I still remember my First Reconciliation. I wore a black dress with a lace collar covered in pink rosebuds. My parents walked me into the confessional and afterwards we celebrated with ice cream sundaes from McDonald's. It was the first time (of many more!) I experienced the forgiveness of my sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My sins were forgiven just as Jesus tells the paralytic man, "Courage, child, your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:2) At this point in His ministry, Jesus had cured many sick people. But in this instance, He takes the opportunity to address a deeper soul issue that needs healing: sin. Sometimes in Biblical times, sickness was seen as a punishment for sin. Yet here, Jesus sees in the paralyzed man suffering from more than just a physical ailment. There is a deeper reality Jesus wants to restore and heal. Jesus tells him: your sins are forgiven. What used to be atoned for through the blood of an animal sacrifice is now accomplished through Jesus. It is as if Jesus says to the man: No, my child, I restore in you what is broken. You now have direct access to forgiveness through Me! I am the healer. Jesus wants to heal us just as He did the paralyzed man. He wants to restore us. But we have to get rid of the sin. We have to name it and own our part in choosing sin. We have to acknowledge our need for Jesus to be the healer of sin in us. [bctt tweet="We have to acknowledge our need for Jesus to be the healer of sin in us. // @amoderngrace"] How long has it been since your last Confession? Whether it has been five weeks or five years, make time this week to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Use this guide to help you prepare well in your heart and mind. 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.

Praise God, my soul inhabits a human body, one capable of consuming delicious food, delighting in beautiful violin concertos, basking in the loving touch of a friend, and receiving Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. But even so, I've had my vicious moments. My times of somehow blaming Jesus for my terrible rage. Sometimes, I feel like I'm not that different from the demons in today's Gospel. (Matthew 8:28-34) I remember one particularly vicious August. It was hot. I was newly pregnant with our second child. Our first was almost a year and a half. I had recently decided to pause my career as an attorney. My days were spent feeling sorry for myself, living in my husband's tees, hovering over my recently-launched mommy blog, sucking on popsicles, and generally grousing over the fabulous lives of my lawyer friends. They drank lattes, settled cases, and had beach curls in their hair. I felt like a messy failure. Was this really what God had in store for me after years of achieving in school and work? To say I was generally unpleasant to live with is an understatement. I felt angry. I felt not at peace. And where does Jesus' mercy enter into all this? At the end of August, when my sister's baby was born early and had medical complications necessitating a NICU stay, I could rush out to New York and support them. I had no job to take leave from, no legal deadlines keeping me home. I could help and reach beyond my struggly petty feelings to be fully present for their family. I napped in the NICU waiting room, fetched raspberry smoothies, drew baths for my sister. We wept and cheered when my niece was finally "out of the woods" and we could hold her after two weeks. After I returned home, I realized that my discontentedness had melted. I had experienced the transformation of God's mercy. I don't know if you're angry, Sister. If you're mad at God. If you're wounded. But I do know He has an abundance of mercy for you. Just for you, special for you. [bctt tweet="He has an abundance of mercy for you. Just for you, special for you. // @wholeparenting"] Ask and be open to His mercies. They are new every morning. He wants to transform your heart. 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.

