I was about five years old when I proudly announced at a family party that smoking turns lungs black and Grandma may die from her smoking habit. Surely my Mom groaned at my timing. And while that memory still gives me a chuckle, I find myself thinking about it as I look at Saints James and John in the Gospel today. Jesus has told His disciples what awaits Him in Jerusalem: betrayal, mockery, physical violence, and death. And only moments later, James and John have chosen the most tactless time for their request on their future prominence. (Mark 10:37) Did they not hear what Jesus just said? How can they be so dense? And then I remember; I, too, am sometimes just as dense as those disciples. I miss things. I open my big mouth and put my even larger foot in it. I question Jesus on situations or demand certain things even though I don't have His wider perspective as God. I can be really good at telling Jesus what it is that I want, what I expect from Him, and treating my God more like a vending machine giving me what I want when I ask for it. That's not much different from James or John. But Jesus responds. And the same question He asks the disciples, He asks each of us, my sisters: "Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mark 10:38) And what that translates for each of us is: Are you willing to die with Me? Are you willing to die to yourself? Part of living the Christian life is dying to our inward selfishness and it is very difficult. We have to let our desires and attitudes that don't reflect the mind of Christ die out. James and John needed a profound change in their attitude and so do we. [bctt tweet="Let our desires and attitudes that don't reflect the mind of Christ die out. // @amoderngrace"] Where in your life do you need to die to selfishness? What is the Holy Spirit calling you to strip away? Patty Breen is a runner, full-time lay minister, and thinks old movies are the greatest thing since sliced bread. When not fundraising for World Youth Day, she is learning to find grace in all things. You can find out more about her here.

We’ve walked through the desert, we have joyfully celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord, and we are back to Ordinary time. Did you learn anything on your journey this year? Today’s readings immediately brought to mind the adage, “When you know better, you do better.” How many times this has applied to me in my faith life, I cannot begin to count. I distinctly remember spouting off all of these phrases in my college years—a time when I had fallen away from the Church: I can understand why someone might need an abortion early on in a pregnancy, but I draw the line at late-term abortion. As soon as I get engaged, I want to make sure I am on the pill so I can control my cycles for my honeymoon. Yet here I am today: an NFP-practicing mother of four with hopes for more children if God allows. I am unapologetically and consistently pro-life from conception to natural death. People change, and they change because God allows it. He fills us with that grace and sends His Holy Spirit upon us. So go easy on yourself. Get to Confession and work on forgiving yourself for past mistakes. Go easy on others. Allow them the space to change. And trust that your prayers for wayward friends and family members are heard. God is working in their hearts, so be faithful in your asking. Chances are someone buoyed you with prayers once, too. “Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, Be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 We are all different people than we were years ago. And we all have the ability to become better as the years continue. In fact, God commands it of us. [bctt tweet="People change, and they change because God allows it. // @callherhappy"] Is there an area you are longing to change in but afraid and don't know where to begin? Start with the Sacrament of Confession, then seek spiritual direction, and just talk to God in prayer! Let Him show you His heart. Jenna Hines has a teeny army of children: Ellen, Samuel, Theodore, and Maryn 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. Her books are 30 Days to Calm: Create Your Own Anxiety Toolbox and Lazy Liturgical. You can find out more about her here.

The rich young man from today’s Gospel (Mark 10:17-27) and I have a lot more in common than I’d like to admit. I've always struggled with being a people pleaser, trying to keep the peace or at least not create friction. Similarly, this man faithfully keeps the commandments and has got the basics of faith mastered. At the same time, he is filled with a yearning to go spiritually deeper. Jesus’ response to the man, to sell and give away all he owns, completely confounds him. And yet Jesus is making that same call to you and me. For most of us, this is not a call to literally sell all we possess, but Jesus does ask of us detachment from our stuff. Maybe for some this is material wealth, but perhaps it is our time, our goals and desires, or even a relationship. Earthly treasures can easily become a blockade barring a deeper intimacy with Jesus, a safety net where we try to save ourselves instead of allowing Him to be our Savior. It’s easy to forget, getting into a mindset of how being a good person is enough. But our “good” must be so much more than that. Our own will and choices aren’t where that good is found. Instead, when our life, actions, and treasures all point back to the ultimate good, Jesus, we are in the right spot. Pope Benedict in his encyclical, Spe Salvi, stated: "Man was created for greatness—for God himself; he was created to be filled by God. But his heart is too small for the greatness to which it is destined. It must be stretched." (sec. 33) Sisters, how can you you stretch your heart for the treasures of God and His goodness? What things, values, and relationships to we need to redirect or let go of to honor God more fully? With God on our side, nothing is impossible. [bctt tweet="With God on our side, nothing is impossible."] Praying for you today, sisters. Please pray for me as we all work on stretching and letting go! 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.

