Christianity

Winter sun shining down on lake

Go in Faith…

After ministering to many people in Capernaum, Jesus sets out for a deserted place, yet the crowds search for, and find him. They don’t want him to leave. However, he explains that he must go because his ministry and proclamation of the Kingdom of God must extend to other villages and towns. After witnessing and hearing his preaching, and all the healings, how do you imagine the people of Capernaum took this news? Do you think they were skeptical or upset at the idea of other people, from a different village or town, and who perhaps they considered as outsiders, being the recipients of Jesus’s preaching and healing, too?

What’s it like when you consider Jesus’s mission as one that extends to all people, regardless of who they are or from where they come?

The Gospel for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 5:1-11), begins with Jesus having moved on to Judea and then Lake Gennesaret. It is written:

“While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.” – Luke 5:1.

Take some time to put yourself in the crowd. As you draw in toward Jesus and listen to the word of God, what comes into your mind, and how is your heart stirred? What prayer arises within you?

As the Gospel passage continues, Jesus gets into Simon’s boat and asks him to push away from the shore. This is not so that he can leave the crowd that has been closing in on him. Rather, it is so that he can continue to minister, teaching them from the boat.

Envision yourself on the shore with Jesus and then in the boat a short distance from the shore. What’s different when you’re in the crowd versus when you’re in the boat? What might Jesus want you to learn from his actions in this situation? What words does Jesus have for you and the crowd?

When Jesus’s preaching to the crowd ends, it is written:

“…he said to Simon,
‘Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.’
Simon said in reply,
‘Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.’
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them.
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
‘Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.’
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.’
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.” – Luke 5:4-11

After working hard all night to no avail, Peter does as Jesus asks. He goes back out into the deep part of the sea, and with Jesus by his side, where there was nothing, now there is an abundance, so much so that his nets and the boats can hardly hold it. However, for this to be possible, Peter had to first leave behind and let go of what he had already come to know—he was out all night and there were no fish to be caught—and rather than holding onto defeat or being discouraged, he had to put his hope, faith, and trust in Jesus.

Recall a time when you experienced a challenge, difficulty, or drought of some kind and how faith and Jesus’s presence helped you? What were your prayers like during that time? In what ways did you avail yourself, or help yourself, to be open to listening to and being present to Jesus? Thinking of that time, how can you relate to Peter in this Gospel passage?

Turning to today, think about a situation you’re currently facing. How are you inspired as you continue to seek and draw nearer to Jesus?

Winter sun shining down on lake

“On the day I cried out, you answered; you strengthened my spirit.” – Psalm 138:3

Receive Each Moment…

Driving on the highway on a clear but overcast winter morning one moment. Aimlessly sliding across lanes in the next. But through the grace of God, control was regained and the trip continued. In an instant, never mind a day or more, all sorts of things such as situations, environments, etc. can change drastically.

We can know that something is coming and do our best to prepare for it. For example, cold weather can bring icy conditions. Yet even being aware and extra careful, one can’t make any, and all, ice on a road or highway visible to the naked eye. And sometimes, like it or not, there is ice that’s both invisible and inescapable, extending across a road.

So, what’s one to do in these kinds of unavoidable situations? Shrink away from them? Or face them?

The fact of the matter is that there isn’t any one way or one answer for most things. However, there is always a best way to meet the moment. And oftentimes, arriving at it requires relinquishing the notion of control. Whether sliding across the highway in the cold, or steering the wheel on a warm, sunny day, it is the grace and love of God that sustains us.

We all have experiences that can shake us, literally and in other ways. Ones that can create anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and more. Yet, in all of them, we may not be in control, but we always have a choice(s). We can always strive to focus on what is best, what is possible, and most especially the spirit in which we proceed.

Last week’s Gospel was about the Wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11). When Mary tells Jesus that the wine has run out, he responds in part, “My hour has not yet come.” Yet, Mary still tells the waiters to do as Jesus tells them. Jesus instructs the waiters. They follow his instructions—essentially becoming part of the miracle—and through the grace of God, the problem is resolved. It wasn’t time… but it was. The time for the goodness of God—love, mercy, compassion, etc.—is always.

