Inspiration

My Cross Dear Jesus,  In this season, as in many before, I have felt so distant from You. My cross can feel overbearing. While I should be grateful for my family, I am most commonly the opposite. I feel starved for attention and respite. Bitter at the need to be constantly humble. I react with anger and impatience rather than with the submission of you ask me to be.  Stabbing, searing, loneliness and despair. Giant, twisted trees of wood rising into the sky.  The piercing heaviness of the cross. You received Agony for my sins. Took on my suffering and understood it. JP II said You have made room in Your suffering for me to participate, to know your love.  Paul says to rejoice in it.  Help me to offer my pain to You, to empty myself so you can fill me.  Not my will, but your will be done.  Jesus, may I trust in You.

  What is justice? So often I feel entitled, that I am owed something. For so many of us, pride accompanies our drive for "success". What is perceived as a good career, or ideal family structure, or living environment, surrounds me in my daily interactions and ways of life.  In actuality though, who am I, in the grand scheme of things? Almost nothing. A speck of dust, and all the more reminded of this during the season I write this in (Lent).  It is Jesus who I must strive to emulate- He is my Rabbi, yet I so struggle with incorporating his ways, his meekness, and loving others without desiring power, glory, or something else in return. As declared in the book of Isaiah, He does not cry out when He is wronged. He does not fight to correct others, but is gentle and perfect in grace. The "bruised reed" (Isaiah 42:3, quoted in Matthew 12:20) is a metaphor for He who is weak, downtrodden, or spiritually broken.   It is frequently paired with "a dimly burning/smolde...

  Following Jesus  We are all called to be disciples, but it is not easy. Each day is a spiritual battlefield. Personally, I so love enveloping myself in God's word, studying and pondering the wide variety of lessons and events of the Bible, yet then carrying out the teachings is an entirely different task! I am a coward and weak. Physically tired while also emotionally weary, I regularly don't know how to begin when I am told, "Take up Your Cross". But most standout of the Bible is its conclusion, where Christ commands, "You follow me!", delegating to each of us a unique mission, one special to me and no one else. We are placed in our moment in time and place for a reason. The whys and hows may not come easily though, and with the countless distractions, particularly from the online realm, I many times feel helpless.   Yet to be a disciple is to humble oneself just as our master did, serving the Lord first through the smallest of ways. I can think of circum...

Mk 16:9-15 Apr Go Into the World and Preach! Why is it so hard for us to speak about our Lord? He has given up everything for us.  Despite the many miracles and proof that we have, we can be avoidant, passive and lukewarm. I have often told myself that, had I lived in Biblical times, it would be so much easier to believe. Having face to face contact with Jesus, He would be right in front of me. How could I deny Him? Yet as even Peter, the future head of the Church, did, why would I really think I would be different?  So I ask myself, what can I do to spread the good news? Where to begin?  I have recently joined the enemy of AI to try and use it for good, mainly by only relying on it for furthering my faith. When typing in terms such as "lukewarm" and "2025 Catholics", I found some disheartening facts, that for example, only  about three in ten U.S. Catholics say they attend Mass weekly or more often, that the number of Americans who were raised Catholic but no longe...

Nunc Coepi- Now I begin. My season of Humility is now. With a family of 6, my husband and I share responsibilities that many outsource, alternating the day to day tasks of caring for our four children ages 10 to just under 1. While he seems to effortlessly get through meal preparation, dishes needing to be cleaned, and shuttling our kids around the many ways I keep them out of the house, most days I feel coming up far too short, and barely staying afloat. Most of the time when it's my turn to be home, I quickly give in to exasperation, with frustration and exhaustion early on. I just can't seem to manage the little tasks that seem to never end, at least not with the love God desires of me. Humility seems very countercultural. Society teaches one should try to build themselves up to be the best they can be. In essence, this results in status and power. Kids go to school and are taught they can do anything. They are also encouraged to be popular, or the top of a class. Unconsciou...

In today's age, rather than Oil, we rely on batteries for energy. For young ones, it's all about the devices. Have you ever been with a child during a blackout and encountered their astonishment at machines not working? Our current times are so full of distractions and the desire to keep busy. Genuine prayer and quiet time for God are often lost in the shuffle, for many children and adults alike. With the increasing reliance on fast-paced machines, I worry we are brainwashed into the wrong priorities.  Our sole life goal should be striving for Sainthood, and nothing else. To best prepare for entry to Heaven, we can turn to the Saints for guidance. What better use of robots or A.I. than this? One website I recently found has tools to help me improve how to pray by applying the practices of different Saints to Scripture. From practicing deep self-reflection like St Augustine, or basking in little ways of sharing love like St Therese, I can actively exercise my soul for the spirit...

Everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. 5:23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 5:24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 5:25 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way;  How I struggle with carrying out what is truly asked of me by God! I recently came across a term called "rejection sensitivity". This spoke to me, as since little, I find how easily I could get upset by things not going my way. My confidence low, if another hurt me, I would quickly hold a grudge unless things were clearly reconciled at a later point.  To this day, I remain that sinner who has had difficulty putting into pract...

