Bulletins for all seasons

“¿Cuál es el mejor regalo de Navidad o cumpleaños que has recibido?”

Hace poco planteé esta pregunta a los candidatos a la Confirmación en grupos pequeños como una buena manera de empezar a pensar en los regalos. Entonces podríamos dar un paso más y hablar de que la gracia es un regalo gratuito e inmerecido de Dios. Luego, dimos un paso más y hablamos de que los sacramentos son regalos de la propia presencia de Jesús para nosotros.

Las respuestas de los candidatos fueron bastante estándar: el dinero, mi teléfono, etc., pero un grupo comenzó a discutir por qué recibimos regalos. ¿Hemos hecho algo para merecerlos? No. ¿Los pedimos intencionalmente? Tampoco. La mayoría de las veces, estos regalos son seleccionados cuidadosamente por alguien que nos conoce, nos ama y se preocupa por nosotros. Son únicamente para nosotros porque somos quienes somos.

Imagínate cuánta alegría experimenta la persona que da el regalo durante todo el proceso. Imagínate que toman un regalo del estante, lo miran y se imaginan la cara del destinatario al abrirlo. Si el regalo no emana alegría, el donante lo vuelve a colocar y toma otro hasta que su sonrisa coincida con la que estará en el rostro del destinatario.

¡Nuestro Dios es un dador generoso y le encanta dar buenos regalos a sus hijos! De hecho, Él da mejores regalos que cualquier otro dador de regalos aquí en la tierra y escuchamos sobre este punto en el Evangelio de hoy. En el pasaje, Jesús establece la comparación entre los padres terrenales y Su Padre Celestial cuando se trata de generosidad. Los padres terrenales, que aman a sus hijos pero son criaturas humanas caídas, aún saben dar buenos dones mientras que Dios Padre es sólo Amor y Verdad y Bondad. ¡Son mucho mejores los dones que Él da!

Dentro de sus dones, encontramos más amor. Encontramos más bondad y belleza. Pero, finalmente, Dios nos dio el regalo más grande en Su Hijo, Jesucristo, quien se hizo hombre, sufrió y murió por nuestros pecados y resucitó de entre los muertos. A través de su Pasión, Muerte y Resurrección, se nos ha dado el don de la vida eterna con Dios, esta unión íntima con Él que ni siquiera podemos imaginar. Jesús también nos da el don de Sí mismo en los sacramentos, particularmente Su Cuerpo, Sangre, Alma y Divinidad en la Eucaristía, como alimento para el camino.

Un verdadero regalo.

March 1, 2023November 18, 2022

Erin is a Cleveland native and graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. She is passionate about the Lord Jesus, all things college sports and telling stories and she is blessed enough to get paid for all three of her passions as a full-time youth minister and a freelance sports writer.

Feature Image Credit: Ekaterina Shevchenko, unsplash.com/photos/ZLTlHeKbh04

Return to Me/ Volver a Mi

There is an interesting dynamic in the readings for today. The tension is real. The message from the verse before the Gospel is clear, “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart for I am gracious and merciful.” Jl 2: 12-13

Each and every creature has been created in the image and likeness of God. The Lord is in all the hearts ever created. It is the choice of every human being to accept God as our personal Lord and Savior.

God our Father gave us free will. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is clear on the role of freedom and responsibility:

1731 Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one’s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude.

1732 As long as freedom has not bound itself definitively to its ultimate good which is God, there is the possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach.

1733 The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.”

The readings for today demonstrate these concepts. Jonah and the King of Nineveh are great examples of turning your heart back to God. Each has a conversion experience which opens the eyes of their hearts, to stop ignoring the signs God has sent them to do the work He has set before them. The psalmist plainly speaks of God’s actions for a person with a contrite heart.

In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus makes some very concise direct statements. He says, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation….At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

Come Holy Spirit. Be with me throughout my day. Guide my actions and decisions, all that I do and fail to do, keep my heart, thoughts and ways, turned to the will of my Father. I pray that I do His will, not mine in each and every moment. Please help me keep my focus on you, Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.

February 28, 2023October 24, 2022

Hay una dinámica interesante en las lecturas de hoy. La tensión es real. El mensaje del versículo anterior al Evangelio es claro: “Aún ahora, dice el Señor, vuélvanse a mí con todo su corazón porque soy clemente y misericordioso”. (Joel 2, 12-13)

Todas y cada una de las criaturas han sido creadas a imagen y semejanza de Dios. El Señor está en todos y cada uno de los corazones. Es elección de cada ser humano aceptar a Dios como nuestro Señor y Salvador personal.

Dios nuestro Padre nos dio libre albedrío. El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica (CIC) es claro sobre el papel de la libertad y la responsabilidad:

1731 La libertad es el poder, radicado en la razón y en la voluntad, de obrar o de no obrar, de hacer esto o aquello, de ejecutar así por sí mismo acciones deliberadas. Por el libre arbitrio cada uno dispone de sí mismo. La libertad es en el hombre una fuerza de crecimiento y de maduración en la verdad y la bondad. La libertad alcanza su perfección cuando está ordenada a Dios, nuestra bienaventuranza.

1732 Hasta que no llega a encontrarse definitivamente con su bien último que es Dios, la libertad implica la posibilidad de elegir entre el bien y el mal, y por tanto, de crecer en perfección o de flaquear y pecar. La libertad caracteriza los actos propiamente humanos. Se convierte en fuente de alabanza o de reproche, de mérito o de demérito.

1733 En la medida en que el hombre hace más el bien, se va haciendo también más libre. No hay verdadera libertad sino en el servicio del bien y de la justicia. La elección de la desobediencia y del mal es un abuso de la libertad y conduce a la esclavitud del pecado (cf Rm 6, 17).

Las lecturas de hoy demuestran estos conceptos. Jonás y el Rey de Nínive son grandes ejemplos de volver el corazón a Dios. Cada uno tiene una experiencia de conversión que abre los ojos de su corazón, para dejar de ignorar las señales que Dios les ha enviado para hacer la obra que les ha puesto por delante. El salmista habla claramente de las acciones de Dios para una persona con un corazón contrito.

En el Evangelio de Lucas, Jesús hace algunas declaraciones directas muy concisas. Dice, “La gente de este tiempo es una gente perversa. Pide una señal, pero no se le dará más señal que la de Jonás. Pues así como Jonás fue una señal para los habitantes de Nínive, lo mismo será el Hijo del hombre para la gente de este tiempo. Cuando sean juzgados los hombres de este tiempo, la reina del sur se levantará el día del juicio para condenarlos, porque ella vino desde los últimos rincones de la tierra para escuchar la sabiduría de Salomón, y aquí hay uno que es más que Salomón.”

Ven, espíritu santo. Esté conmigo a lo largo de mi día. Guía mis acciones y decisiones, todo lo que hago y dejo de hacer, guarda mi corazón, pensamientos y caminos, vueltos a la voluntad de mi Padre. Oro para hacer Su voluntad, no la mía en todos y cada uno de los momentos. Por favor, ayúdame a mantener mi enfoque en ti, Señor Jesucristo, ahora y para siempre. Amén.

Comunicar con la autora

Beth Price is part of the customer care team at Diocesan. She is a Secular Franciscan (OFS) and a practicing spiritual director. Beth shares smiles, prayers, laughter, a listening ear and her heart with all of creation. Reach her here bprice@diocesan.com.

Feature Image Credit: Cristian Gutiérrez, LC, https://cathopic.com/photo/13943-at-the-foot-of-the-cross

An Outward Approach / Mirando Para Afuera

Perhaps we’re not ready. Perhaps we feel unprepared. Perhaps our hearts are still restless. Perhaps we are still in a post-holiday slump. But ready or not, here we are, and we can take it in or we can shut it out.

Lent. Many of us consider this a time for self examination, the purging of our sins, the perfecting of our imperfections and the turning away from our vices. But what does the Church ask of us during this time? Prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Prayer is the lifting of our minds and hearts to God. Fasting is denying ourselves so as to focus on how much we rely on God and in the meantime perhaps reflect on so many who suffer hunger daily. Almsgiving is giving to those in need. Which one of these practices has an inward focus? None of them!

Perhaps we can take a different approach this Lent. Perhaps we have been missing the mark. Not that self-reflection is bad, but perhaps looking outside ourselves to focus on the realities of who God is and what others need will come back full circle and help us grow in holiness as well.

In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us exactly how to pray. He gifts us with the “Our Father”. Then he takes it one step further and states “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.” Notice the outward focus. He does not speak of inward reflection, but rather of forgiving others. If we forgive them, he will forgive us.

Lord, may your name be honored as holy. May your Kingdom come on this earth. May your will be done by all people. May all corporal and spiritual hunger be satisfied. May forgiveness be freely given. May virtue replace all temptation and may goodness replace all evil. You have taught us to pray for these things and you are the giver of all good gifts. Grant us what we need and make us holy, so that we may bask in your presence forever in heaven. Amen.

Tal vez no estemos listos. Quizás no nos sentimos preparados. Tal vez nuestros corazones aún estén inquietos. Tal vez todavía nos sentimos un poco deprimidos después de las fiestas Navideñas. Pero listos o no, aquí estamos, y podemos aceptarlo o podemos ignorarlo.

La Cuaresma. Muchos de nosotros la consideramos una temporada para el autoexamen, la purga de nuestros pecados, el perfeccionamiento de nuestras imperfecciones y el alejamiento de nuestros vicios. Pero, ¿qué nos pide la Iglesia en este tiempo? Oración, ayuno y limosna.

La oración es elevar nuestra mente y nuestro corazón a Dios. Ayunar es negarnos a nosotros mismos para centrarnos en cuánto confiamos en Dios y, mientras tanto, quizás reflexionar sobre tantos que sufren hambre a diario. Dar limosna es dar a los necesitados. ¿Cuál de estas prácticas tiene un enfoque en nosotros mismos? ¡Ninguno!

Quizás podamos adoptar un enfoque diferente esta Cuaresma. Tal vez hemos estado perdiendo la marca. No es que la autorreflexión sea mala, pero tal vez mirar fuera de nosotros mismos para enfocarnos en las realidades de quién es Dios y lo que otros necesitan volverá al punto de partida y nos ayudará a crecer en santidad también.

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos enseña exactamente cómo orar. Él nos regala el “Padre Nuestro”. Luego va un paso más allá y declara: “Si ustedes perdonan las faltas a los hombres, también a ustedes los perdonará el Padre celestial.” Observe el enfoque hacia el exterior. No habla de reflexión interior, sino de perdonar a los demás. Si los perdonamos, él nos perdonará.

Señor, que tu nombre sea santificado. Venga tu Reino a esta tierra. Que se haga tu voluntad por todas las personas. Que toda hambre corporal y espiritual sea satisfecha. Que el perdón sea dado gratuitamente. Que la virtud reemplace toda tentación y que la bondad reemplace todo mal. Nos has enseñado a orar por estas cosas y eres el dador de todos los buenos dones. Concédenos lo que necesitamos y haznos santos, para que podamos disfrutar de tu presencia para siempre en el cielo. Amén.

February 27, 2023October 24, 2022

Tami Urcia grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling projects, finding fun ways to keep her little ones occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at for Christian Healthcare Centers, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for over 20 years.

