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What Month is it?

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In the fuzzy world between sleeping and waking this morning, I tried to figure out what month it is. My not quite fully conscious brain tried on different months for size, trying to determine which one fit, trying to make sense of the seemingly simple question, “What month is it?”

Recently, my husband and I had a full blown conversation over whether it was Monday or Tuesday. A colleague and I are trying to read a book about Theology of the Body. Do you think we can both remember our Zoom call on the same day? Not likely. And whatever you need me to do, if I don’t write it down, it isn’t going to happen. List making is now a full-time occupation. 

One of my summer joys is journal writing. Someplace in the middle of the school year, my daily writing habit gets left behind in an effort to get 20 minutes more sleep. This summer, my journal languishes beside my favorite chair, neglected. I tell myself what I tell my students, just write. It doesn’t matter what you say. It doesn’t matter if you just tell the page over and over that you don’t know what to write. Just write. 

Yet, this summer, in spite of my many to-do lists, my journal has only sporadic entries. My thinking which under normal circumstances is clarified by talking, by writing, by using my words, just isn’t. And maybe, that is the problem, my thinking, what am I supposed to think? Our world is in the midst of a pandemic. This is the stuff of movies with doctors who save the day in under two hours, not the stuff of neverending Tuesdays in June. 

Then there are shootings and protests, people looting and more shootings and people dying in our streets. We are facing the reality that our country founded on “all men are created equal” is not what we thought it was. There is the economy and dealing with hamburg which has tripled in price while our income hasn’t. Then feeling guilty because I am worried about the cost of hamburg when someone else has lost a father, brother, son. We are in a time of radical change in our country, much needed change but change that will only come through upheaval and tearing down and building new. Change is hard. So much change makes remembering the daily details difficult. 

I pray daily to do what God wills with my life but I seem to be stuck in a time of relative inaction. The news is full of people who are demonstrating, who are making a difference and I am finding it hard to even pray regularly. My prayers often end up as a repeated plea, “What do I do, Lord?” 

That is where I meet the Holy Family in today’s Gospel. This is a favorite Gospel story because I can vividly imagine Mary and Joseph as they realize Jesus isn’t in the family caravan. I know that heart-stopping feeling of finding out that all is not as you thought it was. I try to picture their hurried journey back to the city to look for Jesus. I know that tight feeling in the chest as you retrace your steps hoping against hope that your worst fears aren’t about to come true. I see them in my mind’s eye walking through the temple and seeing Jesus talking. They hesitate for a moment and listen to their son talking to men in the temple before he looks up and smiles at them, Mary says, “Son…” and Jesus replies, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 

“But they did not understand what he said to them. He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, and his mother kept all these things in her heart.”

Perhaps, for me, this is not a time for grand action, but for quiet humility and obedience. Mary had been told who her son was, but she didn’t go shouting it from the rooftops. She waits for God’s time. Jesus was obedient. Mary kept these things in her heart. Maybe that’s it. In this time of upheaval and change and lost footing and no writing, I am to follow Jesus’s example and be humble, learning from others. Follow Mary’s example and keep these things in my heart. Just maybe God is preparing my heart for what comes next;  my heart of stone to be broken and replaced with his own loving heart. 

So for now, I need to:

Keep one foot in front of the other.
Pray the prayers.
Take care of those near me.
Attend Mass as often as possible.
Go to Adoration and pray at the feet of Jesus.
For goodness sake, limit social media.
Do the next right thing. 

My time for action will come and I will need to be ready. But it is God’s time, not mine. For now, I will be obedient. I will love each person I meet. I will hold all this in my heart, so when it’s His time, I will be ready. 

Wherever God is calling you during this turbulent time, may you find the peace that comes not from this world, but only by living for the next. 

May God bless you. Whatever month it is.

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Sheryl delights in being the number 1 cheerleader and supporter for her husband, Tom who is a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. They are so grateful for the opportunity to grow together in this process whether it is studying for classes, deepening their prayer life or discovering new ways to serve together. Sheryl’s day job is serving her community as the principal for St. Therese Catholic School in Wayland, Michigan. Since every time she thinks she gets life all figured out, she realizes just how far she has to go, St. Rita of Cascia is her go-to Saint for intercession and help. Home includes Brea, a Bernese Mountain dog and Carlyn, a very, very goofy Golden Retriever.