In the Gospel for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21), we start by going back to the beginning of Luke’s Gospel. We are reminded of Luke’s motivation. In his own words, he is striving to preserve an accurate account of Jesus life and ministry. And part of that account follows as we read about Jesus in the time after his baptism and temptation in the desert.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. – Luke 4:14-15

What do you imagine Jesus, “in the power of the Spirit,” was like? What characteristics would you use to describe someone in the power of the Holy Spirit?

As the Gospel continues, Jesus enters the temple in Nazareth and proceeds to read from the scroll handed to him—the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:17-21

Take some time to think about what you have learned and come to know about Jesus’s life and ministry. In what ways did Jesus’s words and actions fulfill this passage? How have you experienced these and other qualities of Jesus?

Whether it was at the wedding feast in Cana, in the temple in Nazareth, or elsewhere, and no matter what time it was, the Spirit in which Jesus lived and ministered was consistent and unwavering. And at the same time, he was fluid in meeting the moment with love and mercy, lifting all up as the glory of God, rather than making it his own.

Jesus’s life and teachings show us that the moment is always upon us, and the times is always right, to reflect the goodness of God. And more than that, our time is ours only thru the grace of God, and as such, it is always ripe with opportunity to be an expression of love and mercy in the world.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me. – St. Ignatius, Suscipe

More Than a Wish…

The magi, or three wise men, are first drawn to Jerusalem by the star signifying the birth of a newborn king. Once there, they encounter Herod, who acting on fear, deceptively seeks to have them locate this king so that he may bring about his demise; not pay homage as he has claimed.

For the wise men, this journey began with the beckon of a bright, new star. Then, from Jerusalem and their exchange with Herod, that same star leads them further onward, guiding them to Bethlehem, and Jesus Christ. And after paying homage and offering gifts to the newborn king, it is a dream that directs them back home, rather than returning to Jerusalem to reveal the location of the newborn king to Herod.

Along the way, and at each stop, the wise men, like us, undoubtedly had choices to make. What, do you imagine, inspired them to keep following the star from its rising all the way to Jerusalem? And then onward to Bethlehem?

What led them to listen to the dream and go home a different way rather than returning by way of Jerusalem, stopping to give Herod the information he wanted from them?

After taking some time to contemplate the Gospel passage for the Epiphany of the Lord (Matthew 2:1-12), reflect on the choices that you may be facing at this time and how you go about making decisions.

What influences your decisions and from where do you take direction or draw inspiration? What are the factors that motivate you? How do they reflect a posture of paying homage to the Lord? (Perhaps they are born out of, or hold at their roots, love, patience, or something similar.)

Take what you notice into prayer, inviting Jesus to share Light and Wisdom with you. Pray with any feelings or desires that arise in you. And when this prayer time comes a close, ask Jesus to reveal one parting word, phrase, or image that will help to draw and lead you, like that star, to where you ought to be.

We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage. – Matthew 2:2

More than Believing…

In the First Reading for the Feast of the Holy Innocents (1John 1:5-2:2), it is written:

“Now this is the message that we have heard from him [Jesus] and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.” (verse 5)

In the past week(s), how have you experienced God’s light? In what ways do you desire for the light of God to shine through you, inspiring and leading you?

A few days ago, the celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, began. The days leading up to Christmas can often be filled with anticipation and perhaps a rush, or a last-minute push, as if trying to cross the finish line in first place. Even in less busy years, this time of year can be as if there is something in the air, leading to reaching and stretching or a feeling of pressure and tension.

Similarly, some of the Scripture readings in the days after Christmas can change the feeling in the air as we read about stoning of St. Stephen and the Holy Innocents.

However, when and where there is darkness, there is also Light to be found.

