Posted on

Priest, Prophet and King / Sacerdote, profeta y rey

Click here for daily readings

While praying through the readings for today the last couple lines stood out to me. “When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” At first I had no idea why this specific line would keep coming to my attention, but as I reflected more I realized that we have all been given authority by God. The question is, do we use that authority to preach the Good News. 

All of us at our baptism were baptized into the offices of priest, prophet, and king. Though these roles may look slightly different for all of us depending on our stages in life, we all have them. It is interesting to hear in the Gospel that the scribes had forgotten any authority they had or at least were not putting it into practice. Maybe sometimes we struggle with that same problem. Often we can think of baptism just as the sacrament that forgives our sins and opens salvation, but it is much more than that. 

Baptism makes us part of a family and within that family we have certain responsibilities and authority. Now you might be asking yourself what the priesthood role has to do with you if you are not a priest? Or how does a king apply to me? Aren’t kings just an old-school method of governance? 

Well let’s break these down one at a time. First, a priest’s role is to make the commonplace holy. This is what he does during every Mass with the bread and wine. Although we are not going to be consecrating the Eucharist, we should be asking ourselves how we can make the commonplace holy in our day to day lives. How can we bless the people God has given us to care for? 

Second, a prophet is one who has faith that what God says is true and then communicates that message to others. We can do the same thing. We can have that same amount of faith to trust God with our whole lives and then invite people into that beautiful mystery by proclaiming the Good News. 

Finally, a king is one who has power over their domain. For many of us our domain might be our family. It might be various relationships we have in our lives. Or it might even be our own body. A good ruler is one who takes care of his kingdom. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit that we have been given to take care of. Are we acting like a good king and making sure we are taking care of our “kingdom” or are we stuffing our temple with garbage in our words, thoughts, and actions? 

I think all of us can benefit from taking a moment today to reflect inwardly and see how we can use the offices of our baptism to better serve the Church. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

Mientras rezaba con las lecturas de hoy, me llamaron la atención las últimas dos líneas: “Cuando Jesús terminó de hablar, la gente quedó asombrada de su doctrina, porque les enseñaba como quien tiene autoridad y no como los escribas”. Al principio no tenía idea de por qué esta línea específica me seguía llamando la atención, pero al reflexionar más me di cuenta de que Dios nos ha otorgado autoridad a todos. La pregunta es: ¿utilizamos esa autoridad para predicar la Buena Nueva?

Todos nosotros, en nuestro bautismo, fuimos bautizados en los oficios de sacerdote, profeta y rey. Aunque estos roles pueden parecer un poco diferentes para cada uno de nosotros según nuestras etapas de la vida, todos los tenemos. Es interesante escuchar en el Evangelio que los escribas se habían olvidado de cualquier autoridad que tuvieran o al menos no la estaban poniendo en práctica. Quizás a veces batallamos con ese mismo problema. A menudo podemos pensar en el bautismo simplemente como el sacramento que perdona nuestros pecados y abre la salvación, pero es mucho más que eso.

El bautismo nos hace parte de una familia y dentro de esa familia tenemos ciertas responsabilidades y autoridad. Ahora bien, puede que te preguntes qué tiene que ver contigo el papel del sacerdocio si no eres sacerdote. ¿O cómo se aplica un rey a mí? ¿No son los reyes simplemente un método antiguo de gobierno?

Bueno, analicemos estos puntos uno por uno. En primer lugar, el papel de un sacerdote es santificar lo cotidiano. Esto es lo que hace durante cada misa con el pan y el vino. Aunque no vamos a consagrar la Eucaristía, deberíamos preguntarnos cómo podemos santificar lo cotidiano en nuestra vida diaria. ¿Cómo podemos bendecir a las personas que Dios nos ha dado para cuidar?

En segundo lugar, un profeta es alguien que tiene fe en que lo que Dios dice es verdad y luego comunica ese mensaje a los demás. Nosotros podemos hacer lo mismo. Podemos tener la misma cantidad de fe para confiarle a Dios toda nuestra vida y luego invitar a las personas a ese hermoso misterio proclamando la Buena Nueva.

Finalmente, un rey es alguien que tiene poder sobre su reino. Para muchos de nosotros, nuestro reino puede ser la familia, las diversas relaciones que tenemos en la vida o incluso nuestro propio cuerpo. Un buen gobernante es aquel que cuida de su reino. Nuestro cuerpo es un templo del Espíritu Santo que se nos ha dado para que cuidemos. ¿Estamos actuando como un buen rey y nos aseguramos de cuidar nuestro “reino” o estamos llenando nuestro templo de basura con nuestras palabras, pensamientos y acciones?

Creo que todos podemos beneficiarnos de tomarnos un momento hoy para reflexionar interiormente y ver cómo podemos utilizar los oficios del bautismo para servir mejor a la Iglesia.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Josh Applegate, unsplash.com/photos/toddler-baptized-mjn1LcoU1Cw

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.

Posted on

Action Follows Being / Primero ser, luego actuar

Click here for daily readings

Have you ever felt like a failure or a hypocrite? I can remember the first big event that I gave a talk for and I underestimated how different it was to talk in front of a youth group of 15 people as opposed to 300. Though I think it went well, I certainly felt like I jumped into something and had to see it out to prove to myself and others that I could do it. We all do this time and again where we want to try to prove our worth.

The sequence of events typically goes something like acting in order to enter into a relationship in order to prove worth or dignity. This is how people try to climb the ladder at their jobs or how they often ask people out on a date. The model that Christ gives us flips this train of thought on its head.

Today is the birthday of the Church, Pentecost, and we see the Apostles cowering in the Upper Room. They are probably thinking that they have to prove themselves. They are terrified, but you can almost feel their desperation to come up with the next step to take in order to keep their relationship with Jesus and prove their worth.

Once again, Jesus knows better. Instead of first expecting something from them, He shows them who they are, then doubles down on the relationship, and then expects them to act. There is a philosophical idea that action follows being. If we believe that we are truly made in the image and likeness of God then we’ll start acting in accord with what a child of God would do.

This is the lesson He gives the Apostles. He knows they are afraid and instead of asking them to come up with a plan to prove themselves, He gives them the power of the Holy Spirit. He shows them that first and foremost they have dignity, then He shows them the relationship He has with them, and then they have the confidence to go out and preach the Good News.

