Jesus tends to pick us for a mission whether we feel equipped for it or not. Some of the heroes of our faith were just normal people who answered the call and allowed the grace of God to give them courage and transform their lives. Imagine living during the time of the Apostles. The Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah to come as a King. Jesus entered the scene and it was hard to believe from outward appearances that He was the savior the world had been waiting for. Nevertheless, He started performing miracles and preaching in ways that made everyone start to question and eventually believe.
In today’s first reading we see the Apostles in a similar boat. The book of Acts makes it clear that the scribes and Pharisees did not think much of the Apostles at first. They just seemed like uneducated fishermen. But then they started preaching and performing miracles in the name of Jesus and the script started to change.
I think one of the great tragedies of our world today is that we either take miracles for granted or do not realize the power we really have, through Christ, as baptized Christians. All throughout Scripture we hear about ordinary people who do extraordinary things because they trust in God. Now, maybe God isn’t calling us to literally heal people from leprosy or bring people back from the dead, but just because a miracle may not be a “showstopper” doesn’t mean it is any less of a miracle.
Since becoming a father I have very quickly had to realize that my spiritual life is going to look a little different. I may not be able to go to daily Mass like I did during college or spend as much time as I want in the adoration chapel, but it has made me much more intune to the little miracles that are happening in my family on a daily basis. I can wake up every morning and thank God for what he has done in my life already and what he will continue to do.
Easter is a time of celebration because we commemorate the biggest miracle of all time, Jesus rising from the dead. Let’s also take time during this season to thank God for all the miracles He gives us in our lives on a daily basis. Of course, in order to thank Him, we have to take some time to become aware of how He is working in our lives. I think if we pay attention, we will quickly realize that miracles still exist.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
Jesús suele elegirnos para una misión, ya sea que nos sintamos preparados para ello o no. Algunos de los héroes de nuestra fe eran personas normales que respondieron al llamado y permitieron que la gracia de Dios les diera valor y transformara sus vidas. Imagínese vivir en la época de los apóstoles. El pueblo judío estaba esperando que viniera un Mesías como Rey. Jesús entró en la escena y era difícil creer, por las apariencias externas, que Él era el salvador que el mundo había estado esperando. Sin embargo, comenzó a realizar milagros y a predicar de maneras que hicieron que todos comenzaran a cuestionar y finalmente a creer.
En la primera lectura de hoy vemos a los apóstoles en una situación semejante. El libro de los Hechos deja en claro que los escribas y fariseos no tenían una gran opinión de los apóstoles al principio. Parecían pescadores sin educación. Pero luego comenzaron a predicar y a realizar milagros en el nombre de Jesús y el guión comenzó a cambiar.
Creo que una de las grandes tragedias de nuestro mundo actual es que tomamos por hecho los milagros o no nos damos cuenta del poder que realmente tenemos, a través de Cristo, como cristianos bautizados. En toda la Escritura escuchamos acerca de personas comunes que hacen cosas extraordinarias porque confían en Dios. Ahora bien, tal vez Dios no nos esté llamando a sanar literalmente a las personas de la lepra o a resucitarlas, pero el hecho de que un milagro no sea algo “espectacular” no significa que sea menos milagroso.
Desde que me convertí en padre, rápidamente me di cuenta de que mi vida espiritual iba a ser un poco diferente. Capaz no pueda ir a misa todos los días como lo hacía cuando estaba en la universidad o pasar tanto tiempo como quisiera en la capilla de adoración al Santísimo, pero me ha hecho estar mucho más en sintonía con los pequeños milagros que suceden en mi familia a diario. Puedo despertarme cada mañana y agradecerle a Dios por lo que ya ha hecho en mi vida y por lo que seguirá haciendo.
La Pascua es una temporada de celebración porque conmemoramos el milagro más grande de todos los tiempos, la resurrección de Jesús. También tomemos tiempo durante esta temporada para agradecer a Dios por todos los milagros que nos da en nuestras vidas a diario. Por supuesto, para agradecerle, tenemos que tomarnos un tiempo para tomar conciencia de cómo está trabajando en nuestras vidas. Creo que si prestamos atención, nos daremos cuenta rápidamente de que los milagros todavía existen.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at 
Hailing from Nashville, Catherine is a graduate of Christendom College with a lifelong passion for words. Her love of writing and her Catholic Faith continue to shape her as a freelance editor, copywriter, and (aspiring) novelist, where she pursues her passions for the love and greater glory of God.
Christine Arata is a San Francisco, California native. She lives a few blocks away from the ocean and a park. She finds nature inspiring. Her cat brings her comfort. She loves being creative not only with her writing but with almost everything, including her home cooking. Her studies in the Catholic faith are ongoing. In 2019, when she discovered St. Hildegard of Bingen was underrepresented by Catholics, she found a purpose. Her latest website, St. Hildegard’s Wisdom features blog posts about all of that: 
Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.
Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, wife, and mother of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is the co-founder of 
Dr. Alexis Dallara-Marsh is a board-certified neurologist who practices in Bergen County, NJ. She is a wife to her best friend, Akeem, and a mother of four little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is 
Mike Karpus is a regular guy. He grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, graduated from Michigan State University and works as an editor. He is married to a Catholic school principal, raised two daughters who became Catholic school teachers at points in their careers, and now relishes his two grandchildren, including the older one who is fascinated with learning about his faith. He also has served on a Catholic school board, a pastoral council and a parish stewardship committee. He currently is a lector at Mass, a Knight of Columbus, Adult Faith Formation Committee member and a board member of the local Habitat for Humanity organization. But mostly he’s a regular guy.
Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!
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