The Call to Discipleship / El llamado al discipulado

Imagine being one of these seventy-two disciples. The twelve Apostles had been sent out on a similar mission (Luke 9:1-6.) Their lives had already changed dramatically. Each had given up everything to follow Jesus. They saw in Christ the fulfillment of the promise made to their people, and they longed to be with Him. Then, things changed when the Twelve were called to go out into the world and show the power and authority that Christ had given to them. The students became teachers, and word of the Messiah spread.

In today’s Gospel, things are changing again. The call of the Twelve is becoming the call of the seventy-two because “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” Though these disciples are not given the full authority that the Twelve received in their mission, Jesus appoints dozens of those who have come to believe in Him to go and get other places ready to receive Him. His instructions echo those he had given His Apostles. He essentially instructed them, “Go into towns with nothing, stay with whoever welcomes you, eat whatever they feed you. Tell them about Me, so they are ready to receive Me.”

What must they have felt? Unsure, incapable, unworthy? But like the Twelve, they went. Humbly, they trusted in Jesus, and they went on their mission. And they were successful. 

While he was still with them, Jesus, the perfect teacher, had given the Twelve, and then the Seventy-Two, a taste of what they would be called to do with the Holy Spirit when He was gone. 

When the disciples returned rejoicing, He taught them again. They were understandably amazed and delighted by what they had been able to do in Jesus’ name, but we hear Christ’s call again to humility: “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

Our Pope and our Bishops follow a direct line of succession from those first twelve Apostles. Peter was eventually handed the keys of the Kingdom, and that call to teach and spread the truth of the Gospel has been carried forth ever since by our leadership. From the start, though, they were not expected to do it alone. Those who were given the gift of faith were also called to help spread the word. 

If you are reading this today, then somewhere along the way, you heard the Gospel, and you have come to know the Messiah. Your heart has been touched, and your life has been changed. Now, humbly trusting in the One who called you, you are asked to go out into the world and make the way for Jesus to reach new hearts. How? Speak up, invite, and love completely, remembering that any heart touched is done through you, not by you. What a privilege it is to be that instrument. Doing so, you won’t have to imagine being one of the seventy-two anymore; you will be among them.

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Imagínate ser uno de estos setenta y dos discípulos. Los doce Apóstoles habían sido enviados a una misión similar (Lucas 9,1-6). Sus vidas ya habían cambiado drásticamente. Cada uno había dejado todo para seguir a Jesús. Vieron en Cristo el cumplimiento de la promesa hecha a su pueblo, y anhelaban estar con Él. Entonces, las cosas cambiaron cuando los Doce fueron llamados a salir al mundo y mostrar el poder y la autoridad que Cristo les había dado. Los estudiantes se convirtieron en maestros, y la palabra del Mesías se difundió.

En el Evangelio de hoy, las cosas están cambiando nuevamente. El llamado de los Doce se está convirtiendo en el llamado de los setenta y dos porque “la cosecha es mucha, pero los obreros son pocos”. Aunque a estos discípulos no se les da la autoridad plena que recibieron los Doce en su misión, Jesús designa a docenas de los que han llegado a creer en Él para que vayan y preparen otros lugares para recibirlo. Sus instrucciones hacen eco de las que había dado a sus Apóstoles. En esencia, les dio estas instrucciones: “Vayan a los pueblos donde no hay nada, quédense en casa de quienes los reciban, coman lo que les den de comer. Háblenles de mí, para que estén listos para recibirme”.

¿Cómo se habrán sentido? ¿Inseguros, incapaces, indignos? Pero, igual que los Doce, se fueron. Humildemente, confiaron en Jesús y siguieron con su misión. Y tuvieron éxito.

Mientras todavía estaba con ellos, Jesús, el maestro perfecto, les había dado a los Doce, y luego a los setenta y dos, una muestra de lo que serían llamados a hacer con el Espíritu Santo cuando Él se fuera.

