The Gospel for today (Tuesday) emphasizes the need for us to make God known.  Whether in big ways or small ways, it doesn’t matter.  But we must be giving it our all in our efforts.  What ways are we attempting to make God known to others?

When we are living our lives to make Christ known and when our attempts and efforts are strong, then others will see Christ in us.  In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus tells his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth””  and “You are the light of the world.”

So what exactly does this mean?  In Jesus’ time, salt was a very important and necessary ingredient.  It was used for flavor and preservation of meat and other foods.  As disciples, we are called to preserve our faith by passing on and sharing the Gospel with others.  We also must be different from those in the world around us by adding something that the world doesn’t have: Jesus and his love.  His mercy.  His forgiveness.  His compassion.  By sharing these values with those around us, we can help enhance the world with a flavor that it so desperately needs.  There is a lot of darkness in the world.  So many people are without hope.  There is despair, fear, violence, hatred, bitterness, and anger.  As Christians, we need to bring the light of Christ to the world around us.  Our witness to the Gospel and our lives as Christians can have a huge effect on the world and other people.  Each one of us is only one person and our witness may be small, but it can grow the kingdom of God, one person at a time.

When we are determined, open, and willing to share our faith with others, we will find ourselves in many different situations that may be unexpected.  In these times, we must make the choice to stand by Christ and our faith, even when it is hard, uncomfortable, and it seems like the whole world is against us. 

How can we do this?  It starts with listening to the Holy Spirit.  If we pray to be open to the Holy Spirit and listen to how we are being led, we will be able to better recognize the ways in which God is calling us to glorify Him and make Him known to others.  This requires not only listening, but then also trusting and surrendering.
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If we are truly following the call to be the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world”, we will be required to get out of our comfort zones.  May we all go out into the world, being salt and light, making Him known!

You’ve probably heard the quote that says, “nothing worth doing is easy” or something along those lines.  Following Jesus is not easy.  If we think it is, we are probably doing something wrong.  We will still experience suffering, hardships, challenges, and trials.  These things do not go away just because we choose to follow Jesus.  But the peace, love, and joy that we can experience through it all is a reminder that following Christ is worth it, no matter how difficult it may be at times. 

The Gospel for today (Monday) ends with, “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.  In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).  This is one of my favorite lines in scripture.  Jesus tells us that we will have trouble, but he has conquered the world- he has defeated sin, death, and evil!  Are we convicted of this deep within our hearts?

If we all truly knew His peace and allowed it to sustain us, the world would be a different place- maybe not the whole world, but maybe just our little corner of the world.  When a person is filled with the deep, interior peace of Christ, it is visible.  It can be seen in someone’s words, actions, and just his or her overall disposition.  And I think if we shared this peace with the people around us, it would overflow into their lives and make a big difference in the interactions we have.  It would spread within our circles and help others to experience Christ.

Something to remember is that peace is not simply a calm atmosphere, a certain state of mind, or a time of rest.  While we may experience these things when we experience peace, these are all temporary.  Real peace is a person- and that person is Jesus Christ.  There is a book I read a few years ago called Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart by Fr. Jacques Phillippe which covers the topic very well.  One quote from that book encapsulates it well:

“Consider the surface of a lake, above which the sun is shining. If the surface of the lake is peaceful and tranquil, the sun will be reflected in this lake; and the more peaceful the lake, the more perfectly will it be reflected. If, on the contrary, the surface of the lake is agitated, undulating, then the image of the sun can not be reflected in it. It is a little bit like this with regard to our soul in relationship to God. The more our soul is peaceful and tranquil, the more God is reflected in it, the more His image expresses itself in us, the more His grace acts through us.”
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When you wake up each day, remember that following Jesus is not easy, but it is always worth it.  You will have trouble, but find peace in Him and know that He is right there with you.  Allow His peace to be reflected in your soul so that others may come to know Him a bit more.

One of my least favorite words in the English language is “tolerance.”  The word wouldn’t be that bad if it wasn’t used in a way that is contrary to what it means to be a Christian.  I think one of the reasons I dislike this word so much is that it presents a false image of love.  The way it is used in our culture promotes the whole “you do you” concept or “do whatever makes you happy.”  We hear phrases such as these and are expected to just go along with whatever it is that someone is doing.  Our culture’s view of tolerance promotes the concept of relativism, the idea that there is no absolute truth, or that everyone has the ability to create their own truth.  As Catholics, we cannot support the idea of relativism.

Our culture rejects the existence of sin.  We often hear people say things like, “that may be against your beliefs, but you cannot tell other people what to do.”  One common example is abortion.  “You can be against abortion, but you can’t tell other people what to do with their bodies” is a prime example of relativism.  We are told we need to tolerate and accept other people’s choices, even if those choices are sinful.

