Receiving Nourishment

I like to read over the Sunday Readings prior to Mass and then just listen during Mass. Sometimes what sticks out when I read it is completely different than when I listen. That was the case today.

Be Careful What You Ask For...

When I read over the Gospel (John 15:3-8) what stuck out was ...ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. (John 15:7). So...all we have to do is ask & it will be given? That sounds a little deceiving because God won't give us all we ask for. We ask and He will do what is best for us. But He does want us to ask. Maybe in asking and not receiving what we ask for He is allowing us to hand over control to Him; to hand over our trust in Him. So many times I prayed for something only to have something else given to me. Then I realize that what I received was so much better than what I asked for.
Today is the feast day of St. Catherine of Sienna. The quote "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze" popped up a bunch at one point in my life. It came at a time I desperately needed to hear that. I looked around for other quotes, and the one above jumped out at me. Isn't that so true? We have to be careful what we ask for.

A Surprise Conversion

That was initially what stuck with me, but it changed during Mass. When the little ones came up for children's liturgy, Father mentioned that the vine takes the nourishment to the branches. In the Gospel, Jesus says that he is the vine, we are the branches. We receive our nourishment from Him. During the 1st Reading (Acts 9:26-31), Saul wasn't allowed to die. He was nurtured (it was more like a quick IV, actually!) so that he could bring life to others. The show "A.D. Kingdom and Empire" (Netflix) follows the Acts of the Apostles; it really brought Saul to life. You can see what a horrible man he was and how he changed. You can see the apostles thinking it was a hoax, and you can see Barnabas taking up for him. Pretty powerful stuff!

Take It Easy!

The Second Reading (1John 3:18-24) reminds us to love one another. Father spoke about coming to Mass only to find someone else has taken your pew. I know that happened to me a couple of times before I joined the contemporary choir, and it really gets your day off to a bad start. Father compared that to the branch of a tree dying; it's not pretty.  He suggested that instead of becoming angry, we show love to that person by introducing ourselves and asking they are new. (That got a few laughs from the congregation.) It's definitely something to think about the next time it happens.

How to Achieve Our Goal

So now the Gospel. Back to the vine and the branches. Jesus offers nourishment every single day. Prayer, scripture studies, or just sitting provide the opportunity to nourish our souls. It's our choice whether to take it and live or wither and die. Pope Francis said, "There can be no place of deceit, hypocrisy, or small-mindedness if we are branches." We need nourishment. We can't be too proud to say yes to the Lord. It's okay to lean on Him; it's the only way we're going to achieve our goal: to get to heaven.

So Many Questions

Apparently what stuck out for me in this week's Gospel stuck out for a lot of people. Every reflection I read was about this verse:  Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38) Excellent questions, Lord. I can see how the disciples who were there with Jesus were troubled and had questions. They were there. If this had happened in our lifetime, wouldn't we have questions and concerns? How can this be? Is it really a trick, or is He really alive and in front of us? Sometimes I think it's easier for me to believe now than it would be if I had been there and seen it with my own eyes. It's in the Bible, so we all know it has to be true. Can you even imagine what it would have been like, to have Jesus right in front of you with the holes in His hands, feet, and side? To be one of those women who stuck with Him the whole way? To be one who went to the tomb only to find it empty? To see with your own eyes that He lives?

I Am That Doubting Thomas

I returned home from an incredible experience over the past few days. My diocese had our CCW Convention. I was blessed to spend some days with around 250 fellow Catholic Sisters in Christ, to meet new women and reconnect with others. We had amazing speakers who just walked into my life for the very first time. I knew nothing about any of them, but now feel such a oneness with them. Our keynote speaker on Thursday evening following Mass and dinner was Kitty Cleveland. She has a voice of an angel and finally followed God's calling to be a Music Missionary. As I listened to one of her CDs on the way home, she told her story. She mentioned that she has, on occasion, received the gift of speaking in tongues. I've never seen this happen to anyone, so I am a bit skeptical when I hear people talking about this. A doubting Thomas, for sure, but Kitty gives some pretty convincing testimony about this. I told my husband about it, and he asked me how I could believe other miracles that happen every day and have doubts about this? Hmmm... He comes up with great thought-provoking questions every now and then, for sure!

The Short Answer

Why is it so hard for us to believe? Why do questions "arise in our hearts"? The short answer: we're human. There are times when we lack faith. There are times when the evil one whispers those doubts and we hear them. Then we ponder on them. I mentioned to my parish priest once about ugly doubts that were entering my mind. He assured me that meant that I'm getting closer to God and making the devil mad. The devil does what he can to keep us from gaining our happiness, from reaching our goal: to get to heaven. It's in those moments when we need to picture Jesus on the cross and say, "I trust in you." I'm sure nothing makes the evil one sulk more than to watch someone do that. And I'm all about making him miserable!

Repeat After Me

The solution: Give it to the Lord. As I said before, we're human. We worry, we have doubts. Some days are easier to give everything over to Him than others. There are tears, there are quick trips to the bathroom because of worry and that lack of control over others. And keep saying over and over: "Jesus, I trust in You".