over and over again? This silly, backwards world wants us on the broad road to destruction. But that narrow road, of chastity and abstinence before marriage, and chastity and generosity within marriage, is the road that leads to life. It’s the road that leads to happiness and fulfillment in the next world, but also in this one. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. Pinky promise. So, let’s clutch those pearls, ladies. We’re worth it. [bctt tweet="Misusing the gift of our sexuality is almost as old as sexuality itself."] Are you struggling with negative feelings about yourself and your self-image? Identify if something or someone in particular is pulling you down. Try to move away from that influence and instead surround yourself with supportive and affirming messages. 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.

First Reading: 2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15A, 18 Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, occupied the whole land and attacked Samaria, which he besieged for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, king of Israel the king of Assyria took Samaria, and deported the children of Israel to Assyria, setting them in Halah, at the Habor, a river of Gozan, and the cities of the Medes. This came about because the children of Israel sinned against the LORD, their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the domination of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and because they venerated other gods. They followed the rites of the nations whom the LORD had cleared out of the way of the children of Israel and the kings of Israel whom they set up. And though the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and seer, “Give up your evil ways and keep my commandments and statutes, in accordance with the entire law which I enjoined on your fathers and which I sent you by my servants the prophets,” they did not listen, but were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who had not believed in the LORD, their God. They rejected his statutes, the covenant which he had made with their fathers, and the warnings which he had given them, till, in his great anger against Israel, the LORD put them away out of his sight. Only the tribe of Judah was left. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 60:3, 4-5, 12-13 R. (7b) Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us. O God, you have rejected us and broken our defenses; you have been angry; rally us! R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us. You have rocked the country and split it open; repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering. You have made your people feel hardships; you have given us stupefying wine. R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us. Have not you, O God, rejected us, so that you go not forth, O God, with our armies? Give us aid against the foe, for worthless is the help of men. R. Help us with your right hand, O Lord, and answer us. Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5 Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” Want to know something funny? I wrote about this Gospel reading (Saint Luke’s version) last year for Blessed is She. And I don’t believe in coincidences; I believe in God-incidents—as my mom would say. Last time I talked about praying for some of the most vicious people in the world: terrorists. After all, they are worthy of God’s love and mercy too. But, what does God want me to reflect on this time? Scripture is God's divinely inspired word: there is always something else to glean from it at different points in our lives. So, surely there is always more to take from a single passage. This time around, let’s look at the word “judgment.” Jesus makes it pretty clear that we should not be pointing out splinters while we possess wooden beams. But, there is an important distinction that many overlook. Judgment is not the same thing as guidance. Judgment points out a person’s faults in order to feel better about our own lives. Judgment doesn’t seek the betterment of a person through love and encouragement. Judgment simply focuses on sin. But we were made for more than that, weren’t we, ladies? We were made to guide one another to Christ. Would I be able to sit here and chat Scripture with you if the prerequisite was that I had a clean slate? Ask my family if I am free from sin, I dare you. I don’t have to have a sinless life to discuss Jesus’ teachings because pointing out God’s commandments and messages isn’t about judgment. It’s about wanting the best for all of humanity. I want you to know about His word not because I think you are awful and in need of correction. I want you to know about His word because I love you and you deserve it. [bctt tweet="We were made to guide one another to Christ."] Ask someone you love about what he or she is struggling with lately. Remind that person that you may not have the answers, but Jesus does. photo credit Jenna Hines has teeny army of three children and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. A former high school English teacher, she now stays at home where she blogs and runs a crafty embroidery business. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Zecheriah 12:10-11; 13:1 Thus says the LORD: I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and petition; and they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son, and they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem shall be as great as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the plain of Megiddo. On that day there shall be open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, a fountain to purify from sin and uncleanness. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 R. (2b) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, For your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. Second Reading: Galatians 3:26-29 Brothers and sisters: Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s children, heirs according to the promise. Gospel: Luke 9:18-24 Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He scolded them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” NAB “[T]he Church is the Church of all peoples, and so she speaks in the various cultures of the different continents. She is the Church of Pentecost: amid the polyphony of the various voices, she raises a single harmonious song to the living God.” -Pope Benedict XVI I have had the occasion twice to attend World Youth Day—Rome in 2000, Toronto in 2002. I have also twice walked a three-day pilgrimage across northern France with groups from various countries all over the world. In settings such as these, the universality of the Church really hits home. “. . . [N]either Jew nor Greek . . . neither slave nor free . . . not male or female . . . you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Nationality, status, age...these all seem to slip away as we stand before our Savior in praise and thanksgiving, prayer and petition. “Through faith [we] are all children of God in Christ Jesus.” We speak to Him with different tongues. We give praise through a variety of cultural expressions. The tones of our skin are an array of colors. But we are all together sons and daughters of Our Lord. Each one of us equally stands before the Father as His child. We are all brothers and sisters united in our Lord. And those not yet baptized in the Faith? They, too, belong to Him. As Saint Josemaria Escriva reminds us: “By seeing ourselves as part of the Church and united to our brothers and sisters in the faith, we understand more deeply that we are brothers and sisters of all mankind, for the Church has been sent to all peoples of the earth." This is not an exclusive club. Jesus came to save every man that ever lived, is alive today, or will live in the future. Let us be aware of this vital mission: Catholic does not simply refer to the universality of those already baptized in His Name, but the universal mission of the Church to bring all humanity to Him. Let us be the voice of Christ, in deed and word, to our brothers and sisters who do not yet know Him as we know Him. For He desires a relationship with every person . . . and perhaps you are that person to introduce them to each other. [bctt tweet="Catholic refers to the universal mission of the Church to bring all humanity to Him."] In the quiet of your heart, speak to God about ways in which you can better live out this universal mission of the Church that we are all called to. 