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Am I a Student or a Disciple? / ¿Soy Estudiante o Discípulo?

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What does it mean to be devoted to the Most Holy Name of Jesus? Or one could ask, what does it mean to be a disciple? 

There is an important distinction to be made between a disciple and a student. A student studies with his Master to learn all that the Master knows. His desire to gain knowledge is his driving force. A disciple, goes beyond learning from his Master, and desires to imitate his Master’s life and way of living. A student sits at his Master’s feet until he is ready to take his knowledge and walk on his own. A disciple quite literally walks in his Master’s footsteps. 

God the Son, who is equal to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, chose not to grasp that equality, but to humble himself to become one of us. He chose obedience so that we could have the gift of life with him. 

Think about that for a second, God, Creator and Lord, chose to have all the trials and tribulations of human life and not only that, he took human form knowing that it would require absolute obedience, obedience even unto death. 

Let’s face it, we have a hard time maintaining obedience with just the speed limit. We have a lot to learn.

Today is the Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. Living out the Most Holy Name of Jesus isn’t about a far off heaven. It isn’t about following a prescribed list of rules. It is a description for living in the Kingdom of God in the here and now. It is how we are to walk in our Master’s footsteps. It isn’t going to be easy and St. Paul gives a pretty straightforward picture of how we are to live. We will find our joy when we are of one mind and heart. 

This doesn’t mean that we are robotrons all programmed to think the same exact thing. It means that we have the humility to put others first. Jesus died and rose for all people. No one has a monopoly on his precious name. Everything that exists, was created and exists through God. When we walk in humility that gives us the freedom to be obedient, in all the little things and the big things. When we walk in humility, we walk in Jesus’s footsteps. Then we are truly disciples.

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¿Qué significa ser devoto del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús? O uno podría preguntar, ¿qué significa ser discípulo?

Hay que hacer una distinción importante entre un discípulo y un estudiante. Un estudiante estudia con su Maestro para aprender todo lo que el Maestro sabe. Su deseo de adquirir conocimiento es su fuerza motriz. Un discípulo va más allá de aprender de su maestro y desea imitar la vida y la forma de vivir de su maestro. Un estudiante se sienta a los pies de su Maestro hasta que esté listo para tomar su conocimiento y caminar por sí mismo. Un discípulo literalmente sigue los pasos de su Maestro.

Dios Hijo, que es igual a Dios Padre y a Dios Espíritu Santo, eligió no aferrarse a esa igualdad, sino humillarse para hacerse uno de nosotros. Escogió la obediencia para que pudiéramos tener el don de la vida con él.

Piensa en eso por un segundo, Dios, Creador y Señor, escogió tener todas las pruebas y tribulaciones de la vida humana y no solo eso, tomó forma humana sabiendo que requería obediencia absoluta, obediencia hasta la muerte.

Seamos realistas, tenemos dificultades para mantener la obediencia con solo seguir el límite de velocidad. Tenemos mucho que aprender.

Hoy es el Memorial del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. Vivir el Santísimo Nombre de Jesús no se trata de un cielo lejano. No se trata de seguir una lista prescrita de reglas. Es una descripción para vivir en el Reino de Dios aquí y ahora. Así es como debemos caminar en los pasos de nuestro Maestro. No va a ser fácil y San Pablo da una imagen bastante sencilla de cómo debemos vivir. Encontraremos nuestro gozo cuando seamos uno en mente y corazón.

Esto no significa que todos somos robots programados para pensar exactamente lo mismo. Significa que tenemos la humildad de poner a los demás primero. Jesús murió y resucitó por todas las personas. Nadie tiene el monopolio de su precioso nombre. Todo lo que existe, fue creado y existe a través de Dios. Cuando caminamos en humildad eso nos da la libertad de ser obedientes, en todas las cosas pequeñas y en las cosas grandes. Cuando caminamos en humildad, caminamos en los pasos de Jesús. Entonces somos verdaderamente discípulos.

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Sheryl is happy to be 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. 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 Carlyn, a very, very goofy Golden Retriever and Lucy, our not-so-little rescue puppy. 

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Remain in Him / Permanecer en Él

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In this new year, we are reading through the First Letter of St. John and the Gospel according to St. John. The evangelist was known for being particularly close to Jesus, for being a mystic. He knows the significance and importance of Jesus Christ, and urges us to “remain in Him,” never departing from the inspiration and instruction of the Holy Spirit.

The second John in our readings, St. John the Baptist, directs us to the same end in today’s Gospel, taking pains to point to Christ and not to himself. He could have pointed to himself as a prophet, and more than a prophet, but he instead draws back as Jesus comes more clearly into focus. Both of these saints teach us to form an identity and a life in Jesus Christ, not accepting ourselves and our own designs as the be-all end-all.

For St. John the Evangelist, remaining in Jesus means remaining as close to Him as possible and following in His way. John was always close to Jesus, participating in the most significant experiences of the apostles along with Peter and James. He followed Him to the foot of the Cross and was at His side during the Last Supper. John always remained faithful, and after the Resurrection emphasized the importance of following God’s commandments and loving God and neighbor in his letters.

For St. John the Baptist, he could not be as physically close to Christ, since his ministry was elsewhere and ended in his own martyrdom, but he “remained in Him” by constantly pointing to Him. John attracted a lot of attention with his asceticism and fiery preaching, but, as we see in the Gospel, he did not hesitate to refer everything to Jesus. Before the Jews get specific and ask him about particular messianic theories, he responds flatly, “I am not the Christ.” He does not waste time redirecting the spotlight.

Following the examples of these saints, we remain in Christ by frequenting the Mass and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, getting as close as possible to Jesus in this life. Again, we remain in Christ by praying for the grace to lead a virtuous life in service of God, by mortifying our disordered desires, and by frequenting the sources of grace, especially the Sacrament of Penance. Following after St. John the Baptist specifically, we can remain in Christ yet more deeply by referring praise or attention to Him, recognizing His glory as the purpose of all of our works and the end of all of our accolades.

Much of St. John the Evangelist’s letters seems abstract and general, but it is made concrete when we see it lived out by its own human author and in St. John the Baptist. Remaining in Jesus Christ means to stay close to Him, physically and spiritually, and to point to Him without drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves and our own work. Sts. John the Evangelist and John the Baptist, pray for us!

