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Be Available, Be Generous

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The Good Samaritan; a difficult story to reflect upon without being banal and writing a thought that has been shared before. This is a story that is so integrated into our society that we even have a law named after it. Though most people cannot describe the finer points of the legal code or recount the parable verbatim, I’m confident that everyone from the practicing Catholic to the non-church-goer can surmise that “The Good Samaritan” has something to do with being available to aid individuals who have an immediate need.

But to what measure do we help?

 By Jesus’ standards, we ought to respond to those around us by saying: “I will take care of you until you are well.”

 In His story, Jesus creates a portrait of a Christian with the Samaritan, one whose foremost quality is generosity. The authentic followers of Christ that I know personally, though they differ in many ways on a superficial level, are similar in their capacity to be absurdly generous. And they give in different ways.

My dear friend, band mate, and soon to be one of my best men Douglas Hutchings is generous monetarily. Over the past 11 years, he has paid for more of my friends’ and my dinners than I can remember… and it is never when he is asked to cover the bill; he sees an opportunity to care for his loved ones and takes the initiative.

My Spiritual Director, Sr. Marie Pappas, is generous with her time and attention, never wanting in patience, allowing me the freedom and opportunity to celebrate, lament and query about my life for upwards of 3 hours in a session and never making me feel like I’m taking her away from something more important.

These persons in my life, like the Samaritan in the parable, like Jesus, proclaim to their beloved through their actions: “I will take care of you until you are well.”

 Be available.

 Be generous.

During the week, Matthew Juliano is a mentor for individuals who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. On the weekends, he is a drummer for Full Armor Band. You can find more content by Matt and his band at www.fullarmorband.com.

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Acts Of Random Kindness

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My Catholic faith has taught me more than any teacher, parent, or person ever has! Aside from the obvious “good morals,” Catholicism has taught me the value of family and friendship. It has taught me humility. More than anything, it has taught me how to love and how to be loved by following in Christ’s footsteps to become a more compassionate person.

Being compassionate isn’t easy. In fact, if I’m being perfectly honest, it sucks.

I consider myself extremely empathetic, meaning I am very sensitive to the emotions of people around me. The emotions of people around me weigh heavily on me and will even influence my own emotions. It is a genuine extension of compassion that goes beyond “oh, that’s good” and “man, that must be hard.”

For example, last week I was stopped by a train for a couple of minutes. The woman in the car behind me was crying. Like, chest heaving, ugly crying, inaudible sobs. And it broke my heart. I wanted to go to her and tell her that whatever it was, whatever she was going through, she would be okay.

So I did.

And it was awful.

Because with at least another 50 train cars to go, I put my car in park, got out, walked over to her door, and tapped on her window. When she rolled her window down, all I said was, “I’m sorry. You don’t know me, but I know that you’ll be okay.” She hiccupped, still crying, and nodded, not saying anything. Then I just got back in my car and cried.

Did I cry because I hoped she would be okay? I wish, but no. I cried because that was really hard.

As someone with anxiety, it’s a constant battle between my existential guilt and the gift of compassion. Perhaps you don’t have any experience with constant anxiety. Maybe you think it’s silly to feel guilty and wrong for doing the most mundane things. I agree with you, it is silly, but that doesn’t make it go away.

In fact, as soon as I parked my car, I already had a million thoughts going through my mind:

What would I even say to her? Everyone probably thinks that I’m one of those jerks that park in the middle of traffic. Or they think there’s something wrong with my car. Or they think I’m crazy. What if SHE thinks I’m crazy? I shouldn’t get out. Everyone will look at me and hate me. Maybe I can just pretend that I dropped something out of my window and get back in the car. This is a bad idea.

And I hadn’t even gotten out of the car yet.

Still, I think that this situation was most definitely a gift from God. It’s not that God made sure that she had a reason to cry, but I do think He put her car behind mine for a reason.  I, myself, have experienced both the sinking feeling and being tossed life rafts in the form of smiles, hugs, slight head nods, words, and prayers, and MAN is it powerful.

