What Scales Are Blocking Your Conversion?

In Philippians 4:12, St. Paul reveals that he learned the secret of being happy at any time and in every circumstance. For a long time, I searched for that same peace, but I only found it when I stopped running and finally said "yes" to Jesus. Like Paul, my life-changing experience began with a total surrender. For me, the scales fell from my eyes when I started reading the Bible and attending daily Mass. In the silence of the Liturgy and the power of the Word, I realized that happiness isn't a feeling to be chased; it is a Person to be encountered. This transformation is sustained by an ongoing, never-ending conversation with the Lord—not just in the pews, but in every moment of my day. By allowing Jesus and His Beatitudes to guide my steps, I’ve found a joy that survives even the hardest days.

St. Paul’s journey provides us with the perfect roadmap for this radical shift. I remember watching the depiction of Saul in A.D. The Bible Continues; seeing his anguish and confusion hit home for me because I’ve felt that same desperate need for a Savior. Paul was a man of intense past transgressions, yet he became one of our greatest saints. His story is a constant reminder to me—and to you—that our history does not disqualify us from God's grace. If a man like Paul can be reclaimed, so can we. Whether you are sitting in a pew at daily Mass or opening your Bible for the first time, know that saying yes to Jesus is the start of the only journey that matters. Let your happy life begin today; the invitation is waiting.

Comments

Woman, Behold Your Son

The spiritual climax of the Gospel of John, as Father John Waiss points out, occurs at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus utters his parting words: “Woman, behold, your son!” and “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27). While these words were addressed to the Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, the Church has long understood this moment as a universal adoption. To truly image Christ, we must share in His parentage; if we embrace God as our spiritual Father but reject Mary as our mother, we treat Christ as a half-brother rather than our "firstborn among many brethren" (Rom. 8:29). As Origen noted as early as the third century, the profound depths of the Gospel are only accessible to those who, like John, rest their heads on Jesus’ breast and receive Mary into their own homes. This maternal role is deeply rooted in biblical typology, positioning Mary as the fulfillment of the great mothers of the Old Covenant. She is the New Eve , the mother of all the living according ...

Praying With The Five Wounds Of Jesus

I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...

The Gentleness of a Doctor: St. Anthony’s Devotion

St. Anthony of Padua is widely revered as the "Hammer of Heretics" and a "Doctor of the Church," titles that suggest a formidable and perhaps distant intellectual. However, the heart of Anthony’s ministry was a profound, tender love for the person of Jesus Christ that transcended mere academic study. For Anthony, Christ was not just a theological concept to be defended, but a living presence to be embraced. This deep intimacy was the engine behind his legendary preaching; he didn't just speak about the Word, he spoke from a place of friendship with the Word. His life serves as a beautiful reminder that the greatest heights of wisdom are always reached through the simplest acts of love and humility. This interior devotion is most famously captured in the ubiquitous image of St. Anthony holding the Infant Jesus. This iconographic tradition stems from a mystical event late in his life while he was staying at the home of a friend, Count Tiso. The Count peered throug...

Learning to be Quick to Listen

Search This Blog