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En este nuevo año, estamos leyendo la Primera Carta de San Juan y el Evangelio según San Juan. El evangelista se caracterizó por ser particularmente cercano a Jesús y por ser un místico. Él conoce el significado y la importancia de Jesucristo, y nos motiva a “permanecer en Él”, sin apartarnos nunca de la inspiración e instrucción del Espíritu Santo.

El segundo Juan en nuestras lecturas, San Juan Bautista, nos dirige al mismo fin en el Evangelio de hoy, esforzándose por señalar a Cristo y no a sí mismo. Podría haberse señalado a sí mismo como un profeta, y más que un profeta, pero en lugar de eso retrocede cuando Jesús se enfoca más claramente. Ambos santos nos enseñan a formar una identidad y una vida en Jesucristo, sin aceptarnos a nosotros mismos ni a nuestros propios diseños como el fin último.

Para San Juan Evangelista, permanecer en Jesús significa permanecer lo más cerca posible de Él y seguir Su camino. Juan siempre estuvo cerca de Jesús, participando en las experiencias más significativas de los apóstoles junto con Pedro y Santiago. Lo siguió hasta el pie de la Cruz y estuvo a su lado durante la Última Cena. Juan siempre se mantuvo fiel, y después de la Resurrección enfatizó en sus cartas la importancia de seguir los mandamientos de Dios y amar a Dios y al prójimo.

Para San Juan Bautista, no podía estar tan cerca físicamente de Cristo, ya que su ministerio estaba en otra parte y terminó en su propio martirio, pero “permaneció en Él” señalándole constantemente. Juan llamó mucho la atención con su ascetismo y ardiente predicación, pero, como vemos en el Evangelio, no dudó en referir todo a Jesús. Antes de que los judíos sean específicos y le pregunten sobre teorías mesiánicas particulares, él responde rotundamente: “Yo no soy el Cristo”. No pierde el tiempo en redirigir la atención.

Siguiendo los ejemplos de estos santos, permanecemos en Cristo frecuentando la Misa y la oración ante el Santísimo Sacramento, acercándonos lo más posible a Jesús en esta vida. De nuevo, permanecemos en Cristo orando por la gracia de llevar una vida virtuosa al servicio de Dios, mortificando nuestros deseos desordenados y frecuentando las fuentes de la gracia, especialmente el Sacramento de la Penitencia. Siguiendo específicamente a San Juan Bautista, podemos permanecer en Cristo aún más profundamente dirigiendo la alabanza o atención a Él, reconociendo Su gloria como el propósito de todas nuestras obras y el fin de todos nuestros elogios.

Gran parte de las cartas de San Juan Evangelista parecen abstractas y generales, pero se hacen concretas cuando las vemos vividas por su propio autor humano y en San Juan Bautista. Permanecer en Jesucristo significa estar cerca de Él, física y espiritualmente, y dirigirnos a Él sin llamar la atención innecesariamente a nosotros mismos y nuestro propio trabajo. Santos ¡Juan Evangelista y Juan Bautista, rueguen por nosotros!

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David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism.

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Mother of God, and Our Mother / Madre de Dios y Madre Nuestra

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During the Octave of Christmas, we also celebrate Mary, the Mother of God, because her openness, her YES, her humility and self-giving made Christmas possible. She opens herself fully to the will of God and He pours Himself out fully through her to us.

Today’s Gospel begins with the shepherds who “went in haste” to find Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in a manger for a crib. We hear how they “made known the message that had been told them about this child” and how they glorified and praised God for all they had heard and seen. God chose “nobodies” to be the first Christ-bearers after Mary, because nobody is nobody to God!

Right in the middle of these words about the shepherds and the amazement they stirred by sharing this Good News, there is a verse about Mary, who “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” This is part of the beauty of Mary: she knew wonder and awe, and she knew how to “be with” the events in which she was involved, to allow God to act and to simply ponder His action in the quiet of her heart.

Mary, Mother of God, is the foundation of the whole mystery of our redemption, from the Eternal Word’s conception in her womb by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit to our own conception in the womb of Mother Church “until Christ be fully formed in us” (Gal. 4:19). Mary cannot ever be anyone other than the Mother of God; everything before the arrival of Gabriel was preparing her for this role, and she cannot ever stop being Jesus’ Mother! She is present at the Incarnation, the Passion and Death, and the Ascension of Jesus, and we also see her interceding for the Church by praying (with the disciples) the first novena for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Because in her fiat at the beginning of God’s act of Redemption, she is both accepting God’s gift for herself, and making possible the act of faith of the whole Church yet to come. She is God’s Mother, and ours.

Mary, Mother of God, is our perfect example of complete receptivity to the Word and a ready YES to every breath, every movement of the Holy Spirit. Why? Love. These are the movements and assents of love. Love longs for encounter, relationship, and oneness. Love understands wonder and awe. Love never misses an opportunity to speak of the Beloved or to pour itself out for the “other.”

During this holy season, let’s continue to keep the warm sentiments of Christmas alive in our hearts and homes, so that, bright with the Love that comes to us in such humility, we might bring that light to every darkened place in our world.

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Durante la Octava de Navidad también celebramos a María, la Madre de Dios, porque su apertura, su SÍ, su humildad y su entrega hicieron posible la Navidad. Ella se abre plenamente a la voluntad de Dios y Él se derrama plenamente a través de ella hacia nosotros.

El evangelio de hoy comienza con los pastores que “fueron a toda prisa” a buscar a María y a José y al niño acostados en un pesebre para su cuna. Escuchamos cómo “contaron lo que se les había dicho de aquel niño” y cómo glorificaron y alabaron a Dios por todo lo que habían oído y visto. Dios eligió a “nadie” para ser los primeros portadores de Cristo después de María, ¡porque nadie es nadie para Dios!

Justo en medio de estas palabras sobre los pastores y el asombro que suscitaron al compartir esta Buena Noticia, hay un verso sobre María, que “guardaba todas estas cosas y las meditaba en su corazón”. Esto es parte de la belleza de María: conoció el asombro, y supo “estar con” los acontecimientos en los que estaba involucrada, para dejar actuar a Dios y simplemente meditar Su acción en la tranquilidad de su corazón.

María, Madre de Dios, es el fundamento de todo el misterio de nuestra redención, desde la concepción del Verbo Eterno en su seno por la sombra del Espíritu Santo hasta nuestra propia concepción en el seno de la Madre Iglesia “hasta que Cristo se forme plenamente en nosotros”. ” (Gálatas 4:19). María no puede ser jamás otra que la Madre de Dios; todo antes de la llegada de Gabriel la estaba preparando para este papel, ¡y no puede dejar de ser la Madre de Jesús! Ella está presente en la Encarnación, la Pasión y Muerte y la Ascensión de Jesús, y también la vemos interceder por la Iglesia rezando (con los discípulos) la primera novena por la venida del Espíritu Santo en Pentecostés. Porque en su fiat al comienzo del acto de redención de Dios, ella está a la vez aceptando el don de Dios para sí misma y haciendo posible el acto de fe de toda la Iglesia por venir. Ella es la Madre de Dios, y la nuestra.

María, Madre de Dios, es nuestro ejemplo perfecto de completa receptividad a la Palabra y de un SÍ dispuesto a cada respiro, a cada movimiento del Espíritu Santo. ¿Por qué? Amor. Estos son los movimientos y asentamientos del amor. El amor anhela el encuentro, la relación y la unidad. El amor entiende el asombro. El amor nunca pierde la oportunidad de hablar del Amado o de derramarse por el “otro”.

Durante esta temporada santa, sigamos manteniendo vivos los cálidos sentimientos de la Navidad en nuestros corazones y hogares, para que, resplandecientes con el Amor que nos llega con tanta humildad, podamos llevar esa luz a cada lugar oscuro de nuestro mundo.

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Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and seven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com

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Jesus: God’s Free and Generous Gift / Jesús: El Don Gratuito Y Generoso De Dios

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“But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.”

We are on the threshold of a new year yet still in the midst of the celebration of the birth of Our Lord, the Word made Flesh, God-with-us, Jesus, Prince of Peace and King of Kings. 

These days around Christmas and New Years are often punctuated with more than the usual religious observance. Those who never come to Church except at Christmas have been flooded with the light of the Star and the radiance of the Child’s face, perhaps without even being aware that what they so deeply long for has been bestowed on them as a gift. Those of us who celebrate the Eucharist more often, or even weekly, have somehow had our hearts moved by the telling anew of the story that God so loved us that he chose to reach into our lives, to intervene in the history of humanity, in order to claim us as his children. 

To “accept him” implies that someone else has given us something—or Someone—and we have the choice of receiving this gift. Every Advent-Christmas Season we take time to ponder and wonder at how God has chosen us before we have chosen him. How foolish are we who act as though we possessed the higher authority to tell God whether he was acceptable to us or not! No. We who were completely unacceptable were received by God through a free act of his mercy. 

Christmas reminds us, as does the Prologue of John read at Mass today, that God’s love to us is completely unmerited, often unsought, sometimes not accepted. Yet God, year after year reminds us of his free choice for us, his marvelous gift, his magnanimous generosity to shower us with grace upon grace. 

I like to think of Christmas as a rehearsal for our performance in the upcoming new year. At Christmas we rehearse in a sacred season what we should live out in the more profane spaces of our life. God chooses us and we learn to choose others in love and self-sacrifice in the world. 

God comes to us in the vulnerability and humility of a Babe, and we find the courage to proclaim and to live the beauty of virtues that have been rejected by the society around us. 

God lifts us up and we find ourselves seeking ways to lift up the world around us, the people, nature, media, so that others might one day receive and accept what we have been so extravagantly given, we who do not deserve such generosity. 

And finally, with our eyes shining with the radiance of the Star and the beauty of the Child’s Face we proclaim that there is more to life than what we see around us, what impinges on our wellbeing, what threatens our futures. God cares. God is here. God gives himself to us that we might be saved even from our very selves. And that is why today we say both Have a Blessed Christmas! and a Happy New Year! 

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“Pero a todos los que lo recibieron les concedió poder llegar a ser hijos de Dios.”

Estamos en el umbral de un nuevo año pero todavía en medio de la celebración del nacimiento de Nuestro Señor, la Palabra hecha Carne, Dios-con-nosotros, Jesús, Príncipe de Paz y Rey de Reyes.

Estos días alrededor de Navidad y Año Nuevo a menudo están marcados con más de la observancia religiosa habitual. Aquellos que solo van a la Iglesia durante las Navidades han sido inundados por la luz de la Estrella y el resplandor del rostro del Niño, quizás sin darse cuenta de lo que tanto anhelan les ha sido otorgado como un don. Quienes celebramos la Eucaristía más a menudo, o incluso semanalmente, de alguna manera nos ha conmovido el corazón al contar de nuevo la historia de que Dios nos amó tanto que eligió entrar en nuestras vidas, intervenir en la historia de la humanidad, para reclamarnos como sus hijos.

“Recibir” implica que alguien más nos ha dado algo, o Alguien, y tenemos la opción de aceptar este regalo. Cada temporada de Adviento-Navidad nos tomamos un tiempo para reflexionar y preguntarnos cómo Dios nos ha elegido antes de que lo hayamos elegido. ¡Qué necios somos los que actuamos como si tuviéramos la autoridad superior para decirle a Dios si Él era aceptable para nosotros o no! No es así. Nosotros, que éramos completamente inaceptables, fuimos recibidos por Dios mediante un acto gratuito de su misericordia.

La Navidad nos recuerda, como lo hace el Prólogo de Juan leído en la Misa de hoy, que el amor de Dios por nosotros es completamente inmerecido, a menudo no buscado, a veces no aceptado. Sin embargo, Dios, año tras año, nos recuerda de su libre elección por nosotros, su maravilloso don, su magnánima generosidad para colmarnos de gracia sobre gracia.

Me gusta pensar en la Navidad como un ensayo para nuestro comportamiento durante el nuevo año. En Navidad ensayamos durante un tiempo sagrado lo que debemos vivir en los espacios más profanos de nuestras vidas. Dios nos elige y nosotros aprendemos a elegir a los demás en amor y abnegación en el mundo.

Dios viene a nosotros en la vulnerabilidad y la humildad de un Niño, y encontramos el coraje de proclamar y vivir la belleza de las virtudes que han sido rechazadas por la sociedad que nos rodea.

Dios nos levanta y nos encontramos buscando formas de levantar el mundo que nos rodea, la gente, la naturaleza, los medios de comunicación, para que otros algún día puedan recibir y aceptar lo que se nos ha dado tan extravagantemente, nosotros que no merecemos tanta generosidad.

