Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   “Hear me, all of you, and understand.” // Mark 7:14 Months after our wedding day, my husband and I found ourselves joyfully anticipating our first child! It was the most surreal experience I’ve probably ever had (and I have had the blessing of experiencing it three more times). This idea that a child was growing inside of me while I was her safe haven was equally beautiful and terrifying. As a first-time mom, I was fixated on reading all the pregnant-mom blogs and following social media accounts of what I had to do, eat, listen to, etc. Cue the unsolicited advice from pretty much everyone around me and I had enough intel to keep me up at night thinking about the hot sauce I added to my dinner and what that would do to my baby . . .   We’ve all stressed over advice about things that can harm us or ways we should actually do something. The Gospel today demonstrates this when the Pharisees and scribes question Jesus about the way His disciples ate with unclean hands (see Mark 7:14-23). Jesus shifts the focus to matters of the heart. What do we allow to flow from our hearts? How do these ideas/standards shape who we are? The Lord invites us to live from a well-formed conscience and with the heart that He gave us, rather than merely living our lives following rules and restrictions without regard for His love for us.  If you notice yourself looking at others for the way you should be living more than you are looking to the Lord, I invite you to pause and seek His voice. (His voice does not pressure you like that perfectly curated social media account, lifestyle blog, or TV persona . . . ) When we focus on allowing Him to guide our discernment, we will be able to live as our authentic selves. Saint Irenaeus reminds us that, “For the glory of God is a living man; and the life of man consists in beholding God” (source). Today, I invite you to ask the Lord to show you how to be fully alive, without distractions and pressures from the world. Your life brings Him glory when you live the way He created you to live.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God! // Psalm 84:2 I didn’t much like praise and worship music when I was in high school—I thought it was cheesy. And, to be fair, some of it was in the early 2000s. “Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord, Yes, Yes, Lord” with hand gestures did not help me have an open heart to Jesus. But then one night, at a parish holy hour, there was a song that was one part catchy and two parts profound. “Better is one day in your courts, better is one day in your house, better is one day in your courts, than thousands elsewhere . . . ”  Over and over, we sang about the desire to be in the court of God, and as I knelt in the church, my knees stuck to the faux leather kneeler, I realized what I was saying.  God’s court, His lovely dwelling place, is where I belong. God’s presence, right before me in the Blessed Sacrament, was where my soul found rest. Even the threshold of God’s house was better than any luxurious offering of this world. I was convicted in that moment, at seventeen, to make time in His house a priority. His presence is not limited by church buildings. For truly, when we are in our own homes, sometimes messy and cluttered and noisy, we can remember the Lord’s presence and dwell with Him. Whether we are traveling, sitting at a desk, waiting in the school pickup line, cooking a dinner no one will say “thank you” for, or folding laundry for the tenth time this week, we can think of God’s altars, where our hearts and flesh cry out for the living God.  His dwelling place is lovely, and for what we long. His dwelling place is worthy of building in our hearts, a place where the living and true God can rest in our yearning souls. Do you long for his courts, just one day with the Lord, more than the thousands elsewhere? How can you build his court, dwell in His kingdom, today?

