There’s a quiet miracle happening in gardens and fields, on windowsills and forest floors. Flowers, even those rooted in shadow, bend toward the light. It’s not dramatic. It’s not loud. But it’s persistent. This movement—called phototropism—is a lifeline. Without light, the flower cannot bloom. Without turning, it begins to fade.
Continue reading “Bending Toward the Light”
Perhaps the most haunting image in scripture is that of someone standing outside a locked door, knocking—only to hear the Lord respond, “I do not know where you are from.” It’s not a rejection, but a sorrowful truth: the relationship was never embraced. The door was open, but the invitation went unanswered.
Continue reading “The Open Door of Love”
Eternal life is knowing a personal God. Prayer begins by entering that relationship of perfect love.
Continue reading “Knowing Love Himself”
Pope Leo IV is doing amazing work in unifying Christian Catholics across the globe. I loved reading about a recent audience he had with some Benedictine Monks. As many of you know, St. Benedict has been one of my Saint buddies since I was introduced to him on pilgrimage many years ago. The Saint Benedict Medal walks with me daily through much of my jewelry to ground me in faith.
Continue reading “Season of Renewal”
Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
Continue reading “Our Cosmic Warrior in Christ”
I believe God longs for everyone—including you and me—to be saved and to share in His kingdom. This isn’t a distant or abstract truth but deeply personal once we learn to receive His love. But I also know that the gift of free will means we have the power to accept or turn away from that love. And when I pause to consider Saint Ignatius’s advice—to ponder with deep affection how the Lord wishes to give Himself to me—something in me softens. It reminds me that His desire isn’t just for the world, but for me personally.
Continue reading “Learning To Receive Love”
God is in the details of our day-to-day lives and knowing his heart is closer than we think. I’ve been using AI tools a lot recently to support my work. I got curious the other day asked CoPilot “What is the best way to know the heart of God.” Note the following is generated by AI and endorsed by me!
Continue reading “Closer Than You Think”
Yesterday, I was home, recovering from Covid following the doctor’s orders to isolate until tomorrow. I was sad that I was unable to attend mass in person. However, it was the responsible choice as I don’t want to impact others if I’m possibly still contagious. I was loving my neighbor.
Continue reading “Every Moment Holy”
In the following scripture, we are reminded of the vanity of laboring, toiling, and acquiring. It is an expression of what life would be like apart from the presence of God. Sorrow, grief, and restlessness would seem to be all there is. It’s a poetic way of expressing the futility and fleeting nature of human pursuits.
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,/ vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!
Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to another who has not labored over it, he must leave property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun? All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity.
The word of the Lord.
Ecclesiastes1:2; 2:21-23
In this context, “vanity” doesn’t mean pride or self-absorption (as in modern usage), but rather emptiness or meaninglessness.
The writer reflects on life’s pursuits—wisdom, pleasure, work, wealth—and concludes that none of them bring lasting fulfillment. It’s a philosophical lament that everything “under the sun” (i.e., earthly life) is temporary and cannot satisfy the soul.
Ecclesiastes isn’t nihilistic—it’s realistic. It urges us to recognize the limits of worldly pursuits and seek meaning through reverence for God and live with humility and gratitude, knowing life is short.
On the other hand, Jesus teaches us to be “rich in what matters to God.” What does matter to God? That we number our days right and grow in wisdom of heart. We do not have to do that on our own, for we receive those graces at baptism, by which we have died and our life is hidden with Christ in God. He asks one thing of us, “Follow Me.”
Life’s richness, then, consists in seeking the One who is above, and claiming the new self that we receive through him, for Christ is all. Our treasure lies in claiming Christ our life, who has appeared.
Let us live for an audience of one, for God today. Amen
Smitten With Goodness 