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Here are this week’s must-reads:
+ In my newsletter this week, I wrote about that scene we heard about in Sunday’s Gospel reading where Jesus asks His disciples, “What are other people saying about me?” and “But who do you say I am?”
It’s such an intimate moment. It’s like when we’re with a close friend of ours and maybe we ask them the same: “What are people saying about me?” and “Well, what do you think about me?”
It seems natural that some people might have certain preconceptions or ideas of who we might be… but the people closest to us, the people who love us and who we love dearly, they see us another way. Hopefully, they see us in the way we want to be seen. But maybe, at least, they see us in a clearer way — a truer way that represents who we *really* are…
And this makes me wonder: do we see Jesus in that clear way, the way that someone close to Him would see Him? Or do we see some assumptions we have of Him, some preconceptions of Him? How can we see Him more clearly, for who He really is?
You can sign up for the newsletter here to read the rest of the reflection.
I share these newsletters every Monday and they always include: two gluten-free recipes, a prayer & reflection based on Sunday’s Mass readings, and links to budget-friendly fashion & home decor — always including Catholic decor, which I love!
Here’s a peek at one of my past newsletters. And another one for good measure. 🙂
Lastly, here are some pictures of what’s included in this week’s newsletter:
Back to the normal rundown of great reads:
+ “It is only natural to ask “Dear God, why?!” during times of great adversity. We want an answer, but instead God answers us with a promise of companionship through the struggle. As God walks with us, we may feel unequipped. But God reminds us that all the things of this world are gifts we have at our disposal – all the things – including a pandemic, working from home, and praying with Mass online.” — Beth Knobbe
+ “Through the centuries, in the face of extreme sexism in the world at large, the Church has defended the dignity of women—our ability to love, reason, create, and choose right from wrong.” — Emily Stimpson-Chapman
+ “How can I deal with fear? Advice from St. Ignatius”
+ I remember when I really started going to daily Mass consistently, many years ago — about five years ago. It was a terribly tough year. It was a scary and painful time for me, and I received a lot of consolation at Mass… Out of the darkness, Jesus’ words spoke life to me and my experience. My circumstances didn’t necessarily change — how I was suffering, but He reminded me: “Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
(Not that I sincerely became less anxious about what I was going through — not very easily, at least).
I now realized that I’ve been in and out of seasons like that before — seasons of consolation & desolation, and that Jesus’ call to come alive is not a one-and-done thing.
We don’t just show up to Him once and the rest is history. His call happens every day—He wants life for us every day. He wants the fullest life we can have here—found only through Him, with Him, and in Him—and, of course, life everlasting with Him. — read here
+ “Noticing our fears reveals our wounds. “Jesus, I surrender my heart to you. I surrender my fears to you. Heal me and make me whole.” — Restore the Glory Podcast
+ “Do not tell me this will make me more grateful for what I had. Do not tell me I was lucky. Do not even tell me there will be a blessing. Give me instead the blessing of breathing with me. Give me instead the blessing of sitting with me when you cannot think of what to say.”– Jan Richardson