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   “I have truly built you a princely house, a dwelling where you may abide forever.” // 1 Kings 8:13 “Did you pack the kids’ water bottles?” I shout to my husband, who is buckling our youngest into her carseat. The kids have had breakfast, all five of us are dressed in our Sunday best, everyone’s hair is brushed, my makeup is applied. I grab “the Mass bag” filled with a few religious picture books and activities, glance at the clock, and hurry out the door. We should make it a few minutes before Mass begins. Whew. This is our Sunday morning rush. My Sunday preparations have looked different in various seasons of my life. As a younger single woman in college, I was able to arrive as early as I wanted for Mass, centering myself in prayer before it began. Now, our family listens to a podcast on the readings of the day as preparation on the drive to our parish.  Today’s First Reading (see 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13) describes the extraordinary efforts the Israelites took in preparing the temple as a dwelling place for the ark of the covenant. We see a reflection of this each time we are before the sanctuary of a Catholic Church, where our Lord dwells in His tabernacle. What a gift to be in His presence! But our Lord desires far more for us: in His profound humility and wild generosity, He comes to dwell in the temple of our bodies (see 1 Corinthians 3:16). As we receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, we become a physical dwelling place for Him. What preparations are we making to receive Him? What kind of a dwelling will He find within us?  What one thing can we change this week to more fully prepare ourselves to receive Jesus? Maybe He is inviting us to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Perhaps He is calling you to arrive even five minutes earlier for Mass to spend more time with Him before the liturgy begins or to read the readings before Mass. Whatever it is, let us pray that the Lord will find the temples of our hearts more beautiful for Him. May they be dwellings where He will abide forever. Amen.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases. // Alleluia Verse (see Matthew 8:17) Late November 2022, I watched my mother do physical therapy exercises in my dining room. She scrunched up sheet after sheet of magazine pages with her left hand. The tears running down her cheeks, however, were not from physical pain, but a result of the worry she felt over what her increasing hand weakness might mean. Several months later we learned that she has the incurable degenerative nerve disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). And since then my family has been accompanying my mother through her increasing loss of physical ability as the nerves throughout her body die. We do not know how many months or years she has left, only that she will become less and less independent, needing more and more care. She came to visit us again this past October, a few days after she returned from a trip to Lourdes, France. While we had prayed for a physical healing, we knew that the grace of the miraculous spring in Lourdes is more often a healing of the soul than of the body. Yet the grace she received there was not unlike that of Saint Peter’s mother-in-law, who physically rose from her sick bed to serve Jesus and His disciples in today’s Gospel (see Mark 1:30-31). For in my mother’s faithful acceptance of this suffering, she is serving Him through her witness of the goodness of God in her life. Her love for Him shines forth in her gratitude for each small blessing, in the words of faith she speaks about her diagnosis, in her desire to live her last months as she spent all of her adult life: devoted to regular prayer and spiritual conversations with her loved ones. Her soul is being healed each passing day as her body surrenders its ability to her disease. And she increases in her desire to serve God with her whole being, speaking of God’s goodness and offering her suffering. For when I see her suffer and decline, I see Christ bearing her disease with her. And He will take it away when He leads her by the hand into eternity.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while. // Mark 6:31 My young son was joyfully pointing to a nearby screen that was showing images of scenic vistas in Europe. We were sitting together in the mall food court eating Chipotle on a quiet weekday afternoon, and it was a very peaceful moment. As a mother of small children, these moments are not easy to come by. Life can often feel like I am riding on a bucking bronco from one chaotic moment to the next. As we sat eating our lunch together, the Lord gently nudged my heart . . . Enjoy the rest that is available to you in this brief but beautiful moment. So I intentionally leaned into it—the quiet, the peace, the heart of the Lord. It wasn’t long, but I made it a rest.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites the Apostles: “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). They were so busy serving others they didn’t even have time to eat (sound familiar?). Jesus knows what they need is true rest, a rest that will refresh their souls so they can continue to love and serve.  What does Jesus’ invitation to you look like in the everyday for you, as you love and serve others in your work, your vocation, or your community? Notice Jesus does not say, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and scroll on your phones. Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and listen to a podcast. Come away by yourself to a deserted place and think about your to-do list.”  Instead Christ makes this same invitation to you: “Come away by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while.”  Sister, I challenge you to find a way to do this every day this upcoming week. Perhaps you have time to “come away and rest” for an hour every day. Perhaps you only have five-minute moments in between waves of chaos to enter into the stillness of His presence within you. Whatever amount of time you take, slow down in true quiet, be at true peace, and rest in His Heart. Even for a moment, you will find the refreshment you are seeking.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to your people Israel.” // Luke 2:29-32 At Sister’s prompting, I stood up, and applause exploded from the pews. It was equally exhilarating and terrifying being the center of attention, especially after having kept my vocation under the radar for so long. But now, after two years of prayerful waiting, I was finally being presented by my diocese as an official candidate for Consecrated Virginity.     Throughout my discernment period, the probing question on my heart was not whether I was called to live as Jesus’ chaste bride, but rather how I was called to live that precious invitation out. Did Christ want me to keep my sacrifice hidden, or did He desire a public declaration of the promise?    My propensity to lay low, to avoid stirring up notice, nearly caused me to overlook the gift being presented to me—the “light for revelation to the Gentiles” that the prophet Simeon zealously acknowledges in today’s Gospel (see Luke 2:22-32). Although my eyes had seen Jesus’ salvation in my life, I was hesitant to share this marvelous sight. I desired to stay in the temple forever, savoring the glory that had been revealed to me in my secret soul-space.    Dearest sister, while a life of hidden sacrifice has its own merits, Pope Francis put it beautifully when he said that we, “like Mary and Simeon,” are meant “to take Jesus into our arms, to bring him to his people” (source). At our Baptism, we become living temples of God and signposts of the light that dwells in us. As children of the light (see 1 Thessalonians 5:5) we are entrusted with the sacred commission to carry Christ to all those who dwell in darkness. To not only see the light but be the light.     Beloved Jesus, You are the King of Glory and the Desire of Nations. On this blessed Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord, beckon us toward the light as we acclaim You as our Savior. Help us to imitate Your devoted servant Simeon, so that, docile to the stirrings of the Spirit, we may boldly confess to the world that You are here, illuminating the very temples of our hearts.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   “The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.”  // Mark 1:15 There is a small lake near our home, and on certain days, the water glistens beneath the light of the sun. Gentle waves ripple across the surface. Ducks dive for fish, shaking their wings and sending droplets of water into the air. I love going to the lake on those days. However, there are other days when the water is murky and stagnant.  Recently, on one of those not-so-beautiful days, I sat on a grassy hill noticing the water frothing with impurities against the wooden dock, feeling exceedingly annoyed with this reality. While my five-year-old daughter ran through the grass, and shouted gleefully in her charming, raspy voice, I brooded. I brooded because the murky, churning lake reflected the disposition of my heart perfectly. I felt frustrated by a struggle I was having with a multitude of venial sins. Habits that I recognized were hurting those around me. I was bringing the same sins to Confession again and again. The reality of all of this left me feeling discouraged and ashamed.  As I thought of all that was going on in my heart, my daughter ran up to me with a smile on her face. She pointed to an old scrape she had on her knee and said, “It’s getting better.” I nodded in agreement. She continued, “It hurt when it was getting better. But I think sometimes getting better hurts.” After she ran off, I sat there completely in awe of her words and how they had struck my heart.  Sometimes when we let the Lord pour His mercy into our stagnant and sinful souls it is painful. We fear the exposure of our brokenness. Will the Lord love us here? Will He ever heal us from this? Jesus says, “The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). If you are struggling, go to Confession. Go to the Sacrament of mercy, and do not grow weary. His love poured out for sinners like you and me. His love conquers all, and He offers you that reality today.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. // Mark 6:4-6 “No it’s not!” My four-year-old self yelled at my older brother. “It’s the same, and you can wash your hands with it!” I stubbornly insisted, refusing to agree with his differing stance. For some reason, my young little mind had decided that the goat’s milk moisturizer my mother had next to the sink in our farmhouse kitchen was a beautiful alternative to hand soap. My brother tried to school me that the two are different, but I would not hear it.  “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place” (Mark 6:4). Whether in humorous situations of a young child refusing to accept the truth that lotion is not used for cleaning purposes or in serious conversations that matter—our family members can sometimes be the most closed to hearing the truth of what we say, or we ourselves refuse to listen to what they share with us. But the question is not whether we are listening to older brothers so we stop using the fancy moisturizer to wash our hands, but rather, the real question is whether we are hearing Jesus speak His truth into our lives so that we may truly be cleansed and healed. Our insistence in believing what we think we know, rather than opening in faith to the ways God is leading us deeper, blocks Jesus from doing His mighty deeds in our lives.  Faith is the gift that softens our hearts to be receptive, opens our minds to accept what may feel difficult, and strengthens our wills to choose to take the steps forward with God even in uncertainty. In that beautiful surrender and trust, God can work.  May we never be so blocked by lack of faith that Jesus is only able to perform the minimal in our lives and moves on to others who are more open.  Consider truthfully: How are you blocking God’s work in your life? What do you need in order to soften and receive? What is your next step to move forward in trust and faith as Jesus does His work in you?