Y finalmente, con nuestros ojos brillando con el resplandor de la Estrella y la belleza del Rostro del Niño, proclamamos que hay más en la vida que lo que vemos a nuestro alrededor, lo que afecta nuestro bienestar, lo que amenaza nuestro futuro. A Dios le importa y Dios está aquí. Dios se da a sí mismo para salvarnos incluso de nosotros mismos. Y es por eso que hoy decimos ¡Feliz Navidad!  y también ¡Feliz año Nuevo!

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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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Guardian of the Redeemer / Guardián del Redentor

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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus , Mary, and Joseph. In the Gospel we hear of Joseph’s obedience. Although Joseph never says anything in the Gospels and it is believed he died before Jesus began His public ministry, we can learn a lot about obedience, faith, and the Father’s love for us from the actions of St. Joseph. 

He is obedient to the instructions of the Lord first to flee to Egypt in order to protect his family from Herod and then, when Herod dies, to return to the land of Israel. Joseph submits entirely to the will of the Lord without question and without hesitation. What the Lord requests from Joseph is important, so important that St. John Paul II gave St. Joseph the title “Guardian of the Redeemer”. This indicates the role Joseph plays in raising Jesus and keeping Him safe until the time came for His public ministry. St. Joseph lives out his faith in our Heavenly Father by accepting the Lord’s plan for his life and, in his humility, consenting to the will of the Father. 

St. Joseph, through his love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus, provides us with an example of God’s love for us. St. Joseph travels great distances and goes to great lengths to protect his family. These actions are a reflection of his love for his family. He lays down his life for his family, just as Christ did for us on the cross. St. Joseph is a powerful witness of humility, obedience, and strength. He leads his family in right relation with our Heavenly Father. 

May we become like St. Joseph and entrust ourselves fully to God and His holy will. May we also look to the Holy Family as the model for our own relationships with family and with our Heavenly Father. 

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Hoy celebramos la Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia de Jesús, María y José. En el Evangelio escuchamos sobre la obediencia de José. Aunque José nunca dice nada en los Evangelios y se cree que murió antes de que Jesús comenzara Su ministerio público, podemos aprender mucho sobre la obediencia, la fe y el amor del Padre hacia nosotros de las acciones de San José.

Es obediente a las instrucciones del Señor de huir primero a Egipto para proteger a su familia de Herodes y luego, cuando Herodes muera, regresar a la tierra de Israel. José se somete enteramente a la voluntad del Señor sin dudar ni vacilar. Lo que el Señor le pide a José es importante, tan importante que San Juan Pablo II le dio a San José el título de “Guardián del Redentor”. Esto indica el papel que juega José en criar a Jesús y mantenerlo a salvo hasta que llegue el momento de Su ministerio público. San José vive su fe en nuestro Padre Celestial aceptando el plan del Señor para su vida y, en su humildad, aceptando la voluntad del Padre.

San José, a través de su amor por la Santísima Virgen María y Jesús, nos da un ejemplo del amor de Dios por nosotros. San José viaja grandes distancias y hace todo lo posible para proteger a su familia. Estas acciones son un reflejo de su amor por su familia. Él da su vida por su familia, así como Cristo lo hizo por nosotros en la cruz. San José es un poderoso testigo de humildad, obediencia y fortaleza. Dirige a su familia en una relación correcta con nuestro Padre Celestial.

Que seamos como San José y nos encomendemos plenamente a Dios y a su santa voluntad. Que también miremos a la Sagrada Familia como modelo para nuestras propias relaciones con la familia y con nuestro Padre Celestial.

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Dakota lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Ralph, and their two sons, Alfie & Theophilus. She is the Dean of Enrollment Management for Bishop Machebeuf High School where her husband also teaches. You can find Dakota at the zoo or a brewery with her family or with her nose in a book at home. For more of Dakota’s writing check out https://dakotaleonard16.blogspot.com/

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A Life Well Lived / Vivir de la Mejor Forma

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I wonder about Simeon’s life and the promise God made to him. I wonder if he ever felt this promise was more of a curse than a blessing. Or, as someone who God had directly spoken to, perhaps he also was given the deepest assurance that not one of his days waiting for the Messiah was wasted. 

Can you imagine, being told you wouldn’t die until a specific event happened? Would you live in fear of that event? Would you try to avoid circumstances that could bring it about? What if you didn’t have any control over when it would happen, like Simeon? He was promised he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Did he hide in his house or go about his days, always wondering if today was the day? On the day Jesus was presented in the temple, Simeon, “came in the Spirit into the temple.” Did he know that this day was The Day that was promised?

It’s likely that the majority of the people reading this reflection do not have a projected timeline for their time on earth like Simeon. That doesn’t mean we don’t have specific work set out for us as Simeon did. The blessing and prophecy Simeon gave to Mary and Joseph would give them both strength and grace during Jesus’ upbringing and into His adult ministry. Simeon knew he would see the Messiah, but he had no idea how we would still be pondering his words 2,000+ years later. 

Simeon was told when he would die but did not know if it was to be the day after seeing the Christ-child or years later. From the reading, we don’t know whether Simeon was a young or old man, but in traditional renditions of the story he is usually portrayed as an elderly, even frail, man. We are told that he was “righteous and devout.” He was not spending his days in squalor, or living each day to its fullest by earthly standards. While he awaited his promised day, he lived a life for God.

We, too, have a promised day. We do not know when it will come or how, but we do have the day ahead of us in which we can choose how to live. Will we live like Simeon, righteous and devout, doing God’s work during our time on earth or not? There really isn’t an in-between. 

The New Year is right around the corner and resolutions are swirling around us. As you ponder 2023, consider Simeon’s example for a life well-lived.

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Me pregunto sobre la vida de Simeón y la promesa que Dios le hizo. Me pregunto si alguna vez sintió que esta promesa era más una maldición que una bendición, o como alguien a quien Dios le había hablado directamente, quizás también se le dio la más profunda seguridad de que ninguno de sus días esperando al Mesías fue en vano.

