June 13, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Reflect on the Word //  I anxiously rocked myself back and forth, attempting to calm my uneasy heart, as I was consumed with what I liked to call pre-Confession “jitters.” Intrusive thoughts circulated in my mind as I nervously waited in line. This time, as had happened oftentimes, I already felt defeated. What’s the point if I'm going to commit the same sins all over again? Yet this is exactly what the enemy wants: for me, for you, to give up. But the Lord does not want us to give up. We can read Saint Paul’s words in the First Reading through the idea that, in the spiritual life, we are like babies learning to walk under the watchful care of the Lord: “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).  When a baby attempts to take their first steps, the steps are wobbly and short, and if the baby falls down, the parents will immediately help the baby back up. The baby isn’t any less lovable if he or she falls down. The baby isn’t hopeless. They are still showered with love, tenderness, and encouragement, no matter how many times they fall.  Like a human parent’s care for a baby, we can trust that God, as our tender and loving Father, is always with us. He’s with us when we make progress, and He's there to lovingly lift us back up when we fall. We are not promised to not fall, but we are promised that He will never abandon us and He won’t leave us to destruction (see 2 Corinthians 4:9).  The Father does not see you as a failure, He sees you as His beloved daughter. Our strength and progress does not come from self-reliance, but it comes from Him (see 2 Corinthians 4:7). In the same way that Jesus was raised from the dead into His Resurrection, so will we be uplifted into our personal resurrections by the Father, both in this life and the next (see 2 Corinthians 4:14).  Relate to the Lord // Make a plan to go to Confession this week and receive the Father’s love.  

June 12, 2025 // Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26 Reflect on the Word //  The heart matters. Imagine the massive shift of the early Church beginning to realize that what the Savior was requiring from them was conversion of heart. The law that once was the centrality of the faith for the Jews was now something that would be internalized for the believing Christian. We can see this in Christ’s words, such as those in today’s Gospel, when He says, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matthew 5:22). The law now would both be written on their hearts and would transform them into living breathing alter Christus, other Christs—whose mission would then be for the world, to love them with the love of Christ Himself. Now, maybe I don’t find myself in the early moments of Christendom, but every day in my life Jesus asks me the same thing—has my heart been transformed? Is it showing? In what I do and say, in my relationships, in my cheerfulness and my demeanor? What bitterness lies below the surface, what self-pity?  Matters of the heart: they matter to the heart, they matter to His Heart. It struck me recently how much this conversion is meant to be ongoing and how much it impacts the people around us—for me, that’s my husband and my children. If we are not constantly turning our hearts back to Christ and resolving to begin again and again, those in our periphery will inevitably suffer. Moods, sleep, tiredness—it’s all at play. And it all matters. It matters because if we are to evangelize our own homes, workplaces, and schools, we need to be resolved to this type of docility, humility, and growth. An emptying of ourselves that can only result in the filling love of Christ in our hearts—it transforms us, and then it transforms the world. It was always meant to. Relate to the Lord // Allow Christ to fill your heart today in prayerful silence, time in creation, or through His Word.

June 11, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3 Reflect on the Word // I sat at my computer, staring with surprise at the message I just received. “We have an opening at our organization. Are you interested in applying?” I was not looking for work. But the timing could not have been more perfect. Unemployment and financial stress plagued our family, but I assumed my husband would find work again any day now. Instead, God called me to serve our family in a brand new way. I interviewed for and got the job, and I re-entered the workforce after twenty-one years of being a stay-at-home mom. It was quite an adjustment and quite a learning curve. I came home exhausted everyday, and I stressed over when I would have time to go to the grocery store and clean my house. For months, I felt unqualified and overwhelmed by impostor syndrome. While I did not understand this part of His plan for me, I “remain[ed] faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart” (Acts 11:23). It took me over a year to feel comfortable and confident in my work. And there are still days when I long to be a stay-at-home mom. But I am certain that the Lord’s invitation to try something new was about so much more than finances. He desired me to come into my own, to contribute my God-given skills and talents to meaningful work outside of the comfort zone of home. I have grown to trust Him more every day with the truth that I am set apart “for the work to which [God has] called [me]” (Acts 13:2). Today’s First Reading reminds me not to be surprised by the places God takes me. Nor should you be, my dear sister. Because when we are open to His will, and when we live our lives “filled with the Holy Spirit and faith” (Acts 11:24), God will lead us down paths that may be unexpected but are so clearly part of His plan. We may not be able to articulate why, but we certainly know in our hearts that we have been set apart for His work in this world. Relate to the Lord // Ask for the grace to respond to His call in your work today.  