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us

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I often fail to give myself a break. I beat myself up for the smallest things, perseverating on my lack of holiness. If I make one tiny mistake it turns into a mountain. I worry about being unworthy, not being lovable, and ultimately feel discouraged about my journey to sainthood.

On this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we have an opportunity to look to Christ and His constant mercy. How is it possible that God can have endless mercy to shower upon all of us? I know this is a question I cannot fully answer or understand, but what I do know is that God’s Love is perfect and He is always there for us with His mercy, no matter what we may have done.

It is hard for me to accept this mercy from God, and it is even more difficult for me to show myself this mercy and love. I realize that I must show myself mercy if I am to grow in virtue. If I constantly put myself down it will be even harder to get back up on the road to holiness. If you are struggling to show yourself mercy invite God into these moments. With the help of God’s mercy in His Sacred Heart, we can learn to love ourselves for God’s glory and further trust in His perfect mercy.

“Trust the past to the mercy of God, the present to His love, and the future to His providence.” –St. Augustine

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Nathalie Shultz is a joyful convert to the Catholic faith and a competitive swimmer with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  She loves to share her passion for Catholicism with others, including her conversion story and how God continues to work miracles in her life through her OCD. She is the Director of Religious Education for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative of parishes. Nathalie is married to her best friend, Tommy Shultz. Her favorite saints include St. Peter the Apostle, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and St. John Paul II.  She is also a huge fan of C.S. Lewis. If you have any questions for Nathalie, or just want her to pray for you, you can email her at rodzinkaministry@gmail.com. 

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The Father Knows All Your Needs

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Before the world began – before God spoke creation into existence – we were CHOSEN. Chosen BY God, chosen FOR God.

“God chose us in him before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph 1).

Before the world began – before the Spirit hovered over the waters – God considered the possibility of each of us, decided on us, chose us to exist, desired us to be part of His amazing creation.

God willed each of us to BE. And His will is love.

Even more astounding, He RE-created us in the Blood of His only-begotten Son, through whom and for everything was created.

“All things were created through him and for him” (Col 1:16).

We were each made THROUGH Christ and FOR Christ, to remain IN Christ. And if we are IN HIM through Baptism, we are also children in the bosom of the Father, a child held close, held near, held dear.

“All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made… to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become CHILDREN OF GOD” (John 1).

We are children of God! Jesus tells his disciples in today’s Gospel that “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Of course, He does. We are His. We belong to Him. We are His children. He made us and loves us, with all of our gifts and gaffes. He knows everything, from the number of hairs on our head to why we threw a tantrum when we were in diapers to what we need today to be radiant in His grace. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He alone can provide all we need to become what He creates and calls us to be. He IS love, and He loves us, and He provides all we need.

We are God’s children, born of love and loved by Him, begotten by Him in our faith in Christ, abiding in Him in our love for Christ and for one another.

“If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us… Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God” (1 Jn 4-5).

Our belonging to God is eternal and irrevocable if we choose to do the hard work of loving as He loves.

Everything contrary to this is a lie of the Enemy of our souls.

We belonged to God before the world began. We will never stop belonging to Him. He knows all we need even before we ask, and His Fatherly desire is for us to put all our trust in Him as His children so that He can provide everything for us.

What is beyond the power of God? Nothing.
What is hidden from God? Nothing.
What can separate us from God’s love? Nothing.
What then can we fear? Nothing.

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Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including newly ordained Father Rob and seminarian Luke ;-), and two grandchildren. She is a Secular Discalced Carmelite and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 25 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE. Currently, she serves the Church as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio, by publishing and speaking, and by collaborating with the diocesan Office of Catechesis, various parishes, and other ministries to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is https://www.kathryntherese.com/.

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Spiritual Coffee

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This morning, as I stood in my lava water shower, I found myself thinking about how tired I was of being home. As an introvert, recharging at home is my jam. I enjoy being home and I enjoy being alone a good part of my day. Still, it’s been 93 days since I started social distancing and working from home (not that I’m counting…) and I am finally really missing people. 