Cuando los discípulos regresaron gozosos, Él les enseñó de nuevo. Ellos comprensiblemente estaban sorprendidos y encantados por lo que habían podido hacer en nombre de Jesús, pero escuchamos nuevamente el llamado de Cristo a la humildad: “Pero no se alegren de que los demonios se les someten. Alégrense más bien de que sus nombres están escritos en el cielo”.

El Papa y los obispos siguen una línea de sucesión directa de aquellos primeros doce apóstoles. Pedro recibió finalmente las llaves del Reino, y ese llamado a enseñar y difundir la verdad del Evangelio ha sido llevado a cabo desde entonces por los líderes de la Iglesia. Sin embargo, desde el principio, no se esperaba que lo hicieran solos. Aquellos a quienes se les dio el don de la fe también fueron llamados a ayudar a difundir la palabra.

Si estás leyendo esto hoy, en algún momento escuchaste el Evangelio y llegaste a conocer al Mesías. Tu corazón ha sido tocado y tu vida ha cambiado. Ahora, confiando humildemente en Aquel que te llamó, se te pide que salgas al mundo y abras el camino para que Jesús llegue a nuevos corazones. ¿Cómo? Hablando, invitando y amando completamente, recordando que todo corazón tocado es a través de ti, no por ti. Qué privilegio es ser ese instrumento. Al hacerlo, ya no tendrás que imaginar que eres uno de los setenta y dos; serás uno de ellos.

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Pamela Kavanaugh is a grateful wife, mother, and grandmother who has dedicated her professional life to Catholic education. Though she has done her very best to teach her students well in the subjects of language and religion, she knows that she has learned more than she has taught. She lives, teaches, and writes in southwest suburban Chicago.

Feature Image Credit: Author unknown, Public domain, art.diocesan.com/stock-photo/the-apostles-spread-the-christian-doctrine-16775/

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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New Life in Jesus / Una vida nueva en Jesús

We like to cling to our traditions. We tend to gripe over changes to things we are used to. “But this is the way we always have done it,” is a line that has come up in numerous event planning meetings I have been a part of. As a result, people try to keep their favorite parts of the old way of doing things and shove it into the new way. Usually, it doesn’t fit. You can sense that it is forced, this clinging to the past rather than embracing the new way forward. The new way can’t be as effective when people aren’t ready to let go of what was.

In today’s Gospel, the disciples of John question Jesus as to why He and His disciples aren’t fasting like they do. Jesus explains that they will fast in the future, but for right now, something is different and the old way doesn’t work. Jesus makes everything new. He changes the way we view the world. He changes the way we love others. He changes the way we respond to God’s will. He shows us how to be vulnerable, how to suffer, how to enter into new life and how to go out and serve others. 

To know Jesus means you are changed, and once you are changed, you must choose. Do you choose to cling to the old or do you choose to step out into the new? Peter and Andrew chose to step out into the new. They left their nets and their boats–the old way of life–in order to make space for a new way of life, a life of preaching and healing and teaching and loving.

If you try to listen to the Gospel while also avoiding making any changes to align your life with the Gospel, you are going to be living in constant tension. This can cause shame or guilt which can lead to bitterness toward the Gospel, when it should be bearing fruit in your life. This is the bursting or the tearing Jesus refers to when what you know is right and how you are living are at odds with each other.

Jesus makes it clear in the Gospel that we need to make our hearts new in order to receive the message of the Gospel, in order to receive what He wants to pour into us. We also need to know what we are ready to apply to our lives. Sometimes we want to implement something as soon as we hear it, but it needs time to be “pre-shrunk” in order to fit where it needs to be applied to our life. 

However, when we renew our hearts, when we seek healing for our wounds, when we follow God’s will for our life rather than our own, then we can receive Jesus’ healing love and mercy. 

Let us constantly seek to be renewed in the life of Christ so that we can always be open and ready to receive Him.

