[…] is an essential prayer because we live at a time when our own self-absorption is just off the charts. I know that we live in a broken world, and I am personally experiencing far more of that brokenness than I’d like. But so many of us are literally paralyzed with worry about ourselves. Never […]
Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 1:6–8,19–28 “Everybody is going to think we’re like the Duggars.” This was the response of one of my kids when I shared that I was pregnant with our seventh child. Concern over what people would think about us felt like the least of my worries. My greatest […]
[…] proclaiming the extraordinary deed of God, we can be beacons of light in the darkness. We should seize the opportunity to introduce people to the gospel's good news and share with others how our lives have been transformed because of our relationship with Christ. Is there someone that you can invite to join you […]
Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Matthew 23:1–12 Some people use hypocrisy for the reason that they no longer go to church because they believe the church to be filled with hypocrites. I’ve heard it many times, both from people who have permanently left the church and those who have thought of leaving. And […]
[…] more challenging is understanding how we are to make sense of Jesus, who comes across as callous, even cruel. The Gospel of Matthew emphasizes that the Good News of Jesus was destined not only for the Israelites, God’s chosen people, but for Gentiles as well.[1] Throughout this gospel, the demands of discipleship are emphasized. […]
[…] can be difficult if family members do not share this faith or are living in a way that is contrary to the gospel. But there is good news! The reward for following Jesus is great, which He makes known to us in the second half of tomorrow’s gospel. If you are hospitable to disciples […]
[…] go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons” (Matthew 10:7-8). Share the good news and help people. Whether you have experienced the same situation (like the man in my story) or are willing to face another person’s suffering (like Jesus […]
Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 14:15–21 From a young age, we are shown that the more excellent one’s performance is, the higher the reward. In third grade, if you are the first to memorize your times tables, you receive a prize. In middle school and high school, if you have a certain […]
[…] into the enemy’s trap; we can master it. As God’s daughters, we can overcome and have authority over sin. (See? I told you there was hope!) Good news, for sure, yet the million-dollar question remains: why would God lead us into temptation? Why would He allow us potential harm? Wouldn’t a good parent protect […]
Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Matthew 4:12–23 I was just starting to take my faith seriously in my late 20s. I joined the mom’s group at my parish so I could be encouraged (and influenced) by women who seemed to have the Catholic thing down. A few of us planned to attend an […]
