Sometimes people raise the question, “How can you expect me to be Christian, when so many "Christians" live their lives in a way that contradicts the faith?” It is a great observation.

In the Gospel today, Jesus reads a Scripture passage from the prophet Isaiah and when finished, he says, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled...” St. Paul in the 1st reading also speaks on how he did not come to speak persuasive words of wisdom, but he came “with a demonstration...” Both Jesus (of course, as God) and St. Paul testify not only with words, but also with their actions; they “fulfilled” and “demonstrated” with their actions how God is alive within them. It must be the same with us.

The words of Sacred Scripture are not only words in a book, but they are also words to be lived out in action. We not only proclaim a faith in what Jesus and the saints spoke to us, but we also put flesh on these words by demonstration with our lives.

Let us together “fulfill the words of Scripture” and “demonstrate” with our lives how the Lord is tangibly alive within us.

Find one way today to put flesh on the words of scripture or a teaching of our faith. In this way people see Christ and authentic Christian discipleship.

When you read scripture, how do you read it? Do you breeze though it? Do you read through more than once? Do you put yourself in it? 

How can you pause more to pray with scripture?

How can you put scripture into action?

"Carpe Verbum." (Seize the Word.)

"Help scripture come alive."

​"Words into action."

“Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

I often wonder, why do people choose a certain religion, and what convinces them to stick with it?

or many of us we’ve been born into and raised in a certain faith, but there is eventually a moment when we take ownership and dedicate ourselves to the truths we profess. Others are drawn to a faith because of good music, engaging lessons, and the comfort community gives us. Those positive things aren’t bad; the powerful lessons, upbeat music, and community—but there is a deeper foundation for us as Christians. Why Christianity? Why the Catholic Church?

There are countless reasons, but one of the foundational life-giving truths is this: Jesus is who He said He is. God became man, and freely accepted death out of love for you and me. The all-powerful God-man dragged an excruciatingly heavy cross to His place of death. In dying He destroyed death and made eternal life possible for each one of us. It’s a gruesome image that in its proper context is the world’s most hopeful image. The story doesn’t end with that walk and death on calvary; Christ invites us into His sacrifice.

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

Jesus has gone to the Father in heaven, the place of perfect joy. Heaven is the top goal; it is the ultimate driving force for saying a resounding yes to the call of faith. Jesus doesn’t just flip a switch at calvary that forces us to love Him. He invites us into His sacrifice.

First, He calls us to deny ourselves. Time and time again Jesus goes above and beyond to love the souls in front of Him, even after long days of the crowds pressing in on Him. He steps away from ministry to pray to His Father, but quickly is pulled back into service. Without exception, He denied Himself for the good of the beloved souls in front of Him—and we too are being called to deny what we might want in a certain moment, that another might experience deep love. He calls us to take up our own crosses. It can be tempting to run at the sight of any heaviness or pain, yet Jesus is saying that we should freely take up our cross. In Him accepting His cross, the world was saved from death. I imagine his friends couldn’t quite grasp that something painful could eventually bring a greater good.

​The same goes in our crosses. Even if the weight of the world seems to be on your shoulders, Christ is there. Seeing purely as man does, delving into a faith that calls for suffering wouldn’t be my first choice, but seeing as God does, through your yes to bearing your crosses countless souls will know the sort of eternal bliss dreams are made of. Following Christ might lead us on a bumpy road, but the destination is so worth it.

What do you imagine it was like to be one of Jesus' disciples and hear him talk about taking up your cross? 

What are the things in your life right now that are crosses you're being asked to bear?

How can you allow your pain and suffering, your trials and difficulties, to unite you more fully to Christ and his cross?

"Thank you, Jesus."

"Help me carry my cross."

​"Jesus, I trust in you."

Pay attention to the things – little or big – that you encounter today which are crosses for you. As you take them on, silently thank the Lord for this chance to be united to his cross. 

Today we celebrate the Passion of St. John the Baptist – so happy feast day (or memorial day, if you want to get technical)! The story in today's Gospel, from Mark 6:17-29, tells the account of what happened at the end of John's life. If you haven't read it, it'd be a very good thing to read; and it also reads like a good novel, full of crazy characters and intrigue and drama and a whole bunch more packed into just a few short verses.

For our prayer today, though, we're sticking to the words of St. Paul written to those in Corinth. This short passage from Paul's letter is powerful, challenging, full of wisdom, a little backhanded at times; really, it's what St. Paul was so good in his words that we read in Scripture. He's writing to a community of Christians in Corinth, many of whom he would have spent some time with and discipled, encouraging them and supporting them in living out their faith. 

As I read this passage, I found myself thinking about the people in Corinth. Some followers of Jesus came, brought them the message of the Gospel, many of them came to believe, and then a church was formed that they were now a part of. Of course, they didn't have any of this stuff written down yet, they didn't have 2,000 years of tradition, they didn't really know about things like the Pope; they were just figuring out, day-by-day, how to live as followers of Christ. 

And then Paul writes them, and what does he say: "consider your own calling, brothers and sisters." Paul reminds them, first and foremost, that they have been called; they've been named, chosen, selected by God to live a certain way, and he wants to remind them of that. Immediately, of course, in the way that Paul does, he reminds that the calling was not because they are wise or strong or worthy; no, it's quite the opposite. God calls the foolish, the weak, the lowly! 

So what's the calling they're reminded of? Not a calling to greatness, but a calling to humility, a calling to submission before the Lord, boasting only in him who is worthy of our boasting. 

As we remember St. John the Baptist, and Paul reminds us to only boast of the Lord, I hear the words of John speaking about Jesus: He must increase; I must decrease. Brothers and sisters, if we are to live a full live as a disciple of Jesus, if we are to get to our final days with confidence in the Father like John, if we are to truly boast in the Lord, it has to be because we remember our calling: to live in Christ Jesus, boasting only in him our Savior, and in the redemption he won for us being united to the Holy Trinity for all of eternity. 

What are things in your life that you find yourself getting caught up boasting in? Is it possessions, accomplishments, or skills? 

How would you describe the calling that God has placed on your life?

As we look back at the people in the early church, what can we learn from those disciples and the way that they lived their life in Christ?

"I boast only in you."

"Come, Holy Spirit."

"He must increase, I must decrease."

Today, write down on a post-it or set a reminder in your phone the phrase "He must increase, I must decrease" and put it somewhere or set it for a time where you'll see it. When you come across that phrase, pause to remember the importance of letting the Lord give you your calling, and boasting only in him.