Before we dive into the scriptures this morning, I wanted to let everyone know that we have made some exciting changes to the blog. We have added some brand new writers along with those you have come to know and love. We will also be posting the blog every day at 5 AM Eastern Time. Thank you all for reading and may God bless you!
Today is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the first day of the month dedicated to Our Lady. I have always loved the month of May. We are still in the Easter season, the weather is finally feeling like spring consistently here in Michigan, and our short summer is only a few weeks away. It is also special to me because it is the month I got married; this year, we celebrate eight years.
In case you can’t tell, I am constantly looking for reasons to celebrate, or perhaps it ‘s my way of coping. Another way I cope is by doing home improvement projects. I look for ways to transform my house into what is most practical for our family and also what would increase its value should we ever choose to sell. As I write, we are painting, having electrical work done, creating closets in two bedrooms, and just beginning to think about how to split a large bathroom into two smaller ones with the least amount of plumbing work possible.
I would hope that some of the energy I am putting into transforming my home leaks over into my spiritual life as well, but alas, hoping is not enough. Today’ s First Reading talks about one of the biggest changes in Scripture, that of Saul ‘s personal transformation into Paul, the great apostle. He literally went from “breathing murderous threat” to” proclaim[ing] Jesus in the synagogue” all in one passage. He was struck blind in order to see the greatest truth known to man, that Jesus is the Son of God.
Now, I ‘m right there with you in feeling like this quarantine is the song that never ends, but I heard something on a live-streamed Mass this past Sunday that really helped put things in perspective. “As Christians, we should never say, ‘something has to change for me to have peace, joy, and happiness’ but rather, ‘something has to change IN ME in order to have peace joy and happiness’” (Fr. Mike Schmitz, paraphrase)Who ‘s to say that we can’t have a transformation just as powerful as St.Paul’s? Who’ ss to say that God does n’t want to open our eyes in much the same way? Does He love us any less? Does He desire any less for us? Does SOMETHING need to change? Or do WE need to change?
If I am constantly breathing venomous complaints, maybe it ‘s time I will be struck dumb of my own accord. If my mind is full of worry and fear, perhaps now is the perfect time to make an act of complete surrender. If my children are driving me crazy because they feel just as cooped up as I do, maybe it ‘s time to have a one on one with each of them to discern what their needs are, and then all go outside together to play.
I leave you with this uplifting part of today’ s Psalm: “For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever.” (Psalm 117:2)
Tami grew up in Western Michigan, a middle child in a large Catholic family. She spent early young adulthood as a missionary in Mexico, studying theology and philosophy, then worked and traveled extensively before finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Western Kentucky. She loves tackling home improvement projects, finding fun ways to keep her four boys occupied, quiet conversation with the hubby and finding unique ways to love. She works at Diocesan, is a guest blogger on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net, runs her own blog at https://togetherandalways.wordpress.com and has been doing Spanish translations on the side for almost 20 years.