Sunday Wisdom

Did you know that back in the day salt was a very valuable rock? When Jesus said you are the salt of the earth He was telling us we are valuable, maybe more that we think, especially in Jesus’ time. The disciples would have known that salt was hard to find and that it could be quite expensive. So lean into the value the Lord is giving you when He says, “You are the salt of the earth.”

The fun thing about salt is that is spices things up a bit, right? Adding salt to a tomato or our bowl of popcorn just makes it taste better.  But have you ever tried eating salt on its own? Don’t try it! I think Jesus is trying to tell us that as salt, we cannot do everything on our own, that what we do does matter and as long as we are giving the glory to God, we are the salt of the earth. Remember what John the Baptist said, “He must increase, I must decrease.”

“You are the light of the world.” We all have special gifts but the gifts we have and the light that shines is not our own, it is just a reflection of His light, the true light of God. When we do things in love and for the glory of God, that selfless loves shines through even in the darkness because goodness shines through and can never be hidden.

I know it seems like our world is a dark place, and at times it can be, but that should not stop us for letting our light shine. Jesus did not let it stop him. He was the true light and His light could not be hidden even in the darkness of His Passion. So, “Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

I am sure you are familiar with today’s gospel reading, the Sermon on the Mount and sometimes when a reading is familiar, we tend to skip over its importance.  It was important for Matthew to point out that Jesus was on a mountain and that he sat down to teach. The gift of the beatitudes is really about our relationship with God and not our worldly situation.  We see in the beatitudes that we are blessed regardless of our status in life.

Jesus reminds us that life will not be easy. It will be filled with suffering and setbacks. But He also encourages us to have hope and to not be afraid. We don’t have to be perfect and we aren’t. We don’t have to hide our weaknesses or problems.  He goes as far as to suggest that perhaps through our suffering and weakness we will be a blessing to others. We can be a light for others just as we are, just as God made us and if we listen to how God is calling us, we will make a difference.

So today, let us reflect on the beatitudes because the Lord had given them to use as a roadmap to deepen our relationship with Him and get to Heaven. The Lord has given us everything we need, life, love, and strength for the journey. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” The Lord is helping us learn how to live humbly. We are blessed and we can become more humble if we focus on His compassion, His Divine Mercy, and His sacrifice on the Cross.

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Have faith the size of a mustard seed.

Matthew’s gospel tells us that faith can move mountains. Today, Luke tells us that faith can uproot a tree and replant it in the sea. Jesus reminds us that even the smallest of faith is powerful. There is a reason Jesus chose the mustard seed. It is the tiniest of seeds. Today Jesus reminds us that our faith even if it is small, is powerful.

It is good that the apostles turned to Jesus for help to increase their faith. It shows humility and the need for our Lord. With God all things are possible. Without God we can do nothing. One of the first steps to increasing our faith is to humbly admit our lack of faith and our need for the Lord.

Don’t be confused, faith does bring about magical powers but through prayer, we can obtain holiness. Take some time today to reflect upon the prayer of the apostles: “Lord, Increase our faith.” Let us put aside our pride and humbly pray to our Lord for a renewed faith.

Oh loving Savior, increase our faith. Fill us with the Holy Spirit that we may lead others to Your glory. Remind us of your infinite Mercy. J
Jesus, I trust in You.

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Today’s gospel is a story about wealth and how unimportant it is to God. Remember, you can’t take it with you!

God calls us to care for those less fortunate than us and we are to be caregivers to those whom God puts in our path. We are all called to see in each other the face of God.  This same God, who has given us everything, only asks us to share with others, and to be concerned for those who have nothing. When we do this we not only live more simply, but we walk humbly with God.

Not only did Lazarus live near the door of the rich man, the rich man know Lazarus’ name but did nothing to help him. Are we guilty of looking the other way when we come upon someone in need, perhaps someone who is homeless, or begging at an intersection?

When we enter the next life, we will be judged by not only our words, but our actions. I encourage you to at least pray for those you see begging at the side of the road. Everything we have is a blessing from God. Without Him we can do nothing and without Him we would have nothing.

The good things we have been given in life are callings or opportunities to be a blessing to others.  When we share with other what God has given us, we become an instrument of His love. When the Lord calls us home, let us stand before Him with honor knowing that we helped the least of our brethren.

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

“And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life…” – John 3:14-15

God is a giver. He made the ultimate sacrifice for you and for me. His love and mercy is for everyone. Loving the world through Jesus’ name is where true life and true love begins. Notice how our hearts are more open to Jesus when we experience love. Well, Jesus has the love that surpasses all understanding. His love is stronger than death. God did not come into the world to save a few, He came to save all of us, regardless of our race, our status in life, or the gifts we have. He loves us despite of what we have done right or wrong. He came to save us and give us eternal life because He loves us.

