Around here Sundays are for a lot of things—celebration of the Mass, household chores, meeting with friends at the park for a little soccer, or, in my case, frequently catching up on some writing and planning for the coming week. It is rarely a day of rest. On this Holy Saturday, we hear the creation story from Genesis 1:1-2:2. We hear how each day, God created and saw that it was good. On the last day, He created man and saw that it was very good. If we keep reading, we see that before He rested, God saw that His work was completed. His world was very good, and so only then was it that He rested. It is very hard for us to truly rest if we are not completed in our job. We may regularly distract ourselves throughout the day, but we don’t fully rest when we have deadlines or tasks surrounding us. In my home, resting while the dishes stack up or the clothes lay crumpled on the floor is impossible. This is because the body feels increased stress and the mind has a hard time focusing if the environment is untidy. How can we truly rest on the Sabbath when we have so much to do? The answer is through intentionality prior to the Sabbath. If we can look at our weekend as a whole and try to spend our Friday or Saturday with greater focus on the work that will help us to leave Sunday, or even just part of Sunday, as intentional rest. As we move through to the Easter Season this week, how can you change your schedule in order to give yourself the gift of rest on the Sabbath? Can you can talk this through with a friend and try to hold one another accountable for treating yourself to a bit of rest on a weekly basis? Give yourself the time and ability to connect with the Lord on the Sabbath and accept His peace as you look forward to a new week. * readings from Easter Vigil listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="Accept His peace. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] Holy Spirit, move in me to help me order my weekend toward Sabbath rest.  

“Mom, are we going to pray?” “Oh oops, let’s do that now,” I reply hastily as I take a deep breath and let their words center me, humble me, and bring me back to God. I know the source of the direction should matter less than the direction itself, but as my children grow in years I find myself learning from them more and more. I need the accountability and feedback, but I don’t always welcome it. I am the mom. I am supposed to do everything right. I am supposed to be the leader. I identify greatly with Naaman in today’s First Reading. He was the master, the commander, the one in control, but it was a little servant girl who told him of the prophet in Samaria. It was a servant who encouraged Naaman to follow the prophet’s commands to do the simple task as instructed. Without these little people, the great army commander would have been left diseased. Scripture tells us that he was valiant, highly esteemed, and respected. Maybe it is these qualities that made him approachable. In my own life, if not for my little people, I would be left prideful and unhealed. We need to be willing to listen to those around us, push away the pride, remain approachable, and take assistance from others when offered, even when that help comes in a way that surprises us. We must be willing to do the simple things God calls us to do, not just the difficult or complicated things. Lent is a time of purposeful reflection that can bring to mind areas in which we need healing, but sometimes pride keeps us from opening up our hearts to healing. What are the simple things God is asking you to do today? Are there people in your life who shine a light on the areas that need to be healed? A deep examination of consciousness can help us to find areas in the corners of our heart which have remained closed and unclean. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="We must be willing to do the simple things God calls us to do. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] When you examine the role of pride in your life, what does that look like? Think honestly about the different ways this root sin manifests itself.  

Baking and praying. This is how I cope. I realize this as I sift and mix, wiping flour from my fingertips. Recently bad news seems to accompany every phone call and slips into every conversation. In situations which leave me powerless, I take comfort in the simplicity of the recipe. Two cups flour and one cup sugar—I can do that. One Our Father and ten Hail Marys—I can do that. I can’t mend every broken relationship, or heal my dying loved one, or bring physical comfort to my friends who are lonely. But I can exercise a spiritual discipline that brings peace. The past twelve months have provided ample opportunity to reflect and discover our own coping mechanisms. Some of us had never really experienced long periods of frustration or grief, whereas others have experienced sorrow as an uninvited guest reappearing in unexpected times, knocking on the door to our heart. The trials this past year have been sufficient to push most of us towards a coping mechanism of some sort. Scripture today instructs us to endure trials as discipline, rather than just finding a way to struggle through. As a parent of four, I have much practice with the word "discipline." The word has three distinct but interrelated meanings. It can mean corrective behavior, but it can also mean a training practice, or a branch of knowledge. If we are to endure our trials as a form of study, or process of growth, maybe we can approach trials with a more open spirit and with less despair. Lent is just around the corner. As it approaches, I encourage you to intentionally reflect on your own current coping strategies and whether these strategies help you to exercise spiritual discipline in your trials. If not, perhaps you can pray about ways to grow in spiritual discipline this season of Lent. It would be beautiful if we could all receive the peaceful fruit of righteousness as a reward for our endurance. [bctt tweet="Receive the peaceful fruit of righteousness. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion What is God calling you to endure right now? Ask Him for assisting graces to continue.