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Nos gusta aferrarnos a nuestras tradiciones. Tendemos a quejarnos de los cambios en las cosas a las que estamos acostumbrados. “Pero así es como siempre lo hemos hecho”, es una frase que ha surgido en numerosas reuniones de planificación de eventos de las que he formado parte. Como resultado, la gente trata de mantener sus partes favoritas de la antigua forma de hacer las cosas y las introduce en la nueva forma. Por lo general, no encaja. Se puede sentir que es forzado, este aferrarse al pasado en lugar de abrazar la nueva forma de avanzar. La nueva forma no puede ser tan efectiva cuando la gente no está lista para dejar ir como era antes.

En el Evangelio de hoy, los discípulos de Juan le preguntan a Jesús por qué él y sus discípulos no están ayunando como ellos. Jesús explica que ayunarán en el futuro, pero por ahora, algo es diferente y la antigua forma no funciona. Jesús hace que todo sea nuevo. Cambia la forma en que vemos el mundo. Cambia la forma en que amamos a los demás. Cambia la forma en que respondemos a la voluntad de Dios. Nos demuestra cómo ser vulnerables, cómo sufrir, cómo entrar en una nueva vida y cómo salir a servir a los demás.

Conocer a Jesús significa que has cambiado, y una vez que has cambiado, tienes que escoger. ¿Escoges aferrarte a lo viejo o a dar el paso hacia lo nuevo? Pedro y Andrés eligieron dar el paso hacia lo nuevo. Dejaron sus redes y sus barcas –la antigua forma de vida– para hacer espacio para una nueva forma de vida, una vida de predicación, sanación, enseñanza y amor.

Si intentas escuchar el Evangelio y al mismo tiempo evitas hacer cambios para alinear tu vida con el Evangelio, vivirás en constante tensión. Esto puede causar vergüenza o culpa, lo que puede llevarte a amargura hacia el Evangelio cuando debería estar dando fruto en tu vida. Este es el estallido o desgarro al que se refiere Jesús cuando lo que sabes que es correcto y cómo estás viviendo están en desacuerdo entre sí.

Jesús deja claro en el Evangelio que tenemos que renovar nuestro corazón para recibir el mensaje del Evangelio, para recibir lo que Él quiere derramar en nosotros. También tenemos que saber qué estamos dispuestos a aplicar a nuestras vidas. A veces queremos implementar algo tan pronto como lo escuchamos, pero necesita un tiempo para “pre-encogerse” para que encaje donde debe ser aplicado en nuestra vida.

Sin embargo, cuando renovamos nuestro corazón, cuando buscamos la sanación de nuestras heridas, cuando seguimos la voluntad de Dios para nuestra vida en lugar de la nuestra, entonces podemos recibir el amor sanador y la misericordia de Jesús. Busquemos constantemente ser renovados en la vida de Cristo para que siempre podamos estar abiertos y listos para recibirlo.

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Nicole Berlucchi is a faith and family blogger (www.nicoleberlucchi.com) and Catholic blog contributor. She has worked in a number of roles in the nonprofit world, but helping people realize their vision and make an impact, seems to be her sweet spot. Nicole owns Coley B. Creative, LLC, a marketing company providing support to small businesses. She is also the author Magnify Love: Unlocking the Heart of Jesus in Your Marriage and Your Life. A native of Philadelphia, she now resides in the Nashville area with her husband, Joe, and their four children. She’s a big fan of brilliant skies, salted caramel with chocolate, books and more books. She loves sharing her journey with Jesus so that others might: Come and see.

Feature Image Credit: Designed by author on Canva

The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.

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St. Isidore


St. Isidore

Feast date: May 15

Isidore was born in 1070 in Madrid, Spain. His family was poor, and he labored as a farmer on the land owned by a rich man named John de Vergas. He was very pious and such a good worker that de Vergas allowed him to worship daily in the chapel on his property, and because of thes he was often accused by his fellow workers of neglecting his duties because he made prayer a higher priority.

Isidore eventually married a woman named Mary, and together they had a son. However their son died while still very young, and through this they realized that it was the will of God for them not have children, so they lived together chastely the rest of their lives, doing good works.