¿Te imaginas cómo sería si te dijeran que no morirías hasta que suceda un evento específico? ¿Vivirías con miedo de ese evento? ¿Intentarías evitar las circunstancias que podrían provocarlo? ¿Qué pasaría si no tuvieras ningún control sobre cuándo sucedería, como Simeón? Se le prometió que no moriría hasta que viera al Mesías. ¿Se escondía en su casa o vivía sus días siempre preguntándose si hoy era el día? El día que Jesús fue presentado en el templo, Simeón “Movido por el Espíritu, fue al templo”. ¿Sabía él que este día era El Día que fue prometido?

Es probable que la mayoría de las personas que lean esta reflexión no tengan una línea de tiempo proyectada para su tiempo en la tierra como Simeón. Eso no significa que no tengamos un trabajo específico establecido para nosotros como lo hizo Simeón. La bendición y la profecía que Simeón les dio a María y José les daría fuerza y gracia durante la crianza de Jesús y en Su ministerio adulto. Simeón sabía que iba a ver al Mesías, pero no tenía idea de que seguiríamos reflexionando sobre sus palabras más de 2000 años después.

A Simeón se le dijo cuándo moriría, pero no sabía si iba a ser inmediatamente después de ver al niño Jesús o años después. A partir de la lectura, no sabemos si Simeón era un hombre joven o un anciano, pero en las interpretaciones tradicionales de la historia generalmente se lo presenta como un anciano, incluso frágil. Se nos dice que era un “varón justo y temeroso de Dios”. No estaba pasando sus días en la miseria, o viviendo cada día al máximo según los estándares terrenales. Mientras esperaba el día prometido, vivía su vida para Dios.

Nosotros también tenemos un día final. No sabemos cuándo llegará ni cómo, pero sí podemos elegir cómo vivir el día de hoy. ¿Viviremos como Simeón, justos y devotos, haciendo la obra de Dios durante nuestro tiempo en la tierra o no? Realmente no hay un intermedio.

El Año Nuevo está a la vuelta de la esquina y escuchamos propósitos tras propósito a nuestro alrededor. Mientras reflexionan sobre el 2023, consideren el ejemplo de Simeón de vivir de la mejor forma.

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Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at DailyGraces.net.

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Darkness and Light / Luz y Tinieblas

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Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.
Thou little tiny child,
Bye bye, lully, lullay.

Herod the king in his raging
Set forth upon this day
By his decree, no life spare thee
All children young to slay
All children young to slay

The above quotation comes from The Coventry Carol.  This 16th century English carol representing the last lullaby sung by the mothers of the Holy Innocents, the babies slaughtered by Herod whose feast we celebrate today.

What a dark feast to follow on the heels of our Christmas joy! What a stark reminder of the fallen world in which we live with its balance of happiness and horror.

Today’s readings share this tension as they lead us back and forth between light and darkness. In the First Reading, John assures us that “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” This is especially comforting to hear at this dark time of year, a time in which we light our homes inside and out with bright and colorful lights to ward off the darkness of these shorter days. 

But a warning quickly follows, for we can choose to “continue to walk in darkness.” What does this mean? Perhaps surprisingly, walking in darkness does not refer to sinning. John takes for granted that we are going to sin. How can we not, when we live in a fallen world and are affected by Original Sin. Rather, “walking in darkness” means pretending that we have NOT sinned. John reminds us that Jesus provides expiation for our sins if we acknowledge them. The Psalmist underlines this point with powerful images of water and fire. He reminds us again that our souls have been freed, because the Lord is with us.

But the Gospel takes us quickly back to darkness. Once again, an angel comes to Joseph in a dream, warning of danger to his little family. Joseph immediately takes Mary and Jesus “by night” to Egypt to hide from King Herod. Imagine the desperate and dark journey as they fled to a strange land and uncertain future.

Thwarted in his attempts to find Jesus, Herod orders the death of every child under the age of two. We believe these innocent martyrs went straight to God, but the suffering of their mothers is unimaginable, a suffering still repeated around the world as war and poverty take the lives of young children.

We cannot pretend to be unaffected by the darkness in the world around us. Just as we look to Christmas lights and firelight to lift our spirits when nights are long, we must look to the Light of Christ to inspire us. And we must be that light to others by praying for them and by looking for tangible ways to alleviate their suffering. For “if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another.” May that fellowship lead us to love and help one another. 

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Luly, lulay,  niñito pequeño,

Adiós, luly, lulay.

Tú, niñito pequeño,

Adiós, luly, lulay.

Herodes el rey en su furia

Partió en este día

Por su decreto, ninguna vida te perdonará

Todos los niños jóvenes para matar

Todos los niños jóvenes para matar

El poema anterior proviene de “The Coventry Carol”. Este villancico inglés del siglo XVI representa la última canción de cuna cantada por las madres de los Santos Inocentes, los bebés sacrificados por Herodes cuya fiesta celebramos hoy.

¡Qué fiesta tan oscura después de la alegría navideña! Qué crudo recordatorio del mundo caído en el que vivimos con su equilibrio de felicidad y horror.

Las lecturas de hoy comparten esta tensión mientras nos llevan de un lado a otro entre la luz y las tinieblas. En la Primera Lectura, Juan nos asegura que “Dios es luz y en él no hay nada de oscuridad”. Escuchar esto es especialmente reconfortante en esta época oscura del año, una época en la que iluminamos nuestros hogares por dentro y por fuera con luces brillantes y coloridas para protegernos de la oscuridad de estos días más cortos.

Pero rápidamente sigue una advertencia, porque podemos optar por vivir “en la oscuridad,”. ¿Qué significa esto? Quizás sorprendentemente, caminar en la oscuridad no se refiere a pecar. Juan ya sabe que vamos a pecar. Cómo no hacerlo, cuando vivimos en un mundo caído y estamos afectados por el Pecado Original. Más bien, “andar en tinieblas” significa finjir que NO hemos pecado. Juan nos recuerda que Jesús provee la expiación por nuestros pecados si los reconocemos. El salmista subraya este punto con poderosas imágenes de agua y fuego. Nos recuerda nuevamente que nuestras almas han sido liberadas, porque el Señor está con nosotros.

Pero el Evangelio nos devuelve rápidamente a las tinieblas. Una vez más, un ángel se le aparece a José en un sueño, advirtiéndole del peligro que corre su pequeña familia. José inmediatamente lleva a María y Jesús “de noche” a Egipto para esconderse del rey Herodes. Imagine el viaje desesperado y oscuro mientras huían a una tierra extraña y un futuro incierto.