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: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25 After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. They forsook the temple of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the LORD, the people would not listen to their warnings. Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: “God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the LORD’s commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.’” But they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the LORD’s temple. Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son. And as Zechariah was dying, he said, AMay the LORD see and avenge.” At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. Though the Aramean force came with few men, the LORD surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash. After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34 R. (29a) For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations.” R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. “Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm. I will make his posterity endure forever and his throne as the days of heaven.” R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. “If his sons forsake my law and walk not according to my ordinances, If they violate my statutes and keep not my commands.” R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. “I will punish their crime with a rod and their guilt with stripes. Yet my mercy I will not take from him, nor will I belie my faithfulness.” R. For ever I will maintain my love for my servant. Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34 Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” NAB I have a vivid memory of my dad reading this Gospel passage to me when I was about twelve years old. I was at the age where I was starting to care about my physical appearance. I was aware of what the styles were, and when I didn’t have them. I had been complaining to my parents about not having enough money to buy all the clothes that I wanted, wishing I could have the things that some of my peers had. My dad sat down on my bed, opened his beat-up old bible, and started to read, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry[.]” As I listened to the words of the Gospel, hot tears streamed down my face. I realized I had been seeking things more than I had been seeking God. Almost twenty years later, and I still struggle with materialism. It’s not surprising. We live in a culture that is obsessed with having that latest and greatest. Ads for everything from clothes to kitchen gadgets are constantly hurled in our direction. If we’re not careful, it’s easy to fall into a trap of believing that material goods will make us better, happier, and more valuable. I’ve tried a lot of different things over the years in an attempt to combat materialism—New Year’s resolutions to stop spending, giving up shopping for Lent, and donating bags and bags of my clothing to our church rummage sale. These tactics work for a little while, but eventually the desire to amass stuff rears its ugly head again. That’s when I realize the problem is not the things; there will always be material needs. “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” The problem is my attachment to those things. Material goods are not bad, until they become an end in and of themselves. I am looking to those things to satisfy me. I am giving them a place in my heart that should be reserved for God. What I need is to practice detachment. I need to direct my affections rightly, to separate myself from anything that hinders my pursuit of God, and to embrace a spirit of evangelical poverty. (Paraphrased from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2545) “Abandonment to the providence of the Father in heaven frees us from anxiety about tomorrow.” (CCC 2547) That detachment and abandonment requires faith. I need faith that God will provide for me. I need faith to stop trying to satisfy myself with things and let Him satisfy me. [bctt tweet="I am giving material things a place in my heart that should be reserved for God."] Pray with me: sometimes my faith feels so small, Lord, so please give me a spirit of detachment and faith to seek You above all. Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, musician, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away, along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain. She concealed him from Athaliah, and so he did not die. For six years he remained hidden in the temple of the LORD, while Athaliah ruled the land. But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards. He had them come to him in the temple of the LORD, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed them the king’s son. The captains did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his men, both those going on duty for the sabbath and those going off duty that week, came to Jehoiada the priest. He gave the captains King David’s spears and shields, which were in the temple of the LORD. And the guards, with drawn weapons, lined up from the southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the king’s behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king’s son and put the crown and the insignia upon him. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, clapping their hands and shouting, “Long live the king!” Athaliah heard the noise made by the people, and appeared before them in the temple of the LORD. When she saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, she tore her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!” Then Jehoiada the priest instructed the captains in command of the force: “Bring her outside through the ranks. If anyone follows her,” he added, “let him die by the sword.” He had given orders that she should not be slain in the temple of the LORD. She was led out forcibly to the horse gate of the royal palace, where she was put to death. Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD as one party and the king and the people as the other, by which they would be the LORD’s people; and another covenant, between the king and the people. Thereupon all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and demolished it. They shattered its altars and images completely, and slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Jehoiada appointed a detachment for the temple of the LORD. All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the royal palace. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18 R. (13) The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. The LORD swore to David a firm promise from which he will not withdraw: “Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.” R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. “If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, Their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne.” R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. For the LORD has chosen Zion; he prefers her for his dwelling. “Zion is my resting place forever; in her will I dwell, for I prefer her.” R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. “In her will I make a horn to sprout forth for David; I will place a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon him my crown shall shine.” R. The Lord has chosen Zion for his dwelling. Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” NAB "If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness." This has to be one of the most sobering but well-stated metaphors in Scripture. The ending especially stops me in my tracks and seems to grow and fill the room with a long, echoing silence: "And if the light in you is darkness... how great will the darkness be.” Echo. Echo. Echo. I'd venture to bet that most of us are striving to live out our lives as pretty good people. We're not running around thieving or murdering or perpetuating the kind of obvious darkness and evil we so often shudder at. But none of us are saints (yet!) either. All of us still struggle daily against sin. And all of us (whether it's sinful or not) have some darkness that is not of God blurring our vision. Usually it's the same something Satan has been putting in our path for years to block our view of the light; he doesn't have to get very creative because often that one thing just keeps working, over and over, to obscure our view of the truth and allow the darkness creep through our souls. What darkeness do you battle? A vice or bad habit? Fear and anxiety? Despair? Seeking the approval of others? Anger or jealousy? God has created each of us intentionally and uniquely for Himself. He delights in us, and He calls us to shine His light to the world in a way no one else can. But . . . we can't shine light very well to others if ours has been all but extinguished. So remember that first, we must open ourselves and allow God to shine His light on the darkness within us. We need not be afraid of our darkness. In response, God gives us grace and all sorts of instruments to bring light to our darkness. Confession. The Eucharist. Prayer. And practical tools—spiritual direction, counseling, accountability groups—God uses all of these to bring warm rays of healing to the darkness in our lives. And if we expose our darkness to God's light... then how great will our light be? [bctt tweet="God delights in us, and He calls us to shine His light to the world in a way no one else can."] Pray with me: Lord, show me how to bring light to my darkness so that I can be Your living light. photo credit Megan Hjelmstad is a wife, mom, writer and sometimes soldier whose real passion is equal parts faith and chocolate. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Sirach 48:1-14 Like a fire there appeared the prophet Elijah whose words were as a flaming furnace. Their staff of bread he shattered, in his zeal he reduced them to straits; By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is equal to yours? You brought a dead man back to life from the nether world, by the will of the LORD. You sent kings down to destruction, and easily broke their power into pieces. You brought down nobles, from their beds of sickness. You heard threats at Sinai, at Horeb avenging judgments. You anointed kings who should inflict vengeance, and a prophet as your successor. You were taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with fiery horses. You were destined, it is written, in time to come to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD, To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons, and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob. Blessed is he who shall have seen you And who falls asleep in your friendship. For we live only in our life, but after death our name will not be such. O Elijah, enveloped in the whirlwind! Then Elisha, filled with the twofold portion of his spirit, wrought many marvels by his mere word. During his lifetime he feared no one, nor was any man able to intimidate his will. Nothing was beyond his power; beneath him flesh was brought back into life. In life he performed wonders, and after death, marvelous deeds. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7 R. (12a) Rejoice in the Lord, you just! The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just! Fire goes before him and consumes his foes round about. His lightnings illumine the world; the earth sees and trembles. R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just! 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. Rejoice in the Lord, you just! All who worship graven things are put to shame, who glory in the things of nought; all gods are prostrate before him. R. Rejoice in the Lord, you just! Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15 Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” NAB We all know the words to The Lord's Prayer. They are the familiar, comforting words of our youth, or even, maybe, a movie scene. We can come from a myriad of Christian traditions and yet this prayer is a common thread between us, it is a key and important part of what it means to be a Christian—that we pray the way Christ Himself instructed us. But if we truly pray these words we are not simply going through pious motions and mouthing words of simple comfort. We're declaring a daring and radical personal statement of belief and a manifesto on how we live our lives. I can't help but get a tingle down my spine, and a little thrill of excitement when we recite the words "Give us this day our daily bread." Those words do not simply mean "please give us what we want, when we want it" they mean that we rely on the Father to give us everything from day to day. Can we imagine what God might give us? "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done" is an extreme thing to say when we don't know what God's will can mean for our lives. We choose to live with an incredible amount of surrender and trust when we pray these words. When we pray these words with our whole hearts, minds, and wills we are opening our lives to whatever God may have in store for us. It could mean being taken into heaven in a fiery chariot like Elijah in today's First Reading, it could mean laying down our own desires for what God may be calling us to, it could mean being bold and daring and going where we never thought we could, it could mean accepting terrible suffering, it could mean just about anything. That is a very daring action to pray these words, it is not a passive or meaningless prayer. It takes a lot of trust to live each day in the present moment waiting for God's word in our lives, waiting for what we are in desperately in need of, or waiting for the strength to get through immense challenges. Although our daily lives may feel staid with sameness and overwhelmed in the ordinary, the truth we live as Christians is exemplified in this prayer of Christ's. We offer ourselves and our lives to God and we know that any day momentous things could happen and that grace comes without fail. [bctt tweet="When we pray the Our Father, we're declaring a daring & radical personal statement of belief."] Christ has taught us a powerful prayer for changing our lives in accordance to His grace, pray the Our Father today while imaging the words coming from the voice of Christ, and let His grace touch your life. 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: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here;Protégé the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you,” Elisha replied. And so the two went on together. Fifty of the guild prophets followed and when the two stopped at the Jordan, they stood facing them at a distance. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” Elijah replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle that had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding the mantle that had fallen from Elijah, Elisha struck the water in his turn and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 31:20, 21, 24 R. (25) Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord. How great is the goodness, O LORD, which you have in store for those who fear you, And which, toward those who take refuge in you, you show in the sight of the children of men. R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord. You hide them in the shelter of your presence from the plottings of men; You screen them within your abode from the strife of tongues. R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord. Love the LORD, all you his faithful ones! The LORD keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly. R. Let your hearts take comfort, all who hope in the Lord. Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” NAB "Take care not to perform righteous deeds that others may see them." I'm a better mom in public places. Partly out of deference to accepted social norms, and yes, partly out of pride. I perform better for a crowd, sad as it is to admit, than in the secret rooms of our own four walls. So a naughty toddler gets a firm, loving reprisal rather than a nuclear time-out. An act of preschool defiance earns a gentle correction while crouching at eye level in Costco, while the same offense might merit a much higher decibel at home. Which begs the question, for whom am I parenting? And more broadly, regardless of current vocational state in life, Whom am I living for? If we are truly seeking to conform lives to Christ, to submit the dark and unsavory parts of our hearts and minds to the searing grace of His goodness, why is it so tempting to "perform" Christianity for a crowd? "[Y]our Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” When I stop myself from a blind act of road rage and say a quick, secret prayer of forgiveness and even thanksgiving for the opportunity to suffer. When I lovingly correct a child in my own living room, substituting an embrace, however undesired, for a harsh word. When I accept a cruel comment or careless remark on social media without launching a blistering counterattack, giving thanks for a tiny sliver of suffering in my privileged, almost entirely selfish life. He sees that. He sees the shortcomings, too. And while it feels so right to bask in the approval of friends and strangers in a moment of public decency, I want to give Him the little, hidden moments that cost much more. Because I will not become holy in the public square. And it is my practices and my disposition of heart in private, in my inner room, that will bear fruit into eternity. Lord, I am a hypocrite. In my gloom and in my self-seeking desire for approval. Give me Your humility, that I may become less a Pharisee, in spite of myself. [bctt tweet="I will not become holy in the public square, but in my inner room."] If someone wrongs you today, or if you have the opportunity to make a quiet act of charity or reparation, bear it silently, or carry it out without fanfare. Let your reward come from the Father, who sees everything in secret. photo credit Jenny Uebbing is a freelance editor and writer for Catholic News Agency. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband Dave and their growing army of toddlers. She writes about marriage, life issues, politics, sociological trends and traveling with kids here.

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest & Doctor of the Church First Reading: 1 Kings 21:1-16 Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden, since it is close by, next to my house. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or, if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.” Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral heritage.” Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him: “I will not give you my ancestral heritage.” Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat. His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so angry that you will not eat?” He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’ But he refused to let me have his vineyard.” His wife Jezebel said to him, “A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed! Get up. Eat and be cheerful. I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.” So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles who lived in the same city with Naboth. This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. Next, get two scoundrels to face him and accuse him of having cursed God and king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city— did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing, through the letters she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people. Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation, “Naboth has cursed God and king.” And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent the information to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned to death. When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Go on, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you, because Naboth is not alive, but dead.” On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 5:2-3AB, 4B-6A, 6B-7 R. (2b) Lord, listen to my groaning. Hearken to my words, O LORD, attend to my sighing. Heed my call for help, my king and my God! R. Lord, listen to my groaning. At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; the arrogant may not stand in your sight. R. Lord, listen to my groaning. You hate all evildoers. You destroy all who speak falsehood; The bloodthirsty and the deceitful the LORD abhors. R. Lord, listen to my groaning. Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” NAB I can’t imagine what it must have been like, but I can try. I can try to envision the thickening stench of death or the palpable fear that must have clung to even the bravest of hearts. I can try to picture the perpetual darkness or the piercing hatred. I can try to imagine the anger. But I won’t come close—I can't come close—to fully comprehending the heinous acts that took place at Auschwitz. And I suppose it would be understandable for even the most compassionate among us to grow cold in that environment—for the strong to grow weak, for love to turn to hate. I suppose it would be rather easy for the rage to enslave your heart. I think that’s why today’s Gospel made me think about the sacrificial love of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, who gave his own life so that another Auschwitz prisoner might live. In the face of evil, he loved. In the face of death, he lived. And I wonder if he struggled with it. Because bitterness, it adheres so strongly to our hearts, doesn’t it? “An eye for an eye” sinks so deeply into our inclinations. But to love freely with a sacrificial heart?, that road is a bit more burdensome. But it is in that burden that we find freedom. Because there is life to be found in the death of our own selfishness—there is life to be found in love. So, let us love with reckless hearts. Let us turn our cheek and go that extra mile. Let us keep our hearts free through love. [bctt tweet="There is life to be found in the death of our own selfishness—there is life to be found in love."] “A single act of love makes the soul return to life,” writes Saint Maximilian Kolbe. Where is your single act you can perform today? 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.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Nathan said to David: “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your lord’s house and your lord’s wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more. Why have you rejected the LORD and done evil in his sight? You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have looked down on me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 R. (cf. 5c) Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away, whose sin is covered. Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt, in whose spirit there is no guile. R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. I acknowledged my sin to you, my guilt I covered not. I said, "I confess my faults to the LORD," and you took away the guilt of my sin. R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. You are my shelter; from distress you will preserve me; with glad cries of freedom you will ring me round. R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just; exult, all you upright of heart. R. Lord, forgive the wrong I have done. Second Reading: Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Brothers and sisters: We who know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. Gospel: Luke 7:36—8:3 A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner." Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. "Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?" Simon said in reply, "The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven." He said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little." He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The others at table said to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources. NAB I used to think I was a pretty good judge of character. Well, until my character was judged and I was all, “How could they? Don’t they know me?” Hey, kettle. Hey, pot. You’re black. Several years ago I found myself in a new city, in a new parish with zero friends. Our parish was hosting a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat and I thought it might be a fun way to meet some new people. I remember walking into that room, taking a quick glance around and deciding in less than two minutes what women I would probably click with and which ones would just be acquaintances. There was the single mom with two kids, one of which had childhood cancer. I could pray for her, but we probably wouldn’t get to know one another well. That other mom had like four kids—a huge family!