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The Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi / El Memorial de San Francisco de Asís

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The readings today mention three disciples of Christ: St. Paul, Mary and Martha. This is fitting as the Church celebrates St. Francis of Assisi. Each of these very different individuals had to find his or her own unique path to follow Jesus.

In the First Reading St. Paul briefly speaks about his early life as a Jew and his conversion to Christianity. Paul had no intention of becoming a follower of Christ Jesus. He was “a zealot for [his] ancestral traditions.” His conversion to the Way allowed him to proclaim and instruct the Gentiles throughout Arabia, Cilicia, Damascus, and Syria. St. Paul’s writings and witness continue to lead many to Christ.

St. Paul was an educated man. St. Francis was brought up in an educated, wealthy family. He led a carefree life, enjoyed friends, parties and had little to worry about. He wanted to be a knight. Francis was captured on his first campaign as a cavalry soldier, imprisoned, and became ill. He was held captive for a year and read about the lives of the saints.

When Francis returned home he was not the same person. His spirit was troubled. Things he used to enjoy just didn’t make him happy the way they used to. He took time to pray and heard Christ speak to rebuild His Church.

St. Francis did not have an easy life once he chose to follow his Heavenly Father. He made mistakes, faced many challenges and accomplished much in his own ‘little’ journey to learn Jesus’ Way. He made changes in how he dealt with life events. He prayed and fasted while in service to others. Francis went about his life by doing what God gave him to do; to live the Gospel moment by moment, day by day.

In the Gospel, Martha wanted Jesus to direct Mary to assist with the serving. Jesus did not do so, telling her that Mary had chosen the better part. He told Martha she was anxious and worried about many things.

I have been told by my spiritual director, a priest and a deacon and a few others as well, that I too, have been worried and anxious about things I cannot control, or situations that I have chosen for myself. I need to remember to go through my day one moment at a time, without making assumptions or worrying about the outcome of any situation.

Francis prayed this prayer frequently before the Crucifix where he heard God speak during his early discernment and ministry. I find much comfort in it; please pray with me.

“Most high and glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me, Lord, a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out Your holy and true command.” Amen.

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Las lecturas de hoy mencionan a tres discípulos de Cristo: San Pablo, María y Marta. Que apropiado ya que la Iglesia celebra hoy a San Francisco de Asís. Cada uno de estos individuos tan diferentes tuvo que encontrar su propio camino único para seguir a Jesús.

En la Primera Lectura, San Pablo habla brevemente sobre su vida de joven como judío y su conversión al cristianismo. Pablo no tenía intención de convertirse en un seguidor de Cristo Jesús. Era “un fanático de [sus] tradiciones ancestrales”. Su conversión al Camino le permitió proclamar e instruir a los gentiles por toda Arabia, Cilicia, Damasco y Siria. Los escritos y el testimonio de San Pablo continúan guiando a muchos a Cristo.

San Pablo era un hombre educado. San Francisco se crió en una familia rica y educada. Llevaba una vida sin preocupaciones, disfrutaba de amigos, fiestas y tenía poco de qué preocuparse. Quería ser caballero. Francisco fue capturado en su primera campaña como soldado de caballería, fue encarcelado y se enfermó. Estuvo cautivo durante un año y leía sobre la vida de los santos.

Cuando Francis volvió a casa no era la misma persona. Su espíritu estaba turbado. Las cosas que antes disfrutaba simplemente no lo hacían feliz como solían hacerlo. Tomó tiempo para orar y escuchó a Cristo pedirle reconstruir Su Iglesia.

San Francisco no tuvo una vida fácil una vez que eligió seguir a su Padre Celestial. Cometió errores, enfrentó muchos desafíos y logró mucho en su propio “pequeño” viaje para aprender el Camino de Jesús. Hizo cambios en la forma en que lidió con los eventos de la vida. Oraba y ayunaba mientras estaba al servicio de los demás. Francisco vivió su vida haciendo lo que Dios le pidió hacer; vivir el Evangelio momento a momento, día tras día.

En el Evangelio, Marta quería que Jesús dirigiera a María a ayudar con el servicio. Jesús no lo hizo, diciéndole que María había escogido la mejor parte. Le dijo a Martha que estaba ansiosa y preocupada por muchas cosas.

Me ha dicho mi director espiritual, un sacerdote y un diácono y algunos otros también, que yo también he estado preocupada y ansiosa por cosas que no puedo controlar, o situaciones que he escogido. Necesito acordarme de pasar mi día un momento a la vez, sin hacer suposiciones ni preocuparme por el resultado de ninguna situación.

Francisco oraba esta oración con frecuencia ante el Crucifijo donde escuchaba a Dios hablarle durante su discernimiento y ministerio. En ella encuentro mucho consuelo; les invito a rezarla conmigo.

“Dios altísimo y glorioso, ilumina las tinieblas de mi corazón y dame, Señor, una fe recta, una esperanza cierta, una caridad perfecta, sentido y conocimiento, para que pueda cumplir Tu santo y verdadero mandato.” Amén.

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This reflection was reposted from Diocesan Archives. Author: Beth Price

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Zeal for Repentance / Celo por el Arrepentimiento

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The Jewish exiles express profound contrition in our first reading: “we today are flushed with shame… [we] have sinned in the Lord’s sight and disobeyed him…each one of us went off after the devices of his own wicked heart, served other gods, and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God” (Baruch 1:15, 17–18, 22). The Bible is full of displays of repentance like this. Jesus speaks to them in today’s Gospel: “they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes” (Luke 10:13).

Our repentance is not like this. Into the Middle Ages, Christians guilty of especially wicked sins would repent by going to Confession and performing public penance, which usually involved them refraining from receiving the Eucharist for long periods of time. Some of them would wear penitential clothing, like sackcloth. Today, our penances after Confession are rarely more than praying a full Rosary.

This is not to say that we need harsher penances from the priest in the confessional. Many saints, like the Jewish exiles and the early Christians, took repentance into their own hands. Rather than wait for someone else to prescribe them a way to atone for their sins, they confessed them and practiced their own penance. Some saints, like Francis of Assisi, were extreme in their repentance, flogging themselves and fasting for months on end. Others, like Thérèse of Lisieux, allowed themselves to be placed in annoying and uncomfortable situations and did small things with great love, offering it all to God.

Regardless of the method by which they carried out their repentance, these saints shared an understanding that they could not do enough to atone for their sins. They understood that those who had not fully atoned for their sins in this life would complete their atonement in Purgatory. Rather than opting to undergo that excruciating purification, the saints chose to endure more hardship than usual here on earth. Happily accepting difficult situations and self-imposed trials for the sake of their salvation and that of others’, they expressed deep sorrow for all offenses against God.

We ought to imitate their zeal for the Lord, if only out of a desire to avoid the pain of Purgatory at first. But ultimately, we should reach a point where we have sorrow for our sin simply because it offends God and is contrary to His ways. Let us pray for the intercession of saints such as Francis of Assisi and Thérèse of Lisieux, that we may imitate their desire to atone for sins – our own, and those of others. 