Unlike Rose in The Titanic (spoiler), we can share our floating door and save Jack’s life. Even when we are in danger of drowning, God gives us the opportunity to reach a hand out to a stranger.

All it takes is an Act of Random Kindness, an ARK if you will, to keep us from sinking.

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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Knowing Vs. Inviting

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Kyra, my new student in 6th grade has never even heard about Jesus. We’re in the middle of the first quarter, Catholic Doctrine curriculum for a 6th-grade level (assuming all others have built a foundational understanding from years past in a Catholic grade school). Seeing her facial reactions the information I provided on Salvation History was a bit priceless. When you evangelize and spread the Good News to someone who has never heard it before, that is a heck of an experience. For a moment I had to stop and think to myself, wow this probably does sound super crazy.

Growing up in the Catholic faith or a Christian home makes some of our core beliefs less shocking than those who have not. Just think about it, we believe in only one God- in 3 Divine Persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are unique persons with different characteristics and roles, yet all are One. When One acts- the whole Trinity acts. When you receive One Person of the Trinity, you are receiving the grace of the whole Trinity. Summarizing Salvation History and showing her the separation or the Old and New Testament was definitely new for her. The moment her eyes almost popped out of their sockets was when I told her what God did for us. We, as His created people, kept breaking covenants (promises) with God. He wanted to be in a relationship with us and bring us back to Him after sin came into the picture. For the ENTIRE Old Testament, this continues to happen! Finally, He sends His only Son, Jesus Christ to become human. Literally, the creating, all-powerful, everlasting GOD chooses to take on our human flesh! He wants to talk to us face to face, just like we’d rather talk to our best friend in person than through letters and voicemails of phone tag.

With this big recap of our entire faith, Kyra brought up some pretty good questions. Throughout these questions and the input of her classmates, I realized a big misconception my students (probably many people) have. They said, “Ms. C if God knows EVERYTHING about me and every moment of my life, why do I have to tell Him things that He already knows?” Well, just like I could see my friend got engaged on social media, I’d rather have her tell me the story face to face than find out from someone/ someplace else. It’s the same for God-He knows and can see every aspect of our hearts and lives, but He wants us to share it with Him.

“BUT MS. C, If God KNOWS everything about our lives and everything I’m going to DO tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that… Then He knows everything I’m going to do or not do. He planned my sins and decisions so that’s not my problem!” Yes, this was a statement, which brings me to our Responsorial Reading from today.  Within this Scripture passage, the Word of God states that He knows us. He knows where we are currently sitting or standing as we read this email. He knows where we will stand in line at the grocery store, and where our thoughts will be as we wait in traffic. He knows sometimes we try to hide, but there is no place He cannot see. We know that He is with us in every moment, that he created our very being before we were even born. He makes us this way and He walks with us every day.

When I read this Psalm, I understand that He knows me, created me, and walks with me. Even though He is all knowing, it doesn’t take away our free will (which I’m sure most of us already know, but 6th grade had to be reminded). Even though He is all knowing- He still needs our invitation. There is a big difference between knowing about something and experiencing it with someone. Our Creator created us so lovingly that in our free will we must invite Him in. He can know all about our lives, but He will not force Himself upon us.  He waits for you to receive Him always.

Slowly read the Psalm again once more. I want you to ask yourself, “Do I invite God to these places? How can I invite Him into my lunch hour? How can I invite Him into the time of car to car traffic? God, do I try to hide from you? Why am I hiding? God, what in my heart and life do you desire to be invited into?” Let’s intentionally invite our King into this day, receiving Him with hearts wide open.

Briana is a Catholic Doctrine teacher at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel school in Cleveland, OH. 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 bring her students closer to Christ and His Church. “My soul has been refined and I can raise my head like a flower after a storm.” -St. Therese

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The Memorial Of St. Francis Of Assisi

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The readings today are so so fitting as we celebrate the memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi.  Francis, like Job in the first reading, had a privileged life, both being from upper-middle-class families. Job had his world changed by a conversation between God and Satan, yet today we see that Job is not condemning God, but longing for God.

In a similar way, Saint Francis gave back all of his earthly father’s possessions to allow himself to be consumed with the trials and teachings of his heavenly Father and his Son. This was not an easy path, yet both Francis and Job found consolation in the psalm of today, “I believe I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living”.  Each was faithful in their personal prayers to God.

For Francis, the call to a ‘gospel way of life’ was tugging at his heart once he made the commitment to follow the ways of God. He saw God in the world around him: the lepers, beggars, the Saracens, all non-believers, animals and all of creation. At times, we forget that it is God, not just Satan, that can be found in our world. Francis also sent his brothers in community, the friars minor, or little brothers, into the world just as Jesus said to do in today’s gospel from Luke.

As we go through our day today, try to go out of your comfort zone and reach out to someone you don’t usually interact with. Try looking at your day (or domain in which you travel) as outside your household and make an action from Jesus’ and Francis’ playbook: treat the stranger or one who you don’t know so well, as a brother or sister created in God’s image. Give a smile or head nod, start a conversation when you wouldn’t normally do so. If it’s welcomed by the other, great! If not, say a silent prayer for the individual.

If that’s way out of your comfort zone and you like to walk or jog, take a plastic bag with you and plog by picking up some trash on your way and dispose of it when you get home.

Caring for creation is a wonderful way of giving glory to God! Spend some time with St. Francis’ prayer for Creation. May your day be blessed. Shalom.

O most High, almighty, good Lord God,
to you belong praise, glory, honor, and all blessing!

Praised be my Lord God with all creatures;
and especially our brother the sun,
which brings us the day, and the light;
fair is he, and shining with a very great splendor:
O Lord, he signifies you to us!

Praised be my Lord for our sister the moon,
and for the stars,
which God has set clear and lovely in heaven.

Praised be my Lord for our brother the wind,
and for air and cloud, calms and all weather,
by which you uphold in life all creatures.

Praised be my Lord for our sister water,
which is very serviceable to us,
and humble, and precious, and clean.

Praised be my Lord for brother fire,
through which you give us light in the darkness:
and he is bright, and pleasant, and very mighty,
and strong.

Praised be my Lord for our mother the Earth,
which sustains us and keeps us,
and yields divers fruits, and flowers of
many colors, and grass.

Praised be my Lord for all those who pardon
one another for God’s love’s sake,
and who endure weakness and tribulation;
blessed are they who peaceably shall endure,
for you, O most High, shall give them a crown!

Praised be my Lord for our sister,
the death of the body, from which no one escapes.
Woe to him who dies in mortal sin!
Blessed are they who are found walking by your
most holy will,
for the second death shall have no power to do
them harm.

Praise you, and bless you the Lord,
and give thanks to God, and serve God
with great humility.

(St. Francis, 1182-1226)

Beth Price is a Secular Franciscan (OFS) and spiritual director who has worked in several parish ministry roles during the last 20 years. She is a proud mother of 3 adult children. Beth currently works at Diocesan. You can contact her at bprice@diocesan.com.

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Beauty And The Beast And Our Catholic Faith

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“I consider all things rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him.”

You know how sometimes someone says something or makes a new connection for you and not only does a light bulb go off, but you want to just smack your head and wonder, “Why didn’t I ever see that?”

Last week, I heard someone draw a parallel between Beauty and the Beast and our Catholic Faith? Bear with me, and trust me, at first, I thought he was stretching it too.

In the beginning, the prince has everything he could want. He has power; he has wealth, he is surrounded by people who cater to his every need, he indulges every pleasure. We tend to look at people like him and be a little jealous.

But then he is approached and asked for the smallest of charities, to provide some shelter from the cold. He has nothing to gain from the old woman and turns her away. She warns him not to judge by appearances.

Because of his lack of mercy for the woman, he and the people around him are transformed by his vision of the world. He loses his human appearance and looks to all the world like a beast. Even worse, the people near him, lose their humanity to become objects. His punishment has been to make his invisible relationships visible to all the world. His only way out is to go beyond his shallow worldview and to love and become beloved.

Beauty and the Beast is one of those handfuls of universal tales which have variations in all cultures across the world. And why not? A tale as old as time, (haha, get it? But seriously, some researchers say it is over 4000 years old) it is the story of humanity from Adam and Eve on down. Adam and Eve have everything, they have been provided for in the Garden of Eden, they have a loving relationship with their Creator, and yet, they doubt God’s desire to provide for them. They trust the appearances of the devil and use the fruit, not for the purpose it was intended but to try to be something other than what they are. Their invisible doubts that separated them from God are made visible as they are expelled from the Garden of Eden. And as we all know, life has never been the same.

We all now search for the intimate relationship they lost. We are created with a desire to love, to be beloved and to send that love out into the world. Like the Prince (and Adam and Eve), we become distracted by all sorts of things that keep us from true love. We substitute love with power, a desire to control the events and people around us. We use people to gain influence and material wealth, not realizing that when we undermine their inherent dignity, we also undermine our own. We replace love with pleasure, using people and things to help us “feel” good; physically, mentally, and spiritually. We forget that feelings are transitory emotions and we are created for eternity. We put knowledge before love, trusting in our own ability to find truth rather than trusting the one who is Truth. We create all sorts of havoc in big and small ways, all in search of love.

In the story, it is a poor farmer’s daughter who teaches the beast/prince about love and saves him. As his heart opens to love, he and all those around him regain their human forms.

As Catholics, we know who saves us. We don’t follow one who teaches about love; we follow the one who IS love. Jesus the Christ, God become man, left the beauty of heaven to live among us, suffer and die. But death could not hold him, and through his resurrection, we too gain eternal life. “No greater love than this than to lay down one’s life for a friend.”

As Catholics, we also know it is not only about the “happily ever after” of love in heaven. Our faith is not only words we speak or prayers we offer. Our faith transforms us so that what is invisible is made visible in our actions, our works of love, mercy, charity.

It is the most beautiful of paradoxes, it all is summed up in the Gospel acclamation for today, when we regard all as rubbish so that we can gain Christ, he gives us everything back and what is more, it is all transformed in his love so that we begin our heaven here on earth by living out what it means to love, to be beloved and we serve God by serving one another. It is in that service, that reaching out in love for another that we find He has satisfied our own desires.

Dear Lord, help me today to see all those around me as you see them. Help me to be open to the little ways of showing love and providing small comforts to others in this world so that they too may find your comfort and love in the world to come.

Praise, God. He is amazing.

Now, excuse me, I have to go watch that movie again.

While wearing many hats, Sheryl O’Connor is the wife and study buddy of Thomas O’Connor. Not having received the gift of having their own children, their home is filled with 2 large dogs and their hearts with the teens and youth with whom they work in their parish collaborative. Sheryl is the Director of Strong Families Programs for Holy Family Healthcare which means her job is doing whatever needs to be done to help parents build strong Catholic families. Inspired by the works of mercy, Holy Family Healthcare is a primary health care practice in West Michigan which seeks to honor the dignity of every individual as we would Christ. Find out more at https://www.holyfamilyhealthcare.org/

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Childlike Faith

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“Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” -MT 18

A child is a perfect example of living in the world but not of the world. They often have this perfect balance between awareness of a spiritual reality and yet they have not yet been influenced by the different negative forces in the world.

Many look at this and call it immaturity, they just need to grow up and experience the real world and then they will know. As if experience of the negative things in this life is what we were made for.