June 10, 2025 // Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 Reflect on the Word //  When I was little, it was always the same. Standing before a mildly annoyed clerk, I would endlessly debate between pink or blue, elephant or bear, circle or triangle. It didn’t matter if they were clothing items or stuffed animals, jewelry or food, I could never decide.  “Just pick one,” they’d huff and roll their eyes. But I couldn’t choose, and their impatience only escalated my anxiety. Perhaps I’m a bit like Saint Thérèse, who joyfully declared, “I choose all!” (source) But my indecision didn’t feel like freedom; it felt like torture. For all that practice, I’m still not much more confident in my decision making these days. Even when I know what I want or intuitively understand something about a situation or a person, I still tie myself up in knots analyzing every angle and second guessing myself.  But I’d like to be more like my Father, Who knows His Own mind. In today’s First Reading, Saint Paul reminds us that the faithfulness of God is constant and unchanging. He doesn't waffle between yes and no but only “‘yes’ has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him” (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). That firmness of purpose and conviction of heart are true toward you and me. He made up His mind about you, chose you on purpose. And His Word is never yes and no—yes to this part but no to that. Yes to our good deeds and no to our sins. Yes to all of our charming qualities but you’d better smooth out those rough edges before He will love you. No, it’s only yes with Him. Always yes. He chooses all of you. Maybe that’s where Saint Thérèse got it. Relate to the Lord // Smile. Right now and throughout the day, smile as you recall that God loves you.  

June 9, 2025 // Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church // Monday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Reflect on the Word //  It was a Sunday morning and I was outside walking to Mass when one of my closest friends approached me with so much glee as she took my hand in hers to look at my engagement ring, which I had just received the night before. “Tell me everything!” she said as she graciously shared in my joy. I think I had previously texted her some of the details already, but as one of my closest friends, she wanted to hear it all.  The beginning of today’s First Reading has struck me for years, as the Lord tenderly asks Adam, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) I’ve often chuckled while my mind has jumped to the thought, Don’t You know? Of course You know! But I know, too, that when you love someone and you want to be close to them, you still ask the questions. Even when you know the answers. You ask about how they’re doing, what led to the decisions they made, and all the other details involved. When you love them, you want to hear it all. It’s not too much at all. When you go through those big life moments—those once-in-a-lifetime moments, like getting engaged or hearing about that big job offer, I hope you have someone who loves you so tenderly that they want to hear every detail about it. Or perhaps in those moments where you failed, like Adam and Eve in Genesis, I hope you have someone who meets you in your brokenness. No matter who comes to your mind right now, I hope you know that God the Father wants to be that Person for you. Not in addition to anyone else, but first and foremost. It’s not a burden for Him to listen to you—even though He already knows the details. It’s how He loves you and it’s also how He wants you to love Him.  Relate to the Lord // In prayer, tell Jesus everything on your heart today.  

Saturday, June 7, 2025  Happy Saturday, friend! We are so excited to share with you what's coming up this week as we all prepare our hearts by praying with readings for Sunday, the day of rest with our Lord. Live Liturgically // This Week’s Feast Days Sunday, June 8 // Solemnity of Pentecost Monday, June 9 // Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church  Wednesday, June 11 // Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle Friday, June 13 //Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church Letter from the Editor //  Dear Sister,  On tomorrow’s Solemnity of Pentecost, the Church remembers the coming of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room as upon the heads of the Apostles and the Blessed Mother “there appeared to them tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3). These tongues represented the presence of the Holy Spirit in each of them, and from that moment, instead of hiding in fear in the Upper Room, they had the courage to preach to the whole world the truth about Jesus. This same Spirit dwells in each of us today with the Father and the Son. The Trinity first came to dwell in us at our Baptism and the Holy Spirit was strengthened in us at Confirmation and “will teach [us] everything” (John 14:26). We can rely on the Holy Spirit to give us all we need to keep the Lord’s commandments (see John 14:15). The Psalmist pleads with the Lord this Sunday to “send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (Psalm 104:30). No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, we know that staying close to God requires constant renewal. We have to recommit to Him every day,  spend regular time in prayer, and receive the Sacraments. When we neglect these, the breath of the Lord cannot remain with us. We want to stay close to Him and live “by the Spirit” so that we may be adopted children and joint heirs with Christ, suffering in this life with Him, “so that we may be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17). We must embrace the Holy Spirit in our lives today and every day.In Christ’s Love, Susanna Read the Readings for Pentecost Sunday (Mass during the Day):  First Reading // Acts 2:1-11 Psalm // Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 Second Reading (2nd Option) // Romans 8:8-17 Gospel (2nd Option) // John 14:15-16, 23b-26  

June 6, 2025 // Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saint Norbert, Bishop Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 21:15-19 Reflect on the Word // Walter laid on his bed waiting for the day nurse to come and dress him before letting us enter the room. I was accompanying my mom on a very holy visit—she was entrusted with bringing our Eucharistic Lord to some parishioners who were homebound. Walter was one of our unique “sheep” whom we came to “feed” with the Living Bread. He had a very rough exterior and barely spoke a word to us most days. I was convinced he didn’t like us very much. But I also knew that he really loved Jesus and wanted to be fed by Him, no matter the hand that brought Him to his bedside.  In today’s Gospel, I can see both realities of being the shepherd: he is called to both feed and tend the sheep while also remembering that, one day, he too will need to be cared for, that he himself will be shepherded, and taken where he does not want to go (see John 21:18). While speaking to Saint Peter, our Lord also speaks to all of us. As His disciples we are partakers in His shepherding of souls, the call to tend to them and feed them. “Feed my sheep” the Lord says to us (John 21:17)—but what do we feed them with? With His Word and presence, with His truth and love—through a kind word, a warm meal, an attentive phone call, a passing smile, a tender correction, the list goes on.  You and I are called, sister, to be like Peter, to bring Jesus to others—especially to the most estranged, to the prodigals, to the ones who can no longer dress themselves and go where they would like. And as we feed them and care for them with the love of Christ Himself working through us, may we remember that we, too, need to be shepherded, tended to, fed, and led by the hand.  In all of life’s circumstances and trials, let us see His hand guiding us. May we keep walking, following close behind our Shepherd Who whispers to us daily, “Follow me” (John 21:19). Relate to the Lord // Consider going to daily Mass one day this week and let the Shepherd feed you. 

June 5, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 17:20-26 Reflect on the Word // I used to struggle with lectio divina, a practice of reading, engaging with, and praying with Scripture. Once I even heard a suggestion to read the verses up to ten times in a row, day after day. No thanks, I thought, that will certainly make my eyes glaze over. I nearly gave up on lectio entirely that day.  Today is a different story. Often, I start with a simple request: Lord, show me what You want me to know today. Help me to know Your Heart through Your Word. I can’t tell you how many times I read today’s Gospel to really hear what He wanted to highlight. It was well worth it to discover the gift inside these verses, a gift of seeing the love of the Father and Jesus for me. Jesus prayed for me—and for you!—before His Passion: “I pray [. . .] also for those who will believe in me through their word” (John 17:20). Sister, we are “those who will believe” in Jesus through the teachings of the Church passed down from the Apostles, who heard Jesus pray these words in the Upper Room. I imagine Jesus praying ardently, seeing each one of us as He interceded for our oneness with Him, for our belief, and for us to know His glory.  What’s more, Jesus’ words reveal how much the Father loves each of us, when He prays that “the world may know that you [. . .] loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:23, emphasis mine). The Father loves us just as He loved Jesus. Remember the words at Jesus’ Baptism? “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). We, too, are beloved daughters of the Father, and He is so pleased when we turn to Him, open our hearts to Him, and follow Him as Jesus did.  We are so loved, sister. Loved by Jesus Who desires our oneness with Him, loved by the Father Who loves us as His daughters, loved by the Spirit Who opens our hearts to God’s love in the Word.  Relate to the Lord // Read the Gospel again today. What verse or word does the Holy Spirit highlight for you?  

