We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. // Colossians 1:3-5

I wasn’t raised in a practicing Catholic family. My father isn’t Catholic and as a parent now, I can see just how difficult it must have been for my mom to bring her kids to Mass alone on the occasions she did. There wasn’t much prayer in our home, and apart from the few catechism classes in grade school, my education in the Faith was practically nonexistent.

But by the grace of God, while I was at college, the Holy Spirit inflamed a desire in me to learn more about the Faith and dive into a deeper understanding of God’s mercy and love for us and the Church. And in an act of abundant generosity, at that same time, God placed me in a community of Catholic friends who were on fire for their faith and set beautiful examples for me to learn from as I strived to become rooted in a love of Christ.

Saint Paul’s words in today’s First Reading from Colossians echo the gratitude I have for the examples of faithfulness that have been placed in my life as I seek Heaven—not only those passionately Catholic friends from college, but so many other examples of goodness and love that have been set before me. In my Biblical Studies graduate professor who spent her “free time” working at a medical clinic for those on the margins. In the Frassati Young Adult group I encountered living alone in a new city who made time in their busy professional lives to gather and pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. In more experienced mothers who remind me that my days filled with diapers and tantrums are only a stage and who show me an example of how to share the beauty of Catholicism with littles. 

The list goes on.

So, just as Paul gave thanks when praying for the example of faithfulness shown in the people of Colossae, I do the same for those examples in my life. And sister, I invite you to recall those models of faith in your life. Remember their goodness and give thanks to God for their witness.