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Los judíos exiliados expresan profunda contrición en la primera lectura de hoy: “nos sentimos hoy llenos de vergüenza, porque hemos pecado contra el Señor y no le hemos hecho caso; lo hemos desobedecido… No hemos escuchado la voz del Señor… siguiendo las inclinaciones de nuestro perverso corazón, hemos adorado a dioses extraños y hemos hecho lo que el Señor, nuestro Dios, reprueba” (Baruc 1). La Biblia está llena de muestras de arrepentimiento como esta. Jesús les habla en el Evangelio de hoy: “hace mucho tiempo que hubieran hecho penitencia, cubiertas de sayal y de ceniza” (Lucas 10,13).

Nuestro arrepentimiento no es así. Hasta la Edad Media, los cristianos culpables de pecados especialmente perversos se arrepentían confesándose y haciendo penitencia pública, lo que generalmente implicaba abstenerse de recibir la Eucaristía durante largos periodos. Algunos se vestían de ropas de penitencia, como el cilicio. Hoy en día, nuestras penitencias después de la Confesión rara vez van más allá de rezar un Rosario completo.

Esto no significa que necesitemos penitencias más severas por parte del sacerdote en el confesionario. Muchos santos, como los judíos exiliados y los primeros cristianos, tomaron el arrepentimiento en sus propias manos. En lugar de esperar a que alguien les indicara una manera de expiar sus pecados, los confesaron y practicaron su propia penitencia. Algunos santos, como Francisco de Asís, fueron extremos en su arrepentimiento, azotándose y ayunando durante meses. Otros, como Teresa de Lisieux, se dejaron poner en situaciones molestas e incómodas e hicieron pequeñas cosas con gran amor, ofreciendo todo a Dios.

Independientemente del método que usaron para llevar a cabo su arrepentimiento, estos santos compartían la comprensión de que no podían hacer lo suficiente para expiar sus pecados. Entendían que quienes no habían expiado completamente sus pecados en esta vida completarían su expiación en el Purgatorio. En lugar de optar por esa dolorosa purificación, los santos optaron por soportar más dificultades de lo habitual aquí en la tierra. Aceptando con alegría las situaciones difíciles y las pruebas que se impusieron por su salvación y la de los demás, expresaron un profundo dolor por todas las ofensas contra Dios.

Debemos imitar su celo por el Señor, aunque inicialmente sólo sea por el deseo de evitar el dolor del Purgatorio. Pero, al final, debemos llegar a un punto en que sintamos pesar por nuestro pecado simplemente porque ofende a Dios y es contrario a sus caminos. Oremos por la intercesión de santos como Francisco de Asís y Teresa de Lisieux, para que podamos imitar su deseo de expiar los pecados, tanto los nuestros como los de los demás.

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David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has three children, a degree in theology, and enjoys writing about philosophy, theology, culture, music, and comedy. You can find his personal blog, Serious Daydreams, on Substack. He is also the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism, available through TAN Books.

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Turn and Become Like Children / Cambiar y ser como niños

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Were there toddler parents among the disciples in today’s reading? Any parent dealing with the behavior of a toddler is right to question Jesus’s words, “unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Who in their right mind would want an eternity of screaming crazies running around?

I picked up my two-year-old son as he screamed from his bed one night. I don’t know what stirred him, but he was utterly distraught. That’s when it hit me – this is what Jesus means when He says we must “turn and become like children.” My son screamed and knew that my husband or I would rescue him. He instinctively knew that he was not alone and could count on us to pick him up and hold him. I gave him a big hug and asked him if he was scared. He told me he was, and I whispered in his ear, “You are safe.”  I laid him back down, covered him with his blankets, and he was off to sleep.

Jesus doesn’t only tell us to become like children, but to turn and become children. Turn from what exactly? Ourselves. Children know that they depend totally on their parents (even as they begin to rebel from it), and this central truth is the key to entering the kingdom. As we age, we tend to accept the lies of self-reliance. We forget that we are completely dependent upon the gratuitousness of the Father. Jesus is calling us out from ourselves toward full dependence on the Father, the Giver of all good things. The childlike nature Jesus wants from us is to instinctively know that God is safe and that we are wholeheartedly known and loved by Him. 

This is our lifelong work. We say our prayers, have devotions, and, of course, live a sacramental life as a means to an end, since they are not the goal in and of themselves. An authentic life of prayer is one where our devotions lead us to a place of surrender to God, where we allow Him to be our God, who is the fulfillment of our deepest longing to be loved.

Our childlike disposition is a reflection of God’s fatherly nature. When we allow Him to be the God of our lives, we allow Him to pick us up, remind us that we are safe in His arms, and tucked away in His expansive fatherly heart. 

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¿Había padres de niños pequeños entre los discípulos en la lectura de hoy? Cualquier padre que batalla con el comportamiento de un niño pequeño tiene razón para cuestionar las palabras de Jesús: “si no cambian y no se hacen como los niños, no entrarán en el Reino de los cielos”. ¿Quién en su sano juicio querría una eternidad de locos gritando y corriendo por todos lados?

Una noche, levanté a mi hijo de dos años para cargarlo como había estado gritando desde la cama. No sé qué lo alteró, pero estaba completamente consternado. En ese momento lo comprendí: esto es lo que Jesús quiere decir cuando dice que debemos cambiar y hacernos “como los niños”. Mi hijo gritó y supo que mi esposo o yo lo rescataríamos. Instintivamente supo que no estaba solo y que podía contar con nosotros para cargarlo abrazarlo. Le di un fuerte abrazo y le pregunté si tenía miedo. Me dijo que sí, y le susurré al oído: “Estás seguro”. Lo volví a acostar, lo cubrí con sus cobijas y se quedó dormido nuevamente.

Jesús no solo nos dice que nos hagamos como niños, sino que cambiamos y nos convirtamos en niños. ¿Cambiarnos de qué forma, exactamente? De depender de nosotros mismos. Los niños saben que dependen totalmente de sus padres (incluso cuando empiezan a rebelarse), y esta verdad fundamental es la clave para entrar en el reino. A medida que nos vamos envejeciendo, tendemos a aceptar las mentiras de la autosuficiencia. Nos olvidamos que dependemos completamente de la generosidad del Padre. Jesús nos llama a salir de nosotros mismos hacia una dependencia plena del Padre, el Dador de todo lo bueno. La naturaleza infantil que Jesús espera de nosotros es que sepamos instintivamente que Dios es seguro y que Él nos conoce y nos ama de todo corazón.

Esta es nuestra labor de toda la vida. Rezamos, tenemos devociones y, por supuesto, vivimos una vida sacramental como un medio para un fin, ya que no son el fin en sí mismos. Una auténtica vida de oración es cuando nuestras devociones nos llevan a un lugar de entrega a Dios, donde le permitimos ser nuestro Dios, quien es la realización de nuestro anhelo más profundo de ser amados.

Nuestra disposición infantil es un reflejo de la naturaleza paternal de Dios. Cuando le permitimos ser el Dios de nuestras vidas, le permitimos que nos levante, que nos recuerde que estamos seguros en sus brazos y acogidos en su enorme corazón paternal.

