So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. // John 21:7 I looked over at my sister and she gave me a knowing smile as my brother began to tell a humorous story. He was a natural storyteller who felt comfortable with eyes on him. I loved his enthusiasm and anecdotes. Meanwhile, another brother sat in the corner quietly helping a loved one. I loved his tender heart that preferred not to be in the spotlight. I could describe each of my eight siblings’ different personalities, but suffice it to say, it all works. We complement each other and love each other despite our differences.  I picture the Apostles being like our family—a close-knit group of people with a range of personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. In today’s Gospel (see John 21:1-14), we find the Apostles fishing. Their minds must have been filled with questions about what had transpired after seeing Jesus again after His Resurrection. As they carried on with their work, Jesus appeared to them once more, but they didn’t recognize Him. However, after the miraculous catch of fish, John realized it was Jesus and said to Peter, “It is the Lord” (John 21:7). When Peter heard this he quickly jumped into the sea, even though they were not far from the land. He couldn’t bear to be away from Jesus a moment longer. I want to have a deep love of Jesus like John and Peter. John loved our Lord so much that he was able to recognize the voice and actions of Jesus. Peter loved our Lord so much that he did whatever it took to be by His side. Let us pray for deeper faith and greater love that allows us to hear the voice of Jesus calling us, and gives us the desire to respond immediately.   Lord, help us not to get so engrossed in our busy lives and worries that we don’t hear You. Inflame our hearts with Your love so we’ll want nothing more than to be by Your side in all we do. Amen.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" // Mark 5:41 The room was quiet. All I could hear were the ticking of the clock and the accusing voices in my head. I wondered to myself: How did I get so far from God? My heart ached, and I wanted to cry out to God, but the Liar whispered in my head: Why bother? You know if you try to make a change, you’ll just go back to your old ways. You’re pathetic. Unexpectedly, my mind drifted to an overheard conversation about the mercy of God. In my mind’s eye I pictured Jesus on the Cross with the Blessed Mother beside Him. With pleading tears in her eyes, she repeated to me: He died for you . . . He died for you. The words echoed in my mind and a sudden wave of awareness swept over me that Jesus died on the Cross because of His deep, unfathomable love for me. Crumpled on the floor, it was more than I could bear. I sobbed uncontrollably. All the bitterness, hatred, and cynicism were being washed away as I cried out to God. My soul, which had felt dead for so long, was being brought back to life. Jesus was whispering to me: Talitha koum . . .  Little girl, I say to you, arise! (Mark 5:41) That was a profound moment, but it’s not the only time Jesus has spoken this to my heart. Countless times life and circumstances have broken my spirit and I felt like I couldn’t go on. Sometimes it was during extreme grief, such as the death of a loved one. Sometimes it was during times of great stress and burnout when I just couldn’t give anymore. When my spirit was crushed on the floor, Jesus once again whispered in my heart: Little girl, arise.  Is there something in your life bringing you great stress, worry, or grief? Close your eyes and picture Jesus walking to you with an outstretched arm. Notice the tender love and compassion in His eyes. Hear Him speak the words, “Talitha koum” (Mark 5:41). Take hold of His hand and let Him breathe new life in you.

