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“I Am the Handmaid of the Lord” / “Yo soy la esclava del Señor”

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Today’s Gospel is the pivot point in all of human history, all of salvation history, all of eternity.  Everything hinges on this moment when an angel brings a stupendous message to a young virgin in Galilee. Everything has been leading up to this moment, all of history cascades from this moment, and it all depends on the heart of this young maiden, on her conformity to the will of God with immense faith and loving obedience.

Some pious writers have imagined all of Heaven peering down in anticipation, as if wondering whether she will say “yes.” Of course she will; she is free to say no, but her heart and soul were prepared from all eternity and preserved from all stain of Original Sin. She was uniquely free with the Original Freedom and Original Innocence that Adam and Eve were given. Gabriel refers to her as “FULL of grace.” In this unique state of nearness to God, she cannot refuse His will. What He does in us, He does only with our active cooperation; it is necessary for Mary to surrender her will – actively WILL what God wills – in order for the Incarnation to happen within her.

And so, with majestic power and virginal simplicity, she replies, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

In that moment, the Davidic king who will rule over the nations, save us from our sin, and fulfill every Old Testament prophecy becomes enfleshed, real, one of us. In that moment, the Gospel is realized, Adam’s fall is undone, salvation is made possible, the reign of God with us begins. In that moment, when the one who is “full of grace” utters her humble yes in loving submission to the will of God, Love becomes Flesh and dwells among us, forever and always to remain with us, forever and always to remain human and divine. With her submissive word, the Word becomes Flesh. In that moment, the daughter of God becomes the Mother of God, and therefore, Mother of us all.

For hundreds of years, Catholics have commemorated this profound mystery by praying the Angelus three times each day – at morning, noon, and evening. If this is not yet part of your daily prayer, consider adding it before your Grace at mealtimes, to ponder and give thanks for this great Gift!

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El Evangelio de hoy es el punto central de toda la historia de la humanidad, de toda la historia de la salvación, de toda la eternidad. Todo gira en torno a este momento en que un ángel trae un mensaje trascendental a una virgen joven de Galilea. Todo ha estado encaminado a este momento, toda la historia se despliega a partir de este instante, y todo depende del corazón de esta joven, de su conformidad con la voluntad de Dios con una fe inmensa y una obediencia amorosa.

Algunos escritores piadosos han imaginado a todo el Cielo observando expectante, como preguntándose si ella dirá “sí”. Por supuesto que sí; es libre de decir que no, pero su corazón y su alma fueron preparados desde la eternidad y preservados de toda mancha del pecado original. Ella era singularmente libre, con la libertad y la inocencia originales que se les dieron a Adán y Eva. Gabriel se refiere a ella como “llena de gracia”. En este estado único de cercanía a Dios, no puede rechazar su voluntad. Lo que Él hace en nosotros, lo hace solo con nuestra cooperación activa. Es necesario que María entregue su voluntad —que desee activamente lo que Dios desea— para que la Encarnación se produzca en ella.

Y así, con majestuosa fuerza y ​​sencillez virginal, responde: “Yo soy la esclava del Señor; cúmplase en mí lo que me has dicho”.

En ese instante, el rey davídico que reinará sobre las naciones, nos salvará del pecado y cumplirá todas las profecías del Antiguo Testamento, se encarna, se hace real, se convierte en uno de nosotros. En ese instante, el Evangelio se realiza, la caída de Adán se deshace, la salvación se hace posible, el reinado de Dios entre nosotros comienza. En ese instante, cuando la que está “llena de gracia” pronuncia su humilde sí en amorosa sumisión a la voluntad de Dios, el Amor se hace carne y habita entre nosotros para siempre y permanece con nosotros, permanentemente humano y divino. Con su palabra sumisa, el Verbo se hace carne. En ese instante, la hija de Dios se convierte en la Madre de Dios y, por lo tanto, en Madre de todos nosotros.

Durante siglos, los católicos han conmemorado este profundo misterio rezando el Ángelus tres veces al día: por la mañana, al mediodía y por la noche. Si aún no forma parte de tu oración diaria, considera añadirlo antes de la oración de las comidas, para meditar y dar gracias por este gran Don.

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Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and eleven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com

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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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Because I Said So / Porque te lo he dicho

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“Because I said so.” Kids are flummoxed by this response. So much so that many of us, having heard it as children, swore that we would never say it to our own kids. Then, life humbles us, and there we are: Why no fork in the light socket? Because I said so. Why shouldn’t I jump out of this tree? Because I said so. Why can’t I ride my bike to the park at midnight and meet my friends? Because I said so.

We become parents, and we get it. “Because I said so” is shorthand for so much more: Because I see things you don’t. Because I understand the ramifications and consequences in a way you can’t yet. Because I have learned from life experience, and I don’t want you to hurt from the same mistakes I made. Because I love you, and I want to protect you. Because I can’t convey all that to you right now because you aren’t able yet to understand what I’m saying.

“Because I said so” really means “you’re going to need to trust me on this one.” In moments of petulance, the child challenges that authority, “Why? Why? But I wanna.” And then learns the hard way why Mom or Dad has “said so.” In moments of humility, though, the child trusts. “You know better; I give.” Then as the child ages and gathers his or her own wisdom and experience, the parent’s wisdom tends to crystallize. Oh, THAT’s why.

In the Gospel today, the Pharisees are flummoxed. Jesus is revealing to them the Messiah, and still they ask, “Who are you?” Jesus replies, “What I told you from the beginning.” He has said who He is; He has shown who He is. He is the Son of Man speaking as the Father taught Him. And still they ask.

Of course Jesus understands their confusion. He knows, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.” He sees things the Pharisees don’t. He understands the ramifications and consequences in a way they can’t yet. He speaks for the Eternal God who knows the folly of all mankind, and He doesn’t want those before him to be hurt from the same mistakes made across time. Because He loves them, and He wants to protect them. Because He can’t convey all that to them right in the moment because they aren’t yet able to understand what He’s saying. 

“You’re going to need to trust me on this one,” He seems to say. Why should they believe this guy? Why should we? Because He said so.

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“Porque te lo he dicho”. A los niños les desconcierta esta respuesta. Nos ha molestado tanto que muchos de nosotros, al oírla de pequeños, nos hemos comprometido a nunca decírselo a nuestros propios hijos. Pero la vida nos da una lección de humildad, y ahí estamos: ¿Por qué no se puede meter un tenedor al enchufe? Porque te lo he dicho. ¿Por qué no puedo brincar de este árbol? Porque te lo he dicho. ¿Por qué no puedo ir en bici al parque a la medianoche a encontrarme con mis amigos? Porque te lo he dicho.