Frustrado en sus intentos de encontrar a Jesús, Herodes ordena la muerte de todos los niños menores de dos años. Creemos que estos mártires inocentes se fueron directamente al cielo, pero ni podemos imaginar el sufrimiento de sus madres, un sufrimiento que aún se repite en todo el mundo mientras la guerra y la pobreza roba la vida de los niños pequeños.

No podemos pretender que la oscuridad del mundo que nos rodea no nos afecta. Así como buscamos las luces navideñas y la luz del chimenea para levantar el ánimo cuando las noches son largas, debemos buscar la Luz de Cristo para que nos inspire. Y debemos ser esa luz para los demás orando por ellos y buscando formas tangibles de aliviar su sufrimiento. Porque, “i vivimos en la luz, como él vive en la luz, entonces estamos unidos unos con otros”. Que esa comunión nos lleve a amarnos y ayudarnos unos a otros.

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Leslie Sholly is a Catholic, Southern wife and mother of five, living in her hometown, Knoxville, Tennessee. She graduated from Georgetown University with an English major and Theology minor. She blogs at Life in Every Limb, where for 11 years she has covered all kinds of topics, more recently focusing on the intersection of faith, politics, and social justice.

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Mary Magdalene and Divine Mercy / María Magdalena y la Divina Misericordia

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Today’s Mass is focused on Saint John the Apostle. However, the opening line of today’s Gospel brings us to Mary Magdalene. I would like to spend a moment or two talking about her. According to Scripture, she was the first one to see Jesus after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene is the one who told Peter and the other disciples the good news. I can hear it all now when she said “He’s alive!” and they responded “Yeah right!” or, “Whatever.” It didn’t take long before that group of men finally believed what Jesus had told them. We can ask ourselves the same question, how long will it take us to believe what Jesus has taught us?

Back to Mary Magdalene. In the last couple of years I have delved more deeply into Divine Mercy and the Divine Mercy chaplet and have read more of Sister Faustina’s writings. To me, Mary Magdalene is the poster child of Divine Mercy. Most of us know what her background was and it was not very pretty. She was a major sinner and Scripture tells us that she was delivered from seven demons. She had a conversion like none other. She fell in love with her Savior, Jesus Christ and her life changed radically! As a result, Jesus gifted her with some special happenings. And one of the biggest is her visit with Him at the tomb. 

I tell this story because every now and then someone reads this little blog who believes that what they have done is so bad that it could never be forgiven. That is exactly what the enemy wants you to think! That is where Divine Mercy comes into play. Do you know why it’s so easy to sin? Because God does not mess with our free will. As a result we tend to do things that we shouldn’t do. Some of those things are small and some of those things are big. The small ones we might have a tendency to blow off. The big ones, however, are different. 

We may have a tendency to rush to the confessional and confess our sin. However, that is not true for everyone! The very thought of telling that sin to the man in the confessional is overwhelming to some of us. So, we carry it day after day after day. And internally we are rotting away because of our sin.  God, in his great mercy, can take that away from us. All we need to do is humble ourselves and step into the confessional. Jesus is there waiting for us so he can pour out his love into us and remove the darkness.

We are still within the twelve days of Christmas. We are still in the light. Let us continue to walk in the light and move closer to Jesus.

Serving with joy!

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La Misa de hoy está centrada en San Juan Apóstol. Sin embargo, la primera línea del Evangelio de hoy nos lleva a María Magdalena. Me gustaría pasar unos momentos hablando de ella. Según las Escrituras, ella fue la primera en ver a Jesús después de la resurrección. María Magdalena es la que le dijo a Pedro y a los demás discípulos la buena noticia. Puedo oírlo todo ahora cuando dijo “¡Está vivo!” y ellos respondieron “¡Sí, claro!” o “ah, ok.” No pasó mucho tiempo antes de que ese grupo de hombres finalmente creyera lo que Jesús les había dicho. Podemos hacernos la misma pregunta, ¿cuánto tiempo nos toma creer lo que Jesús nos ha enseñado?

Volvamos a María Magdalena. En los últimos dos años he profundizado más en la Divina Misericordia y la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia y he leído más escritos de la Hermana Faustina. Para mí, María Magdalena es la niña del cartel de la Divina Misericordia. La mayoría de nosotros sabemos cuál era su pasado y no era muy bonito. Ella era una gran pecadora y la Escritura nos dice que fue liberada de siete demonios. Tuvo una conversión como ninguna otra. ¡Se enamoró de su Salvador, Jesucristo y su vida cambió radicalmente! Como resultado, Jesús le regaló algunos acontecimientos especiales. Y uno de los más grandes es su visita con Él en la tumba.

Cuento esta historia porque de vez en cuando alguien lee este pequeño blog que cree que lo que ha hecho es tan malo que nunca se le podrá perdonar. ¡Eso es exactamente lo que el enemigo quiere que pienses! Ahí es donde entra en juego la Divina Misericordia. ¿Sabes por qué es tan fácil pecar? Porque Dios no se mete con nuestro libre albedrío. Como resultado, tendemos a hacer cosas que no deberíamos hacer. Algunas de esas cosas son pequeñas y algunas de esas cosas son grandes. Los pequeños capaz podríamos tender a ignorar. Los grandes, sin embargo, son diferentes.

Podemos tender a correr al confesionario y confesar nuestro pecado. Sin embargo, ¡eso no es cierto para todos! Tan sola la idea de decirle ese pecado al hombre en el confesionario es abrumadora para algunos de nosotros. Entonces, lo cargamos por dentro día tras día tras día. E internamente nos estamos pudriendo a causa de nuestro pecado. Dios, en su gran misericordia, puede quitarnos eso. Todo lo que tenemos que hacer es humillarnos y entrar al confesionario. Jesús está allí esperándonos para derramar su amor sobre nosotros y quitar las tinieblas.

Todavía estamos dentro de los doce días de Navidad. Todavía estamos llenos de esa luz. Sigamos caminando en la luz y acercándonos a Jesús.

¡Sirviendo con alegría!

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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.

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The Faith of the Martyrs / La Fe de los Mártires

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Entering the Christmas season proper, we are given time to celebrate the feasts of some great saints and to reflect on the joy of God in the flesh. Today’s saint, Stephen, is an excellent reminder of the profundity of the Christmas message of the Incarnation, and of the gravity of Christ’s ministry to save us from sin and death. As St. Stephen, the “protomartyr,” and the other martyrs testify, the Incarnation and Paschal Mystery are realities worth staking our lives for. Jesus Christ really did come to earth, and His Person and ministry are more important than our own lives, if it comes to that.

