Know - Grow - Go

Temptations, Sins & Trials

Lent is a time to enter honestly into our own hearts — to repent, to confess, and to grow closer to God. It is a season of freedom, when the Lord desires to lift burdens from us so that we may truly flourish. This Lent, do not be afraid of what God uncovers. He is not trying to diminish you. He is forming you. And if we let Him change our hearts, we will not merely endure these forty days — we will flourish.   Readings at this Mass: Gn 2:7–9; 3:1–7 | Rom 5:12–19 | Mt 4:1–11

Three Marks of Lent (Ash Wednesday)

Jesus talked about three different practices in today's gospel — praying, fasting, and almsgiving — which the Church has always recommended doing during this penitential season to help us to grow in our relationship with God.   Readings at this Mass: Jl 2:2–18 | 2 Cor 5:20—6:2 | Mt 6:1–6, 16–18

Letting God work on our hearts

Friends, letting God work on our hearts is a dangerous and difficult business — because it means giving up control. It means saying 'yes' to people and to situations that you would never have chosen yourself. Most of us are terrible when it comes to changing our own hearts, so here’s my encouragement: give your heart to God. Submit to the slow and often painful work of His grace, and trust that He’ll get you where you need to be.    Readings at this Mass: Sir 15:15–20 | 1 Cor 2:6–10 | Mt 5:17–37

Salt & Light to the Nations

When Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world," He's not flattering us — he's giving us a mission. Just as salt prevents corruption and light dispels darkness, your life – lived in communion with God – is meant to preserve what is good and push back what is false or destructive. If someone acts only for recognition, then that recognition is the whole reward — and it lasts only as long as the spotlight is on them. But when a person uses their gifts with humility, gratitude, and faith – when their excellence becomes an offering – their performance points beyond themselves, becoming a witness to the glory of God.   Readings at this Mass: Is 58:7–10 | 1 Cor 2:1–5 | Mt 5:13–16

The Practice of the Presence of God

If we have the presence of God within us, if we bring the presence of God to every situation we encounter, if we're filled with the presence of God so much so that we don't think of ourselves — that's humility. Humility is not thinking less of myself; it's thinking of myself less. It's being filled with the presence of God, so that that presence of God might overflow into every situation that I encounter. And in this world of polarization, as Christians we are called to practice the presence of God: to bring the presence of God with love and understanding to every disagreement and to every situation.   The book Fr. Dominic refers to in his homily is The Practice of the Presence of God [https://www.powells.com/book/the-practice-of-the-presence-of-god-9789373680644?condition=New] by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection.   Readings at this Mass: Zep 2:3; 3:12–13 | 1 Cor 1:26–31 | Mt 5:1–12a