First Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedo'nia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints -- and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work. Now as you excel in everything -- in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us -- see that you excel in this gracious work also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 146:2, 5-9 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! When his breath departs he returns to his earth; on that very day his plans perish. Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ESV I must admit that I laughed out loud when I sat to write my devotional and saw today’s Gospel. If there is anything in the world that I do imperfectly every single day, it’s fighting the urge to be perfect. I grew up believing perfection was the standard. I thought I couldn’t invite someone into my home unless it was perfectly clean. I thought I should be ashamed if I wasn’t a perfect weight. I even knew better than to leave for even an overnight trip without making sure that the bathmats were clean. I kid you not. The theory was that if something should happen while we were away, and the neighbors had to enter the house, they’d want to see perfection. There is nothing quite like nine children to cure one of a childhood of perfectionism. In the beginning, I kept trying to write the perfect story in our home, and real, human people kept trashing the ideal. The more I struggled and clung to my habits of striving for perfection, the more I buckled under the weight of an unwieldy yoke. By the grace of God, I came to understand that God doesn’t want or need my striving. He doesn’t want me or my house or my children to look magazine perfect. Instead, He wants me to look like Him. He wants me to live His story, not mine. And His story is the one of godly perfection unfolding, day by day, as I cooperate with grace. [bctt tweet="He doesn’t want me, my house, my children to look perfect. No, He wants me to look like Him."] "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.' ” (1 Peter 1:14-16) That’s an entirely new book. The goal in life is not appearing to be perfect. The goal is sanctification. Sanctification is perfect holiness and that, my friend, is the only perfection to which we are called. The really great news? Unlike a perfectly clean house or maintaining the perfect weight throughout one’s lifetime, this holy perfection is attainable. [bctt tweet="The goal in life is not appearing to be perfect. The goal is sanctification."] All by itself, salvation is a pretty amazing thing. Jesus redeemed us on the cross and opened the gates to heaven with His outstretched arms, but He didn’t stop there. Our Savior calls us to grow to be like Him here, in this life, and He gives us the means to answer the call. He takes the poor, pitiable, least-perfect wreck of a woman and turns her into a radiant, immortal soul who exudes perfect love and joy. She becomes wholly—and holy—perfect. Baptized, the Holy Spirit fills our souls and begins the work of a lifetime: transforming us into His likeness, for His glory. “His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3) It’s crazy grace. And all we have to do is cooperate with it. [bctt tweet="It’s crazy grace. And all we have to do is cooperate with it."] Today, put aside your expectations for perfection. Take a deep breath and ask for the grace to be like Jesus. Repeat as necessary all day long. 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: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1-4 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Gospel: Matthew: 38-42 "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. ESV When I saw the Scripture I was to mediate on today, I had to laugh. I was just discussing this passage with a friend and sharing with her how difficult it can be to differentiate between standing up for yourself and turning the other cheek. An important fact to remember is that Jesus often spoke in hyperbole to prove a greater point. (Passages about cutting off your right hand and plucking out your eye comes to mind.) During that time, the law of retaliation ruled and no punishment was to exceed the crime. In the New Testament, Jesus challenges us to go beyond that. When we are attacked in anger, we are not to attack back in anger. We are called to forgiveness. And even more, we are called to desire the conversion of our perpetrator. However, turning the other cheek does not mean we are obligated to endure abuse or stay in a toxic relationship. At one point or another, we have all had to deal with coworkers, friends or family members that are at best dysfunctional and at worse, abusive. So how do we deal with these situations? Prayer and communion with God, the sacraments and perhaps the guidance of a spiritual director help us to know the best way to act in our situation. Charity calls us to bite our tongue and let our sarcastic remarks die. At times the Holy Spirit will nudge us to show extra kindness to that one person that drives us up the wall. Sometimes charity and justice require us to not stay silent but to stand up for ourselves (or others) and correct the perpetrator. Other times, we have to physically remove ourselves from a situation that will do us or the ones we love harm. Whatever the action, the key is our motive. Vengeance and retaliation have no room in the Christian heart. Instead our motives must be love, forgiveness and a desire for our “enemy” to turn from his sins. Frankly, fostering charity and true forgiveness in our hearts is sometimes more difficult than getting that second strike on the cheek. Thankfully, we are not required to do it alone. God’s grace can give us the supernatural ability to love, forgive and to have the wisdom of knowing the best way to deal with these difficult situations. [bctt tweet="God’s grace can give us the supernatural ability to love + to forgive."] Are you holding a grudge against someone? Has someone abused you in the past and you can’t seem to let it go? Bring it to the foot of the cross. Ask Our Lord to show you the best way to foster forgiveness and charity in regards to the situation. Pray for others struggling with this too. Bobbi Rol is a wife, mom and blogger with a teen daughter, three rambunctious little boys, and two babies in heaven. She lives in California with her husband, Brian. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Ezekiel 17:22-24 Thus says the Lord GOD: "I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it out; I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it will dwell all kinds of beasts; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it." Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 92: 2-3, 13-16 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to thy name, O Most High; to declare thy steadfast love in the morning, and thy faithfulness by night, The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD, they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bring forth fruit in old age, they are ever full of sap and green, to show that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body. Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. ESV How constantly does Christ give us examples of “the little way”? Let the children come unto me. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed Like many people, I desire to have a profound impact in the world. I simultaneously struggle with the basic steps of loving the people closest to me. Like most mothers, I wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice my life for my kids. I would hurl my body in front of a car to push them to safety without a second thought. The irony is that I often can’t bring myself to get off the couch to play with them. I think most people have a hero inside of them when presented with the right situation. Someone is in dire need and you can help, so you do! You stop your life and help! You save the day! But we aren’t presented with these situations very often. Instead we’re given a life full of what I shall call "Mustard Seed Moments." Moments when we can participate in an unsung act of self-sacrifice. You could shut down the conversation with that annoying colleague or you could ask her about her weekend. You could nag your spouse about the socks in the middle of the floor, or you could pick them up, and not even hold it against him. You could choose this moment to live well, to love well. This moment is the only moment you have to live well and every flourishing palm tree and every high and green cedar of Lebanon began as something inconspicuous and overlooked. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed sown into the ground. Jesus didn’t say: In some ways the Kingdom of God is like Niagara Falls, but in other ways it’s like this little mustard seed, so those of you toiling in your little lives need to feel like you’re valuable too. You’re valuable even though you’re just sowing this mustard seed. Instead, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God “is like a grain of mustard seed which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth.” [bctt tweet="You’re valuable even though you’re just sowing this mustard seed."] Look for that moment today. That moment when you can do the right thing or the wrong thing and virtually no one will ever know. And in that moment choose goodness and know that you are sowing the kingdom of heaven. Kate Rhodes is the wife of a lanky carpenter and mother to two littles. She used to teach English, but then she joined the ranks of SAHMs. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Brothers and sisters: The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103: 1-12 The Lord is kind and merciful. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. 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.” ESV It is the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. If you’re like me, a Protestant turned Catholic, you still don’t know that much about Mary, and quite honesty, you don’t really get that into her feast days. So what’s with the Immaculate Heart of Mary anyway? And why should it matter to me? The Immaculate Heart of Mary refers to the interior life of the Mother of our Lord—her love for God, her love for her Son, and her love for us, the Church as well as the sorrows that pierced her heart and the joys she experienced. When Jesus entrusted His mother to the Beloved Disciple (Saint John at the foot of the cross), He was also giving her to us, as our mother. And as our mother she becomes an example to follow. From her perfect “yes” at the annunciation to her instructions to “do whatever He tells you” at the wedding at Cana, Mary is constantly giving glory to God with her life. She exemplifies the new creation we are called to become in today’s reading from Corinthians: "He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” She is an “ambassador for Christ” interceding for us all, that we might be reconciled to Him. She is the person who’s integrity is so strong that she doesn’t need to take an oath to prove a point, but as the Gospel says, can let her “yes” mean “yes” and her “no” mean “no.” And it was through that simple and honest yes that God chose to change the course of history. As we strive to become new creations in Christ, let us look to Mary as an example and as a faithful intercessor. Let us learn from her Immaculate Heart how to better love Our Lord. Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.

First Reading: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught E'phraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of compassion, with the bands of love, and I became to them as one, who eases the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them. How can I give you up, O E'phraim! How can I hand you over, O Israel! How can I make you like Admah! How can I treat you like Zeboi'im! My heart recoils within me, my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger, I will not again destroy E'phraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come to destroy. Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted. "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." Second Reading: Ephiesians 3:8-12, 14-19 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Gospel: John 19:31-37 Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness -- his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth -- that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of him shall be broken." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they have pierced." ESV The request is a strange one seeing as it was the Jews who fought madly for the bloody crucifixion scene in the first place. But they quietly whisper out of the corner of their mouths to Pilate to finish it off and pack it all away before the start of their Sabbath. They can’t have all that bloody brokenness and sin sullying their worship. And yet, Jesus had already uttered that it was done. He had finished His work and the brokenness and death they saw on the outside was actually already saved, redeemed, healed, and on its way to resurrection glory. His pierced side reflects the moment in which they find themselves, as the blood of the Passion mixes with water of salvation. It is a scene His persecutors wish away. To go back to the way we were before and pretend that it was not our sin that beat across His back and brow, our brokenness that He was broken for. But denying the darkness of our own sin, hiding away the fatal consequences of our faults, is the most dangerous kind of lie. Because in bearing testimony to our brokenness, we give glory to the salvation He won for us. We can only “know the love of Christ which surpasses all understanding” if we are honest about how little we deserve that kind of love. Our sin destroys our relationship with God, but it can also be the path that leads us back to Him if we are willing to face it, confess it, and allow Him to wash us clean. Because our Heavenly Father's response to our sin is to literally flood us with His mercy and forgiveness. His compassion grows warm and tender and it flows from His very heart to us, binding us to Him with bands of love, cords of compassion. He bends down to us in our pitiful state, draws near, and feeds us. Places His very love on our lips and offers us an intimacy we could never merit. We are drawn into His heart, and washed clean by His mercy. This is the undeserved reward that is ours when we acknowledge brokenness rather than hiding it away for the sake of appearing to have our spiritual lives all together. Whatever your mess or your mess ups might be today, stop trying to pack away the cross and clean up as quickly as possible. Forget about appearances and propriety and what it looks like to everyone else, and let this be your worship—the broken, bloody repentance of one clinging fiercely to grace. Let Him really see you, with all your mess. And know and believe the truth, that even when you are seen for all that you are, you are loved fully, and His compassion only grows more warm and tender for you, the one that He loves. [bctt tweet="Let this be your worship—the broken, bloody repentance of one clinging fiercely to grace."] Take some time to meditate today on the image of the Sacred Heart. Remind yourself that the flame that burns there is the warmth of his tender love and compassion for you, a sinner who is loved and cherished by your God. Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks before and after the birth of a child. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number that believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad; and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a large company was added to the Lord. So Barnabas 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 company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians. Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyre'ne, Man'a-en a member of the court 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 after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98:1-6 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD! Gospel: Matthew 10:7-13 And preach as you go, saying, `The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay. Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart. As you enter the house, salute it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ESV “And preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” Go. And, do. Jesus tells His disciples to not only preach the gospel but to live it. And, not just to live it but to be the kingdom of heaven for others. It is second-nature for me to tell others why I love my faith. And, I even know what God asks of us in terms of living out that faith. The difficult part for me? The doing it. Sure, I tend to my sick husband and little ones at home. I clothe and shelter them. And, I truly try to live my daily life for their needs (when I am at my best). Some days, that is all I manage to do for God. But, what about the interruptions? What about the unexpected visitors? What about the phone calls when all you really have time for is playing catch-up with daily tasks? Those are the exact moments when we can be the kingdom of God for others. It’s in those interruptions, when I’m most likely to heave a huge audible sigh and roll my eyes, that God wants my attention. It’s when visitors show up who weren’t on my calendar that I can either chose to make time for or I can leave lacking because of my upset schedule. It’s the person on the other end of the line who God has placed in my life, in that particular moment, for me to show His love. Will I? More often than not, we do not have to seek opportunities to be the kingdom of God for others. We just have to become more aware of those already present in our daily lives, seeing them for what they are. Today, instead of instantly tensing up at the onset of an interruption in my well-planned day, I will welcome it. I will seek to know what purpose it has in my day. And, I will take it as an opportunity to live the Gospel . . . to ‘heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons’ in whatever way He asks me. Tomorrow, it will come more naturally. [bctt tweet="Jesus tells His disciples to not only preach the gospel but to live it."] That interruption that is bound to present itself today . . . welcome it as a chance to be God for others. Britt Fisk is the wife of Jeremy and mother of four young kids. She spends her days living simply in the-middle-of-nowhere-New Mexico helping with the family beef cattle operation. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness, fading as this was, will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor. Indeed, in this case, what once had splendor has come to have no splendor at all, because of the splendor that surpasses it. For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have much more splendor. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 99:5-9 Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies, and the statutes that he gave them. O LORD our God, thou didst answer them; thou wast a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy! Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ESV “For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have much more splendor.” How many times has a beautiful sunset taken my breath away? Or the immensity of the ocean and its never-ending rhythm of tides set my soul at peace? Or the face of a freshly-born baby elicited an immediate smile on my face? Or the glorious arches of Gothic cathedral made my mind and heart soar to higher things? Or a delicious meal satisfied more than just my grumbling stomach? Or a well-composed photograph delighted me with its wonderful symmetry? Or a sweetly fragrant rose thrilled my nostrils with its wonderful scent? This world is filled with so many beautiful and wonderful things. And, yet! They are just a teeny, tiny glimpse of our Creator. They give only the faintest hint of Who He IS, of whose image we are made in. Of what He has waiting for those who love Him. Sometimes I get so giddy thinking about these gifts in my life that I can’t imagine possibly wanting to leave them for what God has waiting for me. (Despite the hardship in this world!) Warm, gooey cinnamon rolls, a good book and a warm cup of tea, a long soak in a bubble bath, the soaring notes of a polyphonic choir, a day at the beach soaking up the sun . . . . My friends! My family! There is something better and greater than these??? Yes, it is hard to comprehend, but what He has waiting for us is a splendor beyond all imagining. We will want that Beatific Vision when it is ours to behold. [bctt tweet="It is hard to comprehend, but what He has waiting for us is a splendor beyond all imagining."] As you enjoy the beautiful things in your life today, thank God for the gift of His splendor in the created world and ask Him to help prepare you for the splendor of Heaven that He has waiting for you. 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 Corinthians 1:18-22 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silva'nus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has commissioned us; he has put his seal upon us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 119:129-133, 135 Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. With open mouth I pant, because I long for thy commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is thy wont toward those who love thy name. Keep steady my steps according to thy promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Make thy face shine upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes. Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16 You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ESV As a child, I often remember making pinky promises with my two younger siblings. They varied from anything from promising not to tell Mom I spilled blue nail polish on the coffee table (she eventually found out!) to not telling on me when I didn't finish my chores on a given day. There is something so serious, even sacred, to a little child on the nature of the "pinky promise." It means serious business and you certainly better not break it. That's what comes to my mind today as I read the words of the First Reading. In a way, God has pinky-promised the chosen people of Israel. He promised He would redeem and save them through the coming Messiah. He promised to be faithful no matter what. God promised to be Israel's defender, protector, and that He would never abandon His children. I don't know about any pinky promises you made as a child, but God's promises blows all others out of the water. Corinth in the ancient world was like Saint Paul's problem child. A city full of sexual immorality, corruption, and godlessness, let's just say if I were Paul I would be pulling my hair out! Paul is reminding the Christians in Corinth of God's enduring faithfulness. He says that "all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus." Every prophecy and promise in the Old Testament finds its yes and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. And in a way, isn't this why we say Amen? Amen means "Yes! I do believe this is truth!" Yes, I do believe in God's promises of enduring faithfulness . . . I do believe He has a plan for my life . . . I do believe Jesus is the promised, foretold Messiah . . . Yes, I do believe God can do anything in my life. [bctt tweet="I do believe God can do anything in my life."] Sometimes in life it is so easy to get distracted and forget about the faithful promises of our God. We all need a reminder no matter our age, vocation, or state in life. Think on your "yes" in Jesus. Where will you find it today? Where in your life do you need to say "yes" to Jesus today? Patty Hubbard is a wife, writer, and youth minister. When not fundraising for World Youth Day, she is learning to cook more than your average Lean Cuisine. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Acha'ia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34:2-9 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the LORD is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in him! Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. ESV There is much that is beautiful in the Beatitudes, but what I find most alluring is that they speak something new to me each time I read them. Today, in light of recent world events, what weighs on my heart is this: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account . . . ." I think of the countless lives who are persecuted for their religious beliefs, and in particular the Christian men, women, and babes who have lost their lives at the hands of radicals in the Middle East. I truly can't imagine what goes through the minds and hearts of those who are preparing to die. I can't imagine their grief in leaving their families behind. Nor can I imagine the greatness of their faith in saying "yes" to their deaths and in looking forward in hope to the kingdom of heaven. I truly can't imagine. Most of us will never be called to a martyr's death, but each of us is called to pray for those who persecute and for those who are persecuted. Just imagine . . . the souls of these martyred Christians joining in the "great cloud of witnesses" to pray for our world and to pray for peace--how precious these souls must be to our Lord, and how graciously He must hear their prayers! Let us remember them, honor them, pray for them, and ask for their prayers. Set aside five minutes of silence today for those who will be martyred, and for their persecutors. Karen Schultz is a Birth Doula who hails from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Exodus 24:3-8 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, "All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient." And Moses took the blood and threw it upon the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 116:12-13, 15-18 What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. O LORD, I am thy servant; I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast loosed my bonds. I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people. Gospel: Hebrews 9:11-15 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. ESV I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving . . . a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Do you know the Greek word for thanksgiving? Eucharist. As Catholics, we know Eucharist as the sacrament in remembrance of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice, the sacrament Jesus institutes in today’s Gospel reading. We also hear today the stories of the old and new covenants. The First Reading details Moses’ faithful keeping of the old covenant. The Second Reading explains to us how the new covenant is a completion of the old, and in the Gospel we hear Jesus institute the new covenant: His Body and Blood. He gives us Himself. He gives us the Eucharist. What role does the sacrament of the Eucharist play in your life? As we receive the sacrament on a weekly (or even daily) basis, there is a danger that the Eucharist begins to seem normal, becomes part of a routine, is something we are accustomed to receiving. As much as I’d like to say it isn’t true, I know that I have fallen into that trap at times. But the Eucharist is far from ordinary, sisters. The Eucharist is extraordinary. It is miraculous. By the Eucharist we are saved—it is the sacrament of our salvation. A sacrament of a love and a mercy that run deeper than we can even begin to fathom. So when you receive this sacrament, this gift above all others, when you receive—enter into—communion with Jesus, are you changed? Are you transformed? Because we should be, sisters. We have to open ourselves up to receiving the fullness of His unfailing love, tender mercy, and abundant grace, which is found in this gift of His Son. If we are open to it, He will change our hearts in this union with us. He gives us Himself to be one with us. And as we are one with Him, we are united with the rest of the Church, and we are called to action. We are called to serve. We are called to love. We are called to sacrifice. And we are called to give thanks. [bctt tweet="As we are one with Him, we are called to action."] Lord Jesus, give us a deeper understanding of the mystery of your love in the Eucharist. May our desire for you be the deepest longing of our hearts. And as we receive you, may we be transformed into the women you call us to be. photo by Marlee Kay Elise Howe is a devoted wife, new 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: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20 Tobit then called his son Tobias and said to him, "My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more." So he called the angel and said to