Although he remained poor, he gave whatever he could spare to the poor. One tale says that as he walked to the mill one day, he stopped and gave half of the corn in his sack to the hungry birds. By the time he got to the mill, his sack had miraculously filled up again. He died in 1130 of natural causes.

Many miracles and cures have been reported at his grave, in which his body remains incorruptible. His wife, too, was canonized—Saint Mary de la Cabeza.

He is the patron saint of agricultural workers and the United States National Rural Life Conference.

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Reading 1 Acts 13:13-25

From Paphos, Paul and his companions
set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia.
But John left them and returned to Jerusalem.
They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia.
On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats.
After the reading of the law and the prophets,
the synagogue officials sent word to them,
“My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation
for the people, please speak.”

So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said,
“Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen.
The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors
and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt.
With uplifted arm he led them out,
and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.
When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan,
he gave them their land as an inheritance
at the end of about four hundred and fifty years.
After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet.
Then they asked for a king.
God gave them Saul, son of Kish,
a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
Then he removed him and raised up David as their king;
of him he testified,
I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart;
he will carry out my every wish.

From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.
John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance
to all the people of Israel;
and as John was completing his course, he would say,
‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he.
Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'”

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27

R.(2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'”
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia See Revelation 1:5ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness,
the firstborn of the dead,
you have loved us and freed us from our sins by your Blood.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel John 13:16-20

When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.
I am not speaking of all of you.
I know those whom I have chosen.
But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.
From now on I am telling you before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send
receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

 

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Friday of the Second Week of Easter

Reading 1 Acts 5:34-42

A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel,
a teacher of the law, respected by all the people,
stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time,
and said to the Sanhedrin, “Fellow children of Israel,
be careful what you are about to do to these men.
Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important,
and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed,
and all those who were loyal to him
were disbanded and came to nothing.
After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him,
but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.
So now I tell you,
have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.
For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin,
it will destroy itself.
But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them;
you may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
They were persuaded by him.
After recalling the Apostles, they had them flogged,
ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus,
and dismissed them.
So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin,
rejoicing that they had been found worthy
to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes,
they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

R. (see 4abc) One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
One thing I ask of the LORD
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Mt 4:4b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?”
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
“Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.”
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?”
Jesus said, “Have the people recline.”
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
“Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

– – –

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Trusting in God’s Direction / Confiando en la Orientación de Dios

When the disciples are tasked with feeding five thousand men across from the Sea of Galilee, they are understandably dumbfounded: How can they feed so large a crowd with no food of their own, not much money, and five barley loaves and two fish? Yet, they do not bat an eye when Jesus tells them to prepare the crowd for a meal. Instead of relying on their own intuition and arguing with Jesus about the absurdity of feeding over five thousand people with such a small amount of food, they simply do what He says, knowing that He will provide for His people.

The disciples understand our Gospel acclamation, that “one does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). They have no idea how to approach the situation, but they have learned to trust in Jesus’ direction, even for matters of physical survival. His direction is better than anything they could come up with, even if it seems absurd at the time.

This outlook complements that of the psalmist, whose sole aim is to dwell in the house of the Lord rather than in other, more familiar places. And in our First Reading, we see Gamaliel saying something similar: “If [the gospel message] comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God” (Acts 5:39). He does not want to resist something that might come from God, even if he does not understand it.

Gamaliel, the psalmist, and the disciples see the point of remaining fixed on God, trusting in His direction even when it is difficult. They know that if God ordains something, guiding it with His hand, it cannot fail. If He gives direction, it will not be followed in vain. To dwell in His house is better than all else.