Last weekend, I went out to lunch with a friend, and as we began wiping down our patio chairs and tables with the Clorox wipes we had brought with us, I struggled not to say hello with a hug. Then, as we repeated the same process before leaving, we both went in for a hug and stopped ourselves. Although we knew it was the smart and safe thing to do, we both felt a slight sadness. 

This kind of shocked me because that first experience of going out into the world and participating in what used to be totally normally dining was exactly what I used to shy away from. Now, I was craving it and embracing it — from 6 feet apart, of course. As much as COVID has taken away from me, it’s also given me a new appreciation and yearning for friendship and exploring the world outside my four walls. 

I think our spiritual life needs this kind of reminder and re-awakening too. When we fall into comfortable routines and begin to take our relationship with God for granted, we need a spiritual coffee to wake us up. That’s why when my friend reached out to me and asked if I wanted to do an 11-week Catholic book group with her, I said yes before even asking about the book’s title. Within a couple of hours, I had purchased the Walking with Purpose book and paid for rapid shipping. 

It’s these kinds of opportunities that we should jump at, especially in these times of social distancing. It’s the perfect way to ease yourself back into your community of faith as churches begin to reopen. The best part is that there are so many self-guided or templated ways to have a Catholic book study/group, so you won’t have to wait for your parish to get it started. Then, once you’re comfortable with book studies/groups, try hosting an open one with your parish. 

Like so many others that get tired in their faith, we just drink the spiritual coffee (not the Kool-Aid) and reinvigorate ourselves with the excitement of faith through friendship and connection. 

Not sure how to start? 

Not sure what to read?

Veronica Alvarado is a born and raised Texan currently living in Michigan. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, Veronica has published various articles in the Catholic Diocese of Austin’s official newspaper, the Catholic Spirit, and other local publications. She now works as the Content Specialist in Diocesan’s Web Department.

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This is the Person I am Called to Love

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One of the gifts of middle age (there has to be some compensation for entering the heavy-maintenance years, after all!) is the gift of perspective. My needs and wants—and the ability to discern which is which—have shifted, and I’ve become wiser about them and the place they have in my life.

I’ve never been exactly a fashionista, but all the same when I moved to a smaller home and had to do some thinning-out of my possessions, I was shocked at how many articles of clothing I owned. Four green sweaters, really? Five different pairs of boots? Or let’s talk about books: do I really need to own every single book I’ve ever read and loved? How about the kitchen: when was the last time I used those three different appliances that all do the same thing?

That voice of wisdom was one of the voices inside my head. But there was another voice, too, one that was running scared: what will I do without them? Who will I be without these things? I felt that somehow there was some security in ownership, that the mere fact of having these possessions rooted and grounded me. For a long time those two voices were warring inside me. It was a dialogue, but I wasn’t ever sure exactly which side was winning.

And that brings us to today’s readings. Whenever I read the Old Testament in general, honestly, it’s sometimes with a little scorn. What was it with these Israelites, anyway, that they were always turning from God to worship at some other altar? A gold calf? What’s that about? It always seemed so far removed from my own experience that I put it down to cultural differences and moved on.

Not a good idea.

In today’s first reading, we open with a confrontation: King Ahab of Israel has murdered a fellow called Naboth and taken possession of Naboth’s vineyard, and the prophet Elijah comes to tell the king that God is unhappy with the situation. Ahab has become “completely abominable by following idols.”

I’ve studied enough history to know that in many—if not most—ancient cultures, what Ahab did wasn’t out of the ordinary. You kill someone, you get their stuff. But as God continued to gradually reveal himself through time, his people were slowly coming around to deeper and more complex concepts of justice and fairness. This wasn’t about the way things have always been done; this was about finding a new way, a way where you can’t just kill someone and take what they have. It’s still an ideal that isn’t always followed.

Ahab, we note, also followed idols. We’re not told which kind, we’re just told it was wrong. God had to come first.

I’m not substituting my possessions for idols here; obviously I never believed any of my green sweaters was more important than God. But in feeling I had the right to ownership of all these things, in letting myself be in some obscure way be defined by what I owned, wasn’t I in a way worshipping myself? Saying my needs, my security, my tastes come first?

I’m starting to think so.