I first began attending Mass when I was in my late teens. I was smitten with a handsome Catholic guy who was serious enough about his faith that he attended Mass most Sundays. At one point, we were asked to bring the gifts down the aisle to the priest. I was super nervous, very self-conscious, and particularly distracted by my hem length. Was my skirt too tight or too short? Why are they asking me? What if I trip? My boyfriend leaned over and said, “Just walk down the aisle, hand the priest the gifts, and bow.” Bow. Did he just say bow? Why was I supposed to bow to the priest? Why was I supposed to show him that deference? He is just a man, yet I was supposed to bow. I am a rule follower by nature so I did as instructed, although I bowed mostly with my head rather than from the waist. I was still concerned about that skirt length, after all. When I converted to the faith years later, I found such comfort in the Church’s teachings on sin and forgiveness. My personal sin and weakness can be purified by the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When I expect perfection from myself, in effect, I am trying to eliminate the need for a savior. And when I expect perfection from those I love, it leads to disappointment and damaged relationships. If I allow it, my weakness can make me more patient (Hebrews 5:2), but only if I allow God’s grace to continue to work within me. Now, when I find myself beset with impatience at my own failings or the failing of others, prayer is the only answer. The next time you are frustrated with your weakness or disappointed in someone else, release those emotions to the Lord through prayer. It may not solve every problem, but it is how we start cultivating a more patient heart. May the Lord provide peace, understanding, and direction sufficient for all our imperfections. [bctt tweet="Prayer is the only answer. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion This episode talks about surrender. You'll enjoy these wise priests!

Crawling into my lap with downcast eyes, she apologized in her sweet little voice for her struggles the previous night. Nighttime routines are a good thing, but they don’t always prevent the bedtime antics. And yet my precious daughter knows, each day is new, and my love for her does not require perfection. How glad I am that the Lord’s love for me is similarly not dependent on perfection. Today’s Second Reading refers to our God as a God of peace Who can make us perfectly holy (1 Thessalonians 5:23). This holiness is possible only through Him, not on our own. It is only with the grace of God that we can be preserved blameless. We are called to be faithful, not perfect in every action, while striving towards holiness. And so we try each day. We make amends when we hurt others, we get back up when we fall, and we call on the Lord to help us in the little moments when we find our strength failing, and in the big moments when we recognize the impossibility of the situation. We keep that which is good and strive to reject evil in our midst. And we keep praying, unceasingly. When we are able to recognize our own imperfections, our own struggles and set backs, it makes us better equipped to deal with the faults of others. At times we let others down, and at other times we are disappointed by those we love. Next time you experience disappointment internally or from another, pull yourself closer to the Lord and give thanks that He is holding you. Draw comfort from knowing that He wants the best from you and for you because He loves you and you are His precious daughter. [bctt tweet="He loves you and you are His precious daughter. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Need a Confession primer? Or help examining your conscience? Head over right here.

I was seated at a round table in the fellowship hall of a local church, my hands wrapped around the warm paper cup and my elbows perched amidst the crumbs of the baked cakes which had strayed from the little plate, now pushed aside. “I don’t bother God with those little requests—lost car keys and whatnot. God doesn’t need to hear my little pleas or complaints. He has people to heal and miracles to work.” I let the words of the woman across the table sink in a little. I bother God with all sorts of things! My aching knees, fears about my children, prayers for green lights and a good night's sleep—yes, the lost car keys and missing phone too. I never thought that my little requests cast upwards could be an annoyance to my Lord. But I tested her assertion. Does the Lord really care about our little problems? Should we invite Him into our daily mess or just call in the big guns when our problems are insurmountable? Am I like the Widow who bothers the Judge until he gives into her requests out of irritation? Or am I a faithful daughter who turns to her Father for every need, confident that He has limitless mercy, trusting Him to decide how to render judgment? In the years since the conversation over coffee and table crumbs, I have reflected back to that discussion. Not only do I think it is okay to take our little concerns to the Lord, I think it is healthy as we build our relationship with Him. We build patterns of behavior slowly, and prayer is a behavior. It is an act of faith. His answers to our little requests help build our faith and confidence when life gives us larger concerns. We come to Him in love, and dependence, and confidence as we call out to Him day and night. It is okay to be the persistent widow, for what we are pursuing is a relationship with our Beloved Who will never respond to our love with irritation. [bctt tweet="Prayer is a behavior. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Learn more about prayer without ceasing from this incredible monk.

