Category: Uncategorized

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At the age of 24, Saint Therese lay on her deathbed holding a crucifix.

Five of her final words were: “My God, I love you!”

That simple gesture of holding a crucifix, telling Jesus she loved him, is key to understanding her spirituality.

Therese believed that no action was extraordinary in itself; what mattered was the love behind it.

For example, the simple gesture of telling Jesus she loved him was more pleasing to God than someone writing a check to charity out of obligation.

It’s not what we do, but why we do it that matters.

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Mother Teresa later adopted this same spirituality.

She spent her life clothing and feeding the poor; caring for the sick and the dying; and washing the wounds of beggars.

Ordinary actions done with extraordinary love, because she saw Christ in every person she met.

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We can do the same.

Engage someone in conversation. Take an extra minute to listen. Pray for those you encounter. Be the first to smile. Forgive those who wrong you.

Ordinary actions that, if done with great love, become extraordinary in the eyes of God.

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Image credits: (1) Artnet (2) Courier-Journal

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Gospel: John 1: 47-51

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him,
“Here is a true child of Israel.
There is no duplicity in him.”
Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael answered him,
“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than this.”
And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Angels are like special friends sent to us from heaven. They only exist for two reasons: to praise God, and to guide us along the path of salvation. 

Throughout history, God has sent angels to earth with the mission of revealing a message of particular importance. In the Old Testament, for example, an angel was sent to Abraham to tell him not to sacrifice his son, Isaac. 

In the New Testament, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, proclaiming that she will bear the Son of God in her womb. And at the end of time, it is Michael who will slay that ancient beast, Satan.

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The Church believes that angels still have a purpose in our world. Each and every one of us has been assigned a guardian angel by God to guide us in our affairs.

On the last day of our life, it is our own guardian angel who will bring us to Jesus. We are reminded of this truth at funerals, when the priest concludes the Mass with the words: May the angels lead you into Paradise.

Today, in particular, on this Feast of the Archangels, we’re reminded just how much God loves us – so much so that he creates a guardian angel for each of us to make sure that we make it safely into heaven.

May the angels pray for us.

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Image credits: (1) The Guardian Angel, Marcantonio Franceschini (2) Song of the Angels, Adolphe Buoguereau (3) The Daily Beast

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Gospel: Luke 9: 51-56

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,
he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,
and he sent messengers ahead of him.
On the way they entered a Samaritan village
to prepare for his reception there,
but they would not welcome him
because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,
“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven
to consume them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them,
and they journeyed to another village.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Jesus is entering his final days. 

He’s now headed to Jerusalem, where he will be handed over by Judas and killed.

It’s a critical moment in his life and ministry. So, Saint Luke adds a descriptive detail to help paint the picture: facing Jerusalem, Jesus becomes “resolutely determined.” 

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We can imagine him staring off into the distance. 

Knowing what’s in store for him, he stiffens his face, draws a deep breath in, and courageously puts one foot in front of the other.

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Long before he suffers physically, Jesus feels the weight of his cross, the weight of the isolation and rejection held in store for him. 

Incredibly, this doesn’t sour his spirit; nor does it prevent him from doing good to others. 

For example, in today’s Gospel, he’s rejected by the Samaritans – the sworn enemies of the Jews – but Jesus doesn’t send fire upon them as the disciples request; he leaves them alone, and I’d imagine, wishes them well.

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What is Jesus teaching us?

That we can be kind and do good at every moment in life, even when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders.

Regardless of our circumstances today, we can still live and love like Jesus.

What might that look like for me?

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Image credits: (1) Saint Clairsville Church of Christ (2) Jesus Prays Alone, IHOP network (3) Helphomelesswomen, Twitter