Cuando nos convertimos en padres llegamos a entenderlo. “Porque te lo he dicho” es una forma abreviada de decir mucho más: Porque veo cosas que tú no ves. Porque entiendo las repercusiones y las consecuencias de una forma que tú aún no puedes comprender. Porque he aprendido de la experiencia y no quiero que sufras por los mismos errores que yo cometí. Porque te amo y quiero protegerte. Porque no puedo transmitirte todo eso ahora mismo porque aún no eres capaz de entender lo que te digo.

“Porque te lo he dicho” en realidad significa “confía en mí sobre esto”. En momentos de berrinche, el niño cuestiona esa autoridad: “¿Por qué? ¿Por qué? ¡Pero yo quiero…!” Y entonces aprende, a las malas, por qué mamá o papá “lo ha dicho”. Sin embargo, en momentos de humildad, el niño confía: “Tú sabes más; te doy mi consentimiento”. Luego, a medida que el niño crece y adquiere su propia sabiduría y experiencia, la sabiduría de los padres tiende a quedar claro. ¡Ah, con razón!

En el Evangelio de hoy, los fariseos están perplejos. Jesús les está revelando al Mesías, y aun así preguntan: “¿Quién eres tú?” Jesús responde: “Precisamente eso que les estoy diciendo”. Él ha dicho quién es; ha demostrado quién es. Es el Hijo del Hombre hablando como el Padre le enseñó. Y aun así preguntan.

Por supuesto que Jesús comprende su confusión. Él sabe: “Ustedes son de aquí abajo y yo soy de allá arriba; ustedes son de este mundo, yo no soy de este mundo”. Él ve cosas que los fariseos no ven. Comprende las ramificaciones y consecuencias de una manera que ellos aún no pueden. Habla en nombre del Dios Eterno, quien conoce la necedad de toda la humanidad y no quiere que quienes le precedieron sufran por los mismos errores cometidos a lo largo del tiempo. Porque los ama y quiere protegerlos. Porque no puede transmitirles todo eso en ese momento, ya que aún no son capaces de comprender lo que les dice.

“Van a tener que confiar en mí en esto”, parece decir. ¿Por qué deben creer a este hombre? ¿Por qué debemos creerle nosotros? Porque nos lo ha dicho.

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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.

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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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“Neither do I condemn you” / “Yo tampoco te condeno”

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Jesus did not condemn her. The Pharisees wanted her stoned. They were requesting her death for this sin and I suspect would have been okay with throwing some of those stones if given the chance. How often do we want to throw stones? So often. 

It’s really easy to see the sin in someone else and not in ourselves. It’s to the Pharisees’ credit that they were not so arrogant as to act and throw the first stone, thinking they were sinless. They were not, even if they secretly thought they could be, and we are not either. 

We live in a time where we judge easily and subjectively. We judge because people do not have the same values as we do, or do not practice their faith as we think they should. We argue over whether the Novus Ordo or the traditional Latin Mass is “better,” whether we should receive the Eucharist on our tongue or in our hands, whether kneeling or standing. We condemn others even though Jesus doesn’t and we bristle if anyone suggests that we should be condemned. 

How did we come to this place? How did it come to pass that as Catholics we argue and judge one another about these things? Why does our culture preach diversity but only when it aligns with our own narrative? Maybe we should just be glad people are going to Mass and receiving our Lord instead of bickering over how they should receive Him. It all makes me tired. 

I think we need to leave the judging and condemning to the One who knows our hearts best. In the end, it’s going to be each of us alone with Him. We don’t get a say in other people’s fate and they don’t get a say in ours.

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Jesús no la condenó. Los fariseos querían apedrearla. Pedían su muerte por ese pecado y sospecho que, de haber tenido la oportunidad, no habrían tenido ningún problema en arrojarle algunas piedras. ¿Cuántas veces tenemos ganas de apedrear? Demasiadas veces.

Es muy fácil ver el pecado en los demás y no en nosotros mismos. Hay que reconocer que los fariseos no fueron tan arrogantes como para actuar y arrojar la primera piedra, creyéndose inocentes. No lo eran, aunque en secreto pensaran que sí, y nosotros tampoco.

Vivimos en una época en la que juzgamos con facilidad y subjetividad. Juzgamos porque la gente no comparte nuestros valores o no practica su fe como creemos que deberían. Discutimos sobre si el Novus Ordo o la misa tradicional en latín es “mejor”, si debemos recibir la Eucaristía en la lengua o en la mano, si debemos arrodillarnos o estar de pie. Condenamos a otros aunque Jesús no lo haga, y nos indignamos si alguien sugiere que nosotros deberíamos ser condenados.

¿Cómo llegamos a esto? ¿Cómo es que, como católicos, discutimos y nos juzgamos sobre estas cosas? ¿Por qué nuestra cultura predica la diversidad, pero solo cuando se ajusta a nuestra propia narrativa? Quizás deberíamos alegrarnos de que la gente vaya a misa y reciba a nuestro Señor, en lugar de discutir sobre cómo deberían recibirlo. Todo esto me cansa.

Creo que debemos dejar el juicio y la condena a Aquel que mejor conoce nuestros corazones. Al final, cada uno de nosotros estará a solas con Él. No tenemos voz ni voto en el destino de los demás, ni ellos en el nuestro.

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Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at merridithfrediani.com.

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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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Jesus’ Timing / El momento de Jesús

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Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, so He waited. This is such a difficult passage to swallow. Like Martha who cries to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” we, too, cry out to Jesus when the answers we seek are long in coming. 

I found the disciples’ reaction to Jesus’ decision to wait in place, then go back to Judea, to be fascinating. They are concerned for Jesus’ wellbeing as the Jews in Judea had recently tried to stone Jesus. I had to pause and wonder if, perhaps, they had been glad during the two day wait. Perhaps they were sad for Jesus since His friend was sick, but glad for themselves because they weren’t going to go back to a place of danger.

Then, Jesus announces it’s time to go back. The surprise and shock are evident, especially in Thomas’s defeated statement that they are going to their death. It would seem that no one is very pleased with Jesus’ timing. 

What do we do when Jesus’ timing is not our own?  The Gospel offers us two options. The first is that of the disciples. They are resistant, uncertain, and while they do go along with Jesus, they lack an attitude of trust in His wisdom. Then there is Martha, who also wonders and questions Jesus’ timing. However, she makes a bold statement of faith immediately afterwards, demonstrating that she trusts Jesus knows what He’s doing even if she doesn’t.

“But even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you” (John 11:22). 

Martha’s faith is not dependent on her knowledge of Jesus’ plans. The plans and timing aren’t the important thing. Her focus is on the person of Jesus, the Son of God. Nothing is too impossible for Him, even if it seems beyond our measure of understanding.

