July 23, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9 Reflect on the Word //  Last year I bought a packet of wildflower seeds, intending to plant them right away. Instead, I procrastinated on preparing the ground, tossed a few seeds into a pot, and later mourned when the Texas sun shriveled the plants I failed to water carefully.  This spring, I prepared a small patch in my backyard, scattered the seeds, covered them with soil, and praised Heaven when rain fell the same day. After the rain I watered faithfully, not wanting to repeat last year’s neglect. I had no idea which seeds were in the mix, how many of each type of flower, or if they would even grow. Imagine my delight when the seeds sprouted, filling the space with vibrant green leaves and stems, promising a beautiful spray of wildflowers (at the time of writing, they have yet to bloom). I continue to tend this small wildflower patch, watering when needed and pulling weeds that creep under the fence.  The Lord sows seeds in my life with greater regularity and care than I give my garden. He grows wildflowers around me every year without fail, even out of sidewalk cracks. Likewise, He sows in my life with His Word. Whenever I read the Bible, receive the Sacraments, or open my heart to Him in prayer, He scatters seeds in my life. Yet if my life has become overgrown with sin (weeds and rocks) or parched from lack of time in prayer, then the Word might not take root or live very long.  Our lives are gifts from the Lord: gifts He asks us to steward well by nurturing our bodies, minds, and souls. With care, the gardens of our lives will be like the rich soil, ready to burst into bloom with gifts and talents the Lord has chosen specifically for us. When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, we bear spiritual fruit. Like my mixed wildflower seeds, we may not know what will bloom most, but we trust the Sower that He’s growing a beautiful work in our lives. Relate to the Lord // Where are you blooming in this season? What needs pruning? Ask the Sower to show you.  

July 22, 2025 // Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18 Reflect on the Word //  The alarm clock blared, pulling me from a restless night’s sleep. My eyes barely opened before my mind surged into overdrive, racing through the day ahead: work, errands, decisions too big to face. The to-do list from yesterday sat half-finished on the counter, a constant reminder of all that was left undone. Demands, unresolved tension, and looming responsibilities pressed down on me, suffocating and unrelenting. Where is the peace? I wondered, feeling lost in the rush, longing for even a moment of calm. When will I catch a break? The burden felt unbearable, and I realized, with a sinking heart, that I was drowning in it. In today’s Gospel from John, Saint Mary Magdalene faced a much greater burden. She came to the tomb, consumed with sorrow, expecting to find her Lord’s lifeless body. The stone was rolled away, and the grave was empty. Overcome with grief, she stood weeping, unsure of where to turn. But in that darkest moment, when she thought all hope was lost, Jesus spoke her name: “Mary” (John 20:16). In that instant, everything changed. Her sorrow was replaced with joy, her confusion turned to clarity. Like Mary, we too can find ourselves weeping at the tombs of our lives—our dreams shattered, our hearts burdened with grief. Yet, just as Jesus called Mary by name, He calls us. He calls us to turn toward Him, even in our deepest despair. In His voice, we don’t just find comfort; we find new life. Our Risen Christ calls us, not from a distance, but right where we are—in the chaos, the pain, the busyness. Jesus knows our name, and in His call, we receive peace, hope, and joy. Let us listen. Let us turn toward Him, for He has rolled away the stone, and He is risen. Relate to the Lord // Choose to turn your heart towards the Risen Christ today, again and again.  

July 21, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Responsorial Psalm: Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6 Reflect on the Word // As I close my eyes in prayer, I imagine my heart as a garden with plots of land at various levels of growth. From tiny seedlings ready to sprout to lush blooms, the vibrant color and sweet fragrance reveal God’s glory and splendor. “He is my God, I praise him” (Exodus 15:2). As I look around, I notice one part of the garden remains barren without any growth. Sorrow fills my heart, because I know why nothing is blooming here. For years, no matter how much effort I exuded or what I did to keep up, it never seemed to be enough. As fatigue, chronic illness, and feelings of unworthiness left me frustrated, weeds slowly choked out my self-worth and the potential for flourishing. Turning to Jesus, I want to surrender my self-reliance to Him, but I have tried so many times before; I fear I just don’t know how. In response, Jesus leads me to another part of the garden. He smiles as sheer delight spreads across my face when we come to a field of sunflowers. They have always been my favorite flower. Sunflowers are strong and sturdy, bright and beautiful. They maintain the posture of prayer, always facing the light of the sun. It is a posture God desires each of His beloved daughters to take, keeping our gaze on the Son no matter what. As Jesus and I walk among the towering sunflowers, I am overcome by emotion. I have never felt so cared for. Today’s Responsorial Psalm reminds me that I don’t need to rely on myself, and nor should you, my sister. Because “my strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior” (Exodus 15:2). And because of this we can trust Him to gently tend the most vulnerable parts of us. And when we do, we will grow and flourish. We will stand strong and steady, as we fix our gaze on the Gardener of our hearts. Relate to the Lord // Ask Jesus to show you around the garden of your heart today. What do you see?