I like to think of a time before the original sin when Adam and Eve were in the garden. Think of how childlike they must have been, trusting and relying fully on God, loving in a way that is pure and holy just like that of a child, a humble admittance that they were created and thus not the creator.

All of this was broken however when they fell. And why did they fall? They wanted to take God’s place. They wanted the full knowledge that God had, the knowledge which Satan promised would make them like God. And it is precisely in receiving this knowledge that they became blind, less childlike, prideful, sinful, broken.

Our hearts were made for innocence, and that innocence was shattered. Thankfully we have a divine physician. If our original state in the garden could be portrayed as a beautiful stained glass window, then at the fall this window was shattered. But Jesus came and picked up those pieces one by one and put them back into place so that the original beauty of God’s plan could shine through. This is the beautiful story of redemption that we can each begin to experience even here and now.

Today is the memorial of the guardian angels. Our guardian angel was specifically appointed by God to help us see that original light and beauty and to live by it. To go back to that childlike trust which we tried to leave behind. I invite you to allow God to pick up your pieces. Let Him breathe light where there is darkness. Let Him in and see what He will do and has done for you. God Bless!

Tommy Shultz is a Solutions Evangelist for Diocesan. In that role, he is committed to coaching parishes and dioceses on authentic and effective Catholic communication. 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. Contact him at tshultz@diocesan.com.

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True Faith

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“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!”

What is Faith? The dictionary defines it several ways. Some say complete trust in another. Others say a belief that is not based on proof. As Catholics, we know it is one of the Cardinal Virtues, faith, hope, and love. But do we live with complete faith in God or is our faith conditional, and therefore not faith at all?

I think of the things going on in our world and the Church. These are not easy things to deal with nor should they be taken lightly. But as our faith in the Lord and His church is shaken, what is our response? See, faith is easy when it goes untested. A child can look at the Eucharist and say, “Mommy is that Jesus,” and believe wholeheartedly that it is. But then life happens. This child’s parents maybe aren’t trustworthy in every instance. Peers and friend groups try to persuade this or that opinion. And the child naturally starts to question, and it is in this questioning and doubt that faith is strengthened and tested.

My fiance and I are getting married now in less than two weeks, and we are starting the process of buying a house and moving in all before the wedding. These are some big scary moments in every person’s life, and they put our faith to the test. Faith and trust in each other and our love that we will genuinely care for and be there for the other through thick and thin. Faith and trust in God who is moving our lives in all these exciting new directions. And faith that when the storms do come, we will have the foundation that will stand. Thank goodness God has brought me someone that I can put my faith in and He has brought us together with complete faith in Himself.

We all go through testing of faith, and for many of us, it has happened with all the recent and ongoing news in the Catholic Church. But I ask you if you were to lose everything that you owned right now who would you put your faith in? Is your faith strong enough to endure even the most tumultuous sea? I would like to say that mine is, but that’s the thing about faith. It is not based on us; it is based on something outside of ourselves, something more significant. It is a gift from God that we must ask and beg for in times where it is hard to see the good. We need to pray for a faith like Job. Let us pray for that faith. Amen!

And so one day, while his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, a messenger came to Job and said,” The oxen were plowing and the asses grazing beside them, and the Sabeans carried them off in a raid. They put the herdsmen to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Lightning has fallen from heaven and struck the sheep and their shepherds and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was yet speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, seized the camels, carried them off, and put those tending them to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

While he was yet speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother, when suddenly a great wind came across the desert
and smote the four corners of the house. It fell upon the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said,

“Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
blessed be the name of the LORD!” -Job 1:13-22

Tommy Shultz is a Solutions Evangelist for Diocesan. In that role, he is committed to coaching parishes and dioceses on authentic and effective Catholic communication. 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. Contact him at tshultz@diocesan.com.

