Have you ever stopped to think that every act of kindness — or impatience — is done to Jesus Himself?

In Rise Up – Day 6, Father Meyer reflects on the powerful words from Matthew 25:

“You did it to me.”

Through the simple yet profound Five Finger Prayer taught by Mother Teresa, and the powerful witness of St. Polycarp, we’re reminded that the Eucharist transforms us. When we receive Christ, we are called to become Christ for others.

What you do to the least… you do to Him.

Let’s love boldly. Let’s love intentionally. Let’s love the Eucharist.

#RiseUp #DailyReflection #CatholicFaith #Eucharist #StPolycarp #LentJourney #BeSaints #CatholicYouTube #FaithInAction

You were fired up on Ash Wednesday.

You had a plan.

You were ready to “crush Lent.”

But now it’s the First Sunday of Lent…

How are you doing?

In today’s Rise Up reflection, we look at Jesus being tempted in the desert — and what that means for you four days into your Lenten commitment.

Because of your baptism, you are not alone.

Because of your baptism, you have nothing to fear.

Even in the desert.

Rise Up is a daily Gospel reflection for Lent and Easter.

Text “riseup” to 84576 to receive it by text or email.

#RiseUp #Catholic #Lent #FirstSundayOfLent #GospelReflection #CatholicYouTube #BeNotAfraid

Are you sick?

Jesus says, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.”

The question is — do we recognize our need for Him?

If we don’t admit we’re not where God wants us to be yet, we won’t seek healing. We won’t seek growth. We won’t seek repentance.

The good news?

God isn’t done with us.

Today is another chance to grow.

Another chance to forgive.

Another chance to love better than yesterday.

Let’s pray for healing in our Church.

Let’s pray for holiness among priests.

Let’s pray for revival.

Rise Up is a daily reflection journey through Lent and Easter focused on the Gospel, friendship, and real transformation.

📲 To receive Rise Up daily by text or email, text riseup to 84576.

If this reflection helped you, share it with someone who needs encouragement today.

#RiseUp #Lent #Catholic #DailyReflection #Gospel #Conversion #Healing #FaithJourney

Is Friday abstinence enough?

Or are we missing the point of fasting altogether?

Jesus says when He is taken away, His disciples will fast.

But what does that really mean for us today?

On this first Friday of Lent, let’s talk about delayed gratification, self-denial, and the fastest way to become a saint.

Rise Up – Day 3

#RiseUp #Lent #Catholic #CatholicFaith #Fasting #FirstFriday #BecomingASaint #SelfDenial #DelayedGratification #FatherMeyer

Day 2 of Lent.

Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

But denial is hard. And instant gratification is easy.

If you’ve ever struggled to keep your Lenten commitments… this reflection is for you.

Spiritual transformation doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from delayed gratification, daily discipline, and accountability.

Are you ready to deny yourself — not just once — but daily?

📲 Join the 90-Day Rise Up journey:

Text rise26 to 84576

Let’s become saints together.

#Lent #RiseUp #Catholic #SpiritualGrowth #DelayedGratification #BeASaint

Ash Wednesday is a day filled with possibility.

Today, the world walks around marked with ashes — repentant, desiring change, longing to become who God created us to be.

But most of us don’t actually pray for transformation.

We pray for small adjustments.

In Day 1 of Rise Up, Fr. Jonathan challenges you to stop asking for minor improvements and start surrendering everything. What righteous deeds will you commit to during these 40 days? What in your life needs to change — not be tweaked — but transformed?

This journey doesn’t end at Easter Sunday.

We will walk together through:

95 days of daily encouragement, challenge, and accountability.

Let’s rise up.

⸻

📩 Want the Daily Video Sent to Your Inbox?

Sign up to receive each day’s video link by texting:

rise26 to 84576

You’ll receive a daily text or email reminder so you don’t miss a single step of the journey.

Don’t do this alone. Invite a friend. Choose accountability. Be a saint.

This reflection comes from our weekly Alive series, where we gather around the Gospel and let it speak into real life. Over Lent and Easter, Alive will pause as we enter into something even deeper.

Beginning Ash Wednesday, we’ll be sharing Rise Up — a daily Gospel reflection journey that runs through Pentecost. It’s about moving from rules to freedom, from white-knuckling faith to living it with grace.

How to sign up for Rise Up:

📱 Text RISEUP to 84576

📧 Or sign up by email — it’s free and delivered daily

Invite a friend. Share the journey. Let the Word of God change your life.

In this powerful retreat talk, Fr. Meyer invites us to rediscover our deepest identity — not based on performance, failure, or fear, but on the unshakable truth that God loved us first.

Drawing from the Nativity, Scripture, Marian devotion, and years of pastoral and youth ministry experience, Fr. Meyer reflects on what it means to know not only who we are, but whose we are: beloved daughters of God. He reminds us that our identity is rooted in God’s initiative — a love freely given, not earned.

Through prayer, reflection, and a guided renunciation of lies, this talk gently leads us to release shame, fear, anxiety, and false beliefs, and to proclaim the truth of who we are in Christ:

Loved

Wanted

Forgiven

Protected

Never abandoned

This talk is especially meaningful for anyone who struggles with self-worth, anxiety, or trusting God’s love, and for those longing for deeper interior healing and peace.

May this reflection help you rest more fully in the truth of who you are — and who God is for you.

Welcome to a bonus episode of ALIVE as we prepare to celebrate Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

This beautiful feast marks the 40th day of Christmas, when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus—the Light of the world—into the Temple. In this reflection, Father Jonathan Blyer explains why we bless and carry candles, why this liturgy is so powerful, and how Candlemas invites us to reflect on the light Christ brings into our own lives.

We reflect on:

The blessing and procession of candles

Jesus as the Light entering the darkness

The Presentation in the Temple (the Fourth Joyful Mystery)

Simeon’s canticle and the prophetess Anna

The role of candles in prayer, both at church and at home

You’re also encouraged to bring candles from home to Mass to be blessed, and to consider how candlelight might deepen your personal and family prayer life.

✨ When was the last time you lit a candle and prayed?

Discussion questions are included below.

We’re glad you’re here.

Be a saint. 🙏

Gospel Discussion Questions:

Presentation of Lord- Luke 2:22- 40 

Adolf Hitler was baptized Catholic — but baptism alone does not guarantee holiness or salvation.

In this homily, Fr. John Hollowell reflects on the meaning of baptism, original sin, and the ongoing spiritual battle each of us faces after receiving the grace of the sacraments. Drawing on powerful analogies from hiking and mountaineering, Fr. Hollowell explains why baptism is the beginning of the Christian adventure, not the end.

Baptism makes us adopted sons and daughters of God and temples of the Holy Spirit — gifts even Adam and Eve did not possess. Yet, as the Catechism teaches, the consequences of sin remain, and we are still called to strive, cooperate with grace, and put our God-given talents to work.

This homily challenges us to avoid complacency, to take our faith seriously, and to find joy, peace, and purpose in striving for holiness through the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession.