In our Voices of Hope DVD, one of the participants, Marty, says, “If you are afraid, God can’t get to you.” It is a very emotionally charged moment as Marty is recalling his struggles dealing with the pain and suffering during his divorce. Marty is no softy. In fact, he is a big, burly guy. A “man’s man”, if you will. Yet, he is choking back tears as he describes his experience. Fear is that powerful.

Marty makes a very vivid point: fear prevents Christ from working in your life. Fear is one of those emotions that can paralyze you and keep you frozen with despair. It robs you of the trust that is the foundation of faith–the very thing that Christ needs to work miracles. The tiniest whisper of faith can overcome the greatest fear. Christ said in the Gospels over and over, “Do not be afraid.”, for good reason. He knows how fear can build walls around hearts and keep Him at bay. Pray for the grace to trust more. Trust is the key to experiencing Christ’s endless love and mercy.

“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” – Matthew 14:27

Originally posted 2014-12-22 06:00:14.

God never intended us to go through any life tragedy, especially one as monumental as divorce, simply relying on our own strength. Yet, so many people do. They either totally ignore God, or are completely ignorant of the promise He has made to always help them through difficult times (Hebrews 13:6). Sadly, the world is filled with these weary souls who now resign themselves to a life of hopelessness and pain. The truth is God accompanies us on every twist and turn through life, giving us everything we need to succeed. And the sacraments are the cornerstone of His success plan, especially the Eucharist. Those that have armed themselves with their faith, and strengthened themselves with the Eucharist, have a supernatural advantage in their battle; one that insures them of victory over hardship and despair. How could you not overcome the greatest odds, and be restored to the fullness of life, when you rely on the Creator of the Universe instead of your own wimpy, human self? Give yourself an unfair advantage in the battles life throws at you. Get Christ, unfiltered and undiluted, in the Eucharist, and He will be the source of all the strength you need.

If I am distracted, Holy Communion helps me to become recollected. If opportunities are offered each day to offend my God, I arm myself anew each day for the combat by the reception of the Eucharist. If I am in special need of light and prudence in order to discharge my burdensome duties, I draw nigh to my Savior and seek counsel and light from him. – St. Thomas More

Originally posted 2014-11-18 06:00:26.

When Christ was born over 2,000 years ago, He came bursting through the thin veil that separates Heaven and Earth. God designed the two realities to be separate, yet out of tremendous love for us, He intervened and sent His Son into our reality to save us from the mess we had created here on Earth. Well, as the saying goes, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” certainly holds true for God’s feeble creatures. We still seem to find a way to make a mess of our lives and situations.

Since we live in our physical reality, it is hard to imagine what the spiritual reality is like. We are just too human, too anchored into the day-to-day aspects of living. We tend to understand living as “now” and Heaven as “later.” In truth, Earth and Heaven co-exist. God sent His Son long ago to save us because He could no longer bear to watch us wallowing in the misery we had created for ourselves. The great news is that He continues to send His Son—through the Eucharist. At every Mass, Christ once again smashes through the veil between Heaven and Earth to become physically present to us. It is like a mini-nativity each and every time. Whether you receive Him physically, or simply sit in His presence, His power to heal and save is just as potent today as it was that first Christmas. In the Eucharist, Christ continues to fulfill His mission to heal the wounded, love the unloved, and welcome the outcasts. Seek Christ in the Eucharist, and allow His reality to save you from distress and fill you will abundant hope and joy.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.” – Luke 2:10-11

Originally posted 2014-12-08 06:00:30.

“I’m scared, Daddy!” shouted my son above the din of man-made water rapids and squeals of about five hundred other kids. We were at a water park on a hot summer day, and we were making our way through the “Lazy River.” The problem for my son was that this part of the Lazy River offers a difficult choice. It branched off into two paths. One path was, well, lazy, while the other path was a surge of rapids, water eruptions, and lots of spraying water. For a five-year-old it was quite intimidating, and he was seeking the more calm and tranquil path. He couldn’t connect with the promise that, while more intense and intimidating, it was also the most exciting and rewarding part of the ride.

Life after divorce offers us two paths as well: our path and Christ’s path. So often we prefer our path. We want to live life on our terms, our timelines, and in our comfort-zone. We’ve been through hell and we would just rather coast through life at a pace, and on a path, of our choosing. Yet, Christ invites us down His path. A path that is often intimidating and more difficult because it requires us to follow through on what we profess to believe. It is one thing to say you are Catholic and an entirely different thing to really live it. Christ’s path challenges us to live His teachings, including the hard ones, like forgiveness, honesty, chastity, mercy, and love.

Christ never wants to leave you where you are. He is constantly urging you forward to live the amazing life He has planned for you, and to become the magnificent person He created you to be. His path will get you there. If you can surrender and allow yourself to be caught up in His current, you will come to see that your best life lies ahead of you, not behind you. Which path will you take?

I have come so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. – John 10:10

Originally posted 2014-09-02 06:00:43.