My son is the world’s most inquisitive observer and its biggest skeptic. He is perpetually certain that his questions will collapse centuries-old arguments. How could that happen? How can this be true? What about this thing I read recently that directly contradicts it? When frustration tempts me to throw up my hands, I remember that 1) God made him this way on purpose, and 2) the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I am also a lifelong skeptic. I almost didn’t join the Church because I wasn’t certain I could give full intellectual assent to every teaching of the faith. Growing up has mellowed me somewhat, but my reflexive doubt runs deep. In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ eleven closest companions met Him on the mountain. They saw Him. They worshiped Him . . . but they doubted. (Matthew 28:17) (How could these guys, after all they had seen and been through with Jesus, have doubts? Not just Thomas with his reputation for skepticism, but the whole group in general?) Instead of lecturing them about how little faith they had, Jesus laid out the only fact that mattered: "All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me." (Matthew 28:18) What didn’t He say next? “I see you have some questions; let’s research the answers together.” Or “You seem unconvinced—care to share your concerns?” Or “Let’s adjourn until later so you can put all your doubts to rest.” He laid it out clearly—go and make disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them the faith. Our baptism in the name of the Trinity marks us for life as Jesus’ disciples. We don’t have to know everything. Jesus isn’t threatened by our doubts, but what He expects of us doesn’t change. Today is Trinity Sunday. The mystery of One God in Three Persons is at the core of our faith. Despite a lifetime of pondering, I’m not sure I will completely understand until I stand before that triune God, face to face. Until then, I love the prayer from Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity that begins: “O my God, Trinity whom I adore, help me to forget myself entirely that I may be established in You as still and as peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity. May nothing trouble my peace or make me leave You, O my Unchanging One, but may each minute carry me further into the depths of Your Mystery.” (source) [bctt tweet="We don’t have to know everything. Jesus isn’t threatened by our doubts. // @dere_abbey"] Will you pray this prayer with me today, sister? Abbey Dupuy is the Assistant Theological Editor for Blessed is She and writes her life as a homeschooling mama of four frequently barefoot children. She muses about imperfect parenting, practicing gratitude, and celebrating the liturgical year with her young family on her blog. In her spare time, she enjoys running, gardening, coffee, and cookbooks, not usually at at the same time. You can find out more about her here.

A lot of things have changed in the two thousand years since Jesus lived on Earth. But getting rebuked for bringing children to Jesus has, unfortunately, stood the test of time. It’s happened to me, twice (not that I’m counting but, ya know, it was twice). I imagine one of the mothers from this Gospel gathering up her children, dusting them off a bit, tucking away her own stray hairs. Now I’m not saying she brings her kids to Jesus SO that passersby will give her an attagirl. But she had to figure that everyone must know how hard it is to get a bunch of kids to Jesus, especially that one little ornery one. So, if anyone was going to say anything, surely, it would be, “Wow, good job, lady,” or, "Would you care for some free babysitting?" So when the rebuke comes instead . . . and she stands there, still trying to keep track of the kids, listening to the words, it takes an extra moment to process that this person who purports to also love Jesus, is actually telling her the exact opposite of, “Good job, free babysitting.” Then, of course, she understands. And it is so, so bad. Praise Jesus, Jesus is there to set things right. He is INDIGNANT! "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." (Mark 10:14-15) And He hugs all the babies and blesses them. Yay, happy ending! Donuts for everyone. But Jesus’ words apply to ALL the whoevers. Including yours truly. It’s not just the rebukers who have to get over themselves, and swallow their pride, and forgive and forget, and pray for their persecutors, and turn the other cheek, and see the plank in their own eye, and all those other inconvenient things Jesus said. That all applies to the rebuked just as much as it does the rebukers. Learning to accept Jesus’ teachings like a child, and trusting that I must forgive by will until I could do it with my heart, was an important lesson for me. I’m glad I learned it. Not that I’d wish it on anyone else, though. It is so, so bad. [bctt tweet="Jesus’ words apply to ALL the whoevers. Including yours truly. // @kendra_tierney"] Have you either felt the sting of rebuke or the anger of the rebuker? How did this help you grow in humility? Pray on this 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.