“I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.” // John 15:5 I hung up the phone call in disbelief. Did I understand this correctly? Someone I loved was in desperate need of help. My mind was trying to process the details of the situation because they didn’t make sense. All I knew was that I had to get into the car and go immediately. As I drove, I cried out to God. I was angry and hurt. Our family had already been dealing with a lot, and I didn’t know how much more we could take. I wondered why all our prayers and pleading with God for deliverance from this cross had not been answered. Instead, it just got worse.  In the days that followed, I desperately tried to trust in God when everything looked bleak. The phrase “God is good—all the time” kept going through my head and, frankly, it annoyed me. It’s a quaint proclamation when all is well, but in the thick of suffering, it’s harder to believe.  In today’s Gospel Acclamation, we hear, “I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord: whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). During this trial God challenged me to remain in Him and cling to His strength. As the weeks passed, I saw glimmers of hope and difficult circumstances actually paved the way to small positive outcomes. The cross is still heavy, but God steps in and provides relief when we need it.  Is there a cross you are dealing with right now? What can you do to help you lean on God more? Perhaps you could kneel before Him in the Blessed Sacrament, receive the grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or just cry and pour your heart out to Him. Or maybe your crosses are lighter, and God is asking you to help bear someone else’s cross.  Come, Holy Spirit, breathe your life in me. Draw me closer to You so I can live through these difficult situations in my life with courage, trust, and peace. May this suffering bear fruit and give glory to God. Amen.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel. // Romans 1:16 My fingers stopped dancing across the keyboard as I stared at the words on the screen. I love today’s verse from Romans 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” For this devotion, I started writing about being a witness to the faith, but something wasn’t clicking. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to look at it from another angle.  God was highlighting this verse, but today He wanted me to focus on my own heart and consider, do I sometimes feel ashamed and undeserving of the saving love of Christ? Yes, I am a faithful Catholic who loves Our Lord, but He wants more.  So now I’m asking myself . . . Do I allow negative self-talk, fear, guilt, selfishness, or pride stop me from giving my heart completely to God? Are there hidden wounds stopping me from trusting in God and His goodness? Am I allowing Jesus to go deeper into my heart and heal me? If I’m unashamed of the Gospel, then I would believe that Jesus can heal my blindness, cure my woundedness, cast out the lies I’ve grown to believe, and create in me a new heart.  Although Jesus has already healed so much in our lives and taught us many things, we’re never really done. Conversion is an ongoing journey and sometimes it’s easy to become complacent with (or in denial of) the areas that still need work. Today Jesus is beckoning us to go deeper.  Where are you in your spiritual life? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an area in which He wants to bring you further healing or into a more profound love and commitment.  Lord, I stand before You with open arms. Open my eyes to see the areas in my life that You want to heal and bring greater freedom. Please give me the courage to look at myself honestly and the strength to trust in You completely. I love You. Amen.

“He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free . . . ” // Luke 4:16-19 As I was chatting with a fellow mom in the school parking lot, the conversation took a turn and tears welled up in her eyes. She shared with me struggles she was dealing with in her life and my heart broke for her.  I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me with words to share with her, but I hesitated. I didn’t know this woman's spiritual journey and didn’t want to come off as sounding too religious. However, I shared something similar that I experienced and how God helped me work through it.  After we talked, I offered to pray for her and she was grateful and seemed more at peace. It was humbling to see the Holy Spirit move in her heart at that moment. I thanked God for giving me the courage to speak and plant a little seed of hope. Lately, it feels like one friend after another has been dealing with difficult circumstances or working through issues that were upsetting their mental health. It’s so easy for me to just be quiet in situations like this, but today’s Gospel is a reminder of Jesus’ mission on earth:  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free . . . ” (Luke 4:18-19). As Catholics, you and I are called to carry on that mission. It’s easy to get caught up in our own little world and miss the promptings of the Holy Spirit, but there are countless people in our lives in need of words and actions that will encourage, strengthen, and draw them closer to Our Lord. Has there been a family member, friend, coworker, or someone in your community on your mind lately? Reach out to them and see how you can help or pray for them. Lord, may my heart always be open to hear Your voice. Don’t let fear or self-centeredness hold me back from going where You lead me. I love You. Amen.  

You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. // Matthew 22:37 Snuggled on the couch, popcorn in hand, I was enjoying my annual viewing of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, specifically Return of the King. I was at the part when Frodo, after surviving many perilous obstacles, finally made it to Mount Doom and was about to throw Sauron's ring into the lake of fire. However, as he stared at the ring and his desire for it grew overwhelming, Frodo couldn’t let go of the ring, a ring that promised false happiness and power to whomever possessed it. This reminded me of a time I was in prayer during a retreat. As I was quietly praying, that scene unexpectedly popped into my mind. I thought, “What the heck? Why’d that come to mind?” Then Jesus spoke to my heart explaining that I was Frodo and I wasn’t letting go of the ring. I was baffled. What was Jesus talking about? What was my ring? Since that time at prayer, Jesus has slowly been showing me what I was holding onto and not letting go of.  It wasn’t a big mortal sin; rather, it was a combination of attitudes, mindsets, and habits that kept me from living today's Gospel completely: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Examine your heart. Sometimes seemingly innocent things can creep into the center and take over. It could be a dysfunctional relationship, the need to be in control, a negative self attitude, or the over-reliance on something (shopping, binge watching, food/alcohol, etc) to bring us comfort. Is there something Jesus wants to weed out or heal in order for you to live more fully in the love of God?  Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind. Show me those things that keep me from loving You with all of my heart, mind, and soul. Give me the grace to let them go so I can love You more deeply. Amen.