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Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Follow Me / Sígueme

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In today’s Gospel, Jesus is walking with His disciples when someone says to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” To another Jesus says, “Follow me.” Yet another says, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” Jesus answers him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”

If Jesus asked you to follow Him, would you know what to do? If not, let’s look to today’s saint, Thérèse of Lisieux. Her greatest desire was to be a saint and she earnestly tried with enthusiastic love for Jesus and by making simple sacrifices, which earned her the nickname “The Little Flower”. As a Carmelite nun, she felt very small in comparison to the other saints she knew about. If not for her autobiography, Story of a Soul, she might have never been known beyond her convent’s walls. After she died in 1897 at age 24, and her book was published, she became so revered that she was canonized in 1925. She became the saint she longed to be during her short life.

Here are a few words from her story: “The heart of a child does not seek riches and glory (even the glory of heaven). She understands that this glory belongs by right to her brothers, the angels and saints…What this child asks for is Love. She knows only one thing: to love you, O Jesus.”

Thérèse adds, “Well, the little child will strewn flowers, she will perfume the royal throne with their sweet scents, and she will sing in her silvery tones the canticle of Love. O my Jesus! I love you! I love the Church, my Mother!” (Story of a Soul, translated by John Clarke, O.C.D.)

Thérèse wrote that Jesus gifted her in the convent with the flowers she had loved since childhood.  St. Thérèse herself is known for sending flowers. People who pray novenas to her often receive a rose that confirms their petition was granted.

 St. Thérèse shows that we don’t have to do big works to follow Jesus. She was just being herself, in her little way, making sacrifices when she could. She devoted her religious life to serving Jesus but she didn’t think that was enough until she learned to serve through simple acts of obedience and love.

“…God gives the hundredfold in this life to those souls who leave everything for love of Him.” Thérèse wrote. And that is exactly what she did. May she be an example for us all.

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En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús camina con sus discípulos cuando alguien le dice: “Te seguiré a donde quiera que vayas”. A otro Jesús le dijo: “Sígueme”. Aún otro le dijo, “Te seguiré, Señor; pero déjame primero despedirme de mi familia”. Jesús le responde: “El que empuña el arado y mira hacia atrás, no sirve para el Reino de Dios”.

Si Jesús te pidiera que lo siguieras, ¿sabrías qué hacer? Si no, miremos a la santa de hoy, Teresa de Lisieux. Su mayor anhelo era ser santa y lo intentó con fervor, con un amor entusiasta por Jesús y con sencillos sacrificios, lo que le ganó el apodo de “La Pequeña Flor”. Como monja carmelita, se sentía muy pequeña en comparación con las otras santas que conocía. De no ser por su autobiografía, Historia de un alma, quizá nunca habría sido conocida fuera de los muros de su convento. Tras su muerte en 1897 a los 24 años y la publicación de su libro, se volvió tan venerada que fue canonizada en 1925. Se convirtió en la santa que anhelaba ser durante su corta vida.

Aquí hay algunas palabras de su historia: “El corazón de una niña no busca riquezas ni gloria (ni siquiera la gloria del cielo). Entiende que esta gloria pertenece por derecho a sus hermanos, los ángeles y los santos… Lo que esta niña pide es amor. Solo sabe una cosa: amarte, oh Jesús”. Teresa añade: “Pues bien, la pequeña esparcirá flores, perfumará el trono real con sus dulces aromas y cantará con sus tonos plateados el cántico de amor. ¡Oh, Jesús mío! ¡Te amo! ¡Amo a la Iglesia, mi Madre!” (Historia de un alma)

Teresa escribió que Jesús le regaló en el convento las flores que le habían encantado desde la infancia. De hecho, Santa Teresita es conocida por enviar flores. Quienes le rezan novenas a menudo reciben una rosa que confirma que su petición fue concedida.

Santa Teresita demuestra que no tenemos que hacer grandes obras para seguir a Jesús. Ella simplemente era ella misma, a su manera, haciendo sacrificios cuando podía. Dedicó su vida religiosa a servir a Jesús, pero no creía que fuera suficiente hasta que aprendió a servir mediante sencillos actos de obediencia y amor.

“…Dios da el céntuplo en esta vida a las almas que lo dejan todo por amor a Él”, escribió Teresita. Y eso es exactamente lo que ella hizo. Que sea un ejemplo para todos nosotros.

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Christine Arata is a San Francisco, California native. She lives a few blocks away from the ocean and a park. She finds nature inspiring. Her cat brings her comfort. She loves being creative not only with her writing but with almost everything, including her home cooking. Her studies in the Catholic faith are ongoing. In 2019, when she discovered St. Hildegard of Bingen was underrepresented by Catholics, she found a purpose. Her latest website, St. Hildegard’s Wisdom features blog posts about all of that: https://sthildegardswisdom.com.

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Transformation Through Love, Not Wrath / Transformación a través del amor, no de la ira

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The story in today’s Gospel always strikes me as a dramatic moment in the life of Christ, when Jesus was not welcomed into the Samaritan village. Two of my favorite followers of Jesus, the “Sons of Thunder”, James and John, want revenge for the way Jesus is being treated. When I read the passage, my heart often agrees with them, “yeah, let’s call down that fire since they didn’t welcome Jesus”. And yet, there is more to reflect on in this reading. We can see that Jesus came for the lost, the forgotten, the people who do not know the love of the Lord. He doesn’t want to smite us, but to save us!

Over the last few years, I have come to appreciate that the Lord is about planting seeds of faith. He desires that we be open to Him and slowly learn to trust Him in all matters. This trust is built over time, and the more that we hand over our free will, the more our will is in line with God. Our free will is what blocks us from seeing, hearing, and knowing the truth of our Lord. How often has our “good-hearted desire” made matters worse? How often have we “given them a piece of our mind” and left feeling worse about what we said and how we said it?

Our Lord shows us that He desires redemption and transformation versus fire and fury. Jesus knows that after His Resurrection, the people will recall this day and the missed opportunity and hopefully come to faith. He plants seeds and is a patient tiller of the field. He offers us grace from the moment of our Baptism. He desires that these seeds be watered and cultivated, but we must rely on the Lord’s timing, not ours.

Dear Lord, increase my faith and allow me to be a vessel of love, not wrath, so that others may be transformed in You.

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La historia del Evangelio de hoy siempre me ha parecido un momento dramático en la vida de Cristo: cuando Jesús no fue recibido en la aldea samaritana. Dos de mis seguidores favoritos de Jesús, los “Hijos del Trueno”, Santiago y Juan, quieren venganza por el trato que reciben. Al leer el pasaje, mi corazón suele estar de acuerdo con ellos: “Sí, hagamos descender ese fuego, ya que no recibieron a Jesús”. Sin embargo, hay más en qué reflexionar en esta lectura. Vemos que Jesús vino por los perdidos, los olvidados, quienes no conocen el amor del Señor. ¡No quiere destruirnos, sino salvarnos!

En los últimos años, he llegado a comprender que el Señor se dedica a sembrar semillas de fe. Desea que nos abramos a Él y que poco a poco aprendamos a confiar en Él en todo. Esta confianza se va aumentando con el tiempo, y mientras más le entregamos el libre albedrío, más alineamos nuestra voluntad con la de Dios. El libre albedrío es lo que nos impide ver, oír y conocer la verdad de nuestro Señor. ¿Cuántas veces nuestro “buen deseo” ha empeorado las cosas? ¿Cuántas veces hemos forzado nuestras opiniones y nos ha hecho sentir peor por lo que dijimos y cómo lo dijimos?

