​We make a lot of judgments about appearance throughout the day. Why's she wearing that? Does he think those two patterns go together? Why would someone say that to me here? 

In today's first reading three guys come up to Abraham outside of his tent which was a little weird. I mean Abraham knew other people, but he didn't live in a neighborhood that was heavily populated. He and Sarah lived pretty far away from their nearest neighbor and weren't really in a place where 'people just walked by on a Sunday stroll.' He immediately recognizes that these people were sent to him specifically (either that or he knew to be super nice to them because they could kidnap him or his wife!).

He welcomes them into His home, asks them what they want to eat or drink, and then shows kindness and hospitality. Then he gets the surprise of his life. After they receive his kindness of washing, muffins, meat, and curds, they say "I'll be back this time next year and Sarah will have a son." 

WHAT? Sarah is so taken aback that she laughs out loud (the first lol of Scripture). She basically says, "Um, we've been through this, I can't have kids, and I'm a little old - scratch that - a lot old."

The Lord (Oh these three people were angels of the Lord, by the way) then says "Is anything to marvelous for me to do?" Basically, are you doubting that I can give you a son? Are you doubting my goodness? Are you doubting my abilities? Are you doubting?

They were both skeptical, but the Lord delivered on His promise. A year later we know that Sarah had a son, and she named him Isaac - which means laughter in Hebrew.

Are there things in your life that you think are impossible, even for God? Why?

Do you treat people you meet with this level of kindness? How can you be more kind to the people you meet today?

Do you trust God?

"Jesus, I trust in you."

"Come, Holy Spirit."

​"Father God, I love you."

Pray the litany of trust today and learn how to trust the Lord a little more.

“In His name the Gentiles will hope.”

Hope is an interesting concept in our world today, not just as Christians but human beings in general. I feel it is so easy for us to “lose hope”. If you are like me, you may find ourself at times feeling helpless or even hopeless trying to navigate your life in our busy world with all that is going on in it.

My son is a little over a year old and when I think about all the different things that we as Christians have to deal with, and the difficulties of living our faith in, or raising a child in our world today, it is easy to feel like we are fighting a losing battle at times. However, here in a simple line, it reaffirms for us this idea that He is the ultimate source of hope, even when we are feeling like what is the point.

It is a very natural thing to struggle with this, to feel like we have no hope. Just like the Gentiles, who were a people who were seen as removed from salvation and hope entirely, Christ comes and shows us that he is the ultimate source of hope, and joy even when we may feel hopeless.

Some of you might feel like that is a really nice idea, but how can I find hope in Christ? The answer is as simple as a daily prayer life. This is so often the answer to many of our problems, but that doesn’t mean that it is any less true. Christ does not want to just hear the good aspects of our lives in prayer. He wants the truth, he wants our baggage and our hopelessness. In our social media-driven world, it is easy to see everyone and think their life is so much better. If we feel hopeless because we are constantly comparing ourselves and the good things in other peoples lives, then we can easily find ourselves feeling isolated and alone in our problems.

I once heard a priest say that social media is someone’s “highlight reel” and what can happen is we are then comparing our messy lives to a person’s best moments, which is totally unrealistic. If you are struggling with finding peace or hope because of the world around you, you need to bring that to Christ in prayer and He will guide you and help you find hope in Him. However, if you never bring these things to Christ or talk about the real things going on in your life with friends and family then you can very easily feel isolated and alone.

​So, today in prayer think about the things in your life that are difficult, the things that are causing you to doubt or feel hopeless and bring them to Christ, and keep bringing them to Him and in Him, you will find hope in Him.

In what was is your life difficult right now? What are some obstacles in front of you? (if you can't think of any that are on the front of your mind, take some time to thank God for that!)

Have you asked God to be in the midst of your trials and bring hope? Whether or not you have, do that now. Invite him into the midst of that.

How can you do an even better job of ensuring you make time for daily prayer to continue to allow him to be your hope and each and every day?

"You are our hope."

"Your name is hope."

​"Jesus I trust in you."