The Bible is the story of God gradually revealing himself to his people—we see more and more of him through his encounters with Noah, with Abraham, with Moses, on up through his most complete revelation of himself in Christ. And in today’s Gospel, Jesus seizes on this revelation of a new way of thinking, a new way of being, when he says, it’s not enough to love people who love you back, it’s not enough to love people who are just like you. You have to love everybody. You have the love the people you feel at home with and the people who challenge your comfort levels. All of them, all the time.

In the past weeks, we’ve all been challenged. By people who think and feel and look different from us. These times have made us confront and question our own beliefs and assumptions. We’re getting into passionate conversations about everything from whether or not to wear a mask in public to whether every person, regardless of the color of their skin, should have the same rights. And I can hear Jesus, standing next to me when I get into an argument with someone whose opinion doesn’t coincide with mine: this is the person you are called to love.

This is the person I am called to love.

I managed in the end to sort through my stuff. I ended up giving most of it away. These days I live in a cottage that measures 317 square feet, and I inhabit it comfortably. I’m learning that there’s no security in ownership, whether it’s of possessions or a false sense of privilege.

And, every day, I’m praying to grow in love… of everyone.

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Jeannette de Beauvoir is a writer and editor with the digital department of Pauline Books & Media, working on projects as disparate as newsletters, book clubs, ebooks, and retreats that support the apostolate of the Daughters of St. Paul at http://www.pauline.org.

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Equally Charitable to All

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This past weekend we were blessed to have a house guest. A close friend from down south came to visit. While he was here we drove around quite a bit, ate some good food, and visited my parents. My brother and his family were also there and my niece and I got to talking about how differently we treat different people. She had felt the need to apologize for speaking somewhat harshly to me the week before because she thought I was one of her siblings. So I asked her somewhat sarcastically “Ah, so you’re saying that’s the way you talk to your siblings?”

And then it was like the wind came right back my way to slap me in the face as I thought about how we were entertaining our house guest. Why is it that I talk nicer to those who are visitors, and not necessarily those I share the same roof with? Why is it that I have more patience with my kids and speak more gently to them when someone else is around? Am I using the guise of hospitality? Am I trying to keep up appearances out of pride? Why DO I raise my voice with my kids so often anyway?

Once again the Psalm calls me to invoke my God:
Hearken to my words, O LORD,
attend to my sighing.
Heed my call for help,
my king and my God!
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness;
no evil man remains with you;
the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy all who speak falsehood. (Psalm 5)

By speaking differently to different people, am I really speaking falsehood? Am I being arrogant in your sight? If I desire to show hospitality to one person, why should I not want to show it to all, especially my own flesh and blood, those who I have conceived and birthed? I have got to stop the hypocrisy. But more earnestly, I have got to start treating those I love with more love.

May the Lord bless us and keep us this day. May He show us the way. May He steer our hearts, minds, words, and actions. May He continue to send us little reminders, like the conversation with my niece, to make us think and redirect our path to conform more to His. Amen.

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Tami 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 home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, 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 almost 20 years.

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Impossible

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When I was in High School I did tech for a production of the musical, Cinderella. One of my favorite songs, that I still sing from time to time, is the song where the fairy godmother tries to convince Cinderella that she can do the impossible. This makes sense to us who know the story but put yourself in Cinderella’s shoes. An old woman appears out of nowhere and claims that she can fix all life’s problems. That’s a hard thing to believe, but she came to believe because of who the fairy godmother was.

Now, of course, it isn’t actually possible for a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage, unless it’s in the imagination, but the message is that Cinderella should trust the fairy godmother because she shows she can do exactly what she says and who she is.

Fast forward to today, the Feast of Corpus Christi. How many times have we said that Jesus being fully present in the Eucharist is impossible? It’s a hard thing to believe. It’s difficult because we continue to see bread and wine and most of what we come to believe is what we can see.

But let’s look at the example from Cinderella, she believed not just because of what she saw, but because of who the fairy godmother was. It’s the same with God. If we put the Eucharist in context with what everything Jesus has done for us, then it should make total sense. It’s possible for the God of the universe to become a little baby. It’s possible for this little child to be the long-awaited savior of the entire world. It’s possible for this person to walk on the earth performing miracles and casting out demons. It’s possible for Jesus to give up his whole life and die the most gruesome death so we may one day be happy for him. But bread and wine turning into his body and blood? Impossible.