The Holy Spirit does the same for us today. If we are ever feeling like we have to prove ourselves or like we are hypocrites, it is time to pray to the Holy Spirit. In this way we will realize our immense worth, we will be grounded in our relationship with God, and we will have the courage, just like the Apostles did, to act.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

¿Alguna vez te has sentido un fracasado o un hipócrita? Me acuerdo del primer gran evento en el que di una charla y subestimé lo diferente que era hablar frente a un grupo de jóvenes de 15 personas en lugar de 300 personas. Aunque creo que salió bien, ciertamente sentí que me había lanzado a algo y que tenía que llevarlo hasta el final para demostrarme a mí mismo y a los demás que podía hacerlo. Todos hacemos esto una y otra vez cuando queremos intentar demostrar nuestro valor.

La secuencia de eventos suele ser algo así como actuar para formar una relación con el fin de demostrar nuestro valor o dignidad. Así es como las personas intentan ascender en sus trabajos o cómo a menudo invitan a la gente a salir. El modelo que Cristo nos da voltea esta línea de pensamiento.

Hoy es el cumpleaños de la Iglesia, Pentecostés, y vemos a los Apóstoles encogiéndose de miedo en el Cenáculo. Probablemente estén pensando que tienen que demostrar su valor. Están aterrorizados, pero es casi palpable su desesperación por encontrar el siguiente paso que dar para mantener su relación con Jesús y demostrar su valor.

De nuevo, Jesús sabe mejor que ellos. En lugar de esperar algo de ellos primero, les demuestra quiénes son, luego pone aún más énfasis en la relación y luego espera que actúen. Existe una idea filosófica que dice primero ser, luego actuar. Si creemos que realmente estamos hechos a imagen y semejanza de Dios, entonces comenzaremos a actuar de acuerdo con lo que haría un hijo de Dios.

Esta es la lección que les da a los apóstoles. Él sabe que tienen miedo y en lugar de pedirles que elaboren un plan para demostrar su valor, les da el poder del Espíritu Santo. Les demuestra que, ante todo, tienen dignidad, luego les demuestra la relación que Él tiene para con ellos y después tienen la confianza para salir y predicar la Buena Nueva.

El Espíritu Santo hace lo mismo con nosotros hoy. Si alguna vez sentimos que tenemos que demostrar nuestro valor o que somos hipócritas, es hora de orar al Espíritu Santo. De esta manera nos daremos cuenta de nuestro inmenso valor, nos afianzaremos en nuestra relación con Dios y tendremos la valentía, como los Apóstoles, de actuar.

Ven, Espíritu Santo, llena los corazones de tus fieles y enciende en ellos el fuego de tu amor. Envía tu Espíritu Creador, y renovarás la faz de la tierra.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: James Wheeler, unsplash.com/photos/woman-walking-in-forest-with-child-RRZM3cwS1DU

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.

Posted on

The Model of Holiness / El modelo de santidad

Click here for daily readings

One of the most beautiful parts of our wedding day was when we washed each other’s feet at the reception. This has become a pretty common thing in Catholic circles and we wanted to show each other that we would be willing to serve. More than that though, we really did it for all of the people who came to our reception. We knew that many of them did not believe in a sacramental view of marriage, since some were not even Christian or weren’t practicing a specific religion. So we did this as a witness to others of what marriage should be. 

In the Gospel today we see Jesus giving this witness. Way before we had the idea, Jesus sat His disciples down and showed them through this action what it meant to lead and what it meant to serve. Have you ever looked at a beautiful stained glass window for any length of time? I used to work at a small little church out in the middle of nowhere that had the most beautiful stained glass. When the light hit the glass it would illuminate the story being told. Images do that for us. They let our imagination come alive. 

All throughout our Catholic tradition we have people who were models for us in the faith. We even call Mary the living icon of the Church because she reflects the love of her Son to the world. But in today’s Gospel we see Jesus as the model. Unlike holy sacramentals like statues, candles, and stained glass, Jesus is both an image of what to do, and the One who helps us do it. 

This is why Scripture is clear that He is the sacrifice and the priest all rolled into one. In the Alleluia verse for today we even hear that Jesus is a faithful witness but also the sacrifice who freed us from sin. 

Here in this 4th week of Easter, let’s take a step back and reflect on the past few weeks. Have we allowed God to be the example we need? Have we allowed His love to enter into our hearts? Have we allowed His sacrifice to change us and cleanse us? Stained glass will only have an effect on us if we look at it. Are you looking at Jesus to learn from His example and also thanking Him for giving you the grace to follow Him? Am I?

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

Uno de los momentos más hermosos de nuestro día de bodas fue cuando mi esposa y yo lavamos los pies el uno al otro durante la recepción. Esto se ha convertido en algo bastante común en los círculos católicos y queríamos demostrarnos mutuamente que estaríamos dispuestos a servir. Pero más que eso, realmente lo hicimos por todas las personas que vinieron a la recepción. Sabíamos que muchos de ellos no creían en una visión sacramental del matrimonio, ya que algunos ni siquiera eran cristianos o no practicaban una religión específica. Así que lo hicimos como un testimonio para otros de lo que debería ser el matrimonio.

En el Evangelio de hoy vemos a Jesús dando este testimonio. Mucho antes de que tuviéramos la idea, Jesús sentó a sus discípulos y les mostró a través de esta acción lo que significaba guiar y lo que significaba servir. ¿Alguna vez te has detenido a mirar un hermoso vitral? Antes trabajaba en una iglesia pequeña en una área remota que tenía unos vitrales muy hermosos. Cuando la luz golpeaba el vidrio, iluminaba la historia que se contaba. Eso es lo que hacen las imágenes. Hacen despertar a la imaginación.

Dentro de toda la tradición católica tenemos personas que fueron modelos en la fe. Incluso llamamos a María el icono viviente de la Iglesia porque refleja el amor de su Hijo al mundo. Pero en el Evangelio de hoy vemos a Jesús como el modelo. A diferencia de los sacramentales sagrados como las estatuas, las velas y los vitrales, Jesús es a la vez una imagen de lo que debemos hacer y Aquel que nos ayuda a hacerlo.

Por eso la Escritura es clara en que Jesús es ambos el sacrificio y el sacerdote, los dos en uno. Incluso en la Aclamación antes del Evangelio de hoy escuchamos que Jesús es un testigo fiel, pero también el sacrificio que nos liberó del pecado. 