—and I was only pregnant with my first. We had zero in common. And so the list went. As we went through formation and got to hear each woman’s journey, each woman’s path to Christ, I was blown away by God’s grace, mercy, and love. It was embarrassing how wrong I was about those beautiful hearts in that group of women. That single mom? Her son ended up fighting one hell of a fight and beat cancer. She and her son serve as daily inspiration for me. That mom of many? She’s now my fourth kiddo’s Godmother. We adore her. Every time—every single time—I think I have someone figured out, I can almost hear God laugh and feel my heart change. Who am I to look at another woman, especially that sinful woman, and judge her soul, judge her intent, judge her faith? My Indiana CRHP sisters showed me how to be a mom. They invited me to dig deep, real deep, and pour the foundation to a loving and honest relationship with God. I am forever grateful God took my judgmental heart and turned it into one filled with love. Isn’t He so good? Go love someone today for who they really are and not for what you think they may be. [bctt tweet="Who am I to look at another woman and judge her soul, judge her intent, judge her faith?"] Reach out to that woman you judge and send her a note of encouragement. 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: Acts 11:21B-26; 13:1-3 In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord. Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the Church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6 R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds; His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm. R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice. He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel. R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise. R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD. R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” NAB Today is the Feast of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, and while he was not one of the twelve, he is remembered as an Apostle. We don’t hear of him in Scripture at all until Acts 4, when he sells his land and gives his money to the Apostles. He had lived his life as a faithful Levite, and he heard the Good News around Pentecost and joined the Church. When we hear of him again in Acts 9, he is already hard at work for the Church and sent to fetch Saul (Saint Paul) to bring him to the Apostles. In the passage from Acts today, we hear more about the kind of person Saint Barnabas was: When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. Saint Barnabas had been given the theological virtue of faith; a theological virtue is one directed towards God, but also given to us by God. He used this gift of faith to aid and inspire the early Church. He was passionate in his evangelizing and his passion was contagious. Let’s take a closer look at how Saint Luke, the author of Acts, described him and how we can also be inspired by his faith: He “saw the grace of God.” His faith allowed him to see where God moved. He “rejoiced” when he saw this grace. How often do we truly rejoice when we see God’s grace? He “encouraged them all to remain faithful.” Is it easy for you to encourage others to remain faithful? How can you lift people up? Are you easily discouraged? Who among your fellow Christians helps you to be encouraged in your faith? He had a “firmness of heart.” When I think of a firmness of heart, I think of a tree standing unwavering against a storm. The wind beats and blows and whips the tree around, but the tree stands firm. When we have faith, we are like that tree. And Barnabas was “a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” He had sought to live a life of virtue, but it really was the Holy Spirit who helped him live this way. His faith was a gift, as it is in us all. It is only with the aid of the Holy Spirit that we can live lives of faith. [bctt tweet="It is only with the aid of the Holy Spirit that we can live lives of faith."] Let us thank the Lord for the gift of faith which builds us up as a community, for those who inspire you to deeper faith through their own gift of faith, and for the gift of faith He has given you in your own life. Let us pray for more faith today. Saint Barnabas, pray for us! photo credit Susanna Spencer once studied theology and philosophy, but now happily cares for her three adorable little girls, baby boy, and her dear husband in Saint Paul. She loves beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious meals, baking amazing sweets, reading good books, raising her children, casually following baseball, and talking to her philosopher husband. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:9A, 11-16 At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave, where he took shelter. But the word of the LORD came to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD— but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, “Elijah, why are you here?” He replied, “I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. But the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” The LORD said to him, “Go, take the road back to the desert near Damascus. When you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king of Aram. Then you shall anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel, and Elisha, son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah, as prophet to succeed you.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:7-8A, 8B-9ABC, 13-14 R. (8b) I long to see your face, O Lord. Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. R. I long to see your face, O Lord. Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off. R. I long to see your face, O Lord. I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. R. I long to see your face, O Lord. Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” NAB Have you had a season when you are sure that you are going from fire to earthquake and you are running for your life? Today's first reading finds the prophet Elijah in such a place. He wants to curl up and hide, but God challenges him to go out on a mountain and listen for His voice. God demands to know why Elijah has run away. Prophets aren't supposed to retreat and hide. God's question sounds reproachful and Elijah sounds whiny about the formidable challenges. Elijah had enemies who were a mortal danger. Sometimes, when I read the Old Testament, it's difficult to relate to the anguish that comes with running for your life. Then I consider the mortal enemies in my life: fear and pessimism. I don't hide in caves, but I have been known to curl up in bed, discouraged and lethargic, in an attempt to escape those pursuers. The taunting of the enemies can drown out the voice of the majestic Lord. Earlier in the story, the Lord has asked Elijah to eat life-giving food (1 Kings 19:5). That is the beginning of his renewal. God knows that His followers need strength to carry out His mission—whether the mission is caring for four children 4-years-old and under or taking three exams in a day or holding the hand of a dying loved one. We are women of mission who need strength in our storms. Elijah's return to the mission field begins with an act of self-care: eat well. Then, in the stillness after wind and fire, Elijah hears the tiny whispering voice. Here, God calls you out of the cave and He issues a command to move beyond the enemies that fuel burnout and into the grace He will provide to accomplish the unique mission He gives you. God calls Elijah from the lethargy that comes with discouragement. He calls us from the grip of fear and pessimism. He restores us and gives us hope. Elijah is equipped with a strong faith that can weather the storms of personal failure because he understands his vocation and trusts God’s providence. So too, does God call us. He will not leave us whimpering fearfully in a cave, wracked by self-pity. Instead, He will encourage us to care for ourselves and then conquer the world for Him. Take good care of yourself today and then listen for the tiny, whispering voice in your storms. [bctt tweet="We are women of mission who need strength in our storms."] We are women of mission who need strength in our storms. Elijah's return to the mission field begins with an act of self-care. Think about your own personal self-care and your return to the mission field. 