First Reading: Daniel 7:15-27 I, Daniel, found my spirit anguished within its covering of flesh, and I was terrified by the visions of my mind. I approached one of those present and asked him what all this meant in truth; in answer, he made known to me the meaning of the things: “These four great beasts stand for four kingdoms which shall arise on the earth. But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship, to possess it forever and ever.”But I wished to make certain about the fourth beast, so very terrible and different from the others, devouring and crushing with its iron teeth and bronze claws, and trampling with its feet what was left; about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that sprang up, before which three horns fell; about the horn with the eyes and the mouth that spoke arrogantly, which appeared greater than its fellows. For, as I watched, that horn made war against the holy ones and was victorious until the Ancient One arrived; judgment was pronounced in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, and the time came when the holy ones possessed the kingdom. He answered me thus: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth different from all the others; It shall devour the whole earth, beat it down, and crush it. The ten horns shall be ten kings rising out of that kingdom; another shall rise up after them, Different from those before him, who shall lay low three kings. He shall speak against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High, thinking to change the feast days and the law. They shall be handed over to him for a year, two years, and a half-year. But when the court is convened, and his power is taken away by final and absolute destruction, Then the kingship and dominion and majesty of all the kingdoms under the heavens shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, Whose Kingdom shall be everlasting: all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:82-87 R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “You sons of men, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “O Israel, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Gospel: Luke 21:34-36 “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” NAB Read Daniel's prophecy slowly. I'll wait. Pretty terrifying, isn't it? Especially riveting is the fourth beast—an evil that devours and crushes and tramples with its feet. Daniel warns the people of his time. And Daniel warns us. There is an evil prowling and its intent is to beat us down and tear us apart with its iron teeth. The end is coming. It's enough to stir up some serious anxiety. On any given morning, we might awaken on our last day. How then, should we spend our minutes, our hours, the days which make up our years? We live moment-to-moment doing our Christian duty. We stay alert and aware, ever on the lookout for the next best way to love as Jesus did. We look for the little things, gather them in a bouquet every day: flowers at the altar of our Lord, made of small kindnesses offered with joy. I think we hope that the greatest thing that can happen in that last moment is we are caught in the act of love. As I write this, I am watching someone I love live her last days. She knows—because a solemn man in a white coat has told her—that her time on earth is very short. Every moment stands in stark relief. Seize this one and then the next and then the next until . . . they are no more. And then, with a last breath, look back on a life lived. Perhaps before I draw my final breath, a great beast will crush me between its iron teeth. Or, perhaps, I will die quietly in my sleep. Whatever the case, it is unlikely that I will be distracted by carousing and drunkenness. That's just not my nemesis. But the anxieties of daily life? Chasing those might make me very drowsy indeed. I'm a great chaser of worry. What am I to do? What are you to do to prepare for that last day? Pray. [bctt tweet="How then, should we spend our minutes, our hours, the days which make up our years?"] Pray for the grace and the strength to withstand the trials of the beastly days and the ordinary ones alike. Pray like today is your last and like you are going to live forever. photo by Edenn Yorks 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.

First Reading: Daniel 7:2-14 In a vision I, Daniel, saw during the night, the four winds of heaven stirred up the great sea, from which emerged four immense beasts, each different from the others. The first was like a lion, but with eagle’s wings. While I watched, the wings were plucked; it was raised from the ground to stand on two feet like a man, and given a human mind. The second was like a bear; it was raised up on one side, and among the teeth in its mouth were three tusks. It was given the order, “Up, devour much flesh.” After this I looked and saw another beast, like a leopard; on its back were four wings like those of a bird, and it had four heads. To this beast dominion was given. After this, in the visions of the night I saw the fourth beast, different from all the others, terrifying, horrible, and of extraordinary strength; it had great iron teeth with which it devoured and crushed, and what was left it trampled with its feet. I was considering the ten horns it had, when suddenly another, a little horn, sprang out of their midst, and three of the previous horns were torn away to make room for it. This horn had eyes like a man, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly. As I watched,Thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright, and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat; Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him, and myriads upon myriads attended him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. I watched, then, from the first of the arrogant words which the horn spoke, until the beast was slain and its body thrown into the fire to be burnt up. The other beasts, which also lost their dominion, were granted a prolongation of life for a time and a season. As the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship; nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:75-81 R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! Mountains and hills, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! You springs, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! Seas and rivers, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! All you birds of the air, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him! Gospel: Luke 21:29-33 Jesus told his disciples a parable. “Consider the fig tree and all the other trees. When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near; in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the Kingdom of God is near. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” NAB I have always loved the changing of the seasons, which is quite comical since being a Louisiana girl transplanted to the tropics to live, my experience with this particular phenomenon is minimal. But there is just something about the first chill in the air and wrapping yourself up in your favorite comfy sweater for the first time that year. The first fire in the fireplace of a winter and the first spring blossoms popping up as the frost fades away for the year. When the seasons change, it seems we wake up once again. We are called by nature’s wonders from the dull fog we often live our days in to a sense of high alert, an awareness that the world around us is changing and we would do well to take note. And yet reading through today’s Gospel, I have to ask myself, do I allow myself to be awakened to God working in the world around me the same way I am by the changing of the seasons? Do I look with anticipation for the little signs of His presence, note the work He is doing in the hearts of my family, my neighbors, my friends with the same breathless wonder I take in the year’s first snowfall. Do I find joy in knowing that the Kingdom is near because the Spirit is alive and active in our midst? Or am I lulled to sleep by the seemingly normal routine of my days and all the darkness in the world around me? Lord, I pray today that you wake me up. Make me alert, aware of the ways you are moving in and around me, of the way the world is changing because your Kingdom in near and our Savior has come. Let me be a redemption seeker and a grace collector and mercy dispenser with the same vibrant expectancy with which I seek the signs of the changing seasons, collect their bounty and dispense their joy. Let this be the season of joyful awareness, Lord, in which I see you wondrously unfolding your glory in the most intimate of ways all around me. And then move me, Lord, to proclaim your Kingdom with words that are true and strong, words