See the problem here? Jesus has literally proven who he is and what he can do. He has proven his love. He has time and again proven that he is God, and yet, we don’t believe he can somehow remain with us, even though he told us he would? I think the most striking evidence for the Eucharist is that Jesus is God and he said, “This is my body, this is my blood.” We may not fully understand it, but we aren’t God. He has got this figured out.

If we are to understand how to be Christian, let’s ask God for the faith to see him in the Eucharist, for as the Catechism says, “The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.'”

Happy Feast of Corpus Christi and may the precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you today and always.

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Tommy Shultz is Director of Evangelization for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative and the founder of Rodzinka Ministries. In these roles, he is committed to bringing all those he meets into a deeper relationship with Christ. Tommy has a heart and a flair for inspiring people to live their faith every day. He has worked in various youth ministry, adult ministry, and diocesan roles. He has been a featured speaker at retreats and events across the country. His mission and drive have been especially inspired by St. John Paul II’s teachings. Tommy is blessed to be able to learn from the numerous parishes he visits and pass that experience on in his presentations. With a degree in Theology from Franciscan University, Tommy hopes to use his knowledge to help all people understand the beauty of The Faith.

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Fiat

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Today’s first reading is from the Book of Kings. The purpose of the Books of Kings is to encourage the faithful to remain faithful so we hear stories of the faith of the Kings of Israel or, oftentimes, the stories of their lack of faith. The stories of the prophets, like Elijah, are also told and the prophets are always more faithful than the kings. The message is to follow the example of the prophets. In the first reading, we hear of Elijah throwing his cloak on Elisha, an act signifying Elijah’s call for Elisha to succeed him as a prophet. Before following Elijah, Elisha “says goodbye” to his previous by praying (the slaughter of the oxen). Elisha, recognizing his calling, wholeheartedly says “yes” to following Elijah and departs his previous life to serve Elijah as his attendant.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciple “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One” which seems like an easy command. But let’s think about the fact that “Anything more is from the Evil One”. Anything more. Anything more–in addition to–yes or no. That means any doubts, any hesitations, any apathy, any moments of indecision are feelings from the Devil that prevent us from giving God our whole-hearted fiat, our wholehearted ‘Yes!’. It works the same way with our ‘No’. Our rejection of temptation should be just as emphatic and unfaltering as our ‘Yes’ to Christ.

St. Anthony, whose feast day is today, serves as an example of how to say and how to mean ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. He said his ‘Yes’ to follow Christ when, as a young man, he left his wealthy life to join the order of St. Augustine. Inspired by the Franciscans who were martyred in Morocco, St. Anthony eventually joined the Franciscans and, knowing the risk of martyrdom, asked to go to Morocco to continue the mission of evangelization. His ‘Yes’ was fervent and unqualified; he said ‘Yes’ to Christ regardless of the consequences and with deep love. In one of his homilies, St. Anthony said, “The joy of the saints consists in three things: the resurrection of the body, the blessedness of the soul, and freedom from the sting of the flesh and the temptation of the devil”. He knew the importance of saying ‘Yes’ to Christ and following his commandments and also knew that a wholehearted ‘Yes’ entails a ‘No’ to anything that is from the Evil One.

May we follow the examples of Elisha and St. Anthony who said “yes” and meant “yes”.

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Dakota currently lives in Denver, CO and teaches English Language Development and Spanish to high schoolers. She is married to the love of her life, Ralph. In her spare time, she reads, goes to breweries, and watches baseball. Dakota’s favorite saints are St. John Paul II (how could it not be?) and St. José Luis Sánchez del Río. She is passionate about her faith and considers herself blessed at any opportunity to share that faith with others. Check out more of her writing at https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com.

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Seeking

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The prophet Elijah took shelter in a cave. We’ve taken shelter in our home. There were winds, fire, and an earthquake. There’s a pandemic, cyclones, flooding, economic and social unrest, emotional and personal traumas occurring on a global scale. Elijah heard the Lord’s voice and covered his face. We have covered our mouths and faces with masks. 