St. Stephen is introduced to us as “working great signs and wonders among the people” (Acts 6:8). He wastes no time wondering whether he should follow Christ wholeheartedly, and quickly gives himself over to the direction of the Holy Spirit. For this, he is allowed to be the instrument of God’s miraculous work. He trusts in Jesus’ word that whoever has faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, if it be the will of God, and he sets out to do just that.

Stephen knows the truth of the Resurrection, and is not afraid to communicate this truth in public. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, he debates others without fear. His interlocutors “could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke” (Acts 6:10). This “spirit” was not his own so much as the Spirit of God working in him. St. Stephen trusted that God would give him the words to say at the opportune time, and he was rewarded.

Of course, part of this “reward” was the wrath of those who did not understand God’s designs. As we learn here and throughout the history of the Church, this is the case with all of the martyrs. They are persecuted and killed by those who cannot fathom God’s message, whether that message be the unexpected reality of the Incarnation or the prodigality of the Cross. Rather than shrink before the anger of others, the martyrs double down on their belief in these realities, in their commitment to the Trinity.

The martyrs, led by St. Stephen, understand the reality of the Incarnation. They see how important it is that God came to earth, that the Word became flesh, and they understand that this is a reality, not a myth. They believe in this fact so thoroughly that they are willing to die at the hands of those who are blind to it, enduring bitter persecution along the way. For the martyrs, following the true God and attaining eternal life are more important than any alternative, no matter what threats are leveled at them. 

At the decisive moment, the martyrs trust in the direction of the Holy Spirit, who gives them the ability to work miracles, the words to speak profoundly to others, and the courage to die for their convictions. Let us pray for the grace to imitate these holy men and women, who knew the critical significance of the Incarnation.

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Al entrar en la temporada navideña, se nos da un tiempo para celebrar las fiestas de algunos grandes santos y para reflexionar sobre el gozo de Dios hecho carne. El santo de hoy, Esteban, es un excelente recordatorio de la profundidad del mensaje navideño de la Encarnación y de la gravedad del ministerio de Cristo para salvarnos del pecado y de la muerte. Como testifican san Esteban, el “protomártir”, y los demás mártires, la Encarnación y el Misterio Pascual son realidades por las que vale la pena arriesgar la vida. Jesucristo realmente vino a la tierra, y Su Persona y ministerio son más importantes que nuestras propias vidas, si se trata de eso.

San Esteban se nos presenta realizando “grandes prodigios y señales entre la gente. ” (Hechos 6:8). No pierde el tiempo preguntándose si debería seguir a Cristo de todo corazón, y rápidamente se entrega a la dirección del Espíritu Santo. Por esto, se le permite ser el instrumento de la obra milagrosa de Dios. Confía en la palabra de Jesús de que si tienes la fe del tamaño de un grano de mostaza puedes mover montañas, si es la voluntad de Dios, y se propone hacer precisamente eso.

Esteban conoce la verdad de la Resurrección y no tiene miedo de comunicar esta verdad en público. Bajo la dirección del Espíritu Santo, debate a los demás sin miedo. Sus interlocutores “no podían refutar la sabiduría inspirada con que hablaba.” (Hechos 6:10). Este “espíritu” no era tanto suyo como del Espíritu de Dios obrando en él. San Esteban confió en que Dios le daría las palabras que debe decir en el momento oportuno, y fue recompensado.

Por supuesto, parte de esta “recompensa” fue la ira de aquellos que no entendieron los designios de Dios. Como aprendemos aquí y a lo largo de la historia de la Iglesia, este es el caso de todos los mártires. Son perseguidos y asesinados por aquellos que no pueden comprender el mensaje de Dios, ya sea ese mensaje la realidad inesperada de la Encarnación o la prodigalidad de la Cruz. En lugar de encogerse ante la ira de los demás, los mártires redoblan su creencia en estas realidades, en su compromiso con la Trinidad.

Los mártires, guiados por San Esteban, comprenden la realidad de la Encarnación. Ven la importancia de que Dios vino a la tierra, que el Verbo se hizo carne, y entienden que esto es una realidad, no un mito. Creen tan profundamente en este hecho que están dispuestos a morir a manos de aquellos que están ciegos, soportando una amarga persecución. Para los mártires, seguir al Dios verdadero y alcanzar la vida eterna son más importantes que cualquier alternativa, sin importar las amenazas que se les presenten.

En el momento decisivo, los mártires confían en la dirección del Espíritu Santo, que les da la capacidad de hacer milagros, las palabras para hablar profundamente a los demás y el valor de morir por sus convicciones. Oremos por la gracia de imitar a estos santos hombres y mujeres, que conocieron el significado crítico de la Encarnación.

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David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism.

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Merry Christmas! / ¡Feliz Navidad!

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Merry Christmas! Today, the Gospel reading recounts the birth of Christ, and we rejoice at God’s amazing gift of His Son.

Just recently I was listening to the radio in the car, and a Genesis song called “No Son of Mine” came on. Aside from a Christmas song about red shoes, I think this is perhaps one of the saddest songs I have ever heard.

In a nutshell, a young son leaves his parents’ home as soon as he can. It seems like some kind of fighting was going on, though we are not privy to the extent of it. The son then says that years passed and he began to see things differently, so he returned home to talk to his father. His father sat him down and looked him in the eye and told him “You’re no son of mine.” His father rejected him, and the son went away. 

Apparently more years pass. Again the son misses his father and returns to him. And again his father sits him down and says, “You’re no son of mine.”

It’s truly a heartbreaking song, and those are not words that many parents would ever dream of uttering to a child. But even if those words were uttered to you at some point,or even if you just felt unloved by a parent, you can be assured that our Heavenly Father will never utter those words. The fact that He sent His Son to die for us is proof of that.

We are beloved sons and daughters of Christ. We are wanted. We are cherished. We are loved.

God loves us no matter what we do. And no matter how many times we leave God, we will never hear “You’re no son of mine” if we return, repent, and tell Him we love Him.

If we have forsaken God, we must know that He will never forsake us. God longs for the day when we will return to Him. He is waiting with open arms in the hopes that we will return. 