Poor Saint Thomas. His whole life gets boiled down to one declaration in a moment of petulance. He is forever “Doubting Thomas.” But I’m not convinced that’s the most apt description of him. One of my favorite parts of reading the Bible is getting a feel for the personalities and temperaments of the apostles. Peter: brash and impulsive, jumping into the sea, chopping a dude’s ear off. John: calm, quiet, loyal, whispering at dinner, with you till the end. So who is Thomas? The Gospel according to Saint John tells us about him in three places. First, the other disciples are scared to return to Judea after Jesus had nearly been stoned there on their last visit. But when Jesus says He’s going to visit dead Lazarus, Thomas says, "Let us also go to die with him," which is either very brave or very sarcastic. (John 11:16) Let’s go with both. Next, at the Last Supper, Jesus tells the apostles that He must go first, to prepare a place for them, and they can follow after. And Thomas says, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" (Jn 14:5). Again, could be earnest. But also sounds kinda smart-alecky. Then, Thomas gets back from grabbing a sandwich or something and finds out that he has missed THE RESURRECTED JESUS appearing to all the rest of the Apostles in the upper room, and showing them the wounds in His hands and side. It’s not hard to understand why he dismisses their story. "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." (John 20:25) Basically: “Whatever, dudes.” But a week later, Jesus appears to them again, and Thomas doesn’t miss it this time. Jesus insists that Thomas does exactly what he said he would have to do to believe. So Thomas puts his finger into Jesus’ wounds, and then makes perhaps the most passionate and sincere exclamation of the Bible: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28) After the Ascension, Thomas is said to have traveled to India to preach the gospel and establish the Catholic Church there, being martyred by the spear in 72 AD. So, was he a doubter? Maybe. And he might be the patron saint of snark. But, like each of us, he was so many other things as well: a cheerleader, a wonderer, a planner, a convert, a missionary, a martyr, a saint. [bctt tweet="So, was [Thomas] a doubter? Maybe. . . but, like each of us, he was so many other things as well."] Let's pray for a deepening of understanding and faith today. Kendra Tierney is a forty-one 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 counting down the days until her oldest turns sixteen and can take over some of the driving! Her new book about living the liturgical year in the home is in the editing process. You can find her first book, A Little Book About Confession, here, her blog here, and her word art here.

There was a time in my life when I thought that being upset with God was sinful. I believed that when I came to God in prayer, I had to be nothing but grateful, joyous, and loving. I thought that God would not want to see me raw and vulnerable. He is the Creator of the universe and has no time for my grumbling, my anger, my hurt, my anxiety. Because of that mindset, my prayers were superficial at best. Dear God, thank you for this day. Amen. But He is patient, isn’t He? He never abandoned me. God the Father, ever-patient and loving, just nestled in on the front porch of the door to my heart. He did not pound the door down; He did not peek through the window. He just waited. He showed me the wonders of His love and His capacity to bear all my sorrow, my grief, my anger. When my heart breaks, He is there outside the window with a tool box and a hard hat. When I am sorrowful and the tears are flowing, He has His umbrella and rain boots ready, to weather the storm. When I am angry and ready to break everything in sight, He has a broom and dust pan. When I allowed myself to peek out that window and look on the front porch, He was still standing there, ready for me. Eager to hear, He waits. He knows me better than I know myself. He waits outside that door for that invitation to come in. When I finally realized that to know God is to let Him into the depths of my heart, in all its mess and muck and joy and sorrow and anger and elation and gratitude and angst, I had to open that door. And when I did, He was there with eyes sparkling like sunshine on morning dew, a smile that was created solely for me, and arms outstretched. I threw myself into His arms and realized that this was to know Him, on this side of the door. And as Saint Josephine Bakhita says so eloquently, "Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God!" (source) [bctt tweet="To know God is to let Him into the depths of my heart. // @substance_soul"] Can you imagine Him doing this for you? Close your eyes and feel it today. 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.

The words I spoke long ago are still buried deep within my memory: How can I believe God can heal me when I haven’t even accepted I have a disease? I was offered the pilgrimage of a lifetime to Lourdes, France, to bathe in the healing waters, but step one of believing you can be healed is accepting that you need healing. For me, it was healing from a terminal disease. For you, it might be something else. In today’s Gospel, the woman afflicted with hemorrhages and Jairus accepted their situations and believed Jesus could heal. They didn’t hide their distress; instead, they vulnerably reached out to Christ in faith and shared their brokenness. (Mark 5:21-43) When I read this Gospel, I consider friends who struggle with various addictions. Healing begins when they accept their addiction and seek help and accountability. What is preventing us from allowing Christ to perform a miracle in our lives through the laying on of hands or the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Do we feel like a burden to those closest to God and us, saying, “Why trouble the teacher any longer?” (Mark 5:35) Do we compare our suffering to others who suffer more or less, not reaching out to the divine physician to be healed? Do we say, “If it’s God’s will . . .” as a statement of doubt rather than a testament of faith? Do we wholeheartedly believe God will perform miracles of healing in our lives? In the waters of Lourdes, God healed me. I am not healed from multiple sclerosis but from the depression settling into my spirit, sullied with anger directed at God. That step into the waters of Lourdes was the most significant step I've ever taken in faith life. [bctt tweet="What is preventing us from allowing Christ to perform a miracle in our lives?"] Christ is saying to us today, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” (Mark 5:41) When God wants to heal, He heals! The question is, are we ready to take a step in faith and believe this to be the truth? Tricia Tembreull is a California girl with a Texas-sized heart for hospitality. She serves as a Parish Coach for Life Teen, International, and joyfully travels around the globe training, empowering, and praying with youth ministers. When not on a plane, she is either in church, spending time with family or friends, in the kitchen cooking up something delightful, or on the beach for an evening walk. You can find out more about her here.

