Toward the end of last year, I was working through some goal-setting worksheets to help me cast a vision with the Lord for 2020. One of the worksheets was aimed at defining exactly what matters to me—at my core and in the long run. This worksheet was composed of fill-in-the-blanks, prompting me to define what is truly most important. Laughably, I got stuck at just the second fill-in-the-blank.
My name is ____________. I am ______________________________.
I am...what? Who? Who am I?
There's a lot I could write on that blank line; in fact, it would require a much longer line. I'm a Catholic, a daughter, a wife, a mom, a friend, a volunteer, a homemaker, a worker, a citizen, a writer, and so on. I'm a lot of things, and I bet you are, too.
St. Teresa of Calcutta knew what it meant to wear many hats. As a founder of a religious order dedicated to serving Christ in the poorest of the poor, she had many responsibilities to juggle. She had a vast personal history and she embraced each role she assumed. Yet, she never had a problem defining exactly who she was:
By blood, I am an Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the heart of Jesus.
When it came to the core of who she was—her heart—there was no hesitation. She knew to Whom she belonged. St. Teresa of Calcutta's identity was deeply rooted in the Heart of Christ. Her other duties flowed forth from that. She lived in the world, but her heart dwelt in His Sacred Heart.
Reflecting upon this statement of Mother Teresa, I completed the second fill-in-the-blank: I am the Lord's.
I want my whole being to be so immersed in His Heart that, even though I'm pulled in endless directions in my life and vocation, I never waver from His love and will.
During this month together, let's all seek to belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.
Let Us Pray
Beloved Jesus, Your Sacred Heart is always open, ready to be my home. Help me to place my whole heart in Yours, trusting You with every role and aspect of my life. I desire to belong entirely to You; free me from anything keeping me from resting in the love of Your Heart. Amen.
For Discussion
What roles do you fill in your life, vocation, and calling? Be specific. You could even list them on paper!
How would those roles become lighter and more fruitful if you lived in the freedom of belonging entirely to the Heart of Jesus?
In His Heart: The 2020 Prayer Pledge // Day 3 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet
Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky, where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She holds degrees in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and works from home while enjoying her children and husband. She curates relevant and inspiring content for Catholic women as Blog Manager. She is the narrator of Set a Fire, And Hay Became Holy, and All She Had as well as a contributing author for Rise Up. Find out more about her here.
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