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Jesús amaba a María, a Marta y a Lázaro, y por eso esperó. Este pasaje es difícil de asimilar. Al igual que Marta, que clama a Jesús: “Señor, si hubieras estado aquí, no habría muerto mi hermano”, nosotros también clamamos a Jesús cuando las respuestas que buscamos tardan en llegar.

Me pareció fascinante la reacción de los discípulos ante la decisión de Jesús de esperar un tiempo y luego regresar a Judea. Les preocupaba el bienestar de Jesús, ya que los judíos de Judea habían intentado apedrearlo recientemente. Tuve que detenerme a pensar si, tal vez, se habían alegrado durante los dos días de espera. Quizás sentían tristeza por Jesús, pues su amigo estaba enfermo, pero se alegraban por sí mismos porque no iban a regresar a un lugar peligroso.

Luego Jesús anuncia que es hora de regresar. La sorpresa y la conmoción son evidentes, especialmente en la expresión de derrota de Tomás, quien afirma que van a ir a la muerte. Al parecer, a nadie le agrada la decisión de Jesús.

¿Qué hacemos cuando el tiempo de Jesús no coincide con el nuestro? El Evangelio nos ofrece dos opciones. La primera es la de los discípulos. Se muestran resistentes e inseguros, y aunque siguen a Jesús, carecen de confianza en su sabiduría. Luego tenemos a Marta, quien también duda del momento que escoge Jesús. Sin embargo, inmediatamente después hace una firme declaración de fe, demostrando que confía en que Jesús sabe lo que hace, aunque ella no lo entienda.

“Pero aun ahora estoy segura de que Dios te concederá cuanto le pidas” (Juan 11,22). 

La fe de Marta no depende de su conocimiento de los planes de Jesús. Los planes y el momento no son lo importante. Su atención se centra en la persona de Jesús, el Hijo de Dios. Nada es imposible para Él, aunque parezca estar más allá de nuestra comprensión.

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Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at DailyGraces.net.

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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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Full Hearts / Corazones llenos

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Today’s Gospel presents us with three groups of people: The crowd, the Pharisees and the guards. The crowd was on fire with Jesus’ teaching. Their hearts were full. Then pride gets in the way. They stop thinking about how they felt and an argument breaks out. The guards also experienced the love of God and were filled. But they held onto it and didn’t get involved with the bickering. But, as for the Pharisees, where were their hearts? They were so stuck in the rules, which filled them with thoughts of this world, and not where their faith belonged. They want to prove that they know what’s best.  Pride is so good at ruining a good moment.

I recently attended a three-day retreat and was so inspired that I felt like I was two feet off the ground. Being so filled with the love of God through the Holy Spirit pleases my heart and soul that I yearn for it all the time.  When we experience oneness and closeness to God we long for more because that is what God wants for us. 

Psalm 7 gives us the tools to step over that pride and focus on our dependence on Him. “O LORD, my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and rescue me…Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but sustain the just, O searcher of heart and soul, O just God…A shield before me is God, who saves the upright of heart…” 

In order to live with this mentality, we have to slow down and take a deep breath. We should always be thinking, is this what I need to do right now? What is Jesus calling me to do at this moment? When our hearts stay filled with Jesus’ love, patience, humility, and understanding flow. 

The Pharisees’ hearts were growing cold as they tried to enforce their will and belief. Where are we growing cold in our lives? Take a moment to reflect on where you are prioritizing your needs above all else. Where are you pridefully pushing your own agenda without considering what Jesus desires? 

I hum this song when I need to refocus: “How great is our God, sing with me, how great is our God. All will know how great, how great is our God.” How will those around us experience God’s love and hear Jesus’ words? By our humble witness to His words and love. It all starts with quietly inviting Jesus into our heart before it turns cold. Let us set aside our pride and lean into His love today, that our hearts may also be full.

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El Evangelio de hoy nos presenta tres grupos de personas: la multitud, los fariseos y los guardias. La multitud estaba entusiasmada con las enseñanzas de Jesús. Sus corazones estaban llenos de amor. Luego, el orgullo se interpuso. Dejaron de reflexionar sobre sus sentimientos positivos y surgió una discusión. Los guardias también experimentaron el amor de Dios y se sentían llenos de corazón. Pero ellos se aferraron a ese amor y no se involucraron en la disputa. Pero, en cuanto a los fariseos, ¿dónde estaban sus corazones? Estaban tan aferrados a las normas, que los llenaban de pensamientos mundanos, y no de de la fe. Querían demostrar que sabían lo que era mejor. El orgullo es capaz de arruinar cualquier buen momento.

Recientemente asistí a un retiro de tres días y me sentí tan inspirada que me sentía en las nubes. Sentirme tan llena del amor de Dios a través del Espíritu Santo llena mi corazón y mi alma, y ​​lo anhelo constantemente. Cuando experimentamos la unidad y la cercanía con Dios, anhelamos más, porque eso es lo que Dios desea para nosotros.

El Salmo 7 nos da las herramientas para superar el orgullo y centrarnos en nuestra dependencia de Él. “En ti, Dios mío, me refugio: de mis perseguidores, sálvame.… Tengo mi escudo en Dios, que salva a los de recto corazón. Alabaré al Señor por la justicia y cantaré el nombre del Altísimo.”

Para vivir con esta mentalidad, debemos bajar el ritmo y respirar hondo. Siempre debemos preguntarnos: ¿Es esto lo que necesito hacer ahora? ¿Qué me pide Jesús que haga en este momento? Cuando nuestros corazones están llenos del amor de Jesús, la paciencia, la humildad y la comprensión fluyen.

Los corazones de los fariseos se enfriaban mientras intentaban imponer su voluntad y sus creencias. ¿En qué aspectos de nuestra vida nos estamos enfriando? Tómate un momento para reflexionar sobre dónde priorizas tus necesidades por encima de todo lo demás. ¿Dónde, con orgullo, impones tu propia agenda sin considerar lo que Jesús desea?

Me pongo a cantar esta canción cuando necesito centrarme de nuevo: “¡Cuán grande es nuestro Dios, canten conmigo, cuán grande es nuestro Dios! Todos sabrán cuán grande, cuán grande es nuestro Dios”. ¿Cómo experimentarán quienes nos rodean el amor de Dios y escucharán las palabras de Jesús? Mediante nuestro humilde testimonio de sus palabras y su amor. Todo comienza con invitar en silencio a Jesús a nuestro corazón antes de que se enfríe. Dejemos de lado nuestro orgullo y abracémonos a su amor hoy, para que nuestros corazones también esten llenos.

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Marti Garcia’s passions are her retired life and growing deeper in her Catholic faith. Marti is a Sacristan/EM, facilitates small groups, and assists as a First Communion Catechist for parents. Being a parent educator and writer for 35 years, she recently published a children’s chapter book on Amazon, The Ladybugs. You can find her at her blog: MartiGarcia.org, or thewaterisshallow.com, or her cohost podcast, findingacommonthread.com, which is coming soon.