Are we listening to the Lord? Do we recognize His voice in our lives, our community, our world?

The responsorial psalm today has the author longing to see the face of the Lord. Where do you look to see His face?

Right now there are so many things vying for our attention that it can be very hard to focus on any one thing. I know my own mind is trying to process and pray about so many different situations that I can feel totally overwhelmed and ineffective. I am having many ‘duh’ moments and not enough ‘aha’ ones. Remember to take a breath, slow down, and focus on daily life, on the task at hand.

Case in point:
Me: my second screen is not working (I’m back in the office after a power outage at home, phone lines ringing off the hook while I’m hurriedly trying to assemble my workstation last Friday)
IT guy: really helps if you have the power cord attached.
Next morning, me: I cannot get to any of my e-mail or tabs and have both restarted and turned the computer off and on.
IT gal: If you turn on your second screen…you must have something open there.
Yes, I’m still laughing and groaning. If I let it, that will affect how I view myself, my esteem, and my self-worth.

The gospel acclamation tells us to shine like lights in the world while we hold on to the word of life. The Word of Life is the Gospel: Jesus’s teachings, his passion, his resurrection are our path as believers.

We must make the time seeking for the Lord a constant priority. Here are a few links to help you on the way. He is all around us. Jesus, we trust in You. Jesus, we trust in You. Jesus, we trust in You.

Praise You in This Storm Casting Crowns
Oceans (Where Feet may Fail) Hillsong UNITED
Seek You Evie May
Praying to hear God’s voice
Why can’t I hear God?

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Beth is part of the customer care team at Diocesan. She brings a unique depth of experience to the group due to her time spent in education, parish ministries, sales and the service industry over the last 25 yrs. She is a practicing spiritual director as well as a Secular Franciscan (OFS). Beth is quick to offer a laugh, a prayer or smile to all she comes in contact with. Reach her here bprice@diocesan.com.

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It was in Antioch

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Several years ago my cousins and I went on a backpacking trip to South Manitou Island. Within the first hour on the island I decided it was a good idea, redhead white boy that I am, to go lay in the sun. I was out for about 30 minutes or so and quickly realized that I had the worst sunburn that has probably ever existed in human history. My entire body from head to toe was bright red. This was one of the most painful experiences, having a terrible sunburn and having to walk miles with a backpack on constantly rubbing against my skin.

I grew up with all the ginger jokes as a kid. White boy can’t tan, things like that. I always thought they were funny and went along with them, but here on the island, I started hoping beyond hope that my sunburn would turn into a tan. I would be the first fair-skinned Irish lad to have a proper tan. By the time we made it off the island my burn had peeled and actually did turn into a tan. I was more excited than Winnie the Pooh stuck in the honey tree. The only problem was, it only stayed tan for about a day and turned right back to a white that could blind you if you weren’t careful.

I went from one extreme to the other. From a burn that rivaled most lobsters, to a white that could blend in with a polar bear. Living right in the middle for that one day was glorious, my 24-hour tan. Today in the first reading we hear that the word Christian is first used in Antioch. I have been thinking a lot about the world lately. I must admit, even someone as optimistic as me has been looking around very discouraged. My heart breaks seeing good friends label each other over social media from one extreme to the other. I have been thinking a lot about what it even means to be a disciple, to be a Christian. I think the answer comes from this burn I experienced as a kid.

One extreme was no good, the other extreme was not everything it was cracked up to be, right in the middle was a perfect balance. Jesus is all about balance. When he speaks to the woman caught in adultery he first tells her of his love for her, then tells her to sin no more. A balance of justice and mercy. Today, I think we are forgetting about balance. The Christian is one who follows Christ. Christ is perfectly just and merciful, perfectly God and man, perfectly Lord and servant.

Whenever we start to slip into extremes or label other people with them, we forget love. Love does not divide, EVER. Nathalie and I are totally different, but our love brings us together in the perfect balance. We need to remember this, especially today when our country and world seem so divided. Instead of immediately jumping to one extreme or the other with people on social media, let’s try listening. We may be surprised at how much we all actually agree on. I hope we can all at least agree that we all deserve love. God Bless!