 The Most Holy Name of Jesus ( Jn 1:29-34) One of my favorite Advent traditions is meditating on the many names of Jesus. As I like to envision the immense joy and peace that came as John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, there are numerous titles we can embrace for our Lord to bring us closer to Him and know His presence. For my kids, I like to hang ornaments that each have a different name written on simple wood that they can trace and decorate. I'm not sure if there's a single name that is my favorite but think this could be a great activity to work on whether at home with family or in a Sunday School class. The infinite titles for Christ remind me that for one, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all, without which, everything else in the world depends upon. At the same time though, through His name exists an everlasting love which He has then extended to each of us. He calls us each by name as well, as we matter and are of infinite importance to ...

  My confession is I struggle with having a large ego. Wanting to be seen and acknowledged. Validated. Low self confidence. In this generation so many families fail due to one's prioritizing our individual needs above all else. Status, wealth. This is often unconscious but still human flaw. How common is it in each of us, to want more attention, particularly in what is supposed to be our safe haven, the household.   St. Joseph, similar to your bloodline of King David, you knew your identity. As little, but protected, always in the arms of God. That God is with us. Because of this, we can be of great faith and prevail despite any earthly struggle. From family uncertainty to having to flee from your homeland, you trusted God with a steadfastness I pray to emulate. Faithful and virtuous, you held commitment to others above yourself. St. Joseph, patron saint of families, guide me to be like you. Be humble. Be at peace within my heart. Teach me that love is above else, sa...

Oh, Divine Mercy in my soul. There is no greater gift than Christ's love for me, a poor sinner.  God's mercy far surpasses anything the human mind is capable of imagining; like the edges of the universe, its boundaries are limitless.  Repeatedly I fall, yet there is beauty and glory in that my bridegroom, my Lord, waits for me so that He can offer a forgiveness unlike any other. For I am but a mere speck of dust, but to Him, I am ravishing.  Lord, help me be like you, my Rabbi, to share mercy with others. My heart is like stone, but you can melt it with a fire that sets the weakest spirit ablaze with new life. You share Peace, even after being denied, ridiculed, and abandoned.  May I know your patience and compassion!   Christ, let me know your fervor, so that your sacrifice is never in vain.  With gratitude, help me to recognize you in every being I encounter.  Let me  know  your courage, to go to the depths of darkness to share a light that...

Panis Angelicus / Bread of Angels Music is a way to express emotion when words are otherwise limited. As I have always found prayer difficult, I've been trying to better develop my relationship with God through various aids. One recent example is investing in Piano classes for my children, with the hope that this will later result in a skillset they can use to praise God.  Have you ever stopped to take in just how important music is in the Church? How many beautiful hymns you can recall word by word?  Panis Angelicus is one of my favorite hymns about the Eucharist. I remember growing up listening to the version by then 10-year-old Charlotte Church. In English, the hymn is translated as "The Bread of Angels", and originates from a longer hymn by  Saint  Thomas Aquinas  for the  feast of Corpus Christi , the feast of the Body of Christ.  Bread of Angels,  made the bread of men; The Bread of heaven  puts an end to all symbols: A thing wonderful!...

  SEPTEMBER 10, 2023  https://diocesan.com/here-i-am-lord/ “In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged based on how we loved.” – St John of the Cross.  How do you treat others? Do you take for granted those closest to you? Do you open your eyes to strangers in need, or look the other way? I know for myself I am extremely sensitive to criticism. It can be so hard to be around those who have hurt or offended me. Forgiveness is perhaps the most difficult of Christ’s teachings to follow in my daily life. And yet, as a Christian, we will be known by our ability to forgive. To truly love one another as Christ has loved us, we must set ourselves apart from the rest of the world. Since we are all part of the Kingdom, we need to figure out how to get along with each other – after all, we will be spending eternity together!  One day we will be judged  on how we loved. On love alone. Ultimately we have to ask ourselves, “Did I show up? Did I say, ‘Here I am’, to those...

  Tackling Envy Feb 2, 2023 I must admit, I get envious a lot. Since I was a young child, I always struggled with wanting things fair, but really, so that they were in my favor. It affected me being a good sister to my younger siblings, because I always wanted to come up on top. I recognize now how much kinder I wish I had been as a child. And still today, many years later, it's not that I want badness for others, but when I see something I wish I had, I (naturally) desire it. For example, I was triggered just now seeing a childhood best friend having given birth to twins. How selfish of me to, rather than feel genuinely happy for her, honestly wish that it was me instead, even though I already have multiple other children, one of whom just turned six months. I recognize how many blessings I have, and yet it is so natural for me to have these feelings of "why not me, why not more?" The ongoing pangs of being a sinner. So today I sought to combat this inherent weakness tha...