So, on this glorious and wonderful day, if we have left God, let us return to Him. If we have been lukewarm about our faith, let us return to Him. If we have made it a habit to only go to church on Christmas and Easter, let us return home, for we are welcome and we are wanted.

And, when we return, we know that God will look us straight in the eye and lovingly say, “You are mine.”

Merry Christmas!

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¡Feliz Navidad! Hoy, la lectura del Evangelio relata el nacimiento de Cristo, y nos regocijamos por el maravilloso regalo de Dios de Su Hijo.

Hace poco estaba escuchando la radio en el auto y sonó una canción de Génesis llamada “No Son of Mine” (No Eres Hijo Mío). Aparte de una canción navideña sobre zapatos rojos, creo que esta es quizás una de las canciones más tristes que he escuchado.

En pocas palabras, un hijo pequeño abandona la casa de sus padres tan pronto como puede. Parece que se estaba produciendo algún tipo de lucha, aunque no sabemos hasta qué punto. El hijo dice entonces que pasaron los años y empezó a ver las cosas de otra manera, por lo que regresó a casa para hablar con su padre. Su padre lo sentó y lo miró a los ojos y le dijo: “Tú no eres hijo mío”. Su padre lo rechazó, y el hijo se fue.

Aparentemente pasan más años. Nuevamente el hijo extraña a su padre y regresa a él. Y de nuevo su padre lo sienta y le dice: “Tú no eres hijo mío”.

Es realmente una canción desgarradora, y esas no son palabras que muchos padres soñarían con pronunciar a un niño. Pero incluso si esas palabras te fueron pronunciadas en algún momento, o incluso si simplemente no te sentiste amado por uno de sus padres, puedes estar seguro de que nuestro Padre Celestial nunca pronunciará esas palabras. El hecho de que envió a Su Hijo a morir por nosotros es prueba de ello.

Somos amados hijos e hijas de Cristo. Somos buscados. Somos queridos. Somos amados.

Dios nos ama sin importar lo que hagamos. Y no importa cuántas veces dejemos a Dios, nunca escucharemos “No eres hijo mío” si volvemos, nos arrepentimos y le decimos que lo amamos.

Si hemos abandonado a Dios, debemos saber que Él nunca nos abandonará. Dios anhela el día en que volvamos a Él. Está esperando con los brazos abiertos con la esperanza de que volvamos.

Entonces, en este día glorioso y maravilloso, si hemos dejado a Dios, volvamos a Él. Si hemos sido tibios en nuestra fe, volvamos a Él. Si nos hemos acostumbrado a ir a la iglesia solo en Navidad y Semana Santa, volvamos a casa, porque somos bienvenidos y queridos.

Y cuando regresemos, sabemos que Dios nos mirará directamente a los ojos y nos dirá con amor: “Eres mío”.

¡Feliz Navidad!

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Susan Ciancio has a BA in psychology and a BA in sociology from the University of Notre Dame, with an MA in liberal studies from Indiana University. For the past 19 years, she has worked as a professional editor and writer, editing both fiction and nonfiction books, magazine articles, blogs, educational lessons, professional materials and website content. Thirteen of those years have been in the pro-life sector. Currently Susan freelances and writes weekly for HLI, edits for American Life League, and is the executive editor of Celebrate Life Magazine. She also serves as executive editor for the Culture of Life Studies Program—an educational nonprofit program for K-12 students. You can reach her at slochner0.wixsite.com/website.

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You Are God’s Beloved Child

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While admiring photos of a friend’s daughter I thought that how she feels – the pride, love, and joy –  is how God feels about us. Our love for our own children is mirrored in the love of God for us as his beloved children.

I remember my own children as toddlers. Toddlers are uncivilized, irrational, emotional bundles of messiness and dirty diapers and even though I wondered if they would ever be decent enough to be let loose in the world, I loved them deeply. No matter how often they did the same naughty thing, when they said something hurtful to me, or just exasperated me with their childishness, I never didn’t forgive them. I always longed to be in communion with them. 

This is how God feels about us only infinitely more. He sees us doing stupid stuff, hurting each other, and being disrespectful to him. He also sees our goodness. He sees how we strive and when we turn our gaze toward him and ask for forgiveness he welcomes us back with joy because we are his children. 

God said of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son.” Jesus hadn’t begun his public ministry yet. He hadn’t healed anyone or driven out any demons but God loved him and was pleased. No matter how messy you are or were or will be, you can always, always run to God’s waiting arms like a toddler running to her mother. He will be delighted to have you there. He’s waiting.

Imagine God saying the same of you just as you would of your own child. Be bold and insert your name.

“This is my beloved son/daughter ______ with whom I am pleased.”

God, thank you for creating me to be your beloved child. Help me to rest in your love today. 

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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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Pray and Live with Confidence

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What hope we hear in the readings today! 

In the First Reading, John encourages us to pray confidently because we have assurance of eternal life. But is it really that easy? In whom is our confidence? Ourselves? Certainly not! John’s answer is “If we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears us.” (emphasis added by author) Not only must we be confident in the promises of our Father, we must be confident that He wills that which is truly best for us. It is when we can fully trust Him that we are able to conform our wills to His, and it is through that conformity that we gain confidence in prayer. 

As we move to the Gospel, we hear an excellent example of someone who submitted their will to the will of the Father, humbled himself before the Lord, and was greatly exalted: St. John the Baptist. What can we learn from St. John the Baptist? In short: “He must increase, I must decrease.” John the Baptist knew that it is humility that allows us to place our lives in the hand of God, and that, by being humble, we will be raised in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Pride is often considered the deadliest of sins and the root of all other sins. It is pride that turns us away from God in our times of need. It is pride that allows us to take credit for our accomplishments and for our good deeds rather than giving the credit to our Creator. Recognizing the reality of our humanity before God, John the Baptist says, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.” Everything we have, everything we are is a gift from God. When we live our lives with this at the forefront of our minds, we are better equipped to pray with confidence. 

May we pray with the confidence, intentionality, trust and selflessness of which John speaks. Like John the Baptist, may we surrender our will to the Holy Will of God and allow Him to fulfill the wonderful plan He has for us. For it is in humbling ourselves before Him that we will be raised to glory with Him.

Contact the author

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.

Feature Image Credit: remehernandez, https://www.cathopic.com/photo/18254-oracion