As I was growing up in a family of eight children, with a hardworking dad and a stay at home mom, I just assumed I would follow in her footsteps. If I wasn’t called to be a nun, then I would care for my children at home. In my mind, these were the only two options. I had no desire to pursue higher education, nor did I see the need for it. But, as God often does, He turned my plans upside down.
I ended up living both of these vocations for a time before settling into what God had in mind for me. I fought so hard against going into debt to continue my studies, yet I did it. I held on so tightly to the traditional family roles that I tried not to disrupt them, yet I did. And the only reason that I did was to follow His plan for my life.
As I write, I am sitting in my home office staring out the window at a bright blue sky, wishing I could break free. I have only been at home two weeks, caring for my husband as he recovers from surgery, and caring for all of my children besides, and I already want to go back to work. There is a restlessness, a boredom, a need for a change from the ordinary, a rest from the noise. “And you wanted to be a stay at home mom!” my husband chuckles. We know now that it would have made all of us miserable.
What is it that you wish to break free from? Is it your tendency to sin? Your mundane daily life? Your addictions? Your racing thoughts? The walls you put up to prevent you from intimacy with our Lord? What is stopping you from allowing those walls to crumble?
In today’s Gospel, Herod the tetrarch wished he could eat his words. He wished he could roll back time and not have sworn so openly to give the daughter of his mistress whatever she wanted. He wanted to break free from his oath, yet his cowardice prevented him from doing so, and the result was deadly.
When we fail to seek ways to break free from the chains that enslave us, we suffer a type of spiritual death. We cannot live the fullness of life that God has in mind for us. We can not taste the depth of the love that He has for us.
Allow God to untie your knots today, to cut loose that which binds you. Welcome His unfathomable love into your heart and hear Him speak to you, “I, the Lord, am your God” (first reading).
Al crecer en una familia de ocho hijos, con un padre trabajador y una madre ama de casa, tomé por hecho que iba a seguir sus pasos. Si no fuese llamada a ser monja, cuidaría de mis hijos en casa. En mi mente, estas eran las únicas dos opciones. No deseaba cursar estudios superiores ni veía la necesidad de hacerlo. Pero, como suele hacer Dios, volteó mis planes boca arriba.
Terminé viviendo ambas vocaciones por un tiempo antes de asentarme en lo que Dios tenía planeado para mí. Luché con todas mis fuerzas para no endeudarme para continuar mis estudios, pero lo hice. Me aferré tanto a los roles familiares tradicionales que intenté no interrumpirlos, pero lo hice. Y la única razón por la que lo hice fue para seguir Su plan para mi vida.
Mientras escribo, estoy sentada en mi oficina en casa mirando por la ventana a un cielo azul brillante, deseando liberarme. Llevo solo dos semanas en casa, cuidando a mi esposo mientras se recupera de la cirugía y, además, a todos mis hijos, y ya quiero volver al trabajo. Siento inquietud, aburrimiento, la necesidad de un cambio, de un descanso del ruido. “¡Y tú querías ser ama de casa!”, dice mi esposo riendo entre dientes. Ahora sabemos que nos habría hecho sentir miserables a todos.
¿Y tú? ¿De qué deseas liberarte? ¿De tu tendencia al pecado? ¿De tu vida cotidiana? ¿De tus adicciones? ¿De los pensamientos que no paran? ¿De los muros que levantas para evitar la intimidad con nuestro Señor? ¿Qué te impide dejar que esos muros se derrumben?
En el Evangelio de hoy, Herodes el tetrarca quiso poder tragarse sus palabras. Quiso poder retroceder en el tiempo y no haber jurado tan abiertamente darle a la hija de su amante todo lo que quisiera. Quería romper su juramento, pero su cobardía se lo impidió, y el resultado fue mortal.
Cuando no buscamos la manera de liberarnos de las cadenas que nos esclavizan, sufrimos una especie de muerte espiritual. No podemos vivir la plenitud de vida que Dios tiene para nosotros. No podemos saborear la profundidad del amor que Él nos tiene.
Permite que Dios deshaga tus nudos hoy, que corte aquello que te ata. Acoge su amor insondable en tu corazón y escúchalo decirte: “Yo, el Señor, Dios de ustedes” (primera lectura).
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
Feature Image Credit: Miltiadis Fragkidis, unsplash.com/photos/black-chain-2zGTh-S5moM
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.
1-800-994-9817