I dance around it all of the time. “Mayyyybe,” I’ll say with a twinge of hesitation. “Perhaps,” I’ll respond with uncertainty. “Let me check my schedule,” I’ll declare with ambiguity. Because when it comes right down to it, I don’t like saying “no.” I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I’m an avid people pleaser. The word “yes” clings to the tip of my tongue just as strongly as “please” and “thank you.” Because in my mind, “yes” is one of those basic manners you learn in grade school. It is the polite thing to do, and I’ll say it over and over and over again until I drive myself completely mad. But there’s a bit of deception in saying “yes” to everything because in doing so you are, by default, saying no to other things. This is something that I have had learn in the most unfortunate way; you see, it is often the case that I’ll find myself zipping out the door to meet this deadline or that commitment, all the while my family picks up the slack in my absence. Because by saying “yes” to everyone else, I am saying “no” to what matters most—my family. “Let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’” (James 5:12) Today’s reading talks about perseverance, and I believe that there are certain things in life that we are all individually called to persevere at. For me, it is my vocation (my family) that I am continually trying to pursue, but it is also my family who suffers due to my drive to please everyone. One cannot serve two masters. [bctt tweet="There are certain things in life that we are all individually called to persevere at."] And so, dear sisters, may we find the courage to say “yes” to those callings on our lives and “no” to the things that keep us from living them out. 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.

Happy Thursday. It’s the ordinary-est of days. It’s the first week back to Ordinary time after weeks of rending our hearts, weeks of feasting and rejoicing during Easter, and that great feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit breathed new life into the Church. What is there now in this long stretch of ordinary time, besides a few holy days of obligation? There is salt and there is holiness in the mundane, in the smallest and most ordinary tasks of each day. This is the time when the fruits of the previous seasons ought to be visible. Now is when the “salt” makes great saints out of us in our ordinary lives. Salt, this simple and inexpensive seasoning, had a profound effect in the spiritual life of the Jews. In Biblical times, the people used salt to purify, preserve, and even as covenantal signs. (see Numbers 18:19) Jesus speaks of salt to remind His disciples of the extraordinary qualities of this ordinary seasoning, to illuminate for them that the actions of the heart are like spiritual salt. “Keep salt in yourselves, and you will have peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50) Our words, actions, and faithfulness are the salt our souls need to make our human relationships extraordinary. Both of the readings by Saint James and Saint Mark remind us that we are living in greed and sin in misery, and will continue to do so if we do not rid our lives of it. Rather than storing up earthly treasure which will rot away, and rather than facing the unquenchable fire due to our sins, Jesus wants us to know that even the simplest acts can gain Heaven for us! Acts as ordinary as offering water to our sister in need, offering our time to listen, our talents in hospitality, our prayers of thanksgiving and petition. . . each one is like salt. Like grace. Each kind act done in love will increase our peace with one another. Pass that salt, sisters. It’s good for the soul. Are you looking for more soul-inspiration about making the ordinary holy? Read something by Saint Josemaria Escriva. “There is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it . . . There is no other way, my daughters . . . either we learn to find our Lord in ordinary, everyday life, or we shall never find him.” (from the 1967 homily “Passionately Loving the World”) [bctt tweet="Jesus wants us to know that even the simplest acts can gain Heaven for us!"] Notice how kind acts increase peace in your relationships today. Commit to a kind act for each person in your day. See how it changes you! 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.