In the Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Innocents, we are told of the Holy Family’s Flight to Egypt:

“When the magi had departed, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt,
and stay there until I tell you.
Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night
and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod,
that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled,
‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi,
he became furious.
He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
two years old and under,
in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet:
‘A voice was heard in Ramah,
sobbing and loud lamentation;
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be consoled,
since they were no more.’” – Matthew 2:13-18

What do you imagine the experiences mentioned in this passage were like for Rachel, Herod, and Joseph? As you contemplate this along with your own experiences, what captures your attention most?

In the Gospel passage for the Feast of the Holy Family (Luke 2:41-52), Jesus at 12 years old is separated from his parents. After celebrating the Feast of Passover, Mary and Joseph are traveling as part of a caravan of relatives and others they know, heading back home from Jerusalem. They are more than a little way into the journey when they realize that Jesus is not with the group.

We read:

“After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were astounded
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor
before God and man.” – Luke 2:46-52

Picture what it was like for Mary and Joseph as they retraced their steps back to Jerusalem trying to find their son. What do you think the experience was like for the others in their caravan? Who, if any, searched with and returned to Jerusalem with Mary and Joseph? And, how about what it might have been like for Jesus and the teachers in the temple?

Sometimes, when going through an experience, it can be easy for the scope of consideration to shrink, becoming narrower and leading one to consider fewer perspectives. However, faith calls us to be both focused (on God, Jesus, and the Way) and broad (open to different perspectives and willing to be guided and led by the Holy Spirit) in our approach and our endeavors.

What do you notice about God’s light and Divine intervention through the Flight into Egypt and the Finding of Jesus in the Temple? Pray with whatever insights you have. Talk with and listen to Jesus, as you share what you notice and any needs and desires that arise from within you as you continue to contemplate these passages and your own encounters and experiences.

Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:12-15

Hope, Faith, and Letting God be God…

Ushering in the Second Week of Advent, the readings for this Sunday (Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; and Luke 3:1-6) can be taken as a reminder of the all-encompassing nature of God, and a call to hope, faith, and letting God be God.

In the Book of the Prophet Baruch, we read:

Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;
look to the east and see your children
gathered from the east and the west
at the word of the Holy One,
rejoicing that they are remembered by God. – Baruch 5:5

What’s it like to reflect on this image, “being gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One”?

Recall some of the ways that you have been remembered by God and what God has done for you. Maybe there is a situation(s) where you have benefitted from or experienced God’s grace without even realizing it. How have you responded to God, both then and now?

When you think about challenges you may be facing or concerns that you currently have, what’s it like when you envision yourself enfolded in the “word of the Holy One” and as one “remembered by God”?

In the Second Reading, St. Paul offers a beautiful prayer for the Philippians.

And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God. – Philippians 1:9-11

However, just prior to this, in verse 8, St. Paul writes:

I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you
will continue to complete it
until the day of Christ Jesus.

Notice how St. Paul continually emphasizes or directs his audience (whom he addresses as “all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and ministers” in verse 1) to God as the object (or focus) and the source of good and righteousness—at the beginning, the end, and everywhere in between.

What strikes you most, or what desires arise within you, as you consider St. Paul’s words as well as his approach in the Second Reading?

In the Gospel According to St. Luke, verses 1-6 of chapter 3, we turn to a listing of who’s “in charge” (Caesar, Pilot, and tetrarchs) at the time that John the Baptist is in the desert, fulfilling prophecy. We read:

As it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one crying out in the desert:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The winding roads shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”– Luke 3:4-6

Take some time to consider these verses in the light of the God who remembers you… who loves you… and whose living, breathing Word seeks to protect and guide you to salvation.

As you journey through this week, how do you wish to respond to the all-encompassing nature of God, and the call to hope, faith, and letting God be God?

The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. – Psalm 126:3

Learning from the Fig Tree…

In the Gospel passage for the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 13:24-32), Jesus says, “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.” (v. 24). These words are part of his response to a question asked of him by the disciples, Peter, James, John, and Andrew.