This is a profound trust that we need to adopt in our own lives. There is a subtle self-reliance that creeps in when we spend too much time seeking security by our own efforts alone. We plan far ahead, without consulting God concerning what He wants for our lives and for our loved ones. Inevitably, our best laid plans fail, and we make new ones, which fare no better. If we are not used to consulting God and trusting that He truly has things under control, we rely on worldly methods to maintain security, prestige, and wealth, so that we can have everything necessary for a good and peaceful life. Seeking easy steps to success, we look to social media and popular wisdom to solve our problems. If these solutions are divorced from spirituality, they never bring us the peace and security we seek.

Ultimately, we need to trust in what God has already told us through readings such as these. Even and especially when things look confusing and hopeless, God is in control. We must listen to Him and seek His will in these moments through prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and spiritual direction, trusting in what He tells us, even if we cannot understand the reasons for it. We cannot expect to fully understand the ways of God, but that does not mean that they are inferior to the ways we can come up with on our own. Dwelling in His house is the goal, and His direction and protection are best for us in all situations.

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Cuando los discípulos tienen la tarea de alimentar a cinco mil hombres al otro lado del Mar de Galilea, se quedan estupefactos: ¿Cómo pueden alimentar a una multitud tan grande sin comida propia, sin mucho dinero, cinco panes de cebada y dos peces? Sin embargo, no se inmutan cuando Jesús les dice que preparen a la multitud para una comida. En lugar de confiar en su propia intuición y discutir con Jesús acerca de lo absurdo de alimentar a más de cinco mil personas con una cantidad tan pequeña de comida, simplemente hacen lo que les manda, sabiendo que proveerá para Su pueblo.

Los discípulos entienden nuestra aclamación evangélica, que “No sólo de pan vive el hombre, sino también de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios.” (Mt 4,4). No tienen idea de cómo abordar la situación, pero han aprendido a confiar en la dirección de Jesús, incluso en cuestiones de supervivencia física. Su orientación es mejor que cualquier cosa que se les haya ocurrido, incluso si parece absurdo en ese momento.

Esta perspectiva complementa la del salmista, cuyo único objetivo es morar en la casa del Señor y no en otros lugares más familiares. Y en nuestra Primera Lectura, vemos a Gamaliel diciendo algo similar: “si lo que se proponen y están haciendo es de origen humano, se acabará por sí mismo. Pero si es cosa de Dios, no podrán ustedes deshacerlo. No se expongan a luchar contra Dios” (Hechos 5:39). No quiere resistirse a algo que podría venir de Dios, aunque no lo entienda.

Gamaliel, el salmista y los discípulos ven el punto de mantenerse fijos en Dios, confiando en Su orientación incluso cuando sea difícil. Saben que si Dios ordena algo, guiándolo con Su mano, no puede fallar. Si orienta a alguien, sus indicaciones no serán seguidas en vano. Morar en Su casa es mejor que cualquier otra cosa.

Esta es una confianza profunda que necesitamos adoptar en nuestras propias vidas. Hay una autosuficiencia sutil que se cuela cuando pasamos demasiado tiempo buscando seguridad solo con nuestros propios esfuerzos. Planeamos con mucha anticipación, sin consultar a Dios sobre lo que quiere para nuestra vida y la de nuestros seres queridos. Inevitablemente, nuestros planes fallan y creamos otros nuevos, y no nos va mejor. Si no estamos acostumbrados a consultar a Dios y confiar en que realmente tiene las cosas bajo su control, nos apoyamos en métodos mundanos para mantener la seguridad, el prestigio y la riqueza, para que podamos tener todo lo necesario para una vida buena y pacífica. Buscando pasos fáciles hacia el éxito, recurrimos a las redes sociales y la sabiduría popular para resolver nuestros problemas. Si estas soluciones están separadas de la espiritualidad, nunca nos traerán la paz y la seguridad que buscamos.

En última instancia, debemos confiar en lo que Dios ya nos ha dicho a través de las escrituras, como las lecturas de hoy. Incluso y especialmente cuando las cosas parecen confusas y sin esperanza, Dios tiene todo bajo control. Debemos escucharlo y buscar su voluntad en estos momentos a través de la oración, la Escritura, los sacramentos y la dirección espiritual, confiando en lo que nos dice, aunque no podamos entender las razones. No podemos esperar comprender completamente los caminos de Dios, pero eso no significa que sean inferiores a los caminos que podemos encontrar por nuestra cuenta. Morar en Su casa es la meta, y Su orientación y su protección son lo mejor para nosotros en todas las situaciones.

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David Dashiell is a freelance author and editor in Nashville, Tennessee. He has a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University, and is the editor of the anthology Ever Ancient, Ever New: Why Younger Generations Are Embracing Traditional Catholicism.

Feature Image Credit: Alessandro Vicentin, cathopic.com/photo/9026-rezando

Tell the Story / Contar la Historia

“When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.”

The Apostles were so convicted by their experience of Jesus Christ, that they continued to tell his story even when those in power wanted to put them to death. Let that sink in for a moment. They wanted them put to death. And the Apostles did not stop. 

We live in a time when we are taught not to discuss religion and politics. We have witnessed people shamed and brought down for standing up for their convictions. It is a time of “political correctness” and “cancel culture”. 

This hits home hard for me. It is hard for me to even write these words. I am ashamed to admit that there have been times in my life when I have not brought up my faith because I was afraid it would make for an uncomfortable dinner conversation. I have neglected to share the grace I have received, because I wasn’t sure how the person would react, they might think I was weird or worse. I had a job once where I was cautioned to tuck in my crucifix because I was around people who didn’t like Catholics and I complied. No one has threatened my life, but there have definitely been times when I didn’t tell the story of Jesus Christ and the wonders he has worked. For that I am ashamed. 

A personal encounter with Jesus Christ has the ability to transform us. A personal encounter with Jesus Christ is able to take us outside of ourselves and move us into meaningful encounters with others. It is our mission to go out into the world and tell the story of Jesus Christ and his mercy. We are not to tell it once and then go back home, we are to tell the story over and over. More than that, we are to live the story. We are to live in such a way that mercy is our hallmark; where telling others how much they are loved is part of just who we are and how we operate. 

So I will take comfort from John’s words in the Gospel. “He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.” As I bend my will to conform more and more to God’s will, I can trust that God will not ration his gift of the Spirit so that each day I can start anew and along with the Psalmist “bless the Lord at all times.” Even when it feels uncomfortable. 

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“Esta respuesta los exasperó y decidieron matarlos.”

Los Apóstoles estaban tan convencidos por su experiencia de Jesucristo, que continuaron contando su historia incluso cuando aquellos en poder querían matarlos. Profundicen un momento en eso. Querían que los mataran. Y los Apóstoles no pararon.

Vivimos en una época en la que se nos enseña a no hablar de la religión y la política. Hemos sido testigos de personas avergonzadas y humilladas por defender sus convicciones. Es una época de “no ofender políticamente” y “una cultura de la cancelación”.

Esto es muy duro para mí. Es difícil para mí incluso escribir estas palabras. Me avergüenza admitir que ha habido momentos en mi vida en los que no mencioné mi fe porque tenía miedo de que se convirtiera en una conversación incómoda durante la cena. Me he negado a compartir la gracia que he recibido, porque no estaba seguro de cómo reaccionaría la persona, de que podrían pensar que era rara o algo peor. Una vez tuve un trabajo donde me advirtieron que me metiera el crucifijo dentro de la blusa porque estaba rodeado de personas que no les gustaban a los católicos, y lo hice. Nadie ha amenazado mi vida, pero definitivamente ha habido momentos en los que no conté la historia de Jesucristo y las maravillas que ha obrado. Por eso estoy avergonzada.

Un encuentro personal con Jesucristo tiene la capacidad de transformarnos. Un encuentro personal con Jesucristo es capaz de sacarnos de nosotros mismos y llevarnos a encuentros significativos con los demás. Es nuestra misión salir al mundo y contar la historia de Jesucristo y su misericordia. No debemos contarlo una vez y luego volver a casa, debemos contar la historia una y otra vez. Más que eso, debemos vivir la historia. Debemos vivir de tal manera que la misericordia sea nuestro sello distintivo; donde decirles a los demás cuánto los amamos es parte de quiénes somos y cómo operamos.