Nuestro Señor nos muestra que desea redención y transformación, no fuego y furia. Jesús sabe que después de su Resurrección, la gente se acordará de este día y la oportunidad perdida, y ojalá llegará a la fe. Él siembra semillas y es un labrador paciente. Nos ofrece la gracia desde el momento de nuestro Bautismo. Desea que estas semillas sean regadas y cultivadas, pero debemos confiar en el tiempo del Señor, no en el nuestro.

Señor Jesús, aumenta mi fe y permíteme ser un instrumento de amor, no de ira, para que otros puedan ser transformados por Ti.

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Emily Jaminet is a Catholic author, speaker, radio personality, wife, and mother of seven children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mental health and human services from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.  She is the co-founder of www.inspirethefaith.com and the Executive Director of The Sacred Heart Enthronement Network www.WelcomeHisHeart.com. She has co-authored several Catholic books and her latest one, Secrets of the Sacred Heart: Claiming Jesus’ Twelve Promises in Your Life, came out in Oct. 2020. Emily serves on the board of the Columbus Catholic Women’s Conference, contributes to Relevant Radio and Catholic Mom.com.

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Duplicity / La duplicidad

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Today’s Gospel passage sent me on an adventure through Webster’s Dictionary. After reading it I couldn’t get past the word “duplicity”. As in Lectio Divina, was God placing this uncertainty within my soul? Merriam-Webster defines duplicity as: “the contradictory doubleness of thought, speech, or action, especially the belying of one’s true intentions by deceptive words or actions: the quality or state of being double or twofold.”

Jesus saw right through Nathanael’s heart and soul, recognizing that there was no duplicity in him. It seems that, in our everyday journey, we encounter more people with duplicity than we care to count. Today, we might call this “two-faced”. Jesus teaches us to seek and see only the truth. Where do we fall off the rails?

During my childhood at Catholic grade school, the nuns educated us on Adam and Eve along with the concept of original sin, suggesting duplicity existed from the start. Currently, as outlined in the Baltimore Catechism, venial sin pertains to a minor transgression against God’s law regarding less crucial issues. In more significant situations, it describes offenses made without adequate reflection or complete consent of the will. 

Is this where we slip into duplicity? Without reflection or full determination, we conceal our true thoughts, preventing others from seeing what we genuinely think or believe. This can be good or bad. God’s love and mercy are boundless, yet we find it difficult to believe that He helps, watches over, guides, and forgives our duplicity if we simply ask for forgiveness and continue to turn our faces toward Him. 

Today’s passage mentions that the Lord says Nathanael will see “heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Today is also the feast of the Archangels: Sts. Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel. God provides us with tools to turn to Him and surrender to His will. St. Michael protects us in uncertain times, helping remove duplicity. St. Raphael offers us companionship when we are lonely. St. Gabriel is the bearer of divine messages.  

Like Nathanael, we must turn to God and ask, “How do you know me?” The Lord will reveal to us exactly what He sees in us if only we take the time to listen. I can start by asking myself, “Where is my duplicity?” How can I turn away from my two-faced tendencies and serve only You? Jesus, I believe; help my unbelief. 

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El pasaje del Evangelio de hoy me llevó a una búsqueda por el diccionario Webster. Después de leerlo, no pude dejar de pensar en la palabra “duplicidad”. Como en la Lectio Divina, ¿estaba Dios poniendo esta incertidumbre en mi alma? El diccionario Merriam-Webster define la duplicidad como: “pensamientos, palabras o acciones dobles y contradictorias, especialmente la desmentida de las verdaderas intenciones mediante palabras o acciones engañosas: la cualidad o estado de ser doble”.

Jesús vio el corazón y el alma de Natanael, reconociendo que no había duplicidad en él. Parece que día por día nos encontramos con más personas con duplicidad de las que podemos contar. Hoy en día, podríamos llamar a esto tener “doble cara”. Jesús nos enseña a buscar y ver solamente la verdad. ¿Dónde nos desviamos del camino?

Durante mi infancia en la escuela primaria católica, las monjas nos educaron sobre Adán y Eva, junto con el concepto del pecado original, sugiriendo que la duplicidad existía desde el principio. Actualmente, como se describe en el Catecismo de Baltimore, el pecado venial se refiere a una transgresión menor contra la ley de Dios en asuntos menos cruciales. En situaciones más significativas, describe ofensas cometidas sin la debida reflexión ni el pleno consentimiento de la voluntad.

¿Es aquí donde caemos en la duplicidad? Sin reflexión ni plena determinación, ocultamos nuestros verdaderos pensamientos, impidiendo que otros vean lo que realmente pensamos o creemos. Esto puede ser bueno o malo. El amor y la misericordia de Dios son infinitos; sin embargo, nos cuesta creer que nos ayude, nos cuide, nos guíe y nos perdone nuestra duplicidad si simplemente pedimos perdón y seguimos volviendo nuestros rostros hacia Él.

El pasaje de hoy menciona que el Señor dice que Natanael verá “el cielo abierto y a los ángeles de Dios subir y bajar sobre el Hijo del hombre”. Hoy también es la fiesta de los Arcángeles: San Miguel, San Rafael y San Gabriel. Dios nos proporciona herramientas para volvernos a Él y someternos a su voluntad. San Miguel nos protege en tiempos de incertidumbre, ayudándonos a eliminar la duplicidad. San Rafael nos ofrece compañía cuando nos sentimos solos. San Gabriel es portador de mensajes divinos.

Como Natanael, debemos acudir a Dios y preguntarle: “¿De dónde me conoces?”. El Señor nos revelará exactamente lo que ve en nosotros si tan solo nos tomamos el tiempo de escucharlo. Puedo empezar preguntándome: “¿Dónde está mi duplicidad?” ¿Cómo puedo alejarme de mis tendencias a la duplicidad y servirte solo a ti? Jesús, creo en ti; ayuda mi falta de fe.

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Marti Garcia’s passions are her retired life and growing deeper in her Catholic faith. Marti is a Sacristan/EM, facilitates small groups, and assists as a First Communion Catechist for parents. Being a parent educator and writer for 35 years, she recently published a children’s chapter book on Amazon, The Ladybugs. You can find her at her blog: MartiGarcia.org, or thewaterisshallow.com, or her cohost podcast, findingacommonthread.com, which is coming soon.

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Radical Surrender / La entrega radical

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Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on surrender. What does it look like? What changes would it make to my life? How would it make me feel? Now I’m not talking about the small surrender of coming to a compromise with your spouse or giving in to your child after hearing them beg for an hour straight. I’m talking about that complete and total surrender that brings us to say, “Whatever You want, Lord. May Your will be done. Use me in whatever way You see fit. Mold me like clay in your hands.” 

I recently read a reflection that used the analogy of a colorful kite flying in the wind. The breeze brings it this way and that in a happy dance. Our souls can become like that kite, allowing the Holy Spirit to blow us where He wills and then we experience that childlike joy. 