En esta cuarta semana de Pascua, demos un paso atrás y reflexionemos sobre las últimas semanas. ¿Hemos permitido que Dios sea el ejemplo que necesitamos? ¿Hemos permitido que Su amor entre en nuestros corazones? ¿Hemos permitido que Su sacrificio nos cambie y nos limpie? Los vitrales sólo tendrán un efecto dentro de nosotros si los miramos. ¿Estás mirando a Jesús para aprender de su ejemplo y también agradeciéndole por darte la gracia de seguirlo? ¿Lo estoy haciendo yo también?

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios te bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Mateus Campos Felipe, unsplash.com/photos/religious-stained-glass-yZu0dWSplXM

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.

Posted on

Our Full Potential / Nuestro máximo potencial

Click here for daily readings

Do you ever feel like you are no good or are not living up to your full potential? This is a classic effect of a fallen world that many, if not all of us, struggle with. We do not feel like we are good enough or worth as much as we could be. Of course, this is not true, but it is sometimes hard to believe the truth. 

When we struggle with this belief, the story of Paul from today’s first reading can be quite consoling. Here is a man who was actively persecuting Christians. Acts chapter 9 makes it very clear that he does not only hate the Christians, but he is breathing murderous threats against them. It is pretty astounding that we read about how treacherous Paul was in the very same book that was later written by him. 

In other words, God knew his full potential. Even if Paul felt that his purpose in life was to murder innocent people, God had bigger plans for him. It’s interesting to note that the invitation for Paul to live his life to the fullest came directly from God, not from anything that Paul did. No amount of self reflection or insight changed his behavior. Instead, God extended him a simple invitation. 

Now, it doesn’t hurt that God also made him blind and showed him wonders beyond his wildest dreams so he would come to believe. That is Paul’s story. What is yours? What is mine? What is God calling us to that we have not yet given our yes to? I find that the best way to get out of the rut of thinking that we are not living up to our full potential is by asking God what our full potential is. We are only going to find that in Him because He gave us our potential. 

During this Easter season, let’s take a moment to reflect on what more God is calling us to and how we can actively participate in the beautiful mysteries that God has placed before us. We might just come to find out that the things He has called us to will take us places we never dreamed of. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

¿Alguna vez has sentido que no eres tan bueno o que no estás viviendo a la altura de tu máximo potencial? Es un efecto clásico de un mundo decaído con el que muchos, si no todos, batallamos. No sentimos que seamos lo suficientemente buenos o que no valgamos tanto como podríamos. Por supuesto, no es verdad, pero a veces es difícil creer la verdad.

Cuando batallamos con esta creencia, la historia de Pablo en la primera lectura de hoy puede ser bastante consoladora. Aquí hay un hombre que perseguía activamente a los cristianos. El capítulo 9 de Hechos deja muy claro que no solo odia a los cristianos, sino que también los da amenazas de muerte. Es bastante asombroso que leamos sobre lo traicionero que era Pablo en el mismo libro que más tarde él mismo escribió.

En otras palabras, Dios conocía su máximo potencial. Incluso si Pablo sentía que su propósito en la vida era asesinar a personas inocentes, Dios tenía planes más grandes para él. Es interesante notar que la invitación a Pablo para vivir su vida al máximo vino directamente de Dios, no de algo que Pablo hiciera. Ninguna cantidad de introspección o pensamientos propios cambiaron su comportamiento. En cambio, Dios le extendió una invitación sencilla.

Ahora bien, no está de más que Dios también lo haya dejado ciego y le haya mostrado maravillas más allá de sus mejores sueños para que pudiera creer. Esa es la historia de Pablo. ¿Cuál es la tuya? ¿Cuál es la mía? ¿A qué nos está llamando Dios que todavía no hemos aceptado? Creo que la mejor manera de salir de la rutina de pensar que no estamos viviendo a la altura de nuestro potencial es preguntarle a Dios cuál es nuestro máximo potencial. Solo lo encontraremos en Él porque es Él quien nos dio nuestro potencial.

Durante esta temporada de Pascua, tomemos un momento para reflexionar sobre qué más Dios nos podría estar llamando a hacer y cómo podemos participar activamente en los hermosos misterios que Dios ha puesto delante de nosotros. Tal vez lleguemos a descubrir que las cosas que nos ha llamado a hacer nos llevarán a lugares que nunca hemos soñado.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Greg Rakozy, unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-photography-of-person-oMpAz-DN-9I

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.

Posted on

Little Miracles / Los pequeños milagros

Click here for daily readings

Jesus tends to pick us for a mission whether we feel equipped for it or not. Some of the heroes of our faith were just normal people who answered the call and allowed the grace of God to give them courage and transform their lives. Imagine living during the time of the Apostles. The Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah to come as a King. Jesus entered the scene and it was hard to believe from outward appearances that He was the savior the world had been waiting for. Nevertheless, He started performing miracles and preaching in ways that made everyone start to question and eventually believe. 

In today’s first reading we see the Apostles in a similar boat. The book of Acts makes it clear that the scribes and Pharisees did not think much of the Apostles at first. They just seemed like uneducated fishermen. But then they started preaching and performing miracles in the name of Jesus and the script started to change. 

I think one of the great tragedies of our world today is that we either take miracles for granted or do not realize the power we really have, through Christ, as baptized Christians. All throughout Scripture we hear about ordinary people who do extraordinary things because they trust in God. Now, maybe God isn’t calling us to literally heal people from leprosy or bring people back from the dead, but just because a miracle may not be a “showstopper” doesn’t mean it is any less of a miracle. 

Since becoming a father I have very quickly had to realize that my spiritual life is going to look a little different. I may not be able to go to daily Mass like I did during college or spend as much time as I want in the adoration chapel, but it has made me much more intune to the little miracles that are happening in my family on a daily basis. I can wake up every morning and thank God for what he has done in my life already and what he will continue to do. 

Easter is a time of celebration because we commemorate the biggest miracle of all time, Jesus rising from the dead. Let’s also take time during this season to thank God for all the miracles He gives us in our lives on a daily basis. Of course, in order to thank Him, we have to take some time to become aware of how He is working in our lives. I think if we pay attention, we will quickly realize that miracles still exist. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

Jesús suele elegirnos para una misión, ya sea que nos sintamos preparados para ello o no. Algunos de los héroes de nuestra fe eran personas normales que respondieron al llamado y permitieron que la gracia de Dios les diera valor y transformara sus vidas. Imagínese vivir en la época de los apóstoles. El pueblo judío estaba esperando que viniera un Mesías como Rey. Jesús entró en la escena y era difícil creer, por las apariencias externas, que Él era el salvador que el mundo había estado esperando. Sin embargo, comenzó a realizar milagros y a predicar de maneras que hicieron que todos comenzaran a cuestionar y finalmente a creer.