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: 1 Kings 18:41-46 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, crouched down to the earth, and put his head between his knees. “Climb up and look out to sea,” he directed his servant, who went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.” Seven times he said, “Go, look again!” And the seventh time the youth reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab, ‘Harness up and leave the mountain before the rain stops you.’” In a trice the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell. Ahab mounted his chariot and made for Jezreel. But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, who girded up his clothing and ran before Ahab as far as the approaches to Jezreel. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13 R. (2a) It is right to praise you in Zion, O God. You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God’s watercourses are filled; you have prepared the grain. R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God. Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, Softening it with showers, blessing its yield. R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God. You have crowned the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow with a rich harvest; The untilled meadows overflow with it, and rejoicing clothes the hills. R. It is right to praise you in Zion, O God. Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” NAB After a quiet to moderate level of vocal participation from the congregation throughout the Mass, the voices suddenly ring out loudly and clearly for the closing song: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. I serve as a cantor in the music ministry at my parish. My church community loves to sing this song. They sing this prayer from the bottom of their heart. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: To take each moment, and live each moment, with peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Maybe their passionate participation has something to do with the state of our world today, or maybe it just has something to do with the human experience. We long for peace—not only eternally, but now—and Christ desires it for us, too. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples: “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors . . . .” Jesus makes reference to the Ten Commandments and how they were understood in the Old Covenant of the Old Testament. He continues: "But I say to you"—here, Jesus gives a new direction, calling us to deeper conversion, as part of His New Covenant. In addition to what we are not to do, Jesus missions us—"Go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Jesus calls us to reconciliation with one another. He calls us to mercy. I am not the kind of person who angers easily. I do, however, get annoyed and impatient. I fail (often) to be the woman God desires me to be. But God calls me to more. Maybe you need to seek peace with your mother or your sister. Maybe you owe an apology to your husband, your friend, or your co-worker. Maybe you need to be more merciful with yourself. We are called to reconciliation, for only then can we find the peace of Christ. [bctt tweet="We long for peace—not only eternally, but now—and Christ desires it for us, too."] Will you join me in praying, sisters? Lord God, it is right to praise You. Inspired by the Psalmist, we pray that you will break up the clods of anger in our hearts, be they big or small. Soften us with showers of your grace and mercy. Help us to blossom and bear fruit for your kingdom. May peace begin in our hearts today and spread everywhere we go. 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: 1 Kings 18:20-39 Ahab sent to all the children of Israel and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel. Elijah appealed to all the people and said, “How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.” The people, however, did not answer him. So Elijah said to the people, “I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD, and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. Give us two young bulls. Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire. I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood, but shall start no fire. You shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD. The God who answers with fire is God.” All the people answered, “Agreed!” Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one young bull and prepare it first, for there are more of you. Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire.” Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying, “Answer us, Baal!” But there was no sound, and no one answering. And they hopped around the altar they had prepared. When it was noon, Elijah taunted them: “Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed over them. Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state until the time for offering sacrifice. But there was not a sound; no one answered, and no one was listening. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” When the people had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been destroyed. He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the LORD had said, “Your name shall be Israel.” He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones, and made a trench around the altar large enough for two measures of grain. When he had arranged the wood, he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood. “Fill four jars with water,” he said, “and pour it over the burnt offering and over the wood.” “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar, and the trench was filled with the water. At the time for offering sacrifice, the prophet Elijah came forward and said, “LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command. Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses.” The LORD’s fire came down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench. Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said, “The LORD is God! The LORD is God!” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16:1B-2AB, 4, 5AB AND 8, 11 R. (1b) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. They multiply their sorrows who court other gods. Blood libations to them I will not pour out, nor will I take their names upon my lips. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. O LORD, my allotted portion and cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” NAB Sometimes the world seems full of contrasts: old versus new, death versus life, or body versus soul. There’s a human tendency to divide and thus to conquer, thinking that one half of any pair is more important—or just plain better—than the other. Today’s Gospel passage challenges this notion, specifically when it comes to the contrast of old with new. Jesus says to His disciples, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.” He is not a shiny new thing that will replace what is old. Instead, He will take what already exists and bring it to a fullness it hasn’t known before. Old is not worse than new; both coexist, and Jesus’ followers can only truly understand Him by understanding him within the context of what came before. You can’t separate one from the other. This, in fact, is a recurring theme of our Christian faith: that we need to look beyond the simple dualistic categories to something much richer. We see this idea over and over. We see it in the person of Jesus Christ, who is both God and man in the same being. We see this in the Resurrection, where death leads to life. We experience it in the Mass and the Sacraments, where the actions of our bodies help open our souls to God. Over and over, Jesus invites us to crack open our thinking and reject the easy out. Life isn’t a simple either/or, He seems to say; often, it’s both/and. And if we follow Jesus’ lead and broaden our vision, we will find ourselves not at a dead-end, but where the Psalmist promises: on the path of life. [bctt tweet="Over and over, Jesus invites us to crack open our thinking and reject the easy out. "] Is there an area of your life that you are treating as an either/or instead of a both/and? Pray for a spirit of discernment here. 