Feature Image Credit: Jon Tyson, unsplash.com/photos/rbz1hVh7_LM

Visiting the Imprisoned / Visitando a los Encarcelados

If you or I ever wished that Jesus would personally tell us what he wishes for us to do, it is the above reading that makes it very clear. Jesus talks to us about feeding the hungry and thirsty, helping a stranger, helping clothe the naked, visiting the sick, and visiting those in prison.

I can remember this list from many years ago and trying to be honest with myself. I was doing great until the last one, visiting those in prison. That was one that made me rationalize I could do all of those except for that one. I had friends in prison ministry who told me how wonderful it was. I told them very “calmly” that it was not a good fit for me. My wife reminded me that I was making a judgment based on zero knowledge. She knows how to get to me.

I had a friend at that time who was very involved in jail ministry at the Kent County jail. Lay ministers would go to the jail on Saturday nights. He said he would come by someday and pick me up. I told him not to bother and that I wasn’t interested. About a month later we were eating dinner and somebody was blowing their horn out in our driveway. I jumped up and went out there and guess what? It was him. Come on, jump in he said we’re going down to jail! I said well have a nice ride by yourself! He rejected my words and said “get in now”! So I did.

Back in the day a person that was cleared to come into jail could bring a friend without a background check. As we walked through the facility I heard three loud klinks as the doors locked behind me. I was somewhat intimidated by that. We were led down a long hallway to the end and to the last jail cell on the left. Above the door was a red light that was not turned on. The officer told us if we had any trouble to flick the switch on the inside and it would turn the light on and they would come down and help. Yeah right!

When I got into the jail cell there were fifteen of the toughest looking guys I had ever seen in my life! After a couple of minutes, the Lord’s presence was so heavy in the cell that I began to weep. This was not good! When I recovered I felt like that was the place I was supposed to be! I ministered there for about 10 years. God knows best!

So the next time He asks you to do something you don’t really want to, it’s probably exactly what he wants you to do! Don’t just take my word for it, take His Word for it!

I beg you not to rationalize yourself out of God’s request. It might be one of the greatest ministries you are ever involved in. Also, don’t forget those other things he is asking you to do. Those incarcerated men gave me back more than I could have ever given them. Hallelujah.

Serving with joy!

February 26, 2023October 24, 2022

Si usted o yo alguna vez deseamos que Jesús nos dijera personalmente lo que desea que hagamos, la lectura anterior lo deja muy claro. Jesús nos habla de alimentar al hambriento y sediento, ayudar a un extraño, ayudar a vestir al desnudo, visitar a los enfermos y visitar a los encarcelados.

Puedo recordar esta lista de hace muchos años y tratando de ser honesto conmigo mismo. Me iba muy bien hasta el último, visitando a los presos. Racionalicé que podría hacer todos menos ese. Tenía amigos en el ministerio de prisiones que me dijeron lo maravilloso que era. Les dije con mucha “tranquilidad” que no me convenía. Mi esposa me recordó que estaba haciendo un juicio sin conocimiento ninguno. Ella sabe cómo hacerme pensar.

Tenía un amigo en ese momento que estaba muy involucrado en el ministerio de prisiones del condado de Kent. Los ministros laicos iban a la cárcel los sábados por la noche. Dijo que vendría algún día a recogerme. Le dije que no se molestara y que no me interesaba. Aproximadamente un mes después, estábamos cenando y alguien estaba tocando la bocina afuera de la casa. Salté y salí y ¿adivinen quien fue? “¡Vamos, vente!, vamos a ir a la cárcel.” Le dije, “que tengas un buen viaje, te vas solo.” No aceptó mi respuesta y dijo “¡entra ahora!” Así que lo hice.

En ese entonces, una persona autorizada para ir a la cárcel podría traer a un amigo sin una verificación de antecedentes. Mientras caminábamos por las instalaciones, escuché tres fuertes ruidos metálicos cuando las puertas se cerraron detrás de mí. Eso me intimidó. Nos condujeron por un largo pasillo hasta el final y hasta la última celda a la izquierda. Sobre la puerta había una luz roja que no estaba encendida. El oficial nos dijo que si teníamos algún problema, presionáramos el interruptor en el interior y encendería la luz y ellos bajarían y ayudarían. ¡por supuesto!

Cuando entré a la celda habían quince de los tipos más fuertes que había visto en mi vida. Después de un par de minutos, la presencia del Señor era tan pesada en la celda que comencé a llorar. ¡Esto no fue bueno! Al recuperarme sentí que ese era el lugar donde debía estar! Fui ministro allí durante unos 10 años. ¡Dios sabe mejor!

Entonces, la próxima vez que Él te pida que hagas algo que realmente no quieres, lo más probable es que sea exactamente lo que Él quiere que hagas. No confíe sólo en mi palabra, ¡confíe en Su Palabra!

Te ruego que no racionalices lo que Dios te pide. Puede que sea uno de los mejores ministerios en los que estés involucrado. Además, no olvides esas otras cosas que te está pidiendo que hagas. Esos hombres encarcelados me regalaron mucho más de lo que yo podría haberles dado. Aleluya.

¡Sirviendo con alegría!

Comunicarse con el autor

Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 50 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002. He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.

Featured Image Credit: Karsten Winegeart, unsplash.com/photos/urbseZKkXLY

The Tempting of the King / La Tentación del Rey

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

“You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

“You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus is tempted by the devil. Three trials are given, each tempting Jesus to avoid suffering and death. The first attacked the human preference for security (through hunger), when the devil tempted Jesus to make bread from stone. The second was to put God to the test by telling Jesus to throw himself down from the top of the temple. The final temptation was idolatry, or worshiping a false God, tempting Jesus with all the world’s riches. Each time, Jesus fights back with his knowledge and application of Scripture as the living word.

We recognize through these examples that we must rely on God for all our needs and recognize that our greatest hunger is for God himself. (CCC 2835). During Lent, “the Church is united to Jesus in the desert” (CCC 540), reminiscent of being in the wilderness over the course of 40 days. As Israel was tested for 40 years, Lent is a time for God’s followers to learn to trust Him through trials and tribulations. The tools we are given are prayer, fasting and alms (which teach us discipline), and penance.

Jesus is our living example of complete trust in the Father. Ultimately in this Gospel, the devil is questioning the identity of Jesus as the Son of God and likewise, you and I as children of God. I encourage you today to reflect on your true identity. God loves you and you belong to Him- this is how we must identify ourselves first and above all else.

“No sólo de pan vive el hombre, sino también de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios”.

“No tentarás al Señor, tu Dios.”

“Adorarás al Señor, tu Dios, y a él sólo servirás”.

En Mateo 4:1-11, Jesús es tentado por el diablo. Se dan tres pruebas, cada una tentando a Jesús para evitar el sufrimiento y la muerte. El primero atacó la preferencia humana por la seguridad (a través del hambre), cuando el diablo tentó a Jesús para que hiciera pan de piedra. La segunda fue poner a Dios a prueba diciéndole a Jesús que se arrojara desde lo alto del templo. La tentación final fue la idolatría, o adorar a un dios falso, tentando a Jesús con todas las riquezas del mundo. Cada vez, Jesús responde con su conocimiento y aplicación de las Escrituras como la palabra viva.

Reconocemos a través de estos ejemplos que debemos confiar en Dios para todas nuestras necesidades y reconocemos que nuestra mayor hambre es de Dios mismo. (CIC 2835). Durante la Cuaresma, “la Iglesia se une a Jesús en el desierto” (CIC 540), que recuerda estar en el desierto durante 40 días. Como Israel fue probado durante 40 años, la Cuaresma es un tiempo para que los seguidores de Dios aprendan a confiar en Él a través de pruebas y tribulaciones. Las herramientas que se nos dan son la oración, el ayuno y la limosna (que nos enseñan la disciplina), y la penitencia.

Jesús es nuestro ejemplo vivo de la plena confianza en el Padre. En última instancia, en este Evangelio, el diablo está cuestionando la identidad de Jesús como el Hijo de Dios y, del mismo modo, tú y yo como hijos de Dios. Os animo hoy a reflexionar sobre vuestra verdadera identidad. Dios te ama y le perteneces, así es como debemos identificarnos ante todo y por encima de todo.

February 25, 2023October 24, 2022

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 two little ones on Earth and two others in heaven above.

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Get Up and Follow Christ / Levántate y Sigue a Cristo

“Leaving everything behind, [Levi] got up and followed him.”

Jesus invites people individually and personally to follow him. Levi, despite the fact that he was truly an unlikely candidate, was truly blessed. As a tax collector, his friends were other tax collectors and sinners. He was not in good standing in the community. He amassed his obvious riches by overtaxing members of the community and then threw a “great” banquet for Jesus in his house. His relationships there were broken and bridges burned through greed and corruption.

Yet Jesus, going out and walking along, saw Levi sitting at the customs post and knew exactly who and what he was. Jesus offered Levi an invitation to become one of the intimate Twelve who would abide with him, build relationships with him, and become the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem. There was no mistake. Jesus wanted Levi. Jesus chose Levi. And Levi chose Jesus.

It was Jesus who first called Levi to follow him. Levi did not call himself. Instead he was irresistibly drawn. He was encountered by the Savior of the world, the King of Kings and Prince of Peace, the Christ. The glorious person of Jesus Christ exerted such an attraction on him, that Levi immediately got up without hesitation, walked away from his occupation that benefited the Roman occupiers and himself, and began to walk after Jesus.

To follow Jesus is to move, to get up, to leave something behind, to enter into a new and unknown life, to be drawn into relationships where the one inviting sets the terms, to be drawn into utter obedience and submission to the demands of the Gospel.

There is a decision to be made. It may or may not have been easy for Levi to leave behind his lucrative career, but in doing so, in following Jesus, he was walking into poverty. He was walking towards the cross. He was walking into the glorious power of the resurrection. “Leaving everything behind, [Levi] got up and followed him.”

Where have you heard these words from the lips of the Master, “Follow me.” Was it long ago during a retreat, a sacred moment of Eucharistic adoration, at a decisive moment of your vocational journey? To follow Jesus is the most important thing you can do with your life.

It doesn’t mean you must sign away your house, your finances, your career. Levi left his tax collector’s post with all the greedy practices by which he overtaxed his fellow Jews. Yet shortly afterwards he threw a large and expensive party for Jesus and invited his friends to meet the one who had become such an important part of his new life. He put his considerable wealth, property, and relationships at the service of the Kingdom in one of the first and most astounding moments of evangelization on record. He knew he was following not a project but a Person, so parties and friendships were now a part of his call, his love, and his loyalty to Christ.

So, again, where are you hearing right now the invitation of Christ to follow him? He is walking by and he is choosing you. This, by itself, is astounding. He is worthy of your time, of your attention, of your creative response. He desires your presence at Mass, for you are his friend. He waits for you in the chapel of Eucharistic adoration because he wants to be there for you in good times and in difficult times. He hopes that you will introduce him to your friends in the way that reflects your temperament and creativity.

Leave everything behind today. Get up and follow Christ.

“Dejándolo todo, [Levi] se levantó y lo siguió.”