En la primera lectura de hoy vemos a los apóstoles en una situación semejante. El libro de los Hechos deja en claro que los escribas y fariseos no tenían una gran opinión de los apóstoles al principio. Parecían pescadores sin educación. Pero luego comenzaron a predicar y a realizar milagros en el nombre de Jesús y el guión comenzó a cambiar.

Creo que una de las grandes tragedias de nuestro mundo actual es que tomamos por hecho los milagros o no nos damos cuenta del poder que realmente tenemos, a través de Cristo, como cristianos bautizados. En toda la Escritura escuchamos acerca de personas comunes que hacen cosas extraordinarias porque confían en Dios. Ahora bien, tal vez Dios no nos esté llamando a sanar literalmente a las personas de la lepra o a resucitarlas, pero el hecho de que un milagro no sea algo “espectacular” no significa que sea menos milagroso.

Desde que me convertí en padre, rápidamente me di cuenta de que mi vida espiritual iba a ser un poco diferente. Capaz no pueda ir a misa todos los días como lo hacía cuando estaba en la universidad o pasar tanto tiempo como quisiera en la capilla de adoración al Santísimo, pero me ha hecho estar mucho más en sintonía con los pequeños milagros que suceden en mi familia a diario. Puedo despertarme cada mañana y agradecerle a Dios por lo que ya ha hecho en mi vida y por lo que seguirá haciendo.

La Pascua es una temporada de celebración porque conmemoramos el milagro más grande de todos los tiempos, la resurrección de Jesús. También tomemos tiempo durante esta temporada para agradecer a Dios por todos los milagros que nos da en nuestras vidas a diario. Por supuesto, para agradecerle, tenemos que tomarnos un tiempo para tomar conciencia de cómo está trabajando en nuestras vidas. Creo que si prestamos atención, nos daremos cuenta rápidamente de que los milagros todavía existen.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Carlo Navarro, unsplash.com/photos/closeup-photo-of-baby-on-blue-blanket-WCbCRXk7nmU

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.

Posted on

The Just Judge / El juez justo

Click here for daily readings

There are so many stories in the Bible where elders are called in to decide whether or not someone is innocent or guilty. The first reading today gives us the story of Susanna who is unjustly accused of something she didn’t do and thankfully justice prevailed. Then, in the Gospel, we hear Jesus saying He does not judge, but if He were to judge, His judgement would be valid. 

Now, of course, God does judge us, similar to the way the elders did in the Old Testament. But the point that Jesus is making here is that His judgements are always just. Human beings can fail and make an improper judgement, but God sees our hearts and furthermore wants to welcome us into His family with His love and mercy. 

One of the names that we have for Satan is the accuser. He is always trying to put us down and make us feel worthless. He is never just in what he does but always has ulterior motives. He wants us to feel miserable and keep us there. 

In direct contrast to that we have Christ who wants to meet us where we’re at and lovingly walk with us so we don’t stay in despair. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Church lined up these two readings for today. In the first reading, we see the mercy of men who thankfully were inspired by the Holy Spirit to make the correct judgement. In the Gospel, we see Jesus talking about His perfect justice that can never be questioned. 

I don’t know about you but I do not want to be without hope because I have believed the lies of the accuser. I also don’t want to be put into a situation where someone judges me who is fallible and could get it wrong. I want to place my hope in the King of Kings, Who promises that His justice is perfect and that He is also perfect in mercy. Let’s take some time during this season of Lent to focus on the sins we have committed, ask for forgiveness, and intentionally put ourselves in the arms of Jesus who will judge us justly by the way we love.

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

Hay muchas historias en la Biblia en las que se llama a los ancianos para que decidan si alguien es inocente o culpable. La primera lectura de hoy nos cuenta la historia de Susana, que es acusada injustamente de algo que no hizo y, afortunadamente, la justicia prevaleció. Luego, en el Evangelio, escuchamos a Jesús decir que no juzga, pero que si lo hiciera, su juicio sería válido.

Por supuesto, Dios nos juzga, de forma semejante a como lo hacían los ancianos en el Antiguo Testamento. Pero el punto que Jesús está planteando aquí es que sus juicios son siempre justos. Los seres humanos pueden fallar y emitir un juicio incorrecto, pero Dios ve nuestros corazones y, además, quiere darnos la bienvenida a su familia con su amor y misericordia.

Uno de los nombres que tenemos para Satanás es el acusador. Siempre está tratando de humillarnos y hacernos sentir inútiles. Nunca es justo en lo que hace, sino que siempre tiene motivos ocultos. Quiere hacernos sentir miserables y mantenernos así.

En contraste directo con eso, tenemos a Cristo, quien quiere encontrarse con nosotros donde estemos y caminar con amor con nosotros para que no permanezcamos en la desesperación. No creo que sea una coincidencia que la Iglesia haya alineado estas dos lecturas para hoy. En la primera lectura, vemos la misericordia de los hombres que, afortunadamente, fueron inspirados por el Espíritu Santo para emitir un juicio correcto. En el Evangelio, vemos a Jesús hablando de su justicia perfecta que nunca puede ser cuestionada.

No sé qué piensan ustedes, pero yo no quiero estar sin esperanza porque he creído las mentiras del acusador. Tampoco quiero estar en una situación donde alguien falible podría equivocarse cuando me juzgue. Quiero poner mi esperanza en el Rey de reyes, que promete que su justicia es perfecta y que también es perfecto en misericordia. Tomemos un tiempo durante esta temporada de Cuaresma para centrarnos en los pecados que hemos cometido, pedir perdón y ponernos intencionalmente en los brazos de Jesús, que nos juzgará con justicia por la forma en que amamos.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Wesley Tingey, unsplash.com/photos/a-wooden-gaven-sitting-on-top-of-a-white-counter-Lc71LBS9FlU

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.

Posted on

Repent and Believe / Arrepentirse y creer

Click here for daily readings

Sometimes God is cast in an unfair light because of our fallen human nature. We can’t possibly comprehend that the God of the universe would still love us after everything we have done to turn our backs on Him. This is why many people live in despair or struggle with scrupulosity because they have not yet let one of the fundamental aspects of the faith sink in: mercy. 

