Best Practical Self-Help
So lately, my internet algorithm has been leading me to practical self-help stuff. So apparently, I need help. But the reality is, most of us attend self-help groups because we want to grow. We want to grow in our social skills and our health: Jesus and the gospel offer efficient guidance. Jesus says, Don’t store up treasures and riches for yourself. That will not fulfill you, that will not satisfy you, that will not bring you…
Believe That God is Enough (Rewind)
“I haven’t believed enough that he is enough.” That’s what Br. Angelo says as a guest on this episode, and how true is it for each of us? Even when we experience God’s goodness, repeatedly and in big and small ways, it can be a struggle to keep believing that God is enough. He is LORD. He is enough, and we only…
God’s Not A Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge. Such a grouch, such a curmudgeon, such a grumpy source, Rex. And often, we see the Heavenly Father as an Ebenezer Scrooge figure. He is just waiting for us to make a mistake. He’s rolling his eyes, saying, I wish you were more virtuous. I want you to sin less often. In the gospel, Jesus turns it on its head and says, You have a good Father. What? A good father would not give good gifts to…
Trust Is Hard for Everyone (Rewind)
Week 4 of a series on A 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust, by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V. Trust is hard for everybody. The grace to trust — especially for the long haul — is always given to us by the Lord. There’s always human effort in the spiritual life, but it’s all gift; all grace. It can feel like we’re never…
What Defines You
If Iron Man got rid of his suit, who would he be? Genius, billionaire, Playboy from? Okay. Yeah. He would be all of those things. But Tony Stark is more than what he does, and it’s the same for us. Our identity is not what we do, but how we work. Take those things away. Who are we? And the gospel for this Sunday. Martha is identifying with her work. Her work is good, but her identity is not her work. Her identity…
Trust That Mercy Is Greater (Rewind)
Week 2 of a series on a 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust, by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V. Grace is in the present; there is no grace in the past or in the future. The challenge, though, is that we’re all professional escape artists. We can get antsy and we don’t know how to be present, which means we…
Week 3 of a series on A 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust, by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V. There are some sins that we just can’t seem to shake — habitual sins that keep us coming back to the confessional over and over (and over) again. But no matter how consistent this sin seems, there’s one who is more…
First Whispered Words
Do you remember the first time anyone ever whispered in your ear? Probably not. Me neither, except it was probably my mom. Who whispered? Your brother’s my favorite. Anyway, there is a Jewish tradition where parents of a newborn child will whisper into their ear here, oh, Israel, the Lord is your God. The Lord alone. Therefore, you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all…
Trust God With Your Past (Rewind)
Week 2 of a series on a 30-Day Personal Retreat with the Litany of Trust, by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V. Grace is in the present; there is no grace in the past or in the future. The challenge, though, is that we’re all professional escape artists. We can get antsy and we don’t know how to be present, which means we…