“We have been praying about this evening of healing for a few months now, and we want to share with you some of the healing we feel led to pray for tonight,” the CFR Friar said. Donned in his gray habit, he stood barefoot on the marble step in the front of the sanctuary and continued: “Sometimes we have a specific name to go along with the intention, and sometimes it is simply the intention itself that we have received in prayer.” I settle into the wooden pew. I am certainly not ready for what I am about to hear. “There is someone here tonight with back pain, particularly in their lower right back. We want to ask God to heal that. Someone else here has been having liver problems. We don’t want to simply ask for healing, we want to ask God for a new liver for this person!” The list of intentions continues on like this for quite some time before everyone is invited to come forward if they so desire, to be prayed over individually. I have to be completely honest with you, sisters: a part of me was in disbelief that night. As I listened to the intentions, the skeptic in me wondered, really? I was awestruck by the specificity and fearlessness with which these men of God asked for healing. It seemed outrageous! Then I read the encounter between the centurion and Jesus: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant shall be healed.” (Matthew 8:8) What humility the centurion displayed as he approached Jesus. And what faith! To believe that by His word alone Jesus could heal. “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. . .” (Matthew 8:10a) I wonder: when was the last time Jesus was amazed at my own faith? And then, this line stops me in my tracks: “As you have believed, let it be done for you.” (Matthew 8:13) As you have believed. Not “as you have asked,” but as you have believed. How bold are your prayers, sisters? Do you come before Jesus truly expectant? Let there be no doubt in our hearts: Jesus is the Healer. We need only believe. [bctt tweet="Jesus is the Healer. We need only believe. // @inendlesssong"] Increase our faith, Lord. Help our unbelief! May we come before You expecting great things, for You are infinitely good. 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.

Underneath my feet the dirt was compacted from centuries of feet pacing the road. To my sides, brick upon brick, walls of small buildings stood side by side. They were the family tombs of those who lived centuries ago. And above me there was no sky, no light, only the weight of a basilica of Rome. There in the damp darkness of the ancient necropolis, excavated during the World Wars, they had searched and searched for the rock upon which Christ built His Church. They eventually found the remains of an older man near an inscription: “Peter is here" We walked up the length of the ancient Roman road until we came to a small room where those remains were carefully wrapped up in cloth and tied with a string. Tears filled my eyes. Peter is here. And even though it might not have been meant literally, the Church of Christ was built upon this rock of a man. What a beautiful weight he carried. When they came face to face with Jesus, Saint Peter and Saint Paul knew who He was. While they were very different in the way they lived out their devotion to Christ, they were united in their communion with Him. I pray that I have an ounce of their courage and faith. I pray that when I am weak and sin I can turn to the Lord over and over again as Peter did. I pray that I might have Paul’s endurance to finish the race. Today, on this Solemnity of Peter and Paul, let’s ask that these two great martyrs would pray for us, that regardless of what our faith life looks like, we would know that we are all united in Christ. [bctt tweet="We are all united in Christ. // @jacquiskemp"] Saints Peter and Paul, pray for us. Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife, and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.