Jesús invita a las personas a seguirlo individual y personalmente. Levi, a pesar de que realmente era un candidato poco probable, fue realmente bendecido. Como recaudador de impuestos, sus amigos eran otros recaudadores de impuestos y pecadores. No estaba en buena posición en la comunidad. Amasó sus evidentes riquezas sobrecargando a los miembros de la comunidad y luego organizó un “gran” banquete para Jesús en su casa. Sus relaciones allí estaban rotas y los puentes se habían quemado por la codicia y la corrupción.

Sin embargo, Jesús, saliendo a caminar, vio a Leví sentado en el puesto de aduana y supo exactamente quién y qué era. Jesús le ofreció a Levi una invitación para que se convirtiera en uno de los Doce íntimos que morarían con él, construirían relaciones con él y se convertirían en las piedras fundamentales de la nueva Jerusalén. No hubo error. Jesús quería a Leví. Jesús eligió a Leví. Y Levi escogió a Jesús.

Fue Jesús quien primero llamó a Leví para que lo siguiera. Levi no llamó a sí mismo. En cambio, estaba irresistiblemente atraído. El Salvador del mundo, el Rey de Reyes y Príncipe de Paz, el Cristo, lo encontró. La gloriosa persona de Jesucristo ejerció tal atracción sobre él, que Leví inmediatamente se levantó sin dudarlo, se alejó de su ocupación que beneficiaba a los ocupantes romanos y a él mismo, y comenzó a caminar tras Jesús.

Seguir a Jesús es moverse, levantarse, dejar algo atrás, entrar en una vida nueva y desconocida, dejarse llevar por relaciones donde el que invita pone las condiciones, y dejarse llevar por la total obediencia y sumisión a las exigencias del Evangelio.

Hay una decisión que tomar. Puede o no haber sido fácil para Levi dejar atrás su lucrativa carrera, pero al hacerlo, al seguir a Jesús, estaba caminando hacia la pobreza. Iba caminando hacia la cruz. Estaba caminando hacia el glorioso poder de la resurrección. “Dejándolo todo, [Levi] se levantó y lo siguió.”

¿Dónde has oído estas palabras de labios del Maestro: “Sígueme”? ¿Fue hace mucho tiempo durante un retiro, un momento sagrado de adoración eucarística, en un momento decisivo de vuestro camino vocacional? Seguir a Jesús es lo más importante que puedes hacer con tu vida.

No significa que debas ceder tu casa, tus finanzas, tu carrera. Levi dejó su puesto de recaudador de impuestos con todas las prácticas codiciosas con las que exigía impuestos excesivos a sus compatriotas judíos. Sin embargo, poco después organizó una fiesta grande y costosa para Jesús e invitó a sus amigos a conocer al que se había convertido en una parte tan importante de su nueva vida. Puso su considerable riqueza, propiedades y relaciones al servicio del Reino en uno de los primeros y más asombrosos momentos de evangelización registrados. Sabía que no estaba siguiendo un proyecto sino a una Persona, por lo que las fiestas y las amistades ahora eran parte de su llamado, su amor y su lealtad a Cristo.

¿Dónde estás escuchando en este momento la invitación de Cristo para seguirlo? Él está caminando y te está eligiendo a ti. Esto, por sí mismo, es asombroso. Él es digno de tu tiempo, de tu atención, de tu respuesta creativa. Él desea tu presencia en la Misa, porque eres su amigo. Él te espera en la capilla de adoración eucarística porque quiere estar allí para ti en las buenas y en las malas. Él espera que lo presentes a tus amigos de una manera que refleje tu temperamento y creatividad.

Deja todo atrás hoy. Levántate y sigue a Cristo.

February 24, 2023October 24, 2022

Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes

Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is an author and offers online evangelization as well as spiritual formation for people on their journey of spiritual transformation and inner healing. Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com My Books: https://touchingthesunrise.com/books/
Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/ HeartWork Spiritual Formation Group: https://touchingthesunrise.com/heartwork/

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New Wine and the New Wineskin / Vino Nuevo y Odre Nuevo

When the disciples of John the Baptist approached Jesus and asked, “Why do the Pharisees and we fast (much), but your disciples do not fast?” At that time, fasting was emphasized as a public way to give up food and appear pious to others. In the Jewish religion, the external practice was essential, for that was how a person measured their ability to practice their faith. For example, they had rules about what they ate, when they ate, how much they ate, and how they prepared their food. It was easy to “judge” others based on their ability to follow these rules and to fast.

Jesus came to fulfill and complete the law of the Jewish faith, but not be limited by these restrictions. We encounter the newness of Christ in this Gospel and how we are invited to follow Jesus and be fed by the Lord. The New Covenant instituted by Christ could not be contained in the Old Covenant structure.

Joy: Jesus invites us to be joyful and see the connection between faith and Christian joy. Jesus shares, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?” Jesus reminds the people of the joy of the wedding. One of the universal factors of a wedding is the joy it brings. Weddings reinforce the love, the excitement, and the newness of life to come. The “wedding party” are the best friends of the bride and groom who spend the most time with them during this life-changing event. They share in the celebration of the anticipation of the life their friends will live, and the joy of finding a life partner.

How often do we trade in our Christian joy for worry and despair? Our hearts can easily be overcome by anxiety and worry instead of seeing the Lord and coming to know Him personally. When we place our eyes and focus on Christ, we allow Him to lead us to a deep and joyful encounter with God.

Newness: Jesus shares that “something new is coming” as He says, “No one pours new wine into old wineskins”. This analogy might mean little to us today, but in Jesus’ time, that was common knowledge. The wineskin would break if you used an old one. We must let go of our fallen nature, cling to eternal life, and give up the sins that keep us from living out our faith.