In today’s first reading the mercy of God is spelled out unequivocally. As long as we repent, none of our crimes will be remembered, and furthermore, God does not derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked. He wants us all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

The basic message of the Gospel can be summed up from the first paragraph of the Catechism, which states, “God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.” (CCC 1)

As beautiful as this verse is, it is hard to believe. Does He really want what is best for us? Does He really desire us to be happy with him forever? Often, we try to answer these questions without asking the One who has the answers. Lent is a beautiful time to start asking these questions directly to God. 

During this time of penance, our sins come directly to mind and it can be easy to despair. Instead of getting down on ourselves, we can use this season to really converse with God about His plans for us and what He wants to do in our lives. If we start the conversation then we will start believing all the more that God does not rejoice in misery but rejoices in mercy. He wants us to be saved. All we have to do is repent and believe. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

A veces, Dios tiene mala fama debido a nuestra naturaleza humana caída. No podemos comprender que el Dios del universo todavía nos ame después de todo lo que hemos hecho para darle la espalda. Por eso, muchas personas viven en la desesperación o luchan con la escrupulosidad porque aún no han dejado que uno de los aspectos fundamentales de la fe se profundice: la misericordia.

En la primera lectura de hoy, la misericordia de Dios se expresa de manera inequívoca. Con que nos arrepintamos, ninguno de nuestros crímenes será recordado y, además, Dios no obtiene ningún placer de la muerte de los malvados. Él quiere que todos nos salvemos y lleguemos al conocimiento de la verdad.

El mensaje fundamental del Evangelio se puede resumir en el primer párrafo del Catecismo, que afirma: “Dios, infinitamente perfecto y bienaventurado en sí mismo, en un designio de pura bondad ha creado libremente al hombre para hacerle partícipe de su vida bienaventurada. Por eso, en todo tiempo y en todo lugar, se hace cercano del hombre: le llama y le ayuda a buscarle, a conocerle y a amarle con todas sus fuerzas. Convoca a todos los hombres, que el pecado dispersó, a la unidad de su familia, la Iglesia. Para lograrlo, llegada la plenitud de los tiempos, envió a su Hijo como Redentor y Salvador. En Él y por Él, llama a los hombres a ser, en el Espíritu Santo, sus hijos de adopción, y por tanto los herederos de su vida bienaventurada” (CIC 1).

Por muy hermoso que sea este versículo, es difícil de creer. ¿Realmente quiere Dios lo mejor para nosotros? ¿Realmente desea que seamos felices con Él para siempre? A menudo, tratamos de responder a estas preguntas sin preguntarle a Aquel que tiene las respuestas. La Cuaresma es un tiempo hermoso para comenzar a hacerle estas preguntas directamente a Dios.

Durante este tiempo de penitencia, nuestros pecados vienen directamente a la mente y puede ser fácil desesperarse. En lugar de desanimarnos, podemos utilizar esta temporada para conversar realmente con Dios sobre sus planes para nosotros y lo que Él quiere hacer en nuestras vidas. Si iniciamos la conversación, comenzaremos a creer aún más que Dios no se regocija en la miseria, sino que se regocija en la misericordia. Quiere que seamos salvos. Todo lo que tenemos que hacer es arrepentirnos y creer.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Alex Shute, unsplash.com/photos/a-wooden-block-that-says-repent-next-to-a-bouquet-of-flowers-RNKGabPGido

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.

Posted on

Stewards of the Gift / Administradores del don

Click here for daily readings

Lent is a time that we tend to focus on suffering, fasting, penance, and prayer. All of these are good practices that help us to draw closer to God, but they also help us realize our place in the world. Suffering allows us to see that we live in a fallen world and it forces us to call out to God as our Father. Fasting allows us to break our sinful habits and deny the desires of the flesh so that we can live closer to how we were created to be. Penance forces us to admit that we have done wrong and need mercy from a loving God. And prayer, perhaps the most important of all of them, is entering into communion with the Trinity. 

All of these practices have one thing in common, they pull us outside of ourselves and change the focus to God. During this time of Lent I am trying to focus on humility. We all have various gifts that God has given us, whether material or spiritual, and it can be tempting to take these for granted or even say that these gifts are here because of how hard we have worked or what we have done. Instead of falling into this trap, I want to try to be a good steward of the gifts God has given me during this Lenten season. 

Our first reading today seems to speak of humble stewardship. Moses spoke to his people and said, “The priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God.” Notice that all that the people are required to do is give. The priest does the offering and God receives it, but the people just need to be open to give. This is an act of true stewardship and true humility when we offer everything we have back to our loving Father in gratitude.  

Another thing to notice is that the priest is required to perform the sacrifice. God doesn’t NEED anything from us. It is when we offer everything back to the Father through the sacrifice of His Son that it becomes a pleasing offering. We don’t go to Mass just to worship God but to participate in the worship of the Son on the cross to the Father. In that way, when we tie our sufferings, joys, failures, talents, and miseries, to the sacrifice of the cross, it becomes a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. It also allows us to see that even worship is impossible without God’s help. 

During this Lenten season I encourage you to reflect on your life and start to offer it all to the Father at Mass. Once we start doing this and realize through true humility that everything we have is a gift, it will be much easier for us to be a gift to those around us. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

La Cuaresma es una temporada en la que solemos centrarnos en el sufrimiento, el ayuno, la penitencia y la oración. Todas ellas son buenas prácticas que nos ayudan a acercarnos a Dios, pero también nos ayudan a darnos cuenta de nuestro lugar en el mundo. El sufrimiento nos permite ver que vivimos en un mundo caído y nos obliga a invocar a Dios como nuestro Padre. El ayuno nos permite romper con nuestros hábitos pecaminosos y negar los deseos de la carne para que podamos vivir más cerca de cómo fuimos creados ser. La penitencia nos obliga a admitir que hemos actuado mal y necesitamos la misericordia de un Dios amoroso. Y la oración, quizás la más importante de todas ellas, es entrar en comunión con la Trinidad.

Todas estas prácticas tienen algo en común: nos sacan de nosotros mismos y cambian el enfoque hacia Dios. Durante este tiempo de Cuaresma estoy tratando de centrarme en la humildad. Todos tenemos diversos dones que Dios nos ha dado, ya sean materiales o espirituales, y puede resultar tentador tomarlos por hecho o incluso decir que estos dones están aquí debido a lo duro que hemos trabajado o lo que hemos hecho. En lugar de caer en esta trampa, quiero tratar de ser un buen administrador de los dones que Dios me ha dado durante esta temporada de Cuaresma.

