Pause+Pray

Sometimes when we try to be helpful, to do something particularly kind for someone else, despite our best efforts, the gift we intend is not the one received.

Remember that old refrain, “He’s got the whole world in his hands”? God’s also got each one of us in his hands, and he doesn’t let go.

“Be strong, fear not! Here is your God” (Is 35:4). Today we choose joy and rejoice not in wishful thinking, but in the reality of God’s saving love.

Sometimes our faith can feel isolating. Yet its promise is that Jesus welcomes us all to the table as we rejoice in his love for us.

This month during a baptism in my parish, a toddler called out loudly, “I see the baby’s face!”, and we erupted into laughter. What image of the Christ Child comes to mind as the perfect face of a baby? 

St. Augustine hit the nail on the head when he famously said, “Love and then do as you please.” All the commandments align as we try to love God and love our neighbor.