Another kind of behavior we see in our culture that goes along with tolerance is the idea that if everyone is doing something, it must not be wrong.  The behaviors in our society that evoke the strongest pushback are often those such as contraception, cohabitation, and other selfish behaviors that disregard the value and dignity of the human person.  Catholics are told that everyone is doing these things and that the Church teachings are old and archaic, and that they need to change to get with the times.

Jesus didn’t call us to do what everyone else is doing or to just accept choices and actions that are contrary to His teachings.  While we must love our neighbors and withhold judgment of the state of another person’s soul, we are not obligated to approve of or tolerate sin.  We can and should make judgments on the moral state, or lack thereof, of our culture.  We cannot let the shouts about tolerance from others silence us into apathy and indifference.
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Jesus, thank you for showing us the path to follow.  Help us to recognize when we sin.  Guide us back to you when we stray off the path.  Give us the strength to persevere in a culture that rejects You and the truth.  Give us the courage to speak the truth and not lose our deep convictions of our faith.  Amen.

This past Saturday evening, I went on a short run.  As I was running down the sidewalk, a car approaching the stop sign a few feet ahead of me slowed down with unrolled windows.  There were two guys in the car who started yelling out their window.  It was a bit startling and unsettling.  But it gave me a sort of adrenaline rush.  I ran as quickly as I could in the opposite direction, until the car was out of sight.  This propelled me on the rest of my run, and the fact that I was struggling due to being out of shape was no longer an issue.  It was like I was renewed and reenergized, even if it was only because I had a bit of fear.  Sometimes in the spiritual life, we may be tired and struggling.  Maybe we are weary or worn-down, out of shape, or just trying to keep moving.  At various times in our lives, we will all need to be reenergized in our faith- given a boost so that we can be propelled to keep sharing Jesus with others.

It is easy to look at the state of the world and feel despondent.  But as people of faith, we need to bring Christ’s love and light to the people around us.  However, the only way we can do this is if we are on fire.  We cannot give what we do not have.  At times, we may need to reignite the fire.

​Our hearts are not going to be set on fire by sitting around and doing nothing.  Even when we are tired or struggling, we need to take action and make the choice to be energized and renewed.

One of the best ways to do this is to receive the sacraments as often as possible.  Additionally, stay connected to other strong Catholics.  Whether friends, family members, or even co-workers, we need to actively seek out and spend time with people who have the same values and mission.  We need people who can inspire us and hold us accountable.  We cannot do it on our own.  Join a Bible study, small group, or some other community.  If you can’t find one at or near your parish, start one!  Being able to dive deeper into your faith with others in a community will help you grow and strengthen your faith.  Retreats are another way to reignite the fire (and in my personal opinion, one of the best ways).  There is nothing like a powerful retreat experience to set you on fire in your faith.  You can also watch videos, listen to podcasts, and read.  The options are endless.  Just do something!
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Jesus, thank you for showing us how to love.  Help us to continue to move closer to you each day of our lives.  When we grow weary and worn, may we refocus and find strength in You.  Give us hearts that are set on fire with your love, a fire that propels us to share our faith with all those around us. Amen.

The past few months, the concept of spiritual poverty has continued to appear.  This concept has been brought to my attention in a few different podcasts I’ve listened to, several posts I’ve seen on social media, and in a book I’ve read recently.  This recurring theme has allowed me to reflect on how to live with a spirit of poverty.

We hear in the Beatitudes “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  To put it simply, being poor in spirit means to be aware of our deep need for God in our lives.  It means that we understand that God has loved us into existence and it is His love alone that sustains us. 

Being poor in spirit means to know and understand that God is providing for us and caring for us in each and every single moment of every day.  If we ever think we can do something without Him, we are wrong.  We must open our hands and let go of the things we are tightly holding onto; control, self-reliance, pride, and all else that is taking up unnecessary space.  If our hands are full, we cannot receive the gifts that God wants to give us.  Being poor in spirit and having empty hands will allow us to cling to God rather than the things of the world.

In a world that promotes self-sufficiency and success, it can be very hard to live with a spirit of poverty.  To recognize and accept that we cannot do anything on our own is difficult at times.  To release control over everything in our lives and hand it completely over to God takes a lot of trust.  But if we really love God, we will trust Him.
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In order to be poor in spirit, we must acknowledge our weaknesses, sinfulness, and brokenness and trust that God will transform these parts of us in the way that only He can.  My prayer for today is that we would all become more poor in spirit, trusting more deeply in God’s providence and becoming more aware of our absolute need for Him in all aspects of our lives.

A few weeks ago, an episode of a podcast I was listening to explored the idea of fruitfulness versus productivity.  If you’re like many people, you probably find yourself striving for ultimate productivity.  How many emails at work can we get through before the end of the day?  (I’ve finally come to the realization that I will probably never be at zero emails in my inbox ever again!)  How many tasks around the house can we finish in three hours?  How many meetings can we attend in a week?  Instead of productivity, what if we aimed for fruitfulness?