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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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God’s Guiding Hand / La guía de Dios

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For me, Lent is a time to think about the moral life and how well I am doing when it comes to moral decisions. Often, when we take time to reflect on where we are at, we can start to see the faith as quite suppressive. We may ask questions like, “Why does God not allow this or that thing?” Or, “Why does it seem like old men in pointy hats seem to be able to make our moral decisions for us?” 

This is the dilemma that the people in today’s first reading find themselves in. They see someone in their group as a lawmaker who is there to repress all of their fun and because of this they decide to kick them out. Notice how easy it is for them to justify their immoral behavior and claim that the problem is the just person who doesn’t get their lifestyle. 

This is what results when we think that morality comes from outward forces that want to restrict our freedom. In reality, the moral life comes from the way we were created in the image and likeness of God. Think about it for a second, if God created us in His very image and likeness, then living in accord with that reality is what will make us most happy. God literally designed us to be like Him. The more we stray from that design, the more unhappy we become. 

Think about a bowling alley. I myself am terrible at bowling. It is not a fun sport to me because I am so bad at it. But if I put the guards up I can have a ton of fun and not care what happens because I know the ball is going to make it to the end no matter what. Moral principles are a lot like that guard. They guide us in the proper direction and make sure we don’t fall flat on our face, but there is a lot of freedom within those rails to enjoy the pleasures and comforts of life. 

Let’s use this season as a time to reflect on some of the things we struggle with morally and then ask God for the grace to guide us in the right direction so we can ultimately reach perfect peace and happiness at the end of the road. We can take the guidelines God has put in place for us and use them to our benefit so we can live life to the full. 

This fourth week of Lent is a perfect time to check in with God and see if we have made progress in the spiritual life in the past few weeks or if we really need to step up our game to finish this season strong. Either way, God wants you and I to be fully happy. He knows the right way. Let’s allow him to guide and guard our path. 

From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!

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Para mí, la Cuaresma es un tiempo para reflexionar sobre la vida moral y sobre mi desempeño en cuanto a las decisiones éticas. A menudo, al detenernos a reflexionar sobre nuestra situación, podemos empezar a percibir la fe como algo opresivo. Podemos preguntarnos: “¿Por qué Dios no permite esto o aquello?” o “¿Por qué parece que los ancianos con sombreros puntiagudos deciden por nosotros sobre nuestros principios morales?”

Este es el dilema en el que se encuentran las personas de la primera lectura de hoy. Ven a alguien de su grupo como un legislador que busca reprimir su diversión y, por ello, deciden expulsarlo. Observemos con qué facilidad justifican su comportamiento inmoral y afirman que el problema es la persona justa que no comprende su estilo de vida.

Esto es lo que sucede cuando pensamos que la moralidad proviene de fuerzas externas que pretenden restringir nuestra libertad. En realidad, la vida moral proviene de cómo fuimos creados a imagen y semejanza de Dios. Piénsalo por un momento: si Dios nos creó a su imagen y semejanza, vivir en armonía con esa realidad es lo que nos hará más felices. Dios nos diseñó literalmente para ser como Él. Cuanto más nos alejemos de ese diseño, más infelices seremos.

Piensa en un jugador de boliche. Yo mismo soy pésimo jugando boliche. No me divierte porque soy muy malo. Pero si subo las protecciones, puedo pasarlo en grande sin importarme lo que pase, porque sé que la bola llegará al final, pase lo que pase. Los principios morales son muy parecidos a esas protecciones. Nos guían en la dirección correcta y evitan que nos desviemos del camino, pero dentro de esos límites hay mucha libertad para disfrutar de los placeres y comodidades de la vida.

Aprovechemos este tiempo para reflexionar sobre algunas de las cosas con las que luchamos moralmente y luego pidamos a Dios la gracia de guiarnos por el buen camino para que, finalmente, podamos alcanzar la paz y la felicidad plenas. Podemos tomar las pautas que Dios nos ha dado y usarlas para nuestro beneficio, para así vivir la vida al máximo.

Esta cuarta semana de Cuaresma es el momento perfecto para conectar con Dios y ver si hemos progresado en nuestra vida espiritual en las últimas semanas o si realmente necesitamos esforzarnos más para terminar esta temporada con fortaleza. De cualquier manera, Dios quiere que seamos plenamente felices. Él conoce el camino correcto. Permitámosle guiar y proteger nuestro camino.

De parte de todos en la Diócesis, ¡que Dios los bendiga!

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Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”

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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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The Quiet Strength of St. Joseph / La fortaleza silenciosa de San José

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My son Joseph studies engineering at a university thirty minutes from our home. He lives on campus, but when he returns to our noisy home, his quiet calm is palpable. He slips in the side door, a slight smile on his face, arms laden with a backpack and a basket of laundry. He stands silently in the middle of the kitchen floor and within seconds our 13-year-old chocolate Lab and 22-pound Siamese cat are encircling his legs. When he moves to the couch after dinner, the two granddaughters who live with us, ages 3 and 6, follow him – one cuddling up at his feet, the younger one scootching under the blanket to lie next to him. Even his bearded dragon, often dormant when he is away, perks up and starts slurping his worms again. 

When he leaves, my husband says to me, “your calm just walked out the door.”

Saint Joseph remains quiet too. We know little of him except his genealogy in the line of David. “Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.” Saint Joseph is mentioned in all four Gospels, but says nothing. What we do know is that he shows up, he accompanies, he protects, he teaches, and, most of all, he provides safe shelter and quiet strength. 

Despite his silence, Saint Joseph is fully present in the early life of Jesus. He receives the message of the angel to travel to Bethlehem and later to Egypt and Nazareth with his little family. Together with Mary he is “anxious” when an adolescent Jesus disappears from their caravan and “astonished” when they find him among the teachers of the temple in Jerusalem. They searched for Jesus for at least three days. Imagine searching for a child for this long. No words of Joseph’s are recorded, yet his presence and his demeanor must have strengthened Mary.

In their humble family home, St. Joseph brought this quiet strength. Oh, good St. Joseph, bring it into our homes too. Teach us the value of silence, humility, and obedience. Be with us in our earthly struggles and at the hour of our death.

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Mi hijo Joseph estudia ingeniería en una universidad a treinta minutos de la casa. Vive en el campus, pero cuando regresa a nuestro hogar ruidoso, su calma serena es palpable. Entra por la puerta lateral, con una leve sonrisa, cargando una mochila y una cesta de ropa sucia. Se queda quieto en medio de la cocina y, en cuestión de segundos, nuestro labrador de trece años y nuestro gato siamés de diez kilos lo rodean. Cuando se sienta en el sofá después de cenar, sus dos nietas, de tres y seis años, que viven con nosotros, lo siguen: una se coloca a sus pies y la pequeña se mete bajo la manta para echarse a su lado. Incluso su dragón barbudo, que suele estar inactivo cuando él no está, se anima y vuelve a comer gusanos.

