First Reading: Acts 2:1-11 When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 R. (cf. 30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! How manifold are your works, O LORD! the earth is full of your creatures; R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD be glad in his works! Pleasing to him be my theme; I will be glad in the LORD. R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13 Brothers and sisters: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit. Sequence - Veni, Sancte Spiritus Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine. You, of comforters the best; You, the soul’s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below; In our labor, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe. O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of yours, And our inmost being fill! Where you are not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore In your sevenfold gift descend; Give them virtue’s sure reward; Give them your salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia. Gospel: John 20:19-23 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” NAB Today we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. Today, Jesus pours out His Spirit upon us with the same power and dynamism in which He poured out His Spirit upon the apostles in the Upper Room. The Spirit may not take the visible form of tongues of fire above your head today, but He is ready to recreate you and renew the face of the earth with the same power of that first Pentecost. Are you open to receive His Spirit? I feel like sometimes we want to control the Spirit. We want God's power in the way in which we want it to manifest. We may not be really receiving God's life in us, but rather trying to force our ideas and plans onto God. Today in the Gospel, Jesus says, "Peace be with you . . . Receive the Holy Spirit." Nine days prior to Pentecost, the Apostles had witnessed Jesus ascend into Heaven. They did not know what would happen next. Jesus had said a lot of things and made a lot of promises, but it was unclear how all that would play out. After nine days of praying (the first "novena"), Jesus sent His Holy Spirit as He had promised upon the Apostles in a way that the Apostles probably could have never imagined. Their lives were changed forever. The Church was born, and the Apostles, sent and empowered, went out proclaiming the truth of Jesus' life and love. The gift and power of the Spirit is available to each one of us. Let us live this life in the Spirit with the same power and dynamism of the Apostles! You might not be called to preach and be martyred in foreign countries, however, the Spirit can enflame and give life even to your most mundane daily responsibilities. May God pour His Spirit upon you and recreate you so that you may be inspired and renewed in Him to use your gifts to renew the face of the earth. Come, Holy Spirit! (As members of the Church, each possessing different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit, I wish you all a very happy birthday!!) [bctt tweet="Are you open to receive His Spirit?"] Are you open to receive the Spirit in a new way today? If yes, then beg Him to come and fill you with His life. And remember, sometimes the Spirit prefers to powerfully come in still small whispers in your heart. Listen to Him, and let Him fill you with His life, peace and power. photo credit Mary Catherine Craige is a lover of creativity and learning new things. When she is not guiding the development of young children through Montessori methods, you can find her behind her harp, taking an art class, or writing. You can find out more about her here.

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, “My brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. For it is written in the Book of Psalms: Let his encampment become desolate, and may no one dwell in it. and: May another take his office. Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 R. (8) The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forever. R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the LORD to be praised. High above all nations is the LORD; above the heavens is his glory. R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. He raises up the lowly from the dust; from the dunghill he lifts up the poor To seat them with princes, with the princes of his own people. R. The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. Gospel: John 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” NAB “This is my commandment, love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.” Laying down your life for another is heavy stuff. Soldiers, police officers, and firemen do this every day. But they're not the only ones who put their lives on the line. Mothers and wives follow this command despite knowing their actions are often unseen and unheralded. My daughter Courtney was a special young woman. Starting at five weeks old, seizures attacked her everyday. She never spoke or walked. She lived in her wheelchair and couldn't care for herself. So even though I had a toddler and a husband in the Navy, I did what needed to be done. Some days were good, but many sent me to my knees in exhaustion and fear. I spent night after night begging God to end this suffering. Not knowing what each day would bring required a trust in the Lord that this stubborn Irish/German Mama fought. I wanted a normal life. I wanted to experience the world. But because my daughter's daily care was so intensive, I barely left the house. For twenty-three years I was pretty much homebound. At first I was resentful and angry. But God had a plan. When Courtney was seven, God showed me that loving my daughter required a hero’s heart. He asked me to sacrifice my dreams, to humble myself, in order to care for my daughter. For as long as it took. Every day I had to choose between what I wanted and what God asked of me. Every day I could either see the joy in my circumstances or give into the fear. But when I chose Courtney’s laughter, cheering her developmental goals, my life changed. When I chose to see her dignity and celebrate her humanity, laying down my desires became easier and easier. In time, I discovered more joy than I ever thought possible. But choosing to ditch my dreams wasn't easy. I fought daily battles until loving and caring for her without resentment became my life's goal. God provided everything needed for her care and although we still faced many difficulties—medical and financial—He blessed me with a glorious life with my beautiful child. When it was over, my time with Courtney felt like 23 days instead of 23 years. With His help and grace, the burden became light indeed. Even though my daughter died over a year ago, every day I'm grateful for the lesson she and God taught me—that sacrificing yourself is the most heroic way to love. [bctt tweet="Sacrificing yourself is the most heroic way to love."] How is God asking you to trust Him today? What are you angry about or afraid of? Call upon the mercy and grace of Our Lord and fight to love without resentment, or holding anything back. Fight to love as God loves us. photo credit Mary Lenaburg married her first (and only) blind date going on 27 years ago, is a full-time liturgy coordinator, and parents one adult son navigating his path on earth and a special needs daughter safely in Heaven. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 25:13B-21 King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus. Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here left in custody by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation. I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge. So when they came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in. His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive. Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges. And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20AB R. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, all you his angels, you mighty in strength, who do his bidding. R. The Lord has established his throne in heaven. Gospel: John 21:15-19 After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” NAB "People are dying here because they need bread and we’ve got it in our hands and we either don’t think it’s real bread or we really don’t care." - Ann Voskamp Do you love me? Feed my sheep. The world is starving. The problem is . . . we do not wish to be inconvenienced with feeding other people when we are trying to feed ourselves. It’s too awkward to ask strangers or acquaintances whether they have heard about the love of Jesus Christ. We rarely feel we have enough energy for our own lives, what energy is there left to be Jesus in the world? I will be the first to say it . . . I am lukewarm. If I wasn't lukewarm, every person who sits on a plane next to me would leave knowing about Jesus. If I wasn’t lukewarm, I would give until it truly hurts and I would step outside my own selfishness more often than I do to sacrifice. If my heart was burning with love for Jesus, every person I encounter would leave me knowing that Jesus loves them. I don’t usually do it . . . I have bread in my hands but perhaps I don’t think it’s real or I really don’t care. I am keeping the bread to myself. One day on a flight, the man in the row behind me began a conversation with the guy next to him. Jason showed kind interest in Michael’s life. As Michael talked about visiting his girlfriend in South America, I trailed off to sleep. When I awoke, Jason was telling Michael about the person of Jesus Christ. Michael was not raised in faith . . . and "doesn’t really believe in much." Jason knows the bread he has in his hands and he knows it is his most spectacular calling to give it away. Before landing, Jason asked Michael if he could pray over him. Michael accepted. This man had the courage to feed Christ’s sheep . . . to give a man hungry for Love the truth that outlasts any flimsy promise of fulfillment the world will ever offer him. Do you love me? When Jesus asks me . . . I want the evidence that I do to be overwhelming. I don’t want the times I kept the bread for myself to outweigh the times I have given it away . . . and the only person who has the power to change that is me. If this is the way Jason lives . . . he has evidence to fill his home and all the barns in the backyard. As we de-planed, I turned around to Jason and thanked him. Do you love me? Yes, Jesus, we do. Feed my sheep. You have bread in your hands. Are you giving it away? [bctt tweet="You have bread in your hands. Are you giving it away?"] Challenge yourself today to work your love for Christ into a conversation with a person who may not know of your faith—you have the bread and every person you meet today needs it! photo credit Emily Wilson planned her whole life to become a sports reporter but turned out to be a Catholic musician and speaker at the hand of God. She lives out of her suitcase and travels across the world speaking to people of all ages. The heart of her ministry is offering encouragement to teen girls in search of their true identity, and she loves ever second of it. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them. Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11 R. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.” O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. Gospel: John 17:20-26 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.” NAB Did you know that Jesus prayed for you while He walked this earth? It’s in today’s Gospel reading, in the High Priestly Prayer. “I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” Jesus is praying for every believer that ever was and ever will be. And because He is perfect and omniscient, and His love for us is infinite, I believe He was actually thinking of each and every one of us when He prayed those words. And this is His prayer for us: That we may be one. Unity is a prominent theme in Jesus’ prayer for us. The Trinity is the prefect model of unity—it is united in total love, and that’s the kind of unity Jesus desires for us, His Church. That we may be in Him, and He in us. He’s not just praying that we would be united with one another, but that we would also be united with Him and with the Father. That we may be brought to perfection. Jesus is sanctifying us, His church as a whole, and each of us individually. We receive forgiveness for our sins, and we are being made holy. That we will bear witness to the world. Jesus is using us to build His Kingdom. When we are in relationship with God it shows to those around us. When people see us they will see the One who is in us, and they will be drawn to Him. That we may be with Him. Jesus desires our salvation. It’s easy to picture God as a harsh judge, ready to condemn us the moment we mess us. But in truth He longs to bestow His mercy on us. He wants us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. That we may be filled with the same love that the Father has for the Son. Do you know how much God the Father loves the Son? Infinitely, perfectly, unconditionally. The force of that love is so strong that it produces the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. And that’s the kind of love Jesus wants to fill you with. [bctt tweet="Did you know that Jesus prayed for you while He walked this earth?"] This is Jesus’ heart for you, dear sister. It’s brimming over with love for you. Before the world began He thought of you and He is constantly desiring the best for you. Let this knowledge hold you and lift you up this day. photo credit Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, musician, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 20:28-38 At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he acquired with his own Blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated. I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35A, 35BC-36AB R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Show forth, O God, your power, the power, O God, with which you took our part; For your temple in Jerusalem let the kings bring you gifts. R. Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth. You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, chant praise to the Lord who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens. Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power: “Confess the power of God!” R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Over Israel is his majesty; his power is in the skies. Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Gospel: John 17:11B-19 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” NAB When was the last time you had to let go of something that really mattered? Most of us have faced that battle between brain and heart- the struggle to let go when our hands just won’t quite unclench. Our hearts ache with the effort of releasing what is precious to us . . . a job into which we’ve poured ourselves, a child who is heading off into the wide world, a classroom full of students we have shaped and molded. We’ve done our best, but our time is up. “And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up.” Saint Paul’s words tug at my heart. He has sacrificed everything for this young church that will now be responsible for bearing Christ to a hostile world. The new believers face persecution from outside the Church, but they face even worse from within, as division and infighting threaten to destroy them. Paul has taken them as far as he can, and now they must walk on their own. How terrifying it must have been for them to watch him sail away! How terrifying it must have been for Paul to release them and trust them to stand without him! How could he know that they would be okay? Because of Jesus and his example. Because when Jesus faced the same situation- leaving those He had guided to stand on their own, He wasn’t really leaving them alone. He was leaving them in God’s hands. There’s no safer place they could be. When I think of my children going out into the world someday, I sometimes worry that they won’t have everything they need to be capable, successful adults. It helps to remember that they don’t belong to me. They are not mine any more than Paul’s followers belonged to him. They belong to God. They’re on loan to me here for a time. All I can do is my best, trusting God to fill in the gaps and to guide them when my turn is over. It’s not easy to turn over our dearest ones and leave them in God’s hands, but Jesus and Paul showed us how to do it. Through prayer. With tears. In trust. He’s got the whole world in His hands, from the beginning of time until its end- Paul’s church at Ephesus, Jesus’ disciples, each and every one of us and all our fondest hopes and dreams. Nothing will slip through His fingers when we let it go and leave it in His hands. [bctt tweet="Nothing will slip through His fingers when we let it go and leave it in His hands."] God truly does have the whole world in His hands, including the thing you struggle most to let go. The next time you find yourself with hands clenched, try singing this song as you release what is precious to you so that God can take it for you. Remember that it matters even more to Him than to you. photo credit Abbey Dupuy writes her life as a homeschooling mama of four while relying on coffee and grace. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 20:17-27 From Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he addressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repentance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that imprisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God’s grace. “But now I know that none of you to whom I preached the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again. And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance; you restored the land when it languished; Your flock settled in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Blessed day by day be the Lord, who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation. God is a saving God for us; the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Gospel: John 17:1-11A Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.” NAB There are few things I find more comforting in life than having a community of friends who will rise up and pray for me when I need it. The prayers of friends have carried me through some horrific things. And they have also buoyed me in the smaller needs. They have celebrated the good with me, and sustained me in my daily life. They are always a gift, and they are always cherished. My heart is moved when people are willing to stand before God on my behalf. Today, Saint Paul in the First Reading and Jesus in the Gospel are both saying a sort of goodbye. And both are courageously facing the sufferings, Paul his imprisonment and eventual martyrdom, and Jesus, His passion and death. And both are thinking first and foremost about the people they have laid down their lives to serve. We hear so often about the goodness of God, and of course we see it action nearly constantly in the person of Jesus. But the idea of Jesus praying for us before the Father? Well, it moves me in my deepest being. What a tender, personal, intimate gift that is. When our Jesus’ thoughts turn to His final moments here on life, he is thinking of us, he is praying for us. And what He prays is that we will find life in knowing Him and His father. He preemptively believes in us, that we will accept His word and live it. That we will respond to all that He has taught us. And He offers it to the Father as a great and beautiful good. It is what He has to show for His three years of formal ministry, the part of His life He spent proclaiming the Kingdom to us. We have a God who prays for us. Who comes alongside us like a friend and strengthens us on our spiritual journey. We have a God who believes in us and our belief in Him even before we have proven ourselves to Him. What a good, good Father He is! Today, let me bow my head in grateful recognition of His tender love and kind-hearted ways. Today, let me be a bit more of the follower Jesus believed I would be when He stood before the Father on my behalf. Today, let His tender mercy give me strength for my journey. Father, hear His prayer and mine. Amen. [bctt tweet="We have a God who comes alongside us like a friend and strengthens us on our spiritual journey."] Pray for someone today, and as you do, think of the great privilege and joy it is to intercede for another. Then remember that Jesus prayed for you, and offer thanks to the Father for such a kind gift. photo credit Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks before and after the birth of a child. Find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 19:1-8 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and down to Ephesus where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men. He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 68:2-3AB, 4-5ACD, 6-7AB R. (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. God arises; his enemies are scattered, and those who hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. But the just rejoice and exult before God; they are glad and rejoice. Sing to God, chant praise to his name; whose name is the LORD. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. The father of orphans and the defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. God gives a home to the forsaken; he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. R. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Gospel: John 16:29-33 The disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that you know everything and that you do not need to have anyone question you. Because of this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” NAB In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world. I love this verse. It is so reassuring. Jesus says this at the end of the long teaching He gives in the Gospel according to Saint John right before His High Priestly prayer in John 17 (which I also love). But what makes it more interesting is what He says right before that. Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. His disciples declare their faith, and Jesus foretells that they will all abandon Him and be scattered each to his own home. But He wants them to have peace. In some ways this does not seem so different than the times in the Gospels when Jesus would teach His disciples and then send them out to preach. They would be scattered. And here before His death, He has taught them, and now again they will be scattered. After Pentecost, they all went out and preached and were scattered all over the world. And again we, the Church, are each scattered to our own homes all over the face of the earth. We are a scattered people. And just as Christ was not alone, and had His Father, so do we. We are not alone. Wherever we are in the world, we are Christ’s, for He has conquered the world. Take courage, dear sisters. Let us all take courage. Take courage in the face of the daily tasks. Take courage to overcome the persistent sinful habits. Take courage in the face of persecution. Take courage when nothing is going right in the world. There is nothing to fear from all the trouble we face, from our daily struggles to the moral decay of our society to the persecution of Christians at home and abroad to natural disasters to wars. We will have trouble, but Christ has already conquered the world. [bctt tweet="We will have trouble, but Christ has already conquered the world."] It is not easy to have courage in the face of our troubles, but let us not forget that Christ has already conquered. He will give us the courage we need. Where do you need more courage? photo credit Susanna Spencer once studied theology and philosophy, but now happily cares for her three adorable little girls, new baby boy, and her dear husband in Saint Paul. She loves beautiful liturgies, cooking delicious meals, baking amazing sweets, reading good books, raising her children, casually following baseball, and talking to her philosopher husband. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 7:55-60 Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them;” and when he said this, he fell asleep. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9 R. (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth. The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad. Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth. The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory. All gods are prostrate before him. R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth. You, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods. R. The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth. Second Reading: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20 I, John, heard a voice saying to me: “Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates. “I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let the hearer say, “Come.” Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water. The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Gospel: John 17:20-26 Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “Holy Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.” NAB "The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”" Ok, Jesus, that was 2,000 years ago, sooooooo . . . awkward question . . . how soon is soon? I mean, the Apostles thought they'd get to see You again in their lifetime. And things aren't looking so great this side of Heaven these days, so could we get this show on the road? Sometimes we wonder what's taking the Lord so long, don't we? Every once in a while, we get desperate about the state of the world and discouraged about the state of our life that we cry out, "C'mon Lord, take us to Heaven now please!!!" And sometimes I wonder if we don't want Him to come. At least, not like Saint John wanted Him to come. Jesus was not only John's savior and redeemer, teacher and master, but his BFF. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, John missed Him. Think about the way you miss your sister or your mom, your best friend, or your spouse when they're away (especially if they've been away for a long while). You don't just miss them, right? It's more like a longing, a desperate desire to be with them again. And it doesn't matter what else you have going on, or what you might be in the middle of, if you get the chance to see them, you'll drop everything. I think this is what John was feeling about Jesus when he exclaimed, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" He expressed his infinite desire to be with Jesus again. Do we hold that same burning flame in our hearts for Our Lord? Do we miss Him, long for Him, desperately desire to be with Him? Do we, the Church, as His Bride, repeat "Come, Lord Jesus" in our hearts and on our lips? Jesus is coming soon. How soon is soon? We don't know. But let's spend the time waiting, the time in between, wanting Him to come. Not once we've graduated with our degree, not once we've landed that dream job, not once we've married and had kids, not once we've completed everything on our bucket list. Let's want Him to come whenever He wants to come; let's be willing to drop everything with joy elation to be with Him. Let's shape our lives to be one giant request: Come, Lord Jesus! [bctt tweet="Do we miss Our Lord, long for Him, desperately desire to be with Him?"] Let's want Him to come whenever He wants to come; let's be willing to drop everything with joy elation to be with Him. Let's shape our lives to be one giant request: Come, Lord Jesus! photo credit Olivia Spears is a middle school religion teacher turned SAHM who is married to her high school best friend. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 18:23-28 After staying in Antioch some time, Paul left and traveled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples. A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. After his arrival he gave great assistance to those who had come to believe through grace. He vigorously refuted the Jews in public, establishing from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 8-9, 10 R. (8a) God is king of all the earth. All you peoples, clap your hands; shout to God with cries of gladness. For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. R. God is king of all the earth. For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. R. God is king of all the earth. The princes of the peoples are gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For God’s are the guardians of the earth; he is supreme. R. God is king of all the earth. Gospel: John 16:23B-28 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. “I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” NAB I don't like making decisions. But I do like control. This seems a little contradictory, until I tell you about the seven months I spent vacillating over which running shoes to get, all in an effort to control the level of perfection of said shoes. The perfect fit, the perfect sale for our budget, the ones that will make me run like the wind, and—of course—how cool they look. Never mind that I if I'd just replaced my old running shoes in a practical way to begin with, I could've spent the past seven months actually running. I read a blog post by Jennifer Fulwiler a few years ago with similar sentiments, and it's stuck with me ever since. (Though clearly I need to get better at the application!) In it, Jen shared what she learned from the story of Saint Francis. While she would agonize over decisions, Saint Francis simply took action. When God told him to rebuild the church, he immediately started collecting stones to rebuild the crumbling church around him. God had something slightly different in mind, though; Francis hadn't correctly discerned the small detail that God wanted him to rebuild the whole Church throughout the world, with all its misguided and broken people. But you know what? It didn't matter. God merely took Francis's actions and zeal and redirected them. Looking around at the thousands of Franciscans in the world today, the fact that Francis didn't make every decision perfectly before acting clearly didn't hinder God's plan one iota. He just needed Francis "all in;" God knew He could do the rest. Apollo's actions in the First Reading remind me a lot of Saint Francis. He didn't have all the right information. But he had the zeal. That's all God needed. When Apollo skewed some of the details, God simply sent people into Apollo's life to redirect him. Because of this, Apollo went even further and preached even greater truths to the world than he ever could have hemming and hawing in his room. If you agonize over the details like me (and Jen), it can be hard to let go. But we can remember that as long as we're earnestly seeking God's will and truth, He'll effortlessly redirect us or fine tune our path along the way. He has all the sufficient grace ready and waiting to make it happen--He just needs us to cooperate and take that first step. [bctt tweet="As long as we're earnestly seeking God's will, He'll fine tune our path along the way."] What has God been asking you to do, sister? Step out in faith with me today. photo credit Megan Hjelmstad is a wife, mom, writer and sometimes soldier whose real passion is equal parts faith and chocolate. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 18:9-18 One night while Paul was in Corinth, the Lord said to him in a vision, “Do not be afraid. Go on speaking, and do not be silent, for I am with you. No one will attack and harm you, for I have many people in this city.” He settled there for a year and a half and taught the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him to the tribunal, saying, “This man is inducing people to worship God contrary to the law.” When Paul was about to reply, Gallio spoke to the Jews, “If it were a matter of some crime or malicious fraud, I should with reason hear the complaint of you Jews; but since it is a question of arguments over doctrine and titles and your own law, see to it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of such matters.” And he drove them away from the tribunal. They all seized Sosthenes, the synagogue official, and beat him in full view of the tribunal. But none of this was of concern to Gallio. Paul remained for quite some time, and after saying farewell to the brothers he sailed for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had shaved his head because he had taken a vow. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (8a) God is king of all the earth. All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. R. God is king of all the earth. He brings people under us; nations under our feet. He chooses for us our inheritance, the glory of Jacob, whom he loves. R. God is king of all the earth. God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. R. God is king of all the earth. Gospel: John 16:20-23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world. So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.” NAB If there's one thing I could name about being a Catholic that carries me through it all it would be the emphasis Catholicism puts on suffering. I grew up in some great, lovely, uplifting denominations yet as I grew older they didn't carry me through the way I had been taught they would. I got older and life got harder. Careers and jobs didn't work out, the economy tanked, relationships were not what I thought they were and many, many times I lost my own footing as I tried to discover who I was. Relatives got older, friends got sick, the world turned upside down and the little world I encompassed on a daily basis was full of more questions, dark moments and struggles than it was full picturesque faith. When I was in the process of discerning conversion to Catholicism I knew my soul was crying out for more than happy Bible studies and fun music. I needed a faith that really understood that sometimes life was hard, really hard. I needed a faith that understood that it wasn't my fault when the going gets tough. I needed a faith that didn't see my life's lack of perfection as a reflection of my relationship with God or as a photocopy of the state of my Soul. In today's reading, we get some of the New Testaments most quoted lines; lines full of support and happy promises. Yet it was not until the last few years that I realized there's more to read between them. A younger version of myself would read these lines and see them as a promise that everything was going to be okay—those bad times would end or that I'd finally make that right, ideal decision—but that's not what's there. We're not told to avoid the bad times. Saint Paul is not told to give up and do something a little less difficult. We're told to keep going, to do the hard things, to live the hard times because in the end God delivers us to His best reward. Our reward is not to be free of hard times here on earth; it's not a sign of favor to have an easy, "blessed" life. Our reward comes at the end of these long days and what we need is to remember that not one of us is asked to live the easy life, not even Jesus and His blessed Mother escaped this world without their share of hard times. Today remember that we here at Blessed Is She see your hard times; we've been there, we are still there, we're walking that road beside you. Your hard times are not a sign of weakness or ill-favor. Your hard times are not a reflection of your family, your child, or your soul. Your hard times are a painfully beautiful part of how God is calling you to him. [bctt tweet="Remember we see your hard times; we've been there, we're walking that road beside you."] We are here, and we have the Church. God blesses us with His grace during all times. photo credit Molly Walter is a wife, mother and homemaker (with a pesky job outside the home). She shares about making the life she wants with the life she’s been given over here.