Away from the others, and just after Jesus commented to his disciples on the destruction of the temple, they had asked him, “Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be when all these things are about to come to an end?” (Mark 13:4). The first thing that Jesus says to them is, “See that no one deceives you.” (Mk 13:5). As he continues to tell them the signs and what will happen (trials and tribulations such as war, persecutions, etc.), he also continues to give them instructions as to how to handle themselves and the situations they will face. He says:

“… do not be alarmed” (v. 7)

“Watch out for yourselves.” or be aware (v. 9)

“… do not worry beforehand about what you are to say. But say whatever will be given to you at that hour. For it will not be you who are speaking but the holy Spirit.” (v. 11)

“Be watchful!” (v. 23)

Then he says these words that are part of the Gospel for today, “Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.” (v. 28). And although Jesus says this as he continues to tell Peter, James, John, and Andrew about the signs that will occur at the end times, the gospel passage ends with Jesus saying, “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (v. 32). In other words, perhaps Jesus is reminding us not to focus on the signs, but rather to focus on his instructions.

His last instruction, “Learn a lesson from the fig tree,” is intriguing. In chapter 11 of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus curses a fig tree for being fruitless:

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry. Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. And he said to it in reply, ‘May no one ever eat of your fruit again!’ And his disciples heard it.” (Mark 11:12-14).

In this earlier passage, there is a mention of time, “… it was not the time for figs.” And now, when Jesus is telling some of his disciples about the signs of the end times and instructing them on how to be prepared, he again, refers to figs and time (and not knowing the exact time of the end).

A few interesting things about figs and time… Fig trees, like other fruit trees, have leaves, but unlike other fruit trees, their fruit flowers internally. Also, each fig contains a collection of many flowers and seeds. And while one may think of a fig as a piece of fruit, they are actually an infructescence—a multiple fruit—that in a sense, is always in the process of blooming.

So, in both times of uncertainty and times of comfort, see that no one deceives you, do not worry, and learn from the fig tree, continuing to grow from within, knowing that the fruit will come at the time that is appointed.  

“Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure.” – Psalm 16:5

A Time to Reflect…

The Gospel acclamation for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time is, “If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.” (1 John 4:12). Take some time to consider this verse.

What are the things that you heard and saw this past week that caught your attention? What values, notions, and ideas did they express?

It can be tempting to rush toward opinions and judgments based on listening to and watching what others are doing, what they have to say about situations, and about what’s happening in society and throughout the world. Not only that, but also to not really take time to honestly consider, reflect on, and discern the values being represented.

It can also be easy to be drawn in by a thing or two that may seem of the utmost importance, only to be swept up and moved along without recognizing movement away from values, expressed notions, and ideas that truly align with and promote the sentiments of Love.

In the coming days try to notice the words and actions to which not only your ears and eyes are exposed or drawn, but also your heart. What is stirred inside of you? and how are these things a reflection of Love?

Continuing to take these things to prayer, seek to see them as God sees them.

No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us. – 1 John 4:12

Fulfillment…

On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also known as Corpus Christi, the Collect (opening prayer) is: “O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption.”

Spend some time reflecting on this prayer and on the Sacrament of the Eucharist. What does it mean to you and how has it impacted you? Remember how you have experienced the fruits of the Lord’s redemption. What wonders has the Lord worked in your life? Take a few moments to express gratitude for these experiences and the awareness of them.

In the hymn One Bread, One Body, the lyrics direct us to mindfulness of our call, one and all, to unity as God’s people (the church):

One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord – John Foley, SJ (excerpt from One Bread, One Body)

Recall a time(s) when you have experienced unity and the fruits of the Lord’s redemption with others? In what ways have you witnessed the hand of the Lord? Give thanks for these times of common ground and the remembrance of them.

What hopes and desires do you have at this moment for awareness and unity in your life? your community? your country? and the world? Share these with the Lord. Ask the Lord for the grace to further appreciate and be inspired by experiences of the outpouring of His love.

Pray for one and all to have an open heart and mind to the well-being of all creation, and above all, to draw closer to God so as to embody (to speak and act in accord with) God’s desires as expressed through the example of Jesus.

Rhododendron Flowers

How shall I make a return to the Lord
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord. – Psalm 116:12-13

Alpha to Omega Design on a Communion Pix

United from Beginning to End…

In the First Reading for the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity (Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40), Moses reminds the people of how God has been present to them in Egypt and the magnitude of what God has done for them. He then implores them to use these experiences to remain focused on God as well as God’s ways thru adherence to God’s statutes and commandments. There can be a tendency to think of statutes and commandments as confining, but when taken into consideration along with the bigger picture of God’s dedication and love for all of creation, they can be seen as providing concrete ways to create unity and exercise respect and dignity with a goal of freedom and protection for one and all.

With God there is always more than one side. The relationship is mutual and considers all parties. There are statutes and commandments, but there are also God’s actions, not just telling humanity how to be, but also leading the way and showing us by example. The verses in the Psalm (Ps 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22) describe the Lord’s words, actions, and persona as: upright, trustworthy, just, right, kind, effective, protective, and helpful. These attributes are also infused in the statutes and commandments. They are extended to us by God and in turn we are to extend them to each other.

In the Second Reading (Romans 8:14-17), St. Paul reminds us of our part in the Trinity. As “children of God” and “Joint heirs with Christ” we are not to be enslaved by fear, but rather to live in and be led by the Spirit of God. The passage begins with a salutation of “Brothers and Sisters.” This is not an uncommon greeting. Readings from the letters of St. Paul often begin with a salutation of “Brothers and Sisters,” perhaps to continually express the overall desire and focus on the goal of unity with the Lord and one and another. Imagine starting all your communications with “Brothers and Sisters” or adding “Brothers and Sisters” to communications you receive. How might that shape what you write/say and how you receive what is written/said to you?

Moving on to the Gospel passage known as the Commissioning of the Disciples (Matthew 28:16-20), the disciples, who have gone to Galilee as instructed by Jesus, encounter the risen Jesus. It is written, “they worshipped, but they doubted.” (verse 17). What’s it like to think that despite the existence of doubt, they were still seen as worthy, encountered Jesus, and were given the opportunity to serve as Jesus’ disciples? When situations arise, it can be tempting to give rise to doubt or to fall into a one thing or another, or all or nothing mindset. However, with the Lord, all are worthy, there are often many ways and different degrees to serve, and faith always triumphs over doubt.      

Overall, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity presents an opportunity to acknowledge, contemplate, and celebrate how one experiences the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. When you consider each aspect of the Trinity, what characteristics or attributes come to mind? How have you experienced these in your life and how has your prayer been influenced by them? In what ways are you inspired by the Holy Trinity individually and in your relationships? How might the Trinity influence you to overcome uncertainty or division and work toward unity, to better communicate or deepen relationships, or in any related discernment?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.” – Revelation 1:8

Being Productive…

What does it mean to be productive? And how does that definition differ based upon the task or subject matter involved?

Oftentimes, productivity is judged based on things that can be measured or compared. However, the most impactful or most productive things in life are not necessarily widely valued by society, nor can they always be measured or necessarily seen.   

In the Gospel for the fifth Sunday of Easter (John 15:1-8), Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (verse 5). Jesus is providing an image that can be used to reflect on both the tangible and the non-tangible.

Think about personal interactions you have had over time and how they have impacted you. We all have experiences where what someone says or does, or doesn’t say or do, has affected us in one way or another. Where or what is the fruit of these experiences? What was in your heart at the time, and what’s happening now as you recall them?

Jesus says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” (John 15:7-8).

Consider Jesus’s words in this Gospel as an invitation to contemplate how we, as human beings, treat, engage, and communicate with each other, and what comes of it. What fruit is being nurtured and growing out of the way we are with each other? How is love reflected? And what tweaks or changes might be appropriate so that the Way does not get lost along our way?

Moving forward, how might Jesus’s words better inform your thoughts, actions, and decisions? What is it that you desire? Spend some time praying with this and whatever insights are revealed.

The human heart is always drawn by love. – St. Catherine of Siena