Cuando los discípulos de Juan el Bautista se acercaron a Jesús y le preguntaron: “Por qué tus discípulos no ayunan, mientras nosotros y los fariseos sí ayunamos?” En ese momento, el ayuno era enfatizado como una forma pública de renunciar a la comida y parecer piadoso ante los demás. En la religión judío, la práctica externa era esencial, porque así era como una persona medía su posibilidad de practicar la fe. Por ejemplo, tenían reglas sobre lo que comían, cuándo comieron, cuánto comieron y cómo prepararon su comida. Era fácil “juzgar” a los demás basado en su habilidad de seguir estas reglas y ayunar.

Jesús vino a cumplir y completar la ley de la fe judía, pero no se limitó a estas restricciones. Encontramos la novedad de Cristo en este Evangelio y cómo somos invitados a seguir a Jesús y ser alimentados por el Señor. La Nueva Alianza instituida por Cristo no pudo ser contenida en la estructura de la Antigua Alianza.

Alegría: Jesús nos invita a estar alegres y ver la conexión entre la fe y la alegría cristiana. Jesús comparte: “¿Cómo pueden llevar luto los amigos del esposo, mientras él está con ellos?” Jesús recuerda a la gente la alegría de la boda. Uno de los factores universales de una boda es la alegría que trae. Las bodas refuerzan el amor, la emoción y la novedad de la vida por venir. El cortejo nupcial son los mejores amigos de los novios que pasan la mayor parte del tiempo con ellos durante este evento que cambia la vida. Comparten la celebración de la anticipación de la vida que vivirán sus amigos y la alegría de encontrar un compañero de vida.

¿Con qué frecuencia cambiamos nuestro gozo cristiano por preocupación y desesperación? Nuestros corazones pueden ser vencidos fácilmente por la ansiedad y la preocupación en lugar de ver al Señor y llegar a conocerlo personalmente. Cuando ponemos nuestra mirada y nos enfocamos en Cristo, permitimos que Él nos guíe a un encuentro profundo y gozoso con Dios.

Novedad: Jesús comparte que “algo nuevo viene” cuando dice: “Nadie echa vino nuevo en odres viejos”. Esta analogía puede significar poco para nosotros hoy, pero en la época de Jesús, eso era de conocimiento común. El odre se rompería si usaras uno viejo. Debemos dejar ir nuestra naturaleza caída, aferrarnos a la vida eterna y renunciar a los pecados que nos impiden vivir nuestra fe.

February 23, 2023October 24, 2022

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 www.inspirethefaith.com and the Executive Director of The Sacred Heart Enthronement Network www.WelcomeHisHeart.com. She has co-authored several Catholic books and her next one, Secrets of the Sacred Heart: Claiming Jesus’ Twelve Promises in Your Life, comes out in Oct. 2020. Emily serves on the board of the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference, contributes to Relevant Radio and Catholic Mom.com.

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Losing Yourself / Perderte a Ti Mismo

There are seasons in life when it seems we are losing. I think back to when I was the mother of babies – I lost: sleep, quick trips to the store, quiet at Mass, clothes that stayed clean and other things that at this moment no longer seem important at all. Those losses passed, and yes, were replaced with other losses. But mixed in with the losses was joy, so much joy. I knew that the loss would pass, it would not and did not last forever. Most things in this life pass away. The most difficult times in my life have passed and yet, I remain. By the grace of God, I remain standing and believe that each cross taught me something and formed me a bit more into a person who will go to heaven one day. Do I like my crosses? Usually not. In my worst moments, I rail at God about them. In my better moments, I ask, “What do You want me to learn from this?”

Crosses teach us that we are able to overcome adversity, to see the bigger picture and focus on what is ahead. Gold is forged in fire, iron sharpens iron and crosses can teach us something about ourselves. I’m not saying to go out and seek crosses; life brings us plenty! But by willingly picking up our crosses we share in the suffering of Christ, we become a living example to others of faithfulness and can lead others to know Christ more deeply by that example.

The other compelling reason to pick up our cross is that when we do, we gain eternal life. Picking up our cross shifts the focus from ourselves to others, which is what Jesus did when He died on the cross. He did that for others, for us, not Himself.

As Lent begins, let us pick up our cross each day, and deny ourselves some small comfort or pleasure. If you are in a difficult season, try to bear the suffering without complaining. Whatever it is that you have chosen for Lent this year, do it with an eye on the cross and the thought of eternal life.

Hay temporadas en la vida donde parece que estamos perdiendo. Pienso en cuando era madre de bebés, perdía: sueño, salidas rápidas a la tienda, silencio durante la misa, ropa que se mantenía limpia y otras cosas que en este momento ya no me parecen tan importantes. Esas pérdidas pasaron, y sí, fueron reemplazadas por otras pérdidas. Pero mezclado con las pérdidas estaba la alegría, mucha alegría. Sabía que la pérdida pasaría, no duraría para siempre. La mayoría de las cosas en esta vida pasan. Los momentos más difíciles de mi vida han pasado y, sin embargo, permanezco. Por la gracia de Dios, sigo de pie y creo que cada cruz me enseñó algo y me formó un poco más en una persona que algún día irá al cielo. ¿Me gustan mis cruces? Normalmente no. En mis peores momentos, critico a Dios por ellos. En mis mejores momentos, pregunto: “¿Qué quieres que aprenda de esto?”

Las cruces nos enseñan que somos capaces de superar la adversidad, de ver el panorama completo y enfocarnos en lo que está por venir. El oro se forja en el fuego, el hierro se afila con el hierro y las cruces pueden enseñarnos algo sobre nosotros mismos. No digo que debemos salir a buscar cruces; ¡la vida nos trae muchas! Pero al levantar nuestras cruces voluntariamente, compartimos el sufrimiento de Cristo, nos convertimos en un ejemplo vivo de fidelidad para otros y podemos guiar a otros a conocer a Cristo más profundamente mediante ese ejemplo.