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord First Reading: Acts 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the LORD, amid trumpet blasts. Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. For king of all the earth is God; sing hymns of praise. God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. Second Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23 Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you 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, in accord with the exercise of his great might: which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. Gospel: Luke 24:46-53 Jesus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. 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, and they were continually in the temple praising God. NAB “Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, precedes us into the Father’s glorious kingdom so that we, the members of his Body, may live in the hope of one day being with him for ever.” CCC 665. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than the hope and joy of the Resurrection, Christ pulls out all the stops, and ascends to His Father in heaven. I mean, He conquered death. You can’t get much better than that, right? But the miracles and mercies of God are astonishing. The veiled glory present in Jesus’ body on earth after His Resurrection is transformed once again. Now, seated at the right hand of the Father, His humanity shines forth irrevocably with the power of eternal glory. This opens up the glory of heaven to each and every one us. And, in fact, we already live in truth of this event. Because Christ is still present to us here on earth. "I am with you always, until the end of the world." Mt 28:19. We live in the ‘final days’ that He initiated with His Ascension into heaven. As Pope Benedict XVI reminded us, ‘the Lord’s Ascension means that Christ has not gone far away from us, but that now, thanks to the fact that he is with the Father, he is close to each one of us forever.’” We anticipate the fullness of that inheritance which awaits us as daughters of the King. We live in the hope and the promise of what is to come . . . for it has already begun. “By His great mercy we have be born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5. Powerful promises from a loving and powerful God. May we carry the belief in this with us as we move forward in the liturgical season. [bctt tweet="We live in the hope and the promise of what is to come, for it has already begun."] What does the hope of the Ascension mean for your life? Meditate today on the Readings, asking Our Lord to more greatly instill in you the virtue of hope and trust for all that He has promised. photo credit Laurel Muff is a creator and appreciator of beautiful things. She resides with her husband and daughters in Northern California. You can find more about her here.

Memorial of Saints Philip and James, Apostles First Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5 R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day pours out the word to day; and night to night imparts knowledge. R. Their message goes out through all the earth. Not a word nor a discourse whose voice is not heard; Through all the earth their voice resounds, and to the ends of the world, their message. R. Their message goes out through all the earth. Gospel: John 14:6-14 Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.” NAB There is power in the name of Jesus. We know this and Jesus, even tells us so in today's Gospel, "If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." But, do we know it and practice it? That's a different thing. I have seen amazing things in my life, even miracles performed all in the name is Jesus and yet, there is still this pesky little speck of doubt deep down in my heart that isn't quite convinced. Is it that I am not convinced or that I doubt Jesus would do something extraordinary for me if I ask? Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Seeking Your help always feels like such a burden. In fact, that is exactly what Christ asks us to do: "Ask anything in my name, and I will do it." The root of my fear of disappointment is really found deep in myself. I am disappointing. I need to view the Lord with a different lens as His ways are not my own, and I need to trust that more. I need to stop looking for answered prayers in my life, rather keep my head bowed in prayer, leaving my petitions before God and trusting in the power of Jesus. My faith needs to grow. My eyes need to be widened. My heart needs to be softened. My life needs to be Yours, Jesus. There is power in the name of Jesus. Banish this speck of doubt in my heart, Oh Lord. [bctt tweet="My life needs to be Yours, Jesus. There is power in Your name."] Is there a pesky speck of doubt in your heart? What is holding you back from the power of Jesus? Pray on these things and leave them before God. Cassie Kent is a wife, mom to two kiddos, believes in celebrating creativity and embraces the present moment. She loves throwing a party and has a heart for hospitality. You can find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church First Reading: Acts 16:11-15 We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 149:1B-2, 3-4, 5-6A AND 9B R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people. Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel be glad in their maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R. The Lord takes delight in his people. Let them praise his name in the festive dance, let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp. For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory. R. The Lord takes delight in his people. Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their couches. Let the high praises of God be in their throats. This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. R. The Lord takes delight in his people. Gospel: John 15:26—16:4A Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.” NAB I do not know about you, but I have a hard time dealing with people who say one thing and act another way. (Actually, I am sure you don’t like that either. Who would really?) And while I tend to take the nonjudgmental route (maybe they are having a bad day, I don’t know what they do behind closed doors, etc), it can be fairly obvious when an individual consistently preaches this or that virtue or claims to have some moral high ground but does not actively practice his/her philosophies in real life. I tend to raise my eyebrows when I see behavior like that. And of course, I am not immune to occasional hypocrisy. But sometimes those people can get under my skin. (End rant.) But think about it the other way. I think about the people who have had the biggest impact on my life and those who have inspired me to be a better person and you know what they have in common? They practice what they preach. They are the people who go about their days living out the message of the Lord. They are kind in their words and deeds, they love unconditionally, they live out their faith. They inspire me. You inspire me. I see your hearts and your faith when I talk to you and when I see how you talk with one another. I see your calls for prayer and the outpouring of support from this tremendous community. I see the love and compassion of true sisterhood. And I want you to know that I am listening and I am watching. And you have changed my life and my heart for the better. You are sitting at the bank of the river, just proclaiming His word and being a true daughter of Christ. You are opening hearts to His message. And while we all may falter and fail at times, we must still remain faithful. For the Lord takes delight in His people. That’s me. And that’s you too. [bctt tweet="You inspire me. I see the love and compassion of true sisterhood."] Keep going, sisters. Keep loving and inspiring and being here part of this beautiful community. Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm is a wife, mom, and dentist currently living in the Bay Area, California. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders about this question. The apostles and elders, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: “The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you! May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. R. O God, let all the nations praise you! May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. R. O God, let all the nations praise you! May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! R. O God, let all the nations praise you! Second Reading: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites. There were three gates facing east, three north, three south, and three west. The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation, on which were inscribed the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb. Gospel: John 14:23-29 Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.” NAB Disagreement with Catholic teaching is something that saints and heretics have in common. The great Saint Paul himself, we read about in today's First Reading, was a dissenter and debater. But the difference between the saints and the heretics has always been in how they've gone about dissenting. We see in today’s reading, and in Paul’s own description of the incident in his letter to the Galatians, that Saint Paul disagrees with what he calls the “circumcision faction” (Gal. 2:12) within the early Church. That is, those who believed that Christians should adhere to Jewish law, including being circumcised and following Jewish regulations about food and eating practices. Saint Peter, the Pope, had gone back and forth on the matter. Saint Paul was deeply convinced that it was wrong to make Gentiles conform to Jewish law in order to become Christians. So Paul prayed about it. He received a “revelation” from God on the matter. Then he consulted with those in positions of authority, “I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain” (Gal. 2:2). Having convinced those church elders, Paul began to engage in debate with those who opposed him within the church. He went to Peter and “opposed him to his face” (Gal. 2:11). At every step, Saint Paul was agitating for change via prayer, study, and intellectual argument, rather than through disobedience, sedition, and personal sin. He didn’t claim that his conscience dictated that he should do as he pleased, and encourage others to do so. What he hoped to change was a changeable matter of Church practice, rather than an infallible teaching on a matter of faith or morals. He wanted to create peace, not division, and correct, rather than exacerbate, the discord within the Church, “some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind” (Acts 15:24). I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that most modern Catholic “dissent” doesn't really live up to the term as Paul lived it. Most modern Catholic “dissent” is based on fear, personal preferences, misunderstanding of Church teaching, or the modern unpopularity of that teaching. Let’s avoid that. Let’s dissent like Saint Paul. Let's dissent like Saint Paul. Or not at all. [bctt tweet="Let's dissent like Saint Paul. Or not at all."] Kendra Tierney lives in Los Angeles, CA where her interests include blogging, homeschooling, looking after her eight children, and fixing up a hundred year old tumbledown mansion. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 16:1-10 Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1B-2, 3, 5 R. (2a) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song. R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Know that the LORD is God; he made us, his we are; his people, the flock he tends. R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. The LORD is good: his kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness, to all generations. R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. Gospel: John 15:18-21 Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.” NAB I don’t relish the idea of being hated. As a matter of fact, I can hardly stand not to be liked, or to have someone mad at me. But I do very much desire to be like Christ. And that means I have a choice to make. I can live the people-pleasing life of a lover of the world, or I can live a God-centered life and accept the inevitable consequence of being hated by the world. I’d rather have both, but Jesus makes it clear that I cannot. But I’m learning that being hated by the world doesn’t feel as awful as I feared it might. Because if I truly love Jesus, He takes me out of the world, makes me something “other” and “alien” to its ways. And in that otherness, there is nothing that I can do to fit in and find my real identity and purpose in that world. The realization that I do not have to cling to the world because I never have and never will belong to it is freeing. The cutting of ties with the world’s ways that Jesus does when He claims me as His own frees me to follow Him wholeheartedly and unafraid. You cannot lose what you never had, and I’ve never had the world’s love. The world is incapable of loving me because I belong to Christ. So I have nothing to lose in turning my back to it and throwing all my energy into the wide open arms of God. I can love him completely because the world never offered me anything worth loving anyway. And if I keep my eyes trained on Love himself, I never see the world’s hateful snarls anyway. Meditate today on the things you fear your faith will cost you. And then imagine yourself turning away from them and looking into the eyes of God the Father. Write yourself a little reminder note that says "Look at Love" and place it where you can see it daily. photo credit Colleen Mitchell is wife to Greg and mother to five amazing sons here on earth. They serve in Costa Rica where they run the St. Francis Emmaus Center, a ministry that welcomes indigenous mothers into their home to provide them access to medical care, support and education in the weeks before and after the birth of a child. Find out more about her here.

Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church First Reading: Acts 15:22-31 The Apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole Church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers. This is the letter delivered by them: “The Apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings. Since we have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind, we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth: ‘It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.’“ And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter. When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 57:8-9, 10 AND 12 R. (10a) I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord. My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast; I will sing and chant praise. Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn. R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord. I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD, I will chant your praise among the nations. For your mercy towers to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the skies. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; above all the earth be your glory! R. I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord. Gospel: John 15:12-17 Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” You don't have to spend much time on the internet or social media before witnessing someone lash out against a teaching of the Catholic Church. Sadly, oftentimes the ones doing the e-bellowing are Catholics themselves. There are frequent jabs about the Church being "too rigid" is this arena or "too controlling" on that issue. Calls for the downfall of patriarchy are often echoed by chants of "stay out of my bedroom." Where is the disconnect? "I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father." Jesus presents us with a pretty clear answer: slaves don't know what their master is up to; but friends know the intimacies of one another. Slaves are kept in the dark; friends are brought into the light. Through the Word made flesh, Christians have been brought into the light. Jesus tells us Himself that He has revealed to us everything from the Father. The Church, for over 2,000 years, has labored to preserve these divine revelations and explain and expound on them to the Flock. We don't have to be slaves anymore, we can live in the glorious freedom of gracious friendship with God. So why do we feel like the Church keeps us in chains? Perhaps we are keeping ourselves enslaved because we have not sought to know what the Master is doing? Think of the Church's teaching on prayer, the sacraments, morality, or what we profess in the creed—think on the one you have a hard time with. Which one makes you feel enslaved? Now, ask yourself: Have I taken the time to read about this issue? Have I tried to understand the Church's teaching on this subject by study and counsel from other knowledgable Catholics? Have I done my best to grasp why the Master is doing what He's doing? Sisters, let's turn to our Church today with open hearts and minds. If we are confused, disgruntled, or sad about something, let's turn to Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Let's read Church documents and statements from the popes. Let's do our best to accept the freedom that Christ offers us in His lasting and loving friendship. [bctt tweet="We can live in the glorious freedom of gracious friendship with God."] Let's allow ourselves to be set free from slavery. photo credit Olivia Spears is a middle school religion teacher turned SAHM who is married to her high school best friend. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Acts 15:7-21 After much debate had taken place, Peter got up and said to the Apostles and the presbyters, “My brothers, you are well aware that from early days God made his choice among you that through my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by granting them the Holy Spirit just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them, for by faith he purified their hearts. Why, then, are you now putting God to the test by placing on the shoulders of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they.” The whole assembly fell silent, and they listened while Paul and Barnabas described the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them. After they had fallen silent, James responded, “My brothers, listen to me. Symeon has described how God first concerned himself with acquiring from among the Gentiles a people for his name. The words of the prophets agree with this, as is written: After this I shall return and rebuild the fallen hut of David; from its ruins I shall rebuild it and raise it up again, so that the rest of humanity may seek out the Lord, even all the Gentiles on whom my name is invoked. Thus says the Lord who accomplishes these things, known from of old. It is my judgment, therefore, that we ought to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God, but tell them by letter to avoid pollution from idols, unlawful marriage, the meat of strangled animals, and blood. For Moses, for generations now, has had those who proclaim him in every town, as he has been read in the synagogues every sabbath.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 10 R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all you lands. Sing to the LORD; bless his name. R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Announce his salvation, day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. Say among the nations: The LORD is king. He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity. R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations. Gospel: John 15:9-11 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” NAB We are pruning this time of year. I should have done all this cutting last fall, but I didn't. Now, I must. And I am reminded of how God prunes. I have been blessed with a gracious God who cares so much for me that He makes clear what I must do lest I wither and die. He has shown me obstacles in my life that were keeping me from spending time in Him, from remaining in Him. He shows me that there is a difference between talking about religion and being drawn into the very being of Jesus Himself. After the pruning, He waters me with grace. I rest in Him, stop trying to struggle under my own strength and let His love be sufficient. It's a time to surrender to the love of God. A woman cannot have a love affair with a stranger, with someone she knows only through the teaching of other people. In order to be in love with God, she has to remain in Him. But how? How to know Him so well that she rests in Him, abides in Him? How to be always with God? To be ignorant of scripture is to be ignorant of God.~Saint Jerome “The Gospel,” they explained, “is to be understood not as a book or a doctrine, but rather as a person: Jesus Christ, the definitive Word of God, who made himself a man." ~drafters of the preparatory document of the 2012 Synod on the New Evangelization To know God as a person—to have a relationship—she must know Scripture. And not just a little, not just on Sundays. But really, really know it, so well that she rests in it, that it is the background music to her life, every minute of her life. Know it so well that it abides in her and she in it. If you remain in me and my words remain in you. (John 15:7) I want to breathe the Word of God to the point where I don't know where I stop and He begins. Have you ever met someone like that? It's an amazing thing to behold. She walks in grace. She blesses with her smile, with her gestures, with her words. She lives the life for which she is created because she is the genuine image of God He intended her to be. I want that. And my joy will be complete. I want to breathe the Word of God to the point where I don't know where I stop and He begins. [bctt tweet="I want to breathe the Word of God to the point where I don't know where I stop and He begins."] Pick up the Good Book. Soak yourself in it. Find favorite passages. Share with your sisters. photo credit Elizabeth Foss is a wife, the mother of nine, and a grandmother. She finds the cacophony of big family imperfection to be the perfect place to learn to walk in the unforced rhythms of grace. You can learn more about her here.