Instead of sending a large crowd away hungry, Jesus miraculously feeds them with the multiplication of loaves and fish.  Thousands of people are relieved of their hunger while being fed by the Son of God himself.  God knows our spiritual hunger and also responds to it.  He feeds us in the Eucharist, in Scripture, in prayer, in doing his will.  Warned by God himself, we need to look out for destructive substitutes that do not truly satisfy our soul's longing for joy and peace. 

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Jesus' transfiguration is a momentary manifestation of his divinity.   This event reminds us of Jesus' beneficent power on our behalf.  St. Peter was struck by the wonder of the transfiguration and refers to it in order to bolster our faith in the reality of Christ's life and mission.  God the Father testifies to his Son's authority telling us to "Listen to Him." We do this in our prayer and in our humility in asking for and receiving advice.

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To truly meet Christ is to experience a great conversion.  Life becomes centered on his person and his mission.  This conversion entails taking on a new life and leaving behind our sinful ways.  To convert is to turn towards God and away from sin.  Leaving sin behind is no easy matter.   Above all it takes liberation--redemption--by Christ.   It also presupposes a courageous sincerity about how we minimize the importance of sin, giving into the illusion that sinfulness is actually good. 

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A meditation on Mary Magdalene and Jesus. 

Originally published July 2021

Our Lord Jesus calls Christians the "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world."  The presence of believing Christians is fundamental for the health and salvation of humanity.  Realizing the gravity and urgency of our mission, we should put aside all division and distractions and commit ourselves to living our Catholic faith.  This demands daily trust in God, daily repentance from sin and daily conversion towards true charity.

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Jesus promises rest for those who come to him labored and heavy laden.   To receive rest from God happens in a special way in our prayer.  Accepting God's will and growing in trust help us to rest even when we have serious concerns in our life.  Adoration especially refreshes the soul.  To adore God is to relieve ourselves of the burden of trying to live without him. 

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The Bible refers to the moral law as "written on the heart."  In this class we discuss the principles of the natural law.   

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The Christian life entails a struggle.   Growing in virtue and overcoming vice requires serious effort.  This struggle for holiness, however, may seem overwhelming to the weak and  self-empowering to the proud.   Realizing that God's aid is essential for all spiritual growth helps to overcome these two mistakes.   Our spiritual combat must be carried out bravely and freely but also with full confidence in God.   

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For the Feast of St. Josemaria we pray about one of his central spiritual teachings: unity of life.  Our life often seems divided by various distinct tasks and concerns.  To do things for the glory of God, for love of God, is a powerful instrument that unifies our life.  Our awareness of our divine filiation also lends unity to seemingly unconnected realities.  Whatever I do, I should do as a son or daughter of God.  Our contemplative life, an awareness of God's presence, also grants a powerful sense of unity to our entire life.  This awareness is forged in the practice of mental prayer, where we reinforce the reality of God's presence everywhere and filter our life and its concerns through our relationship with God. 

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Jesus describes his sacred and merciful heart as meek and humble.   More than anger and disappointment at our sins, Jesus feels compassion for us in our waywardness.  In the Sacred Heart of Jesus we especially see the goodness of God towards sinners.  This makes God approachable in Jesus and keeps us from the mistake of trying to be good without him.  

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