June 4, 2025 // Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 17:11b-19 Reflect on the Word //  I could feel the tension in the room before they even spoke. Arms crossed, voice cold, they finally said the words I’d been dreading: "That’s just the way you must have perceived it, but that was not what I was doing." The sentence landed like a punch. I opened my mouth to respond, but what was the point? The wall between us had been there for years, built with misunderstandings, unspoken pain, and unresolved conversations. All I wanted was to be heard, to have my pain acknowledged. An attempt to heal what’s been broken somehow made things worse. Have you ever been there—standing in the wreckage of a relationship you thought would last, unsure if it can ever be repaired? I wanted unity. I wanted peace. But I wrestled with a familiar ache—longing for closeness, yet feeling the distance grow. Was I expecting too much? Was I holding on to this wound too tightly? A part of me wanted to let it go, but another part feared that if I did, it would mean my pain didn’t matter. In John 17, Jesus prays for unity—not just for the Church, but for all relationships that reflect His love. He knows the pain of division, having been betrayed and abandoned by those He loved. Yet, instead of closing His Heart, He turns to the Father, entrusting the brokenness to Him. I used to think unity meant restoring what was lost, but maybe it begins in the heart of just one person—the one willing to surrender the hurt to God. Maybe this person will never apologize. Maybe the relationship won’t be what I hoped for. But Jesus’ prayer reminds me that unity is ultimately His work. My role is to remain open to healing, even if it means forgiving without receiving an apology. He desires healing even more than we do. Relate to the Lord // Pray for unity in your family and friendships today.

June 3, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 Reflect on the Word //  I peek out my dining room window and spot my son under a rainbow of spray escaping the hose. I watch as he carefully turns to water each corner, knowing he’s already pulled a weed or two and diligently inspected for pests.  Tendrils of green burst out of the confines of our backyard garden. Pops of red tomatoes, yellow squash, and green, green, green vegetation overwhelming it all. The warmth of summer beckons life everywhere. And yet, only a few months ago, everything was vastly different. What now is fruitful and thriving was a dusty brown bed full of dead stalks from the previous year.  “A bountiful rain you showered down” (Psalm 68:10). Our hearts can become a parched land, longing to be alive but feeling dry and thirsty. The Father wants to restore the land of our souls. All we have to be ready with is offering our patch of dirt. He longs to bring it to life. “You restored the land when it languished” (Psalm 68:10). We need His grace to water our souls and allow us to grow. We need Him to pull the weeds (the sins) from our lives. And we need to remember that it takes time for restoration to happen.  “Blessed day by day be the Lord, who bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:20). The Lord wants us to be at peace, releasing our cares to Him. We can rest in the gardens of our hearts, enjoying the beauty that surrounds us, trusting in the love of the Father.  May we allow our Lord to be the Gardener of our souls, passing Him the trowel, allowing Him to root out the choking weeds, tenderly care for the plants, and bring life to us. Relate to the Lord // Invite Jesus the Gardener into your soul. Allow Him to show you where you need nurturing or pruning.  

June 2, 2025  // Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Acts 19:1-8 Reflect on the Word //  I held a familiar ache of heart as I knelt in prayer, and this particular morning, our good Jesus illuminated and named my ache. It was like I was in a room with roaring white noise, and the Lord came and muted the noise with His Word: “We have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit” (Acts 19:2). This little phrase painlessly opened my heart with the Light of Christ, showing me the importance of ministry today. We live in a time in the history of our beloved Mother, the Church, where many people are not taught basic truths of the faith. With a bit of time, they sometimes express excitement and sometimes experience fatigue that they must search for the truth while dodging bad teachers and relativistic, mushy thinking. I resonate with Saint Paul’s fire for the Gospel, and also I resonate with the ache he must have experienced at discovering that these new disciples in the First Reading did not know the Holy Spirit when he asked them a simple question: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” (Acts 19:2)   Their humble and frank reply moved me to tears, and my heart leapt for joy as I recognized the “rich soil” that the Lord loves to find in hearts that are receptive to the blessing of His Word of Life (see Mark 4:20). There are many, many people I have met in my ministry who soar like eagles in the spiritual life because they are willing to ask a question vulnerably of the Lord. They are humble and frank with God. Sister, God calls us, too, to be poised like Saint Paul to exercise our prophetic mission in Jesus, which we were given at Baptism. We can imitate Saint Paul by simply teaching with the fullness of truth that we only find through, with, and in Jesus Christ in the Church. However, we can only give what we have received, and so we can pray to and trust in the Holy Spirit to guide us in each and every moment of sharing the truth. Relate to the Lord // Invite the Holy Spirit and ask Him to inspire you throughout your day.  

Saturday, May 31, 2025 Happy Saturday, friend! We are so excited to share with you what's coming up this week as we all prepare our hearts by praying with readings for Sunday, the day of rest with our Lord. Live Liturgically // This Week’s Feast Days Saturday, May 31 (today!) // Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary  Sunday, June 1 // Solemnity of the Ascension // or Seventh Sunday of Easter [In Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, and Philadelphia] Monday, June 2 // Optional Memorial of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs Tuesday, June 3 // Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs Thursday, June 5 // Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr Friday, June 6 // Optional Memorial of Saint Norbert, Bishop Letter from the Editor //  Dear Sister,  In the readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (which is celebrated tomorrow in most dioceses),  we can imagine ourselves standing among the Apostles, watching as Jesus “was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight” (Acts 1:9). We can trace Jesus’ time on earth from the Incarnation to the Ascension, seeing how He redeemed every part of our human existence: in the womb, in His birth, in His obedience to His parents, in His work as a carpenter, in how He entered into the joy and suffering of all He encountered in His ministry, and finally in His suffering and death as He took on all of our sin. And now we are among those “who believe, in accord with the exercise of [the Father’s] great might which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion” (Ephesians 1:19-21).   Our King is in Heaven and His reign is forever. It is easy to forget this when we get caught up in the toils of daily life. But He wants us to live as people who know He redeemed every part of our lives and sits beside His Father “not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). He wants us to worship Him this Sunday and then return to our homes and daily work, like the Apostles returned to Jerusalem, “with great joy” (Luke 24:52). The Easter season may be almost over, but the time of joy is always here, for our “God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy” (Psalm 47:6). In Christ’s Love, Susanna Read the readings for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord:  First Reading // Acts 1:1-11 Psalm // Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 Second Reading (1st Option)  // Ephesians 1:17-23 Gospel // Luke 24:46-53 Prayer Practice // Ask for an increase of joy so that you might experience more of the Risen Christ’s life in your daily life.  