that will not pass away because they are Your Word, at work in our world and in my heart. [bctt tweet="Move me, Lord, to proclaim your Kingdom with words that are true and strong."] Take the time to journal today and note bits of ordinary beauty around you. As you do, try also to note how God is working in your life and in the world around you right now in this season of your life. Offer thanks today for the Kingdom drawing near. photo by Sara Miller 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: Sirach 50:22-24 And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2-11 R. (see 1) I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable. R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Generation after generation praises your works and proclaims your might. They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty and tell of your wondrous works. R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord. They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds and declare your greatness. They publish the fame of your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your justice. R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord. The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might. R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” NAB One of the most life changing books I have read over the last few years has been "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. The premise of the book is how Ann's life was changed by the dare from a friend to count one thousand gifts—a thousand graces from God. Through the daily practice of giving thanks, Ann found herself on a transformative journey that affected every area of her life-including all the messy, hurting, and broken places. I find myself thinking how this book has changed my own heart as I reflect on the readings today. The Psalm today is like a rallying cry for all the weary souls: "Everyday I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever." Really God, everyday? Are you sure about that? Is that even possible?! Yes, my sisters, it is so very possible! We bless, honor, and worship our God when we can name His goodness and love in all area's of life: the beauty, surprises, pain, messy, and yes even in the suffering. When we are able to give thanks for the seemingly microscopic and yes even the painful, we make a place for God to grow deep within us. And that is what a thankful heart does, it allows God to grow in each of us. Look at this leper in the Gospel today. The physical healing of his body gave him his life and human dignity back. But why does Saint Luke choose to specifically mention this Samaritan man came back to thank Jesus? What's the big deal with that? Because thankfulness transforms us from the inside out. Thankfulness is a rich spiritual practice but it can also be very tricky, especially when the pain of life makes you feel anything but thankful. Many of you have suffered greatly this year: job losses, broken relationships, illness, ending friendships, troubled marriages, miscarried babies, financial struggles, etc. I wish I could sit with each of you hurting and wrap you in the biggest, warmest hug. But God is always good and you dear one are always loved by Him. He longs to transfigure it all in our lives, no matter how long it takes. Be the tenth leper today my sisters . . . run back to Jesus, fall at His feet, and say "thank you." Today in the United States is a day we gather with loved ones with prayers and reflections of thankfulness for God's many gifts of the past year. I ardently challenge you today to start your own journey of counting one thousands gifts. Start your own journey to deeper gratitude and thankfulness. It will change you, as it is changing me. [bctt tweet="When we are able to give thanks, we make a place for God to grow deep within us."] This dare to write down one thousand things, it is really a dare to name all the ways that God passionately and recklessly loves you. Grab a journal. Pick up a pen. Start counting and be that tenth leper. Patty Hubbard is a runner, big dreamer, youth minister ordinaire, and recovering know-it-all. When not fundraising for World Youth Day, she is learning to find grace in all things. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28 King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them. When the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers were drinking wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace. When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked.Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king. The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile, whom my father, the king, brought from Judah? I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you, that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom. I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties; if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means, you shall be clothed in purple, wear a gold collar about your neck, and be third in the government of the kingdom.”Daniel answered the king: “You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else; but the writing I will read for you, O king, and tell you what it means. You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven. You had the vessels of his temple brought before you, so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers, might drink wine from them; and you praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence. But the God in whose hand is your life breath and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify. By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.“This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, TEKEL, and PERES. These words mean: MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:62-67 R. (59b) Give glory and eternal praise to him. Sun and moon, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Stars of heaven, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Every shower and dew, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. All you winds, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Fire and heat, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Cold and chill, bless the Lord; praise and exalt him above all forever. R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. Gospel: Luke 21:12-19 Jesus said to the crowd: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” NAB I was told “you’re a temple of the Holy Spirit” pretty often as a child. It sounded glamorous in grade school, but the First Reading reminds us that the great Temple in Jerusalem was again and again raided and destroyed, sacked and robbed, defiled and burned. The Holy of Holies. The seat of priesthood. The Arc of the Covenant. In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues this reminder. He wants us to know that, as living temples, we are not going to be getting off easy. Like the vessels stolen from the Temple of Jerusalem, we will be seized and misused in His name. This is a challenge for me, as I long for my life to be always pleasant. I like to think that if God really values me so much, my choices will be clear, my path straight, my bank account full, and my social life flourishing. The disciples weren’t so different—they imagined the Messiah would be a great king, freeing them, and establishing a powerful earthly throne. Oh, no. Our reward is not in this life. Our path in this life is the struggle allows us to witness to Jesus’s great love for us. Our crosses will be our salvation. Our perseverance in His name secures our eternal reward. Our trials lead us closer to the suffering Christ. My trials are small compared to those experienced by many of my neighbors. Living in a big city, I often encounter people who are easily overlooked. They are stooped in a doorway or in the stairs to the subway platform, and our eyes have been conditioned to slide right past them. We are called, though, to live in solidarity with those same forgotten people and to participate in their suffering. Jesus makes clear that this suffering is our portion, too. Father Henri Nouwen wrote, “Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.” Like us, each person we encounter is a temple of the Holy Spirit. By honoring their sacredness, we also honor Jesus. These are the moments of perseverance and participation in His suffering that secure our eternal lives. [bctt tweet="Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into the places of pain, to share in brokenness..."] As we prepare to celebrate a day of gratitude and thanksgiving, reflect on how we can treat the poor and marginalized among us as treasured and worthy. Today, offer your preparations up for the suffering of another. Brigid Hogan loves the view of the Washington Monument from her apartment, her standing desk, the Green Bay Packers, and a good mystery. She tolerates taking the Metro to the office, where she works as a communications consultant. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God; he carried them off to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god.The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood and of the nobility, young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans; after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement. Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see.” He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days; after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency in all literature and science, and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams. At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation, the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. When the king had spoken with all of them, none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so they entered the king’s service. In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom. Responsorial Psalm: Daniel 3:52-56 R. (52b) Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever. R. Glory and praise for ever! Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, praiseworthy and glorious forever. R. Glory and praise for ever! Gospel: Luke 21:1-4 When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.” NAB Such a simple passage, yet it holds so much truth. The simple story of the poor widow giving her all, when she had so little to give. This was one of the first Bible stories I remember as a child outside of Noah, the Garden of Eden, and the Nativity Story. I remember being so proud when I had a dollar of my own to put in the basket on Sunday morning. I often wondered if Jesus was smiling down on me the same way He had smiled at that woman thousands of years ago. But it's not just about money. Of course it is about money; it would be wrong to ignore the straightforward fact that we're supposed to give and support our churches, parishes and ministries financially. That we're not called to have vast reserves of wealth sitting around unused when others are needy. However, it is about more than money. We hear it a lot in Catholic Churches—it's not just about tithing a certain amount or percentage—it's about giving yourself across the board. Time. Talent. Treasure. It's not just about going without a couple cups of coffee when an extra second collection comes around. It's about inviting people into your house and your lives. It's about cooking meals and offering rides. It's about volunteering, teaching classes, and organizing events. It's about joining that ministry. It's about realizing what you need is different than what you want. God wants us to give all of ourselves, not just what can be spare and not just what looks impressive. In a few days it will be the American holiday of Thanksgiving followed closely by the busiest shopping days of the year. Regardless of sales and deals and wishlists there are still people out there cold and hungry. The parish, your family, and your friends do not stop needing your time and talents because the holiday season is here. This is not to chastise people who have a good time in the stores on the weekend after Thanksgiving; the ones who make a family event of it or plan to get all that done within one day to savour the Advent season or those whose schedules fill up over the next four weeks. It's just a reminder that God never stops calling us to give just because of a good deal or a holiday season. We do not get a free pass on our true calling to those around just because the lights are being strung and the carols are starting to play. Remember this year that the gifts we are truly meant to give do not always fit inside a box under a tree. [bctt tweet="It's about realizing what you need is different than what you want."] How can you be like the widow this holiday season? photo by Corynne Olivia 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.

First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14 As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5 R. (1a) The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty. The LORD is king, in splendor robed; robed is the LORD and girt about with strength. R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty. And he has made the world firm, not to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old; from everlasting you are, O LORD. R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty. Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed; holiness befits your house, O LORD, for length of days. R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty. Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8 Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen."I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty." Gospel: John 18:33B-37 Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." NAB This Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, gives my heart and soul all kinds of happy and chilling feelings. Looking forward to Advent beginning, the happy and joyful and expectant feelings of the King’s birth begin to fill me with excitement. Yet, the readings of today remind me that Christ’s life and His Kingship weren’t all “roses and banquets and gold crowns.” Today we see images of Christ as our King: throned in Heaven, robed in splendor, and then the Gospel hits us with the brutal reminder of what the King suffered. I know every time I hear the name of Pilate, I’m taken right back to Jesus’ Passion, which from outward appearances, was grotesque and far from glory. “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom . . . .” Can you think of a single person throughout all of time who can be described even close to the way Revelation describes Jesus here? What ruler is known for loving and freeing his people? What ruler is known for paying the price for his people with his blood? I can think of none. But, Jesus, our King, loves us. Our King knows us and desires to have an intimate, personal relationship with each of us. That is why He gave Himself in the horrifying sacrifice, in payment with His own blood. The reminder of His great, unfathomable sacrifice gives me chills. The immense love Jesus, my King, has for me—little me! (and you)—to choose this sacrifice, fills me with joy. I wonder, would Jesus’ kingship be so incredible without the sacrifice? Would He be robed in majesty, would His throne be everlasting, if it weren’t for the love so great that He freed us by His blood? It would not. But as Jesus told Pilate, “for this was I born . . . to testify to the truth.” The truth is that the King of the Universe loves us so completely that He made us into His kingdom by freeing us from sin. “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood . . . to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.” [bctt tweet="Our King knows us and desires to have an intimate, personal relationship with each of us."] Today, sit with the words of these readings and let them move you to the core with wonder and appreciation for the love Christ the King has for you. photo by Susana Starbuck Gina Fensterer is a wife, daughter, mother, friend, homeschooling mama and Colorado native. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13 As King Antiochus was traversing the inland provinces, he heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais, famous for its wealth in silver and gold, and that its temple was very rich, containing gold helmets, breastplates, and weapons left there by Alexander, son of Philip, king of Macedon, the first king of the Greeks. He went therefore and tried to capture and pillage the city. But he could not do so, because his plan became known to the people of the city who rose up in battle against him. So he retreated and in great dismay withdrew from there to return to Babylon.While he was in Persia, a messenger brought him news that the armies sent into the land of Judah had been put to flight; that Lysias had gone at first with a strong army and been driven back by the children of Israel; that they had grown strong by reason of the arms, men, and abundant possessions taken from the armies they had destroyed; that they had pulled down the Abomination which he had built upon the altar in Jerusalem; and that they had surrounded with high walls both the sanctuary, as it had been before, and his city of Beth-zur.When the king heard this news, he was struck with fear and very much shaken. Sick with grief because his designs had failed, he took to his bed. There he remained many days, overwhelmed with sorrow, for he knew he was going to die.So he called in all his Friends and said to them: “Sleep has departed from my eyes, for my heart is sinking with anxiety. I said to myself: ‘Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods of sorrow am I now! Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.’ But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all the vessels of gold and silver that were in it, and for no cause gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed. I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 9:2-3, 4 AND 6, 16 AND 19 R. (see 16a) I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, Most High. R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. Because my enemies are turned back, overthrown and destroyed before you. You rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; their name you blotted out forever and ever. R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. The nations are sunk in the pit they have made; in the snare they set, their foot is caught. For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor shall the hope of the afflicted forever perish. R. I will rejoice in your salvation, O Lord. Gospel: Luke 20:27-40 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything. NAB As I read today’s Gospel, I couldn’t help but think I would have shouted out a, “You go, Jesus!” had I witnessed his conversation with the Sadducees. And just in case you’re like me and confuse who the Sadducees are from time to time—Sadducees, Pharisees . . . so many people to remember!—they are the ones who don’t believe in the resurrection. Or angels. Or spirits. Getting back to their conversation . . . . In the Sadducees’ question to Jesus, they conjure up the hypothetical scenario about the woman and the brothers in hopes of stumping him. However, when Jesus’ response reveals to them that yes, in fact, there is a resurrection, they “no longer dared to ask him anything,” and even went so far as to say that He had answered them well. Now I certainly can’t place myself into the hearts or minds of those Sadducees, but based on their response, I feel like it’s safe to say that the words they heard did something to them. Maybe that something simply caused them to be angry at Jesus for not giving them the answer they wanted to hear, but maybe that something planted the seed that Jesus was right. My dear sisters, Jesus is calling you to do something in the hearts and minds of those around you. Whether it’s as simple as saying hello to the person sitting next to you at Mass or offering to pray for someone who is struggling in their faith, every single encounter you have can be an opportunity to evangelize. [bctt tweet="Jesus is calling you to do something in the hearts and minds of those around you."] And so my challenge for you today is to be open to talking about your faith and to answering the questions that might come your way. You never know when your words might be that something to lead someone deeper into their relationship with Christ. Joan Geiger is a North Dakota native and newlywed, and in her spare time she can be found going on random adventures with her husband, working as a Registered Dietitian, and drinking coffee. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 1 Macabees 4:36-37, 52-59 Judas and his brothers said, “Now that our enemies have been crushed, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and rededicate it.” So the whole army assembled, and went up to Mount Zion.Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, that is, the month of Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, they arose and offered sacrifice according to the law on the new altar of burnt offerings that they had made. On the anniversary of the day on which the Gentiles had defiled it, on that very day it was reconsecrated with songs, harps, flutes, and cymbals. All the people prostrated themselves and adored and praised Heaven, who had given them success.For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar and joyfully offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of deliverance and praise. They ornamented the facade of the temple with gold crowns and shields; they repaired the gates and the priests’ chambers and furnished them with doors. There was great joy among the people now that the disgrace of the Gentiles was removed. Then Judas and his brothers and the entire congregation of Israel decreed that the days of the dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness on the anniversary every year for eight days, from the twenty-fifth day of the month Chislev. Responsorial Psalm: 1 Chronicles 29:10BCD, 11ABC, 11D-12A, 12BCD R. (13b) We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. “Blessed may you be, O LORD, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.” R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. “Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory. For all in heaven and on earth is yours.” R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. “Yours, O LORD, is the sovereignty; you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor are from you.” R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. “You have dominion over all, In your hand are power and might; it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.” R. We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. Gospel: Luke 19:45-48 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words. NAB Many people would say that we live in an age where nothing is sacred. Blame the media, the Internet, whatever, but sometimes it feels like all things are expendable, that all things can be held up to ridicule and made the butt of jokes. We’re too jaded to consider anything to be holy. I disagree. I think that each one of us, religious or not, has something—maybe more than one thing—that is sacred in our eyes. In this Gospel reading, Jesus shows a side of Himself we don’t often see. He drives the merchants out of the temple, which surely involved a bit of a physical display, perhaps surprising to those who had seen Him in a less fiery light. But to Jesus, the temple was sacred. If you didn’t know it before, you knew it when you saw Him in action. I recently saw an interview with the Catholic comedian Stephen Colbert. In it, he mentioned that although he likes to joke about his faith, one thing he would never joke about was the Eucharist. It was evident that this was a man who knew what was most sacred to him, and who let that awareness guide his work. I admire his clarity. What are the things that are sacred to me? What parts of my faith, my relationships, myself, do I hold most dear? Would others know that from how I speak about these things? I’m a big believer in the power of laughter, and I believe that God has a bigger sense of humor than we think. That said, there are some kinds of jokes that diminish their subjects, some kinds of humor that are more about scoring points than anything else. I love to entertain others, but I don’t want to make cheap jokes about the things that are most dear to me. The last line of today’s Gospel says that the people were hanging on Jesus’ words. People rarely hang on my words that way, but words do have power. May I always remember that when speaking about the things that are most sacred to me. May my words—and my judicious silence—be golden. [bctt tweet="May my words—and my judicious silence—be golden."] What is most sacred to you? photo by Corynne Olivia Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a mother, high school English teacher, and BBC period drama junkie. She is the author of Random MOMents of Grace: Experiencing God in the Adventures of Motherhood and Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God. Ginny lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two boys, and about thirty thousand Legos. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 1 Macabees 2:15-29 The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices. Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart. Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kin. Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends, and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts.” But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers and consents to the king’s orders, yet I and my sons and my kin will keep to the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree.” As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu.Then Mattathias went through the city shouting, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow after me!” Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons, leaving behind in the city all their possessions. Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom went out into the desert to settle there. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 50:1B-2, 5-6, 14-15 R. (23b) To the upright I will show the saving power of God. God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth, from the rising of the sun to its setting. From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth. R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Gather my faithful ones before me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” And the heavens proclaim his justice; for God himself is the judge. R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Offer to God praise as your sacrifice and fulfill your vows to the Most High; Then call upon me in time of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. Gospel: Luke 19:41-44 As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” NAB When I was younger I envied those who had mega conversion stories. Things were one way, and now they’re not. They were bad, but now they’re good. It seemed so simple, and I was naive, because the Christian walk is not always so black and white. Now that I am older I can see the millions of little conversions that have happened in my life. I see my need for a God who wants me to respond to Him on a daily basis and who gives me the opportunity to return to Him again and again. Jerusalem. His beloved city. God incarnate had walked the streets there. His voice preached. His hands healed. His command raised the dead. When He looked at the city as He marched into it, He cried true and sorrowful tears. He had called to Jerusalem, but she did not hear. She witnessed miracles, and still she did not believe. He saw the destruction that would come to her because of her hardened heart. It makes me shudder to think of all the times I have looked away from Jesus speaking to me, healing me and raising me from my spiritual deadness. How many times throughout a single day have I allowed my heart to be hardened? [bctt tweet="How many times throughout a single day have I allowed my heart to be hardened?"] Sister, join in praying for conversion. Pray for your own conversion today, as small as it might seem. Wake up your sleepy souls and see that our Messiah is doing good work here. photo by Corynne Olivia Jacqueline Skemp is a daughter, sister, wife and mother who endures living in Minnesota after leaving California for her one true love. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Macabees 7:1, 20-31 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law.Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord. Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them in the language of their ancestors with these words: “I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which each of you is composed. Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man’s beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law.”Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words, thought he was being ridiculed. As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him, not with mere words, but with promises on oath, to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs: he would make him his Friend and entrust him with high office. When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life. After he had urged her for a long time, she went through the motions of persuading her son. In derision of the cruel tyrant, she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language: “Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age. I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence. Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them.”She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said: “What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king’s command. I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses. But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews, will not escape the hands of God.” Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 17:1BCD, 5-6, 8B AND 15 R. (15b) Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. Hear, O LORD, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit. R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. My steps have been steadfast in your paths, my feet have not faltered. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my word. R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. But I in justice shall behold your face; on waking, I shall be content in your presence. R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. Gospel: Luke 19:11-28 While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce, ‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’ He replied, ‘Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this very small matter; take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported, ‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’ And to this servant too he said, ‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him, ‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man, taking up what I did not lay down and harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said, ‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him, ‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’”After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. NAB Who is this woman in Maccabees and how did she get such faith? From where did she get such hope? Her story of watching all seven of her sons die before she too was martyred is one of the most heart-wrenching in the Bible. It is also one of the most inspiring to me. This woman admits her ignorance on many things but she holds firm to what she knows of God. Her faith, her hope, her trust carry her through the worst fate I can imagine. In parts of the world similar events are happening today. Mothers' sons are dying and instead of despairing, these women of God believe in the promises of God and their lives are are not shattered nor their trust shaken. We say that in times of trouble we cling to our faith, but this mother did not do that. This mother and the the mothers of the modern day martyrs do not need to cling for they stand firm, confident in their God. Together they all say to their children, "Do not be afraid . . . but be worthy . . . so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again . . . .” Life will bring us opportunities to to decide if we will stand for our faith or not. Will we follow God and His Church or that which is easier, more comfortable, and accepted by our culture? Life will also bring us sorrows but we can be like these holy women: we can stand for what we believe in, confident in our saving Lord. [bctt tweet="Let's stand firm, confident in our God."] Ask your Guardian Angel and the Holy Spirit to prompt you to take advantage of the opportunities life brings you to stand up for and lovingly live out your faith. photo by Corynne Olivia Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker and homemaker. She lives with her husband and five children in central Illinois. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: 2 Macabees 6:18-31 Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him. But Eleazar made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God.He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws.”Eleazar spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.” This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (6b) The Lord upholds me. O LORD, how many are my adversaries! Many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “There is no salvation for him in God.” R. The Lord upholds me. But you, O LORD, are my shield; my glory, you lift up my head! When I call out to the LORD, he answers me from his holy mountain. R. The Lord upholds me. When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side. R. The Lord upholds me. Gospel: Luke 19:1-10 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” NAB Today is the feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, and I like this lady. She was the daughter of the king and queen of Hungary back in the 13th century. She was also a third order Franciscan, which is the great contradiction of her post in life. Elizabeth was a wealthy princess and she took vows to be devoted in a radical way to the poor. Elizabeth is a saint because, like Zacchaeus, she met Jesus, invited Him into the home of her heart, and desired to respond to His love and mercy regardless of her past, social status, or familial duties. After chatting with Jesus over dinner, Zacchaeus gave away half his possessions to the poor. Elizabeth, knowing the Heart of God and desiring to love Him more and more, continuously gave money, food, and material goods to the poor in her area. Elizabeth and Zacchaeus illustrate this vital truth: conversion to the Lord necessitates radical service to