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Tommy Shultz is Director of Evangelization for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative and the founder of Rodzinka Ministries. In these roles, he is committed to bringing all those he meets into a deeper relationship with Christ. Tommy has a heart and a flair for inspiring people to live their faith every day. He has worked in various youth ministry, adult ministry, and diocesan roles. He has been a featured speaker at retreats and events across the country. His mission and drive have been especially inspired by St. John Paul II’s teachings. Tommy is blessed to be able to learn from the numerous parishes he visits and pass that experience on in his presentations. With a degree in Theology from Franciscan University, Tommy hopes to use his knowledge to help all people understand the beauty of The Faith.

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The Greatest of These is Love

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“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

In hearing the conclusion of today’s Gospel, I cannot help but think about the events taking place in our country over the past couple of weeks. Between the horrific killing of George Floyd and those protests that devolved into violence, it appears that we have forgotten the greatest commandment to “love one another; even as I have loved you.”

If we truly loved one another as Christ has loved us, we would see each human being as our brother or sister in Christ, regardless of race, ethnicity, social status, and the many other labels that society tries to slap on us. If we truly loved one another as Christ has loved us, we would recognize the inviolable human dignity that each person has, being made in the image and likeness of God.

But, what happens when we fail to love? When we fail to see every person as a brother or sister in Christ? When we fail to see their dignity as a human person? When we fail to follow the greatest commandment? Well, it is then that we struggle to follow even the least of the commandments that Jesus has given to us. That’s when sin becomes as prevalent as it is in the world today, when it takes root in our hearts when we struggle to follow Jesus’ commands.

Paragraphs 1868-1869 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church help us to see the connection between personal sin and social structures of sin. “Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:

-By participating directly and voluntarily in them;
-By ordering, advising, praising or approving them;
-By not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
-By protecting evil-doers.

Thus sin makes men accomplices of one another and causes concupiscence, violence, and injustice to reign among them. Sin gives rise to social situations and institutions that are contrary to the divine goodness. ‘Structures of sin’ are the expression and effect of personal sins. They lead their victims to do evil in their turn. In an analogous sense, they constitute a ‘social sin.’”

What is there to do, then? How can we uproot the sin in our own hearts to help bring about change in our lives and in our society? We must pray for the conversion of hearts – our own hearts and the hearts of others. We must look interiorly, identifying those areas of our own life where we struggle with sin and put in the conscious effort to fix those areas. But, most of all, we must love. Through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, love conquered sin and death. Now, when we love, we will conquer hate as well.

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Erin is a Cleveland native and graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Following graduation, she began volunteering in youth ministry at her home parish of Holy Family Church. Her first “big girl” job was in collegiate sports information where, after a busy two years in the profession on top of serving the youth, she took a leap of faith and followed the Lord’s call to full-time youth ministry at St. Peter Church. She still hopes to use her communication arts degree as a freelance writer and statistician, though. You can catch her on the Clarence & Peter Podcast on YouTube as well as follow her on Twitter @erinmadden2016.

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The Litany of June

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to be salt of the earth and light of the world. He points out that when someone lights a lamp, they do not put it under a basket or in a place that conceals the light, but on the lampstand where it can give light to the whole house. We must be and use our light in this way. We must shine our light before others and be of good deeds. This is what glorifies our Heavenly Father. This is what He is calling us to. 

Today, there are many opportunities to shine our light. In our broken world, how are you doing this? Are you educating yourself on why black lives matter? Are you showing charity to your neighbors who may be different from you? Or are you trying to ignore the current matter since it may not affect you? Are you shining your light or placing it under the basket, hiding it away? There are many different ways to shrine our light, to be salt of the earth today specifically in our actions and words as Christians. What good deeds have you done to glorify our Heavenly Father? What good deeds do you feel called to do at this time? The first step to this is prayer. Ask Him to show you and guide you.  I have been truly struck by this Litany of June written by Catholic poet, Clare McCallan. This prayer may be the first step as we strive to be salt of the earth and a light to the world.

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Briana is the Pastoral Minister at St. Mark Church in Cleveland, OH. She is also a district manager at Arbonne. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Catechetics from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, OH and is excited to use these skills to serve the Church. “My soul has been refined and I can raise my head like a flower after a storm.” -St. Therese