“For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver us.” (Psalm 79:9) My life is in chaos and I do not know which way to turn. I am overwhelmed and anxious, consumed with worry. My chest tightens and I gasp for air; my heart races and my mind searches through the fog for some Truth to cling to. “For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver us.” Throughout the day I look around and no one is there; no one stands by my side. In my grief and loneliness I beg You to send me a bosom friend, a husband, a child. And while I wait, please let me feel Your presence. Do not abandon me when I already feel so alone. “For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver us.” Over and over again the enemy attacks my heart, my old and tender wounds. He whispers in my ear, You’re not good enough. She’s better than you. You’re such a failure, a loser, stupid, embarrassing. I declare Your Truth and praise You for the generosity in how You have distributed gifts, but he comes back to knock me down again and rob me of my joy. “For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver us.” It happened again and I rage at the injustice. When will people’s hearts, minds, and eyes be opened? When will healing come to this broken situation? I do not know how to navigate the intricacies of this situation; I stand at a loss. “For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver us.” Life can be hard and messy, but Saint Irenaeus said that “the glory of God is man fully alive.” I want to be fully alive, Lord. Teach me how to do this, no matter what suffering comes my way. Give me the graces to live this day so that I glorify You. Pour out Your Holy Spirit to overflowing. Let my life be a song of praise to You. [bctt tweet="Give me the graces to live this day so that I glorify You. // @BonnieEngstrom"] “For the glory of Your Name, O Lord, deliver us." Pray this today. 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.

“Elisebeth Claire!” my mother called loudly. Uh oh. When mom used my full name with that tone, I knew the situation was not good. Much to my chagrin, she had discovered my recent cursive handwriting practice—in blue ballpoint ink on the maroon interior of the minivan. “I didn’t do it,” I lied, desperately not wanting to be in the wrong. I was about the same age as Josiah was when he became king: eight. In today’s First Reading he was only eighteen. (2 Kings 22:1 & 3) While reading his story, one thing is clear: he had a developed conscience. When Josiah hears the book of the law and realizes that neither he nor his kingdom is observing the rules of God, it shakes him to his core. He gathers everyone, “small and great,” to listen to the law. Upon hearing it, they all make a covenant with the Lord, vowing to whole-heartedly change their lifestyle and abide in His ways. It makes me look at my own response to God’s law: When I hear it, does it lead me to transformation? Am I quick to change my ways, even when—especially when—God is asking me to change the way I live, the way I think, the way I love? The life God calls us to is sometimes difficult, and often challenging. How much easier is it to try to rationalize the law according to our own human desires? How much simpler is it to side with the false prophets of our times? Life with God is counter-cultural, Sisters. A life lived in obedience to His law takes humility and courage. Today’s Psalm, number 119, is a wonderfully encouraging prayer as we try to unify our hearts with our loving Father and His law. When we pray this psalm from the heart, the Lord is sure to hear and answer us. Let us raise our voices with the psalmist, asking the Lord to teach us, to give us clear discernment. Let us ask Him to purify our desires: “Turn my eyes from seeing what is vain,” or as another translation reads, “Avert my eyes from what is worthless”—yes, Lord! Purify our desires. For when we follow Your ways we will find true freedom. We will have lasting peace. We will have life. [bctt tweet="When we follow Your ways we will find true freedom. // @inendlesssong"] Find some time this week to pray through the entirety of Psalm 119. Ask the Lord where He might be calling you to greater faithfulness to His law. Soften our hearts and make us brave enough to hear Your voice, Holy Spirit! 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.

Boxes of forgotten Christmas ornaments. Silver trays that have served many a delicacy. Hand sewn linens passed from mother to daughter. Family heirlooms are one of the delights of my soul. I returned yesterday from a visit to my Nana, and each time I visit she pulls out a box or two to sift through. Stories abound and many memories are evoked as she lovingly removes each item. Paintings my late grandfather created draw us back to vacations lazing about the beach. A simple but unique dish she received many years ago as a wedding gift is a reminder of friends and family gathering around the table. It’s a beautiful segue to laughter and tears. Over the years I have been blessed to be the recipient of several of these items as my grandmother entrusts them to me to be used, loved, and shared. In today’s reading, Jesus compares the gift of our Faith to pearls, warning us not to throw them to the pigs. (Matthew 7:6) As Christians, and especially as Catholics, we are the custodians of our Faith, of the life of the Church, and most especially, of the Sacraments. I think of all the beautiful items my grandparents have passed down to me, and I’m reminded of the superior beauty of our Faith. Of how it is meant to be used and put into action. How it is to be loved and treated as something of value. And finally, how it is meant to be shared with others. Like my grandmother’s wedding dishes or a pearl, our faith is given to us with the presupposition that it will be treasured. It’s not meant to be set out in a dusty shed, tarnishing from disuse, getting covered in dust. Rather it is to be held in an intimate place in our homes and our lives, shared with those we come in contact with. It is my privilege to serve apple pie in my Nana’s dish at Thanksgiving. I love showing people a special piece my grandfather drew when they come to my home. May we treat our faith in the same manner, inviting others to share in its richness and greater understanding. [bctt tweet="As Christians, and especially as Catholics, we are the custodians of our Faith."] How do you honor the gift of Faith you’ve been given? Ponder how you can present and share that gift with those around you. 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.