When I was in intensive training to become a Montessori teacher, I was amazed by the powerful unity and friendship that my classmates and I felt with one another. One of my roommates had travelled halfway around the world from Cebu in the Philippines, and another had travelled from Mozambique, Africa to live through a frigid year in Minnesota in order to study Montessori education. Among my classmates and I, there were Muslims, Catholics, Christians, and others who claimed no religious affiliation at all; however, the bond and closeness we experienced with one another ran so deep. Today's Gospel reminds me of the unity despite so many differences that I experienced during my time in Minnesota. Jesus tells us, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:40) Furthermore, He rebukes us not to prevent anyone who is doing good in His name. During my experience at training, I would reflect that, despite the fact that each one of us came from different backgrounds, nationalities, beliefs, and life experiences, we had all come together in service of the child. This is what had brought us together and united us so profoundly. I wondered if this was not only a calling to serve and educate "the child," as in children universally throughout the world, but more profoundly, if our calling as Montessori educators was ultimately a calling in service of the Child, Jesus. Whether we were consciously aware of this or not, it was He who had called each of us to this work as a way of serving Him through His children. In Matthew 19:14 Jesus says not to prevent the little children from coming to Him. Additionally, in today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us not to prevent anyone from doing good work that gives glory to His name. Despite differences we might see, "whoever is not against us, is for us." Let us live our lives in the power of Jesus’ name and remain open to the goodness of others, even if who they are or what they do may seem different from our own lives or experiences. Ultimately, it is Jesus who brings us together and there is so much to be learned from other people. Despite differences, we can remain united in His name. [bctt tweet="Despite differences, we can remain united in His name."] Here in our Blessed is She community, we have thousands of women from various experiences, ages, cultures, and walks of life. Let us build one another up by drawing closer to Jesus and to one another through the power of His love. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Mary Catherine Craige enjoys spending her time creating art, writing, and playing her Irish harp. She uses her experience as a Montessori teacher and catechist to serve young children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. As a life coach for business leaders, she encourages and challenges women in all walks of life to more deeply discover their purpose and live their full potential. You can find out more about her here.

Have you exhausted your lovers? The Lord’s question threw me off guard, but I knew exactly what He meant. In prayer, I stood before Him for the first time in too long, silent and, frankly, embarrassed. He was the first to break the silence. It had been a difficult season of life, and instead of turning to Jesus in my vulnerability and pain, I chose to distract myself from what I was enduring. People, activities, spending, worries, TV, food, projects, sin. Anything to keep me from dealing with what I was feeling, what I was fearing. I gave myself over to the things of this world in order to numb and run from my reality. “You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war . . . . You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:2-3) In our reading today, James is right in calling this adultery. I betrayed the faithful, everlasting Lover of my soul for the cheap one-night-stands and false promises of the world. And every single one of them left me empty-handed, empty-souled. So, as a last resort, I slowly made my way back to Jesus. I met Him, in prayer, at our usual spot. But in my shame, I couldn’t look at Him. I didn’t know what to say. After all, I was only there because nothing else had solved my problems or relieved my pain. Have you exhausted your lovers? He asked me sternly, yet tenderly. “I have, Lord,” I replied, “and I am exhausted.” It was only then that the healing began. Reconciliation (and sacramental Reconciliation) with the Lord opened wide the opportunity for peace in my heart, the peace I had searched for in all the “violent storms.” (Psalm 55) Sisters, have you exhausted your lovers? Have you looked for relief or fulfillment in the things of this world? Are you tired of waging wars within yourself, of being of two minds, of drowning in shame? Let’s humble ourselves before the Lord, friends. Let’s be like the little children in the Gospel, trusting and pure. Let’s draw near to God instead of distraction. Instead of making God our last resort, may we always be quick to throw our cares, all our heavy emotions and baggage, on Him, for He will support us. (Psalm 55) [bctt tweet="Let’s draw near to God instead of distraction. // @to_the_heights"] Ask Him in prayer for the peace only He can bring. 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.

This year, the feast of Pentecost has a special meaning to me because my daughter will be receiving her Confirmation. I can't help but look at her with tears in my eyes as I picture the baby girl I used to rock in my arms. My heart swells as I see the beautiful woman of God she has become. It makes me think about how God the Father must view us as His daughters. He knew us before we were in our mother's womb. He watched us grow and rejoiced to see our smiles and happiness. He grieved when we were hurt and felt abandoned. He is constantly at our side. God knows our life, our hurts and struggles, and what brings us joy. He wants to breathe on us and fill us with the Holy Spirit to bring healing, strength, and peace, not only in our own lives but in the lives of those around us. When the Holy Spirit is working within us we too can be like the Apostles "who began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim." (Acts 2:4) We may not be speaking in a foreign language, but there are people that will be able to relate to you and your personality more than someone else. You have a uniqueness that will touch the lives of the souls God places on your path. It is not by chance that we are here today at this point in history. We each have our calling. . . our mission to complete. We may say, "What I am I supposed to do? I'm just [fill in negativity]." No! None of that! The Holy Spirit works miracles. Look at the progression of the Apostles from huddling in fear after Christ's death to proclaiming the mighty acts of God after they received the Holy Spirit. They were transformed. That is what God is calling us to today. . . to be transformed by the Holy Spirit and better the world around us—whether it is our little home filled with babies, our university, our community, or the greater world. [bctt tweet="Be transformed by the Holy Spirit and better the world around us. // @bobbi_rol"] Together let's pray each morning, "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth." Then, let's go where He leads us. 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.