La otra razón convincente para tomar nuestra cruz es que cuando lo hacemos, ganamos la vida eterna. Tomar nuestra cruz cambia el enfoque de nosotros mismos a los demás. Lo mismo hizo Jesús cuando murió en la cruz, lo hizo por los demás, por nosotros, no por sí mismo.

Al comenzar la Cuaresma, tomemos nuestra cruz cada día y neguémonos algún pequeño consuelo o placer. Si estás en una temporada difícil, trata de soportar el sufrimiento sin quejarte. Sea lo que sea que hayas elegido para la Cuaresma este año, hazlo con la mirada puesta en la cruz y el pensamiento de la vida eterna.

February 22, 2023October 24, 2022

Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The LiveNotLukewarm.com online community is a place to inform, engage and inspire your Catholic faith. Her weekly Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.

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Ash Wednesday / Miércoles de Ceniza

We are reminded today to give alms, pray, and fast. We remember that we don’t do these things for the world, but rather we do them for God and our Father who sees in secret will reward us.

During Lent, we are invited into the solitude, the place in our hearts where God dwells and only we and he have access to. St. John Paul II referred to it as original solitude. We are alone in the visible world. We commune with others and often our focus remains fixed on these others. We get concerned about our relationship with them and what they think. We desire approval and acceptance because without them we are alone. We think.

Original solitude, God seeing in secret, reminds us that we are never truly alone if we open our hearts to God. We can rest in his love at all times. God is inviting us deeper into this solitude this Lent. He asks us to give, to pray, and to fast to help others, yes, but also because those actions help purify us and bring us closer to him. And as we grow closer to him, we become more aware of our original solitude and rejoice in it because it is there that we are known, seen, and loved; there in the secret of our own and our Father’s heart. We learn to turn from our desire to share all with everyone else and instead reserve some things for just him.

Every Lent is a challenge and an invitation to step closer to the One who made us and is always calling us deeper. Choose to answer this invitation. Choose to give a little more, pray a little more, fast a little more, all the while keeping it between you and your Father in heaven. Come up with an answer to the inevitable question “What are you doing/giving up for Lent?” Be mysterious. Be elusive about it. Let it be an offering from you to God. Offer him your desire to share. Accept the challenge. Rsvp to the invitation. Let God work in your heart by meeting him there in that secret place where it’s just you and him. It’s going to be an amazing forty days.

Hoy se nos recuerda dar limosna, orar y ayunar. Nos acordamos que no hacemos estas cosas por el mundo, sino que las hacemos para Dios y nuestro Padre que ve en lo secreto nos recompensará.

Durante la Cuaresma, somos invitados a la soledad, el lugar en nuestros corazones donde mora Dios y solo nosotros y él tenemos acceso. San Juan Pablo II se refirió a ella como la soledad original. Estamos solos en el mundo visible. Estamos en comunión con los demás y, a menudo, nuestro enfoque se fija en ellos. Nos preocupamos por nuestra relación con ellos y lo que piensan. Queremos la aprobación y aceptación porque sin ellas estamos solos. Eso es lo que pensamos.

La soledad original, Dios viendo en lo secreto, nos recuerda que nunca estamos verdaderamente solos si abrimos nuestro corazón a Él. Podemos descansar en su amor en todo momento. Dios nos está invitando a profundizar en este tipo de soledad esta Cuaresma. Nos pide dar, orar y ayunar para ayudar a los demás, sí, pero también porque esas acciones ayudan a purificarnos y acercarnos a él. Y a medida que nos acerquemos a él, tomamos más conciencia de nuestra soledad original y nos regocijamos en ella porque es allí donde somos conocidos, vistos y amados; allí en el secreto de nuestro corazón y él de nuestro Padre. Aprendemos a alejarnos de nuestro deseo de compartir todo con todos los demás y, en cambio, reservamos algunas cosas solo para él.

Cada Cuaresma es un desafío y una invitación a acercarnos a Aquel que nos hizo y que siempre nos llama a profundizar más. Elige responder a esta invitación. Elige dar un poco más, orar un poco más, ayunar un poco más, guardándolo todo el tiempo entre tú y tu Padre en el cielo. Piensa en una respuesta a la pregunta inevitable “¿Qué estás haciendo/renunciando para la Cuaresma?” Sé misterioso. Sea elusivo al respecto. Que sea una ofrenda tuya a Dios. Ofrécele tu deseo de compartir. Acepta el desafío. Responde a la invitación. Deja que Dios obre en tu corazón al encontrarlo allí en ese lugar secreto donde solo estás tú y él. Van a ser cuarenta días increíbles.

April 14, 2022April 12, 2022

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 merridithfrediani.com.

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What Makes You Think That You’re So Special?

April 13, 2022April 12, 2022

I have the good fortune to work in an office that is on the same grounds as a Catholic retreat center. Because of this, I often come into contact with a lot of great Christ-centered wisdom. This past week, a woman was staying in one of the rooms below my office and I talked to her when I walked into work, on my lunch breaks, and then when I left work. Over these short, passing conversations, I felt the Lord calling me to take the time to talk with her, to truly give her my time, so one day before leaving work, I knocked on her door to chat.

This woman shared with me that nearly six years ago, she was given another shot at life. She suffered an embolism that should have killed her, or left her with only 6 months to live, but instead, the doctors working her case considered her a miracle.