Over Holy Week this year, I also got to thinking about the extent of Jesus’ surrender. His whole being rebelled against the idea of His Passion so much that He sweat drops of blood, yet He said “not my will but yours be done.” And something that struck me in a whole new way this year were the words “And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.” We tend to look at the crucifixion as Jesus being put to death, and indeed He was, yet He chose to hand over His spirit. He could have jumped down from that cross at any moment, yet He chose to breathe His last breath. My brother shared with me an additional thought on this passage. Normally people expire first and then their head falls to their chest, but Jesus bowed His head first, in one final act of humility and submission to the Father’s will, and then died. 

Our readings today speak of this complete and total surrender. “Woe to the complacent in Zion!” (Amos 6:4), and “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called…keep the commandment without stain or reproach” (1 Tim 6). Then Jesus calls us to generosity and repentance with the parable of Lazarus and the rich man in the Gospel. 

Not one of these readings encourage us to simply be a good person. Not one of them invites us to keep up with the status quo. Not one of them asks us to give a little bit of what we have extra, whether it be time, talent or treasure. Rather, they invite us to flee from “complacency” and “compete well for the faith.” They invite us to live “without stain or reproach”. This implies radical surrender! 

And while this type of lifestyle change will most certainly require sacrifice, it will also bring indescribable freedom and joy. For the only decisions that we make will be those made with the Lord and the only paths that we follow will be those walked in His footsteps. 

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Últimamente he estado reflexionando mucho sobre la entrega. ¿Qué significa? ¿Qué cambios traería a mi vida? ¿Cómo me sentiría? No me refiero a la pequeña entrega de ceder para llegar a un acuerdo con tu pareja o de rendirte después de escuchar a tu hijo suplicar durante una hora. Me refiero a esa entrega total y completa que nos lleva a decir: “Señor, hágase tu voluntad. Utilízame como a ti te parece mejor. Moldéame como arcilla en tus manos”.

Hace poco leí una reflexión que usaba la analogía de una cometa de colores que vuela con el viento. La brisa la lleva de un lado a otro en una danza alegre. Nuestras almas pueden llegar a ser como esa cometa, permitiendo que el Espíritu Santo nos lleve a donde Él quiere y podemos experimentar esa alegría infantil.

Durante la Semana Santa de este año, me puse a pensar sobre la profundidad de la entrega de Jesús. Todo su ser se rebeló tanto contra la idea de su Pasión que sudó gotas de sangre, pero dijo: “que no se haga mi voluntad, sino la tuya”. Y algo que me impactó de una manera completamente nueva este año fueron las palabras: “e inclinando la cabeza, entregó el espíritu”. Solemos ver la crucifixión como la matanza de Jesús, y de hecho lo fue, pero eligió entregar su espíritu. Podría haber brincado de esa cruz en cualquier momento, pero eligió dar su último suspiro. Mi hermano compartió conmigo un pensamiento adicional sobre este pasaje. Normalmente, las personas expiran primero y luego su cabeza cae sobre el pecho, pero Jesús inclinó la cabeza primero, en un último acto de humildad y sumisión a la voluntad del Padre, y luego murió.

Nuestras lecturas de hoy hablan de esta entrega total y completa. “¡Ay de ustedes, los que se sienten seguros en Sión…!”. (Amós 6,4), y “lleva una vida de rectitud, piedad, fe, amor, paciencia y mansedumbre. Lucha en el noble combate de la fe, conquista la vida eterna a la que has sido llamado… te ordeno que cumplas fiel e irreprochablemente, todo lo mandado” (1 Timoteo 6). Luego, Jesús nos llama a la generosidad y al arrepentimiento con la parábola de Lázaro y el hombre rico en el Evangelio.

Ninguna de estas lecturas nos anima a simplemente ser buenas personas. Ninguna nos invita a cumplir con el statu quo. Ninguna nos pide que demos un poco de lo que nos sobra, ya que sea tiempo, talento o dinero. Más bien, nos invitan a huir de la complacencia y a luchar en noble combate por la fe. Nos mandan a vivir de forma fiel e irreprochable. ¡Esto implica una entrega radical!

Y si bien este cambio de estilo de vida sin duda requerirá sacrificio, también traerá una libertad y una alegría indescriptibles. Porque las únicas decisiones que tomemos serán las que tomemos con el Señor y los únicos caminos que andamos serán los que seguimos en sus huellas.

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Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Learning / El aprendizaje

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There are times in life when we have to learn new things. There always seems to be some trepidation to do so because then we might make a mistake and disappoint someone. But we are imperfect beings, and the only perfect One is God.

Over the past three years, I’ve had to change my exercise routine due to chronic back pain. The doctor recommended I do only three kinds of exercise: swimming, walking, and biking. I tried the last two without success because they caused even more pain until it became unbearable. The only option left was swimming, but there was a big problem: I didn’t know how to swim. I had only taken one swimming class during summer vacation 35 years prior. The other problem is if I don’t exercise at all, I gain weight very quickly.

I had no other choice; I had to learn to swim at 45 years of age. I was a self-taught student; I would search for information on YouTube and then go to a pool at the Community Center near my house to put it into practice. One of my teachers used to say, “Definition and practice, otherwise you won’t make progress.” The first week I held onto a pool noodle hoping with all my might not to sink to the bottom of the 10-foot pool. Every time I finished, I thanked God for making it out alive. Little by little, I gained more confidence and the perseverance to reach my goal, which was to swim better than the day before. After nine months, I was able to swim freestyle consistently without any kind of flotation device. 

In today’s Gospel, we see an example of the fact that we can always continue learning, but we don’t always take advantage of the opportunities that come our way. Jesus tries to warn the disciples that He is about to be handed over to His Passion, but they don’t understand. The passage ends with the words, “and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.” The same thing can happen to us. We could have the opportunity to learn, but out of fear, being afraid of looking foolish or shame for not having learned it before, we don’t ask.

As long as we have life within us, we can continue learning every day. Many times we have to put our fears aside to give it a try. God is waiting for us to swim alongside Him. Every day He has a message for us in our daily prayers; He always has something to tell us so we can continue learning. We need to have that thirst to follow His will and walk hand in hand with Him. He will not let us drown in our problems. God is our Teacher through every stroke of life and our salvation.

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Hay momentos en la vida donde uno tiene que aprender nuevas cosas. Siempre hay algún temor de hacerlo porque es algo natural del ser humano de querer no equivocarse y provocar alguna decepción. Pero somos seres imperfectos, lo cual el único perfecto es Dios. 

En los últimos tres años tuve que cambiar de rutina de ejercicios por el dolor de espalda que estoy sufriendo. El doctor me recomendó solo tres ejercicios: nadar, caminar y bicicleta, de los cuales intenté los últimos dos sin tener éxito porque el dolor aumentaba y era insoportable. La única opción que quedaba era nadar, pero había un gran problema, no sabía nadar. Solo había tomado una clase de natación en las vacaciones escolares hace 35 años. El otro problema era si no hago ningún ejercicio, subo de peso rápidamente. 