Así que me consolaré con las palabras de Juan en el Evangelio. “Dios le ha concedido sin medida su Espíritu.”. Mientras dejo que mi voluntad se conforme cada vez más a la voluntad de Dios, puedo confiar en que Dios no racionará su don del Espíritu para que cada día pueda comenzar de nuevo y junto con el salmista “Bendeciré al Señor a todas horas”. Incluso cuando se siente incómodo.

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Sheryl is happy to be the number 1 cheerleader and supporter for her husband, Tom who is a candidate for the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. They are so grateful for the opportunity to grow together in this process. Sheryl’s day job is serving her community as the principal for St. Therese Catholic School in Wayland, Michigan. Since every time she thinks she gets life all figured out, she realizes just how far she has to go, St. Rita of Cascia is her go-to Saint for intercession and help. Home includes Carlyn, a very, very goofy Golden Retriever and Lucy, our not-so-little rescue puppy. 

Feature Image Credit: Justice Amoh, unsplash.com/photos/hyYJKOZp2Og

St. Anselm


St. Anselm

Feast date: Apr 21

On April 21, the Catholic Church honors Saint Anselm, the 11th and 12th-century Benedictine monk and archbishop best known for his writings on Christ’s atonement and the existence of God.

In a general audience given on Sept. 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI remembered St. Anselm as “a monk with an intense spiritual life, an excellent teacher of the young, a theologian with an extraordinary capacity for speculation, a wise man of governance and an intransigent defender of the Church’s freedom.”

St. Anselm, the Pope said, stands out as “one of the eminent figures of the Middle Ages who was able to harmonize all these qualities, thanks to the profound mystical experience that always guided his thought and his action.”

Anselm was born in Aosta, part of the Piedmont region of present-day Italy, around 1033. While his father provided little in the way of moral or religious influence, his mother was a notably devout woman and chose to send Anselm to a school run by the Benedictine order.

The boy felt a profound religious calling during these years, spurred in part by a dream in which he met and conversed with God. His father, however, prevented him from becoming a monk at age 15. This disappointment was followed by a period of severe illness, as well as his mother’s early death.

Unable to join the monks, and tired of mistreatment by his father, Anselm left home and wandered throughout parts of France and Italy for three years. His life regained its direction in Normandy, where he met the Benedictine prior Lanfranc of Pavia and became his disciple.

Lanfranc recognized his pupil’s intellectual gifts and encouraged his vocation to religious life. Accepted into the order and ordained a priest at age 27, Anselm succeeded his teacher as prior in1063 when Lanfranc was called to become abbot of another monastery.

Anselm became abbot of his own monastery in1079. During the previous decade the Normans had conquered England, and they sought to bring monks from Normandy to influence the Church in the country. Lanfranc became Archbishop of Canterbury, and asked Anselm to come and assist him.

The period after Lanfranc’s death, in the late 1080s, was a difficult time for the English Church. As part of his general mistreatment of the Church, King William Rufus refused to allow the appointment of a new archbishop. Anselm had gone back to his monastery, and did not want to return to England.

In 1092, however, he was persuaded to do so. The following year, the king changed his mind and allowed Anselm to become Archbishop of Canterbury. But the monk was extremely reluctant to accept the charge, which would involve him in further struggles with the English crown in subsequent years.

For a three-year period in the early 12th century, Anselm’s insistence on the self-government of the Church – against the claims of the state to its administration and property – caused him to be exiled from England. But he was successful in his struggle, and returned to his archdiocese in 1106.

In his last years, Anselm worked to reform the Church and continued his theological investigations – following the motto of “faith seeking understanding.” After his death in 1109, his influence on the subsequent course of theology led Pope Clement XI to name him a Doctor of the Church in 1720.