Sunday Wisdom

Jesus knows the importance of balance. There is a time to be set aside for quiet prayer and a time to be with others. This gospel passage brings so much hope because Jesus knows exactly what we need and is always with us. He knows and understands human suffering and yet he is a ray of hope.

This passage emphasizes Jesus’ identity as the true, divine shepherd, who will guide his sheep into the kingdom and heal us whenever we open our heart to His mercy.

Jesus needed some time to “Come Aside and Rest Awhile”. He even knew that his disciples needed a quiet place to recharge and yet, when he saw the crowd, he was moved with pity and compassion. He recognized His flock of lost sheep and “began to teach them many things” (Mark 6:34).

We are all hungry. Hungry for spiritual food, the very word of God. So be filled with hope today. Call on the divine Savior, the Good Shepherd, for He will lead us all to the kingdom of heaven.

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

The gospel reminds us that we who hear the Good News belong to the chosen ones. We have all been chosen to be sent. We all have been given special talents to build up the kingdom of God.  Maybe we will not be sent to a foreign land but we can make a difference in the lives of our immediate family, friends and co-workers.

We can bring hope to those in despair or even heal a broken heart. Sometimes all we need is to take the time to listen and be willing to help.

We all have a mission, so whatever place we are in, let’s make a positive impact. A simple smile or sincere offer of help to the needy is a great place to start.

Do not be afraid and don’t be concerned if people reject us. They already rejected the ONE who sent us.

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

Today the gospel reading tells the story of how the people in His hometown were at a crossroad and their lack of faith became their biggest stumbling block. But not everyone rejected Jesus, he was able to heal. What is one person’s stumbling block can be a stepping stone for another. Thank goodness the Lord is patient with us.

Apparently it was hard for them to believe that a simple son of a carpenter could be so filled with wisdom and power. This must have caused Jesus some internal suffering, after all everyone wants to be accepted in their hometown, and Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith. Jesus could not exercise His power of healing because of the negativity and lack of faith.

Every day we face a variety of situations where we find ourselves at a crossroad to be an imitation of Christ or not. It is good to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength and the courage to get out of the way and let the Lord heal us.

I am thankful that Jesus is merciful and compassionate as He continues to knock at the door or our hearts. This image is depicted in a famous painting of the Good Shepherd knocking on a door without a latch. The door of our heart can only be opened from the inside. God does not force anything on us and the decision to open the door and surrender our heart to Him is ours.

So let us be filled with courage and open our hearts.

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

Because Jesus sacrificed His life for all us, we can receive the riches of His love daily.  In today’s gospel Jairus and the hemorrhaging women were desperate and knew they needed healing that only Jesus could provide.

When we acknowledge our spiritual poverty, we open our hearts to the riches of Jesus’ love and mercy.  It is hard to confess our weaknesses and acknowledge our temptations, but when we do our faith grows.  We humble ourselves to receive!

Let us strive to be like Jairus and the woman in today’s gospel, to not only admit that we need Jesus, but to trust and have faith that God will provide for all of our needs.

Jesus, thank you for dying for us.  We trust in your love and your wisdom to meet all of our needs.

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

Happy Father’s Day! I am blessed that my Dad is still in my life and living about 25 minutes from me. The gospel for today is perfect for Father’s Day because who is better than our earthly Father and our heavenly Father at calming all our fears! It is both our earthly and heavenly Father who calms our anxieties.

Sometimes the storms of life can be overwhelming, but that is precisely when we need to trust in our Lord and Savior because He is always in the boat with us. He is always watching over us.

When we rely on our own strength or understanding to do things our way, we can only do so much. But Jesus’ power is limitless. Sure sometimes things don’t work out easily or ever, for what we consider to be the best, but that does not mean that Jesus has abandoned us. He always cares about us and is always in the boat with us, no matter how rough the storm.

Sometimes Jesus does calm the storms in our lives and other times He calms us, giving us the strength to bear our burdens and carry our crosses. When we trust and when we have faith, then we are filled with a calming peace, even in the toughest of times. Father in heaven, thank you for sending your Only Begotten Son to us.

Jesus I trust in you!

The Kingdom of God exists for us all and everything makes a difference. The simple things we say or do can have a big influence on others.  It is like the saying I used to tell my kids, especially when they were in high school. “People might not remember your name, but they will always remember your kindness.”

The seeds of kindness sprout everywhere and no matter how small our deed, we can bring love and hope to our communities.  We can spread peace and justice and yes, we can make a difference.  So be that tiny mustard seed and allow yourself to grow. Let’s change the world one heart at a time.

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

Praise God for our baptism in the Triune God! It is true we are all baptized in the Trinity and in doing so we not only commit ourselves to Jesus , but we allow Him to wash away our sins. 

The sign of the cross can be a simple prayer. When my children were little and when I taught school, I thought it was an important reminder to say this simple prayer whenever we make the sign of the cross.

In the name of the Father, who created me…..and of the Son, who saved me…..and in the Holy Spirit who guides me.

Today on Trinity Sunday, let the sign of the Cross and this outward sign of God’s love fill you with hope. As an adopted child of God, you are a member of the body of Christ and you are loved! You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, so trust in His love and guidance.

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

Today we celebrate Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. We can find consolation in the life of Jesus and how he always brings peace and reconciliation.

So let’s meditate a bit on peace. What is peace? Where is there a lack of peace in my life?

The gift of the Holy Spirit brings us ever closer to the Lord. So when it comes to inner peace we need to ask ourselves, “Do I allow God to move in me so that I can offer the gift of peace to others.”

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

“So they may be one, just as we are one.”  As I reflect on this line in today’s gospel, I am struck by how divide our world seems to be.  Not just the world in general, but even those who believe in Christ who do not seem to be united.  The Lord longs for us to be united in universal love so we can be filled with Joy.

“Consecrate them in the truth.”  He wants us to know in His dying and rising we are protected and called to a greater holiness.  So today, let us join Jesus in His prayer to bring healing and overcome division.  My you feel the loving arms of Jesus around you today.

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

Our gospel today is all about love and what a great day to honor our Mothers. I am very thankful for my mom and am blessed that she is still in my life. A mother’s love is pure and I know this because I too am blessed to be a mom.

I have two beautiful children, a daughter who is teaching first grade in Chicago and a son who just graduated from college with an Electrical Engineering Technology degree. I am very proud (in a good way) of both of them and am grateful to my Lord who has allowed me the privilege of being their mom. Happy Mother’s Day!

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