What did you do yesterday? Do you have to pull out your Blessed is She Liturgical Planner to remember (because I do)? Whom did you have conversations with over text, in person, or on the phone? Whom did you dine with and what did you eat? Were your eyes fixed on your cell phone most of the day, or did you strike up a conversation with someone God positioned in your life? Sometimes it seems only the big moments of life get our attention: the anniversaries, vacations, birthday, and graduations. Yet, it’s in the ordinary, minute-by-minute moments where we encounter God the strongest. At the start of the year, I began a daily examine journal reflecting on the seemingly insignificant responsibilities of my day and, to my amazement, I am more aware of God’s companionship than ever before. I notice it when I demand control instead of surrender, or when God consoles me with a call from a friend, or when I allow His Precious Body to linger a few seconds longer on my tongue and am left breathless with only the Holy Spirit's inspiration remaining in me. Oh, to read Christ's handwriting on a scroll—how I wish He wrote as Saint Paul wrote! Saint John read my mind when he wrote, “There are so many other things Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) What were those intimate conversations Christ had with people on the way to His next destination? Who sheltered Him and the Apostles, and what meals did they share? Did they debate the Old Testament, sing, laugh, dance, and enjoy a nice wineskin with one another? What parables were shared or miracles took place in private that were never written down leading unbelievers to believe and follow Him? I suppose I'm meant to be left pondering the countless books I will never read about Christ’s earthly life. I pray I can discover His presence throughout the moments of my day from when the sunlight hits my eyelids until the final examination. These rapid flashes become the story God writes about our lives; what glorious accounts they are of our brokenness and boldness in proclaiming the Good News. [bctt tweet="I pray I can discover His presence throughout the moments of my day."] How can you find Christ in the ordinary moments of your day? Take a moment and look for Him today. 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.

I am a student of human development. How people grow and change is something that drives me, fascinates me, and some days even baffles me. When you watch little children grow you see them change almost daily; there are times when I look at my 5’9” teenager with wonder—how did you get so big all of a sudden? But it doesn’t happen "all of a sudden." Millions of cells change in millions of ways over millions of minutes and slowly our bodies grow from baby to child to adult. As I settle solidly into my forties, I'll admit there are times when I now look into the mirror and think, You don’t look at all like yourself anymore. It is easy to look in the mirror and be critical of ourselves at all ages. In high school I wanted to be more voluptuous. In college I wanted to be skinnier. In graduate school I wanted to be more toned. Now, I just want to look like my mental image of me. Our physical changes are visible, but how have we changed internally over the years? How has our soul grown and aged and weathered the years? Is it withering up or is it filling out? As Jesus speaks with Simon Peter in today’s gospel He foreshadows more than just normal aging—the Gospel states that clearly He was foreshadowing the type of death He would have, a martyr's death. Saint Peter can only have this by offering a gift of his body to God. (John 21:19) The changes we experience physically as we age also foreshadow our own death. We, too, will have to offer this earthly life to God in the end. It is the growth, progress, maturation, and decay of our bodies that reminds us to prepare our hearts for life eternal. And isn’t that what we are ultimately striving towards? Life eternal, in Heaven with our Savior, and one day with resurrected bodies that will never grow old. [bctt tweet="It is the growth, progress, maturation, and decay of our bodies that reminds us to prepare our hearts for life eternal."] Do you spend more time thinking about your physical condition than you spend thinking about your soul? How can you help nurture the development of your character and relationship with Christ today? Dr. MaryRuth Hackett is Director of Operations for Blessed is She. 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.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of accompanying my 101-year-old grandmother, the matriarch of our Jewish family, to death’s door. Although I had spent years listening to her wise counsel, I leaned in very close as she spoke to me during those last days and passed on her legacy of love. Jesus, on the eve of His own death, with the weight of the world’s sin on His shoulders, drew His family of followers close, and as He prayed to His Father for them, and He allowed them to hear and understand the legacy of love He was passing on to them in those final hours. Jesus deeply desires that the whole world (not just a small band of disciples) believes in the Father’s infinite love revealed in the Son. His heart is that believers—present and future—experience the same kind of oneness that Jesus has with His Father, but not merely for the sake of our individual happiness and well-being. His heart is that we reflect that unity in our relationships with one another. This is how the world will know His love—by the way we love one another. On that Passover night, as the Great High Priest prepared to become the Sacrificial Lamb, He prayed for you! More than 2,000 years ago, in intimate conversation with His Father, Jesus disclosed what was most on His heart not just for humanity, but for you personally. He knew that one day you would read His powerful prayer in your Bible, hear it in the liturgy, meditate upon it, and that it would speak into your life. Every day, Jesus is praying to the Father for you (and for me). He desires for us to learn how to listen better, to put aside the desire to be right or comfortable, and love sacrificially, unconditionally and without limits, even to the point of laying down our lives. This love is what pleases Him so much, what He wants the whole world to see in His Son Whom He glorified, and what He wants the world to see in us. [bctt tweet="This love is what pleases Him so much, what He wants the whole world to see in His Son."] Jesus, thank you for interceding for me. Thank you for your legacy of love. Help me to glorify You by being Your Love to a world that so desperately needs You. 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.