him, "Take half of all that you two have brought back." Then the angel called the two of them privately and said to them: "Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fullness of life; but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives. "I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, `It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.' And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One." >And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened." Responsorial Psalm: Tobit 13:2, 6-8 For he afflicts, and he shows mercy; he leads down to Hades, and brings up again, and there is no one who can escape his hand. If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul, to do what is true before him, then he will turn to you and will not hide his face from you. But see what he will do with you; give thanks to him with your full voice. Praise the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages. I give him thanks in the land of my captivity, and I show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners. Turn back, you sinners, and do right before him; who knows if he will accept you and have mercy on you? I exalt my God; my soul exalts the King of heaven, and will rejoice in his majesty. Let all men speak, and give him thanks in Jerusalem. Gospel: Mark 12:38-44 And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living." ESV Prove it. We all know actions speak louder than words. We have heard that phrase and also know it to be true from our experiences with life. We quietly observing how others live their life and are often directly impacted by their choices, whether negatively or positively. Today's readings both harp on almsgiving. Money. It makes me nervous and a little uncomfortable. I don't necessarily like to talk about it, mostly because I don't really know what to say. But here it is, big and bold. I am reminded of my school days and how whenever someone made a strong statement or state of beliefs, someone in the crowd would shout out, "Prove it!" And only the brave ones really could back up what they truly believed with their actions. I love God. I am in awe of Him. I want to serve Him with everything I am. But I feel God is that person out in the crowd looking me in the eyes and challenging me to prove it and make sure my actions really back up what I profess. I serve him with my time, I serve him with my talent, but do I really have to give money too?! For some reason that feels weird to ask. And yet it's important to ask that. We are called to be in this world, but not of it. One of the driving forces on this earth is money: something that is truly man-made, makes you extraordinarily power, can be grossly mishandled, and could be the cause of our greatest sin with the wrong motivations. So then, God is asking us tithe, to almsgive, to be generous with our money. Why?! I know I need to in order to keep my priorities in line, what my heart is grasping at, what my heart truly loves. Am I clinging to the things of this world or the heavenly world? Like the widow in the Gospel, giving it all, truly giving until it hurts, can be so freeing. It's a sign of complete detachment of things that bind us on this earth and also an utter act of trust in God's providence. I want to not only say I will give it all up for Him, but really do it. [bctt tweet="We are called to be in this world, but not of it."] Do you love God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul? Let us prove it to ourselves today by choosing to give of ourselves when it's hard to those in need around us. Let's detach and trust. photo by Laura Jensen Cassie Kent is a wife, mom to two kiddos, loves to get a little crafty and even throws a monthly party celebrating the beauty of creativity. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Tobit 11:5-17 Now Anna sat looking intently down the road for her son. And she caught sight of him coming, and said to his father, "Behold, your son is coming, and so is the man who went with him!" Raphael said, "I know, Tobias, that your father will open his eyes. You therefore must anoint his eyes with the gall; and when they smart he will rub them, and will cause the white films to fall away, and he will see you." Then Anna ran to meet them, and embraced her son, and said to him, "I have seen you, my child; now I am ready to die." And they both wept. Tobit started toward the door, and stumbled. But his son ran to him and took hold of his father, and he sprinkled the gall upon his father's eyes, saying, "Be of good cheer, father." And when his eyes began to smart he rubbed them, and the white films scaled off from the corners of his eyes. Then he saw his son and embraced him, and he wept and said, "Blessed art thou, O God, and blessed is thy name for ever, and blessed are all thy holy angels. For thou hast afflicted me, but thou hast had mercy upon me; here I see my son Tobias!" And his son went in rejoicing, and he reported to his father the great things that had happened to him in Media. Then Tobit went out to meet his daughter-in-law at the gate of Nineveh, rejoicing and praising God. Those who saw him as he went were amazed because he could see. And Tobit gave thanks before them that God had been merciful to him. When Tobit came near to Sarah his daughter-in-law, he blessed her, saying, "Welcome, daughter! Blessed is God who has brought you to us, and blessed are your father and your mother." So there was rejoicing among all his brethren in Nineveh. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 146:1-2, 6-10 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith for ever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners, he upholds the widow and the fatherless; but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. Gospel: Mark 12:35-37 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, declared, `The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet.' David himself calls him Lord; so how is he his son?" And the great throng heard him gladly. ESV When was the last time I felt God had performed a miracle in my life? When was the last time I ran through the streets shouting praise and thanksgiving? Well, I can count a few miracles but nary a run-through-the-street move. Am I a daughter who simply asks and asks in prayer but never offers true thanksgiving? What's God's love language, anyway? Is a simple thank you in my heart sufficient? Must I do the run-maneuever to demonstrate profound gratitude? My life has small miracles scattered within it. When I lay the baby down after a long nursing//rocking session and he stirs but doesn't awaken, I mutter THANK YOU as loudly as my heart can whisper, and usually credit a specific friend of mine who has passed. She's my nap-time intercessor. When I manage to hold my tongue instead of lash back when someone close to me criticizes me, I murmur thanks to the God who has listened to me pray for patience over and over again. But the big miracles? The time my niece survived her harrowing birth condition and emergency surgery. The time my sister survived her bicycling accident and closed head injury. The time my brother survived his deployment overseas. How have I honored God? Have I forgotten