There are a lot of things we cannot avoid and that we must just do as a part of being human– working, cleaning, organizing, just to name a few things.  However, if you’re anything like me, you could work on improving your mindset and how you go about doing certain things.  Everything we do has a purpose.  It just comes down to whether or not we realize it.  Do we think about why we are doing the things that we do?  Instead of seeing how productive we can be in a day, we should try to think about if what we are doing is fruitful.

We are all called and invited to grow in our faith, develop a relationship with Jesus, and share Him with others, so that they too can be drawn into a deeper relationship with Him.  John 15:16 says, “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…”  God has chosen each one of us to bear fruit for Him and His kingdom.  When we do everything with a Christ-centered mindset, we will find much greater purpose in what we are doing, and in our whole lives.

Fruitfulness is different from productivity in the fact that when we work to bear fruit, a lot of times, we will not see the results of our work.  This can be hard to accept at times.  What we are doing may not always lead to tangible results.  Sharing a witness story with others, teaching students about the faith, serving others in some way, inviting someone to attend mass or a retreat.  All of these things, and more, that we may do can seem hopeless or useless.  However, we must trust Jesus that He is powerful enough to work through us and that He can reach anyone at any time, even long after our encounter with someone.
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The next time you are tempted to measure your day by how productive you’ve been, change your mindset to how fruitful you think you’ve been.  How well have you loved?  How well have you served?  How well have you shared Christ with those around you by your words and actions?  My prayer for today is that others might come to know Jesus in a deeper way by the fruit that we bear.

This Friday, April 29, is exactly six months since the day my dad died.  Where has the time gone?  As I reflect on the last six months, there are a lot of thoughts that come to mind.  The many thoughts seem impossible to put into words in any coherent way, but this post is an attempt.  

The death of a parent, and any difficult things we may experience throughout life can make it seem like the world around us is crumbling.  While our world completely changes, the rest of the world moves on, unaffected by the event.  Over the past six months, I think the biggest reminder I have been given is that through the crosses we must carry and the trials we must endure, we are not strong enough.  But God is.  The losses that are inevitable are an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord and lean on Him, who is unchanging in the midst of a world that is constantly changing.  I have also learned that God places us exactly where we are meant to be.

“You’re in your twenties and you still live at home?”  The amount of times I had heard this, or a similar variation, from different people over the past several years is too many to count.  While these comments bothered me and were hurtful at times, I trusted that I was right where I needed to be.  I knew my mom needed help with my dad.  I also knew that it meant a lot to my dad, to have my siblings or I there every day.  While most people had no idea what the situation was with my dad and many didn’t seem to understand the scope of it, I learned that what God knows is more important than what other people think or say.  More than anything, it helped me grow as a person.  Each day strengthened my faith, deepened my trust, helped me grow in patience, and increased my ability to see the dignity and value of life, no matter the circumstance.  And now more than ever, there is no doubt in my mind that God had me where I needed to be.  I got to sit in the living room watching a Thursday night Packer game with my dad in what would, unknowingly, be his last night on this earth.  All I can say is, thank you Lord.  If I had not lived at home, this wouldn’t have happened and neither would a lot of other small, ordinary moments that I am now really grateful for.  Being at home allowed me to spend so much extra time with my dad that I would not have experienced otherwise.  Moments like coming home from work everyday to respond to the same simple questions, like, “how was work?”, “what are we eating for dinner” to watching Family Feud or the Andy Griffith Show for the millionth time.

Grief is a journey.  It is completely possible to be at peace, yet to experience feelings of loss at the smallest and most random things.  Hearing a song, looking at pictures, seeing a TV show, walking to certain parts of the house, eating certain foods, among many other random things, I have felt a great sadness and have been brought to tears.  But it is in the grief that I have experienced deep gratitude.  I have found myself thanking God for my dad and the gift of his life, for the memories, for allowing my family to be strengthened, and for all of the blessings that have flowed from that, even when I failed to recognize them.

If you’re going through something that’s hard in your life, it’s okay to accept the fact that you are struggling and that it is difficult.  You cannot handle it on your own.  Ask God to carry you.  When all you see is suffering and sorrow, look a little deeper to find the blessings.  They are there.  Find gratitude and choose joy always.  And allow yourself to be drawn closer to God.  He knows what He is doing and will never abandon you.

“O my Lord, inflame my heart with love for You, that my spirit may not grow weary amidst the storms, the sufferings and the trials. You see how weak I am. Love can do all.- St. Faustina.

