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

Obedience and humility… everyone’s two favorite words. We all love listening to other people, following rules, and putting ourselves last right? My eyes literally rolled as I wrote that.

This is one of those “tough, but so true” statements from Scripture today. We often forget the value of obedience. We see rules and obedience as a restriction that impedes on our freedom. We live in a world that is so relative sometimes that it values our opinion over truth, even if our opinions completely contradict each other; that is unless we don’t like that point of view.

I am not saying we should blindly follow what everyone says, that would be dangerous. What I am saying is that we need to realize that there is truth, and we are not always 100% right. We should follow people that have earned or deserve our obedience and respect, in the ways that they have earned and deserve our obedience and respect. We obviously must listen to our parents in a different way that we listen to our teachers or coaches. Our government leaders and law enforcement deserve our obedience and respect in ways as well, even if we disagree with them or don’t like them.

This all changes when someone asks you to act immorally or to go against what God has taught us. All authority comes from God, and if people are misusing their authority in an immoral way, we can act, but always with respect and humility. I am not saying go out and riot, but I am saying that you can write letters or bring awareness to injustices. I am saying you can and should say something if someone treats you wrong or asks you to do something you know is wrong, but we also have to remember that this is not an excuse to be obedient just because we disagree with someone, especially our parents. There is virtue in obedience. So as much as you may hate to hear it, listen to your parents. How will we ever have the humility to listen to God if we can’t be humble enough to obey our parents? It’s tough, I know, but that is how we grow. God loves you too much to just let you be stagnant. 

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.

When are some times that I struggle to be humble and obedient? Is there someone in particular I struggle to listen to and obey?

Who has been a real example in my life of humility and obedience?

Where do I seek truth and freedom? How is God calling me to grow in truth and freedom today?

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.

"Be sincere of heart."

"Truth brings freedom, and freedom brings truth."

"Honor one another."

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?

Seek out an opportunity to grow in humility today. Maybe it means not fighting back when asked to do something or help out, or maybe it means doing something before you even have to be asked. Seize those opportunities to practice the virtue of humility and to serve obediently.

​Today's first reading is one that if not thought about properly could seem out of touch in today's day in age. 
Specifically I'm talking about the often pointed to: "woman being subordinate to her husband" and a "husband being the head of his wife." With no context but our modern times, it could seem chauvinistic. But in reality it's anything but. Let's see if this example is helpful to you. 

This beautiful example was given by my college professor, and it has stuck with me ever since I heard it. 
Imagine a couple ballroom dancing. 
When an audience comes to watch the dancers, the audience is struck by the beauty and cohesion of the couple. But their eyes are also on the woman, who is in a lovely, swirling dress, capturing everyone's attention as she smiles as her partner seems to effortlessly swirl her across the dance floor. 
In dancing one can define partners as "leads" and "follows." In most dances, traditionally, the woman is the "follow," and the male "leads" her in the dance. 
Yet our eyes are drawn to the woman, even though she in some ways is secondary, the "follow." 
The woman, however, couldn't be the center of attention in this beautiful dance without the steadiness and direction of the lead, or her male partner. 
It is his guidance that leads us to look at her. He is the head of this dance, yet she is the one the audience looks at first. And their cohesion and unity is beautiful as a whole. His steadiness leads her to flourish as the light and beauty of the dance. 

This may help give you some insight to today's first reading. Yes, in the Bible women are told to "follow" the "lead" of their husbands. Yet, in a healthy marriage, if done properly, this will only give the woman the space and freedom where she can shine and be most herself. If done right, it won't diminish her dignity, but instead bring it out in its fullness. 

Next in the reading, husbands are then told to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. 
And how did Christ love the Church? 
Christ loved the Church with everything He had. He suffered persecution, floggings, a heavy cross, a crown of thorns and a the most painful of crucifixions for His love for the Church. 
Thereby, husbands are asked to suffer and give everything they have for their wives. 
When read properly these verses are anything but degrading to women. Instead, they reinforce that women are the "crown of creation." and should be treated with an extraordinary care. 
The woman gives her love and humble respect to her husband. And that helps create a distinct, beautiful, complementary, cohesive union. 
Like the ballroom couple gliding across a dance floor. 

How do I understand the idea of leading and following in a marriage?

In what ways do I allow myself to be led and how do I follow the Lord?

How do I experience the sacrificial love of Jesus in my life?

"Help me know your love."

"Let me be led by you."

"I want to know true love."

Take stock of your experience of what true love should look like. Men: evaluate how you are sacrificing for the women you love, like Christ sacrificed for his Church. Women: evaluate how you allow yourself to be led by Christ and the men in your life. 

Let’s be careful not to take to any extremes. We neither want to say that we aren’t allowed to do ANYTHING on Sundays nor that we should do EVERYTHING on Sundays. Keeping holy the Lord’s Day is very important; are you confident in what that means?

Sundays are first and foremost the Lord’s Day. As the Code of Canon Law states: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover, they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body.” (1247)

On Sundays we are called in a special way to focus ourselves on God. In His almighty wisdom, God knew that we needed a specific day apart from the hustle and bustle of life to rest and re-center ourselves on Him. Of course we should be intentionally glorifying God every day, but it is also so important to have a day of heightened awareness to the purpose of our existence. 

It’s easy to consider Sundays as just another day of the weekend; some “free time” to ourselves. Instead, it would be good to reflect on what is absolutely necessary to do each Sunday and whether it aligns with worshiping God, bringing you/others proper joy, or enabling your mind and body to relax. Let’s make sure Sunday doesn’t become just another day, but truly a day of the Lord. 

If we truly sought to purposefully immerse ourselves in God’s love every Sunday, how much more life giving would the rest of the week be? 

In this Gospel, Jesus demonstrates that the Sabbath is not necessarily about following specific rules but about living the reality of God’s love. God never takes a break from loving and neither should we.

Reflect on your Sunday (yesterday). How did you glorify the Lord?

Do you set Sundays apart? Why or why not?

How can you be like Jesus and honor the Sabbath?

"Sundays are for rest." 

"Lord, I love you." 

"Jesus, I honor you."

You have one week till Sunday. Ask the Lord this week for one thing you can do to make your Sunday more prayerful? 

“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”

What a beautiful and encouraging thing to hear.

“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” 

Eight words you can live every moment of your life by. All of us are all like Bartimaeus in some way or another. At times we all struggle with our problems, our temptations, our failings, our weaknesses, our fears … the list goes on and on. We may walk through our lives blind to much but ourselves. Blind to the ways our sins impact us and those around us. We may be anxious about school, family, relationships, work, money, or seemingly endless other concerns. There are probably times when all of this may seem like just too much to cope with. Do you ever feel this way? Do you feel like this right now?

“Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”

Jesus knows. He knows all your struggles, and He loves you. He is calling you to lean on Him. He does not want you to be afraid. You can always trust in this. Therefore; do take heart, get up and turn to Him. He asks of you the same question He posed to Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” What is it you need from Him? He is waiting for you to tell Him.

Do you have the courage to cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me"? 

How can you be more humble to ask for Jesus' help?

What do you need Jesus to do in your life right now?

"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me."

"Help me, Jesus."

"Jesus, I trust in You."

Ask Jesus for help today, and be humble enough to mean it.