La primera lectura de hoy parece hablar de una administración humilde. Moisés habló a su pueblo y dijo: “el sacerdote tomará el cesto de tus manos y lo pondrá ante el altar del Señor, tu Dios”. Observe que lo único que se le requiere al pueblo es dar. El sacerdote hace la ofrenda y Dios la recibe, pero el pueblo solo tiene que estar abierto a dar. Este es un acto de verdadera administración y verdadera humildad cuando ofrecemos todo lo que tenemos de regreso a nuestro Padre amoroso en gratitud.

Otra cosa para tomar en cuenta es que se requiere que el sacerdote realice el sacrificio. Dios no NECESITA nada de nosotros. Es cuando ofrecemos todo de regreso al Padre a través del sacrificio de Su Hijo que se convierte en una ofrenda agradable. No vamos a misa sólo para adorar a Dios, sino para participar en la adoración del Hijo en la cruz al Padre. De esa manera, cuando unimos nuestros sufrimientos, alegrías, fracasos, talentos y miserias al sacrificio de la cruz, se convierte en un sacrificio agradable al Señor. También nos permite ver que incluso la adoración es imposible sin la ayuda de Dios.

Durante este tiempo de Cuaresma, los animo a reflexionar sobre su vida y comenzar a ofrecerla toda al Padre en la Misa. Una vez que comencemos a hacer esto y nos demos cuenta, a través de la verdadera humildad, de que todo lo que tenemos es un don, será mucho más fácil ser don nosotros para quienes nos rodean.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Steven Kamps, unsplash.com/photos/religious-statues-on-gray-concrete-wall-5aPsRUdQUAk

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.

Posted on

The Sneaky Sin / El pecado furtivo

Click here for daily readings

Perhaps one of the sneakiest sins in the 21st century is the sin of gossip. We all do it. I am sure we have all had times at various jobs when we have sat around the water cooler and talked about coworkers or talked about what certain members of our family are doing that we don’t agree with. The reason this sin is so sneaky is because we may think to ourselves that it is not actually harming anyone. The person we are talking about doesn’t even know we are talking about them so no harm no foul right? 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus would seem to disagree. He makes the claim that it is not what enters man that defiles but what comes out of him. He even lists some of the sins He is speaking of including murder, unchastity, blasphemy and many more. The point He is making is that the things we say and think are at a closer level morally to what we would call grave sins. We may think we are doing well in the spiritual life and not sinning in a “big” way, but gossip tears our brothers and sisters down and slanders the good name they are entitled to. 

I think it is very important to focus on this part of our lives. This could be as simple as leaving the room when people start to gossip or sharing positive things about the person who is being talked about. We are called to love God first and neighbor second. I think one of the tangible ways we can stand up for our neighbors, even when they may annoy us, is by defending the good name they are entitled to. In this way we start acting less like the Pharisees and more like a disciple. 

This is not an easy task because this is one of those sins that gives us a dopamine hit. There is something about talking and laughing about someone as a group that feeds our egoism and blindly makes us feel more important and superior. I am going to try a new approach any time I am starting to get pulled in this direction of either standing up for the person in question or leaving the situation and saying a prayer in my head that their day will be blessed. Let us ask for the grace to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in every moment, even when it would seem more fun to gossip. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

Quizás uno de los pecados más furtivos del siglo XXI es el pecado del chisme. Todos lo cometemos. Estoy seguro de que todos hemos tenido momentos en diversos trabajos en los que nos hemos sentado frente al dispensador de agua y hemos hablado de compañeros de trabajo o de lo que hacen ciertos miembros de nuestra familia con lo que no estamos de acuerdo. La razón por la que este pecado es tan furtivo es porque podemos pensar que en realidad no está dañando a nadie. La persona de la que estamos hablando ni siquiera sabe que estamos hablando de ella, así que no hay daño, ¿verdad?

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús parecería estar en desacuerdo. Afirma que no es lo que entra en el hombre lo que contamina, sino lo que sale de él. Incluso enumera algunos de los pecados de los que habla, incluyendo el asesinato, la impureza, la blasfemia y muchos más. Lo que quiere decir es que las cosas que decimos y pensamos están en un nivel moral más cercano a lo que llamaríamos pecados graves. Podemos pensar que estamos bien en la vida espiritual y que no estamos pecando de manera “grave”, pero el chisme destroza a nuestros hermanos y hermanas y calumnia el buen nombre al que se merecen.

Creo que es muy importante centrarnos en esta parte de nuestra vida. Esto puede ser tan sencillo como salir del salón cuando la gente empieza a chismear o a compartir cosas positivas sobre la persona de la que se está hablando. Estamos llamados a amar a Dios primero y luego al prójimo. Creo que una de las formas tangibles en que podemos defender al prójimo, incluso cuando nos pueda molestar, es defendiendo el buen nombre al que se merece. De esta manera empezamos a actuar menos como los fariseos y más como un discípulo.

No es tarea fácil porque es uno de esos pecados que nos da una dosis de dopamina. Hay algo en hablar y reírse de alguien en grupo que alimenta al ego y nos hace sentir ciegamente más importantes y superiores. Voy a intentar un nuevo enfoque cada vez que empiece a sentirme atraído hacia esta dirección, ya sea defendiendo a la persona en cuestión o abandonando la situación y rezando mentalmente para que su día sea bendecido. Pidamos la gracia de amar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Cristo en todo momento, incluso cuando parezca más divertido chismear.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Thriday, https://unsplash.com/photos/a-group-of-people-standing-around-talking-to-each-other-rjx4A724IuI

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.

Posted on

Fasting and Feasting / Ayunar y Festejar

Click here for daily readings

Have you ever wondered why the Church has so many feast days in the liturgical calendar? It may be harder to realize as the holy days of obligation have tended to move to the closest Sunday, but all throughout the history of the Church, Catholics have found it very important to celebrate feasts. This is not just a Catholic tradition. The Jews also had many feasts to celebrate what God was doing in their lives and to thank Him for the gifts he had bestowed on them. 

When you read through the Old Testament it is clear that they took these feasts quite seriously. There were liturgical celebrations, specific rites to follow, traditions to uphold, and the best food and drink were brought out to commemorate these special days. In today’s Gospel we hear not only about the importance of fasting, but perhaps more importantly, we hear about the importance of feasting. 

