Learning to be Quick to Listen

As we journey through the desert of Lent, we must remember that repentance is not a mere feeling of guilt, but a profound "reorientation of our whole life" and a "return, a conversion to God with all our heart" (CCC 1431). St. Peter the Apostle, the first Pope, reminds us of the urgency of this turning away from sin: "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19). This transformation requires a humble recognition of our faults, for as St. Augustine famously noted, "the beginning of evil works is the confession of good works." St. John Chrysostom encourages us not to fear this process, teaching that "repentance is the medicine which destroys sin," while St. Thomas Aquinas clarifies that true penance requires "contrition of heart, confession of mouth, and satisfaction of deed." Even in our deepest failings, St. Claude de la Colombière assures us of God's mercy, noting that "the more we...

As we journey through the early days of Lent , we are invited to follow Jesus into the quiet, searing heat of the Judean desert. It is here that we witness the profound mystery of the Incarnation : Jesus was fully divine, yet fully human. After forty days without food, His body was not merely "performing" a fast ; He was truly, viscerally hungry and parched. In His weakened physical state, He felt the crushing weight of exhaustion that any of us would experience. This vulnerability wasn't a flaw, but a testament to His love—He chose to enter into our frailty so that no human struggle would be foreign to Him. Yet it was in this moment of extreme physical depletion that the "Stronger Man" emerged victorious. The devil sought to exploit Christ’s hunger and humanity, dangling comfort and power as bait, but he found no foothold. Though His body was faint, Jesus’ will remained perfectly anchored in the Father. By defeating the tempter through Scripture and sacrifice, ...

Entering the desert of Lent is not a frantic dash to a finish line, but a slow, intentional pilgrimage into the heart of God. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, by the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert (CCC 540). This is a season of "interior penance," which is not a mere surface-level adjustment of our habits, but a "radical reorientation of our whole life" (CCC 1431). Just as Christ spent forty days in the wilderness, we are called to a sustained journey of purification. If we treat Lent like a quick sprint, we risk burning out by the second week; instead, we must pace ourselves, allowing the silence of the desert to gradually strip away our distractions and reveal our true need for divine mercy. St. Francis of Assisi, a man who lived his entire life as a perpetual journey toward Christ, once said, "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenl...

The Church has long taught that "outside the Church there is no salvation," but the Catechism clarifies that this does not condemn those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ. This "invincible ignorance" means God judges us based on what we had the power to know, not what remained hidden from us. As the Parable of the Talents suggests, no one is left empty-handed; everyone is given the "wealth" of conscience and natural law. While some are given more through direct revelation, God’s expectations are proportional to the gifts received. We are all "rich" in divine assistance, but those with the fullness of the Faith are held to a higher standard of accountability. However, we must avoid the error of thinking ignorance is a "get out of heaven free" card. Most people are not in a state of blissful unawareness; they are struggling to navigate life with only the dictates of conscience, lacking the vital aids of the Sacrament...

The same voice that thundered into the void to command light into existence is the same voice that sustains our very breath today. It is a paradox of divine proportions : God possesses a voice of immeasurable power, capable of shattering cedars and shaking deserts, yet He exercises a profound, gentlemanly restraint. As St. John of the Cross beautifully observed, "The Father spoke one word , which was His Son, and this word He speaks always in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul." God does not chatter or speak simply to fill the air; His words are calculated and heavy with purpose. He chooses not to coerce us through celestial thunder or terrifying displays of might, but instead invites us into a relationship through a "still, small voice" that respects our freedom and woos our hearts toward the truth. Throughout history, God has tailored His communication to meet us where we are. To the individual soul—like St. Teresa of Avila in her ecstati...

In the mystery of Divine Providence , we often pray for parents who will perfectly mold us, forgetting that God may have placed us in our families to be the very instrument of their sanctification. You might feel that you weren't "gifted" with the ideal upbringing, but have you considered that you are the "perfect" child God designed for your parents’ specific journey? Your unique temperament, your resilience, and your capacity to love are not accidents of nature. As St. Paul reminds us, "We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us" (Romans 12:6). When you embrace your role as a son or daughter of God within your biological family, you provide your parents with a unique window into the Father’s mercy that only you can offer. However, recognizing these gifts comes with a profound responsibility. To underestimate the talents and abilities God has woven into your soul is to risk stalling the " perfect plan " He has for your enti...