Cuando se va, mi esposo me dice: “Tu calma se ha ido por la puerta”.

San José también permanece silencioso. Poco sabemos de él, salvo su genealogía en la línea de David. Jacob fue el padre de José, el esposo de María. San José se menciona en los cuatro Evangelios, pero no dice nada. Sabemos que está presente, acompaña, protege, enseña y, sobre todo, brinda refugio seguro y fortaleza silenciosa.

A pesar de su silencio, San José está plenamente presente en la infancia de Jesús. Recibe el mensaje del ángel para viajar a Belén y, más tarde, a Egipto y Nazaret con su pequeña familia. Junto con María, se angustia cuando el adolescente Jesús desaparece de su caravana y se asombra al encontrarlo entre los maestros del templo en Jerusalén. Buscaron a Jesús durante al menos tres días. Imagínense buscar a un niño durante tanto tiempo. No se registran palabras de José, pero su presencia y su actitud debieron fortalecer a María.

En su humilde hogar, San José les brindó esa fortaleza silenciosa. Oh, buen San José, tráela también a nuestros hogares. Enséñanos el valor del silencio, la humildad y la obediencia. Acompáñanos en nuestras luchas terrenales y en la hora de nuestra muerte.

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Beth Casteel, wife of 36 years, mother of four and grandmother of two, writes with a passion for uncovering the stories of ordinary people. She worked as a newspaper reporter and editor and has advanced degrees in communication studies and creative writing. She contributed to Cloud of Witnesses, 25 Stories of Saintly Inspiration and Intercession, and has written essays for both sacred and secular publications. Her work can be seen on substack bethcasteel.substack.com/ and at bethcasteel.com.

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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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The Lord is gracious and merciful / El Señor es compasivo y misericordioso

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Today’s readings had me reflecting on God’s infinite love for us, for He gave His life to save us from sin. During certain times of our life, we may enter into a dark stage when we see our own needs above all else. We distance ourselves from God and stop going to Mass and confession, and don’t obey the Commandments.

At one point in my life, I missed Mass several times a year. I didn’t receive Communion and I didn’t dare to go to confession because I preferred to work overtime. I also didn’t look up Mass times at other parishes, which reminded me of the first reading when it said “To those in darkness.” I thought I didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness. By not putting Him first in my life, I felt I had betrayed Him. I carried an enormous burden on my shoulders through my own fault, and I thought I deserved the worst punishment.

It took me several weeks to muster up the courage to go to confession. It wasn’t easy, and I was ashamed to say everything I had to say, but after I received absolution, I was a free man. The burden I had been carrying was gone, and that’s because “The Lord is gracious and merciful,” as the Responsorial Psalm says. I returned to God’s embrace, began following His teachings once again and continued believing that He is the salvation of life, not money.

The Gospel says, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.” I felt like this is what happened to me. We are all sinful beings because only God is perfect, but confession opens the door for us to continue hearing His Word. We go from being dead while still alive to having the light of hope by living in union with God once again.

If you are far away from God right now, find the courage to go to confession, whatever your sins may be. Come out of the darkness. God is merciful and is waiting for you with open arms and infinite love.

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Las lecturas de hoy me hicieron reflexionar sobre el amor infinito de Dios hacia nosotros, que dio su vida para salvarnos del pecado. Durante ciertas etapas de la vida entramos en tinieblas donde sólo nos permite ver nuestras necesidades primero, lo cual nos aleja de Dios, como no ir a misa, no confesarse y no obedecer los mandamientos.

En un momento de mi vida falte a misa varias veces al año. No recibía la comunión y no me atrevía a confesar porque prefería trabajar horas extras. Tampoco buscaba horarios de las misas en otras parroquias, lo cual me hizo acordar en la primera lectura, “A los que están en tinieblas”. Pensaba que no merecía el perdón de Dios. Al no ponerlo primero en vida, sentía que lo había traicionado. Llevaba una enorme carga en mi espalda por mi propia culpa y pensé que merecía la peor condena. 

Me demoré varias semanas en armarme de valor para irme a confesar. No fue fácil, y hasta sentí vergüenza decir todo lo que tenía que decir, pero después que me dieron la absolución fui un hombre libre. La carga que tenía se había ido y es porque “El Señor es compasivo y misericordioso”, como dice el Salmo Responsorial. Volví a los brazos de Dios nuevamente para seguir sus enseñanzas y seguir creyendo que Él es la salvación de la vida y no el dinero. 

El evangelio dice “Yo les aseguro que, quien escucha mi palabra y cree en el que me envió, tiene vida eterna y no será condenado en el juicio, porque ya pasó de la muerte a la vida”. Sentí que eso me pasaba a mi. Todos somos seres pecadores porque el único perfecto es Dios, pero la confesión nos abre esa puerta para seguir escuchando su palabra. Pasamos de estar muertos en vida a tener esa luz de esperanza al volver a vivir junto a Dios. 

Si estás alejado de Dios en este momento, toma el valor de ir a confesarte sea cual sea el pecado o pecados que tengas. Sal de esas tinieblas. Dios es misericordioso y te está esperando con los brazos abiertos y con un amor infinito. 

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Felix Urcia was born in Lima, Peru. He moved the U.S. to complete his college degree in Computer Science at Northern Kentucky University. He is passionate about his faith, his family, education and soccer. When he is not homeschooling and caring for his young children he enjoys personal programing projects and sports analysis. He and wife live in a small town in Western Michigan where they enjoy spending time with their five children.

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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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Do You Want to Be Well? / ¿Quieres curarte?

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Thirty-eight years…The man in today’s Gospel had been ill for thirty-eight years. I inhale deeply when I hear that number.  Thirty-eight was the age when I was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, a diagnosis that found me running to the Divine Healer’s river of mercy. This sick man was just one of a “large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled” (John 5:1:3) who waited daily for the moment when the Pool of Bethesda’s water was “stirred up.” The first one into those waters was reportedly healed. 

Dependence on his own abilities left him unable to enter the pool in time. He had no one to help him, which left his healing just out of reach. He remained ill for thirty-eight years, until one Sabbath day changed everything. For on this particular day, he encountered the one true healer who had the power to make him whole, body and soul.

“Do you want to be well?” Jesus asks him. What an absurd question. Doesn’t Jesus know everything? Surely he knew every detail of this man’s long suffering and how desperately he desired wellness. And yet, Jesus wanted the sick man’s consent, his receptive surrender. Jesus is a gentle healer. He invites us back to wholeness, but He never forces. He wants our permission, our surrender to His will. Even when we barely crack open our hearts to receive, He showers us with His healing grace. “Rise, take up your mat, and walk,” he tells the sick man. And then immediately, with no delay, the Gospel tells us, “the man became well.” 