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Trustworthiness

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Growing up in an Italian family, there are certain phrases or loud words of advice I should say, that are engraved in my mind. Of course, if I’m telling you that I’m Italian, I have to let you know the percentage- 100%. Hopefully, now you believe how credible of a story this is…

If I try to think back to these moments of advice, I can vividly see my grandfather sitting at the head of the kitchen table. Before I went to high school, before I went to college, and before I started my first job he gave me “advice”. The words were said in his thick Italian accent, “Don’t trust nobody.” Over and over again at different milestones, he would repeat those words to me. I usually would feel the need to roll my eyes or nod in agreement, depending on my mood.

As a teenager, when I heard these words I automatically thought, “Yes Gramps. You are so right. Everyone is sketchy and out for themselves. It’s a hard bad world.” Of course, this advice did reign true for most dating relationships for a teenage girl, but hearing this advice always brought questions. “Why can’t we trust people? How do we earn someone’s trust? Am I trustworthy? Will I ever be able to trust someone completely?”.

In today’s readings, there is a lot provided to us as a Church. There are many different topics I could reflect on, but as usual, God grips my heart to one word and there I rest. In the Responsorial Psalm, the hymn proclaims, “The decree of the LORD is trustworthy”. And BOOM. Right at that word is where my heart stops. It stops in demand and it stops there in rest.

Recently, I’ve been having a hard time in my life with trust. Not following my Grandpa’s advice, there are a lot of people I have put trust in. Not because they earned it, but because of their title, religious position, or the expectation I had in them. There is a lot of trust that has been lost. We should all know by now that there is no Cardinal rank, Bishop’s staff, or Sister’s veil that qualifies trust; which is disheartening to say and sadly true. My heart doesn’t always sit well with my Grandfather’s advice. I know deep down that this is not the way God intended us to be; on guard, self-protecting, and untrustworthy. This is not what God’s plan was! This is not the way He intended our relationships to be.

Jesus challenges us in the Gospel today. I believe this challenge He presents shouts to those who cannot trust themselves. He challenges us to rid ourselves of anything that makes us sin! When I hear His words, I want to yell, “I’M SORRY WHAT JESUS? YOU WANT ME TO CUT OFF MY HAND AND FOOT, AND THEN PLUCK OUT MY EYEBALL?! That seems extreme!”. I’m sure His disciples were thinking the same thing. Even though these words are harsh and very shocking to us, they allow us to draw back into the question of trust.

Who can I trust is not leading me to sin? What vices do I have that do not build self-trust? What moments of temptations do I need to remove from my everyday life? Trusting God, yourself, and others takes serious work. It is a job of development, foundation, and authenticity. As I mentioned before, I’m from a loud Italian family.  Which means I am a loud Italian, but one who does not shy away from speaking the truth. Sometimes trusting ourselves in our own lives looks like standing up for what is right and speaking the truth, even if your voice shakes.

In circumstances that have lost much trust in my life, I repeat the Word I can trust. “The decree of the LORD is trustworthy.” If the only One I have in my life that I can state complete trust in is Christ than I have more than I’ll ever need. I want to remind you this day to be a saint, to trust like our Father Abraham, to trust like Our Mother of Mercy, to follow the examples of thousands before us. Please know that you are only in need of trusting God, now and forever.  Amen.

Briana is a Catholic Doctrine teacher at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel school in Cleveland, OH. 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 bring her students closer to Christ and His Church. “My soul has been refined and I can raise my head like a flower after a storm.” -St. Therese

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The Truth Of The Incarnation

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“Jesus was praying in solitude.” Luke 9:18

We hear these words in the Gospel, and they can quickly fly by us like a falling leaf during the fall months, without much awareness. But these few words are so rich in there meaning. Christians believe that God is a trinity, three persons in just one God. Jesus prayed to the Father, just as we do. His human nature is such that He prays, He begs for suffering to pass, He weeps when his friend dies, He sweats blood from the pain and weight of all the sins of the world.

This mystery of the Second Person of The Trinity taking on human nature is fundamental to our salvation. St. John Paul II even says, “Through the Fact that the Word of God became flesh, the body entered theology through the main door.”