the poor. Pope Francis has been preaching this since day one. Jesus preaches this throughout the Gospels. How are we responding? Are we opening wide the doors for Christ by opening the doors of our homes and material possessions? Or are we turning a blind eye to those in need in our communities because it's uncomfortable to look poverty in the face? Are we happy to just write a monthly check to an outreach while remaining comfortable and oblivious in our own circumstance? I know I am. I am guilty of staying in the tree because of what knowing Jesus more might require of me. I am guilty of staying on the throne instead of taking to the streets to meet Jesus there in the poorest of the poor. I have not responded like Zacchaeus and Elizabeth, but Lord, I long to, and I bet you do, too. [bctt tweet="Conversion to the Lord necessitates radical service to the poor."] Let's come down from the tree today and invite the Lord over for dinner, allowing Him to ignite a holy passion for the poor in us. Let's go out to the streets with proverbial and literal baskets full of bread, clothing, and goods. Because to know Jesus is to love Him. And to love Him is to be called to serve Him in the most vulnerable. photo by Sara Miller 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: 1 Macabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63 [From the descendants of Alexander’s officers] there sprang a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus, once a hostage at Rome. He became king in the year one hundred and thirty seven of the kingdom of the Greeks.In those days there appeared in Israel men who were breakers of the law, and they seduced many people, saying: “Let us go and make an alliance with the Gentiles all around us; since we separated from them, many evils have come upon us.” The proposal was agreeable; some from among the people promptly went to the king, and he authorized them to introduce the way of living of the Gentiles. Thereupon they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem according to the Gentile custom. They covered over the mark of their circumcision and abandoned the holy covenant; they allied themselves with the Gentiles and sold themselves to wrongdoing.Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom that all should be one people, each abandoning his particular customs. All the Gentiles conformed to the command of the king, and many children of Israel were in favor of his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath.On the fifteenth day of the month Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-five, the king erected the horrible abomination upon the altar of burnt offerings and in the surrounding cities of Judah they built pagan altars. They also burned incense at the doors of the houses and in the streets. Any scrolls of the law which they found they tore up and burnt. Whoever was found with a scroll of the covenant, and whoever observed the law, was condemned to death by royal decree. But many in Israel were determined and resolved in their hearts not to eat anything unclean; they preferred to die rather than to be defiled with unclean food or to profane the holy covenant; and they did die. Terrible affliction was upon Israel. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158 R. (see 88) Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Indignation seizes me because of the wicked who forsake your law. R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Though the snares of the wicked are twined about me, your law I have not forgotten. R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Redeem me from the oppression of men, that I may keep your precepts. R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. I am attacked by malicious persecutors who are far from your law. R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Far from sinners is salvation, because they seek not your statutes. R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. I beheld the apostates with loathing, because they kept not to your promise. R. Give me life, O Lord, and I will do your commands. Gospel: Luke 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. NAB This Gospel is one tree with many branches. Blindness, Poverty, Healing . . . . Persistence. This man's persistence is what speaks clearly to me today. This poor, blind man called out to the passing Messiah, but Christ did not respond to him upon his first calling. It says, in fact, that this blind man was not being heard so he kept calling out all the more. He had faith that Jesus would listen and then Jesus stopped, asked what he wanted, and granted His simple prayer. Would Jesus have stopped if the blind man had stopped calling out after his first try? Persistent prayer tells God about how much faith we have in Him. Jesus could have said, "Have sight," and walked away. He could have simply told the hemorrhaging woman, "Be healed of your affliction." But He makes a point for us that He makes with many of the weary people we watch him come in contact with in the Gospels . . . . "Your faith has saved you." These ailing people we see in the Gospels . . . they never give up hope. Their faith and unceasing hope in being healed by Christ's power saves them. They never surrender to despair. They call out and reach out to God knowing that He hears, knowing that God has both perfect timing and perfect power. The Lord will never tire of us having the faith to keep asking Him, to keep praying, to keep trusting that He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him. Today, may we have the faith of this blind man . . . the faith that he possessed that caused him to keep calling out to Christ. He may answer you the first time, or the sixth, or the three hundredth. He wants to see us rely on the deep faith that in His timing, according to His perfect will, He will respond. [bctt tweet="Let's never give up hope, never surrender to despair. Call out + reach out to God."] Consider the blind man's persistence today . . . . Is there an area or prayer in your life that you quit praying because you felt the Lord was not listening? Consider offering that prayer again today. 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: Daniel 12:1-3 In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.“But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever." Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord! O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R. You are my inheritance, O Lord! Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R. You are my inheritance, O Lord! You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R. You are my inheritance, O Lord! Second Reading: Hebrews 10:11-14, 18 Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin. Gospel: Mark 13:24-32 Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. "And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." NAB Let’s pretend for a minute like you DID know the time of your own death . . . and to be really morbid let’s say it is tomorrow night. How would that change how you live your life tomorrow? If you really did know that it was the last day of your life? Would you make very many changes? I think I would probably go to Mass and Confession just to be on the safe side. I would write some letters to my kids, and put in writing all those things that are said or unsaid that I wouldn’t be able to say anymore. I am sure I would want to tidy up the place because my pride would rear its head and I wouldn’t want my husband to have to deal with more of my ‘stuff.’ Then I may go to Confession again for the pride thing (just to be safe). I would spend time with my kids and husband, unencumbered with the frustrations of daily life—like whether we are on time. I would want to take them somewhere special or do something special with them so that they would have that specific memory to turn to. More than what I would do, there is a lot that I would not do. I wouldn’t lose my temper, or tell them I had too much to do. I wouldn’t let them fall asleep upset or angry, or disappointed, or hungry for more love. We won’t know the hour of our death, but reflecting on the question gives us insight to what is really important to us. What are you putting in order? How are you spending your everyday? Research tells us that younger people prefer to do new things and spend time with new people, where as older people prefer to spend time with loved ones. Stanford Psychologist Laura Carstensen explains this by saying that we change, not because we are getting older but rather because we realize that our time here is limited. With the growing awareness of one's own mortality comes the recognition that maybe we should spend our time differently. We don’t know when our time will come, but that only means we should be ever more mindful of the words we use and the time we spend. We are not to live in fear of death, but rather live with the awareness that each day is a gift to be celebrated and lived in such a way that brings Glory to God. Have you put your spiritual house in order? Do you have words unspoken that need to be told? Are you loving abundantly each day or getting bogged down by the distractions of this life? [bctt tweet="Have you put your spiritual house in order?"] If you only had a day or a week or two to live, what would you do differently today? Whom would you call? Whom would you kiss? Would you leave words unspoken? photo by Madi Myers-Cook MaryRuth Hackett is a full-time wife and mother doing her best to teach her four children to love God and country. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 When peaceful stillness compassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent, Your all-powerful word, from heaven’s royal throne bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land, bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree. And as he alighted, he filled every place with death; he still reached to heaven, while he stood upon the earth. For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed. The cloud overshadowed their camp; and out of what had before been water, dry land was seen emerging: Out of the Red Sea an unimpeded road, and a grassy plain out of the mighty flood. Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders. For they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs, praising you, O Lord! their deliverer. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43 R. (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done! Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done! Then he struck every first born throughout their land, the first fruits of all their manhood. And he led them forth laden with silver and gold, with not a weakling among their tribes. R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done! For he remembered his holy word to his servant Abraham. And he led forth his people with joy; with shouts of joy, his chosen ones. R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done! Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” NAB I'm kinda the dishonest judge here, and I pray to overcome this tendency to do the right thing for the right reason so that God will, indeed, find faith on earth. How do I go about doing the right thing? Do I do it when I realize it is the morally correct course of action? Or do I do it when I'm really pinched, nagged, and reluctant? This Gospel reading makes me a tad uneasy as I know that God knows my motivation. He knows what's in my heart, regardless of how I appear to the rest of the world. That unflinching omnipresent God of ours knows the pouting in my mind, the unkindness on my heart. This ties in with the prayer we say during the Sacrament of Confession (or Reconciliation), the Act of Contrition. We say we are sorry, not only because we're afraid of losing Heaven and suffering in Hell, but also because we've offended God. We don't allege that we are only sorry because we did the wrong thing. In fact, we outright say that only part of our contrition is informed by our conscience. The other is driven by our fear of losing out on that eternal unity with the best-party-beyond-imagination. We are fallen creatures, we do struggle with sin, we are going to be driven by less-than-ideal motives to do the right thing. To be run by our feelings alone is to be a slave to ourselves. The Gospel says that God will take care of His chosen ones speedily. If even a dishonest judge will eventually do what's right for a widow, think of the ultimate adjudicator in God, and how well He will care for us! When the Son of Man comes, let's ensure we are faithful, and endure, and try to overcome our fears and emotions driving us, replacing them with a sense of God's love for us and justice for our neighbors. [bctt tweet="He knows what's in my heart, regardless of how I appear to the rest of the world."] Are you being ruled by your feelings today, and oscillating between guilt and self-righteousness? Do the right thing for the right reasons, if you can. If you can't, go to Confession and get those graces to help you! Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Wisdom 13:1-9 All men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan; But either fire, or wind, or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water, or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these; for the original source of beauty fashioned them. Or if they were struck by their might and energy, let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them. For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen. But yet, for these the blame is less; For they indeed have gone astray perhaps, though they seek God and wish to find him. For they search busily among his works, but are distracted by what they see, because the things seen are fair. But again, not even these are pardonable. For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how did they not more quickly find its Lord? Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5AB R. (2a) The heavens proclaim the glory of God. 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. The heavens proclaim the glory of God. 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. The heavens proclaim the glory of God. Gospel: Luke 17:26-37 Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man; they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Similarly, as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; on the day when Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained from the sky to destroy them all. So it will be on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, someone who is on the housetop and whose belongings are in the house must not go down to get them, and likewise one in the field must not return to what was left behind. Remember the wife of Lot. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it. I tell you, on that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. And there will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken, the other left.” They said to him in reply, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will gather.” NAB “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.” I am a planner. I like to make sure all my ducks are in a row because, surely, if everything is set up just right, the proper outcome will occur. How often does that happen? Probably never. But the point of planning isn’t to have the perfect outcome (or it shouldn’t be). It should be to have the best outcome. And guess what? I really don’t know what the best outcome is. Only God does. When I act with a certain neutrality about the outcome, room is left for God to act. If I cling to my outcomes, wishing them into existence, I am likely to miss the lesson our Lord is attempting to teach me in this experience. If I push with all my might, in the hopes it will be just so, I worship my pride (and often my anger, my impatience, and my slanderous words) over and above the Creator who truly performs the handiwork in every situation. On the day before I was to be married, my mind was running through all the logistics I was hoping were perfectly in place to execute the ceremony and celebration the following day. At the rehearsal dinner that evening, my very wise maid-of-honor took me aside and told me that I had come to an end of all the careful planning. It was time to give it all to God (and friends who were helping out) and take in every moment from that point on without a care of the outcome. It was not easy to let go, but the result was the best memories of my life, the most sacred, grace-filled moments that became tangible that day because I wasn’t holding on. I was letting God work through it all and living in His grace. We are able to do this even in the daily moments—trusting in His providence as we take an exam, watch our children walk off to school, provide for the bills to be paid, lay our newborn to sleep, send our husband off on a tour, deal with an unwelcome situation with our neighbor. So many opportunities to practice. Give it to Him. He will provide. [bctt tweet="Give it to Him. He will provide."] "To escape the distress caused by regret for the past or fear about the future, this is the rule to follow: leave the past to the infinite mercy of God, the future to His good Providence, give the present wholly to His love by being faithful to His grace.” ~Jean-Pierre de Caussade from Abandonment to Divine Providence photo by Jacqueline Kayleigh 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.

First Reading: Wisdom 7:22B-8:1 In Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle. For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her. For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom. For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:80, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175 R. (89a) Your word is for ever, O Lord. Your word, O LORD, endures forever; it is firm as the heavens. R. Your word is for ever, O Lord. Through all generations your truth endures; you have established the earth, and it stands firm. R. Your word is for ever, O Lord. According to your ordinances they still stand firm: all things serve you. R. Your word is for ever, O Lord. The revelation of your words sheds light, giving understanding to the simple. R. Your word is for ever, O Lord. Let your countenance shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. R. Your word is for ever, O Lord. Let my soul live to praise you, and may your ordinances help me. R. Your word is for ever, O Lord. Gospel: Luke 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”Then he said to his disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you, ‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.” NAB "The Kingdom of God is among you." Do you believe it? I mean really believe it? Do you believe really and truly that God's most holy and powerful Kingdom dwells within your being?? I wonder how my life would be different if I really believed this. I'd probably be kinder to myself. I probably wouldn't be so self-critical or judgmental. I probably wouldn't be so critical or judgmental of others. I'd probably be happier. If I believed the Kingdom of God were really within me, I'd probably be content to be present to that Kingdom. To just be. I'm sure I'd be better at living in the present moment. I'd be at peace. Do we really believe the Kingdom of God is among us? Not just within our souls but also in the collective sense of the communities of our family, our friends, and those around us. The Kingdom of God is here. Now. Do we have eyes to see it? Or are we constantly seeking the next thing? "Look, here it is! There it is!" our actions say over the latest idea, that additional person to follow, the newest thing you should do that claims to make you beautiful, fit, finally have it all together, and be completely liked and accepted by everyone. I think if we really believed the Kingdom of God is within us, our behaviors, attitudes, and actions might be a bit different than they are now. In the First Reading, I can't help but want all those words about Wisdom to be a description of myself. "Intelligent, holy, unique, agile, beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil . . . " all those words would make up one heck of a beautiful and strong woman! We have the model of this woman in Mary, our Blessed Mother. For she truly is "the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness." Mother Mary guides us to have the wisdom to recognize the Kingdom of God among us. She who carried Jesus Incarnate within her womb, can help us to see this Kingdom that also dwells within us. She can help us recognize and identify the beauty God has placed within each of us. She can help us live in the present moment. She can help us be at peace. [bctt tweet="Do we really believe the Kingdom of God is among us?"] How would your life be different if you believed God truly dwells within you? Would you experience more peace? What action can you take today to be more aware of God's presence within you? photo by Jacqueline Kayleigh 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, dancing, or writing silly poems. You can find out more about her here.

First Reading: Wisdom 6:1-11 Hear, O kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth’s expanse! Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! Because authority was given you by the Lord and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels. Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God, Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted– For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, Because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends. To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin. For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response. Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7 R. (8a) Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth. Defend the lowly and the fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the lowly and the poor; from the hand of the wicked deliver them. R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth. I said: “You are gods, all of you sons of the Most High; yet like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth. Gospel: Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” NAB "As they were going, they were cleansed." I am a cradle Catholic, but I had never once heard of the Church’s teaching about contraception until my now husband and I were attending the required pre-cana marriage prep. I gotta say, it seemed . . . how shall I put this? Crazypants crazy. How could we NOT “plan” our family? How could we NOT know exactly how many kids we were going to have, and when? I didn’t know anyone in real life who seemed open to life in this radical way. I did not understand it. I did not want to do it. But, after looking into it some more on my own, I also couldn’t figure how the Church could be right on everything else, but wrong about this. So, despite our lack of understanding, my husband and I decided not to use artificial contraception as we began our marriage. And, like the ten lepers, I was cleansed ON the journey, not before. Maybe I was cleansed BY the journey. In any case, I was given an understanding of and appreciation for the church’s position on contraception AFTER I had been willing to embrace it, not before. It hasn't always been easy, of course. But when I look at my life now, as a faithful Catholic in a loving marriage that has been blessed by many more children than I ever would have “planned,” I point to that decision as THE turning point. My “yes” moment. The decision from which all these graces have flowed. I had called out to Jesus from a distance. I had asked Him to have pity on me. And He had sent me on a journey unhealed, unchanged, the same old me. But as I was going, I realized I had been healed. Now all that’s left is to work each day on being that one guy of the ten who remembered to say, "Thank you." [bctt tweet="As I was going on the journey, I realized I had been healed."] Where are you on your journey? Where have you said "yes" in your life, despite it being hard to understand? photo by Sara Miller Kendra Tierney lives in Los Angeles, CA where her interests include blogging, homeschooling, looking after her eight children, and suburban homesteading . . . in case of zombies. You can find out more about her here.