to acknowledge our lives are held together by the electronic impulse of our hearts plus His grace? Do I speak proudly of these miracles to anyone who will listen? Or do I mention them on the side, not wanting to be that person who invokes God at every happenstance involving toothpaste selection and family survival rates? What about giving God credit where credit is due? I'll bet that's His love language. A constant and loving credit for my life, the ability to love, and giving myself back to Him in the form of a grateful daughter. I might not gallop about the town square proclaiming loudly, but I'm going to live my appreciation as authentically as I can. How do you thank God? Do it today. About seven times. And see how it feels. photo by Laura Jensen Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-17; 8:4-9 The angel said to the young man, "Brother, today we shall stay with Raguel. He is your relative, and he has an only daughter named Sarah. I will suggest that she be given to you in marriage, because you are entitled to her and to her inheritance, for you are her only eligible kinsman. When they reached Ecbatana and arrived at the house of Raguel, Sarah met them and greeted them. They returned her greeting, and she brought them into the house. So he communicated the proposal to Raguel. And Raguel said to Tobias, "Eat, drink, and be merry; for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you. I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry." And Tobias said, "I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me." So Raguel said, "Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best." Then he called his daughter Sarah, and taking her by the hand he gave her to Tobias to be his wife, saying, "Here she is; take her according to the law of Moses, and take her with you to your father." And he blessed them. Next he called his wife Edna, and took a scroll and wrote out the contract; and they set their seals to it. Then they began to eat. And Raguel called his wife Edna and said to her, "Sister, make up the other room, and take her into it." So she did as he said, and took her there; and the girl began to weep. But the mother comforted her daughter in her tears, and said to her, "Be brave, my daughter. May the Lord of heaven grant you joy in place of your grief. Courage, my daughter." Then she left. ...When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the bed and said, "Sister, get up, and let us pray that the Lord may have mercy upon us." And Tobias began to pray, "Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers, and blessed be thy holy and glorious name for ever. Let the heavens and all thy creatures bless thee. Thou madest Adam and gavest him Eve his wife as a helper and support. From them the race of mankind has sprung. Thou didst say, `It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.' And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find mercy and may grow old together with her." And she said with him, "Amen." Then they both went to sleep for the night. But Raguel arose and went and dug a grave. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128:1-5 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! Gospel: Mark 12:28-34 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, "Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is, `Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question. ESV The Responsorial Psalm seems like an unfulfilled promise for so many of us, doesn't it? "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways!" What about Sarah and her parents, Edna and Raguel? The Book of Tobit tells us that they were a godly family, yet she was widowed seven times by a demon lurking in their home. That sounds more like a horror film than the tale of a blessed family. And what about you? Maybe you are unmarried or infertile or struggling to make ends meet. You are living as you ought, walking in the ways of the Lord, yet your life does not feel prosperous but barren. Personally, I fall into the last group. Despite the fact that it feels like we are making good decisions and living in a way that honors God there is often time between when the money runs out and the next paycheck comes. In that time I feel anxious, worried, and like a failure of a homemaker. I can look at my home, my kids, and my marriage and know that I am blessed, but it sure doesn't feel that way. In those moments I wonder how close to the Kingdom of God Christ would say I am. It feels rather far away. As I consider this I know why, too: I am failing at the greatest commandment. I am not loving God as I ought. Instead of putting God first and the blessings He's given me second, I make myself an idol to rule my life, and usually that idol is The Joneses. I'm not actually looking at my sturdy, cute home; my healthy, kind children; and my happy, fulfilling marriage. I am looking past them all to the things I cannot have: Disney vacations, gym memberships, six-figure incomes, and a coffee shop habit I can afford. Maybe you are doing the same thing. Perhaps you, too, are looking past all that is truly good and letting what you're lacking be all that you see. Let us fill our days with gratitude and joy for what we have. Let us put God first and love Him so that the Psalm isn't an unfulfilled promise but an exact description of our lives! Pray to love the Lord our God with all our heart, our mind, and our strength. photo by Laura Jensen Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker and homemaker. She lives with her husband and five children in central Illinois. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17 Then in my grief I wept, and I prayed in anguish, saying, "Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all they ways are mercy and truth, and thou dost render true and righteous judgment for ever. Remember me and look favorably upon me; do not punish me for my sins and for my unwitting offences and those which my fathers committed before thee. For they disobeyed thy commandments, and thou gavest us over to plunder, captivity, and death; thou madest us a byword of reproach in all the nations among which we have been dispersed. And now thy many judgments are true in exacting penalty from me for my sins and those of my fathers, because we did not keep thy commandments. For we did not walk in truth before thee. And now deal with me according to thy pleasure; command my spirit to be taken up, that I may depart and become dust. For it is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and great is the sorrow within me. Command that I now be released from my distress to go to the eternal abode; do not turn thy face away from me." On the same day, at Ecbatana in Media, it also happened that Sarah, the daughter of Raguel, was reproached by her father's maids, because she had been given to seven husbands, and the evil demon Asmodeus had slain each of them before he had been with her as his wife. So the maids said to her, "Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You already have had seven and have had no benefit from any of them. Why do you beat us? If they are dead, go with them! May we never see a son or daughter of yours!" When she heard these things she was deeply grieved, even to the thought of hanging herself. But she said, "I am the only child of my father; if I do this, it will be a disgrace to him, and I shall bring his old age down in sorrow to the grave. So she prayed by her window and said, "Blessed art thou, O Lord my God, and blessed is thy holy and honored name for ever. May all thy works praise thee for ever. The prayer of both was heard in the presence of the glory of the great God. And Raphael was sent to heal the two of them: to scale away the white films of Tobit's eyes; to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel in marriage to Tobias the son of Tobit, and to bind Asmodeus the evil demon, because Tobias was entitled to possess her. At that very moment Tobit returned and entered his house and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper room. Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 25:2-9 O my God, in thee I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. Yea, let none that wait for thee be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long. Be mindful of thy mercy, O LORD, and of thy steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness' sake, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. Gospel: Mark 12:18-27 And Sad'ducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the wife, and raise up children for his brother. There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no children; and the second took her, and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; and the seven left no children. Last of all the woman also died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife."Jesus said to them, "Is not this why you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, `I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong." ESV They must have thought they would stump Him; they must have thought they had a real zinger. They just couldn’t wait to see Him stammer and stutter, looking for an answer. Then they must have turned red with shame and embarrassment when He said to them, “You are quite wrong.” How often do we think we’ve got it pretty well figured out, only to have the rug completely pulled out from under us? How often has the Christian life seemed easy and pleasant, and then disaster strikes; the death of a loved one, unemployment, broken relationships, depression, infertility, persecution. All of a sudden we don’t know which way is up or down, or how we are going to make it through. We feel just like Tobit and Sarah in the First Reading, who were certain that death would be better than enduring such suffering. But as Saint Paul writes in the letter to the Romans says, "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (8:28). It may take a long time to see what that good is. We may not even see it until we reach Heaven. And all we can do while we wait is utter the words of the Psalmist, “O my God, in Thee I trust." My dear sisters, don’t grow discouraged when the Christian life feels like a whirlwind, or an uphill struggle, or when we realize we are so far from having things figured out. It is during those times of struggle and uncertainty that Jesus is stretching us, growing us, perfecting us, and teaching us. [bctt tweet="It is during times of struggle that Jesus is stretching us, growing us, perfecting us, + teaching us."] Use the words of today’s Psalm to place your trust in Jesus and seek His perfect will for your life. “Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach my thy paths . . . For thou art the God of my salvation.” photo by Laura Jensen Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.

First Reading: Tobit 2:9-14 On the same night I returned from burying him, and because I was defiled I slept by the wall of the courtyard, and my face was uncovered. I did not know that there were sparrows on the wall and their fresh droppings fell into my open eyes and white films formed on my eyes. I went to physicians, but they did not help me. Ahikar, however, took care of me until he went to Elymais. Then my wife Anna earned money at women's work. She used to send the product to the owners. Once when they paid her wages, they also gave her a kid; and when she returned to me it began to bleat. So I said to her, "Where did you get the kid? It is not stolen, is it? Return it to the owners; for it is not right to eat what is stolen." And she said, "It was given to me as a gift in addition to my wages." But I did not believe her, and told her to return it to the owners; and I blushed for her. Then she replied to me, "Where are your charities and your righteous deeds? You seem to know everything!" Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 112:1-2, 7-9 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire on his adversaries. He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor. Gospel: Mark 12:13-17 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'di-ans, to entrap him in his talk. And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him. ESV Tobit! I can't help but to giggle at what happened to him, yet also feel pity for what he suffered. Blindness for four years! Unable to work, and having to rely on the efforts of his wife and the goodness of others! Tobit's blindness ran deeper than his eyes, as we read. He tells a story of his wife being gifted with a goat, as extra payment, for what we can assume was a job well-done, even exceptionally well-done! Here is Anna, blind Tobit's wife, working hard and lovingly to support the family during her husband's long-term disability. I like to think that not only does she work hard, she also worked with a joyful spirit and without complaint. After all, what employer do you know who gives extra to those who whine and complain? But, Tobit in his literal and emotional and spiritual blindness, doesn't—no, can't—see the gift in his wife's devotion and work. He instead accuses her or someone else of theft. He demands that the goat be returned! Tobit doesn't even believe his wife when she tells him the kid is a gift! Poor Tobit has completely missed the point, missed the beauty in the gift, and even worse—lost sight of the beauty in his wife's devotion and servant-heart. I don't know about you, but I often am like Tobit, even though I have physical sight. Someone does something or says something not quite as I expected, and because I'm faced with changing my view or forcing them to fit into my pre-conceived notions, I refuse to change myself and miss that the other was well-intentioned and trying to be kind, helpful, and generous. Don't be a Tobit! Let the Holy Spirit open your eyes and heart to the gifts all around us, especially those in others. Ask the Holy Spirit to let you really see, so that you may live with gratitude and joy, instead of spiritual blindness. photo by Marlee Kay Photo Gina Fensterer is a wife, daughter, mother, friend, homeschooling mama and Colorado native. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Tobit 1:3; 2:1-8 I, Tobit, walked in the ways of truth and righteousness all the days of my life, and I performed many acts of charity to my brethren and countrymen who went with me into the land of the Assyrians, to Nineveh. When I arrived home and my wife Anna and my son Tobias were restored to me, at the feast of Pentecost, which is the sacred festival of the seven weeks, a good dinner was prepared for me and I sat down to eat. Upon seeing the abundance of food I said to my son, "Go and bring whatever poor man of our brethren you may find who is mindful of the Lord, and I will wait for you." But he came back and said, "Father, one of our people has been strangled and thrown into the market place." So before I tasted anything I sprang up and removed the body to a place of shelter until sunset. And when I returned I washed myself and ate my food in sorrow. Then I remembered the prophecy of Amos, how he said, "Your feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all your festivities into lamentation." And I wept. When the sun had set I went and dug a grave and buried the body. And my neighbors laughed at me and said, "He is no longer afraid that he will be put to death for doing this; he once ran away, and here he is burying the dead again!" Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 112:1-6 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house; and his righteousness endures for ever. Light rises in the darkness for the upright; the LORD is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever. And he began to speak to them in parables. Gospel: Mark 12: 1-12 "A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a pit for the wine press, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head, and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed; and so with many others, some they beat and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son; finally he sent him to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' But those tenants said to one another, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' And they took him and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" And they tried to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them; so they left him and went away. ESV This parable is so sad. It makes my heart ache. When I read it or hear it, by the time we get to the part where the son is killed, I just want to shut my eyes and close my ears and ignore that crescendo of pain that's coming. Don't do it! Don't kill the SON! You're gonna lose it all. My mind floats to every argument I've had with my close siblings or husband. Why are we rudest to those closest to us? Why do we think we can unleash our malice and hurt on they who have proven, through thick and thin, that they love us? As I'm allowing my temper (slow to ignite, but a mean burn when it does) to feed off my pampered indignation, I hear in my mind don't say this. Don't go there. You're gonna regret that. And most times, in my infantile tantrum, I just don't care. I let the emotion run roughshod over the reason. I'm petty. I'm careless. I'm harsh with my words. The other day we were driving in the mommyvan and my three year old daughter wanted the green chew toy that my almost five year old had in hand-captivity. The scuffle amongst their side-by-side carseats was enough to drive the Blessed Mother to shouting (or almost). Just as I called out for peace and calm, my daughter wrenched it out of my son's hands and whole-heartedly flung it into the way back. No fetching that. No recovering that. Gone. She let out a primal yelp when she did it. After tensions had cooled, and I coached them through processing how these things happen and why it's rotten to lose your temper, I realized, this is me. Tree not too far from the apple. We're the tenants in the vineyard, ready to unleash and yelp and be wretched. We can justify anything through our emotional lens. Before we become like the first round of tenants, look deep within and ask do I want to treat God and the ones I love this way? Me? I really do not. Think even while you're feeling. Listen to that cautioning voice within. Don't kill the Son. Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God gives you for ever." Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33:4-6, 9, 18-20, 22 For the word of the LORD is upright; and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death, and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield. Let thy steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in thee. Second Reading: Romans 8:14-17 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. ESV Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and while I have two degrees in theology, I confess that it is very intimidating to discuss the Trinity. I am going to give it a try just for you. My six year old has been coming up with lots of questions lately that catch me off guard and make me think, but when she asked me, “Was God lonely before He made the angels?” I could confidently reply, “No.” As to why, is slightly more complicated. First of all, since God is eternal, there was no “before” creation for Him. He is outside of time, and time did not exist until the first temporal creatures existed. Furthermore, He has always known that He would create everything that He has created. And then there is the mystery of the Three different persons in the One God, which we as humans cannot fully comprehend. Even if God had not created at all, He would still never be lonely. He has the fullness of community within Himself. He created us in His image to participate in this community of the love of the Father and Son eternally self-giving to each other with Holy Spirit proceeding from them. Trinity Sunday, very appropriately takes place on the Octave day of Pentecost, since the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church to stay on Pentecost. Moses reminds the Israelites in Deuteronomy that God, the Father, chose them to be His special people. He desired union with them through their devotion to Him and His statutes. And Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, before His Ascension, tells His apostles that all nations are to be made disciples and baptized in the name of the Trinity. And Saint Paul writes to the Romans that the baptized have received the spirit of sonship. Through our baptism we enter into the very life of the Trinity; and we are called to suffer so that we can be glorified. We are a part of the Body of Christ as God’s children. In the liturgical year, after Pentecost, we are not simply in “Ordinary time,” but we are to remember our identity as children of God. We have waited for the coming of our Messiah, celebrated the birth of Jesus, persevered through our Lenten penances, celebrated the Resurrection, received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and now we must live the Christian life everyday. We must live our participation in the Divine life. We must not let our spiritual lives slacken, but continue to persevere and do our part to make disciples of all nations. [bctt tweet="We are a part of the Body of Christ as God’s children."] What resolutions can you make, to continue to grow in the spiritual life every day? Susanna Spencer once studied theology and philosophy, but now happily cares for her three adorable little girls and her dear husband. She is awaiting the birth of her fourth child any day now. You can find out more about her here.