Just imagine . . . a woman calling out to Jesus and telling Him that His Mother is blessed—and Jesus, in reply, tells her rather it is we who are blessed for hearing the word of God and keeping it.

Thank you Lord! It is hard work to hear the word of God and keep it! We are asked to turn our back on those we love, to love our enemies, to give up all that we have as we follow Christ. This is not easy stuff.

But we do this because we have FAITH.

Faith is what unifies us, propels us, and keeps us following His word. The First Reading tells us that those of us baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. We have left our identities behind us, and now are no longer slave or free, male or female, but rather one in Christ. To be a Christian means more than going to church on Sundays; it means a complete and continual transformation of our identity. It is a constant and yet it is continual. Saint Theresa says God calls us from the center of our souls and we seek to find our way home to Him. This is who we are, and this is our life work—to find our way home.

Where are you on your journey home to Christ? Are you stuck at a rest-stop? Have you taken the scenic route? What are the biggest road blocks to your faith? How do you express your faith and your love along this journey?

MaryRuth Hackett is a full-time wife and mother doing her best to teach her four children to love God and country. You can find out more about her here.