I’ve always had an aversion to saying good-bye. It is difficult to think that I might not see someone I treasure for a long time. I guess that’s why I love my family’s tradition of walking our visitors out and waving until they drive away! In today’s reading, Saint Paul says a emotional goodbye to his friends in Ephesus (Acts 20:38). In the Gospel, Our Lord says a blessing in His goodbye to His disciples. (John 17:11-19) Although neither of them say, “Now, remember to be grateful to Mommy and Daddy, and remember you are beautiful and wonderful,” (as I would say to my nieces and nephews when we parted), Saint Paul and Jesus are actually saying something rather similar. True love unites. The quiet peace, joy, and clarity of true love is the precious gift we celebrate in these Easter days. It’s interesting that, as we are deep into the Easter Season, our family, the Church, seems to be calling us to do a little check-in. We have fifty days to be immersed in Alleluias. Fifty days to praise to God in whom we have access to the finality of Love’s triumph over death and darkness. Today, we are in the seventh week of Easter and the Church asks us to step back and remember the words surrounding the victory of love. As Jesus and Saint Paul say goodbye, they warn us to be on guard against any division—whether it be in ourselves, in our families, or in our community. In fact, division is the sure sign of the presence of something putrid that festers up from the father of lies. So while we’re still singing Easter praises, it is good to ask the Holy Spirit to keep the memory of our identity in Christ within each of us. We can see that identity with our hearts, and we need to be reminded that it is what enables us to live in the world—and yet not be of the world. [bctt tweet="Ask the Holy Spirit to keep the memory of our identity in Christ within each of us."] 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, and is part of a bilingual evangelization team of sisters serving in Texas. Find out more about her here.

A scream pierced the darkness. I awoke, dazed, as my husband stumbled from the bed to flip on the glaring light. It was our youngest, suffering one of his night terrors. They’d become infrequent in recent months, but we were traveling, crammed in a hotel room together, and he was clearly disoriented. During these night terrors, our son would simply scream, eyes open but unseeing, distraught to the point of hysteria. Several minutes would pass before he sobbed himself back to sleep, never remembering the incident the next morning no matter how often we asked. We’d tried everything, namely because I always insisted that we “do” something to help. He merely continued to scream until the terror passed and sleep returned. So this time, I simply watched my husband lay down on the bed next him, doing as he had always done: gently rubbing our son’s back, assuring him that Dad was right there, talking to him in soothing tones as they rode out the storm. After it passed, my husband carefully tucked him back in and kissed his forehead. And there, in the middle of the night in a hotel room, I realized this was a glimpse of how God accompanies us through our storms. The imagery filled my heart with joy, because I’ve been trying so long to better understand God the Father. Jesus is easy to get to know through the Scriptures and His physical presence. I relate easily to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Yet God the Father? He can be harder to place. The more I’ve tried to comprehend the Fatherhood of God, the more I understand that even the best example of an earthly father, even the best parent-child relationship, can never communicate the fullness of God’s love for us as Father. And if we have broken relationships with our parents? It’s that much harder to grasp the incomparable, indestructible love of our heavenly Father. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us a way: He lifts His eyes to the Father, revealing their Oneness from time immemorial in beautiful language, and teaching us that we come to know the Father through the Son. (John 17:1-11) We learn what a relationship with the Father looks like through Christ—by His words, through His example, and above all in His intimacy with the Father Who loves us all. [bctt tweet="We learn what a relationship with the Father looks like through Christ. // @PosImperfect"] You are His beloved Daughter. Reflect on a time in the Gospels that Jesus spoke to our heavenly Father, and imagine yourself interacting with God the Father with the same words and intimacy. 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.

In the nine verses that make up today’s Gospel passage there are two words that get repeated over and over: love and command, or commandment. (John 15:9-17) So what do these two words have to do with each other? The mainstream culture would say not that much. Love should be free; free from obligations and constraints, free to do whatever it feels like. A command, which implies obedience, is the opposite of freedom, and only ties love down. But think about your closest relationships, be they with a spouse, a friend, or a relative. Those relationships require love and obedience. Maybe we don’t use words like command and obey when we are referring to our earthly relationships, but they are still present. If a friend shares a struggle with me in confidence, asking me not to mention it to anyone else, and I truly love my friend, I will respect her request. I will be obedient. When I ask my husband over and over again to please put the cap back on the toothpaste, and he never remembers to do it, it hurts me. Conversely, when I notice the cap on the toothpaste every morning, I see it as a sign that he is listening to the things I am saying. I see it as an expression of his love for me. Jesus is the perfect example of love, and of obedience. He obeyed the Father in all things, even in going to the cross. And He loves us unconditionally, to the point of laying down His life for us. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.” (John 15:13) And He asks us to follow His example. It sounds like a tall order. But don’t be afraid, the commands of the Lord are never meant to crush us. They will actually set us free to live the fullest life possible. Jesus even says, “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (John 15:11) There is joy to be found in following Christ. Read this Gospel passage once more, paying attention to all the places the words love and command come up. Then go, do as He commands and “love one another,” and find joy in remaining in His love. [bctt tweet="There is joy to be found in following Christ."] Ponder His words today and think of how you can live them out in your day-to-day. Anna Coyne is a Saint Paul native, wife, mother, and convert to the Catholic faith. When not chasing after her two young children you can probably find her playing the piano, knitting, tripping over wooden train sets, or writing. Find out more about her here.

Every Sunday at Mass, we recite the Nicene Creed and proclaim our belief that Jesus “ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” (full prayer here) Simple, right? Let’s use our spiritual imaginations in prayer to dive deeper into this mystery. Picture yourself in friendship with the Apostles, receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit and the commission to be His witness to the ends of the earth. Then Jesus “was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9) What do you notice? How does your heart respond? Can you see His glory? This scene can still leave us puzzled because it almost feels like He is abandoning His Apostles. This is where we can recall Jesus words, “I am going away and I will come back to you.” (John 14:28) When Jesus is taken from their sight He does not become more distant; surprisingly, the opposite occurs. Jesus’ bodily departure from this particular, geographical location allows Him to become present and accessible to all of humanity. We can also remember how Luke describes the Apostles leaving with joy after the Ascension. “As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:51-52) Isn’t it incredible that the Ascension was the cause of joy? Our Heavenly Father wants us to experience this same joy today because He desires for us to ascend with Jesus. How? Well, through our Baptism, we become children of God and are made holy. By living in this union with Christ, we are invited to mysteriously share in the life of the Trinity and dwell with God forever in Heaven. Through Jesus, we have access to the Father’s house. Heaven becomes accessible! Will we allow Jesus to stretch our hearts today with longing for our home in Heaven? Together, let us live in the unshakable hope of eternal life with Jesus, who has gone before us. [bctt tweet="Let us live in the unshakable hope of eternal life with Jesus."] Beauty is a foundational method of evangelization in the Catholic Church. How does your church’s architecture, sacred music, liturgies, and clouds of incense point you to your home in Heaven? 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.