Many of the Biblical stories of Jesus’ healing miracles allude to an illness far worse than years of physical suffering—that of sin separating us from God. When Jesus found this man after his healing, he reminded him of that. “Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14). 

We all have places in our lives where we sit beside a Pool of Bethesda. Hear Jesus asking you today, “Do you want to be well?”  Do you want to turn away from your familiar life—a life that keeps you paralyzed from sickness or sin? Are you willing to admit that you desire healing? 

Jesus can heal us instantly. He doesn’t need the drama of stirred up waters. However, He wants our hearts stirred up in faith to surrender to Him. Sometimes Jesus heals our physical bodies in ways others notice. But sometimes our healing looks like unanswered prayers because it takes place deep within our souls.

During years of pain and sickness, we may be tempted to depend on the healing waters promised by the world. It is then that we must remember we will only find soul-deep healing that never fades or fails when we encounter Jesus, the Divine Healer, and allow His healing waters to flow through us. Lord, we want to “Be Well” in your time and in your way.

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Treinta y ocho años…El hombre del Evangelio de hoy llevaba treinta y ocho años enfermo. Respiro hondo al oír ese número. A los treinta y ocho años me diagnosticaron cáncer de mama en etapa temprana, un diagnóstico que me llevó a buscar refugio en la misericordia del Divino Sanador. Este hombre enfermo era solo uno de una “una multitud de enfermos, ciegos, cojos y paralíticos” (Juan 5,1-3) que esperaban a diario el momento en que las aguas del estanque de Betesda se agitaran. Según se cuenta, el primero que entraba en esas aguas quedaba sano.

Su confianza en sí mismo le impidió entrar en el estanque a tiempo. No tenía a nadie que lo ayudara, por lo que su sanación se le escapaba de las manos. Permaneció enfermo durante treinta y ocho años, hasta que un día de sábado lo cambió todo. Porque ese día en particular, se encontró con el único y verdadero sanador que tenía el poder de sanarlo por completo, en cuerpo y alma.

“¿Quieres curarte?” Jesús le pregunta. ¡Qué pregunta tan absurda! ¿Acaso Jesús no lo sabe todo? Seguramente conocía cada detalle del largo sufrimiento de este hombre y su desesperado deseo de sanarse. Y aun así, Jesús quería el consentimiento del enfermo, su entrega receptiva. Jesús es un sanador bondadoso. Nos invita a recuperar la plenitud, pero nunca nos obliga. Quiere nuestro permiso, nuestra entrega a su voluntad. Incluso cuando apenas abrimos nuestro corazón para recibir, nos colma de su gracia sanadora. “Levántate, toma tu camilla y anda”, le dice al enfermo. E inmediatamente, sin demora, el Evangelio nos dice que “el hombre quedó curado”.

Muchos de los relatos bíblicos de los milagros de sanación de Jesús aluden a una enfermedad mucho peor que años de sufrimiento físico: la del pecado que nos separa de Dios. Cuando Jesús encontró a este hombre después de su sanación, se lo recordó. “No peques más, no sea que te vaya a suceder algo peor” (Juan 5,14).

Todos tenemos momentos en nuestra vida en los que nos sentamos junto a un estanque como el de Betesda. Escucha a Jesús preguntándote hoy: “¿Quieres curarte?” ¿Quieres alejarte de tu vida habitual, una vida que te paraliza por la enfermedad o el pecado? ¿Estás dispuesto a admitir que anhelas la sanación?

Jesús puede sanarnos al instante. No necesita el drama de las aguas agitadas. Sin embargo, desea que nuestros corazones se conmuevan con fe para rendirnos a Él. A veces, Jesús sana nuestros cuerpos de maneras que otros notan. Pero a veces, nuestra sanación se manifiesta como oraciones sin respuesta porque ocurre en lo más profundo del alma.

Durante años de dolor y enfermedad, podemos sentir la tentación de depender de las aguas sanadoras que promete el mundo. Es entonces cuando debemos recordar que solo encontraremos una sanación profunda del alma, que nunca se desvanece ni falla, cuando nos encontremos con Jesús, el Divino Sanador, y permitamos que sus aguas sanadoras fluyan a través de nosotros. Señor, queremos curarnos en tu tiempo y a tu manera.

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Shauna Occhipinti writes to bear witness to God’s grace. She lives with her husband and  twin sons in Martinez, GA.  She is a contributing author to The Cloud of Witnesses, a PraiseWriters’ collaborative book. Shauna is passionate about holistic health and helping others find healing and wholeness with the Divine Physician. As a SoulCore leader, she welcomes others under Mary’s mantle through the contemplative prayers of the Rosary and functional movement. You can find out more about her at shaunaocchipinti.com.

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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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The Heart of Christ / El corazón de Cristo

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“This was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee.” First the water into wine; now the healing of the soldier’s son. There is more than one parallel between these two miracles, parallels that reveal to us something important about the Heart of Our Lord. 

The first parallel is that both miracles involve family: the new family of the bride and groom; the existing family of a loving father and a dying son. Christ understands, better than we ever could, the nature and importance of family. Of course, He would know. He’s God, after all; He invented family. Christ understands the love between a Father and Son. And He understands the kind of love, like marital love, that is so profound it creates new life. After all, creative love began with Him, when He made the world. And when He became incarnate, He was born into a family, son of Mother Mary and St. Joseph, His foster father. 

The second parallel is the nature of the miracles themselves. In both cases, those who receive the miracle do not “see” it happen. The soldier is still on the return journey when his servants deliver news that his son had been healed at the very moment Christ promised him it would be done. And neither the bride and groom, nor the servants or Mother Mary, are present when Christ changes water into wine. In both cases, Christ works His miracles in silence, in secret. What does this tell us about His Heart? It tells us of His great love for us. He does not perform miracles for fame. He wants to draw souls closer to Him and increase our faith. 

The third parallel is that in both cases, new creation springs to life at Christ’s mere word. The sick son is healed. Water becomes wine. Christ’s word transforms reality. His words do not merely represent reality; they are reality. And He is using them to bring life. What does this tell us about His Heart? It tells us that words, particularly His Word in Scripture, are meant to be restorative, life-giving, revolutionary. Since we are made in His image, our words can be a powerful force for good as well.

And in meditating on the Heart of Christ through these miracles, another parallel appears: the parallel between these lives and the death of Christ. The Father surrendered His Son so that spiritual life could be restored to us, His children. Water and wine flowed from Christ’s side. He said “It is finished” on the Cross, after His suffering and death, and it recreated the entire world. 