May 30, 2025 // Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: Psalm 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 Reflect on the Word // A beautiful gift I received when some earthly resources were stripped away was the miraculous, ever-present support of God the Father. He became my help and my shield in new ways. He provided materially for my family in our need. He even lavished "unnecessary" blessings because He knew it would delight my heart. When my hands were empty of my own abilities and carefully constructed support systems, they were open to receive the support and inheritance of God.  Inheritance was a big deal to the people of Scripture. Fathers passed to their sons all they had. Inheritance was meant to be a blessing for generations to come. And it wasn’t just about the money or the goods; it was a practice with a deeper meaning. Leaving an inheritance for your family was seen as an act of righteousness and selflessness. It was how you acknowledged that this world was fleeting and that your true treasures on this earth were your family.  Inheritance is a big deal to God too.  Today’s Responsorial Psalm proclaims, “He chooses for us our inheritance, the glory of Jacob, whom he loves” (Psalm 47:5). The Lord gives us a glorious inheritance of His choosing because He loves us. He offers an inheritance because He is righteous and self-giving.  Ultimately, this inheritance is Himself.  He is the King and He gives us, as His children, everything that is His. The Lord hands over His whole Heart, burning with love for us. This is what produces a joy in our souls that can never be taken away. This love, joy, and peace are our treasures that will multiply throughout our lives with Him and peak upon our entrance into Heaven. There, we will see clearly all that is ours in Christ Jesus.  Friend, we are so rich. When we consider our lives and what may be lacking or where we may need support, let’s turn to the Father, Who tells us that everything He has is ours because He loves us. That last part? That’s the true treasure.  Relate to the Lord // Thank God for the gift of His loving inheritance today.   

May 29, 2025 // Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter // Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord [In Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia] Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel from the Sixth Thursday of Easter: John 16:16-20 Reflect on the Word // I looked at the older boy on the playground and tried to understand why some of the kids were shocked or snickered at a phrase he said. It didn't make sense to me. Later that day I asked my mom what the phrase meant. She looked at my young, innocent self and told me that it was something inappropriate and she’d explain more when I was older. I was dissatisfied with the answer, but went back to playing, trusting that she knew what was best for me. As I grew older there have been countless times when I wanted to know the answer to something but had to settle for not fully comprehending what was happening.  Similarly, in today’s Gospel during the Last Supper, Jesus is preparing the Apostles for things to come as His death approaches. He says, “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me” (John 16:16). It’s a confusing statement, as reflected in the Apostles' reaction. They murmur to themselves and ask, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what He means” (John 16:17). Jesus listens to them, but doesn’t clarify. Was it because they weren’t ready to know the whole story? Instead, He considers their coming grief and anguish, and He gives them words that don’t make sense now, but will in the future: “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy” (John 16:21). How many times have we sought answers or didn’t understand what God was doing with our lives? Like the Apostles, we sat confused, wishing Jesus would make His meaning clear. But God knows our hearts. He knows when it’s best to give clear answers and when to wait and challenge us so we can learn to better trust in Him. We can take comfort in knowing that God lovingly knows our hearts, and in time, our grief shall also turn to joy.   Relate to the Lord // Do you believe your grief will turn to joy in Jesus? Talk to Him about it.  

May 28, 2025 // Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 16:12-15 Reflect on the Word //  “Wait and see.” A refrain that has been spoken about my nephew more times than we can count. “Wait and see” as my brother paced in the NICU, worry lines etched in his young face as his first-born son struggled. “Wait and see” at the pediatrician’s office, when my brother asked if my nephew would ever walk or talk. But when we looked at this precious little boy with his big brown eyes, by the grace of God, those words did not stifle our joy. Those words did not quiet our resounding joy. In the tension and the sorrow of the unknown, the Lord gave us guidance and we surrendered. Yes, surrendered to the “wait and see.” Wait and see what the Lord can do. The Lord is so tender with my heart. He waits with me, speaking to me through the words He spoke to His Apostles in the Gospel: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will guide you to all truth” (John 16:12-13). Even so, I beg for all the answers. I throw myself at His feet and wonder at His silence. Then I remember that with Jesus there is always more. More love. More grace. More miracles. His gaze is steady, and in it, I am plunged into peace. The warmth of His love surrounds me. I can wait here. He knows what we need, and He knows when we need it. We can surrender to His guidance that He offers through the Holy Spirit. Jesus will never lead us astray. Whether we are led into the desert or the greenest pastures, He goes before us. Let us eagerly follow, hearts filled with trust, and see what the Lord can do.  Relate to the Lord // What worry or fear can you bring to Jesus today? Renew your trust in Him.  

