Immediately

Mt 4:18-22

"As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him"

Do you remember in elementary school how the firemen would come and visit? It was always a fun day, and I didn't realize until I was older they weren't just coming to entertain us. They would always put their full suits on, face masks and all, and tell us "not to be scared if we are caught in a fire and we see a firemen". Apparently they have had problems in the past with kids actually hiding from the firemen trying to save them because they were scared of them. So their solution to this is to have the kids get to know the firemen in advance so if they are put in that situation they will go to them.
It's an interesting concept, the fact that someone's house can be up in flames, crashing all around them, and they would choose to hide there instead of follow the one who's trying to save them from it. Except we all do it all the time. Jesus called the fisherman to leave everything behind, fishing was all they knew, it was their security. And he calls us to do the same. He calls us to come from the houses that are crashing all around us, and let him lead us to something so much better. But how often do we miss out because we are clinging to what is familiar. To those little kids, their bedrooms, no matter how terrible things are getting, are what they know. They don't know the firemen, so it's hard to leave the familiar and follow someone you don't know when you have no idea where they're taking you. 
I love this verse about Jesus calling his disciples because I love their faith. It says "he called them and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him."  It doesn't say, they thought about it for a while, or they made plans to get things in order, or they said the timing just wasn't right, or even just let me sell these fish I caught today first. It just says "immediately". What was it about the way Jesus said those words that made them trust him with their whole lives? They must have seen his goodness and his love and heard of his good works. I've got to continue getting to know Jesus on an even deeper level, so that when things are crashing all around me and he wants to save me I will let him. And so when he calls me to leave behind everything, even my security, I can trust him enough to "immediately" follow because I know he's leading me to something so much better.   

Jesus, I want to know you even more than I do now. Be present with me today, remind me you are here, and give me the faith I need to follow where you are leading me. Especially the thing I am struggling with leaving behind most _______________, give me the trust to leave it for the better life you are offering. Amen.

Worth the wait

Luke 21:25-28
"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand."

Last night I read this verse and I actually "looked ahead" to see if there were any "good" verses coming up because all this talk about the end of the world is exhausting! (Don't worry, tomorrow is fisherman :) ) But it was a good reminder to me that the end of the world shouldn't scare me. Reading about the end of the world should be an exciting thing because it's the final episode where good conquers evil! Jesus says people will "die of fright in anticipation of what is coming" but then the next sentence says "they will see the Son of Man coming". How dissappointing! The whole worlds been waiting for the coming of Jesus for thousands of years, they were about to witness it, and they died because they got too scared of what MIGHT happen!
I like to run, and something I discovered about running is that there comes a point in the run where you are out of breath, your muscles are hurting and it's getting very difficult to keep going, but if you can allow your brain to control your body and make it keep running, you find within a few minutes you actually reach the best part of the run, your body settles in to it, you're not laboring quite so hard, and you're feeling really great because you challenged yourself. I think a lot of times in life, just when things start to get really hard for us, we have a tendancy to quit, or walk away. Maybe its a friendship, maybe its a marriage, a job, or a volunteer position. But if we give in just when it gets difficult, we miss out on the really great part of it that was just around the corner. 

Father, please give me the strength to face the challenge you've placed before me, run beside me, and remind me that you're about to make it all worth it. Please be with anyone reading this blog who is struggling with something so difficult they feel like they can't keep going.  Help them to know you are with them and the best is yet to come! Amen.

I Shall Give You a Wisdom in Speaking

Luke 21:12-19

“Jesus said to the crowd:
"They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."

Ok, I have to be honest: the first time reading through this my first thought was “I really hope the gospels for advent are a little more positive, I’m getting tired of all the negativity! I’d like to order some “Jesus loves you” verses please...But I remembered a quote by Mark Hart who said “I’m tired of the Jesus many moderns try to peddle – the “nice”, politically correct, inoffensive Jesus. We’re obviously not reading the same Gospels.” I am an optimist and one thing I know about myself is that there is fine line between optimism and unrealistic expectations. I always want things to be fun and happy, and while Jesus speaks of the joy waiting for us in heaven, he doesn’t sugarcoat the truth. He’s right. Being a Christian is hard! And we’re not even facing death penalties for it like the disciples and so many others who followed were.  As my faith has grown, I have had to leave some relationships behind, others have changed, and some have grown with me, but the truth is that we can’t live out the gospel and stay the same! And that’s a good thing!  But it’s still difficult for the people that we love who don’t understand. I love the advice “not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking”. Just like the Mondays gospel, Jesus is realistic with us that this is going to be difficult ...BUT...He will give us what we need to make it through.

