Know - Grow - Go

Spend time with any small piece of scripture (e.g., the Lord's Prayer, since so many of us know it by heart anyway). Read it and pray with it slowly, intentionally, allowing it to sink in and become part of you. Actively listen to the Word of God, allowing yourself to be shaped by what you hear and letting that guide your present and future actions.

There is a decision point for each of us in our faith, but we much consciously and deliberately choose to make that decision again and again, each and every day. This week, pray the Morning Offering (below) slowly and deliberately each day, pausing to specifically consider your prayers, your work, your joys, and your suffering, and be really intentional about offering all of that to God as a way of renewing your fundamental decision to follow Jesus.

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, work, joys, and suffering of this day for all the intensions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins and for the whole world.

Mary paves the way to her Son, and knowing her better leads to a deeper love of Jesus.

We need our faith to be strong, and to do that we have to be anchored in the very food that Jesus gives us: His very self.

When God loves, He gives - and He gives us Himself. We in turn are to give ourselves to our brothers and sisters. We become what we eat, and in that way we take the Bread of Life to the world.

Consider the following quote, attributed to Rev. Hugh L. Hollowell:

"Every time we use religion to draw a line that keeps people out, Jesus is with the people on the other side of that line."

Jesus chose to associate with those who were marginalized; those who were broken and wounded; those who were unpopular and scorned. It's so important for us, it we're to be faithful to Jesus, to be really alert on times and ways we start drawing a line and separating people apart.

To argue in good faith, with conviction, but also with respect - this is a gift that we as Christians can offer the world right now, when we're so divided and at one another's throats. Remember that you are one in 700 trillion, chosen very particularly by God, and so when you run into one of those differences that seem so threatening and insurmountable, remember that God is with you. Create the space for Him to act. Listen, and affirm what you can.

Just as God sent Amos and Jesus sent his 12 disciples, so too are we sent out on the same mission: to preach repentance and the truth with courage, to banish evil with prayer, and to help the sick with our presence and healing love.

It is in our weakness and discomfort that we can more fully rely upon and experience God's strength.

Fr. Dave asks three questions: Why are we here? Where are we going? How do we get there? The answer to each question evokes the same response: wow.