Think about this for a second. Ok now stop and actually think about it. We have a God who loves us so deeply that he takes on the form of a slave. He becomes one of us in every way except sin. Can you imagine a King who leaves his palace and lives amongst the peasants, not only to experience as they do but to help them and love them. Jesus takes this even further, He literally becomes one of us, to redeem us. That is how important we are to Him.

We can take this so far as to say that whenever we doubt the love of God, whenever we say we are not worth it, whenever we say that our sins are too many or our wounds too deep, that is as if we are standing in front of a crucifix and saying to Jesus that it was not enough. “It may have worked for others, but there is no way it could work for me, God.”

At which point Jesus looks down at us and says this is for you. If you were the only one who ever hurt me, I would become man and die just for you. I think because we have grown up hearing the story of Christ and his life, death, and resurrection, it becomes commonplace. Just like that leaf falling from the trees during the fall season. It is just something that happened. It is essential to stop, take a breath, and ground ourselves in the truth that the incarnation is a fact, that the crucifixion occurred, that it produces power in our lives, that it redeems our fallen human nature eventually to the level of divinity in heaven.

This is the joy by which we live. Have you shared it recently?

Tommy Shultz is a Solutions Evangelist for Diocesan. In that role, he is committed to coaching parishes and dioceses on authentic and effective Catholic communication. 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. Contact him at tshultz@diocesan.com.

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Renewing Our Commitment

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I have wondered if Herod was haunted by his past, much like the murderer in the Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe; the murderer seems to hear his victim (which eventually gives him away), and Herod seems to see John the Baptist in places where he is not (see Matt. 14:2).

In any case, today’s short Gospel tells us something about the attitude of the people around Jesus, and about Herod as well. Some at the time thought Jesus was a resurrected prophet, perhaps John the Baptist or Elijah or some other ancient prophet. These rumors make it to the ears of the tetrarch. He knows John the Baptist is dead because he had ordered his head on a platter in a drunken boast. Perhaps he is afraid his own act is returning to haunt him.

Herod is intrigued by people and events that seem to point to something beyond the ordinary. This is what drew him to John in the first place. He does not want to hear the truth about himself (that’s why he arrested John in the first place) or convert (he had resisted John’s repeated invitations to conversion). This was the case even though he knew John was good, and he liked to listen to him (see Mark 6:20). Now his curiosity is stirred toward Jesus, but not for the right reasons. The Gospel ends on a resonating word: “And he kept trying to see him.”

Do we keep trying to see Jesus? Why? What motivates us? We can also sometimes miss the point, as Herod did. We can be intrigued by goodness, we can even be eager to hear speakers or attend events that are intended to stoke the fire of love in us and draw us into a deeper relationship with God. But then we sometimes fall short of the invitation before us; rather than embrace the grace of the moment and resolve to work continually on conversion, we let the moment pass. The fire becomes once more a heap of ash-covered embers and we don’t know how to stir those embers into flame again.

Let’s renew our commitment to try to see Jesus in our everyday lives, and to seek to know what he wants for us. Events and speakers are good and necessary, but in order for these experiences to be fruitful, we need to focus on what God is calling us to do right where we are. What are the duties before me today? How can I do them with greater love and attention? How can I be present to the people for whom I am responsible? How can I walk with Jesus in every moment?

Kathryn is married to Robert, mother of seven, grandmother to two, and a lay Carmelite. She has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and also as a writer and voice talent for Holy Family Radio. Currently, she serves the Church as a writer and presenter, and by collaborating with the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, individual parishes, and Catholic ministries to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Learn more at www.kathryntherese.com or on Facebook @summapax.

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Unconditional Love

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We are loved unconditionally and I’m not sure that many of us understand the meaning of that.

To be loved beyond our every sin, loved beyond our every expectation, loved far beyond our comprehension.