APRIL 8, 2023 The Joy of the Resurrection / La Alegría de la Resurrección Click here for daily readings How do you begin to describe with words the joy in the Resurrection scene? There probably aren’t any ways in spoken language to capture the raw emotion Mary Magdalene must have felt at the sight of the risen Messiah. Exuberance? Exhilaration? Jubilation? And to think, this is God’s free gift to us! He created us so that we could share in this feeling with Him.  I imagine His radiant light, shining warmth, yet cooling peace.  His infinite, abounding love is what we must strive for, today and always!  While this life may be at times filled with sadness, and eventual death, to be born to life with Him for Eternity, we must recognize that today’s world will only exist for a mere instant! Our choice to participate in Christ’s sweet love will then allow us to take part in such bliss. The resurrection is the good Lord’s fulfillment to us, and central to our Catholic faith....

Pitter-patter sounds in my heart. There has been a lot of time to reflect these past few weeks. It’s been extraordinarily stressful times to say the least. For me, one of the ways I best cope is my alone time, where I can sit back and process my experiences. Today, I wonder how have I contributed to the state of affairs in our society as a whole. Growing up, I cared so much about what others thought. Like many, I was brought up that interracial relationships were frowned upon. In finally entering one after many years of friendship with my now-husband, I recall remarking how the color of his darker skin didn’t matter to me. We were together because of our love for each other and that was all that mattered. But I was wrong. His skin color  does  matter because it is part of what makes him who he is. Rather than ignoring it, I need to recognize him for  all of who he is . Only by doing this can I truly know what love is. This is the same for our children. If I deny the...

“ There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” (Jn 6:9) What will you bring to the table? Music has often helped enhance my memory through catchy tunes.  A favorite song of mine is "You Raise Me Up".  I was surprised to find that what I thought was such a time and tested hymn has only been around for a little over 20 years. Its message offers so many lessons; particularly , with God's help, we can achieve the infinite.  "When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary When troubles come and my heart burdened be Then, I am still and wait here in the silence Until You come and sit awhile with me." ( Songwriters: Brendan Graham / Rolf Loevland;  You Raise Me Up lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Ab) We often think our efforts are not enough. Who am I, amongst all the pristine social media profiles advertising "success stories" of the famous and wealthy?  The young boy offering his five loaves and two fish may b...

GOD, GRANT ME THE COURAGE TO BE A WATCHMAN Click here for daily readings Today’s first reading is a struggle – warning others, speaking out against faults and wrongdoings, being brave rather than cowardly. I have always been one who prefers shying away from confrontation. There is so much to be overwhelmed by in today’s world: from politics and racial tensions to the sick and the poor, it is much easier to look the other way and ignore all the injustices and wrongdoings surrounding us. When I was younger, I would toss and turn at night over worries such as being rejected by a crush. I would never put myself out there. Not in a million years. To this day, even with my closest loved ones, I frequently struggle with the same fears of rejection. This is not the least evident in my religious faith. Wearing a t-shirt with a faith-based message, or reminding my family about our Sunday obligation, I struggle with accepting it if I’m laughed at or ridiculed. While having the courage to speak up...

This year has been a test of faith, probably more so than any one previous. This statement is not to be taken lightly. In 2001, I stood as a bushy-eyed high schooler only a few streets away from Ground Zero on the day nearly 3,000 others had their lives abruptly stolen from them. In 2014, we lost our son to stillbirth after what had been an otherwise uneventful first pregnancy. Through it all, moments of adversity force us to open our eyes to what is most important. This year, I have seen countless more lives lost, both near and far away from me. The grief can be deep and overwhelming; the darkness, heavy and lonely. In contrast, giving thanks for what we have in 2020 has taken on a new meaning. Even the smallest blessings must not be taken for granted. From food and jobs to our health and each other, there is so much to praise God for. Now more than ever before, as we begin this Advent season, we must depend on the living steadfastness of the Lord for continued restoration. Today’s re...

Alexis Dallara-Marsh described how Mary has been, for her, a loving friend who drew her to God. I was recently part of a six-week journal group among mothers of my local parish. During our final session, I can recall two occurrences in particular that stood out to me. The first was that each of us were to identify another woman in our lives who has made a difference to us. Perhaps someone we view as a strong woman, or as an inspiration or role model. Someone who had helped them learn more about who we are deep inside ourselves. Most others chose a friend around similar age. But I struggled to identify someone.  By the close of the meeting, the group leader spoke of a memory of her father. Her father would regularly teach her that, when standing at the gates of Heaven, God will ask us three basic questions.  Did you know Me?  Did you love Me?  Who did you bring?  Our group leader spoke of how she hoped to bring each of us with her. I was so moved. In this day, I ...

Ten years ago, I gave birth to our oldest son who was stillborn, but it feels like yesterday. It happened unexpectedly, without warning. At the time I thought I would never recover. How could I, as a mother, or wife, or human being?  God often uses painful & difficult circumstances to get our attention. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone that rouses a deaf world.” Our Lord had a passionate concern for the sick, the suffering, and the dying.  When others are sick we tend to ask why. It is through suffering that God’s mercy and compassion are often the most paramount. In  Dying with Dignity , St. John Paul II declares that “In our own time, Christ continues his mission, and his preference for the vulnerable, through his Church.” He described the Church as “a patient advocate, working to ensure proper care for the sick and dying by promoting respect for their dignity. The Church ...