No quedaba de otra, había que aprender a nadar a mis 45 años. Tuve que ser autodidacta, buscando información en YouTube e ir a nadar en una piscina en un club cerca de mi casa  para ponerla en práctica. Un profesor de mi escuela decía “definición y práctica, sino no se avanza”. La primera semana estaba agarrado a un flotador con la esperanza de no hundirme en las profundidades de la piscina que eran 10 pies. Cada vez que terminaba, agradecía a Dios por salir vivo de la piscina. Poco a poco fui teniendo más confianza y constancia para llegar a mi meta, que era poder nadar mejor que antes. Después de nueve meses, puedo nadar el estilo libre constantemente sin necesidad del flotador. 

En el Evangelio de hoy, vemos un ejemplo del hecho de que siempre podemos seguir aprendiendo, pero no siempre aprovechamos de ella. Jesus intenta advertir a los discípulos que iba a ser entregado a su pasión pero no entienden. Termina con las palabras, “Y tenían miedo de preguntarle acerca de este asunto”. Lo mismo puede pasar con nosotros. Podríamos tener la oportunidad de aprender, pero por miedo, por temor a parecernos tontos, por vergüenza a no haberlo aprendido anteriormente, no preguntamos.    

Mientras tengamos vida, podemos seguir aprendiendo cada día. Muchas veces tenemos que dejar nuestros miedos a un costado para intentarlo. Dios nos está esperando para que nademos junto a Él. Todos los días tiene un mensaje en las oraciones diarias, siempre tiene algo que decirnos para seguir aprendiendo. No somos seres perfectos, más bien necesitamos tener esa sed de seguir su voluntad y caminar de la mano junto a Él. No nos va a dejar ahogarnos en los problemas. Dios es nuestro Maestro de vida y nuestra salvación.

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Felix Urcia was born in Lima, Peru. He moved the U.S. to complete his college degree in Computer Science at Northern Kentucky University. He is passionate about his faith, his family, education and soccer. When he is not homeschooling and caring for his young children he enjoys personal programing projects and sports analysis. He and wife live in a small town in Western Michigan where they enjoy spending time with their five children.

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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God Speaks Through the Prophets / Dios Habla a Través de los Profetas

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Many people want to know their future. They can’t wait for life to unfold; they need to know now: “How will my life turn out?” Impatiently, they want a quick fix, an easy answer. Some lose faith when they have no tangible evidence that God has heard their cries for help. And so in haste, they might try to get advice from ungodly people who claim to know it all. They might even pay a psychic who tries to tell their future. They choose to do that instead of turning to God in prayer. But there will only be a good outcome if it comes from a godly source. 

The Lord of hosts, through the prophet Haggai says, “Greater will be the future glory of this house than the former…” What a great proclamation to hear! How reassuring to hear from God that the future will be even brighter than the past. The people had come out of Egypt and had heard God’s promises, but it was still easy to get discouraged, so He reassured them through the prophets. Haggai also encourages them, “And take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work!” 

We too can hang onto the words of encouragement from Haggai. Let God know your petitions and your pains. Trust that he can make the present and/or the future greater than the past. 

If we have faith, we won’t waiver nor give up. We will keep working, doing, preparing, and building. We do our part and God does the rest. God used His prophets to carry His messages in the Old Testament and He still sends messengers to share His Word with us today.

In today’s Gospel, some also thought of Jesus as, “One of the ancient prophets”. They thought He was John the Baptist or Elijah. But Peter affirms that He is “The Christ of God.” Jesus is not just another prophet; He is the Son of God. That is an even greater proclamation for us to hear!

Today, we venerate the lives of Saints Cosmas and Damian. They were twin brothers, and both physicians and martyrs. If you know of anyone who has an upcoming surgery, you can pray to them for a successful outcome. They are the patron saints of physicians, pharmacists and surgeons (as well as blindness, kidney stones, and hernias). As I write this, I happen to know someone about to have hernia surgery, so I’d like to take a moment to pray for them and anyone else with upcoming surgeries.

Cosmas and Damian, I pray for your intercession for successful surgeries for these individuals. May the patients recover well and find themselves in better health than they were before. All the glory be to God for all His goodness.

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Muchas personas anhelan conocer su futuro. No pueden esperar a que la vida se desarrolle; quieren saberlo ya: “¿Cómo va a terminar mi vida?” Con impaciencia, buscan una solución rápida, una respuesta fácil. Algunos pierden la fe al no tener evidencia tangible de que Dios ha escuchado sus súplicas. Por eso, apresurados, buscan consejo en personas impías que dicen saberlo todo. Incluso pagan a un vidente que intenta predecir su futuro. Eligen eso en lugar de acudir a Dios en la oración. Pero solo habrá un buen resultado si proviene de una fuente divina.

El Señor de los ejércitos, por medio del profeta Ageo, dice: “La gloria de este segundo templo será mayor que la del primero…” ¡Qué gran proclamación! Qué reconfortante es escuchar de Dios que el futuro será aún mejor que el pasado. El pueblo había salido de Egipto y había escuchado las promesas de Dios, pero aún así era fácil desanimarse, así que los tranquilizó a través de los profetas. Ageo también los motiva diciendo: “¡ánimo!, pueblo entero. ¡Manos a la obra!, porque yo estoy con ustedes, dice el Señor”.

Nosotros también podemos recobrar fuerzas de las palabras de aliento de Ageo. Comparta con Dios tus peticiones y tus dolencias. Confía en que puede hacer que el presente y/o el futuro sean mejores que el pasado.

Si tenemos fe, no titubeamos ni nos rendiremos. Seguiremos trabajando, haciendo, preparándonos y construyendo. Hacemos de nuestra parte y Dios hace el resto. Dios utilizó a sus profetas para llevar sus mensajes en el Antiguo Testamento y todavía envía mensajeros para compartir su Palabra con nosotros hoy.

En el Evangelio de hoy, algunos también pensaban en Jesús como “uno de los antiguos profetas”. Pensaban que era Juan el Bautista o Elías. Pero Pedro afirma que es “El Mesías de Dios”. Jesús no es un profeta más; es el Hijo de Dios. ¡Esa es una proclamación aún más grande para nosotros!

Hoy veneramos la vida de los santos Cosme y Damián. Fueron hermanos gemelos, ambos médicos y mártires. Si conoces a alguien que vaya a tener una cirugía, puedes rezarles para que tenga un resultado exitoso. Son los santos patronos de los médicos, farmacéuticos y cirujanos (así como de la ceguera, los cálculos renales y las hernias). Mientras escribo esto, conozco a alguien que va a ser operado de una hernia, así que me gustaría dedicar un momento a rezar por ella y por cualquier otra persona que tenga cirugías programadas.

Cosme y Damián, les pido su intercesión para que estas personas tengan cirugías exitosas. Que los pacientes se recuperen bien y se encuentren con mejor salud que antes. Que a Dios sea toda la gloria por toda su bondad.

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Christine Arata is a San Francisco, California native. She lives a few blocks away from the ocean and a park. She finds nature inspiring. Her cat brings her comfort. She loves being creative not only with her writing but with almost everything, including her home cooking. Her studies in the Catholic faith are ongoing. In 2019, when she discovered St. Hildegard of Bingen was underrepresented by Catholics, she found a purpose. Her latest website, St. Hildegard’s Wisdom features blog posts about all of that: https://sthildegardswisdom.com.