“The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) If I’m not careful, our faith begins to resemble a list of platitudes, and this particular Scripture is one I struggled with for years. Without a strong background in the Bible or, quite frankly, anything included in the Catechism, the idea that the Word is living was just a metaphor to me. The Word is living? To me that meant it was figuratively alive with comforting words and good advice. It meant that it was still relative today. Those words didn’t have a concrete and literal meaning until I began to learn more about my faith. It is true that the Bible remains relevant and restorative to those who seek assurance, but there’s so much more. He is always offering us so much more. Think of it this way: God’s word is alive. In Genesis, He speaks, and we exist. His word commands literal creation at its very essence. Something out of nothing. Complete void into complex structures and beings. Not only does His word alone bring about life, but His words are absolutely timeless. We see our behaviors in Old Testament stories, and we are able to directly apply to our daily lives the wisdom and commands of Christ in the Gospels. You might think, That’s true, but can’t we say those same things about any great work of literature? Yes, we can. But here is the difference: when we read the Word of God we are encountering Jesus Who is the Word Made Flesh. We are having a personal encounter with God who knows the desires of our hearts and gives us understanding of the words through the aid of the Holy Spirit. It is not a text that sits passively while you digest. Instead, through it, God actively works in you. So the next time you feel like you are slogging through Scripture unsure of how it applies to you, remember that the Holy Spirit is in those words, and He is passionately working within you as you read—luckily, whether you are conscious of it or not. [bctt tweet="When we read the Word of God we are encountering Jesus Who is the Word Made Flesh. // @callherhappy"] Have you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church? It's on the Vatican's website . . . for free! Read through the table of contents today! Jenna Hines has a teeny army of four children and is married to a bearded fellow named Mike. She is happiest when it is sunny outside and she has an embroidery needle in her hand. You can find out more about her here.

One day, I forgot my phone at home. GASP. I made it all the way to work, settled in, and reached for my, oh wait. Panic set in. What if there is an emergency? What if I need to get a hold of my husband? What if the school calls? That panic lasted all of two minutes because I remembered that my work has a phone and I am easily reached in case of an emergency. So I saw my first few patients and again reached for my, oh no. That’s right, my phone was at home. This happened throughout the day (more than even I would like to admit). In any moment of downtime, my compulsion to reach for my phone was unending and completely involuntary. But is it so involuntary? How did I get here in the first place? Who and what have I been serving so that my arm acts before my brain realizes what is happening? Jesus says we cannot serve two masters.(Matthew 6:24) Upon reading this passage we can easily brush it off saying, Oh, I’m good. I only love and serve our Lord. I’m no pagan. But Jesus does not refer to only golden idols, but anything that takes our hearts and minds away from God. How many times have I mindlessly scrolled this or that instead of spending time with Scripture? How many times have I gluttonously ate in splendor past the point of satiation instead of giving my share to someone in need? Did I skip a Mass to go to brunch or watch the big game? What have I placed on that pedestal in my life? Instead, I must strive to seek the Kingdom of God in every moment of my life. Reach for Him instead of my BFF, the cellphone. Who will I serve? [bctt tweet="I must strive to seek the Kingdom of God in every moment of my life. // @substance_soul"] Are you feeling pulled in too many different directions? Choose Jesus first, every time. 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.

I was completely shocked last summer when I received a few thousand dollars from a generous benefactor. I was free to spend the money however I liked and they suggested that I invest it into something important to me. This surprise gift came at the perfect time because I was in the process of shopping for a used car and I was also pinching pennies to pay my rent. (It takes a lot of time to rebuild your life after you leave the convent!) My teaching job at my parish’s thriving school felt very secure and I was so peaceful in my new home, a little artist loft. A financial planner could have advised me to invest in mutual funds or real estate, but I decided to wait and pray because my heart did not desire those things. In the Gospel today, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” (Matthew 6:19) Some earthly treasures decay your senses, destroy your priorities, break into your schedule, and steal your time. “But store up treasure in heaven.” Other treasures are lasting, safe, and protected. These treasures in Heaven are places of life and freedom and joy. We are invited to enjoy the treasures of our Heavenly Father’s House! Yes, I knew that I wanted some of this unexpected money to go towards a treasure in Heaven. I wanted to make an investment in my spiritual life, but the details were still clouded. In prayer a few months later, Jesus helped me to clearly see my desire for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. So after months of prayer and research, I decided to make a two month solo pilgrimage this summer. Today I am in Rome and on Monday I depart for Nazareth. Please pray for my safe travels, but most importantly, that my heart will be able to receive treasure in Heaven. [bctt tweet="We are invited to enjoy the treasures of our Heavenly Father’s House!"] And the good news is that no matter where you are in the world, the Father has treasures in Heaven for your heart, too. Let’s open our hands to receive them today! 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.

Today, Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms that God will only forgive us to the extent that we forgive others. This is one of the hardest teachings of our faith, considering that we’re on a planet with 7 billion other sinners, all capable of hurting each other—sometimes horrifically. What then, exactly, is forgiveness? Does it tacitly condone a wrongful act? Is it an attempt to sweep the hurt heaped upon us under the rug of “forgetting?” Does it mean denying or minimizing the wounds that run deep into our heart and soul? Is forgiveness an absence of justice? Is it contingent upon reconciliation? No. Saint Augustine defines forgiveness as letting go of our human desire for vengeance, saying, “it is not their death, but their deliverance from error, that we seek.” (source) The Catechism further states that “it is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit . . . purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2843). Ephesians 4:32 also tells us to forgive others as God forgives us: which is when we approach Him with repentance, fully admitting our wrongdoing. We don’t always get repentance from others. If we’ve forgiven, yet someone else refuses to acknowledge that they’ve hurt us, it can be difficult to restore or reconcile the relationship. The wounds, the hurt may still run deep. They may take outside help and time—maybe even a lifetime—to heal, healing which only God and forgiveness can bring. And in serious cases, justice is a necessary consequence for an injury or crime, even when we have forgiven. Or they do apologize, but what they did was really hurtful. Forgiveness is indeed most powerful when we begin by acknowledging the full weight of others’ wrongful deeds, the depth of our wounds, and ask our merciful Lord to use our pain to inspire intercession for those who have hurt us—praying that their souls may be delivered from evil, and filled with His goodness and righteousness. When done this way it does not condone, minimize, or forget the action, but it says that while you were truly sinned against, you will love the person who hurt you anyway. [bctt tweet="Love the person who hurt you anyway. // @PosImperfect"] Who do you need to forgive? Ask God to help you surrender any lingering vengeance, so you may channel hurt toward prayers for the good of their soul. 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.

It seems that there are varying degrees of generosity, including generosity out of abundance, generosity out of scarcity, generosity when noticed, and generosity when unnoticed. All of these degrees are noble, commendable, and good. Being noticeably generous out of our abundance is not necessarily less significant than being secretly generous out of our scarcity. What marks the difference between self-sacrificial generosity and self-serving generosity is our intent. It comes down to motivation. It’s a matter of will. Namely, it’s a choice between pride and humility. Sometimes we give from a place of pride. We want to check the box on our “good Catholic” list. Or we want others to see that we’re charitable, that we’re detached, that we’re holy. Or we’re so distracted by other things that our giving is merely transactional and on autopilot because “this is just what we do.” In these instances, our hands are open but our hearts are empty. We try to paint a picture with a broken brush. When pride is the root of our sacrifice, the fruit isn’t as sweet. In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to practice sacrifice and generosity from a place of humility. When we give with a humbled heart—whether it’s from a place of abundance or scarcity, whether it’s seen or unnoticed—we acknowledge our complete dependence on God. We recognize that everything we are and everything we have is from the Lord. With this intent of heart, our paint brushes are whole and capable of creating a masterpiece with and for God. When the giving requires something great from us, when it’s difficult or inconvenient or uncomfortable, it is a practice in detachment from our talent, treasure, and time. We remember that our ultimate goal in this life is to be less attached to the opinion of others and more attached to the Heart of God. Sisters, let’s not be afraid to be generous with God. Every quiet act of generosity, every hidden way we serve those around us, and every overlooked way we sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the Kingdom is heard, seen, and noticed by our Father. Let’s not be afraid to be generous with Him. Let’s approach His throne with humble and willing hearts. [bctt tweet="Let’s not be afraid to be generous with Him. // @to_the_heights"] How is God asking you to be generous today? Where can you give of yourself in a spirit of humility and trust? Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky where 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.

