A text message changed my life in an instant.

Someone I love more than words let me know he was gravely ill and on the way to the hospital but did not let me know which one. Suddenly, nothing was more important to me than finding him. My mind rushed to find the most convincing, concise words to describe my situation as I dialed hospitals in two states. Two phones, multiple Google tabs, and many good phone operators later, we found this beloved person. Friends who were closer went to visit him. Slowly my adrenaline levels lowered to normal levels.

Now, I do not even remember what was happening before or after I received that text message. I only remember the tenacious energy I felt that immediately focused on locating someone I loved. I knew what was important in that moment. How often do we keep the important things in focus? I wonder if this is one of the most consequential questions for happiness.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus met fishermen and the encounter changed their lives in an instant. He revealed to them their identities as sons of the Eternal Father and called them to a greatness never before seen in the world: holiness in Christ. They were able to respond because they knew what was important. In the First Reading, Saint Paul says, “everything belongs to you . . . and you to Christ, and Christ to God.” (1 Corinthians 3:21, 23) Do we believe this? Can we imagine how fiercely the Lord pursues us when we are lost, or broken, or lonely? Saint Paul says we belong to Christ. What does it mean to belong to the One who is Love? How fiercely this Love fights for us, if only we let Him.

May each of us be given and accept the grace to know just how much we are loved. How blessed we are to belong to the King of Kings and to the High Priest of the New Everlasting Covenant! May we allow ourselves to be pursued and found by this Love each and every moment of every day.

[bctt tweet="May each of us be given and accept the grace to know just how much we are loved." username="SrMariaKim"]

Reach out to a person you love and tell them how much you love them! Believe inside how much God loves you, today.

Sister Maria Kim Bui is a Daughter of Saint Paul, women religious dedicated to evangelization in and through the media. She is originally from Tempe, AZ, spent most of her fourteen years in religious life in the northeast, some time in Texas, and now was recently asked to serve as the director of marketing and sales at the Sisters' publishing house in Boston. Find out more about her here. She is the author of our Blessed Conversations Mystery: Belong found here.