Think about it, a fast doesn’t mean much if you have not tasted the wonder of food. In the time of the apostles they would often feast because Jesus was with them. It is no surprise that many of the verses in the Bible that pertain to Jesus also involved food. If we are to fast we have to know the glory we are fasting from or it doesn’t tend to hurt as much. 

Now that Jesus has gone to heaven we are meant to fast as a reparation for sin. The first reading makes this clear. We are all baptized as priest, prophet and king, and part of being in this priestly role is to fast and sacrifice for the sins we have committed and the sinful lives of others. But the Gospel is quick to remind us that we should also feast, that is to say, we should anticipate with joyful celebration the second coming of Christ and our final destiny of being united completely with him. 

The reason we celebrate so many feasts in the Church is to remind us of this reality. This may not be our ultimate home, but we can experience in little ways the joy that is to come in our eternal reward. If we do not take time to celebrate now, we will be like the awkward kid in the corner at Prom when we get to Heaven. We won’t know how to properly partake in the joy that we have been waiting for. 

So during this week, let’s pick some specific times where we can fast for our sins and ask for forgiveness and then some special moments as well where we can begin to experience, in a small way, the joys that are to come. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

Contact the author

¿Alguna vez te has preguntado por qué la Iglesia tiene tantos días festivos en el calendario litúrgico? Puede que sea más difícil de entender, ya que los días de precepto tienden a trasladarse al domingo más cercano, pero a lo largo de toda la historia de la Iglesia, los católicos han considerado muy importante celebrar las fiestas. Esto no es sólo una tradición católica. Los judíos también tenían muchas fiestas para celebrar lo que Dios estaba haciendo en sus vidas y para agradecerle por los dones que les había otorgado.

Cuando lees el Antiguo Testamento, es claro que se tomaban estas fiestas muy en serio. Había celebraciones litúrgicas, ritos específicos que seguir, tradiciones que mantener y se ofrecían los mejores alimentos y bebidas para conmemorar estos días especiales. En el Evangelio de hoy no sólo escuchamos sobre la importancia del ayuno, sino que, quizás más importante, escuchamos sobre la importancia de las fiestas.

Piénsalo, un ayuno no significa mucho si no has probado la maravilla de la comida. En el tiempo de los apóstoles, a menudo festejaban porque Jesús estaba con ellos. No es de extrañar que muchos de los versículos de la Biblia que se refieren a Jesús también incluyan comida. Si vamos a ayunar, tenemos que conocer la gloria de lo que estamos ayunando o no tiende a doler tanto.

Ahora que Jesús se ha ido al cielo, debemos ayunar como reparación por el pecado. La primera lectura lo deja claro. Todos somos bautizados como sacerdotes, profetas y reyes, y parte de estar en este papel sacerdotal es ayunar y sacrificarnos por los pecados que hemos cometido y las vidas pecaminosas de los demás. Pero el Evangelio se apresura a recordarnos que también debemos festejar, es decir, debemos anticipar con gozosa celebración la segunda venida de Cristo y nuestro destino final de estar completamente unidos a él.

La razón por la que celebramos tantas fiestas en la Iglesia es para recordarnos esta realidad. Puede que este no sea nuestro hogar definitivo, pero podemos experimentar de pequeñas maneras la alegría que vendrá en nuestra recompensa eterna. Si no nos tomamos el tiempo para celebrar ahora, seremos como el niño incómodo en la esquina del baile cuando lleguemos al cielo. No sabremos cómo participar adecuadamente de la alegría que hemos estado esperando.

Así que durante esta semana, escojamos algunos momentos específicos en los que podamos ayunar por nuestros pecados y pedir perdón, y también algunos momentos especiales en los que podamos comenzar a experimentar, de una manera pequeña, las alegrías que están por venir.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Rumman Amin, https://unsplash.com/photos/assorted-type-foods-nKs-oXRGGEg

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.

Posted on

The Bribe
El soborno

Click here for daily readings

It is a little strange being a parent of two little boys. There are so many moments that I look back and remember myself as a child and I start to slip into the same verbiage my parents would use on me. One of those classic parent examples is when we bribe our kids. Please just go to bed and I will give you anything you want tomorrow. Bribing is a last ditch effort after we have exhausted every other possibility and it shows us concretely that we are not perfect. 

But then we come to the first reading today. We hear about a God who will give us everything we ask as long as we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. Doesn’t it sound like God is bribing us? As if we are those little children fighting sleep, God is simply asking us to obey His commandments and we will get whatever we want. 

If you are anything like me, this verse is a little troubling at first glance. It doesn’t seem like a loving God should be bribing us. Maybe another thought you are having is that you have followed God’s commandments and asked for something and did not receive it in the exact way that you wanted. So we have two “issues” that I want to address today. 

Both of these can be addressed with a simple reality. The reality is that we are made by God and our hearts long for Him. If God has created us then it is in living by His laws that we will be most perfectly happy and fulfilled. With this principle in mind, I think it opens up the beauty of this verse and destroys the questions. God asks us to obey his commandments. He doesn’t do this as a bribe, but rather because as a loving father. He knows that if we follow his ways we will be living our lives to the fullest. If we disobey Him we start to lose a part of who we are. 

Further, God is not a magic genie. He is not here to grant us three wishes. God desires more than anything that we become united fully with Him in heaven. If we are living in accord with our Creator then our deepest desire will be union with Him. In this sense, God answers our deepest desire when we follow His commandments. Notice that it is not out of duty or expectation, but we follow Him out of love because we desire unity with Him. 

Let’s pray for the grace today and every day that we would be able to follow God’s commandments so that we can ultimately have our deepest desire filled, the desire of unity with Him. 

Contact the author

Es un poco extraño ser padre de dos niños pequeños. Hay muchos momentos en los que miro hacia atrás y me acuerdo de ser niño y empiezo a recurrir a la misma palabrería que mis padres utilizaban conmigo. Uno de esos ejemplos clásicos de padres es cuando sobornamos a nuestros hijos. Por favor, vete a la cama y te daré lo que quieras mañana. El soborno es un último esfuerzo después de haber agotado todas las demás posibilidades y nos muestra concretamente que no somos perfectos.