Lately, I feel myself drifting, like a kite, being battered gently by the demands of life. Sometimes the skies are blue, and the breeze is warm and gentle. Other times I find I am in the middle of a storm. I have been feeling like this a lot since March. I wake up thinking I have a plan for the day, only to receive unexpected requests placed at my feet. My necessary tasks become less urgent as I search for a missing cleat, replace the ink cartridge, reboot a computer after a dropped class, and make food (again already?) for those in my care. The two things that keep my sanity tethered in this time are prayer and Scripture. Even a few minutes of reading Scripture grounds my morning and praying a Rosary in the afternoon centers me for the second half of the day. Without this, I find it is hard to remain with Him as I move through the day. When I forget or don’t make it a priority to tie down, my kite and my sanity both will just sail off in the wind. Today’s Scripture reminds us that Jesus prayed (Luke 11:2-4). He, the Son of God, Who was Himself God made flesh, prayed by talking to and communing with His Father. And He recognized it as important enough to teach His followers how to do the same. He didn’t give them an elaborate plan; He gave them some simple words. If you have trouble remaining aware of God’s presence in the drudgery of the day, consider building in routine times in your day for a little Scripture or prayer time. Just a few minutes in prayer is all you need to keep your soul tethered to Him. Ground yourself today in prayer. [bctt tweet="Keep your soul tethered to Him. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] listen to today’s devotion Watch a little inspirational video on how to start a prayer routine from our founder.

I am a subpar gardener. One thing I thoroughly enjoy, however, is ripping out the dead plants which have failed to produce in order to make space for the healthy new crop. I love the feel of the naked dirt, waiting to be tilled again, welcoming the new little plant, healthy and green. I have no sense of remorse or sadness. If they aren’t producing, they must go. I wish I had the same discipline in the rest of my life; to have the ability to step away from unproductive relationships, habits, hobbies, or work. We all need to have recreation and rest, but what we do during that time should be productive in healing us, in filling us, in restoring us. Our friendships should lead us to be better daughters of Christ. Our activities should help us grow in virtue. Our work should give us the opportunity to use God’s gifts. Our rest should be nourishing, not mere distraction. What do I need to pull out of my life? What do I need to plant, water, and nurture? If every tree is known by its fruit (Luke 6:44) as we hear in today's Gospel, what type of a tree am I? Am I dormant or am I producing fruit? Do I need a little more water, sunlight, or nutrients? How can I change my life to be more productive, to produce more of the fruit that is expected of me? If you have found yourself stagnant, I encourage you to start to change, to uproot those things that are keeping you from growing in the Lord. Feed yourself with His Scripture, surround yourself with people who glow with His light, and water yourself with the Sacraments. Roll up your sleeves and grab a fist full of dirt. It is messy work, but the fruit that comes from it is the sweetest fruit of all. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="Glow with His light. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] Lord Jesus, help me uproot the things that need to be uprooted.

Each summer of my childhood, my family and I would spend a week in July boat camping at Lake Powell. We would pack the small little fishing boat with our gear (one backpack each), food (mostly dried), the old tent, and stove, and we would hope for calm waters. As we children grew in size each year, the boat would sit lower in the water, and my father’s stress level would be correspondingly higher. From the shore, he would watch the water for white caps and try to time the launch perfectly, so that we could safely find a good location, and unload onto the sandy beaches before the monsoon winds picked up. I remember the disappointment when a launch was delayed or a trip cut short because of my father’s caution. He knew that the same water that gave endless hours of entertainment could also be deadly. Water is life giving and purifying, but it also can be terrifying. When I think of today’s Gospel story (Matthew 14:22-36), I am in the boat with disciples of Jesus on the raging waters. The white heads crest around me as the boat tosses ferociously in the wind. The cold spray sting my face and drench my body. And Jesus is looking over me with peace. In my youth, I looked to my earthy father for guidance, direction, and protection. If he said it was safe, I was able to step into the boat with confidence before setting out into the deep. As an adult, I am striving to have that same faith in the Lord. My Heavenly Father is watching from the shore as the waves and the winds rage around me. Can I hear His voice above their roar? Am I looking and listening to Him, keeping my eyes fixed, or am I trying to chart my course based on my own predictions, wants, and whims? Jesus is here in the uncertainty and the tumult, ready to calm our storms. We need only to come to Him with confidence. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="We need only to come to Him with confidence. // @maryruthhackett" username="blessedisshe__"] Bring a small prayer of confidence to the Lord from this nun, Jesus, I trust in You.