Saturday, July 19, 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, July 20 // Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday, July 21 // Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church Tuesday, July 22 // Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Wednesday, July 23 // Optional Memorial of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious Thursday, July 24 // Optional Memorial of Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest Friday, July 25 // Feast of Saint James, Apostle Letter from the Editor //  Dear Sister, On the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Readings teach us about two key parts of our growth in holiness: being present to the Lord in both the active life of service and the contemplative life of prayer. The sisters Martha and Mary in the Gospel model these two ways for us. Martha serves the Lord in her work, showing us the importance of attending to our duties. When she  is “burdened with much serving,” she brings her cares to the Lord, and He reminds her of her need to be in His presence (Luke 10:40-41). Mary, with her “better part,” sits at the Lord’s feet and shows us how to pray (Luke 10:42). In the First Reading, the Lord appears to Abraham as three men, which points us to the reality of God as a Trinity. Abraham welcomes the Lord, offers rest and refreshment, and waits “on them under the tree while they [eat]” (Genesis 18:8). We see in Abraham how to both be present to the Lord and serve the Lord. The Psalmist tells us, “He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord” (Psalm 15:1). Everything we do is meant to be done with hearts present to the Trinity Who has dwelled within us since our Baptisms. The Lord’s presence in us “bring[s] to completion for [us] the word of God” (Colossians 1:25). From the beginning, the Lord has desired for us to be united to Him, and because God became a Man, died, and rose, we can now be made “perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28). In Christ’s Love, Susanna Read the Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:  First Reading // Genesis 18:1-10a Responsorial Psalm // Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5 Second Reading // Colossians 1:24-28 Gospel // Luke 10:38-42  

July 18, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest [In the Dioceses of the United States] Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Exodus 11:10—12:14 Reflect on the Word //  When I travel and attend Mass in other parts of the country or world, I am comforted by the steadiness of the universal Mass. When my family is in need of support during times of loss or transition, we are fed by our parish friend’s meals and kindness. When I carry crosses that threaten to crush me, Jesus tends to my weary heart through the encouragement of close friends who follow Him closely too. In today’s First Reading, I am struck by God’s rescue of Israel as a whole entity. Even in preparations for the Passover meal, families were to join together to share a sacrificial lamb when necessary (see Exodus 12:4). Israel had to rely on one another; they were saved together. Now, in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God—we are still saved together.  When Jesus won salvation on the Cross, He won it for the whole world. We are saved as His Body. We are saved as His family. And Jesus continues to offer us this salvation through community today. As the Body of Christ, we are bound together.  We are called to live the love of Christ toward one another as we worship together, pray together, serve together, weep together, rejoice together, and walk together toward Heaven.  We cannot pretend we do not need one another. Our broken hearts and self-reliance would like us to believe that we must save ourselves. But nothing could be further from the Gospel. Jesus is the One Who saves us. And He does not save us in isolation.  Relate to the Lord // How is Jesus working in and through your community right now?  

July 17, 2025  // Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30 Reflect on the Word //  My interior was like waves on a windy ocean. Just days prior I received difficult news. My heart was raw with a prayer experience where the Father almost wordlessly reminded me that He had provided. The memory of His all-encompassing Providence embraced me even days later.  But I wasn’t sure that I wanted Him to speak today. I was afraid He would say or do something that might upset the peace I felt was fragile. Yet my heart opened with hope at the word “rest.”  “I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  I cautiously waited there at those words, and I felt His invitation take a breath. The tension lessened. I stayed there a bit longer and repeated His deeply good word: “I will give you rest.” At a certain point the preceding words brought me to tears: “Come to Me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  Yes, Jesus. Yes, Father, it is true You give rest when life is laborious and I am fatigued by the burden. The memory of His fidelity encompassed even my body. I remembered countless just-in-time blessings, especially when I was weary. I delighted in the truth that my rest is His with-ness and presence to me, and there He is my healing and my strengthening fortress. Sister, it can sometimes sound trite to say that God wants to be our friend, but this is the only way I can explain how deeply good and gentle He is. Pope Benedict XVI told us on several occasions not to be afraid, because Jesus will not take anything from us, that is, anything of real value. May we learn from His most meek and humble Heart how He uses all things for our greatest good if we learn to give Him everything. Relate to the Lord // Spend time in silence today—even five minutes—and listen for the Lord’s gentle voice of love.  

