Both Isaiah and St. Peter initially express doubt and fear in the presence of God’s invitation. Yet like them we are called to move beyond our self-imposed obstacles and accept the Lord’s prompting in our lives…even when it’s hard.
The Gospel today shows the disciples both at work and at rest with Jesus. Finding balance in our lives can be challenging, yet when we take the long view we recognize that there are many different elements that enrich God’s gift of life.
The death of John the Baptist reminds us of the cost of discipleship. Yet as we look at the Cross of Christ, we find hope and strength to face the hardship of life with the conviction of the Lord’s saving death and resurrection.
Jesus summons the Twelve and empowers them to carry out his ministry. The Lord continues to call disciples today, giving us the grace we need to do his work.
Jesus comments on the lack of faith he witnesses in his native place. This passage gives us a reason to pause and reflect on our faith, pondering how we might grow in our relationship with Christ.
Like Jeremiah and Jesus, we experience times in life that are filled with tension and difficulty. Yet following the example of St. Paul, we face these challenging moments with God’s grace as we embrace and live the love of Christ each and every day.
Mary and Joseph faithfully carry out their duty as parents as they present their son in the Temple, and they encounter two people – Simeon and Anna – who foretell the mighty deeds that will be done through this tiny child.
The Lord teaches about the Kingdom of God using parables that explain that it is a process that starts out small. May these words give us strength to take the next step in our spiritual journey!