God, Our Heavenly Father, did not send His son to remind us that He still existed. He did not send Jesus to condemn us and tell us that there’s no hope for us because we’re all terrible human beings. He sent the Messiah to remind us that we are forever, irrevocably loved.

I don’t have any children, but my mother has always told me that although she didn’t use to like kids, carrying me inside her, holding me in her arms…she would do anything for me. Most parents know that the bond and love between a parent and their child is a love stronger than any other they have known.

Now imagine that kind of love, magnified a million times over and completely unbreakable.

We lie, we cheat, we defy, we deny that God even exists. Still, that does not stop Him from loving us. In fact, He never doubts His love for a single second. Can you imagine that kind of love? The kind of love that we have been dreaming about since middle school. The kind of love that sweeps us off our feet. A kind of love that will chase you down when you try to leave and tell you that everything will be okay.

I have seen in my own life how He will fight for us even when we have no fight left for anything or anyone. When we give up all hope, He is there to comfort us and remind us that we are not alone and we are loved. When we are ready to stop breathing, he gives us life.  

He knows we are worthy of love.

He knows our name before we are born.

He knows us far better than we know ourselves.

He has called us by name and claimed us as His own.

Click here and here for songs that remind us of God’s love.

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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Acting On The Word

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“My mother and my brothers are
those who hear the word of God and act on it.

Jeremiah, chapter 31:33 says “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts.”  Jeremiah reminds us quite clearly that God writes his “law,” his Word, upon our hearts. It happened when we were created, like it or not, and becomes a consciousness as we mature and interact with our Creator. It means that the way we conduct our lives, the way we make decisions, and the information we use to influence those decisions is something that comes from within. This is where the truth and basis of all decision making comes from. Not the whims of today’s culture, nor the “feel good” attitude of the many, but rather from deep within the heart of a human being striving to maintain a relationship with the only Being that can truly impress upon the human heart what is true. All else is baseless. But then, we have to consciously decide to live by that truth, to live by the Word of God. And that means both when we interact with others, or when we do what we do in the anonymous “alone” time that no one else sees. That is the real test of who we are.

The truth of how we live our lives will only ring true to others if the basis for our responses comes from what we choose to do when no one is looking. It comes when the face we have to answer to is the one we see in the mirror each day and the heart we have to answer to each day is the heart we meet in prayer.

At the beginning of any Gospel reading, we perform a gesture that is based only on tradition, nothing purely liturgical. We sign ourselves on the forehead, lips and over the heart with the prayer: “May the Word (Law) be ever in my mind; forever on my lips and take root in my heart.” The words may be slightly different for some, but the purpose is the same, to impress on us that God is speaking to us and we must take to heart, to live out, what we hear. The real difference from one person to another will be whether we live true to God’s Law not only when being witnessed, but also when we are alone.

Ask yourself today if what you do when alone is true to what you do when with others: in prayer, when surfing the net, when choosing reading materials or TV shows, and so much more. Do your choices reflect the truth of God’s Law?

A useful exercise is to make a chart: column 1) What do I need to change? Column 2) How will I make that change?  List the areas that you know need to change when chosen in the hidden time no one else sees. Determine where to start to become who you were meant to be. And don’t forget that some of these attempts at change may need the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through this exercise, you will become the mother, brother, sister, and friend of Jesus. He waits to start a relationship with you or to deepen the friendship you already have. It is a glorious thing!

God Bless.

Jeanne Penoyar, an Accounts Manager here at Diocesan, is currently a Lector at St. Anthony of Padua parish in Grand Rapids, MI. While at St. Thomas the Apostle, Grand Rapids, Jeanne was a Lector, Cantor, Coordinator of Special Liturgies, Coordinator of lectors and, at one time, chair of the Liturgy Commission. In a past life, secretary/bookkeeper at the Basilica of St. Adalbert where she ran the RCIA program for the Steepletown parishes. And she loves to write! When relaxing, she likes reading and word puzzles. You can contact her at jpenoyar@diocesan.com.