The first time I read C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia I was an adult, pregnant with my third child. When the baby was born, we suffered a traumatic birth experience that led to seven weeks in the NICU, where my continued reading of the series frequently brought me comfort. However, when I came to the last book I refused to pick it up. I knew that Narnia ended in the last novel and I could not bear to have that happen to me. I was so fragile and I needed to have a magical world where good won. It took me months to finally get to the point where my curiosity was greater than the tenderness of my heart. I can still remember sitting in our home, near my baby’s crib, sobbing while the world of Narnia ended. But they were not tears of grief. They were tears of relief and gratitude: Narnia ended but as it did, the followers of Aslan went to Heaven, which was only a purer and better and deeper and more vibrant Narnia than the one that the characters and I all loved. My tears were also those of penance, for I knew that I had not trusted Lewis. And even more so I had not trusted God to be so generous in His redemption, in His power to save, in His thoroughness of making all things new. Sisters, I do not understand the Bible when it talks of the end of the world—what it will look like and how it will happen. (Luke 21:5-11). But I understood the end as Lewis described it in the last Narnia book and I understand that throughout Scripture we are told that our world will end. Let us live our lives now trusting in our good God who has claimed us as His own, who has poured out His merciful love upon us, and who brings redemption and renewal to all of creation—most especially our hearts. [bctt tweet="Let us live our lives now trusting in our good God who has claimed us as His own, who has poured out His merciful love upon us, and who brings redemption and renewal to all of creation—most especially our hearts." username="BonnieEngstrom"] Instead of panicking about end times, turn your trust to the Lord and ensure your heart and soul are ready to meet Him, whenever your own end will come. Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker, and homemaker. She, her husband, and seven children live in central Illinois, and her son’s alleged miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton Sheen was submitted to the Vatican for Sheen’s beatification. Bonnie pretends she has a green thumb, bakes a fantastic chocolate chip cookie, loves naps and chai tea, and blogs. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of the Blessed Conversations Mystery: Believe study found here.

Jesus looked up. Jesus noticed. Jesus saw the poor widow. She was alone. She used to have more. She missed her husband. She was unsure about her future. The two little coins are safe in her hand. Maybe someone gave them to her in charity? Maybe she earned them through hard work? Maybe it was the last of her savings? And then comes her choice. How much could she give? How much should she give? How much is too much? Her heart is generous. Where did she learn this kind of confidence? Where did she learn this kind of trust? Where did she learn this kind of love? She does not hesitate. Yes, the offering is small. Yes, she wishes it was more. Yes, she knows that giving it will hurt. The money falls from her hand into the treasury. It is her gift. It is less. It is more than the rest. And Jesus notices her. Her generosity is humble. Her generosity is hidden. Her generosity consoles His heart. Now Jesus looks up at me. He calls me by name. He reminds me of my identity. He reveals my mission. I am not alone. I am the beloved daughter through Baptism. I am strengthened through Confirmation. I am united to Him in Holy Communion. I am safe in His care. He will show me how to be generous today. He will guide me on my path to holiness. He will teach me how to offer my whole life. Jesus, from my poverty, I give you everything! [bctt tweet="Jesus, from my poverty, I give you everything!" username="blessedisshe__"] Ask Jesus to give you the grace of a generous heart today. Be attentive to how He might invite you to give more than all the rest. Let Him teach you to love in humble and hidden ways. Rose Coleman is a contemplative in action who delights in all things beautiful. Her adventurous heart has traveled many places—from circumnavigating the globe on a ship during college to some years in the convent as a religious sister. Exuberant from her childhood, she is an elementary school teacher who learns so much from her students. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations: Ways to Pray study found here.