In all things, Christ’s Heart points to His sacrificial love for us: His desire for us to be part of a family, to provide for us in sometimes hidden ways, and to bring us back to life through His Word. For He has died that we might obtain the fullness of life. 

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“Ésta fue la segunda señal milagrosa que hizo Jesús al volver de Judea a Galilea”. Primero, el agua convertida en vino; ahora, la curación del hijo del soldado. Hay más de un paralelismo entre estos dos milagros, paralelismos que nos revelan algo importante sobre el Corazón de Nuestro Señor.

El primer paralelismo es que ambos milagros involucran a la familia: la nueva familia de los novios; la familia ya existente de un padre amoroso y un hijo moribundo. Cristo comprende, mejor que nosotros, la naturaleza y la importancia de la familia. Claro que sí. Después de todo, es Dios; Él creó la familia. Cristo comprende el amor entre un Padre y un Hijo. Y comprende el tipo de amor, como el amor conyugal, que es tan profundo que crea nueva vida. Al fin y al cabo, el amor creador comenzó con Él, cuando creó el mundo. Y cuando se encarnó, nació en una familia, hijo de la Virgen María y San José, su padre adoptivo.

El segundo paralelismo es la naturaleza de los milagros mismos. En ambos casos, quienes reciben el milagro no lo “ven”. El soldado todavía iba regresando de su viaje cuando sus sirvientes le anunciaron que su hijo había sido sanado justo en el momento que Cristo se lo había prometido. Ni los novios, ni los sirvientes, ni la Virgen María estaban presentes cuando Cristo convirtió el agua en vino. En ambos casos, Cristo obra sus milagros en silencio, en secreto. ¿Qué nos revela esto sobre su corazón? Nos revela su gran amor por nosotros. Él no realiza milagros para obtener fama. Desea acercar las almas a sí mismo y fortalecer nuestra fe.

El tercer paralelismo es que, en ambos casos, la creación nueva surge con la sola palabra de Cristo. El hijo enfermo queda sano. El agua se convierte en vino. La palabra de Cristo transforma la realidad. Sus palabras no solo representan la realidad; son la realidad misma. Y Él las usa para dar vida. ¿Qué nos revela esto sobre su corazón? Nos revela que las palabras, en particular su Palabra en las Escrituras, están destinadas a ser restauradoras, vivificantes y transformadoras. Dado que fuimos creados a su imagen, nuestras palabras también pueden ser una poderosa fuerza para el bien. 

Y al meditar en el Corazón de Cristo a través de estos milagros, surge otro paralelismo: el que existe entre estas vidas y la muerte de Cristo. El Padre entregó a su Hijo para que la vida espiritual pudiera ser restaurada a nosotros, sus hijos. Agua y vino brotaron del costado de Cristo. Él dijo: “Consumado es” en la Cruz, después de su sufrimiento y muerte, y con ello recreó el mundo entero.

En todas las cosas, el Corazón de Cristo señala su amor sacrificial por nosotros: su deseo de que formemos parte de una familia, de proveernos a veces de maneras ocultas y de devolvernos la vida mediante su Palabra. Porque él murió para que alcanzáramos la plenitud de la vida.

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Hailing from Nashville, Catherine is a graduate of Christendom College with a lifelong passion for words. Her love of writing and her Catholic Faith continue to shape her as a freelance editor, copywriter, and (aspiring) novelist, where she pursues her passions for the love and greater glory of God.

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Expect the Unexpected! / ¡Esperar lo inesperado!

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Both the first reading and the Gospel point to the same theme – God is full of surprises. And His Son is as well. We see the outward appearance of people and make decisions about them. Or are we judging? You may know certain people more intimately, so there are less surprises when it comes to their behavior. Even then though, how well can we really know another person? How well can we know ourselves?

Knowing ourselves requires honesty and humility. When Samuel chooses David, as instructed by God, David did not argue. Whatever he understood, anticipated, or desired with this anointing we do not know. He accepted what was given. We too, need to accept what God gives us. It may be our trials or difficulties or an arduous task but I imagine David, thinking more along the lines of, “What great work does God want from me? How will He help me accomplish this?”

When God gives me a new work, I am not always grateful. Maybe I do not want or enjoy this new project. One question I often ask myself during these times is, “What do you want me to learn from this?” Often the answer is to trust God more fully and not worry so much. 

In the Gospel we see the Pharisees and the blind man’s parents worrying. All those questions trying to trap Jesus, the blind man, the parents; they need to get to the bottom of this healing and they cannot let it go. They are afraid to trust that Jesus is who He says He is. It would be too much for them to consider. It would turn their world upside down and cause them to question so much about how they live.

Yet, when we turn to Jesus and allow Him into our lives, He turns it all upside down in the best ways. Of course, life can be messy at times. Keep holding on to Jesus. Keep relying on Him to help you to see. The blind man was given the gift of sight, and it changed his entire life. It was probably confusing at times and even overwhelming. Keeping close to Jesus, believing and worshipping Him helped him figure out his new life.

That is the lesson for us as well. Keep close to Jesus, turn to him, believe, and worship – and He will give you the gifts you need to navigate your life.  

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Tanto la primera lectura como el Evangelio apuntan al mismo tema: Dios está lleno de sorpresas. Y su Hijo también. Nos fijamos en la apariencia de las personas y tomamos decisiones sobre ellas. ¿O acaso las juzgamos? Quizás conozcamos a ciertas personas más íntimamente, por lo que su comportamiento nos sorprende menos. Aun así, ¿cuánto podemos conocer realmente a otra persona? ¿Cuánto podemos conocernos a nosotros mismos?

Conocernos a nosotros mismos requiere honestidad y humildad. Cuando Samuel eligió a David, siguiendo las instrucciones de Dios, David no refutó nada. Desconocemos lo que entendió, anticipó o deseó con esta unción. Aceptó lo que se le dio. Nosotros también debemos aceptar lo que Dios nos da. Pueden ser pruebas, dificultades o una tarea ardua, pero me imagino a David pensando más bien: “¿Qué gran obra quiere Dios de mí? ¿Cómo me ayudará a lograrla?”

Cuando Dios me encomienda una nueva tarea, no siempre estoy agradecida. Quizás no la deseo o no la disfruto. Una pregunta que suelo hacerme en estos momentos es: “¿Qué quieres que aprenda de esto?” A menudo, la respuesta es confiar más plenamente en Dios y no preocuparme tanto.

En el Evangelio vemos a los fariseos y a los padres del ciego preocupados. Todas esas preguntas intentaban acorralar a Jesús, al ciego, a los padres; necesitaban llegar al fondo de esta sanación y no podían dejarlo pasar. Tenían miedo de confiar en que Jesús era quien decía ser. Sería demasiado para ellos considerarlo. Les pondría su mundo patas arriba y les haría cuestionarse muchas cosas sobre cómo viven.

Sin embargo, cuando nos volvemos a Jesús y le permitimos entrar en nuestras vidas, Él lo transforma todo para bien. Por supuesto, la vida a veces puede ser complicada. Sigue aferrándote a Jesús. Sigue confiando en Él para que te ayude a ver. Al ciego se le concedió el don de la vista, y eso cambió su vida por completo. Probablemente fue confuso e incluso abrumador en ocasiones. Mantenerse cerca de Jesús, creer en Él y adorarlo le ayudó a comprender su nueva vida. 

Esa es también la lección para todos nosotros. Manténganse cerca de Jesús, acérquense a él, crean y adoren, y él les dará los dones que necesitan para guiar su vida.

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Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed., M.P.A. is a certified spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, and writer with decades of experience serving the Church. She is the founder of LiveNotLukewarm.com, works on the retreat team at Our Lady of Florida Passionist Spiritual Center, and is an Unbound prayer minister.  She has served as a religious education director, youth minister, liturgical coordinator, and stewardship director. She writes for SpiritualDirection.com, CatholicMom.com, Diocesan.com, and Women in the New Evangelization (WINE). Deanna is the author of The Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women, Invite the Holy Spirit into your Life, and has contributed to the Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion, as well as Digital Ministry and Leadership in Today’s Church.

Feature Image Credit: Daniel Joshua, unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-of-man-sitting-on-the-edge-of-a-cross-during-sunset-LwZ7hlAvI2Y

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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God Just Wants You / Dios solo te quiere a ti

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“All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) It’s a phrase that’s made its way into everyday wisdom—even outside of religious settings. We say things like: “Pride comes before a fall,” or “What goes up must come down,” or
“The higher you climb, the harder you fall,” or “Empty vessels make the most noise.” And while all these sayings carry a certain truth, they don’t quite capture what Jesus is saying here.

In the parable, Jesus describes two men going up to the temple to pray. One is a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee is confident. He recounts his spiritual résumé—his achievements, his goodness, his image. He’s not exactly lying—he probably does fast and tithe. But he missed the point. He wasn’t praying to be known by God. He was performing. He came to God to present an image of himself, not to have a relationship. He trusted in what he had made of his life.

Sometimes when we pray we offer to God what we think will impress him. Or we simply remain wrapped in ourselves and chatter about the things that make us comfortable. But whatever we accomplish on our own steam—even if it brings influence, power, success, or admiration—
it doesn’t last. It can’t give us life. It crumbles. And God isn’t interested in images. He wants us.

The tax collector shows us this: he speaks directly to God a humble, honest, vulnerable prayer that opens the door to a relationship with God even though he knew that what he was doing with his life was not something he was proud of. He doesn’t pretend. He just shows up—with all of his regret, his weakness, his need. And that’s what moves the heart of God.

I remember the day I realized this in my own life—that all that is good within me, any good that I do, is a gift of the Spirit. I remember the freedom that swept over me. The relief. The tears. The gratitude. I didn’t have to prove anything anymore. I didn’t have to earn the love that was already being given. All I had to do was receive it. And let it change me.

Humility opens the door to relationship and grace. God doesn’t want your résumé. He wants your heart. So whether it is pride or fear that leads you to chatter about yourself to God, today come before him and simply say: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Just a simple offering of your heart to the One who loves you. And if you’re afraid that God doesn’t love you—or afraid to come close to Him—hear this: God doesn’t want your résumé. He doesn’t need your achievements, your image, or your explanations. He just wants you. 

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“Todo el que se enaltece será humillado, y el que se humilla será enaltecido” (Lucas 18,14). Es una frase que se ha incorporado a la sabiduría popular, incluso fuera del ámbito religioso. Decimos cosas como: “El orgullo precede a la caída”, o “Todo lo que sube, baja”, o “Cuanto más alto subes, más dura es la caída,” o “El contenedor vacío es el que hace más bulla”. Y si bien todos estos dichos encierran algo de verdad, no captan del todo lo que Jesús quiere decir.

En la parábola, Jesús describe a dos hombres que suben al templo a orar. Uno es fariseo, el otro recaudador de impuestos. El fariseo es seguro de sí mismo. Enumera su trayectoria espiritual: sus logros, su bondad, su imagen. No miente del todo; probablemente ayuna y da diezmo. Pero no entendió lo esencial. No oraba para ser conocido por Dios. Estaba actuando. Se presentó ante Dios para proyectar una imagen de sí mismo, no para tener una relación con él. Confiaba en lo que había logrado con su vida.

A veces, cuando oramos, le ofrecemos a Dios lo que creemos que lo impresionará. O simplemente nos enredamos en nosotros mismos y hablamos de las cosas que nos hacen sentir cómodos. Pero todo lo que conseguimos por nuestro propio esfuerzo —aunque nos traiga influencia, poder, éxito o admiración—no perdura. No puede darnos vida. Se desvanece. Y a Dios no le interesan las imágenes. Nos quiere a nosotros.

El recaudador de impuestos nos muestra esto: le dirige a Dios una oración humilde, honesta y vulnerable que abre la puerta a una relación con Él, aun sabiendo que no se sentía orgulloso de lo que hacía con su vida. No finge. Simplemente se presenta, con todo su arrepentimiento, su debilidad, su necesidad. Y eso es lo que conmueve el corazón de Dios.

Recuerdo el día en que lo comprendí en mi propia vida: que todo lo bueno que hay en mí, todo el bien que hago, es un don del Espíritu. Recuerdo la libertad que me inundó. El alivio. Las lágrimas. La gratitud. Ya no tenía que demostrar nada. No tenía que ganarme el amor que ya me daban. Solo tenía que recibirlo y dejar que me transformara.

La humildad abre la puerta a la relación y a la gracia. Dios no quiere tu currículum de vida. Quiere tu corazón. Así que, ya sea que el orgullo o el miedo te lleven a hablarle a Dios sobre ti mismo, hoy preséntate ante él y simplemente dile: “Dios, ten misericordia de mí, pecador”. Una simple ofrenda de tu corazón a Aquel que te ama. Y si temes que Dios no te ame, o si tienes miedo de acercarte a él, escucha esto: Dios no quiere tu currículum de vida. No necesita tus logros, tu imagen ni tus explicaciones. Solo te quiere a ti.

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Sr. Kathryn J. Hermes

Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, is an author and offers online evangelization as well as spiritual formation for people on their journey of spiritual transformation and inner healing. Website: www.touchingthesunrise.com My Books: https://touchingthesunrise.com/books/
Public Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/srkathrynhermes/ HeartWork Spiritual Formation Group: https://touchingthesunrise.com/heartwork/

Feature Image Credit: Arina Krasnikova, pexels.com/photo/a-woman-praying-inside-the-church-5418305/

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.