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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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The Kingdom of God Amid Darkness / El Reino de Dios en medio de la oscuridad

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I would love to have been a fly on the wall of the inner rooms of Herod’s palace as he tried to make sense of the coming of the Kingdom. The Good News was changing the culture right under Herod’s nose, and he knew nothing about what was going on. Reports began streaming in from all over that people were being healed and devils were being driven out. Joy was reaching a fever-pitch as the people recognized the presence of the Kingdom of God dethroning the powers that held the world in their grasp. “What’s going on? Who are these people?” 

Jesus did not send his Apostles out to overthrow Herod or to start covert operations against the tax collectors who were oppressing the people or to begin a political movement. Jesus had a different strategy here. He sent his disciples then just like He charges us today to go and announce the Good News that Christ has come as a light into the darkness of a fallen world. 

When we are faithful we, like the disciples, see God at work in our own lives and we know the joy of seeing fellow captives set free. We have the privilege of gathering others into the heavenly society of God’s Church through baptism, which will open to them the door of the sacraments that leads to the eternal banquet of heaven. As we spiritually accompany people into the Kingdom, we see on each of their faces the joy of finally realizing they are seen and loved by Jesus, who has given His life for them and feeds them with the Eucharist.

The disciples did their job so well that the news made it to Herod’s palace and made him nervous. Someone was satisfying the hearts of the people in his jurisdiction and setting them free, despite his oppressive policies. He no longer had power over them. He had no idea who was at the bottom of all this truly subversive activity, but something about it made him curious to find out who it was. 

As we proclaim the Good News to others, as we heal the sick of heart and uplift the sorrowful, as we bring people to the Eucharist and help them find the mercy of Jesus, there will be a growing fever-pitch of joy in society. As others see the radiance on the faces of those we have awakened with the Good News, they too will want to see who is at the root of this truly subversive activity. And the Kingdom of God will take root directly within the darkness of those who, often without knowing it, are still yearning for communion with the God who made them.

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Me hubiera encantado ser una mosca en la pared de los aposentos del palacio de Herodes mientras intentaba comprender la llegada del Reino. La Buena Nueva estaba cambiando la cultura ante su propia nariz de Herodes, y él no sabía nada de lo que estaba sucediendo. Comenzaron a llegar informes de todas partes sobre la sanación de personas y la expulsión de demonios. La alegría entre la gente estaba al máximo al reconocer la presencia del Reino de Dios, destronando a los poderes que dominaban el mundo. “¿Qué está pasando? ¿Quiénes son estas personas?”

Jesús no envió a sus apóstoles a derrocar a Herodes ni a iniciar operaciones encubiertas contra los recaudadores de impuestos que oprimían al pueblo, ni a iniciar un movimiento político. Jesús tenía una estrategia diferente. Envió a sus discípulos entonces, tal como nos encarga hoy, a ir y anunciar la Buena Nueva de que Cristo ha venido como luz en la oscuridad de un mundo caído. 

Cuando somos fieles, al igual que los discípulos, podemos ver a Dios obrar en nuestras vidas y conocer la alegría de ver a los cautivos liberados. Tenemos el privilegio de reunir a otros en la sociedad celestial de la Iglesia de Dios mediante el bautismo, que les abrirá la puerta de los sacramentos que conducen al banquete eterno del cielo. Al acompañar espiritualmente a las personas hacia el Reino, vemos en los rostros de cada uno la alegría de finalmente darse cuenta de que son vistos y amados por Jesús, quien dio su vida por ellos y los alimenta con la Eucaristía.

Los discípulos hicieron su trabajo tan bien que la noticia llegó al palacio de Herodes y lo puso nervioso. Alguien estaba satisfaciendo los corazones de las personas bajo su jurisdicción y liberándolas, a pesar de sus políticas opresivas. Ya no tenía poder sobre ellos. No tenía idea de quién estaba detrás de toda esta actividad verdaderamente subversiva, pero algo en ello despertó su curiosidad por descubrir quién era. 

Al proclamar la Buena Nueva, al sanar a los enfermos de corazón y animar a los afligidos, al acercar a las personas a la Eucaristía y ayudarlas a encontrar la misericordia de Jesús, se intensificará la alegría en la sociedad. Al ver el resplandor en los rostros de quienes hemos despertado con la Buena Nueva, también querrán ver quién está detrás de esta actividad verdaderamente subversiva. Y el Reino de Dios se arraigará directamente en la oscuridad de quienes, a menudo sin saberlo, aún anhelan la comunión con el Dios que los creó.

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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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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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Missionary Disciples / Discípulos misioneros

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This may come as a shock to some, but each person reading this is called to be a missionary disciple. Your mission field is the person sitting next to you, the one you just spoke with and whomever you encounter next in your day. In our Gospel today, Jesus sends the twelve disciples out into the world. They were both disciples and missionaries. As followers of Christ, we fall into this same category.

In the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis explained: “Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’, but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’” (#120).

We can look to today’s Gospel for how to go about fulfilling this call. Jesus asks his disciples to do a few things that we can do in our everyday lives:

  1. He tells them to preach the Kingdom of God. What does that look like? It’s sharing the Good News of Jesus, of his love and mercy, of God’s love and faithfulness, of the sacraments, the Church, prayer, the saints – it’s being excited to share our faith!
  2. He tells them to heal the sick. In Jesus’ time, a sick person was not considered a full member of the community. There was a whole series of purification rituals necessary for someone to re-enter ordinary life and especially the life of worship in the community. By healing the sick, Jesus is asking his disciples to restore people back into their communities. When considered in this light, there are many opportunities to reach out to those on the margins of society. We can visit the sick, including them in our time and efforts. We can reach out to the person sitting alone at lunch or offer to carpool with a lonely co-worker. 
  3. He tells them to take nothing but the basics for the journey. This one is challenging for today’s materialistic society. It has always been challenging, regardless of the historical period, and it is supposed to be. Jesus is insisting that His disciples rely on God’s providence and on the people they will encounter. How well do we trust God to provide for us? How open are we with our family, friends, and neighbors when we are in need? Are things always “fine” or can we be honest when they are not?

No matter who you are and how widely you travel, you have been called and chosen to go on a mission for God. As a disciple of Jesus, He wishes you to go and announce the Good News of the Kingdom and to help bring everyone into right relationship with one another and with God. 

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Puede resultar chocante para algunos, pero cada persona que lee esto está llamada a ser un discípulo misionero. Tu campo de misión es la persona que tienes a tu lado, con la que acabas de hablar y con quienquiera que te encuentres a continuación en tu día. En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús envía a los doce discípulos al mundo. Eran discípulos y misioneros. Como seguidores de Cristo, nosotros también pertenecemos a esta misma categoría.

En la exhortación apostólica Evangelii Gaudium, el Papa Francisco explicó que hay “un llamado dirigido a cada cristiano, para que nadie postergue su compromiso con la evangelización, pues si uno de verdad ha hecho una experiencia del amor de Dios que lo salva, no necesita mucho tiempo de preparación para salir a anunciarlo, no puede esperar que le den muchos cursos o largas instrucciones. Todo cristiano es misionero en la medida en que se ha encontrado con el amor de Dios en Cristo Jesús; ya no decimos que somos ‘discípulos’ y ‘misioneros’, sino que somos siempre ‘discípulos misioneros’” (#120).