How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? // Psalm 116:12 “Mom, are you complaining?” I bit my tongue and glanced into the rearview mirror. My son gave me a wry smile, and I sighed. For Lent I had given up complaining and I told my kids that if they heard me complaining to let me know. A week into it, I was ready to call it quits. I was ashamed to see how often complaints came out of my mouth! After dropping off my kids at school, I started praying in the car, asking God to help me change my attitude. I knew that gratitude was the antidote. As if to punctuate that thought, I noticed the car in front of me had (in huge letters across his back window) the question, “What are you grateful for today?” Touché, Lord.  He wasn’t done. Moments later the song “I Thank God” by Maverick City Music came on the radio. The artist sang of being grateful to God for all the ways He turned his life around. I started thinking about how God turned my own life around—bringing me out of mortal sin and setting me on a new path. I recalled all the times He saved me, in big and little ways, and the gratitude I felt bubbled up and spilled out in tears.  Refocusing my mind on the goodness of God, I cried out with the Psalmist, “How shall I make a return to the LORD for all the good he has done for me? To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the Lord” (Psalm 116:12-13).  Sister, what will you do the next time you feel negativity settling in and complaints forming? Let’s turn our focus to gratitude as we pray: Lord, forgive me for complaining or feeling sorry for myself. I offer this cross to you as an act of love and thanksgiving for all You’ve done for me. I love You. Amen.

Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction . . .  // 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 As I listened to a podcast, I tried to understand the turmoil the speaker was sharing. She suffered from anxiety and depression. My heart felt for her, but it was hard for me to relate to it. Although intellectually I knew she couldn’t just shake off the negative thoughts or pray her way out of depression, it was hard for me to understand what she was going through.  However, now I’m witnessing the struggle with mental health in someone close to me. They confided in me the depth of their struggle, and I had no idea how bad it was. As I walk with them and offer them support, my heart breaks to see them suffer this way. In this case, there has not been a quick solution, but there are moments of hope when light breaks through and progress is made.  Now when I hear someone speak about mental health, I don’t just shrug it off. It has made me more compassionate towards others, especially knowing that there may be struggles that I don’t see.  In today’s First Reading, Saint Paul gives thanks to the “Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction . . . ” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God pours out His mercy and compassion on us and we in turn pour it out to those around us. Although we may each have different struggles and crosses, we share a universal need to be supported, encouraged, and loved.  Sister, consider the people in your own life and in your community. Ask the Holy Spirit to place on your heart someone He wants you to reach out to—whether it’s a friend you can call, a family member you can visit, or an act of kindness to a stranger. Today let God work an act of compassion through you.  Lord, help me to not be so wrapped up in my own life that I ignore the needs of others. Use me to bring encouragement to my sisters or brothers in Christ.

“I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.” // John 17:4 I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. If I had not been so physically and emotionally exhausted, I would have laughed because this scene was straight out of a sitcom. My preschooler was crying hysterically, the baby in my arms just had an explosive diaper that leaked on me, and topping it off, the sick toddler on my lap then threw up on me. As I dragged my children to the bathtub, I glanced over at the computer where I was supposed to be writing a post about building the Kingdom of God. Covered in bodily fluids, I felt defeated and mused, So is this my life now? Gently, God spoke to my heart and answered, For now, yes. Fast forward a decade or so, and now I’m juggling life with preteens and teenagers in between caring for my aging mother-in-law and running the household. There are moments when I’m exhausted and muse, So is this my life now? Gently, God speaks to my heart and answers, For now, yes. There were times in my life when I was active in outward ministry. It was tangible. I could see the fruit of my labor. However, many seasons are filled with commonplace, unglamorous work, whether it's caring for babies and elderly parents, or keeping the peace at school or work. In those seemingly tedious tasks, God forms our hearts. He weeds out our pride and challenges us to live in charity and generosity. In turn, we can serve Jesus through the people in our lives. What tedious or thankless job must you do in your life? The next time you do it, offer it to God. Pray for the people you are serving. God is pleased when we give Him all the little things and do them with love to bring Him greater glory. What can you offer to God today so that you too can say, “I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4)?

