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I think a big reason that we struggle with going to Christ and receiving His mercy is because we struggle to give it to others ourselves. Don't get me wrong, I loathe false compassion and false mercy because neither one of those ever help anyone or anything. In fact, they only make things worse. But, when we have a true prudent moment to offer mercy, many of us find it hard to offer it. When we haven't asked Christ for mercy and felt the love that flows from His mercy, it's hard to understand how beneficial that can be for another. I don't remember all the words in St. Faustina's Diary when I read it for Season One of my podcast "Journeying with the Saints," but I do remember the overwhelming message of Christ's mercy. He wants us to come and receive it and be healed by it--all of us. Have a beautiful Divine Mercy Sunday, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingSeveral weeks back, I found out that my middle daughter was going to be visiting our oldest daughter at Berkeley over the Easter weekend. Our oldest is a Focus Missionary there. Anyway, since they both were going to be somewhat close, I knew we needed to make the drive to them. I told my daughter to invite a few of the students over who were staying in town and we could have a small-ish Easter meal. Thinking it was going to be around 12 of us, I started planning for a small crowd. Well, that crowd began to swell and swell. Soon, we had around 25 people wanting to come. My husband and I decided that we wanted to dote on the students a bit, so we planned a modified egg hunt. My daughter was worried we were going to make them all run around with baskets and hunt eggs like kids, but I told her to have faith. We bought about 25 eggs of various sizes and filled them with gifts: Some had money, some candy, some religious items. Then we came up with a game called the Great Egg Search/Swap. As we were driving up there, I was worried that if extra people showed up, they wouldn't have an egg. But, I concluded, if they didn't sign up, they got left out. As the game started, I counted the students and we had just enough eggs. But then...more students kept coming. They were all smiling and everyone was so eager to play, I couldn't tell them to just sit it out. So, I ran in my daughter's house and desperately looked for something to put in the extra eggs we had on hand. I prayed that I could come up with something--anything--to include everyone. Amazingly, I started finding things in my purse to give away, including a $50 Old Navy gift card. I ran out to hide them and then went back out front. Then more students showed up and I ran back into the house. Again, I found things to give away out of the supplies I had brought. In the end, every single person had a gift.. It was one of those situations where the Lord provided. It was also incredible how I was so eager to give away things that I probably wouldn't normally have parted with. I just wanted to share and God blessed that. Never doubt what good can come from wanting to bless others, Catholic Pilgrims.
Continue ReadingFor the past almost nine months, I've been helping as the assistant teacher to the OCIA class at our base chapel. I love to teach, so this was a role I've been desiring for some time now. At the Easter Vigil, I watched as the catechumens came home and it was an emotional experience. That was the first time I had truly handed on the Faith to someone other than my children. Part of me was absolutely thrilled to watch them receive the Sacraments, but there was a tender, grieving part of my heart, too. That official journey with them is over and off they go to pass the faith on themselves. Teaching the faith in OCIA is such a huge responsibility. At the very end, I kept thinking to myself, "Oh, I wish I had taught them this. Oh man, why did I not share this important thing?" But then, the Holy Spirit reminded me that at my entrance to the Catholic Church as a convert, I still had much to learn. I still do. This is the beginning of their journey, I just helped to pass them the light. What a joy to accompany people on their entrance into a life with Christ. It was truly an honor and a blessing. It has filled my soul with immense joy. Welcome home to all those that entered the Catholic Church at Easter! May this journey as a newly minted Catholic Pilgrim be the adventure of a lifetime. Whatever you do, be sure to live the Faith boldly and travel well. "If we pass in the night, then just hand me a light, and Tell me you burned just like me." --Burning Man by Dierks Bentley
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