Throughout the day today, pause at least 10 times and simply say the name of Jesus. His name is the name in which we find hope, and so find some time today – maybe when you are about to enter a difficult situation or conversation or just when you have a moment in a busy day – and simply say his name, inviting him to be present in those moments.  

x​Today’s Gospel may seem like it isn’t too complicated. It’s a simple story of Jesus and his disciples walking through a grain field on the sabbath, getting hungry, and eating the grain. Whether you were or weren’t aware of the fact that doing this was unlawful, Matthew explains that it is not through the antagonizing Pharisees. Jesus responds, using David as an example (and being a little bit sassy), and then quotes some more scripture and has some mic-drop worthy sound bites at the end. Simple, right?

What is at play today is something bigger than Jesus doing what he wants because he can, or Jesus messing with the Pharisees because he wants to put them in their place. The bigger picture is that Jesus is establishing himself as not only a priest, but the high priest. 

Why is this important to us, though? Jesus, by citing David and the Law to explain why he has authority to eat the grain of the field on the sabbath, and speaking of his body as greater than the temple of God (see John 2:21), is establishing himself as an incredibly big deal. The reason this is important to us is because Jesus had to do some controversial things, even some “illegal” things, in order to show the world who he really was. This reveals a deep piece of Jesus’ identity and his mission—he chose to be ridiculed, to bend or break the rigid law, and to ultimately incite the religious leaders so much that they put him to death—simply because he knew that was the way to save you. 

It’s beautiful to see how every aspect, every action, every word of Jesus’ life and ministry were aimed at your salvation. Even something as simple as Jesus plucking heads of grain and eating them was ultimately leading to his saving work on the Cross. Today, be thankful for how willing and focused Christ was on saving you, and respond to that great love.

Did you find it odd that Jesus had to do big things to make His status known? Are you afraid of the grand gestures you need to do as a Christian to live the life that God is calling you to?

What do you think the disciples were thinking when they starting picking grain on the Sabbath? They'd lived their whole lives not being able to do any work on the Sabbath?

Do you protect the Sabbath at all?

"I love you Lord."

"I want to rest in your presence."

​"I want to do big things for you."

Today contemplate how you will do big things for the Lord. They might not even big things in reality, but they would be a big deal to you. 

Today’s Gospel is one of my favorite scripture passages in the whole Bible. No matter what’s going on in my life, God always calms my heart and mind through the words, “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” There are so many things we can stress over throughout our day but there is no need to stress out with God on our side. When we come to Him, we find rest physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Really you can get any kind of rest you want with Jesus. 

God is meek and humble of heart. Isn’t that kind of crazy? I feel like everyone tries to be the strongest or best at something. Everyone wants to be a winner, but God is meek and humble. He is not imposing or aggressive, He is gentle and patient. He invites us to take His yoke with Him, to join Him in His work. He tells us that this yoke is easy, and the burden is light. His work is love. Working with Jesus, coming to Him, brings peace, rest, and ease into our lives. When we join Jesus in His humility and meekness, our lives are filled with good, calming, joyful things, not stress or anxiety.

So, come to Jesus today. Bring your stress, anxiety, troubles, whatever it may be to Him and He will give you rest. Not like the “rest” we feel when on social media or watching TV or movies, but real relaxation and peace in our hearts and minds. Work with Jesus, join Him in His humility, and find rest in enjoyable work of love with Jesus. 

What is burdening you? What is stressing you out or causing you anxiety or fear?

What are some other things that are on your heart that you need to offer to Jesus? What do you need to give to Him so that you can really and completely come to Him?

How can you join Jesus in humility and meekness today? How can you join Him in His work of love and salvation?

"I come to you."

"Take my heart, Lord."

​"Give me rest."

Today, journal about that aspects of your life that you are not bringing to God, that you don't offer to Him. Even if they are small things, take the time to give them to Jesus. Let your whole heart and mind go to Him in prayer and hold nothing back from Him. Throughout the day, work on being humble like Jesus, not imposing or rude. Seek His rest and peace.