Pero luego llegamos a la primera lectura de hoy. Oímos hablar de un Dios que nos dará todo lo que le pidamos siempre y cuando cumplamos sus mandamientos y hagamos lo que le agrada. ¿No suena como si Dios nos estuviera sobornando? Como si fuéramos esos niños pequeños que pelean por no ir a dormir, Dios simplemente nos está pidiendo que obedezcamos sus mandamientos y obtendremos todo lo que queramos.

Si eres como yo, este versículo es un poco inquietante a primera vista. No parece que un Dios amoroso deba sobornarnos. Quizás otro pensamiento que tengas es que has seguido los mandamientos de Dios y has pedido algo y no lo has recibido exactamente de la manera que querías. Así que tenemos dos “asuntos” que quiero abordar hoy.

Ambos pueden abordarse con una simple realidad. La realidad es que fuimos creados por Dios y nuestros corazones anhelan estar con Él. Si Dios nos ha creado, entonces al vivir según sus leyes seremos más felices y realizados. Con este principio en mente, creo que se abre la belleza de este versículo y se destruyen las preguntas. Dios nos pide que obedezcamos sus mandamientos. No lo hace como un soborno, sino más bien como un Padre amoroso. Él sabe que si seguimos sus caminos vamos a vivir la vida al máximo. Si lo desobedecemos, comenzamos a perder una parte de lo que somos.

Además, Dios no es un genio mágico. No está aquí para concedernos tres deseos. Dios desea más que nada que nos unamos plenamente a Él en el cielo. Si vivimos de acuerdo con nuestro Creador, nuestro deseo más profundo será la unión con Él. En este sentido, Dios responde a nuestro deseo más profundo cuando seguimos sus mandamientos. Ten en cuenta que no lo hacemos por obligación ni por expectativa, sino que lo seguimos por amor porque deseamos la unidad con Él.

Oremos hoy y todos los días por la gracia de poder seguir los mandamientos de Dios para que finalmente podamos ver satisfecho nuestro deseo más profundo, el deseo de la unidad con Él.

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Yarenci Hdz, unsplash.com/photos/boy-in-white-dress-shirt-qwVcVAHsfaM

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.

Posted on

The Signs of God / Las Señales de Dios

Click here for daily readings

Midnight Christmas Mass was always my favorite as a kid. We would get all dressed up and enter the beautiful Church with all the decorations and the nativity scene. It’s like I can still smell the pine trees and see the glow of the Christmas lights. I think we probably all have memories that bring us back to the Christmas season. Whether it is the smell of freshly baked cookies or the Christmas ham roasting for hours, these physical signs point us back to memories and experiences that we have enjoyed. 

The Gospel from the Christmas Mass during the Night proclaims, “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you.” This has me thinking about the importance of physical signs. Wedding rings are exchanged as a sign of commitment. Gifts are exchanged as a sign of love or friendship. In today’s Gospel we have the signs of the manger and the swaddling clothes that are communicating to us that God has become flesh. Signs are important for us.

The beautiful thing about the signs we have in the Catholic Church is that they go beyond mere symbols. Today we commemorate not just a sign of God’s love in clothes and a structure, but we commemorate God literally taking on flesh to be a physical and effective sign of his love. Not just a sign in the sense of symbolic representation, but a sign that is so real and so effective that it literally becomes what it signifies. 

We see this played out in every Mass. We start with the Liturgy of the Word where we read from Scripture. But that Word, throughout the course of the Mass, becomes so living, so real, so physical, so effective, that the Word of God literally becomes flesh for us on the altar. This is the very thing we celebrate this Christmas season. We can think back to all the great symbols that plunge us deeply into beautiful memories of family life, but let’s set aside some special time today to focus on the fact that God transcends all earthly signs and literally becomes one of us. He wants to be one with you and with me. If there is nothing else we take out of our celebrations today, I think it would do us well to focus on that reality. God loves you enough that he was born in a manger to have a relationship with you and one day be with you forever in paradise. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, Merry Christmas and God bless! 

Contact the author

La Misa de Navidad de medianoche siempre fue mi favorita cuando era niño. Nos vestíamos formales y entrábamos en la hermosa iglesia con todas las decoraciones y el belén. Es como si todavía pudiera oler los pinos y ver el resplandor de las luces navideñas. Creo que probablemente todos tenemos recuerdos que nos traen de vuelta a la temporada navideña. Ya sea el olor de las galletas recién horneadas o el jamón navideño asándose durante horas, estos signos físicos nos traen recuerdos y experiencias que hemos disfrutado.

El Evangelio de la Misa de Navidad de Medianoche proclama: “hoy les ha nacido, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es el Mesías, el Señor. Esto les servirá de señal…” Esto me hace pensar en la importancia de los signos físicos. Los anillos de boda se intercambian como un signo de compromiso. Los regalos se intercambian como signo de amor o amistad. En el Evangelio de hoy tenemos los signos del pesebre y los pañales que nos comunican que Dios se ha hecho carne. Los signos son importantes para nosotros.

Lo hermoso de los signos que tenemos en la Iglesia Católica es que van más allá de los meros símbolos. Hoy conmemoramos no sólo un signo del amor de Dios en forma de ropa y una estructura, sino que conmemoramos a Dios literalmente tomando forma humana para ser un signo físico y efectivo de su amor. No sólo un signo en el sentido de una representación simbólica, sino un signo que es tan real y tan efectivo que literalmente se convierte en lo que significa.

Vemos esto durante cada Misa. Comenzamos con la Liturgia de la Palabra donde leemos la Escritura. Pero esa Palabra, a lo largo de la Misa, se vuelve tan viva, tan real, tan física, tan efectiva, que la Palabra de Dios literalmente se hace carne para nosotros en el altar. Esto es precisamente lo que celebramos en esta temporada navideña. Podemos pensar en todos los grandes símbolos que nos sumergen profundamente en hermosos recuerdos de la vida familiar, pero reservemos un tiempo especial hoy para enfocarnos en el hecho de que Dios trasciende todos los signos terrenales y literalmente se convierte en uno de nosotros. Él quiere ser uno contigo y conmigo. Si no hay nada más que podamos sacar de las celebraciones de hoy día, creo que nos vendría bien centrarnos en esa realidad. Dios te ama lo suficiente como para haber nacido en un pesebre para tener una relación contigo y un día estar contigo para siempre en el paraíso.

De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Feliz Navidad y que Dios te bendiga!

Comunicarse con el autor

Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

Feature Image Credit: Kenny Eliason, unsplash.com/photos/nativity-outdoor-decor-during-night-time-LmcPCp92KFo