Father, as we start to gather with family and friends for the holidays, give me wisdom in speaking and in all my interactions. Let me be only an example of your love and peace, and not disheartened if I am not shown the same. I would like to take this time to pray for ______________, someone who challenges my Christian lifestyle or misunderstands my heart. Help me to continue to remember to lift that person up in prayer during advent. Amen

I'll hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end.

Luke 21:5-11

"While some people were speaking about
how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings,
Jesus said, "All that you see here?
the days will come when there will not be left
a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down."

Then they asked him,
"Teacher, when will this happen?
And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?"
He answered,
"See that you not be deceived,
for many will come in my name, saying,
'I am he,' and 'The time has come.'
Do not follow them!
When you hear of wars and insurrections,
do not be terrified; for such things must happen first,
but it will not immediately be the end."
Then he said to them,
"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues
from place to place;
and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky."

I love how Jesus tells us about these terrible things that are going to happen and then says “don’t be scared though...” Ok I’m paraphrasing a little but part of me is saying “what do you mean, don’t be terrified! Of course I’m going to be terrified!” If you are like me, you’re probably just holding out hope that you don’t have to live through the end of the world, it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun.  Even though I joke about it, I can always take comfort in the words of our Father who has told us many times “Do not be afraid”.  Even though we may be struggling with something as difficult as war or famine, (or maybe present day its a bad breakup, loss of a loved one or a fight with a family member) Jesus says "for such things must happen first." I know he doesn’t want us to have to experience those things, but he says “do not be terrified” because he knows he will be with us through it all, and he knows “it will not immediately be the end.” The road to the end can be difficult, but Christmas is all about celebrating that “Emmanuel” (which means ‘God with us’ by the way) is with us! He came Christmas morning and He’s been with us in the form of the Holy Spirit ever since. He’s here with us through all of the difficult stuff that we’re facing now, and will be there until the end, and that’s why he can say  “do not be terrified” and we can believe him.

I’m going to finish my prayer this morning by listening to the song “Be Born in Me” by Francesca Battistelli. It’s been my “theme song” for getting ready for Christmas this year. Specifically I think the line “I will hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end.” is perfect for today’s gospel.

My "Two Cents" About Two Cents

Luke 21:1-4

“When Jesus looked up he saw some wealthy people
putting their offerings into the treasury
and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins.
He said, "I tell you truly,
this poor widow put in more than all the rest;
for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood."

I’ll never forget the first time my baby “shared” his food with me. I think at some point we’ve all been offered a slobbery cracker or two and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. I don’t need his cracker, but the fact that he cares enough to share with me the only cracker he has is priceless. It’s kind of like the baby way of saying “I love you.” In the same way, God doesn’t need us to give or do anything for Him. He’s God, if He wants a cracker he’ll get it for himself J, but He gets so much joy from our offering which is our human way of saying “I love you.” I wish I could say there haven’t been many times I have failed to share my talents or my treasure because I have judged them to be inadequate, but  I can’t. This morning we went to Mass in my husbands hometown and it’s the second time we’ve been there in the last month that they haven’t had a piano player. A very talented cantor has done it alone, but I couldn’t help but think while I was there that surely there was someone in that parish that could play the piano!  But I bet, just like me, they have a voice whispering “but I’m not very good” or “I could only help so little it wouldn’t be worth it”. That voice that whispers those things is not the voice of truth, but rather the opposite. The voice of truth so clearly tells us in the gospel of Luke that the one who gives what they have, no matter how small, pleases her King.