Podemos leer el Evangelio de hoy para saber cómo cumplir con este llamado. Jesús pide a sus discípulos que hagan algunas cosas que nosotros podemos hacer en la vida diaria también:

  1. Les dice que prediquen el Reino de Dios. ¿En qué consiste eso? Es compartir la Buena Nueva de Jesús, su amor y misericordia, el amor y la fidelidad de Dios, los sacramentos, la Iglesia, la oración, los santos; ¡es sentir entusiasmo por compartir la fe!
  2. Les dice que sanen a los enfermos. En tiempos de Jesús, un enfermo no era considerado miembro de pleno derecho de la comunidad. Existían toda una serie de rituales de purificación necesarios para reincorporarse a la vida cotidiana, y especialmente a la vida de culto en la comunidad. Al sanar a los enfermos, Jesús pide a sus discípulos que reintegren a las personas a sus comunidades. Desde esta perspectiva, existen muchas oportunidades para llegar a quienes viven al margen de la sociedad. Podemos visitar a los enfermos, incluyéndolos en nuestro tiempo y esfuerzo. Podemos acercarnos a la persona que está almorzando a solas u ofrecernos a recoger a un compañero que se siente solo para irnos juntos al trabajo. 
  3. Les dice que no lleven nada más que lo básico para el viaje. Esto es un desafío para la sociedad materialista actual. Siempre lo ha sido, independientemente del período histórico, y se supone que lo sea. Jesús insiste en que sus discípulos confíen en la providencia de Dios y en las personas que encontrarán. ¿Cuánta confianza le tenemos a Dios para que nos provea? ¿Cuán abiertos somos con nuestra familia, amigos y vecinos cuando necesitamos algo? ¿Siempre va “todo bien” o podemos ser honestos cuando no lo está?

No importa quién seas ni cuán lejos viajes, has sido llamado y elegido para ir en una misión para Dios. Como discípulo de Jesús, Él desea que vayas y anuncies la Buena Nueva del Reino y que ayudes a todos a tener una relación correcta entre sí y con Dios.

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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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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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My Mother and My Brothers / Mi madre y mis hermanos

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Let’s get something cleared up right away: Jesus certainly had a mother, but did he also have brothers? In other words, did Mary have other children after Jesus? The Church’s clear answer from the very beginning is no. Mary did not have other children. So why does Jesus refer to several of the disciples (namely James, Joseph, Simon, and Jude, see Mt 13:55 and Mk 6:3) as “brothers”?

Neither Hebrew nor Aramaic had a special word for “cousin,” so they often used the word “brother.” The Greek word “adelphos” can be translated as “brother” or “half-brother” or “cousin”. In the Old Testament, it could refer to any male relative from whom you are not descended (those would be referred to as “fathers”) and who are not descended from you (those would be referred to as “sons”). It covers a whole range of relatives, including cousins, members by marriage or law rather than blood, and even friends or political allies. Blood kinship was not as neatly categorized in Jewish culture as it is today; relatives were part of your tribe, which is what mattered.

For certain, Jesus had no full brothers, because Joseph was not his biological father (Matt 1:18; Lk 1:26-35). When Jesus was found in the Temple at age 12, the context suggests He was the only son of Mary and Joseph. Later, the James called Jesus’ “brother” is identified as “the son of Alphaeus,” which points to His being a cousin; likewise, another Mary is named as the mother of James and Joseph (Matt 27:56). And even when we hear these men referred to as Jesus’ brethren, they are never called “Mary’s sons” as Jesus is. 

Thus, the Church maintains that Mary, as a perpetual virgin, had no other biological children, before or after Jesus, which is the point of today’s Gospel. In response to the presence of His family outside the place Jesus is preaching, Jesus says that His family is all those “who hear the word of God and act on it.” This is what Mary did. This is who Mary is: one who heard the word, said YES, and conformed her whole life to the will of God manifested in it. As “the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38), she trusted that God could do all things in her and through her; and God made her the mother of the Lord.

In a similar way, the Lord wants to draw each of us into the intimacy of His Heart. We are each called to hear His Word and act on it, so that we can truly be members of His family, who are loved and who love, and who know the way home.

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Vamos a aclarar algo de inmediato: Jesús ciertamente tuvo una madre, pero ¿tuvo también hermanos? En otras palabras, ¿tuvo María otros hijos después de Jesús? La respuesta clara de la Iglesia desde el principio es no. María no tuvo otros hijos. Entonces, ¿por qué Jesús se refiere a varios de los discípulos (Santiago, José, Simón y Judas; véan a Mateo 13,55 y Marcos 6,3) como “hermanos”?

Ni el hebreo ni el arameo tenían una palabra específica para “primo”, por lo que a menudo usaban la palabra “hermano”. La palabra griega “adelphos” puede traducirse como “hermano”, “medio hermano” o “primo”. En el Antiguo Testamento, podía referirse a cualquier pariente varón del que no se desciende (a estos se les llamaría “padres”) y que no desciende de uno propio (a estos se les llamaría “hijos”). Abarca un rango amplio de parientes, incluyendo primos, miembros por matrimonio o ley en lugar de sangre, e incluso amigos o aliados políticos. El parentesco consanguíneo no estaba tan claramente categorizado en la cultura judía como lo está hoy; los parientes eran miembros de la tribu, y eso era lo que importaba.

Es cierto que Jesús no tenía hermanos biológicos porque José no era su padre biológico (Mt 1,18 y Lc 1,26-35). Cuando Jesús fue encontrado en el Templo a los 12 años, el contexto sugiere que era el único hijo de María y José. Más tarde, Santiago, llamado “hermano” de Jesús, es identificado como “el hijo de Alfeo”, lo que indica que era primo suyo; asimismo, otra María es nombrada como la madre de Santiago y José (Mt 27:56). E incluso cuando oímos que se refieren a estos hombres como hermanos de Jesús, nunca se les llama “hijos de María”, como a Jesús. 

Así, la Iglesia sostiene que María, como virgen perpetua, no tuvo otros hijos biológicos, ni antes ni después de Jesús, lo cual es el punto central del Evangelio de hoy. En respuesta a la presencia de su familia fuera del lugar donde Jesús predica, Jesús dice que su familia son todos aquellos que “escuchan la palabra de Dios y la ponen en práctica”. Esto es lo que hizo María. Así es María, la que escuchó la palabra, dijo “sí” y conformó toda su vida a la voluntad de Dios manifestada en ella. Como “esclava del Señor” (Lc 1,38), confió en que Dios todo lo podía en ella y a través de ella; y Dios la hizo madre del Señor.

De forma semejante, el Señor quiere atraernos a cada uno de nosotros a la intimidad de su Corazón. Cada uno de nosotros está llamado a escuchar su Palabra y ponerla en práctica, para que podamos ser verdaderamente miembros de su familia, amados y amantes, y que conozcan el camino a casa.

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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 eleven 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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The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.