My eight-year-old wants to fly. I don’t mean fly airplanes, I mean physically fly. Like a bird. For months she would pray at night for God to give her the ability to fly. Eventually she stopped asking, but if the Lord asked her today what she wanted more than anything in the world, she would choose to fly over wisdom for sure. I have often wondered what I would say if God came to me as He did to Solomon (see 1 Kings 3:5), offering anything the heart desired. I would like to say I would ask for wisdom, but I am not sure. After all, flying sounds pretty amazing, too. What strikes me about Solomon’s request is that he already must have had a pretty healthy dose of wisdom in order to respond the way he did. We read the Scripture like a story and recognize the brilliance in the answer, but I don’t think I have ever really appreciated how genius the answer really was. He asked for wisdom—which encapsulates not only knowledge but the ability to use that knowledge appropriately. In biblical terms, wisdom is not just general, but rather it is specific to knowing God as well. And with that knowledge and ability to use it come all the other things a king could aspire towards. What is your heart's desire? What do you long for at your heart's core? Is it something tangible? Relational? Emotional? Physical? Not many of us have full-scale conversations with the Lord akin to that of Solomon, but we all have to ability to come to the Lord and place our request before Him. Nothing is too big or too small for Our Lord. And just as He wanted the best for the Israelites, He wants the best for you as well. [bctt tweet="Nothing is too big or too small for Our Lord. // Dr. MaryRuth Hackett" username="blessedisshe__"] Place your heart's desire before the Lord and trust in His love for you.

I lay in the quiet and try to focus my thoughts. I hear the shower running in the other room as the light begins to filter in through the shutters. I long for that first sip of coffee, but I know my quiet time will soon be replaced with the sounds of family life. In this waning half-silence, I recollect the day before. The time when I snapped a snarky response to my teen and cut him to the core, the habit I have of automatically turning to scroll on my phone in every spare moment, the irritation I felt, and then denied, when I got destroyed at checkers, the less-than-loving response I provided when someone just wanted a little help, the thoughtlessness with which I have been treating my body. The memories hold heaviness. Little things each day add up to big things. Did I recite the Lord’s statutes and profess love for Him, yet fail to live a life of discipline as the psalmist accuses (see Psalm 50)? You bet I did. And I have to sit with that reality for a moment. We aren’t perfect, but we are often capable of better when we cooperate with His grace, when we rely a little more on Him, when we ask for His help. I am a daughter of the King of Kings. He wants greatness from me and for me, and everything is possible through Him. His power of God is a saving power. And through His love, I am redeemed. Each day is a new day during which He is able to make a new disciple of me. He is able to cast out the demons and reclaim me as the first fruit of His creation. Each morning is new, and He never tires of my repentance. He is the good and loving Father to Whom I belong. listen to today’s devotion [bctt tweet="Everything is possible through Him. // Dr. MaryRuth Hackett" username="blessedisshe__"] What does it mean to cooperate with God's graces? Take a read over here.

When I was pregnant with my first child, the doctor told me that the hardest part of the entire process was going to be giving up control. I laughed it off and proceeded to write out a three-page birth plan, which later had the labor and delivery staff laughing. No one was laughing as I entered my forty-fourth hour of labor, but now eighteen years later I can see the humor in it all. I wish I had let that time of surrender permeate me. Instead I tolerated the elements I couldn’t control, planned what I could, and then moved back to trying to control and plan everything possible once the baby came. What I didn’t realize was that time of unpredictability and waiting was preparing me for all that was to come. It was training me to be a better mother, sister, wife. It was readying me for a future life, which was far more self-donative and much less predicable than the life I was living. In the opening lines to today's Scripture, Saint Peter talks about waiting for the Lord (2 Peter 3:12-13). How we carry ourselves during any time of waiting is important, whether we are waiting for a big event, a little hope to be fulfilled, or our eternal welcome home. When we are waiting for something big, we are forced to live in the present even as we anticipate the future. In doing so, we can become either obsessed with some future event or milestone, or we can choose to ground ourselves purposefully in the present. There is beauty in living in the present, in the silence, in the chaos, in the face-to-face interaction, and in the peaceful moments of prayer. And it is in the present that we are able to grow in grace. God’s plan for us is a radical improvement over anything we could dream up. Rather than chasing our future or becoming concerned over God’s master plan for our life, let’s take time today to appreciate the present as a full and beautiful day in God’s special plan. [bctt tweet="There is beauty in living in the present. // Dr. MaryRuth Hackett" username="blessedisshe__"] Consider praying this novena to help with these tense and challenging times.