Are you a line talker? You know what I'm talking about. I'm the type of person who tries to find a little thing to comment on and then, boom, I'm in conversation with the person behind me in line at the grocery store. I just love talking to people. It doesn't really matter to me what we are saying. I can talk to anyone about anything. I'm just super comfortable about it.

Now take my sister on the other hand. Quite the opposite. One time we saw one of her neighbors at the zoo. I said, "Go talk to them!" She replied, "I don't know. What should I say?" I just stared at her and said, "I don't know, how about hi neighbor!!!??" It did not compute with me. But it was a genuine fear for her. She didn't know what to say and she didn't want to look foolish. All the "what if" thoughts flooded her mind.

What if it's not them? What if they don't recognize me? What if I get their names wrong?

And while I can usually talk to anyone, I have to admit that I have this problem too when it comes to speaking about Jesus. When I am given an opportunity to speak about Jesus, the "what if" thoughts come barreling through.

This is what Jesus is speaking to in today's Gospel. Jesus tells the disciples not to worry about going in front of the authorities to tell them about Jesus and the faith. He says don't worry about what they will say because in that moment, the Holy Spirit will be there to teach them and give them the words to speak. They don't have to be afraid of looking stupid or not having the correct words to say; the Holy Spirit is within them and will be their guide.

The Lord will not leave us alone when we are sharing about Him. He is right there with us and will give us the correct words to speak. "Come, Holy Spirit." This is a wonderful way to begin conversations. Especially difficult ones. When we invite the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts and our words, it's almost like slamming the doors on the what ifs.

Come, Holy Spirit.

Silence the what ifs and allow me to speak Your Truths. Speak the words you'd like me to say Lord. Quiet my mouth if you want me to be silent. Many times I get nervous that I won't remember all the facts about my faith. When I get into a discussion about matters of faith, I worry I will look foolish or say something incorrect. But today's Gospel gives me such hope. It also reminds me that its not about me: it's about Jesus. If I'm open to letting Him speak through me, I shall trust that He will do that. He will show up for me when I open my mouth. He will help guide me. And He might show me that I don't need to know everything. I just need to know Him.

So regardless of whether you are a line talker or not, we can all pray, Come Holy Spirit. And He will. He really will.

How do you handle moments when you are called to share about your faith? Is it easy for you? 

When is the last time you told someone about your faith? 

How can you be more reliant on the Holy Spirit to be with you in moments when you have fear or doubt? 

"Come, Holy Spirit."

"It's about you, Jesus."

"I want to know you, Lord."

At least 10 times today, pause and pray Come, Holy Spirit. Whether it's before a difficult conversation or just a moment where you want to say or do the right thing, make today a day of calling on the Holy Spirit. 

Today’s Responsorial Psalm is such a beautiful prayer. Even though it is thousands of years old, it is still so relevant today. We all call out to God from the mess of our daily lives and He hears us. We all sin, but in God is all mercy. He is merciful to us and we trust that He hears and answers our prayers, leading us to Heaven with Him. 

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” I love this as an opening to our prayer. I feel like I’m always cryin gout to God from the craziness, stressfulness, or business of my life. We all have our daily struggles that we need God’s for help with. Some days there a lot of things to worry about, or just a lot to do, and we need His grace. With all the things around us, we also struggle with sin. From the depths of our business, stresses, and sins, God still hears us and helps us. When you open your heart to Him, He is attentive to your voice, no matter what is going on in your life. No matter how low we feel or deep in our own troubles, God is there for you, listening to your prayer with mercy. 

In God is all mercy and redemption. He is not like Santa with a naughty and nice list. Yes, He knows that we sin, what we did and why we did it, but He forgives. God is not bitter like we can be, He does not hold grudges against us like we so easily do. I know it can be so easy to see someone, like a friend, family member, or coworker, as less than myself because they seem to be the greater sinner. Well, God doesn’t work that way. He looks at us with love and mercy and desires to give us fulness of redemption, everlasting love and joy. 

Until we see God face-to-face in Heaven, we hope and trust in Him. We all know that we can’t see or hear Him on earth like we can another person, so we trust in Him. This is something that I always need to work on in my own prayer life. I know God hears me, but I sometimes struggle to trust that God will answer in the way that I need Him to. But time and time again He comes through with the grace I need for any situation, even if the result isn’t what I expected. So, when we pray from the depths of our hearts in our daily struggles and sins, we ask God for help and mercy and He gives it to us. Today, open the depths of your heart to God, seek His mercy, and trust that He hears and will answer your prayers.  

What are the challenges that you are facing in your life? What "depths" are you crying out to God from?

Are you holding any grudges against someone? What mercy do you need to receive from God to in turn show that mercy to those who you are struggling to forgive?

What situation or prayer are you struggling to trust that God will answer and give you the help you need? How will the words of today's Psalm help you grow in trust and hope?

"I trust you."

"Have mercy on me."

​"You are my hope."

Today, call out to God with boldness. Really open your heart to Him and ask or His mercy and help. Don't hold back what you really want to say out of fear or doubt, but go to your Father who wants to give you all love and peace. Give your heart to God and trust that He is with you. 

Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

​We hear a lot of Christians aren’t supposed to judge, right? People seem to throw this in our faces a lot because they want to “call us out as Christians" and show us how we are being a hypocrite. As my pastor said last weekend, we are - because Christians sin, we do the things we say we shouldn’t do, we can seem hypocritical to others. This is why we have confession. And also why we call ourselves “practicing” ... as long as we are actively trying.

Today’s first reading though really points out the problem with judging others. They aren’t the only ones committing that sin. When we haven’t really examined our own lives first, our judgement of another’s actions or even voicing of how they could live their life better, falls on deaf ears. It’s not worth anything because we’re just saying “do as a I say, not as a I do.”

This is what happened in Jesus’ time with the Pharisees. They were telling the people all of these rules that they had to follow, but they weren’t doing them all themselves. They were like a parent saying “don’t smoke” as they light up a cigarette or “drive safely” as they go 90 down the highway.

We can’t judge people’s actions because we don’t know their intentions. Are they striving to follow the Lord, but have just failed today and are on their way to the confessional? Are we? Be careful in evaluating someone else’s life before you’ve evaluated your own. If you’re noticing something particularly concerning in someone’s life, be sure to examine your own to see if the Lord isn’t just helping you see your own issue. Then strive to rid it from your life. Your example will be a great witness to the other, and you’ll be able to say, “Can I walk with you on the journey toward holiness?”

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.

​Do I examine my own life before I start to examine or judge others?

How can I journey with people toward holiness?

How can I be more genuine and charitable in my attitude toward others?

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.

"Journey toward holiness."

"Help me to examine my own conscience."

"Lord, stop me from judging the others."

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?

When you catch yourself judging someone, take some time to examine your own conscience, and go to Confession if you need to.