July 16, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12 Reflect on the Word //  The blue, metal doors of the orphanage opened for me and I walked over to the chapel that was bursting with songs of praise to the Lord. The children had left their sandals out in the corridor before entering the chapel for Adoration and so I bent over, unstrapped my sandals, and left them at the door too.   “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Why must Moses remove his sandals? Why must he come before the presence of the Lord barefoot, laying aside something so seemingly insignificant and unassuming as sandals?  Intimacy. Here, in the closeness of the Lord to Moses’ whole being, the sandals act as an impediment to experiencing the fullness of the glory of that moment. As he stretched down to loosen his sandals and slip them off his feet, perhaps Moses had a moment to breathe and realize what was at hand—he was about to meet the living God. As he obeyed the command to remove his sandals, what else did Moses remove? Perhaps his expectations, his fear, his doubts, his shame. Leaving aside the sandals and walking forward toward the burning bush, Moses was able to enter into conversation with the Lord, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6).  As Moses listened to the Lord in this place of intimacy, he also received a call, a commissioning to go out to Pharaoh and plead for his people, to lead them into freedom. When you and I, sister, spend time in the innermost place of our hearts, where we have laid aside our own “sandals”—our expectations, fears, doubts, and shame—we find that we, too, are being sent out to the world, to the needy, to our own families and friends, to speak to them of the Love that has astounded us, that has amazed us because it burns but does not consume (see Exodus 3:3). May we take off our sandals and walk in greater intimacy with the Lord—let us, too, burn for Him.  Relate to the Lord // When was the last time you burned for the Lord? Ask Him to rekindle your love.  

July 15, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Psalm: Psalm 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34 Reflect on the Word //  My mind races as I turn right out of my driveway. I try to calculate how many errands I can possibly run in the two hours I have while my mother-in-law watches my three children. My to-do list is ambitious, and beyond that, the worries and anxieties of daily life swirl in the background of my brain. I receive a prompting from the Holy Spirit to stop at Adoration. But I don’t have time; I’ll never get everything accomplished, I spout back. In a moment of grace my heart softens, for experience has taught me better. I continue straight past my errands toward our parish adoration chapel. “Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live” (Psalm 69:33).  After falling to my knees before Him, I slowly approach our Eucharistic Lord. I’ve been waiting for you, I hear Jesus say in my heart. Spoken with such tenderness, I am overwhelmed by the generosity of a God Who so desires to be with me.  The actual Bread of Life was waiting for me, as He waits for each one of His beloved in the adoration chapels and tabernacles of our churches. I am struck once again that He never leaves us, that He is always available, most especially in this profound gift of the Eucharist. He knows everything we need, but He wants to hear from us, our every concern and care, every dream and desire. I feel unworthy, but He reminds me His presence is not earned. It is His joy to love us, to fill us, and to feed us. Let us turn to Him often in mind, heart, and Sacrament. Let’s prioritize time with Him in Eucharistic Adoration. The enemy will no doubt try to distract us, directing our focus towards technology, food, shopping, whatever it may be. But by grace, let us turn to Christ, for He gave His life that we, too, might live. “[Y]ou who seek God may your hearts revive” (Psalm 69:33). Amen.  Relate to the Lord // Make a visit to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament this week. He is waiting for you in every tabernacle, all over the world.  