Father, you know my heart and you know my love for you. Help me to give what I have, no matter how small it feels to me. Help me use the gifts I’ve been given to give you glory and let the love in my heart show in my offerings. Give me the faith of the widow, so I can give ALL that I have. Amen.

Re-focusing my heart this Christmas

Thanksgiving is over and we're in the mad-rush to Christmas. We've got to get our decorations up, gifts purchased, baking done and pictures of our perfect families out to everyone we love. I love Christmas, but each year I find myself dreading it more and more. There's so much to do, and each year it seems our culture is making Christmas more and more about consumerism and less and less about Christ. As I drove home from Thanksgiving, worrying about already being behind on my shopping list, I decided I was going to do everything I could to re-focus my Christmas to Jesus; to celebrating that God doesn't break His promises to us, even if it means the most ultimate sacrifice; and to answering His annual call to remind myself that I am a child of God, and just how loved I am. What a beautiful holiday we have covered up with glitter and wrapping paper! I can't change the fact that in the name of Christmas people will trample each other to acquire material possessions, but I can change my own heart, and make sure it's focused where it belongs this Christmas.

So, one of the ways I'm accomplishing this goal is to spend time each day in prayer.  Join me each day for a scripture, reflection, prayer and challenge. I've always been a private writer, but I knew in order to stick to my goal of doing this daily I'd need people to hold me accountable, and so, this blog was born! I'm hoping it will be somewhat of an online bible study, and welcome your posts as we share our struggles, joys and moments and ask that all posts are kept positive - this isn't a debate, just prayer! :)



The gospel for this Sunday couldn't be more perfect to start this blog - isn't our God amazing?
John 18:33-37
Pilate said to Jesus,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own
or have others told you about me?"
Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I?
Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.
What have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world.
If my kingdom did belong to this world,
my attendants would be fighting
to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
But as it is, my kingdom is not here."
So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.
For this I was born and for this I came into the world,
to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."


The Catholic Church celebrates Christ the King Sunday this weekend. There's not a better time of year for us to remind ourselves that Jesus is our King, and his kingdom does not belong to this world. Jesus was only here for a short time, here for a purpose, but not here to make himself at home. There are times when it's so obvious to us that this isn't our home, when our hearts so clearly long for the heaven we were born to inhabit, like when we turn on the evening news to stories of war and murder, when we're feeling alone and not fitting in, or watching a loved one pass away. But other times we can settle in to really making ourselves comfortable here. I remember going on a 3 day retreat with some high school sophomores, we told the kids to take their stuff to their rooms and meet back up-stairs in a few minutes. After a while, a few of the girls hadn't returned so we popped into their room to speed them up. We were astonished to see they had been decorating! They had blankets folded neatly on the beds, all the shoes lined up along the wall, it looked, well, like a teenagers room! The girls had literally settled in, and they were so proud of their decorations. It seemed silly to us, of course you know the first words out of my mouth were "you know we're only staying for 3 days right?" I wonder if God has the same thoughts sometimes about us: "you know you're only staying for a little while right?" Our 80 years here must be even less than those 3 days on the retreat compared to eternity.  There was nothing wrong with the girls' decorating their room on that retreat because it only took them a matter of minutes, but what if they had missed the entire purpose of the retreat because they were so concerned with decorating their room? And then once it was so nicely decorated they couldn't possibly leave it?

I'm really going to challenge myself this Advent season to look at where I spend my time. Am I so focused on settling in here and making myself comfortable that I'm missing out on what I'm really here for? I'm sad to say I have to answer "yes" to that to some degree.

Father, thank you for your reminder that You are my King. I have nothing to worry about because I am the beloved daughter of the greatest King there is. Please help me to re-focus my life to you. I can get distracted so easily, when I do, please remind me again. Help me to see the purpose you have sent me here for, and keep my heart aligned with yours that I can live the life of joy and peace you have set out for me. Amen.


I'm going to pick one thing to give up that distracts me from my greater purpose and steals my time and I pick....using the internet on my phone. OUCH it hurts just to say that! This is going to be brutal, but I also know its going to be so good for so many of my relationships.

I'd love to hear your comments on the scripture or your challenges for yourself or others!