But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. // Acts 2:24 As I scrolled through Instagram, I saw countless happy Easter posts with smiling faces, family dinners, and Easter frivolity. I knew the Easter Octave (the eight days of Easter) was a time of particular joy, but I could not muster any. Most of the Easter celebrations in my life have been happy ones, but there were other Easters when heavy crosses—miscarriages, serious illness, deaths of loved ones—made it hard for me to be joyful. That is why I love this passage from today’s First Reading so much: “But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it” (Acts 2:24). When we ponder the life of Jesus and see how much He suffered at the end of it, we can’t help but feel heaviness and sorrow. However, not even death could hold Jesus down. He is Hope itself as He conquered death and now leads us to eternal life. So if you are struggling to find joy this Easter season, let us look to the radiance of the Resurrected Jesus. Let Him bring light to the darkness shadowing your heart. Together let’s ask Him to breathe new life and hope into our circumstances and touch our lives with joy. And if you are enjoying the beauty of the season without any major worries, reach out to someone in need and be a ray of hope in their life. Jesus, whether we are experiencing the felicity of the Easter season or struggling through it, fill our hearts with Your love and hope. Strengthen us in our weakness and renew our love and trust in You. Amen. {formbuilder:MTAxMDY1}

He looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!") And immediately the man's ears were opened. // Mark 7:34-35 I stood nervously in line for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and dreaded each minute that brought me closer to my turn. It had been a long time since I had been to Confession, and there was one sin in particular that I struggled with that I was too ashamed to voice aloud, let alone to a priest. I considered turning around and leaving, but I knew I needed the healing touch of Jesus. Like the deaf man in today's Gospel (Mark 7:31-37), for too long I had been deaf to the voice of God. Instead I listened to the evil one’s rationalizations that I knew what was best for me, just as Eve did in the garden (see Genesis 3:1-8). Also, like Eve, I realized that the temporary pleasure of sin was followed by shame and consequences. I had turned away from the One Who loves me the most. Thankfully God’s mercy and the grace of conversion changed my heart, and I wanted nothing more than to love and serve Our Lord once again. As nervous as I was going into that confessional, I came out with tears of gratitude streaming down my face. I was able to pour out my heart and hear the cathartic and true words, “Your sins are forgiven.” As we come closer to the season of Lent, now is the perfect time to prepare by cleansing our soul in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Don’t let fear or apathy stop you from the healing grace of the Sacrament. If you are nervous, ask a friend to go with you. If you are embarrassed to go to your parish priest, go to another church where you aren't known. If you are unsure of the procedure or what to say, this post should help. Lord Jesus, help us to love the Sacrament of Reconciliation more. May we neither fear it nor take it for granted. May we approach You in the Sacrament with a humble and contrite heart. Thank You for Your mercy, my Lord. 

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. // Matthew 5:9 From my eighth-grade desk, I looked over at Kat and her golden locks shimmering in a beam of afternoon sunlight. We had just voted for the eighth-grade girl who would crown the Blessed Mother at the May Crowning. It was a big deal for the eighth graders and a marked honor for the girl chosen. There was no doubt in my mind that it would be popular, beautiful, head cheerleader Kat. I sighed knowing that someone like me—shy and chubby with a head of unruly, curly hair—would never be chosen. Yet, it was my name the teacher called. I stood dumbfounded as my classmates turned and smiled at me. Later, when talking to a friend about my shock, she commented on how I always tried to be kind to others, defended those who were being mistreated, and tried to keep the peace amongst classmates. I would never be the beautiful, popular cheerleader, but in that moment, my classmates saw something that mattered more. That happened decades ago, yet it still touches my heart because it is a lesson we can live in our adulthood. When God looks at us, the most important things aren’t going to be how popular or successful we are in the world. He will examine the state of our hearts and if we’re living a life of love and mercy. Jesus gives us a long list of Beatitudes in today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:1-12) and it can be overwhelming to strive to be poor in spirit, meek, merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, and rejoicing at persecution. However, every day we are given little moments to live the Beatitudes. Perhaps, there’s a Beatitude that you don’t understand. Take a moment to look it up in the Catechism to get a better appreciation of it. Or if there’s a Beatitude that bothers you, take it to prayer and ask God to open your heart to its meaning. Lord, teach me how to be a reflection of the Beatitudes in my life, so I can love You more and draw others to Your mercy. Listen to today's audio devotion.