May 27, 2025 // Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Acts 16:22-34  Reflect on the Word //  As soon as I sent the email I regretted it. Was I right? Maybe. Did it need to be said? Probably. Did it need to be said right then? No. Could it have been said more charitably? Definitely. I sighed and shut my computer. The anxiety and irritation were at a fever pitch and this poor soul just ended up on the wrong end of my overwhelm.  I have yet to master my emotions in daily interactions when I’m tired/stressed/hungry/sad/busy/frustrated. You get it. I want all of me to be converted, yes, even and especially my emotions. I know intellectually that God is bigger than my problems, but my ever changing thoughts and feelings don’t always align with that unchanging truth. Unlike Saint Paul, I don’t see myself singing in a prison cell, praying with confidence that the Lord’s loving hand was at work in my life and circumstances. But that’s what he did in today’s First Reading. And it wasn’t just any prison cell, they were being held in the innermost cell, feet shackled with a stake (see Acts 16:24). And this after being beaten with rods—many, many times. After this nightmare of a day, at midnight, they were found . . . singing and praying? Not licking their wounds and accusing the Lord of abandoning them? Not frantically plotting their escape? But singing and praying?! It’s easy to dismiss Paul and Silas’ witness with a can’t relate, but perhaps rather than measuring ourselves against their heroic example we can be inspired by it, learn from it, and actually try it.  We have only to read the rest of the story to see what God did with those prayers and the sacrifice of praise offered in their darkest hour. The Lord not only spectacularly rescued them, but also set every captive free and saved an entire family through Baptism. And all they did was sing and pray. In the middle of our (mostly much less serious) bad days, there is another way. Next time I’ll try singing and praying before hitting send.  Relate to the Lord // What song of praise or thanksgiving will you lift up to the Lord today?   

May 26, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel from the Optional Memorial of Saint Philip Neri: John 17:20-26 Reflect on the Word // One step closer. My breath caught and my heart thrummed as the priest processed the monstrance throughout the church, stopping in front of each woman to allow her gaze to meet the God of the universe truly present before us now in the Blessed Sacrament. Some cried, others bowed their heads low, and one exuberantly threw out her hands in greeting to our King.   He’s coming. What should I do? What should I say? My thoughts whirled as Father entered the aisle where I was kneeling. Unknowingly to my pounding heart, I had been in this position before. Five years prior, during a similar Eucharistic Procession, I looked at our Lord with love and promised to belong exclusively to Him forever. Now, on the second anniversary of my consecration to a life of virginity, I was at a loss for words. As my encounter with Jesus drew near, I joined our worship leader in song: “My beloved is the most beautiful among thousands and thousands.” And in a burning rush of inspiration, I asked Him to take all the graces and merits of my vocation—past, present, and future—and flood the heart of every woman in the room.  “That the love with which you loved me may be in them” (John 17:26). This is the prayer of Christ in today’s Gospel, but in that moment, it became my own. The God Who created me for love and to be loved as the espoused bride of His Heart wanted our “oneness” to set every soul wedded to Him by Baptism afire. On that night, it looked like a hundred-plus women seeking His face. Today, sweet sister, it looks like you.   Sharing this experience with a friend afterward, she told me that a palpable warmth had enveloped the room when Jesus was in front of me.   What would happen if, together, we spread that warmth to others? Like the ball of fire that caused Saint Philip Neri’s heart to literally expand with divine love (source), our lives could be the flames that help our brothers and sisters to burn. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit—the eternal outpouring of love between the Father and Son—to enflame us anew so that the whole world may be purified and “brought to perfection as one” (John 17:23).    Relate to the Lord // Ask the Holy Spirit to put someone on your heart to encourage today. Share God’s burning love with them!