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 Random MOMents of Grace: Experiencing God in the Adventures of Motherhood. 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: 1 Kings 17:7-16 The brook near where Elijah was hiding ran dry, because no rain had fallen in the land. So the LORD said to Elijah: “Move on to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have designated a widow there to provide for you.” He left and went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, “Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink.” She left to get it, and he called out after her, “Please bring along a bit of bread.” She answered, “As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’” She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 4:2-3, 4-5, 7B-8 R. (7a) Lord, let your face shine on us. When I call, answer me, O my just God, you who relieve me when I am in distress; Have pity on me, and hear my prayer! Men of rank, how long will you be dull of heart? Why do you love what is vain and seek after falsehood? R. Lord, let your face shine on us. Know that the LORD does wonders for his faithful one; the LORD will hear me when I call upon him. Tremble, and sin not; reflect, upon your beds, in silence. R. Lord, let your face shine on us. O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us! You put gladness into my heart, more than when grain and wine abound. R. Lord, let your face shine on us. Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” NAB "I have designated a widow there to provide for you." Designate . . . to appoint to a specified position. God shows us early on in Scripture that He designates women to do very important work. Elijah needed sustenance; the Lord chose this woman to be the one to provide it for Him. You have breath in your lungs and blood in your veins—and He has designated you for something. You would not exist if He had not. We're all here to build upon the cornerstone here on Earth. For many of us, we are in the thick of that work—for many of us, we have not yet discovered what that work is. As I walked out of one Mass in college, there was a table full of free books. I picked up the one with Muleiris Dignitatem written across the cover. I had no idea what those Latin words meant. This book was not just a book but an encyclical, On the Dignity and Vocation of Women, by Pope Saint John Paul II. It was when I read it that I knew the work which God had designated me for—I knew what bricks He had chosen for me to lay in the architecture of the Kingdom. It changed the entire trajectory of my life, as God's plans, when realized, often do. God does not try to hide our designations—they often meet us right where we are. When Moses asked the Lord what he was supposed to do, the Lord asked Him one simple question . . . "What’s in your hand?" (Exodus 4:2.) God designated this woman to make food for Elijah. Her divine appointment stemmed from her possessions. She may not have seen it as much—but we see how incredibly crucial this was for God’s plan. No task is too small. No designation unimportant. Our individually crafted designations stretch us and our faith—the widow fears she will go hungry and she is asked to trust. Trust God in the work you know He has chosen you for. If you are not sure what that is yet—pay attention to what unexpectedly comes to meet you where you are and what you already possess. And if you have experienced that moment where you heard God speak, “Yes, I chose you just for this"—do that work with passion and zeal today. [bctt tweet="You have breath in your lungs and blood in your veins—and He has designated you for something."] Reflect today—do you know what God has designated you for in the building of His Kingdom? If yes, are you seizing that role with great fervor and passion, or are there ways you can improve? If no, spend some time in prayer asking the Lord to open your heart to see the work He has chosen you to do. 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: 1 Kings 17:1-6 Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab: “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, during these years there shall be no dew or rain except at my word.” The LORD then said to Elijah: “Leave here, go east and hide in the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. You shall drink of the stream, and I have commanded ravens to feed you there.” So he left and did as the LORD had commanded. He went and remained by the Wadi Cherith, east of the Jordan. Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the stream. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 121:1BC-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 R. (see 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? My help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer your foot to slip; may he slumber not who guards you: Indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, the guardian of Israel. R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade; he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. The LORD will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever. R. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” NAB I have a tendency to read the Beatitudes and think that they are intimidating and impossible, but at the same time tedious and painful. I don't know why, if it is just my laziness, my own unfailing desire for comfort, or maybe our society's intense focus on getting ahead and seeking personal fulfillment at every turn, but it's difficult for me to be inspired anew with each reading of the Beatitudes. But we cannot let Jesus' important words from the Mount of Olives somehow grow into a laundry list of unattainable holy attributes. The fact is that the Beatitudes are how Jesus is calling us to live. Everyone of us, no matter our vocation, our age, our work, or our season of life, we are all called to live a life inspired by the Beatitudes. This may not mean we live every single one of the Beatitudes at the same time. Actually, I'm fairly certain for most of us normal people, we are probably called to be living out one of them in a much stronger way than the others. That doesn't mean that we are not always called to be merciful, or pure, or a peacemaker, but I do think that one of the Beatitudes can be our calling at a particular time in our lives. I know there have been times where I have really had to work hard at being a peacemaker within my own family, other times where I have been very poor in spirit, where I have suffered a period of spiritual dryness and just had to keep the faith when there was little consolation. I know many people who are experiencing an intense time of mourning, others who are being persecuted in different ways for what they believe, and still others who devout their lives to pursuing righteousness in a world of injustice. Instead of approaching the Beatitudes today as a daunting checklist of prescribed accomplishments, let us look at what is happening in our lives right now and try to identify what the strongest call to the Beatitudes is. It could be our biggest challenge and struggle, or it could be our greatest joy and blessing. But I think if we look we will see God's will in our lives calling us to deeper holiness by living out the beatitudes. [bctt tweet="We can't let Jesus' important words somehow grow into a laundry list of unattainable holy attributes."] Holy Spirit, enliven our hearts towards the beatitudes today. Show us God's call to us to live a particular Beatitude right now in our lives and give us the grace to say yes to His will with our whole hearts. 