There was a time when my desire for holiness became less about the Lord, and more about impressing people. I was a girl desperately seeking to redeem myself. I ached for the approval of others because for so long I felt like the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11), publicly humiliated for my sins, exposed for my wrongdoing, and I wanted to defend my honor. I wanted to say, “Remember that girl? The sinner who committed all the big sins? I’m not her anymore. I’m super holy now. Do you see me over here being super holy? I am a Proverbs 31 Woman.” I wasn’t fooling Almighty Jesus. Jesus didn’t want my performance. What He wanted was my presence, and when you’re trying to be perfect you cannot be present. One day in Adoration, I was marveling at the beautiful golden Monstrance. Completely captivated by the splendor of it, I contemplated King Jesus. I envisioned Him in all His Glory, clothed in Majesty, and then my eyes fell to the tiny Host inside. In that moment I was struck by the truth that Jesus Christ, King of Universe made Himself small for us. Jesus, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, hidden in a small piece of bread. Today’s Gospel reading is so profound sisters, because on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe we read about Him standing before Pontius Pilate. (John 18:33-37). Jesus reminds us that His Kingdom is not of this world. You do not have to redeem yourself to the people of this world by convincing them of your holiness, of your worth, of your greatness. He delights in your precious soul, in your smallness, and out of love He will humble you. If you’re like me, He will humble you again and again, every day. [bctt tweet="You do not have to redeem yourself to the people of this world by convincing them of your holiness, of your worth, of your greatness." username="blessedisshe__"] Will you lay yourself bare before the Lord, sister? Will you bring Him all your mess, knowing that Christ the King will make miracles out of it? Leana Bowler lives in Arizona with her husband, five children, feisty grandma, and three dogs. She love Jesus, writing jokes, books, strong coffee, and drawing upgraded stick figure people. You can find out more about her here.

Today my older sister celebrates her wedding day. She spent many years joyfully participating in the family lives of her siblings, earning "most adored auntie" title. She's helped us raise our kids, heard our marital ups and downs. Today, we will weep for joy and cheer as she and her husband enter into the bonds of Holy Matrimony. And eat lots of deliciously frosted cake while telling my kids to take small bites. So when Our Lord tells the Sadducees that people aren't married in Heaven in today's Gospel (Luke 20:34-36), I kinda recoil in horror. But I'm married and really looking forward to an eternity of uninterrupted time after lots of small kids in close succession! And then but my sister found her soulmate and don't they get to live happily ever after in all eternity? I figure Jesus means what He says but I did a little old fashioned sleuthing. My light reading on the topic . . . the Summa . . . reveals that relationships change and transform in Heaven. So nope, we aren’t maritally relating in Heaven. Marriage is a Sacrament, and at its best images Heaven, but even in our vows we only vow till death. We knew this going into it! Instead, that special love you experienced at one point along the way with your spouse is perfected by God just as it is with all people you are in relationships with, changed into a deeper and pure love for one another because you are in the Beatific Vision! What about the marriages that are hurting here on Earth; will those be restored in Heaven? What about the abusive ex? The Church in Her wisdom seems to indicate that at the root of these mysteries of the afterlife is that we're all plugged into the ultimate source of love: God Himself. It's union with Him that Heaven is all about, and our relationships should be working toward getting us back to Him. How exactly His love changes us and the others who make it past those pearly gates isn't known. Don't fret, sisters, if you long to enjoy Heaven with your husband (focus on helping him get there!). Don't fret, sisters, if you don't have a husband and are concerned Heaven will be less enjoyable. The people we love, we will love more completely because we will know perfect love! Sign me up. [bctt tweet="It's union with Him that Heaven is all about, and our relationships should be working toward getting us back to Him." username="wholeparenting"] Pray to love more perfectly all those God has placed in your life, all those loved ones. Let us love like He loves us. Nell O'Leary is a recovering lawyer turned blogger, speaker, and sewer of baby goods while tending to her husband and four kiddos in the great city of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She serves as Managing Editor for Blessed is She and can down a iced chai tea latte in no time flat. Find out more about her here. She is the editor of our Blessed Conversations Series.

I have an enormous sweet-tooth. Candy, chocolate, ice cream. Crisps and crumbles, cakes, pie. Whatever. If it is a vehicle for sugar, I am ready with a napkin tucked into my collar and fork and knife in hand. And once I have started digging in, I struggle to stop! One cookie turns into two . . . Or three . . . Or four. Insatiable might be the right word for it. There’s a reason I take my coffee black most mornings—even a little twinge of sugar can make me into a sweet-seeking monster for the rest of the day. I don’t think it’s coincidence that the readings today compare the Word of God to sweetness. If we seek the Word and really let it enter into us, we can become as insatiable for holiness as I am for sugar. Saying the Morning Offering or reading the Psalms when we first awake orients the entire day toward God. Prayer becomes the first boost of energy for the day, instead of the sugar or caffeine. For our sisters in the US today, there is probably a piece of pumpkin pie waiting in the fridge this morning. Or leftover whipped cream that can turn a simple breakfast into something a little more decadent. I’m sure a few of us are a little groggy from a Thanksgiving of overindulgence. What if we could indulge so deeply in what the Lord offers us? Turning away from worldly indulgence—my beloved sugar, the onslaught of holiday season materialism, even the cute family photos flooding social media—can refocus us on Christ. In focusing on Christ through this season of gratitude and the beginning of Advent, we can be oriented toward building our lives around prayer rather than the temptations of the world. Let's do this together. [bctt tweet="In focusing on Christ through this season of gratitude and the beginning of Advent, we can be oriented toward building our lives around prayer rather than the temptations of the world." username="br1gid"] What can you take a break from to instead focus your attention and desire on Christ? Brigid Hogan is a high school English and ESL teacher who lives in northeast DC. She is passionate about Catholic social teaching and tries to live it out daily in her relationships and community. Most of her pleasures are guilty ones like television, burritos, and Twitter. Find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations Mystery: Beloved found here.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem because the people were missing so much. (Luke 19:41-42). He, their greatest gift, was in their midst. He was with them every day, talking with them, feeding them, teaching them, loving them. And they missed Him. Many people of Jesus’ time missed Him because He didn’t seem like anything special. He looked and talked like them. They didn’t fully understand (or agree with) what He said. Many knew Him from childhood—they knew who His parents were, where He grew up, and what He did for a living. Nothing special, nothing impressive. Jesus’ tears in today’s Gospel wash the dust from the eyes of my heart. Because every human person is created in the image and likeness of God, Our Lord visits us in every human person we encounter. Every. Single. Person. Are we missing Him? Is He weeping over us because we missed His visitation to us in others? Yes, in strangers, of course, but also in those closest to us. Our closest friends and family often don’t seem like anything special. Nothing impressive. They sometimes annoy us. We see their faults like no one else. We might not relate to them, we might disagree with their religion or politics, we might think they’re ignorant. We “know everything about them.” We know who their parents are, where they grew up, and what they do for a living. Sometimes, we lose the ability to be in awe of them. Sometimes, we miss the Jesus in them. Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (like we see in the First Reading) should lead us to a greater recognition of Him in both strangers and those who share our table. Jesus’ Eucharistic presence in us actually makes us more aware of His presence in other people. Further, the word “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion shifts our perspective to one of gratitude. If we allow Him, He will help us see Him in others and respond to their existence with profound thankfulness (even those who are hardest to love). [bctt tweet="Jesus’ Eucharistic presence in us actually makes us more aware of His presence in other people." username="to_the_heights"] Let’s receive Jesus in the Eucharist, the Lamb who was slain, as an act of love, adoration, and thanksgiving. Let’s allow Him to open our eyes to behold His visitation in others. P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to our sisters in the United States! Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky where the sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She is the Blog Manager for Blessed is She and works from home as an editor and social media manager. She likes to binge novels and Netflix while raising her children and laughing with her husband. You can find out more about her here.

Today’s reading from the Book of Revelation depicts a strangely beautiful vision of heavenly worship, pointing to the end of history and the Last Judgment. (Revelation 4:1-11). But go back a few chapters, and you find some strong prophetic messages to seven churches, revealing their condition and calling them to deeper repentance, conversion, courage, and perseverance. Those were clearly challenging times for the early Church, and I wonder how they responded to the voice of the Spirit and this vision of Heaven. In my own life, it’s easy to get caught up in what is happening right now, whether it relates to my personal struggles and concerns, or the broader condition of the world and the Church. I can feel powerless and discouraged about my ability to “fix” myself, let alone the brokenness that pervades our world and its institutions. Yet through the power of God’s word transcending time, culture, and life’s circumstances, as 21st century believers, we are also invited to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches and enter this vision of Heaven. Yes, we live in difficult times, but we have a sovereign King, enthroned in Heaven who reigns victorious. The battle is already won. He has conquered our darkest night, greatest fears, and most powerful Enemy. As we follow Him closely, like Saint John we are invited through that open door of Heaven. This isn’t just futuristic optimism or poetic symbolism, it is the most real thing we do when we participate in the Eucharistic celebration. This vision of the throne room should evoke in us awe and wonder, and a longing to be with Him for all eternity. The Spirit is saying: “This is your destiny.” Yes, we are full of weakness and failings, but the vision of the twenty-four elders robed in white with gold crowns reminds us of the dignity bestowed on us by Christ, "who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father." (Revelation 1:5-6). The Spirit is saying: “This is your identity.” Yes, we have hardship, suffering, and great trials, but it is always right and just to worship, to give Him praise, honor, and thanksgiving for the wonder of our very existence and for all His creation. The Spirit is saying: “This is the will of God for you, to give thanks in all circumstances.” Let’s lift our eyes to the One who made Heaven and Earth, and not lose sight of where we are headed, for this life is a breath, a passing shadow. Soon we will be Home. [bctt tweet="Let’s lift our eyes to the One who made Heaven and Earth, and not lose sight of where we are headed, for this life is a breath, a passing shadow." username="bloverevolution"] Re-read the first few chapters from Revelation and be comforted by them, even in their wildness. Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth. Debra Herbeck, a Jewish convert to the Church, has worked extensively in youth and women’s ministry. She has directed Pine Hills Girls Camp for the past 32 years, is the founder and Director of the Be Love Revolution, and also helps lead a ministry called i.d.916. She has written a number of books that can be found here. Debra and her husband Peter live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and are the parents of four children and five adorable grandchildren.

The doorbell rang and I froze, dust rag in hand. Piles of laundry were still scattered across the couch, toys and crumbs littered the floor, precariously-stacked dishes adorned the counters. My eyes darted frantically from the clock to my surroundings. She’d arrived early, and despite my painstaking efforts to prettify our new house with fresh and stylish décor, there was no getting around this glaring mess. I’d have to invite her right into it. I cringed at the prospect. Have you ever been in the same boat? I wonder if we’d react the same way if we learned that Jesus—the most important guest of all time—was about to make an impromptu visit. Would we run around in a panic trying to tidy and clean? Would we throw miscellaneous junk behind a closed door, or maybe straighten the holy statues and icons on the wall? Would we busy ourselves trying to put together an impressive meal? Despite my rough start, the visit with my own unexpected guest was ultimately filled with the same kind of joy that Zacchaeus showed when He received Jesus. Within a few minutes of her arrival I’d nearly forgotten my messy surroundings. We lingered in faith-filled conversation, and when we finally parted ways she left me with a hug, a full heart, and laughter that echoed through the house as she strode toward her car. I smiled and waved a farewell from the wide-open door, suddenly unconcerned with appearance. That’s what authentic love does. It takes inventory not of external riches, but of inner longing and poverty—and there plants the seeds of more love. And, as Zacchaeus himself experienced by welcoming in the very Person of Authentic Love, those seeds result in divine riches and bear eternal fruit. (Luke 19:4). The funny thing is, while Zacchaeus went all out trying to seek Jesus, in reality Jesus was already seeking him—by name. He’s seeking us too, sisters. He’s knocking right now at the door of your heart. Will you keep it closed out of shame and hide behind the mess? Will you build a pretty façade of riches and shuffle the junk to the background? Or can you, in your littleness, invite Him in to the reality He already sees, to deposit the soul-refining love He’s already reserved just for you? [bctt tweet="He’s seeking us too, sisters. He’s knocking right now at the door of your heart." username="PosImperfect"] Take a spiritual inventory of your heart today, sisters. Really consider those areas you’d rather keep hidden in darkness and invite Jesus in through the Sacrament of Penance to shine divine light, and turn your poverty to riches with His purifying love. Megan Hjelmstad is a wife and mom 24/7 and an Army Reservist in her “spare” time. She’s a bibliophile, tea drinker, sleep lover, and avid admirer of Colorado’s great outdoors. When the writing bug hits, you can find out more about her here.

Today's the day we start down the road of hearing passages from the Book of Revelation in the daily Mass readings as the Church closes the liturgical year. It's very fitting to end the liturgical year and our daily hearing of Scripture on the book of Revelation, as it is the last book of the Bible and deals primarily with the final things: death and judgment. Revelation and these readings reminding us of the end of time shakes me out of my stupor of living like I'll live forever. I don't live like my death could come at any moment, that the things of this world will all blow away like dust. I live like I'm infinite; I'm focused on the here and now, the temporary and material. I'm worried about making sure my house is maintained, my savings funds are being invested in, if that pair of jeans I want will come on sale, not making sure my soul is in a fit state for eternal judgement. The Church is doing us a tremendous service in giving us this kind of a life-check in focusing our attention to what Christ and the Scriptures say when it comes to death, judgment, and the end of the world. It's natural and human to focus on what is right in front of our faces, to be disconnected from the eternal realities of our lives and how we should be living, and that is why we need this reminder from the Church and why it should call us to meditate on our own death. We need the words of Jesus to reorient us towards what really matters: our eternal life and Jesus conquering evil. And yes, this all sounds dramatic. It sounds shocking and uncomfortable, but we are part of this monumental story. We play a part in the triumph of good over evil, and equally falling into that evil. We all make that choice. Are we living for Jesus or are we turning away from His love? We need this crucial reminder of what life is all about, and how important our preparation for death should be. It's not morbid or something to fear, but it should be a way to focus on what really matters in how we're living, and how much it matters. [bctt tweet="We play a part in the triumph of good over evil, and equally falling into that evil. We all make that choice. Are we living for Jesus or are we turning away from His love?" username="christyisinger"] As we end the liturgical year, let us also prepare ourselves for the end of our earthly lives. Would our choices today be getting us closer or farther away from Heaven? Remember, that all our choices and actions done out of love, even the smallest, bring us closer to Christ. Christy Isinger is a wife and mom to five lovely, loud children and lives in northern Canada. When not homeschooling, she is a devoted reader of English literature from Jane Austen to Agatha Christie. She writes about the beauty of faith, life, and the home at her blog and is the co-host of the Fountains of Carrots Podcast. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations: The Ten Commandments study found here.

I am a planner. I love my lists. I love my agenda. I get great satisfaction from crossing things off the "To Do" section. The smoother my day goes, the more I cross off, the more competent I feel. I do not go with the flow. I am not spontaneous. I do not like surprises. I like to be prepared. I like to know what is coming so that I may envision my possible responses well in advance. I identify greatly with Saints Peter, James, John and Andrew who asked Jesus when and how the end would be signaled, to which we have part of His response in today’s Gospel. (Mark 13:24-32). They too wanted to be prepared. They wanted to know when and where and how everything would go down. Even with Jesus giving us all sorts of clues and signs to look for, we won’t know when the end of time is coming, nor will we know when the end of our life will occur. I tragically lost a sweet childhood friend this summer. The only redeeming aspect of her death was that she lived her life, every day, as though it could be her last. She was a Christian who devoted her life to spreading the message of Jesus Christ. She lived and worked overseas with her husband and son. At her memorial service they played an audio clip of her talking about what it was like to live as a missionary, and there was such joy in her voice as she spoke of her life so clearly devoted to Him. She didn’t look for signs of the end times. She found Jesus in the everyday. She spread the Gospel through her actions, through her interactions, through her simple words and deeds. There is much in daily life for which we can prepare. We can prepare for a birthday party or a special date. We can prepare for the first day of school or a big day at work. We can prepare for a vacation. But that is preparation for living in this world, not in the next. Preparation for the end occurs in the mundane routine, daily prayer and the little sacrifices. There are times when I say "no" to loved ones because it doesn't fit in my obscure timeline. Preparing in a way that matters means saying yes to love and letting go of my agenda. It means saying yes to His agenda. [bctt tweet="Preparing in a way that matters means saying yes to love and letting go of my agenda. It means saying yes to His agenda." username="blessedisshe__"] Let's not let preparing for this life get in the way of preparing for the next life. Lay aside your to-do list for today and be open to the Holy Spirit. How can you say "yes" to love today? Dr. MaryRuth Hackett is Director of Operations for Blessed is She and host of the podcast Parenting Smarts. She loves historical fiction, dark chocolate, watching her children play soccer, a good cup of coffee (decaf please) and the quiet of the early morning. She holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and has a passion for helping parents understand the way their children grow and develop. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations: Leader Guide found here.

Friend, I have become weary. I’ve been praying for something for more than half my life which, thus far, appears to have gone unanswered. Over the years I’ve asked every Saint I could think of to intercede, I’ve tried to earn it by rooting out sin and striving for virtue, and I can’t tell you how many dating websites I’ve paid good money to help the Lord answer my prayer. But still, nothing. Now I know intellectually that God is faithful. That I am His beloved daughter. That I have a future full of hope because of Him. And I’ve received an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the Lord revealing His personal and powerful love for me. He has been such a good Father. And yet . . . Here is this seemingly unanswered prayer. So despite God’s eternal patience with me, I’ve become rather impatient with Him. I don’t want to have to keep bothering the Lord with my same old situation. I truly believe He heard my prayer the first time I prayed it (and every time since) and I know Him well enough by now to know that I don’t have to beg. So why does Jesus ask us to persevere in prayer? Why give us the example of the persistent widow who, quite frankly, seems to annoy the judge into submission rather than move his heart? (Luke 18:1-8). But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on Earth? We keep on praying, not to change God's mind, but to share the most vulnerable parts of our hearts with Him. To get to know Him for Who He really is and to be known by Him. Only then will we have the faith to believe that whatever comes, He is good and He loves us. God isn’t an unjust judge, indifferent to our cries and concerns. He is all ears when it comes to your prayers and mine. He’s not waiting for a certain combination of words or just the right novena. He is not on the fence. He is listening and loving us all along. He’s only asking us to have faith. [bctt tweet="God isn’t an unjust judge, indifferent to our cries and concerns. He is all ears when it comes to your prayers and mine." username="thebethdavis"] Make the leap with me to have faith in the face of seemingly unheard and unanswered prayers, sisters. Let's leap into it together. Beth Davis is a lover of Jesus, a recently retired youth minister, and the Director of Ministry Advancement for Blessed is She. She is passionate about teaching women how to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus and speaking hope to weary hearts. Her favorite things include being an aunt to her five fantastic niece and nephews, the Saint Name Generator, and whatever book she's currently reading. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit study found here.

I live in California. Land of the sea, sun, and mansions. And sometimes when driving past the enormous castles that hug the edge of the shoreline, I get to thinking. Because what would it be like to live in such a palace anyway? I’d imagine that it would be quite grand, that the sun would shine into the extravagant windows extra brightly and that the Earth would concede to its opulence with gentle drifts of the most fragrant air. I can only assume that the Pharisees in today’s Gospel conjured up similar ideas in their minds when thinking of the kingdom of God. And who could blame them? Because if a human person can attain such lavish possessions, how much more could the King of Kings have? “For Behold, the Kingdom of God is among you,” Jesus tells them. (Luke 17:21). And isn’t that so much more magnificent? Because His kingdom beats tirelessly through us. It nourishes hunger through weathered hands and uplifts souls through faulty tongues. His perfection is at work in our imperfection. And I think we so often forget that. Because it’s so easy to see the flaws. It’s easy to find the wrinkles on your helping hands or hear the quiver in your chants of worship. But His kingdom is alive in you! It is working through your weakness. It is filling your soul with grace. Let it nourish you, and then let it nourish others. Because in this grand kingdom, there is room enough for everyone. [bctt tweet="In this grand kingdom, there is room enough for everyone." username="IamBritCal"] Take some time today to pray quietly with Our Lord. Let Him nourish you. Brittany Calavitta is an enthusiastic advocate for a good book, strong coffee, and a hopeful heart. After battling years of infertility, she and her husband welcomed their first child on September 11, 2016. You can find out more about her here.

Nobody likes feeling put down, dealing with others tarnishing their good name and discrediting their standing. Imagine for a minute what Jesus feels like when we persist in sin, allowing our name as a follower of Christ to be ridiculed? When our lives don’t imitate Christ or even try to? Go back quick and make sure to read the First Reading today where Saint Paul wrote a letter to Saint Titus and the Church in Crete, giving them some strict guidelines for how they should live. (Titus 2:1-8, 11-14). Overmuch? At first read through my thoughts were along the lines of, “Well, I’ll never make for a ‘good homemaker’—have you seen my laundry piles? Dish piles? And my kids' weekly scuffles in the pews?” Maybe this game plan for life is a little much. But then reading on, there is Saint Paul’s reason; it grabs my heart right away . . . here is verse 5 for you again: “So that the Word of God may not be discredited.” Ooooh. It’s obviously not talking about dirty counters, but it is a point worth asking: is my home welcoming, so that when someone comes over, my attitude and reception of them glorifies God? Do they feel the love of Christ from my hospitality? Do I offer credibility of being a Catholic when I’m in the waiting room and it’s 45 minutes past my appointment time? Are others fascinated by my faith when they see how I treat my husband? My kids? The grumpy waitress? Do I work towards upholding the dignity of those who are downtrodden and broken? Our Christian life is counter-cultural. It should cause others to stop and notice. We aren’t the popular people going along with the latest ideology because we are possessors of the Truth. That call of obedience to God and His commandments comes at a sacrifice of ourselves but it promises life. True love yearns to sacrifice itself. Our love for Jesus, the Church, and one another does require affirmative action. [bctt tweet="Our Christian life is counter-cultural. It should cause others to stop and notice." username="blessedisshe__"] The questions remain: do we behave like Christ followers? As servants of the Master, we are not masters of ourselves. Are our actions, our words, our attitudes a credit to our Creator? Let us remain consistent in what we believe, ridding any duplicity in ourselves. Sarah Ortiz is a Catholic convert, wife, and mother to four boys. When not folding laundry, she can be found reading, experimenting in the kitchen, or writing at her blog. You can find out more about her here.

At the time I write this devotion, I am taking part in a nationwide period of fasting and prayer for healing in the Church. I pray that these months later there has been a real change repairing the damage that was done by unfaithful bishops and priests, but I know that in reality things change so very slowly. Our clergy still need our prayers, now and always, so that they will live up to the standards that Saint Paul gave for priests and bishops in his letter to Titus. One must completely surrender oneself to God in a life of prayer in order to “be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled.” (Titus 1:7-8). It is not an easy standard to live up to, and temptations of power and pleasure are hard to resist. There is a great warning to our hierarchy and priests in today’s Gospel of their own danger if they lead those who have been entrusted to them into sin. However, Jesus also gives a message of great hope. (Luke 17:1-2). He tells His Apostles that if they have faith the size of a mustard seed that they can do incredible things. (Luke 17:6). If they repent of their sins, acknowledging their own weaknesses and seek to live out a sacramental life, open to grace, and receptive of the gift of faith, God will help them do incredible things, even living up to Saint Paul’s standards! Christ also calls us to that faith. Some days it feels that the sacrifices of one little laywoman like me can do nothing to bring about the healing our Church needs. My prayers seem ineffectual to move others to repentance. But then, I remember the parable in today’s Gospel. All Christ asks of me is to have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, faith that He gives me as a gift, and with that He can do wonders. Sisters, our clergy always have and always will need so much grace to live the life of holiness that God calls them to in their vocation. Pray with me that the Lord will increase our faith (Luke 17:5) so that we will persevere in praying for our priests, bishops, cardinals, and Pope to lead us with true holiness. Our prayers will be heard, because our God is faithful even when His ministers may not be. [bctt tweet="All Christ asks of me is to have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, faith that He gives me as a gift, and with that He can do wonders." username="blessedisshe__"] Pray for the Church and all of the priests today, sister. Susanna Spencer is the Theological Editor for Blessed is She who studied theology and philosophy in her earlier life. She happily cares for her three adorable little girls, toddler boy, and her dear husband in Saint Paul when not writing and editing. She loves beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious meals, baking amazing sweets, reading good books, raising her children, casually following baseball, and talking to her philosopher husband. You can find out more about her here. She is the Theological Editor of both the Catechism Studies and the Mystery Studies.

At very low times during my struggle with chronic illness, I have felt that the little I had to give was not important, valuable, or able to serve much purpose. I felt that what I had to offer was not worth it, especially in the face of the effort or difficulty it might cost me when I already had so little to give and so little strength to simply take care of my own basic needs. The poor widow in today's Gospel teaches us otherwise. Jesus tells His disciples that her simple offering of a couple cents was worth more than all the other contributors to the treasury. The others gave from their surplus, but she gave out of her poverty. She gave all she had. (Mark 12:42-44). We each have areas of poverty in our lives. For me, it's been through experiences of illness and lack of health. For you, it could be impatience, or exhaustion, or feeling overworked, stressed, depressed, or anxious. It could be addiction, family challenges, loneliness, financial stress or a season of intense grief. In any of these spaces, we can feel that we truly have nothing left to give and the little that we do have is not worth very much. Jesus shows us another way through the example of the woman in today's Gospel. Our "few cents" of what we feel we barely have ourselves can become an offering of great value. Sanctity can be found in the day-to-day moments when you feel you have no more patience for your toddler's constant requests, yet again offering forgiveness to your husband, continuing to show up for your early morning class, doing the simple boring tasks at work with love, persevering in your commitment to healthy living, checking in on a friend who is struggling, or a heartfelt prayer of surrender. These can be great treasures, especially when we feel particularly limited by additional challenges that seem to get in the way and excuse us from doing what we can and offering the little that we have to others and to God. It is so difficult to keep going when we feel like we have nothing left to give. Let us remember and practice that what seems like very little is indeed a great treasure when offered to God from a sincere and humble heart. [bctt tweet="Let us remember and practice that what seems like very little is indeed a great treasure when offered to God from a sincere and humble heart." username="blessedisshe__"] God is a God of abundance. In faith, what can you give abundantly today, knowing that God transforms our little "nothings" into rich treasures of greatness? Mary Catherine Craige enjoys spending her time creating art, writing, and playing her Irish harp. As a life coach for business leaders and creatives, she encourages and challenges women to design their lives and accomplish their dreams as the person God has created them to be. You can find out more about her here.

Raised to be a reader, I have always loved learning about the meaning behind words. I am fascinated by them. As a little girl I would dream up and write these imaginative (sometimes crazy!) short stories, many of which I'm certain are still stored in my parents' basement. As I read the words of Saint Paul, the word abundance keeps jumping off the page to me. What does it mean in our normal, hum-drum life to live abundantly? Or, as Saint Paul says, "in every circumstance and in all things"? (Philippians 4:12). Is that even possible?! I think he would tell us that yes, it is. Saint Paul is a man who knew great suffering. He experienced imprisonment, ship wrecks, attempts on his life, and physical hardship. Amid it all, Saint Paul learned the secret of living in abundance even when life felt completely depleted and hopeless. He lived with an overflowing fullness of who Jesus Christ was. Saint Paul personally knew who Jesus was to him, and that was where his strength came from, strength to face or endure anything. That is the secret to living abundantly. When we know who Jesus is, that knowledge gives us strength and courage to face and endure whatever may come. Jesus is a faithful God who sees and knows us so intimately. He has not forgotten or overlooked us. He will not abandon us, and yes, He somehow always uses things to work for our good. Saint Paul, I believe, knew this to the depths of his core. Do we? [bctt tweet="When we know who Jesus is, that knowledge gives us strength and courage to face and endure whatever may come." username="amoderngrace"] Ask the Holy Spirit today, "Am I living abundantly? In every circumstance and in all things?" And if not, "In what are the areas of my life can I change that?" Patty Breen is a full-time lay minister who finds joy in running, strong cups of coffee, and all things Ignatian spirituality. A Midwest gal from the mitten state, she is constantly learning to find grace in all things. She is passionate about ministry to divorced Catholic and women whose relationships have been impacted by sexual addiction. Find out more about her here.

Today we celebrate the dedication of The Basilica of Saint John Lateran. It is affectionately referred to as “the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world” because it is the Pope’s cathedral. We have rich traditions that link Saint Peter with the Lateran Basilica, and these traditions remind us that the rock of our Faith is Jesus Christ. I once heard a homily in which Saint Peter was described as “the everyman.” These words have echoed in my heart as I have been praying, suffering, and sacrificing for the Church we love. Our Lord chose Simon and called him Peter, the rock, upon whom he would build His Church. (Matthew 16). In another passage, Our Lord encourages us to build the spiritual edifice of our hearts on rock and not on sand. (Luke 6). The psalmist cries out to the Lord saying God is “my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.” (Psalm 18). When we think of this great feast day today, let us ask for the gift of great faith and great humility. The Lord calls all of us to loving service no matter our state in life, but the Holy Father has an especially important role of service in the Church. He stands in the place of Saint Peter and is to be the spiritual father and pastor to over one billion souls. His task is to lead us to holiness in this life and union with God in the next. Since he is only human, like us, we need to pray for him that he will remain faithful to the Lord. Sisters, let us lift the Holy Father up in prayer today. Let us look to the Our Lord who is our rock and fortress as we ask for every grace from Heaven for those who are called to the service of leadership. At various times in history, the Lateran Basilica suffered attacks and earthquakes, and this serves, at least for me, as a reminder that all of us must be purified and grow in holiness so that we will be able to see the Lord face to face. The basilicas, the relics, the art, the music, the symbols, however majestic and however important, are mere shadows in comparison to the life the Lord has prepared for us in Heaven. [bctt tweet="The basilicas, the relics, the art, the music, the symbols, however majestic and however important, are mere shadows in comparison to the life the Lord has prepared for us in Heaven." username="SrMariaKim"] Jesus Christ is the rock of our Faith. Continue to seek the graces of the Sacraments and find Him in the Eucharist and the Word, sisters! Sister Maria Kim Bui is a Daughter of Saint Paul, women religious dedicated to evangelization in and through the media. She is originally from Tempe, AZ, spent most of her fourteen years in religious life in the northeast, some time in Texas, and now was recently asked to serve as the director of marketing and sales at the Sisters' publishing house in Boston. Find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations Mystery: Belong found here.