God is a giver and by His grace, we can become givers too!

Heavenly Father, we thank you today for your unconditional love. Help us to live that love, speaking the truth, and always giving the glory to Your name. ~Amen

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

I wonder how frustrated Jesus must have been with his followers. Time was running out and he has tried to teach everyone through parables and signs of wonder. He basically spelled everything out for his apostles and they still didn’t get it.  Today’s gospel is sobering and yet comforting. Jesus is calling us to place all of our trust in him and to increase not only our prayer life but our deep and personal relationship with Him. If we don’t, we run the risk of Him not knowing who we are. I recently heard a priest that I know and respect reflect on the narrow path to heaven. He asked a simple, but powerful question. It went something like this-What if the narrow path to heaven is only as wide as our faith and our love for others? 

What does your path look like?

Our gospel today reminds us that God is a God of all nations and all people. He holds nothing back, so why do we? Jesus invites us to put our hope and our trust in God’s mercy that will widen our path to Him. When we live with an open heart and allow the Holy Spirit to move within us, we widen our path to heaven and there is room for everyone in His Kingdom.

I guess the question for me is, what do I need to do to enter the feast?  Do not be afraid! Have courage! Come, trust, hope, and join Him at the heavenly banquet.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

In today’s gospel the Lord is reminding us to stay awake and be prepared for the second coming, but really we should be awake and ready for whenever the Lord calls us home, which will be most likely before the second coming.

Trust is God’s mercy is crucial to our faith because unlike the apostles we cannot see Jesus in a human way. So faith, is trust in what cannot be seen. That does not mean we just sit around doing nothing while we wait. We must be active in our faith, attentive, and intentional in our prayer. God is going to do what he has promised and He will never leave us forsaken.

Do not be afraid, but stay awake in hopeful anticipation for the coming of our Lord. Have a blessed week!

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Today’s gospel reminds us not only that we need to pray to our heavenly Father, but also to be persistent in our wants, needs and desires. Jesus reminds us in today’s parable that prayer does make a difference. We may not get what we want, but prayer makes a difference because it often changes the way we look at things. When we thank God for the many gifts and blessings in our lives, it helps turn our attention out of ourselves to recognize the needs of others.

So many times when we are in a difficult position or perhaps dealing with someone difficult in our daily lives, prayer helps us see things from a new perspective and opens the door for forgiveness.

It is important to petition our heavenly Father out of love, not always expecting to get all that we ask for. Prayer is not to be a list of our requests, but through prayers we come to recognize God’s holiness and his rule over all things. Jesus reminds us that God always hears our prayers and while we may not get what we ask for, we will always get what we need. It is so important in our quest for holiness to be content and accept everything, even the hardships, as a gift from God. So let us turn to prayerful thanksgiving for the abundant graces in our lives and ask the Lord to bless those who do not yet know him.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

Today’s gospel reading is a popular one and some may say that Martha gets a bad rap just because she is trying to be hospitable. I believe the reading today are to remind us of two things. First, it is important to keep a healthy balance between doing or service and being or contemplative prayer. The old saying you can’t give what you don’t have is so true. This is precisely why Jesus would wonder off and be found in quite prayer to his heavenly father. He was recharging!

Second, it is important to offer our service and hospitality if you will, with love. It is not that Jesus did not appreciate what Martha was doing, and he certainly did not think that Mary was better than Martha, but let’s face it, Martha was grumbling. Instead of going about her duties with great love, she was concerned that Mary was not helping her. Perhaps because of her lack of contemplative prayer balance, she was feeling sorry for herself and feeling over worked.  We’ve all been there. When we don’t take time to meet our Lord in quite prayer, we can turn inward and begin feeling unappreciated for all the things we do. 

So, the next time you feel agitated, overwhelmed, or even unappreciated, turn to your heavenly Father. He has all you need to fill up so you can of yourself in service to others.

Be Still And know that I am God ~Psalm 46

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Until next time, be blessed, Renae

This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad!  Today is a glorious day and one that is filled with hope.  And even if your days still feel dark and empty, Christ is with you walking beside you, in your despair, in your emptiness, in your hope, and in your joy.  Step by step he is leading us to His kingdom in heaven.

It is a time to reflect on the truth of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. He truly is alive in our hearts. He is with us in our darkest fears. So let us call on the Holy Spirit to renew our hope and remain steadfast in prayer.  Let us celebrate God’s unfathomable love, grace, and mercy and allow it to transform our faith with a renewed hope for a joyous future.

Have A Blessed Easter Season!

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae