The Beloved Disciple: Follow Me

 

(The Beloved Disciple is a Lenten series of imaginative prayer and meditation based on the life of St. John the Apostle. In his gospel, John refers to himself as the beloved disciple.  This name highlights John's close relationship with Jesus and also encourages us to see ourselves as Jesus's beloved disciple. The series invites you to put yourself in John's shoes and answer the call, "follow me.")

  Until that moment, I was floating through life.  Most days started and ended the same way.  Work was a major part of my life. I was familiar with the scriptures. I was eagerly waiting for the Messiah's coming. I did my best to keep the Commandments. I considered myself a good person. I thought that was all that was expected of me. I was wrong. God wanted so much more from me, as He does with each of us.

  It was nearing the end of just another boring day at work.  It was a day that felt like a waste of my time because very little had happened so far. Mentally, I had already checked out. I was just going through the motions when I saw Him climb into Peter and Andrew's boat. I nudged my brother James, "What's the new preacher doing in Simon's boat?"  I have to admit I was very curious. What was Jesus telling them? Then the excited screams for help and the miraculous catch of fish changed everything.

  James and I responded to this cry for help, not realizing it was an invitation. Jesus saw our attempt to help a friend in need, and as we tugged on the heavy nets of fish, Jesus was tugging at our hearts. He looked at each of us in a way no one has. Jesus looked at me, and really saw me. Then He said, "Come, follow me."

  Jesus did not seem like a stranger, but someone who knew me well. I can't explain it, but my head and heart were filled with unspoken words.  These were words my heart longed to hear.  God himself was calling me closer.  He was calling me to something more through this man named Jesus.  Does God want something more from me? I suddenly realized that just being good and following the Commandments wasn't enough. Jesus knew God's heart. How? Could  God ever reveal His heart to me? A nobody. I heard Jesus' words echo through my thoughts. "Follow Me." I was certain that Jesus knew God and that He could show me the way. I had only a moment to decide if Jesus had a better plan for my life than I did. 

  This was the day I stopped floating through life. I dropped the familiar nets that caught what I needed to survive. I decisively and firmly planted my feet on the ground, followed the footsteps of Jesus, and became a beloved disciple.  My journey can be yours, too.  Close your eyes and listen to the call He has planted in your heart.  "Follow Me." I responded, "Yes!  What will you say?"

-Susan

Ash Wednesday

 

  Today, we begin another season of Lent!  Are you ready?  So many times I hear people singing the Lenten blues, "I don't know what to give up?" And although Lent is a time of fasting and self-sacrifice, it is also a time to renew and reinvigorate our relationship with Jesus.  Growing closer to Jesus should ignite a desire in our hearts.  Jesus didn't spend three years down in the dumps, wishing Good Friday would come and go so He could get on with His life.  No.  Jesus laughed, prayed, and spent time with friends. He hoped His example of love would inspire others to a deeper understanding of the Father. Jesus' sacrifice is life-giving.  We should embrace this time, praying for a deeper understanding and commitment to God.

  This Lent, I will start a series called The Beloved Disciple.  It is the name the apostle John uses to refer to himself in his gospel.  It is also a name he hoped each of us would embrace.  John's understanding of who Jesus is began in shallow waters on the Sea of Galilee and grew throughout his life.  He could call himself the beloved disciple because, by the end of his life, he knew Jesus deep in his soul.

  This Lent, let us follow John's life as he draws near to his teacher, his friend, and our God.

The Best "I Love You" On the Planet

 

  A friend asked me if I had plans for Valentine's Day. I replied, "I'm going to Mass."

  She shrugged and said, "Yeah, I'm not doing anything special either."

  She looked genuinely confused when I said, "Oh, I think I have really special plans." I thought about this later that day. When did worshiping God become just an ordinary activity? I love God, and I love the Mass! An opportunity to catch a glimpse of heaven at the altar of my home church is truly incredible! As I gaze at the large crucifix hanging on the wall, I am filled with love. I am moved not by the love in my heart, but by the love in Christ's heart. He knows all my sins and flaws, and yet He chose to die for me. Knowing I would stumble many times along the way, He still calls me to come closer.

  Jesus looks directly into my soul and says, "I want you to have the very best of Me." Like a child begging for candy, I hold my empty hands stretched out toward Him. The Lord then gives me everything--His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity!  This pure gift of love has no rivals.  Nothing even comes close. It is the best "I love you" on the planet! And in my opinion, it is the perfect way to spend Valentine's Day. I can't think of anything more special!

-Susan

God's Awesome Generosity

 

  Today, my youngest granddaughter will be baptized!  I'm so excited! She will be cleansed of all sin, become a child of God, a member of the Church, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!  What an incredible day! Could our Lord be any more generous?  Well, the answer to this is yes! This is just the beginning.  The graces my granddaughter will receive today and in the sacraments to come are incredible!

  Unfortunately, I sometimes can take God's generosity for granted. But when big events occur,  I believe it's important to reflect on God's goodness. Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of God so that we could all benefit.  The Kingdom is more than a physical place that one can visit. Through the Church, the Kingdom extends to the ends of the earth and resides in the hearts of the baptized. Once baptized, God chooses to dwell within us through the Holy Spirit.  God's love is perfect, and He is always with us! In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are loved beyond measure! After being showered with all His love, how could our hearts not fall in love with God too?!

  God, you are an awesome God! Thank you for loving me so much! Each day, open my eyes to your Presence, and open my heart to love you more. Let your Kingdom grow deep roots in my soul, and let your living water produce a bountiful harvest within me to share with the world.

-Susan

Rejoice In The Lord Always

 

  Have you ever experienced one of those moments of utter disappointment, and you thought to yourself, "I really thought things would have turned out better." I wish I could say that thought was unfamiliar to me, but it has surfaced here and there throughout my life. I was counseling someone once, and I said, "If you put God first in your life, everything else will fall into place."  They looked me straight in the eye and said, "Yeah, look how that's worked out for you." Ouch.

  I am the first to admit that my life isn't perfect. But I am also the first to acknowledge that I could never have overcome my disappointments without trusting in God's love. I believe that's why the Beatitudes are such a breath of fresh air. Jesus reminds us that God is always with us. Even when we are struggling, God is doing something in our lives. The world may not see it, and we may not notice, but God's hand is holding us up, and His breath gives us the courage and strength to keep going.

  As I was headed for Mass today, one of my favorite Christian songs,  "Good God Almighty" by Crowder, came on. I smiled, turned up the volume, and sang as loudly as I could. I'll share a couple of lines so you get the idea:

  "Good God Almighty/ I hope you find me/ Praising Your name no matter what comes/ Cause I know where I"d be without mercy/ So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs." (song by Crowder 2021)

  Through the highs and definitely through the lows, keep praising God. Put God first, and everything else will fall into place.

-Susan

HI! What Are You Up To?

 

  I had a video call with my grandson the other day. As we talked, he grabbed the phone and ran all over his house, moving from one room to another, showing me his various toys, setups, and art projects.  He was very excited about everything he had been doing. I joked with my daughter, "Doesn't he ever get tired?" 

  "No," she replied, "He is constantly on the move."  

  Later, as I was praying, I was reminded of my interaction with my grandson.  It was so fun to see everything he was involved in that morning,  from his perspective.  This got me thinking...what if I could video call God? I wonder what incredible things I would see? And how different I would see them from God's perspective. I'm sure my mind could not even come close to grasping what God does in 10 minutes of His day. He touches the hearts and lives of everyone.  I can't even understand everything He is doing in just my life, let alone the whole world.

  Contemplating God and His goodness is a blessing. Mary is the perfect example of someone who spent her whole life reflecting on God's movement in her life. It would be wise to imitate Mary and ask for the grace to know God more deeply.

  I think it's incredible that when I settle into prayer, God encourages me to share everything about my day with Him. He is the Almighty, caring for millions, yet He listens to me because He is my Father. He listens to my needs, joys, sorrows, and confusion, and then asks me thought-provoking questions to guide me. (It's embarrassing to admit that sometimes I act as if I'm so busy that I might need to shorten my prayer time.)  

  God is so gracious and generous.  He is never stingy with His time or love. How lucky am I that even though God is always on the move, He never tires of spending time with me!

-Susan

Healing Is A Process

  

  I recently had a minor accident and cut my head as I fell to the ground. After visiting the emergency room, I was quickly stitched up and sent home to recover. My granddaughter came over a few days after the incident. She looked at my head, scrunched up her face, and said, "Oh, look at your cut!"

  "I'm sorry, honey, does it bother you?" I asked.

  She looked at it more closely for another minute and said, "No.  You're healing, and you're getting better." I smiled at what I thought was a very mature answer from a four-year-old.

  Since then, my stitches have been removed, and over time, my scar will become barely noticeable. This made me think about how quickly scars on our skin can heal compared to those on our hearts. I know I'm not alone. Most of our hearts have been scarred in one way or another. Sometimes they are caused by others, sometimes by our own mistakes, and sometimes by a chain of events completely out of our control. There is no special cream or medicine to take away the pain of these scars. They are only softened and healed through prayer.

  I am so grateful that God understands my pain.  He sits close to me, His arms wrapped around me, allowing me to cry, whine, or scream with anger. After I am exhausted from my pain, I lift my eyes to His face and beg for help. As I place all my trust in Him, I feel His peace and love flow through me.

  Recently,  I was wondering, "Lord, do all my scars bother you?"

  I felt Him pull me closer and whisper, "No, my child.  I love you. You are healing, and you're getting better."

-Susan

When Jesus Walks In

  

  I enjoy reading the Sunday Gospel to prepare for Mass. The Baptism of Jesus is one of my favorites!  I love all the imagery in this setting-the Spirit of God descending upon Jesus, the voice of God proclaiming His love for His Son, and Jesus blessing the waters of Baptism for all of us.  I have to admit, I also like the little interaction between John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist is preaching and baptizing sinners. He fully understands his mission, and then... Jesus walks in. At first, John is reluctant to baptize Jesus. In John's eyes, this doesn't make sense, but Jesus reassures John to trust in God's Plan.

  How many times in my life have I had a similar conversation with Jesus?  "Jesus, is this really the Plan? I didn't see it going this way.  How is that supposed to work?  I don't really understand this." These questions rarely provide quick clarity. Instead, they often lead to more prayer, where I feel Jesus gently prompting my heart with the words, "Trust Me."

  As we pull out our new 2026 calendars to plan, remember that God also has plans for us. It might be wise to pray about these first.  It's okay to pencil in our own ideas, as long as we remember that some may need to be erased or adjusted by God's plan. It is through obedience and trust that the Spirit will come upon us and we will hear God's voice.

-Susan

Mary, Mother of God

 

  

  Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Honoring Mary and placing ourselves in her care is the perfect way to begin the new year.  Christ came into this world as a small baby dependent on the care and protection of Mary and Joseph.  Jesus chose them, and we should too!  Entrust yourself to Mary's care.  Put your faith in her hands.  Mary knows exactly how to take care of something this fragile and essential.  

  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us

-Susan