July 14, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin [In the Dioceses of the United States] Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1 Reflect on the Word // Jesus’ words jar me as He says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37). They seem harsh, unlike the loving, gentle Jesus I know so well. A memory surfaces. The only Catholic in my big Christian family, I’d flown to Nebraska for the funeral of my seventeen-year-old nephew. A ride to Mass on Sunday morning felt like a big ask. But, I knew and still know where my strength comes from. Especially in the midst of grief, I needed to worship as God asks me to and receive Him in Holy Communion. So, I decided to ask. After only a little pushback, my sister agreed to take me to Mass and pick me up afterward. Jesus demands that we be “all in” as His followers. His requirement has nothing to do with power or control. For Jesus it’s always about love. He knows how easily our love can go awry. When we cling to any person, even our closest family members, more than we cling to Jesus, unhealthy patterns develop. We turn in on ourselves, grasping after what we think is best and trying to control others. Relationships meant to thrive through mutual self-giving become sterile or one-sided, leaving us empty and lonely. But when we put Him first, He makes a way for us to love like He does. Jesus knows that we cannot fully receive His abundant love when we allow lesser relationships to crowd Him out. When we find courage to put Him first and entrust everything and everyone to Him,  even our suffering is transformed in the light of His love.  Relate to the Lord // How might you put your love of Jesus first today?

Saturday, July 12, 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, July 13 // Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday, July 14 // Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin [In the Dioceses of the United States] Tuesday, July 15 // Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Wednesday, July 16 // Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Friday, July 18 // Optional Memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest [In the Dioceses of the United States] Letter from the Editor //  Dear Sister, The Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time draw us into a truth about our very existence. Saint Paul writes to us that “Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God” and that with “all things” we were created “through him and for him” (Colossians 1:15, 16). Each of us was created to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). This may seem hard to do, but the Psalmist tells us that “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing to the soul” (Psalm 19:9). Only in following His law of love will we be who He wants us to be.  The Lord is not far away from us, nor do we have to seek the grace to follow Him “up in the sky” or “across the sea” (Deuteronomy 30:12, 13). No, sister, He and His Word are “very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts” (Deuteronomy 30:14). The call to follow Him is always before us. Like the Good Samaritan who saw the need of his neighbor and “treated him with mercy” (Luke 10:37), we are given the call to love our neighbor as ourselves every single day. The Lord is just waiting for us to say yes to His love and then with His help we will “have only to carry it out” in our daily lives (Deuteronomy 30:14). For this we were made.In Christ’s Love, Susanna Read the Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:  First Reading // Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Responsorial Psalm // Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (2nd Option) Second Reading // Colossians 1:15-20 Gospel // Luke 10:25-37

July 11, 2025 // Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23 Reflect on the Word // Today is my mother’s birthday. She’s an incredible mom. Not just because she was great when I was young, but because she is great now. She has managed to bend and shift with the inevitable changes of my life, and meet them. She takes on the rides to and fro for my kids when she can, she takes my little ones on a regular basis to give me a breather, she's cheerful and available and willing. And she's taught me much about how I hope to be when my kids are grown with their own babies. I see this is her evangelism, and I know she does too. You see, it doesn’t stop. It doesn’t stop when we reach a certain age, or if we live in a certain place, or even if we have (or don’t have) certain gifts. Evangelism is the heart of Christian love, and it’s always a part of us, no matter where we are. The question is—are we looking for it right where we are? When I was young I was so inspired by missionaries to far off places. But in a way, it held me back. As if my outward Christian life couldn’t begin until I was doing something big. That was evangelism and the Christian life in my mind. But this is not the message of our faith or our God. Fueled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we are called to evangelize right where we are. In our friendships, in our workplaces, in our classrooms, in our homes. This is the mission field for us, and we have been sent. While we might be intimidated to share the love of God, Jesus promises us, “You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:19-20). So, go. Go forward, cast your nets into the deep, and till the soil you’ve been given. Christ, the Lord, is at your side. At the sink and the stove, the crib and the carpool, the office and the email. Go. Relate to the Lord // Where will you “go” with the Lord today? 

July 10, 2025 // Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15 Reflect on the Word //  I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach when I was given a responsibility I felt completely unprepared for. I wanted to say yes—I knew it was important—but deep down, I felt inadequate. What if I fail? What if I don’t have what it takes? Doubt crept in, convincing me that someone else would be better suited. I wasn’t qualified. I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t ready. In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends His disciples out to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven. But He doesn’t send them empty handed. He gives them authority to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. He equips them for the work ahead, even though they probably felt unqualified. Yet, He also warns them: “Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that home or town and shake the dust off your feet” (Matthew 10:14). Jesus knows rejection is inevitable—but so is His provision. That verse used to sound harsh to me—wasn’t Jesus all about mercy and patience? But now, I hear it differently. Jesus isn’t telling us to be cold or dismissive; He’s telling us to trust that He has already given us everything we need. We don’t have to strive, prove ourselves, or make things work in our own strength. The power to heal, to proclaim, to endure—it comes from Him. Maybe you feel unqualified for what God is calling you to. Maybe you’re doubting whether you have what it takes. But Jesus sees you. And He reminds you that your mission isn’t about what you bring—it’s about what He has already given. So, if you’ve been holding back out of fear, maybe it’s time to step forward. Trust that God has already equipped you for what’s next. Relate to the Lord // What lies have been hindering your growth? What truth does Jesus want you to declare instead?

July 9, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a Reflect on the Word //  The steady stream of tears had formed new lines on my face. The last couple of days felt like a thick fog had been cast over me. I looked up from my seat and quickly looked back down. Resentment and bitterness were attempting to creep in and corrupt my already vulnerable heart. Aunts and uncles, who had been out of my life for a long time, were suddenly all under one roof. These were the family members who had spoiled special gatherings and whose names had ruined countless conversations over dinner, and being with them was intensifying my sorrow. I couldn’t see their loss in the same vein as mine. They had lost their brother, but I had lost my father.   In today’s First Reading we read that Joseph was no stranger to severed family relationships. When he interacts with his brothers, who sold him into slavery, “he turned away from them and wept” (Genesis 42:24).  Grief is often poured out as a visceral response through tears and can empty us for a while. The places within us that once held affectionate love are sometimes filled with the unwelcome feelings of resentment in the face of betrayal. Our afflictions arise through situations we could never anticipate, and we might find them similar to what Joseph experienced.  Joseph’s weeping was probably as vast as the Nile river, but God didn’t allow his pain to remain. Instead his weeping became a source of deep healing and a path towards forgiveness as is seen in his reconciliation with his family (see Genesis 50:20).  I may not have had an opportunity to embrace those family members who caused division throughout my childhood; however, I forgive them and desire their utmost good even as the years have wedged distance between us.  Grief and sorrow are trials that invite us to deep trust and abandonment to the will of the Father. Joseph’s story shows us that even in unimaginable circumstances God can deliver good. No matter how much evil is inflicted upon us, He will not allow it to overcome us. The weeping is painful, but the restoration is greater.  Relate to the Lord // What sorrow will you share with the Lord today? Thank Him in advance for the restoration to come.  

July 8, 2025 // Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38 Reflect on the Word //  I have long prayed for a cure for multiple sclerosis. I prayed the same when I had cancer. No instantaneous cure manifested for either disease. Still, somehow I’ve known, way deep down inside, that Jesus is not going to heal me of these diseases in the instant way He did for the crowds in Galilee. At least not right now. Saint Matthew’s Gospel says, “Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching [. . .] proclaiming the gospel [. . .] and curing every disease and illness” (9:34-35, emphasis mine). When I know and believe that Jesus can cure me, what do I do with the reality that, despite my faith, despite my prayers, my illness lingers? The very next line in the Gospel continues, “At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). And this I know equally way deep down inside: I have a Shepherd, a Good Shepherd. I am not troubled, I am not abandoned. My Shepherd sees every second of my suffering and He does not turn a blind eye but rushes to walk with me in it, to carry me when I can no longer carry myself, and to use illness to teach me something about how much He loves me. As I grow older, I see even more gifts in chronic illness—not just for me but for others too. My sisters, for example, came to care for me during chemo, blessing them in untold ways. The slew of doctors and nurses, pharmacists and researchers in labs that I will never know, are sanctified through their work in trying to help me. Best of all, being tired all the time forces me to drop my enormous ego. I am too tired to lug that ugly beast around anymore. Sister, when healing doesn’t happen in a physical sense, we can open our hearts to see the activity of the Good Shepherd. We can find that He is healing us and others in ways we never suspected. Relate to the Lord // What is Jesus up to in your suffering? How is He blessing even in this?    

July 7, 2025 // Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26 Reflect on the Word //  This past Lent I gave up rushing. I usually prize efficiency so highly that I attack my daily errands as if there’s a world record for fastest grocery shop to be won. So for Lent I decided that I would give up speeding through traffic, trying to snag the shortest checkout line, and racing to pick up my kids at the exact minute their activities ended. What I noticed the most was that I had an attitude of wanting to control time to run according to my schedule and, in turn, expecting everyone else to treat time the way I do with an exacting eye toward efficiency. I even realized that these expectations of timely efficiency cropped up in my prayer life.  In today’s Gospel, the official begs Jesus to come and bring back to life his daughter who has died. Jesus decides to follow the official back to his home so that he may lay His hands on her. When I imagine myself in the position of the official, I would have been so impatient and desperate for Jesus to raise my daughter that I can’t imagine standing silently by while Jesus had the encounter with the hemorrhaging woman.  But the quiet, patient faith of the official is something that inspires me today. The official does not become part of the crowd ridiculing Jesus. He does not become frustrated or disbelieving. He maintains a silent faith that Jesus can raise his daughter from the dead. And Jesus does not rush. Jesus does not come speeding in to save the day like a superhero, or arrive with a sideshow of special effects to proclaim His power in performing such a miracle. Instead, “When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose” (Matthew 9:25). Earthly impatience and our attempts to control time do not bring miracles more quickly. Waiting for answers to our prayers is so hard, but there is a beauty in the gentleness in God’s perfect timing.  Relate to the Lord // Give up rushing today. Practice slowing down as you walk, speak, eat, and breathe.  

Saturday, July 5, 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, July 5 // Optional Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal [In the Dioceses of the United States] // Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest Sunday, July 6 // Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wednesday, July 9 // Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs Friday, July 11 // Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot Letter from the Editor //  Dear Sister,  After all the Sunday Solemnities of June, we find ourselves this first weekend of July on the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. The priest’s green vestments remind us of green fields where the “harvest is abundant but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). The Gospel for tomorrow gets at the heart of what this time is about: it is a time to tell those we meet, “The kingdom of God is at hand for you” (Luke 10:9). The Lord wants to bring healing to the world and has chosen us to spread His message of love. He wants us to “declare what he has done for [us]” (Psalm 66:16) so that “all the earth” will “cry out to God with joy” (Psalm 66:2).  When people do not receive His message from us, He does not want us to be discouraged, but to shake the dust from our feet and come back to Him. We cannot do His work without being nourished by Him in the Sacraments and Adoration. We must let Him carry us in His arms and believe His words that “as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). Through our suffering with Jesus as we do His work, He will make each of us into “a new creation” (Galatians 6:15). What He calls us to will not always be easy, but no matter what fruit we see of our labors, He tells us to “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). In Christ’s Love,  Susanna Read the Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time:  First Reading // Isaiah 66:10-14c Psalm // Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 Second Reading // Galatians 6:14-18 Gospel // Luke 10:1-12, 17-20  

July 4, 2025 // Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time  Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 Reflect on the Word //  All of my belongings fit into a suitcase and the couple cardboard boxes we’d sent ahead. After the college graduation ceremonies, I packed my cap and gown, hugged my parents, family, and friends goodbye and flew out to Phoenix to begin a new life.   Before I knew it, I was a wife, a homeowner, a mom, and a desert dweller. I loved discovering my new “homeland”—and myself—as I grew into all my roles. But a couple years in, I realized something was off. I felt listless and a heaviness seemed to descend.  With so much to rejoice in, why was I sad? I realize now, decades later, that I had not adequately processed such a massive life change. Even good changes are goodbyes to places and people and ways of life, and these farewells rock us in ways we were never originally meant to be rocked. Remember, in Eden there would have been no goodbyes. No flights out. No packing and leaving.  Over time, I regained my equilibrium and rediscovered joy. But I have a deep appreciation for what the Old Testament women, like Rebekah in today’s First Reading, suffered as they said goodbye to the only life they’d known. Abraham tells his servant that God “will send his messenger before you, and you will obtain a wife for my son there” (Genesis 24:7). Rebekah was not forced to go. She was prepared and asked. She made a free choice for Isaac, for God, for a future for countless others, and left with her family’s blessing. But no doubt she had her misgivings and tender moments of mourning the girlhood she could never go back to.  Sister, you too have known changes and goodbyes. You have made courageous moves into unknown territories where only the single step ahead was illuminated. Or maybe you set forth into a new career, a new school, a new home, or a new friendship in only darkness. Yet God sent a messenger before you. His providence was present before you even arrived. And His promises never left you. Your future, too, is full of blessings as countless as the stars.  Relate to the Lord // Where do you see the Lord’s presence and providence in your life’s transitions, now and in the past?