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us.   He took the child by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise!" // Mark 5:41 The room was quiet. All I could hear were the ticking of the clock and the accusing voices in my head. I wondered to myself: How did I get so far from God? My heart ached, and I wanted to cry out to God, but the Liar whispered in my head: Why bother? You know if you try to make a change, you’ll just go back to your old ways. You’re pathetic. Unexpectedly, my mind drifted to an overheard conversation about the mercy of God. In my mind’s eye I pictured Jesus on the Cross with the Blessed Mother beside Him. With pleading tears in her eyes, she repeated to me: He died for you . . . He died for you. The words echoed in my mind and a sudden wave of awareness swept over me that Jesus died on the Cross because of His deep, unfathomable love for me. Crumpled on the floor, it was more than I could bear. I sobbed uncontrollably. All the bitterness, hatred, and cynicism were being washed away as I cried out to God. My soul, which had felt dead for so long, was being brought back to life. Jesus was whispering to me: Talitha koum . . .  Little girl, I say to you, arise! (Mark 5:41) That was a profound moment, but it’s not the only time Jesus has spoken this to my heart. Countless times life and circumstances have broken my spirit and I felt like I couldn’t go on. Sometimes it was during extreme grief, such as the death of a loved one. Sometimes it was during times of great stress and burnout when I just couldn’t give anymore. When my spirit was crushed on the floor, Jesus once again whispered in my heart: Little girl, arise.  Is there something in your life bringing you great stress, worry, or grief? Close your eyes and picture Jesus walking to you with an outstretched arm. Notice the tender love and compassion in His eyes. Hear Him speak the words, “Talitha koum” (Mark 5:41). Take hold of His hand and let Him breathe new life in you.

Lent starts February 14, and so does the RESCUED Blessed is She Lent devotional. This year, you’ll be receiving an excerpt from the Lent devotional every day in your inbox (in lieu of our regular daily devo). We want to pray with one heart and one mind as the BIS sisterhood. If you prefer to have the book, purchase the 2024 Blessed is She Lent devotional RESCUED right here. Right upon purchase, you’ll receive a link to come into the free Blessed is She app to walk through the Lenten season with us in daily live prayer, small groups, and more. Together let’s look to the Lamb of God who came to rescue each one of us. As [Jesus] was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him.  But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” // Mark 5:18-19 There is a fascinating recurring contrast that happens  when Jesus encounters different people in the Gospels. Sometimes Christ invites the person to follow Him more closely and other times Christ immediately sends the person out to proclaim the Good News. Throughout my own life, I have experienced both of these invitations. There have been times when I have felt drawn to follow Jesus more closely. He equipped me with the gifts of contemplative prayer, studiousness, and stillness. I desired to remain near to Him in steadfast prayer, especially Eucharistic Adoration. I also became a voracious reader, wanting to learn as much as I could through the Scriptures and spiritual classics. I set aside time to receive this formation, staying so close to His Sacred Heart. These were times when I felt like I was not doing enough, but I remained with Him in peace. There have been other times when I have felt like Jesus has sent me out to share the Good News. He equipped me with gifts of boldness, zeal, and courage. I felt empowered to go out into the world and witness to His loving faithfulness. I was confident that He would lead and guide my every step. These were times when I felt like I was not doing enough, but I remained with Him in peace. Both of these kinds of experiences help me to enter more deeply into the Gospels. When I contemplate the encounter between Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac in today’s Gospel (see Mark 5:1-20), I see a miracle story of healing where Christ brings restoration and hope to an isolated man who was in desperate need of freedom. Jesus restored his dignity and humanity. This man wanted to stay with Jesus, but was sent in a different direction. Jesus desired to bring further healing to this outcast by commissioning him to be a messenger of Good News who would return to his community. As you encounter Jesus in the Scriptures today, be docile and attentive to Him—ready to stay with Him and be sent out.

The people were astonished at [Jesus’] teaching, for he taught them as one having authority . . . // Mark 1:21 I stared down at the black and glossy white page at a picture of high-school me, the title “Teacher’s Pet” emblazoned over it on the “Senior Superlative Page.” To be honest, I’d forgotten I’d earned that illustrious distinction from my peers that year. It caused me to ask, Why? Then I realized it was because I was afraid. I was the teacher’s pet because I followed the rules, but not for the reasons my peers thought. I respected authority in school not out of true virtue, but because I was afraid of getting in trouble. In my fear, I lacked freedom to be authentic, and I lived in that place of fear for a long time. Through further reflection, I realized I was also relating to Christ’s authority over me in the same way. I wanted to please the Lord not because I loved Him or believed in His love for me, but because I saw the power of His authority and was afraid of where not obeying would bring me. My relationship to Christ’s authority was very much like that of the demons in today’s Gospel (see Mark 1:21-28). They saw His authority held true power and were afraid of what that power would do to them. Sister, living in fear of Christ’s authority is hardly living the life for which He created us. The authority of Christ, of His teaching, of His power, of His very being, is meant to bring us freedom, not cause us to live in fear. He invites us to embrace His authority so that we can let go of control in our own lives and allow Him to lead us to a place of authenticity and joy. I once heard someone say, “Jesus is a gentleman; He will not go where He is not invited.” Sister, invite Him into your heart today, invite Him to take authority over whatever it is that is causing you fear, whatever it is that is holding you back from living in authentic freedom. Invite Him in and allow yourself to be astonished by His love for you.  

[Jesus] woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. // Mark 4:39  There are many evenings when I can’t wait to sit down, sink into a comfy chair, cover myself with a soft, cozy blanket, and drink a glass of wine in relative peace and quiet. I have spent the entirety of the day running from one place to another, my mind in a million places thinking of everything I need to get done. But finally, after everything is accomplished, the relief of reaching evening and a time of rest feels wonderful. But we all know the evenings where we do not reach a restful conclusion. There are sleepless nights with sick children, short nights when we have to wake up for the early shift at work, late nights filled with worry over family members . . . the list goes on. I can’t help thinking that the Apostles may have already been exhausted when Jesus asked them to sail to the other side of the sea on an evening when they needed rest. Think of how much worse the fear of an incoming storm would have been to them. It becomes so much easier for us to imagine why the disciples threw words at Jesus and doubted the power of God in their midst.   When we face storms in our lives it can be easy to doubt that God will calm the wind and the sea. But how much more difficult is prayer, surrender, and faith when our human bodies are exhausted? When we’re exhausted and depleted it becomes much easier to allow fear to determine our actions instead of trust.  When we want to cry out to the Lord, asking if He cares that we are perishing (see Mark 4:38), we need to remind ourselves that He does. Maybe we need to pay attention to what our bodies need, to give ourselves rest, nutrition, and time outside in nature in order to make a heartfelt prayer for faith in times of difficulty, and in turn, entrust our problems to the loving power of the Lord. Think of the problems you are currently facing today. What healthy choices do you need to make for your body in order to better serve your soul?

“To what shall we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” // Mark 4:30-32 My first post-college job was at a newspaper, and each week, I did a “Man on the Street” series. A photographer and I would approach people in public places and get their opinion and picture to run later in the week. I was still learning how to be a “faith-filled” person living and working in the real world. How vocal would I be about my own experience with the Kingdom of God? I was a twenty-year-old, born and raised in a strong Catholic family. But did I need to advertise? Sharing anything faith-related felt scary to me. The photographer was a woman a few years older than me. She was also Catholic but no longer practicing her faith. We talked about faith here and there, but I admit trying to hide my light under a bushel so that I wouldn’t seem weird. This weekly experience lasted for a few months and we each moved. About ten years later, I ran into that woman and she looked completely different—happy and deeply joyful. “I know you didn’t talk about it a lot,” she told me, “but your faith inspired me.” Because of our time together, she said, she started going back to Mass and found her way into a deeper relationship with God. I was blown away. I held back tears. Even in the midst of almost hiding my faith, God found a way. The mustard seed of truth was still able to be planted because God is so much bigger than my human weakness. Years later, I have now tasted so much of God’s goodness that I can’t help but sing. As today’s Psalm says, I want to proclaim God’s marvelous deeds, singing a new song to the Lord (see Psalm 96:1, 3).  The Lord doesn’t need us to do His work, but I’m humbled that He allows us to be a part of it. He invites us to share his goodness to the people He loves so much.   Lord, please continue to give us the freedom to share Your goodness with those around us! You are so good; Your deeds are marvelous indeed.

“I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' I replied, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazorean whom you are persecuting.’” // Acts 22:7-8 I walked into the packed church, blessed myself with holy water, genuflected before entering the pew, and knelt down to pray. It was so incredibly noisy that I couldn’t seem to focus. Instead of gazing at the crucifix, I decided to close my eyes to block out the surrounding chatter. It wasn’t working. I opened my eyes and saw football jerseys, short skirts, and workout attire. Parishioners walked by the altar and neglected to genuflect before the tabernacle.  Where is the reverence here? I thought. I will never become a parishioner here.  I could feel myself becoming more and more agitated at what I judged to be poor church etiquette. I was here to scope out a new parish since becoming a Mrs. and moving across town.  I had been formed by an Irish priest who had zero tolerance for anyone who showed any disrespect in God’s house. From the pulpit, he would tell parishioners to dress their very best for Sunday Mass as it wasn’t optional. I can still hear him say, “If you wouldn’t wear it to meet the president of the United States, don’t wear it here.” As God would have it, I did join this parish. But I didn’t forget the truths about showing reverence that were instilled in me. On the contrary, Jesus softened my heart to have compassion for those who hadn’t encountered Him or been taught that physical posture and dress have meaning. Only through a real relationship with Jesus Christ do you learn reverence for love broken open on the Cross and desire to show it with your body. Instead of seething at my pew, Jesus asked me to see the good of my neighbor despite his or her lack of understanding. I have since learned reverence cannot be imposed on a person that has never been taught. The flock is always teaching and lifting up one another in whatever we lack collectively through our witness. Sisters, let us ask Jesus in humility to break down the barriers of judgment that we carry. May our Good Shepherd unify us and guide us towards radiating His mercy towards one another.

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold. // Mark 4:20  I was sipping away my cappuccino when I began (yet again) complaining about how hard teaching has been, freely wallowing in self-pity and frustration. My dear priest friend gently interrupted my sharing with a question that left me awe-struck. He simply asked me, “Mary, how long have you wanted to be a teacher?”  I did not know why he was asking me this but I sheepishly replied, “Since I was in 6th grade.” I added an uncomfortable giggle, hoping he would offer wisdom or encouragement.  He said, “Just think, Mary: you are living your twelve year-old dream. You are where that little girl dreamed of being that long ago.You are doing so much for these little souls and planting the seed that will bear so much fruit.” I nodded in agreement as I pondered those words.  In today’s Gospel (see Mark 4:1-20), Jesus teaches the large crowd using the parable of the sower. He leaves them each to their own interpretation of the parable, but to the Twelve He intentionally explains its meaning.  The subject of this parable is not physical seeds. Rather, the subject is the Word of God, and the object of this teaching is to see the Word produce to its fullest potential, or “a hundredfold.”  I forget so often that the Lord does so much with the little I bring to the table. I will selfishly mope that what I am doing is not enough, I need to do more, or that it’s my work that brings about growth.  When I do His work, I am a mere instrument of the Holy Spirit. It’s God’s Word, the movement of the Spirit that produces its fullest potential. I often measure His Word on whether or not it was clearly received. And my measurements draw boundaries on the potential growth I might not ever see. Our thirty- and sixtyfold mentalities never reach the hundredfold opportunities.  Friend, the Lord desires to have our full potential. No boundaries, no hesitations, no measurements. If we give Him everything, every seed that’s sown produces a hundredfold. Fullness is a hundredfold. 

And looking around at those seated in the circle [Jesus] said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.” // Mark 3:34 When I was preparing to marry my husband, one of the recurrent themes was family. I became deeply aware that more than anything else, Peter and I were becoming family to each other through the sacrament. Coming from the Dominican Republic, the word family in itself holds so much meaning for me.  I am immediately reminded of warm welcomes, big embraces, lots of laughs, tears, and love. So when I thought about the vows I would make before the Church, our family, and friends, I knew that through this act Peter would be welcomed into my family as son and brother, as I would be welcomed into his family as a daughter and sister. Moreover, together we would become our own new little family, bound by love and the vows of the marriage covenant. When I reflect on today’s Gospel passage (see Mark 3:31-35), I admit I have often only focused on the roundabout way in which Christ compliments His Mother. He says that those who do the will of God are His siblings and mother. We know that of all the disciples then and now, Mother Mary did the will of the Lord most perfectly. She’s the most deserving of the title of “mother.”  Yet, today, I am struck by what Jesus is doing by saying these words to those who were “seated in the circle” around him (Mark 3:34). He was extending to them the title of family. They were invited to come close to Him, not just as disciples following a teacher but as brothers, sisters, and mothers. The ones who drop in for that unexpected visit, who pass by just to say hello and ask how it’s going, who extend not only their hands but come in for a kiss and embrace.  The Lord invites you and me, sister, through our Baptism into His Church, to be a part of His family. He invites us each day to come and sit next to Him in the circle, have a meal, exchange words of love, and pass the time together—not as strangers, not even as friends, but as family.

“But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” // Mark 3:29 Jesus comes out swinging in today’s Gospel reading, which happens to fall on the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children,* the day upon which American Catholics pray, fast, and make sacrifices for the intention of an end to abortion. He refers to what is known as “the Unforgivable sin” or “the Sin unto Death” which is mentioned in other parts of the New Testament as well (see Matthew 12:30-32, Mark 3:28–30, Luke 12:8–10, Hebrews 6:4–6, Hebrews 10:26–31, and 1 John 5:16). Jesus says unequivocally that there are sins that are so great as to be unpardonable and that, if committed, will necessarily result in damnation and eternal separation from God. It’s a heavy thing to think about, especially on this day. Is there forgiveness for women and men complicit in abortions? For us in any of our great sins? Do they even have to be great sins? Could a careless comment about the Holy Spirit be unforgivable? Is there hope for any of us? The answer is yes: there is hope. There is forgiveness. Any sin can be pardoned, no matter how great, as long as we repent and believe in God’s ability and willingness to forgive us. It is only our own refusal to allow God to forgive us that is, in the end, unforgivable. Pope Saint John Paul II wrote, "If Jesus says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven either in this life or in the next, it is because this ‘non-forgiveness’ is linked, as to its cause, to ‘non-repentance,’ in other words to the radical refusal to be converted. This means the refusal to come to the sources of Redemption, which nevertheless remain ‘always’ open in the economy of salvation in which the mission of the Holy Spirit is accomplished" (Dominum et vivificantem, 1986).  What sins in our lives are we using as an excuse to refuse conversion? Reconciliation with God and the Church is available to all of us in the Sacrament of Confession. Will we trust God enough to ask for it? *Note: This Gospel reading is from the daily Mass for Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time. There is an optional different set of readings specifically for the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.