She knew it was a miracle. She knew it was a miracle because as soon as she was given her diagnosis, she prayed and immediately felt peace. Enough peace to make jokes with the nurses as she was life-flighted from one hospital to another. She knew it was God and it changed everything.

Still…she told me that there was someone in her life, someone she considered a good friend, that told her, “What makes you think you’re so special that God would want to save YOUR life?” At first, it hurt her to think that her friend didn’t think that she was special. Then it hurt her heart even more when she realized that her friend didn’t know that she was also so special that God wanted to save her life, too.

This woman’s realization is something I have not been able to stop thinking about. How many times have I failed to realize that I am so special that God wants to save my life. In fact, He sent His only Son to be arrested, ridiculed, crucified, stabbed, and ultimately face death… all to save me. All to save you.

As we prepare for the Easter Triduum, let us stop and marvel at the fact that our God, our Father, loves us so dearly and wants to save us so badly, that Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice… and then CONQUERED THE GRAVE for our sins! He wants to wash away the shame, the fear, the sadness, and all we have to do is say “yes.”

So forget “What makes you think you’re so special that God would want to save your life?” because the better question is “What makes you think that an all-loving, all-powerful God wouldn’t want to save your life?” God is calling us. By name. So why don’t we listen this time?

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Veronica Alvarado is a born and raised Texan currently living in Pennsylvania. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, Veronica has published various Catholic articles in bulletins, newspapers, e-newsletters, and blogs. She continued sharing her faith after graduation as a web content strategist and digital project manager. Today, she continues this mission in her current role as communications director and project manager for Pentecost Today USA, a Catholic Charismatic Renewal organization in Pittsburgh.

Be Better

April 12, 2022April 10, 2022

We are in the middle of Holy Week, people! Less than a week until Easter! Less than a week until we commemorate the greatest gift of all! Is your soul refreshed? Are your hopes and desires getting you a step closer to heaven? Can you feel the deep waves of forgiveness pulling you into God’s great ocean of peace?

If your answer is without a doubt yes, then please, do tell me your secrets. I feel like I have done my best to be prepared for the memorial of Jesus’ resurrection, but I wouldn’t say that I’m 100 percent heaven-ready. Luckily, God understands that we are not perfect by default and has given us the Bible as a tool to use.

As I read over today’s first reading, it sounds like just the kind of quick guide that I need. I have a tongue, so I should speak to the weary. I have ears, so I should listen to the true word of Christ. My body, though beaten by people that make fun of me and scoff at my beliefs, has the Lord God at my side to hold me up. Going into the responsorial Psalm, we ask, “Lord, in your great love, answer me,” as we admit to being weak, picked on, an outcast, insulted. We praise him because we are thankful, but our thanks must go further than just words. It should be evident in our actions.

As Catholics, we must understand that we will always have more to strive for. Our God challenges us in everyday situations to step up and live out our faith, whether it is with the people around us or in our own hearts. Instead of seeing our faith as a burden or as an annoyance (because sometimes we do), we should instead see it as an opportunity to become a better person. Instead of trying to please our critics, society, or our parents, we should try to become someone our heavenly Father would be proud of.

So if your Lent didn’t go as planned, know that it’s okay because it is a journey. As you attend each Mass this Holy Week, ask God for what you need. Ask Him to bless your body with the skills and strengths you need. He wants you to succeed and is willing to give you the tools because He wants nothing more than to be in communion with Him in heaven. It is a simple matter of who you want to be and if you are willing to work on it. Do you want to be better? Will you allow your Lenten sacrifice to carry on after Sunday and continue to bring you closer to God? Or will you allow Jesus’ Lenten sacrifice be for nothing?

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God’s Plan for You

As I sit down to write this reflection, my daughter-in-law is in labor! Like the servant in the passage from today’s First Reading, our grandson is known by God, even in the womb of his mother. The same God who brought this little boy into being at the moment of his conception has a unique purpose and plan for his life. Praise God!

And our loving Father has a plan for each one of us as well. We mustn’t doubt it.

Often, we are tempted to judge the worth of our lives by very different standards than the standard God has for us. Like the servant in this passage from Isaiah, we often toil and strain and feel as though we have spent all of our strength, just to experience defeat, loss, or rejection. We wonder what purpose our life has and doubt whether we are making a difference.

We can and will make a difference if we follow the example of Christ, the ultimate servant of God, whose faithfulness is prefigured in today’s First Reading.

First, we need to be in tune with what God the Father wants for us every day. The goal is to do His will. Jesus spent time in prayer, communing with the Father and strengthening Himself to do the Father’s will. If we are doing what seems good to us, but not really submitting ourselves to God, we might experience worldly success, but eventually we will realize how shallow that kind of success is. It may even be dangerous to our souls.

The second way we must imitate Christ is by faithfulness and perseverance. For many years, Jesus worked, lived, and suffered just like any person of His day before radically pouring Himself out in public ministry. Finally, our Savior gave every drop of his blood to do the Father’s will and, as He hung naked on the cross, all of His effort, His entire life, appeared to be in vain.

In our own ways, we too experience “failure,” as we strive to live as authentic Catholic Christians. Seeking to do God’s will, we may try to start a business, write a book, or enter religious life. Years of effort and sacrifice may pass with little or no positive results. Think of the couple who loses a child. Or a parent who raises his or her children in the faith, just to see them reject a relationship with God. These “failures” can make us feel that all of our effort to radically follow God’s will is pointless.

We can’t always see what God is doing, but He is always working marvelously for those who are faithful. When Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, He brought about the greatest come-back victory of all time!

We must believe that if our priorities are in order, and we are constantly seeking to do God’s will, our Easter Sunday will come. We will rejoice with an endless joy when we realize what God has done in and though us. In the words of St. Catherine of Siena, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”