My heart sank and began beating faster. I could feel the warmth hit my skin as my face started to flush. Echoes of the hurtful, untrue words being said about me rang in my mind like a gong being struck hard again and again. I was hurt. I was embarrassed. I was angry. For a while, I clung to that pain. Reassurances from others that what had been alleged was untrue and out of line fueled my anger. I purposefully avoided the person who hurt me and while I was cordial when I did encounter them, I was not charitable in thought. Time has since passed and the hurt has begun to heal, but I know I have not yet forgiven. And part of me just wants the situation to go away, to wake up with a clear sense of peace and forgiveness without the work that goes along with it. I want the dust from the explosion to settle, but don’t want to clean up the mess after. Yet even if I'm not actively breathing in the thin layer of dirt, it is still there, making my heart just a little less than clean. Forgiveness cannot happen passively, but must be worked on actively. It requires a dying to our self and our ego. In the Gospel today, Jesus teaches that we must actively love those who hurt us and then go a step further by praying for them. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) Golly, is that a hard teaching to follow! I don’t know about you, but when someone hurts me, I don’t want to think about them, much less pray for them. But there is so much wisdom in this command. In praying for our enemies, we begin to see them as human. We begin to tear down the illusions of heartlessness and see even the person we like the least as a child of God. [bctt tweet="In praying for our enemies, we begin to see them as human."] Forgiveness is hard. It’s messy and it takes time. But the mess and time are worth the healing and peace God shares when we take the time and actively choose to love everyone we encounter. Sarah Stanley is a small town Ohio girl who is mildly obsessed with all things Ignatian and is very passionate about faith, social justice, and the intersection of the two. She recently earned her Master of Divinity and now serves as the Director of Christian Service at a high school in New England. When she’s not working, she enjoys contagious laughter, travel, clever puns, and finding the good in all things. You can find out more about her here.

The other day I won an internet battle. I didn’t win it by debating or arguing or spending hours going back and forth with a person I only knew from a profile picture; in fact, I’m not even certain I got in the last word or convinced the person I was right. I won the argument by letting it go. I refused to be bated and I denied them the chance to rile me up. I wished them well for the rest of their day, honestly and sincerely, and shut my computer and at that moment, I won the battle. It’s so easy to argue online. It’s so easy to be mean, and callous and much more blunt than we ever would be in person. It’s so easy to get drawn into interactions that are without benefit for either side. It’s so easy to dish out the worst of our personalities when we don’t have to look each other in the eye. It’s so easy to waste time trying to win over a stranger and to ignore the real work that is in front of us. Today’s Gospel reading is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, a series of lessons on humility and love. (Matthew 5:38-42) Immediately following today’s passage is Jesus’ admonition to love our enemies. It only makes sense that He tells us to turn the other cheek, because how can we love those who hate us if we’re yelling right back at them? Turning the other cheek is hard, but it gives space for love to grow. When you turn the other cheek, it may feel like you are ducking your head and running from a fight. In fact, when you turn the other cheek, you are turning your face towards God and maybe, just maybe, that little movement will turn the head of your opponent toward God too. [bctt tweet="Turning the other cheek is hard, but it gives space for love to grow."] Are you finding yourself mired down in pointless online arguments or even in-real-life ones? Take a second and re-read today's Gospel. Molly Walter is a Catholic convert, wife and mother to two children on Earth and four babies called home to Jesus. She has a deep love of her faith, her family, literature, handcrafts, gardening, and Star Wars. When not working full time outside the home or wrangling her next family adventure, she blogs about all the good things in life. You can find out more about her here.