Author Archives: anastaziejoy

Sometimes we need to see the Lord work, we need reassurance that He is who he says He is. God is powerful and mighty, He is strong to save, the defender and protector of His people. These statements are true and it is good to reminder ourselves of them, but sometimes we need God toContinue reading “Show Yourself Strong”

“Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing…He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him…’My son, you are here withContinue reading “Celebrate the Good”

On today’s Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Church offers us the story of people of Israel being bitten by serpents in the desert as the first reading for Mass. In it the people of God recognize their sin in complaining against the Lord and they approach Moses, repentant and begging that GodContinue reading “The Exaltation of the Cross”

God creates intentionally. This statement in true for the entirety of creation and it is also true for each individual. God created you intentionally, to be the person, the man or woman you are. You were meant to have your unique personality and combination of gifts, abilities, tendencies. Even your perceived weaknesses or imperfections areContinue reading “Created for a Purpose”

The Lord God is all-good and all-loving; He does not withhold His love, His burning charity from anyone. And yet we do not all receive His love to the same degree. Some have a greater capacity to receive love and throughout our life that capacity can increase or decrease. Sin can diminish this capacity, atContinue reading “Receiving His Love”

“He answered, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain.’” (Exodus 3:12) When God appears to Moses in the burning bush, Moses is in a state of exile.Continue reading “Return and Worship”

When faced with moral decisions, it is not uncommon, even in Catholic circles, to be given the advice, “just follow your conscience.” While the idea of following your conscience is based in a fundamental truth of the faith and is in fact integral to making good moral choices, this piece of advice is problematic becauseContinue reading “Well-Formed”

The Catechism refers to the Eucharist as the “source and summit of the Catholic faith” (CCC 1324). It is both source and summit because it is Jesus Christ. Jesus himself is the source of our faith, both who we believe in and why we believe, and he is also the summit of our faith, theContinue reading “Redeemed and United”

The Gospels are filled with stories of miraculous healings. Jesus, revealing both his power and his compassion, relieves the suffering of his people by restoring what was broken. Each story of healing is powerful and teaches us something of God’s great love and mercy, giving insight into how he works. One of the stories thatContinue reading “Fully Healed”

Throughout this Lenten season, the Lord has been giving me numerous opportunities to say, “Thy will be done,” to submit myself over and over again to His divine will when it came into conflict with mine. These opportunities have been in small ways, in things outside of my control like other drivers, my garage doorContinue reading “Thy Will”