Then Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel said to him in reply, “I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.” // Luke 1:18-21 I could hear the sound of laughter coming from our family room. I walked over and saw my husband and daughter joking with each other and my boys at the table laughing at something. It was one of those moments when I’m struck by how blessed I am. Had I gone back in time and told that awkward teenager who didn’t fit in or that twenty-something who kept dating the wrong guys or that heartbroken newlywed who thought she couldn't have kids that one day this would be her life, I don’t think I would’ve believed it. Perhaps that’s why I always felt sorry for Zechariah from today’s Gospel. There he was in the midst of a paramount, miraculous event in his life, and he ends up struck dumb. It seems unfair. In the past, I would compare the Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary with Zechariah’s. Mary was blessed, but Zechariah was punished. Why? Later, I came to understand that Mary believed the truth of Gabriel’s words and the miraculous power of God. Her questioning was in regards to how she would be fulfilling God’s word, not that she didn’t believe it. However, Zechariah doubted the Angel's words because he could only see the obstacles that made it humanly impossible. He was struck dumb, but God was faithful. Zechariah’s elderly wife became pregnant and bore the son who would proclaim the Messiah’s coming. Thankfully, Zechariah redeemed himself when he communicated to a skeptical crowd that his son would not bear his name, but be called John, as God had instructed. His speech returned, and he prophesied and praised the goodness of God (see Luke 1:63-64). How many times have we felt God's call, but lacked trust that He would provide? Or were inspired to do something good, but we let self-doubt stop us? During these last days of Advent, let’s spend some quiet time before God. What is He speaking to your heart? How can you better follow His will in your life? Lord, open my heart to hear Your word and to act upon it, trusting in You always. Amen. [bctt tweet="Follow His will. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord raises up those who were bowed down; the Lord loves the just. // Psalm 146:8 I walked through the hall of lockers, clutching a class schedule, unsure of where the science building was located. Shaking my head, I laughed at the feeling of déjà vu overcoming me. It had been decades since I walked the halls of my own high school campus. On this day, I was following the schedule of my freshman son and meeting his teachers. When I was in school, I would look for the farthest seat in the back of class, not wanting to draw attention to myself. I feared saying something wrong or looking ridiculous. This is normal teenage behavior, but what if you never grow out of that awkward stage? As an adult woman, I still found myself hiding in the back of the room and being afraid to speak up and show my true self. Slowly, God was working on my heart and my self-destructive attitude. At a Blessed is She retreat years back, I shared my struggles with a priest during the Sacrament of Confession. He challenged me to not be afraid of the woman God created me to be and reminded me that God had “called me by name” (Isaiah 43:1). It was a moment of grace within me. Psalm 146 rang true: “The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down” (Psalm 146:8) because the blinders on my heart were falling, and I lifted my bowed shoulders as a weight was removed. When I returned to the retreat to hear the next talk, instead of hiding in the back row, I sat unafraid in the front row closest to Our Lord in the tabernacle. Is there something stopping you from drawing closer to Our Lord? Is there negative talk in your head, shame in your heart, or wounds that make you feel unworthy of His love? Now is the time to let Our Lord release those chains so you can fully embrace Him. Ask Him to heal your heart and open your eyes to see your worth and value. Neither of us needs to hide in fear anymore. [bctt tweet="Ask Him to heal your heart and open your eyes to see your worth and value. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. // Ephesians 6:13 Last year I bought my husband a tee shirt that says “Everyone makes fun of Catholics . . . until they need an exorcism.” It’s funny because it’s true. Yet priests are not the only ones called to fight evil. As baptized Catholics, we, too, are called to spiritual battle. While the majority of us won’t experience demonic possession, we will definitely experience a fight for our souls. Mostly this fight comes in the form of various temptations to turn away from God. In one of his General Audiences, Pope Francis spoke about fighting evil and temptation. He said, “We know from experience that Christian life is always subject to temptation, especially to the temptation to separate oneself from God, from his will, from communion with him, to fall again into the snares of worldly seductions. . . . [Baptism] gives us strength for this daily struggle, even for the battle against the devil who, as Saint Peter says, tries to devour us, to destroy us like a lion” (Pope Francis, St. Peter's Square, April 25, 2018). Baptism was our initiation into the battle, but Saint Paul lays out the continuous battle plan: “[F]or our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground” (Ephesians 6:12-13). At first glance, we may think it’s overly dramatic, but the news headlines point to evil in our world. It is time for us to stop being indifferent bystanders. We are called to not only fight for our own souls, but for the souls God has placed in our care, whether family, friends, or strangers. But first we need to fortify our own soul with prayer, the Sacraments, and Scripture. God knows that we live in evil times, therefore He provides an abundance of grace and opportunities for us to strengthen our souls and help us to lead others to the mercy of Christ. Who can you encourage today? [bctt tweet="He provides an abundance of grace. // Bobbi Rol " username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” // Luke 9:54 Disheartened and angered by what I was reading, I tossed my phone onto the bed. I usually avoid conflicts online and unfollow negative accounts, but after some of the posts and comments I was reading, I was ready to smack people upside their heads! It reminded me of today’s Gospel. The Jews and Samaritans were enemies and had a shared hostility. So when the Samaritans wouldn’t receive Jesus, James and John were outraged and asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” (Luke 9:54). Who couldn’t relate to that kind of anger and frustration? We’ve all felt it. Yet who did Jesus rebuke? Not the Samaritans who snubbed him, but His friends. If I was James or John, I would have thought, What the heck? You’re mad at us? But we’re the ones who gave up everything to follow You?! And then once that anger subsided, my remorse would have set in because Jesus was right. I let my anger and emotions cloud the central message of Jesus—He did not come to condemn, but to save (see John 12:47). Jesus looks at the heart. He offers mercy and healing, not only physically, but more importantly spiritually. When we look at hurtful people, we need the eyes of Christ to see beyond their odious exterior. There are reasons a person becomes hateful, angry, or self-destructive. When we look at a person as a son or daughter loved by God, our hearts can reside in mercy and not judgment. Hearts are changed when they are engaged one-on-one on a personal level. Seeds of conversion are then planted. Unfortunately there will be people with hardened hearts who refuse to listen. In those cases, it’s best to step away. We’d do better by praying that they receive the grace of conversion and repentance. Lord, make us instruments of Your mercy. Let us see hearts through Your eyes of love. Help us to discern when to press on and when to step away. We place our trust in You. Amen. [bctt tweet="Lord, make us instruments of Your mercy. // @bobbi_rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion

Brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, because you were unable to take it. Indeed, you are still not able, even now, for you are still of the flesh. // 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 It had been a long day, and I was exhausted. I finally had some free time, and I knew I should read Scripture and reconnect with God, since prayer had been scarce lately. But, frankly, I wasn’t in the mood. I just wanted to scroll through social media and unwind, so I did. This behavior continued, and I noticed that prayer wasn’t the only thing I was putting aside. My normal diet of Catholic sustenance and influence was waning. I made excuses to skip Adoration. I no longer attempted to go to Mass during the week. I’d forget to pray the Rosary. Praise and worship music became boring, and my former favorite Catholic podcasts lost their appeal. Later a friend shared how the Holy Spirit was moving in her life. I thought, When was the last time I felt the Spirit talk to my heart or was inspired to follow His lead? I examined my life. I wasn’t living in mortal sin, but admittedly, I was struggling with my attitude and patience, and I just had a general distaste for “spiritual” things. Like the Corinthians whom Saint Paul was addressing (1 Corinthians 3:1-3), I wasn’t living the life of a spiritual adult seeking the ways of God and hearing His voice. Instead I was crowding Him out of my heart with things—that weren’t bad in themselves—but were stopping me from living a life centered on God. The more I substituted spiritual nourishment for junk food of the heart, the more distasteful the spiritual life was to me. Likewise, the more I filled my life with things that drew me closer to God, the spiritually stronger I became and more perceptive to hear His quiet voice. Is there something (or things) in your life that is keeping you spiritually stunted or crowding out God from being the center of your life? Lord, enlighten my mind and give me the strength to remove the things that stop me from loving You with my whole heart. I love You. Amen. [bctt tweet="Hear His quiet voice. // Bobbi Rol" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion