I have the feeling today is going to be a good day as I slip on one of my favorite shirts. The soft cotton is a comfort, and its warm, dusty rose color makes me feel just a little more lovely. My favorite part though, is what the shirt says on the front in beautiful white lettering: “Everything is grace.” It’s a quotation attributed to Saint Therese of Lisieux. The sentiment is sweet at first sight, and seemingly quite simple, but the depth of meaning is far beyond that. Today’s First Reading from Ephesians (2:1-10) brings us to the heart of these words with great clarity. Now, I know I have read this reading before, as Ephesians happens to be one of my favorite books in the Bible, but when I read the words this time, sisters, the Holy Spirit gave me a fresh experience of God’s Living Word, and it blew me away. I found myself positively bowled over by God’s goodness and mercy and love for each one of us. This line stood out in particular: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Our salvation is a gift. The most generous, selfless, lavish gift we will ever be given. Out of His abundant love for us, we have been presented with “the immeasurable riches of His grace” (Ephesians 2:7). Sisters, this is profound beyond words. Have you truly received the knowledge of this tender gift from the Lord deep within your heart and soul? It changes everything. The nature of the gift strikes me: it is “not from works” or because we have done something to acquire it, but rather “for the good works that God has prepared in advance” (Ephesians 2:9-10). Our salvation is not earned, but freely given. It can be hard to really comprehend, particularly living in a society where so much value is placed on working to achieve a goal, a society where busyness is seen as equivalent to success. It simply is not so in the Kingdom of God. Instead, we are given grace without reserve, that we might go forth, building the Kingdom and inviting others to know Jesus. For this great gift is not for us alone. The beauty and riches Saint Paul speaks of in his Letter to the Ephesians must be in part what Jesus meant in today’s Gospel when He spoke of being “rich in what matters to God” (Luke 12:21). Let us set our eyes on eternal life, sisters. Let us place our hope in the great gift of our salvation. For this gift is everything. Everything is grace. [bctt tweet="Let us set our eyes on eternal life, sisters. Let us place our hope in the great gift of our salvation." username="inendlesssong"] Find some time to spend in prayer with today’s First Reading, Ephesians 2:1-10. Read the Scripture slowly, leaving room for the Spirit to move and inspire your Christian imagination. Allow the Lord to show you the depths of the beauty of this promise. Rest in His abundant love for you. Elise Howe is a devoted wife, momma, vocal artist and teacher. She currently resides in New York City, though she will always be a Midwestern gal at heart. Elise has a heart for ministry, dark chocolate (but not too dark) and coffee with a generous amount of cream + sugar. Find out more about her here.

I nearly did a facepalm when I read Saints James and John's words today: "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you" (Mark 10:35). Though their request was shrouded in some very good intentions (perhaps being close to Christ, finding joy in the beauty of the kingdom, and so on), their true intention wasn't quite that. What these brothers really wanted, bless their hearts, were two seats in Heaven's V.I.P. section. And, to make matters all the more facepalm-worthy, James and John wanted Jesus to ensure they got the recognition they felt they deserved. It's a cringe-worthy scriptural moment if there ever was one. But Jesus tells James and John (along with their indignant fellow disciples), that they've got it all wrong: true greatness isn't found in power or in glory but in the pouring out of ourselves as Christ did on the Cross. True greatness is found in gifting ourselves to another, like this woman, this man, or this family are doing. This, my dear sisters, is the self-gift that fills our hearts and makes our own humanity make sense, even when the world around us might seem cold and senseless. If you are already thinking to yourself, "Oh man, I can't live up to those examples!" fear not. Because their call to self-gift is theirs and theirs alone. Our Lord already has His plan in mind for how you will give your heart. Spend some time today asking Him for the ability to be attentive to it. Perhaps the great mercy of today's reading is knowing that despite James and John's self-absorbed request, we can have faith that they were not denied the kingdom. Jesus saw their weaknesses and their foolish desires, and He sees ours, too. He sees all of our cringe-worthy thoughts and our facepalm moments. He sees our moments of greed and self-righteous indignation. He loves us anyways. He comes alongside us. And He calls us to be the self-gift that He has intended since the dawn of creation. [bctt tweet="He calls us to be the self-gift that He has intended since the dawn of creation." username="blessedisshe__"] May our prayer today be less of James and John's "Do this for me now (please)" and more of "How can I serve Your kingdom today?" Karen Schultz hails from the Land of 10,000 lakes, where she is often found in or near one of them. As a doula, lactation educator, and FertilityCare Practitioner, she finds joy in helping women to embrace the gift of their bodies. Downtime is found in quiet adoration chapels, farmers markets and gardens, listening to bluegrass music, and embracing the diversity of Minnesota’s seasons. You can find out more about her here.

Saint Paul is my cheerleader today. His words make me feel emboldened and ready to take on the day, evangelizing my own corner of the world. I feel the joy and zeal that comes from being spiritually re-charged by the words of a saint. I can gracefully handle any comment about my family size, any doubting question from my teen, any snide retort from anyone. Just kidding, sisters. I do feel encouraged by Saint Paul, but when reality interrupts my contemplation, my cheeks flush and my pulse quickens. I wonder if I can handle difficult situations well, or witness cheerfully to my children through my example. I question myself if I answered well when the barista asked me, “What kind of book are you writing?” literally moments after I typed out the ways I feel encouraged by Paul. Do I own my faith and proclaim Jesus Christ, or deny Him because explaining that I am "writing a devotional based on Scripture for a women’s ministry" is (practically speaking) an inconvenient mouthful? Jesus’ warnings about the condemnation coming if we live in denial of Him place holy fear in my heart—who in her right mind would deny Christ, thereby choosing condemnation? Not me, yet it is hard to publicly acknowledge Him without embarrassment. Introverted to a fault, I would much rather prefer to keep my proclaiming to the silence of my blog and my monthly devotion for Blessed is She. I don’t have to see you to tell you about my love for Jesus. I don’t have to stumble over what to say or how to say it, because the delete function is so handy; I can retype my words over and over until they sound like what I mean. Jesus yearns for me to speak His name especially when I’d rather keep quietly busy. Hopefully He still delights in me when I can't quite find the right spoken words, but I speak of His love anyway. When that barista approached me, I could have said, “Oh, it’s just a blog post,” but that would have been a lie and a failure. Surely Saint Paul had been praying for me that day, for I answered with confidence, though I probably lacked eloquence (introvert put on the spot!). I'm grateful for the Spirit with me that day, the Spirit Jesus said would be with me in the moment, to guide me in what to say. Pray with me today, sisters, for Saint Paul's zeal in our lives. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe" (Ephesians 1:17-19) [bctt tweet="Jesus yearns for me to speak His name especially when I’d rather keep quietly busy." username="blessedisshe__"] Say His name, pray His name, speak it aloud today with love and reverence. Gina Fensterer is a Colorado native at heart, but the West Coast beach life suits her just fine. She currently lives in small coastal area of California with her husband and six children. She loves the Jesus prayer, coffee at any time of day, homemade salsa, photography, and sleepy toddler snuggles. You can find out more about her here.

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known” (Luke 12:2). Incredible! Jesus spoke these words long before social media, camera phones, or Amazon’s Alexa listened to every conversation we have. Daily the press highlights politicians and celebrity stories of infidelity and cover-ups, yet we are surprised when either our little white lies or significant sins come to light? Christ says whatever you have “said” in the darkness will be “heard” in the light (Luke 12:3). So sisters, what do you speak about others in the darkness? I learned something years ago that tremendously altered my relationships. When someone was about to gossip, I asked them, “Is what you are about to say about this person going to affect how I view them?” Immediately they were silenced. This simple question forces us to think about how our words influence and hurt others, even when we are upset and want someone to justify jumping on the angry train. On the other side, what do you hear about yourself in the darkness? You know, in those despairing moments of depression, doubt, hurt, or pain? What we hear is how we begin to perceive ourselves. We detect the whisper of the Evil One when we are alone at night. We repeat crushing words spoken to us by unhealthy people, allowing ourselves to be molded by their deceptive words versus words of affirmation spoken by champions of truth. We start to believe we are not worthy of love when we allow the ugliness of sin to penetrate our lives and do not seek the graces of the Sacrament of Penance. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a woman who speaks the same words in the darkness as in the light and lifts people up versus tearing them down because of my pride. I want to be a woman who listens to words that champion me versus inflict subtle lies of deception. Remember, we have heard the word of truth and are sealed with the Holy Spirit! (Ephesians 1:13). Today, allow the Holy Spirit today to speak words of truth to your soul and words of life to your mouth so God may be glorified. [bctt tweet="Allow the Holy Spirit today to speak words of truth to your soul and words of life to your mouth so God may be glorified." username="SoCalTriciaT"] How can you stop the habit of commenting on other's lives, even if it only borders gossip? Would you text or say this to Jesus Himself? Maybe that's your litmus test. Tricia Tembreull is a California girl with a boundless passion for life. After two decades of ministering to teens and youth ministers as a trainer, ministry mentor, and speaker in Catholic youth ministry, Tricia now serves as Campus Minister at USC Caruso Catholic Center. She loves adventure and seeks it everywhere she goes. As an avid foodie, she enjoys testing new recipes out on friends and family, gathering them around the table to encounter Christ in one another and be drawn to the satisfying unity we crave in the Eucharist. You can find out more about her here.

Saint Luke the Evangelist had such a strong friendship with Christ that the early Church discerned and chose his writings to be a part of the sacred canon of Scripture we use today. It is staggering to imagine how the fruits of his love for Our Lord and the Christian community will nourish believers until the end of time. Each time a person hears or studies the Gospel according to Luke or the Acts of the Apostles, he or she will be gathering spiritual strength from this great evangelist whom we celebrate today. As a closet word-nerd and living in the age in which there are so many words, I take refuge in Sacred Scripture each morning as I open our devotion from Blessed is She. As we read and pray, we build one another up in prayer and a mystical friendship. Friendship is one of those words, especially in the Blessed is She community, we could and should reclaim in all of its mystical glory. Saint Luke is a great model of the mysticism and the glory of true friendship. In the first reading today, Saint Paul is lamenting the many people who left him along the mission. This is so real. Paul names his friend Demas who, “enamored of the present world, deserted me” and he names others who left him while saying Luke is the only one who stood by his side (2 Timothy 4:10-11). Sisters, we know the cost of discipleship: persecutions, trials, misunderstandings, and betrayals. But if we stay with the Lord, like Saint Luke, the Holy Spirit will illumine our minds and our hearts. We will be led to understand the essence and secrets of Christ’s Way. Then the most wondrous thing happens. We will occasionally look around and find a deep communion of hearts. Blessed is She is one instance of this union of hearts in Christ. Our friendship is different than others because it is founded on the Highest and Most Perfect Love: Jesus Christ. Just as He laid down His life for us, we are called to surrender all the holds us bound and fight against being “enamored of this world.” This is so that every word we speak, every gesture or glance, will be a proclamation of a divine, everlasting friendship. [bctt tweet="Just as He laid down His life for us, we are called to surrender all the holds us bound and fight against being “enamored of this world.”" username="SrMariaKim"] We are so grateful you're here, sister. Thank you for sharing about our uplifting community with other women in your life. 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.

I have never considered myself a person with a green thumb. On the contrary, my attempts at gardening were laughable. Oh, I always started out great. Every spring I would buy flowers, herbs, and small vegetables to grow in pots. I loved transforming our bare deck with vibrant colors and vegetation. However, it didn’t last. The first month, I would happily go outside to water and prune our little garden. Then as time passed, the busyness of the season left me with little time for the garden. Flowers started to whither as the soil dried out and weeds grew. My fresh herbs looked closer to the dried herbs stuffed in my kitchen cabinet. Finally, this year I vowed it would be different. I wasn’t going to allow neglect to be the cause of my dying garden. I watered and fed it regularly, and I recruited my kids’ help. The results? I had a summer and beginning of autumn with abundant flowers and herbs. This whole scenario came to mind when I read today’s Psalm: “He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade” (Psalm 1:3). Too often the garden of my heart has suffered the same treatment as my outdoor garden. There are times when I am pumped up and ready to take the care necessary. My spiritual life is thriving, and I feel close to Our Lord. Other times, life gets too busy or too difficult and it is easy for me to get distracted or discouraged. These are the moments that I must take extra care to tend my spirit through prayer and the Sacraments. I have to make sure my heart is planted right beside the Living Water so I can drink freely and gain the strength I need. Tending my soul is constant work. I have to pull out the weeds—like sins of the flesh and self-centeredness—and cultivate the virtues that will produce the fruits of the Spirit. It can’t be done once and then forgotten. It is perpetual, daily work. But there will be fruit. Like the sunflowers outside my window, I want my life to add joy and beauty to the world. [bctt tweet="Like the sunflowers outside my window, I want my life to add joy and beauty to the world." username="bobbi_rol"] Is there something Our Lord wants to prune to help you grow in His love? What can you do to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in your life? Bobbi Rol is a wife, mama and blogger living on the Monterey Bay in CA with her husband, teen daughter, and three rambunctious boys. When she is not dodging light sabers or stepping on Legos, she can be found outside with her family, catching a late night movie, or decorating her planner. You can find out more about her here.

On the wall of our mudroom, where my nine kids run in and out of the house fifty times a day, are posted twenty-two family rules and reminders. These are the phrases the husband and I find ourselves saying over and over again in the course of the daily business of parenting. Things like: What could you be doing to help our family? If a toy causes unhappiness, it goes away. Don’t look at me when you’re talking to him. Is that a tool or a toy? Sit in a seat that someone isn’t sitting in. Don’t rush off to do a job I gave to someone else. And, my personal favorite: Don’t take your pants off without a plan. My kids know these family precepts. Though they’ve heard them again and again, having them actually posted on the wall has given us all a new perspective on them. I’ll find a couple of them standing there talking and laughing about them, or explaining them to visitors. Dare I say, “delighting” in them? It gives me a glimpse of what God must experience when we pray the words of the today's psalmist, and really mean them. I don’t mean to imply that my kids always follow our family rules. They don’t. But my teenagers have been around here long enough to appreciate the order, peacefulness, and lack of random nudity that results when the rules are followed. And even my little kids are familiar enough with them to be able to reflect upon their usefulness. And while I’m not sure I could wax quite as poetically as Psalm 119 about it, I am grateful for the order and peace that have come into my own life and soul by following God’s laws. In many cases, I had to begin with a skeptical, perhaps even resentful, leap of faith. But in the end, I find myself a lot like my kids in the mudroom, talking with friends about the rules, explaining them, slowly learning to love them. [bctt tweet="I am grateful for the order and peace that have come into my own life and soul by following God’s laws." username="kendra_tierney"] Re-read the Psalm for today. Can you find delight in His laws, too? Kendra Tierney is a forty-two year old mother of nine and wife of one living in and working on a big old fixer-upper house in Los Angeles. She's a homeschooler and a regular schooler and is reveling in the freedom of a newly licensed sixteen-year-old driver in the house. Her new book, The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical Living for Real Life, is available here. You can find her first book, A Little Book About Confession, here, her blog here, and her word art here.

One year ago, Christ set me free. It was the most dramatic thing to ever happen to me and yet it came about in the most unassuming way. Through the hands of a holy priest I was released from a sin that held me captive for years as well as the nagging shame that always accused me of my weakness. There were no fireworks, I felt nothing physical, and yet I knew something in me had shifted. And to my amazement, it has never shifted back. For many years I was in engaged in a half-hearted struggle against sin, never believing there would be complete healing this side of heaven. And so I submitted again and again to the yoke of slavery. Praise God for the Sacrament of Penance. Seriously, if you’ve been away from the Sacrament, I implore you to go. There is no medicine more healing than the mercy of God in the grace of the Sacraments. I am confident that dozens of humble confessions over many years made way for my miracle. I don’t know why Jesus chose to heal me in that unsuspecting moment. I don’t know why He gave me that particular grace when I wasn’t even specifically asking for it. But I know now what freedom feels like and I am so incredibly grateful. We hear in today's First Reading "[f]or freedom Christ set us free" (Galatians 5:1). No more shackles, no more shame. Let me assure you that no matter how deep and dark your captivity may feel, Jesus intends to set you free. No matter your story of suffering, there is relief, there is healing, there is freedom in Christ. Let my life be the proof—freedom is for you. [bctt tweet="No matter your story of suffering, there is relief, there is healing, there is freedom in Christ." username="thebethdavis"] What is holding you back from the Sacrament of Penance? How can you make a concrete plan to get there, and get there regularly? Find an accountability buddy, check your parish's website for times, or make an appointment with a trusted priest. 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.

Raise your hand if you were a know-it-all teenager! (Sorry mom.) Okay, keep your hand raised if you are still kind of a know-it-all! I am raising both hands high in the air. Not in victory, not because I am raising the roof, but because I truly am a terrible know-it-all at times and often confuse book smarts and true wisdom. Growing up, my parents instilled in me a thirst for knowledge, to constantly keep learning and discovering, to enjoy reading, to ask questions, and to always keep my mind open to new experiences. In our home, education was of the utmost importance. My parents sacrificed and struggled to allow my sister and I to study and grow and learn. I am beyond grateful for that gift. However, how many times have I confused intelligence for wisdom? How many times have I thought I know better? Too many to count if I'm being honest. And wisdom is more than just following the rules, as we see in today's Gospel message from Jesus. It's knowing what is worth selling all our treasures for: following Jesus (Mark 10:21). It is continually seeking to know God, and asking for His help in living His truths in our lives. And the First Reading reminds us that wisdom is more valuable than any of our treasures, including my treasured intelligence (Wisdom 7:7-11). I wrestle with gathering knowledge and being open to receiving true wisdom. Perhaps you do too. I find myself wanting to know the answer instead of being shown the truth. If it's not spelled out for me (annotated, single-spaced, deadline met), I find it less digestible. Do I allow my brain to muddle the message instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to touch my heart to change my actual life? But "indeed the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between the soul and spirit, joints and marrow" (Hebrews 4:12). Be ready for it with me, sisters! O mighty and living God, pierce my soul! I am ready! [bctt tweet="O mighty and living God, pierce my soul! I am ready!" username="Substance_Soul"] How can you open your life to actual radical change today, instead of just seeking the treasure we so desire here on Earth? Dr. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife to Paul, mom to two little ones, and practices dentistry at a public health community center for low income families in the Bay Area, California. She (unashamedly) thinks ice cream is its own food group, loves anything Harry Potter, does not leave the house without wearing sparkly earrings, and is an enthusiastic proponent of the Oxford comma. Find out more about her here.

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it" (Luke 11:28). It’s one thing to know what to say or do to live out our lives as Christian women. But it’s another thing entirely, isn’t it, to actually observe what we know. To live each day and each moment as who He calls us to be. To not only know the word of God—that we should love, that we should serve those in need, that we should [insert all of the other things we know to be true about God and His word!]—but to also live our lives worthy of the calling we have received (Ephesians 4:1)! I sat at the intersection in my car as the man stood on the side of the intersection, holding a sign that read, "anything helps." My heart began to race as I stared straight ahead. My front passenger seat was filled with fresh fruits and veggies. I knew what I could offer, but fear held me back. The light is about to change, I thought. The people behind me will be so annoyed if I start talking to him now, I thought. I continued to stare straight ahead as if the man next to my car didn't exist at all. "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." And there I sat, in silence and inaction. Sisters, we are called to be bold and courageous in our lives. We are called to be women of action and not simply of knowledge. The man that stood holding his sign that afternoon reminded me of a truth that I'm not proud of: at times, I still allow fear to lead me toward inaction. But His word is stronger than fear. And today, I am taking that Truth with me wherever I go, unafraid of the opportunities He might present to me to be a witness in action for His word. [bctt tweet="His word is stronger than fear." username="blessedisshe__"] Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Denver, Colorado with her sweet husband, Matt, their quite large GSD pup, Sully, and baby on the way. She is a health coach and loves pizza, because #balance. Shalini graduated from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, served with NET Ministries, and went on to attend Law School. She graduated with her J.D. and happily leaves all things Law behind! Some of her favorites include travel, re-connecting with old friends and making new ones, the ways in which God so beautifully brings all things full circle in His time, and a good, loud thunderstorm. Find out more about her here.

I didn’t learn how to ride a bike until I was nine years old. One of the bones in my ankle developed slightly crooked, which resulted in extremely poor coordination. One day, my grandfather came home and presented me with a decrepit bicycle he had found by the dumpster in our neighborhood. He told me I would learn ride this bike, and after removing some dried twigs from the spokes, I nodded my head in agreement. Every day I dragged that rusted bike outside, asked God to help me, and practiced until the sun went down. Several weeks went by of me returning home sweaty, smiling, and covered in scrapes. I’m certain my grandfather prayed many Hail Marys as he watched me crash repeatedly into the thorny bushes that grew along our street. I, however, was undaunted by those failures because I possessed the child-like faith that does not question whether God will show up. Do you remember a moment when you had that kind of faith? That playful and totally trusting faith of a brave little girl? Maybe you can recall many moments of rich faithfulness. Maybe you are drawing on empty. But I can tell you, my dear sister, that God will show up. In the First Reading, we are told, "[t]hose who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith" (Galatians 3:9). Abraham had the bold faith of a child. When the Lord told Abraham, an old man with no property, that he would become ‘the father of many nations’ Abraham believed that God would provide. Abraham believed in God’s promises. We call Abraham ‘our father in faith’ in the Liturgy because he was an example of hoping in what we cannot yet see. This very same audacious hope is in our hearts, and whether it is overflowing from within you or buried beneath the hurts and hardships of life, you have it. You can claim it. God will show up for you as you wipe the sleep from your eyes in preparation for a long day of living out sacrificial love. God will show up for you in whatever storm you are facing and whatever fear is gripping you. God will show up for you in your trials and in your triumphs because you are His and you are precious to Him. Christ ransomed you. He believed that you were worth dying for. [bctt tweet="God will show up for you in your trials and in your triumphs because you are His and you are precious to Him." username="blessedisshe__"] Look at the children in your life, in your family, among your friends. Take their trusting hearts as an example for your heart today. 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.

"Ask and you will receive." Do you need a few moments to yourself? Do you need a good night's sleep? Do you need to get some exercise? Do you need a creative outlet? Have you asked for this in prayer, yet? "For everyone who asks, receives." "Seek and you will find." Do you seek life giving friendships? Do you seek meaningful work? Do you seek to be in your vocation? Do you seek an adventure? Have you sought this in prayer, yet? "The one who seeks, finds." "Knock and the door will be opened to you." Do you feel stationary in prayer? Do you feel bogged down in your work? Do you feel trapped in pain? Are you tired of waiting for a change? Have you approached this in prayer, yet? "To the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Luke 11:9-10). Dear sisters, our heavenly Father has His good gift of the Spirit for you today. Tomorrow. Forever. If you find yourself weary in the waiting, it's okay. Bring that to your prayer, too. He is with you in the wait. During the Mass, the priest prays this prayer after the Our Father: "We wait the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ." Sisters, the Good News is that you do not have to wait alone. We can unite our thoughts, feelings, and desires with Jesus and offer them to the Father, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The entire mystical body is united together in prayer. And you are not alone! The Church is asking with you. The Church is seeking with you. The Church is knocking with you. Ask. Seek. Knock. Receive. Find. Open. [bctt tweet="The Church is asking with you. The Church is seeking with you. The Church is knocking with you." username="blessedisshe__"] Let's pause for a moment today to look closely into our hearts. Are there places where I have given up? Have I simply stopped asking for God to provide? May our Father grant you persistence in prayer and encouragement through the Mystical Body of Christ. 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.

Lord, teach us to pray. To follow Your lead. To find a place where we can listen, away from all the voices that aren’t Yours. To give glory to God first. To ask for Your kingdom to come. To surrender that Your ways would reign. To trust that You will give what we need. To remember we need nothing more. To forgive as You forgive. To avoid test and temptation, trial and woe. In this day, too—in a world ablaze in corruption, in a Church wounded from suffering, in our own lives riddled with sin—teach us to pray. Lord, teach us. Together as Your disciples, gathered at Your feet. Together as Your Church, gathered by Your Word. Never alone, never outcast, never forgotten. Always Your beloved, always Your own. In our sisterhood, too—in our homes and workplaces, in our families and friendships, in our parishes and schools—teach us to pray. Lord. May we put You first, always. May we center our lives in the truth that You Are. May we begin our day with praise. May we trust our hours to Your care. May we return each time we fail. May we end the night with thanks. In our hearts, too—in our faith and doubt, in our hope and fear, in our joy and grief—teach us to pray. Lord, teach us. Guide our feet in Your paths. Direct our lives to Your love. Draw our hearts to Your wisdom. Let Your teachings challenge, unsettle, rouse, convert, restore, encourage, and delight us. In our Church, too—in worship and community, in Word and Sacrament, in thought and action—teach us to pray. Lord, teach us to pray. Keep teaching us. Keep guiding us. Keep turning our hearts back to You. In our lives, too—in our busyness and worry, in our longing and anxiety, in our desires and distractions—teach us to pray. May our lives become daily prayer, offered to You. [bctt tweet="May our lives become daily prayer, offered to You." username="laurakfanucci"] If praying the Our Father prayer isn't a daily practice for you, make it one for the next week. See how it changes your eyes for the world and God. Laura Kelly Fanucci is a mother, writer, and project director for the Collegeville Institute at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. She is the author of several books including Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting and the co-author of Living Your Discipleship: 7 Ways to Express Your Deepest Calling. She writes about parenting as a spiritual practice at her blog. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of the Blessed Conversations Mystery: Behold study found here.

I'm a recovering productivity superwoman. "Doing" used to be second-nature to me while "being?"—not so much. Because of that, vulnerability and intimacy used to be more difficult than they are now. Because of that, I couldn't let myself be seen, known, and loved because I was so busy doing something else that I didn't have enough time to cultivate relationships. I didn't have time to know myself better than a merely a producer of things (and we are much more than just the things we do everyday). I wasn't able to offer my whole being and presence to another, because my mind would trail off on what needed to be done next or tomorrow, or any other number of things. Ultimately, living my life like that didn't make me happy, and that's because we're first called to be in relationship with the Lord and with each other (see those first two commandments), and not necessarily to busy ourselves with accomplishments. To be in relationships requires time and an offering of yourself, and Mary gives us a good example in today's Gospel of what that looks like. It looks like sitting at Jesus' feet. It looks like putting tomorrow's worries out of your mind for just this moment to listen to Him. It looks like leaving the dishes to be done later. And it sounds a little easier than it might feel, doesn't it? But here it is broken down: It looks like paying attention, seeing and recognizing Jesus in today's moments, and stopping. Stopping to be in that moment and to be in His presence. Can you do that with me, today? [bctt tweet="To be in relationships requires time and an offering of yourself, and Mary gives us a good example in today's Gospel of what that looks like. It looks like sitting at Jesus' feet." username="praymorenovenas"] If you're habitually "doing" instead of "being," pick one thing you're going to change about your schedule to make more time for "being." Maybe it's 10 minutes in the Adoration chapel once a week. Maybe it's listening to music after dinner instead of dishes. Maybe it's calling a friend and not also checking your phone. Make a small change today. Annie Deddens is a writer and producer. She runs a prayer ministry with her husband, called Pray More Novenas. She has a heart for the sick & suffering, and she writes about living with greater faith (hope & love, too) in this imperfect world as a Catholic wife. You can find out more about her here.

It's hard being a Christian. In every time, in every place, it's hard. It's almost surreal to think that the early Christians who were ministered to by the Apostles themselves also were easily distracted by messages preaching a contrary Gospel. They knew the Gospel from the actual Apostles, but along would come somebody else preaching something just a little bit differently and the early Christians would think that those ideas might make sense, too. Not so dissimilar to how we may begin to veer from our own belief in the Gospel, is it? It probably happened the same way it does today, little by little. We hear a message that doesn't sound so bad, maybe even sounds compassionate. But we don't realize that the result of this way of thinking ends up veering dramatically from the tradition and teaching of the Church. If we aren't constantly renewing ourselves in the richness and traditions of our faith, we can easily get distracted by the many voices that we hear everyday. Sometimes when we're challenged by ideas and how they relate to the faith we should dive deeper into Church teaching to see "the why" behind it. But we can't let ourselves become distracted to the point of losing focus on Christ, and end up finding ourselves following a contrary Gospel, just like the early Christians in today's First Reading did, without even noticing. Saint Paul's exhortation today is very clear: following ideas of men instead of the Word of God will be our downfall. (Galatians 1:6-12). There is no middle ground of choosing some teachings of Christ, taking some teachings of the Church, but then replacing others with the popular ideas of the day or what everyone else is saying is true. Jesus is calling us to live the Gospel of loving God with our whole hearts, our whole minds, and our whole souls, and our neighbors as ourselves. But take note; while we are called to love our neighbors and to extend them mercy, we are not to accept their false gospels. Let us pray: Holy Spirit, renew our love for your truth in our hearts, our minds, and our souls. Help us convert and commit again to the Gospel of Christ today, increasing our love for You and for all our neighbors. We can do nothing apart from You. Be with us today. [bctt tweet="Jesus is calling us to live the Gospel of loving God with our whole hearts, our whole minds, and our whole souls, and our neighbors as ourselves." username="ChristyIsinger"] Make it a habit to read the Catechism. It's available for free, online, here. Read Scripture. Start with the Psalms if you're not sure where to begin. Stay connected to our tradition and richness! 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.

This morning, I took a walk on the beach with my son. When I asked him if I could walk down to the water with him, he cheerfully responded, “Sure!” It was an easy thing to do since we are on vacation. Spending a few minutes with him looking at the tide pools and talking about the different birds we saw reminded me of how simple it is to love. Spending time together alone is great way of showing him that I love him, and that I like to be with him. I think children are vastly better than grown ups are at accepting love. Adults seem to wonder if we are worthy of the love offered. We bring our baggage to each new relationship and let those past experiences taint our new connections. We hoard our sins, big and little, and sometimes even hold onto the sins forgiven in the confessional. Of course, God's love is different than our perception of love. It is unconditional. When I converted to the faith a dozen years ago my biggest concern was that I was not worthy of the Eucharist. Yet children, in their innocence and optimism, are sponges, soaking up the love from both those in Heaven and this world. His unconditional love empowers us to follow His teachings and to act in accordance with His law. If we fail to accept His love, we fail to fully receive the grace required to make the tough choices. We become defensive and even aggressive in light of difficult teachings. We parse words and look for justification for our actions. We make excuses. Jesus gives us very difficult but simple instructions in today’s Gospel (Mark 10:2-16). The children came up to just be with Jesus. They didn’t want to challenge Him on the divorce discourse He had just given. The children’s parents just wanted their children to be blessed, to be in His presence. Can you come to God as a child sometime this week? Let's strive to stay quiet, leave our demands and arguments and disappointments aside. Let us simply accept His unconditional love. [bctt tweet="Can you come to God as a child sometime this week? Let's strive to stay quiet, leave our demands and arguments and disappointments aside. Let us simply accept His unconditional love." username="blessedisshe__"] If unconditional love is something you're struggling to receive from God, pray the centurion's prayer we say at Mass many times a day (Matthew 8:8). See how it moves and shapes you. 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.

Earlier this year, I felt spiritually and physically encompassed by an unprecedented season of darkness. Most of my weeks were marked by anxiety-ridden dreams and long periods of exhaustion. Gripped by habitual sin, I experienced enduring interior isolation. Truthfully, I wore a sense of hopelessness for months, desperate for consolation. Yet, one morning, I woke up with a single word burning in my heart: deliverance. I was initially hesitant about a word like "deliverance." I questioned the Lord about it constantly. Doesn’t deliverance seem rather harsh? I’d prefer something along the lines of "progress." “Behold, I have given you the power 'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you” (Luke 10:19). Today’s Gospel drew me back into the tension that delivered me from hopelessness. In that season, I knew that I could not win a war on my own, but the Lord was still asking me to pick up a sword and trust His uncompromising desire to spend eternity with me. I knew that I had been touched by darkness, but He was teaching me how darkness ultimately has no power over the light of the Kingdom. I knew the weakness of my own authority, but He was reminding me of the very strength of my own witness. Deliverance begins and ends with a Messiah Who breathes His last breath so that our names might be written into Heaven. So, I choose to continue in hope, despite my every strength and weakness. I am empowered knowing He desires the Kingdom for me, so much so that He would write my name in Heaven. There is liberation in a Paradise that could be so personal, and a Messiah Who is so life-giving. Like Jesus, let us become childlike in praise of the Father, Who gave us a Messiah in our greatest need for deliverance. “Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will” (Luke 10:21). [bctt tweet="Like Jesus, let us become childlike in praise of the Father, who gave us a Messiah in our greatest need for deliverance." username="blessedisshe__"] Our strength is rooted in our unshakable knowledge of Who created us. Are you living out a life filled with His light and love? What small change can you make today to work toward that? Sarah Elizabeth is a politics pre-law major at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Born and raised in Arizona, she finds great joy in mountains, lattes, American history, and the piano. She is constantly discovering Christ's wild love in the little things.