“What toil we must endure, what fatigue, while we are attempting to climb hills and the summits of mountains! What, that we may ascend to heaven! If you consider the promised reward, what you endure is less. Immortality is given to the one who perseveres; everlasting life is offered; the Lord promises His Kingdom.” – St. Cyprian of Carthage
July 16
The Gospel reading today from Matthew is rich in importance and explains so clearly how much we are called to love God.
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.”
Wow. This call, while so large, is so beautiful. And we have living examples of individuals who have embraced this very Gospel. Mary, Abraham, all the saints- each individual allowed God to love them to the point of becoming entirely His. And this example is something we, too, must follow.
Tonight, make a list of the important things in your life. Then, order them based on how you spend the most time. Finally, look at your list of priorities. What does it say?
Lord, reorder my life to revolve around You and not the other way around. Amen.
July 16
July 15
July 15
Ephesians 1:3-14 holds a very special place in my heart. There is so much wisdom and beauty packed in these verses.
To summarize some of them:
•God has blessed us in Christ with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavens
•He CHOSE us in Him before the foundation of the world
•He chose us to be holy and WITHOUT blemish before Him
•We are destined for adoption to Himself through Jesus
•We have been redeemed by His blood
•He has told us the mysteries of His will
•We were destined according to His will to EXIST for the PRAISE of His glory
In mass today, the priest shared with us that God has given each and every single one of us the authority to go out and share Him with the world.
If you need an extra boost of courage to take the authority He’s given you, reread the list above, and let Him remind you of all the great things YOU are destined for!
July 14
“Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.”
One thing I’ve learned over the years about sin is that the more I hide it, or pretend it doesn’t exist, the larger it grows. But the closer I get to the source of Light, the more I have to acknowledge its existence.
A friend once said that our sin is like the dirt on a windshield; the more we drive in the direction of the sun, the clearer the spots become.
See, sin and darkness cannot remain unexposed forever. At some point, it becomes too much to handle. Whether it’s tomorrow, or in two decades, we will have to face our own wretchedness, because we have a Father who really loves us and wants the absolute best for us.
God, I know how pitiful I am when I try and pretend I’m okay where I am. Help me to face my weaknesses, knowing You are right there with me. You, Father, will never leave me to face it alone, and because of Your light, I can do all things through You who strengthens me.
July 14
July 13
“You will be given at that moment what you are to say.”
In the Gospel of Matthew today, Jesus tells the Apostles that when they are handed over, there is no need to worry about how to speak or what to say, because they will be given at that moment what to say as the Holy Spirit speaks through them.
This calls to mind the importance of inviting the Holy Spirit on this journey of life each day. Daily interactions with others, life decisions, and minor/major inconveniences are handled a WHOLE LOT differently if I know the Holy Spirit is there first, guiding my conversations, helping me discern, and reminding me to offer things up!
That’s the thing- He will provide, and, guess what?! He wants to!
Your health? Your family struggles? Your education and career paths? Your marriage? Your parenting? Your future spouse? He has the keys. You just have to trust Him.
What is it you’re struggling with? Say it out loud, and invite Him in. And continue to, even if you don’t always believe it. And then sit back, and watch Him surprise you.
Father, your ways are SO much higher than mine. Teach me to trust you, and grace me with your faith. Humble me so I know I am nothing without you. I cannot wait for the surprises you have in store!
July 13
July 12
“The more I called them, the farther they went from me.”
When you were a kid, were you the type of child who listened and did what you were told? Did you trust without question and adhere to the rules? Or, were you like me, and a little more rebellious? Did you have a desire to find things out on your own because of too large a need for curiosity? If you’re like me, the results weren’t usually as positive as the good kids who did what they were told!
I try and think of how God must have felt, how he currently feels, when His people just do not listen. He promises us all the desires of our heart, yet we think we know our hearts better. He guarantees us the Kingdom of Heaven if only we believe in Him and follow His commands; we prefer this earthly kingdom and make our own rules. He entrusts us with the gift of life-our very own body, mind, and soul, yet we take possession of it and think it belongs to us.
How often do we break His most perfect heart by our childish and self-centered ways! Yet, He continues to call us and desires our return. We are each the prodigal in our own way.
One of my favorite quotes is, “We have enough crosses to bear; we don’t need to create more for ourselves.” It’s time to go home. When are you going to stop running away from Him, and instead, throw yourself into His arms?