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: 1 Kings 17: 17-24 Elijah went to Zarephath of Sidon to the house of a widow. The son of the mistress of the house fell sick, and his sickness grew more severe until he stopped breathing. So she said to Elijah, “Why have you done this to me, O man of God? Have you come to me to call attention to my guilt and to kill my son?” Elijah said to her, “Give me your son.” Taking him from her lap, he carried the son to the upper room where he was staying, and put him on his bed. Elijah called out to the LORD: “O LORD, my God, will you afflict even the widow with whom I am staying by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself out upon the child three times and called out to the LORD: “O LORD, my God, let the life breath return to the body of this child.” The LORD heard the prayer of Elijah; the life breath returned to the child’s body and he revived. Taking the child, Elijah brought him down into the house from the upper room and gave him to his mother. Elijah said to her, “See! Your son is alive.” The woman replied to Elijah, “Now indeed I know that you are a man of God. The word of the LORD comes truly from your mouth.” Responsorial Psalm: Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13 R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear and did not let my enemies rejoice over me. O LORD, you brought me up from the nether world; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit. R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger lasts but a moment; a lifetime, his good will. At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing. R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me; O LORD, be my helper. You changed my mourning into dancing; O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks. R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me. Second Reading: Gal 1:11-14a, 15ac, 16a, 17, 19 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, and progressed in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my race. But when God, who from my mother’s womb had set me apart was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles, I went into Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to talk with Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other of the Apostles, only James the brother of the Lord. Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17 Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, crying out “A great prophet has arisen in our midst, “ and “God has visited his people.” This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region. NAB I remember a few years ago lying in bed mourning a particularly bad break up. I tried to read my Bible but nothing stuck. I sat with a journal on my lap but no words came. I wanted to reach out to a friend, but I wondered what anyone could say that would help. In those early morning hours, I could almost feel my hope ebbing away. In today’s Gospel, it’s easy to imagine the hopelessness of the widow. She had already lost her husband and now she has to bury her only child. With his death, she has also lost her livelihood and will now be completely dependent upon the charity of others. Is she hysterical with grief or totally resigned, only a shell of herself? It is in this moment of deep despair that the Gospel tells us Jesus saw her. He saw the desperate nature of her circumstances. He saw her grief. He saw her broken heart and He was moved with pity. Jesus didn’t hesitate. He spoke up. He walked over. He touched the coffin. He resurrected more than her son; He resurrected her hope. Just as Jesus saw the widow’s sorrow and need, He sees ours. Yes, Jesus sees you, sister. He sees your suffering, your struggle, your situation. And just like with the widow at Nain, Jesus walks unflinchingly into the mess of our lives. No heart is too broken, no situation too hopeless, no soul too lost. Jesus sees you and He wants to restore your hope. As I sat on the edge of my bed that morning, I struggled to find something steady to hold onto in a sea of jumbled emotions. And then a single inspired thought cut through the fog: all is not lost. Those four words were the single spark that reignited my hope. Our God is a God of Restoration. I don’t know what yours will look like, but I know it is coming. And I’m here to tell you, dear sisters, that all is not lost. Hope is everything. [bctt tweet="I’m here to tell you, dear sisters, that all is not lost. Hope is everything."] Is there some situation, relationship, or past heartache that you fear is beyond repair? Tell Jesus about it. Don't worry about a solution; just allow Him to be with you and to comfort you. photo credit Beth Davis is a lover of Jesus, an aunt to five beautiful humans, and a full time youth minister in Flagstaff, Arizona. She is passionate about winning the hearts of young people for Jesus through discipleship.

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 Beloved: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15AB, 16-17, 22 R. (see 15ab) I will sing of your salvation. My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your glory day by day. Cast me not off in my old age; as my strength fails, forsake me not. R. I will sing of your salvation. But I will always hope and praise you ever more and more. My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. R. I will sing of your salvation. I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord; O GOD, I will tell of your singular justice. 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. So will I give you thanks with music on the lyre, for your faithfulness, O my God! I will sing your praises with the harp, O Holy One of Israel! R. I will sing of your salvation. Gospel: Luke 2:41-51 Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. NAB I ran my first marathon in 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii. I gazed at fireworks lighting up the predawn sky with a jittery stomach at the start, the nervous shuffle of thousands of feet around me. It was glorious to be running with so many people, a mass of enthusiasm and energy and potential all traveling together toward a common goal. Some miles were effortless. We floated past mountains and sea and people and barely felt the road beneath us. Some miles were terribly hard. I sang to myself and counted the times my left foot struck the ground while my eyes desperately scanned for the next mile marker. It hurt more than I expected. I often think of that race as a metaphor for life. Some mornings, I can grab my coffee and jump right into the day, keeping pace with whatever comes. Sometimes, though, the day feels overwhelming and the finish line is too far away. Saint Paul’s words to Timothy remind me of those mornings when I feel outmatched by the day ahead. Paul doesn’t pretend that it will always be easy to live our vocations. He admonishes the young Timothy to “be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.” Ready or not, Paul says, it’s time to go. No matter what else is happening, "be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.” Paul’s exhortations apply to us just as much as they did to his young protege. Each of us is called by God for some vocation. When what God is asking seems too hard, we can take courage from Paul’s words. In times where we’d rather avoid God’s call and do something else instead, Paul says, “fulfill your ministry.” Put up with it. It might not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. Paul shares his hard-fought wisdom as he nears the end of the race. It hasn’t been easy—he knows what it means to want to give up. Paul, though, was no quitter. He was persistent through the dangers and discomforts. He has competed well. He has kept the faith. I want to be able to say that, too . . . don’t you? Today, even if we fear we'll never get to the end of the race, we can take small steps—the persistent steps that move us closer to the finish line. I’m going to start by turning on the coffee pot and asking God to meet me there. [bctt tweet="Paul was no quitter. He competed well. He kept the faith."] Because of the communion of saints, Saint Paul is actually cheering each of us on today, just as he did Timothy. Find a place to leave yourself a note that reminds you to keep running even when you feel like stopping—maybe "Keep the Faith" by your toothbrush or "Be Persistent" by your computer—something to help you remember Paul's encouragement. We do not run the race alone! 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.