I have a Catholic prayer book that is over one hundred pages long. In  this book there is every imaginable prayer. Prayers you would expect, like prayers for healing, but also some you would not, like prayers for safety during bad weather. Catholics never seem to be at a loss for ready-made prayers. It is not uncommon to think that reciting these types of prayers is what praying is all about. Yet, prayer is so much more.

The focus of prayer is to talk to Christ and to allow Him to guide you. Successful prayer is any activity that helps you be more sensitized to what Christ wants you to know, and your open response back to Him letting him know your deepest needs, fears, and dreams. The result is a relationship with Christ that forms a deep trust. It is this trust that allows you to persevere through difficult times, gives you courage to act, and develop a heart like Christ, allowing you to love others as He loves you.  

“Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” – John 17:3  

Originally posted 2014-09-12 06:00:38.

Ever feel like an outsider or a rookie in your faith? Does it seem like everyone else has a much deeper faith? Not sure if all this is really true? Feel like you have made too many mistakes to still be accepted by the Church? Feel like an outsider? You are not alone. One of the most famous and respected persons in the Catholic Church, St. Augustine, felt the same way. In fact, he was a rebel who lived a very secular life, doubted Christianity, and refused to practice his faith. It took him most of his life before he had a powerful conversion experience that made him realize that Christ had been pursuing him his entire life. Christ never gave up on him. Christ will never give up on you. No matter what you have done, or fail to do. Believe it!

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!
You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.
In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things, which you created.
You were with me, but I was not with you.
Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all.
You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness.
You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness.
You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you.
I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.
You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

The Confessions of St. Augustine

Originally posted 2015-01-07 06:00:33.

About a year after my divorce was final, I moved fifteen miles into a more modest home. It was a really big step overall. I was moving my three young kids to a new neighborhood and new schools. I was moving into a house that needed a fair amount of remodeling. Plus, I hadn’t even sold my current home before buying my new home. On top of all that, I had to pack up the entire house on my own. It was a very stressful and physically difficult time. Many people thought I was crazy to take all of this on by myself. Yet, at my core, I was at peace. I managed the entire moving process filled with energy and optimism.

My decision to move was not some spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the result of many days of prayerful consideration. During this entire time, from the time I was first pondering the idea to move until the last box was unpacked (thanks Mom and Dad!), I felt Christ walking with me; this was not just my idea. Because Christ was at the center, he provided me with all the graces I needed to succeed. As Christ proved with the resurrection, he creates new life. That’s how you can tell when something is Christ’s will. It will bring a sense of newness and goodness, and, with it, the resulting confidence, energy, and peace. Let that be your guide as you take on life’s changes and challenges.

They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. – Isaiah 40:31

Originally posted 2014-07-24 06:00:06.

Unfortunately, most of us approach life much like that woman approached gambling. We try all different strategies to solve our problems and to get ahead, usually in vain. Some of us are fortunate enough to finally stumble on the one strategy that will always win: Christ. Nothing else truly works. Nothing else can help. Nothing else can save. Nothing. Only Christ. We are supposed to put it all on Christ. He is the only sure bet. Put everything on Christ–your worries, your fears, your dreams and your hopes, everything. When you do, you will win every time. 

Whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ. – Philippians 3:7-8

Originally posted 2014-08-20 06:00:02.

I think this is a great metaphor for what divorce is like. We find ourselves lost in a very uncertain time in our lives. We have no idea what our future holds, and we are filled with fear. In many ways we are in a fight for our lives, too — a fight to preserve our life’s values.  And if we have children, a fight to preserve the best life for them as well. We become consumed with what we need to do to win the fight. We think everything depends on what we do. The truth is, just like Simba and Nala, we need a King to save us. Their king was Mufasa, our King is Christ.

How differently Simba and Nala would have reacted to getting lost if they had known that Mufasa would save them. Sure, they may have been anxious, but they would have navigated through the difficult time with a confidence that comes from trusting in their savior to come through for them. We must do the same. In our case, we do know how the story ends. We were given the spoiler 2,000 years ago when Christ died on the cross and saved us. Let this truth create an envelope of trust around you so you can take on the mighty challenges of divorce knowing, no matter what struggles you face, your Savior will come through for you in the end.

“I will never forsake you or abandon you.” – Hebrews 13:5

Originally posted 2014-09-04 06:00:12.

When we are in crisis it is typical for us to fall on our knees and beg for God’s help. Most of us, me included, are not bashful to ask God for help. We are filled with hope that God will miraculously come to our rescue and put an end to our misery. But prayer is only half of the equation. God wants us to put our faith into action. We must pray and act. Certainly, prayer is an essential ingredient to living our life of faith, yet, God gave us free will and many talents to use in conjunction with our prayers. We are coworkers with Christ working together to fulfill His plan. So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, in crisis, or downright frustrated, keep praying, but be sure you are getting busy working on your problems, too. Jesus is a faithful partner who will magnify all your efforts and make them bear fruit.

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was competed by the works. – James 2:22

Originally posted 2014-12-15 06:00:24.