“God is not just risen one day on the calendar but every day of the year.  Every day of the year Jesus Christ is risen from the grave, He’s defeated sin and death.  They have no power over us. Amen!”  If this doesn’t make us excited, I don’t think there is anything else that will.  One of my favorite things to do, especially on every Easter morning, is blast the song “Christ is Risen” by Matt Maher, specifically the live version.  The passion and excitement within this song is how we should all feel about Christ’s resurrection.  And not just one day each year, but every single day of our lives.

The Resurrection is the basis for our faith.  It is the reason for our hope and joy.  The Resurrection gives us the opportunity to live in a way that shows others who we are as Christians, and more importantly, to show others who Christ is.  If we allow our lives to be led by this amazing and life-changing event, we will have real peace and joy that the world does not offer and that cannot be taken away.

Hearing the Gospel for the Easter Sunday mass, there is one line that stood out to me.  “They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first” (John 20:4).  Both of the disciples ran in anticipation of what they would find upon arriving at the tomb.  I think this line in scripture demonstrates their eagerness to see what happened and yet also reveals the courage it took to seek out something unknown, and ultimately, their willingness to believe that Jesus had truly risen from the dead.  Do we have the same anticipation to see what we will discover when we fully and wholeheartedly seek Jesus in our lives?  Are we eager to see where he will lead us?  Do we have the courage to follow Him into the unknown, trusting that He will give us what we need?
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Living with the knowledge that Jesus is risen from the grave and has defeated sin and death should give us all a deep joy that fills our hearts and radiates from our very being.  Run, don’t walk, to share this joy of the risen Christ with all who you encounter and the whole world!  

 As Catholics, we’ve all heard the passion narrative so many times.  If we sincerely try to focus on it and allow ourselves to enter into a deep reflection as it is being read, we will hopefully be moved by it every time.  There is so much that happened in a short amount of time and every single moment demonstrates Christ’s love for us.  Everything he went through was for each and every single one of us.  

One line that stood out to me as the passion was read on Palm Sunday is from when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.  “He was in such agony and prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground” (Luke 22:44).  To think of Jesus in this much agony and distress that His sweat would become drops of blood, it brings one thought to mind.  The thought of just how much he loves us.

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, we reflect on this ultimate sacrifice He made for us.  However, His suffering, all for us, starts much before He is on the cross.  When Jesus was praying in the Garden, he knew what he was about to endure.  Knowing that He was very soon going to be bearing the weight of all the sins of the world brought out so many emotions, which is revealed by His sweat becoming drops of blood.  His grief and anguish and all of the feelings He experienced shows us His humanity.  His prayer to the Father was so deep and intense and it is evident that He was praying from the heart, asking for the Father’s will to be done.

Reflecting on Christ’s agony in the Garden can help us with our own prayer lives and our surrender to God’s will.  While we will never face anything close to what Jesus went through and will not experience our sweat turning into blood, we all have our own times of distress and suffering.  We can look to Christ as the perfect example of how to respond in these times.  When we are struggling or going through something hard, are we on our knees, praying intensely and asking for the Father’s will to be done?
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As we journey through this Holy Week, let Christ’s agony in the Garden and each moment after leading up to His death on the cross, be a reminder of just how much you are loved.  Everything He did was for you and me.  Allow yourself to fully enter into the events of this week.  This week changed the world.  Will you let it change your world?

Today’s Gospel (Monday-4/3) starts with one of my favorite verses.  The passage from John begins with, “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12).”  The title of “Light of the World” is a powerful way to think of Jesus.  Light guides us, helps us see, and eliminates the darkness.  Jesus, who is the light of the world, illuminates the world around us, guides us, and changes everything.  It is by His light that we can see.

The world around us is filled with darkness.  Looking around, it doesn’t take long to see  violence, hatred, an attack on human life, a distortion of love into something selfish, confusion about how God created humanity, and the list goes on.  But Christ has the power to bring light into this darkness.  If we try to look at and understand life without Him, nothing makes sense and we are left in this dark and dismal mindset.  If we allow ourselves to be led by His light, we are better able to follow the path He wants us to walk, the path that leads us closer to Him.

Light is something that we crave and that we are drawn to.  Think of the sun.  When it comes to the weather, there is nothing better than a bright, sunny day, especially after long periods of cold, overcast, or rainy days.  When the weather is dreary and cloudy, we long to see the sun.  Most of us probably enjoy the warmth and brightness of the sun, as it is thought to increase the brain’s release of serotonin.  In the same way, we crave the light of Christ and are drawn to this light.  Every single person longs for the Son and the light He provides, whether they realize it or not.  Each and every one of us was created with this longing for God that no one and nothing else can satisfy.  His light reveals the truth to us and fills us with love and joy, which can then fill the world around us.
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If we stay focused on Christ, we will never have to walk in complete darkness.  Allow each day of your life to be illuminated by His light.  Because when we follow the light that shines in the darkness, we will be able to see.  We will be able to see all the goodness and beauty that surrounds us.