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I got my favorite rendering of Christ on the Cross in the mail yesterday. I wanted it for Lent and to be able to meditate on it especially during Holy Week. If an artist does a good job, you will never tire of looking at their work. Yesterday, I talked about old wounds and how they can still throb every now and then. As I was thinking about Christ’s wounds, I realized that our wounds, too, are caused by the sins of others. That seems a bit duh, but it was a really profound moment for me. Even worse, our sins against others are their wounds that they must bear. Each time we sin against others, there are two nails pounded in: One into the person we are hurting and one into Christ. Our wounds inflicted by others can be united to Christ’s suffering and that is the only way to heal from them. We must forgive as Christ did on the Cross. This is how we imitate Him. Our ultimate goal, however, should be to stop driving nails into our fellow man and into Christ. We do this by living out the two greatest commandments: Love God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Have a blessed Fourth Friday in Lent, Catholic Pilgrims. *Painting is Christ Crucified by Diego Velázquez, 1632
Continue ReadingThe other night, I watched a video of a famous soccer player and his girlfriend that opened an old wound in me. Apparently, the guy is one of the best in the world and he’s handsome, and rich, and famous, and all the things. His gorgeous girlfriend is the mother of his two children and she would like to be married. Mr. Player…excuse me, Mr. Soccerman has been holding out to feel a “click” to tell him it’s time to marry her—the magical click moment, which he is 1000% sure is going to happen at some point. Somewhere down the road. Sometime… My heart went out to the woman because she’s hanging on to this promise of the “click” happening. To be sure, she’s not 100% innocent, but I feel for her because I know she doesn’t feel like enough. She’s not enough for him to commit to and that’s painful. I know that feeling. Two of my boyfriends treated me as if I wasn’t enough. There was always a prettier girl to comment on, a “cooler” chick for me to attempt to live up to. I ran in circles trying to please these guys and I tried to survive on to the crumbs they threw out on the floor. After watching this video, I started ranting outloud as I washed the dishes. And at one point my husband came over and hugged me and said, “Shhhhh…you are enough. You are beautiful and you’re more than enough.” I was stiff in his arms because of the anger in me, so he kissed my head and repeated what he said. Then I relaxed and calmed down. We often identify ourselves by old wounds: I’m just the girl who was never enough. Instead, though, we should identify ourselves by those who truly love us and know our worth, that includes good hubbies. Instead of looking to old wounds to identify yourself with, look to your identity as a child of God, Catholic Pilgrims. That is what actually matters. Have a blessed Thursday.
Continue ReadingWhenever someone asks something of me that involves a commitment, I want to know all the details. How long? What does this exactly entail? What do you expect from me? What are the logistics? Will I like it? It’s hard for me to commit unless I know all that will go on. I struggle to trust and I struggle to relinquish control unless things are going to go my way. That’s why I need the plan—the play-by-play. That way, I can decide if I want to agree. This isn’t all bad. We shouldn’t just blindly do whatever and never ask questions. However, I contrast my response to situations with Mary’s response at the Annunciation. An angel of God is giving her the news that she is to be the mother of the Son of God and she only asks one question before agreeing. Just one. God has picked her for the one of the greatest commitments the world has ever known and she only asks one question. Her trust is amazing and admirable. May we be more like Mary at the Annunciation, Catholic Pilgrims, and trust God when He asks something of us. Have a blessed Feast of the Annunciation.
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