I love being Catholic, and the Holy Mass is one of the main reasons why. It is the most miraculous events of the week. To meditate on what is actually happening at every Mass could leave my head spinning for days. Think about it: God Himself enters our space and time. He comes to dwell among us—and within us. He becomes just as present to us on the altar in the form of bread and wine as He was in…
Less than one month after I was born, my parents brought me to our local parish and asked the Catholic Church for a gift on my behalf. They asked that I receive the sacramental grace of Baptism, to become a daughter of God and a member of the Catholic family. Growing up, I loved Jesus. I was one of those kids who enjoyed Mass and Sunday school. Church was a familiar, comfortable place. Looking back, I didn’t attend a particularly…
This space has been quiet lately. I’ve been quiet lately. We recently journeyed through the Passion of our Lord and celebrated His Resurrection. My focus has been on my own journey and where God is leading me. It is not away from writing, but my journey has taken me on a bit of a detour. I can relate very closely with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, from yesterday’s Gospel reading. After Jesus’ death, they returned to their hometown…
Wrestling with an uneasy feeling in the depths of my soul, I cried out to God again. “What do You want me to do?” I knew that my priorities were off balance, but it was overwhelming to consider the work of fixing the brokenness. “What do I need to do to be free, Lord?” On a summer eve, He finally answered me. “Come to Me, Sarah. Spend time with Me. Leave the distractions behind. What is keeping you for Me?”…
Last Sunday’s Gospel about the Woman at the Well (John 4:5-42) is very common during the season of Lent, and over the years, it has become one of my favorites. Several years ago, I attended a women’s retreat, and an image of the Woman at the Well was the focal point. A small holy card was taped onto our retreat journals. Large posters with the image on it surrounded our meeting room. And every time I gazed upon it, I saw myself….
It was January 1, and I was gung-ho to begin my New Year’s resolution. My plan was to start a rigorous elimination diet in the hope of feeling better. I purchased ingredients to make healthy meals, and I set aside time to cook for the week. I knew it was going to be hard, but I reached a tipping point in my chronic illness and knew I had to try more drastic measures. After a week, I started to regain…
The swirl of thoughts left me weary. What should my focus be? What should my days look like? What is my purpose? The lack of answers, or my fear of failure, left me paralyzed. My present brokenness was all I seemed to know, and despite the pain, it was surprisingly comfortable. And yet, the small flicker of hope deep within my heart convinced me there is a better way. “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall…
My emotions surrounding the New Year swing from excited to nervous. I anticipate with hope the new opportunities and adventures that surround the dawn of a new year. What is in store? What is around the corner? At the same time, I feel timid, because I have made plenty of resolutions in years past that fizzle after a month or two. Will I fail again this year? Recently, I heard some wise words that are helping me think differently about the New…
During the Advent season, the Lord invited us—the weary, worn out, and overwhelmed—to come to Him. He invited us into silence and stillness with short Scripture verses, Christmas hymns, and pondering prayers. In our time with Jesus, we found hope—even in the midst of waiting, because we discovered that we are not alone in our waiting. He is waiting with us. And hope brought joy! The weary world rejoiced indeed on Christmas Day. I pray that this Christmas season has…
This reflection is the third in a four-part series that supplements the free Advent prayer journal I am offering to email subscribers. You may read part one HERE and part two HERE. *** Have you ever felt a little lost? Have you ever wondered what your God-given purpose really is? A year ago, that’s how I was feeling—lost and unsettled about my purpose. Then, an amazing opportunity came my way. It was a dream come true, and I was excited! I was going to…