Fertile and Fruitful

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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Last week I entered Mass with a specific problem on my mind. Do you ever do that? An ongoing conversation with someone I'm close with was really hurting my heart. The words "fertile and fruitful" from the first reading (Isaiah 55:10-11), settled over me like a soothing balm on a wound.

I asked the Lord what to do about that Word this week.

"Fertile and fruitful" seemed to be an invitation to trust God with the outcome of my dilemma. The issue at hand had to do with my motivation about a family issue. If it hurt to be accused of selfish intentions, why not trust God to bring the truth to light?

That meant that I needed to pray about a number of inter-personal issues this week. I needed to pray with trust and not doubt. Trust that God was working through me, trust that He will produce good fruit. God's word made the difference between worry and praise.

Sometimes people mistake my confidence for pride. And I can be very prideful. Pride is the shadow side of my strongest attributes. But my personality and my black culture also influence the way that I express myself! Sometimes my deeply emotive nature, fostered and encouraged by my black culture, is misinterpreted by others both within and outside of that culture. 

I named my confidence aloud this week. I made sure my intentions were heard. And you know what? People listened. They chose to be open minded. But they wouldn't have known what was on my heart had I not lifted my voice authentically and boldly.

The Blessed Virgin Mary shows me what true confidence looks like. She acknowledges God's presence and she names it aloud! In the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth (Luke chapter 1), she even sings in praise for blessings that will come about in herself!

I'm including a photo of a print that hangs in our dining room. This depiction of Mary and Elizabeth beautifully connects the Gospel story with my black culture. This work of art (by my friend Autumn Irlbeck) helps me to be confident that fertility and fruitfulness are gifts to be celebrated in others and in myself. 

How is God calling you to think, pray, and act with confidence today?

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Special thanks to VIP Patrons:

Kim Moline
Dick Safranski
Jordan Mendez
Julian Padilla
Jessica Cook
Kate Hicks
Sara Chacon
Kelly Wesaw
Deacon Tim & Lily Roberto
Carrie Brzezinski

To become an Amanda Vernon Patron and receive exclusive rewards, signup at amandavernon.com/patron.

Peace the World Cannot Give

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

---

Last week, on Pentecost Sunday I watched a live-streamed Mass on YouTube. Bishop Nevares celebrated the liturgy. It was comforting to see and hear the congregation that was present, albeit with masks on their faces! After Mass concluded, I drove over to our church to receive the Eucharist. The words that stood out to me from the gospel were, “Peace be with you.”

“What am I called to do about this word?” I’ve been asking the Lord. I believe the answer is coming by way of many realizations this week. I’m able to see with clarity that the peace of Christ is different from the peace that this world can offer (see John 14:27). This same week, I got a distinct taste of that peace as a few of my earthly freedoms were taken from me.

Our governor implemented Arizona’s first-ever state-wide curfew last Sunday⁠—Pentecost!⁠—at 8PM. The curfew is in effect from 8pm to 5am each day for eight days.

As David and I stood out in our backyard on Sunday night around 10 PM, I looked at the cinder block walls that surround our rental property. With tears welling in my eyes, I said, “This is the closest I’ve been to slavery, babe.”

“Slavery? Nobody is beating you, though,” David replied.

“Right. But if I go out there,” I pointed past our house to the quiet suburban street beyond, “I could be sent to jail. Beatings during slavery were for the sake of keeping slaves in captivity.” I gazed up at the faint stars in the darkened night sky. There were no clouds, per usual in Arizona.

I looked back at David and exclaimed, “Now I get to do what my ancestors did!”  David took in my beaming smile. He grinned and squinted his eyes slightly. He looked happy to see the fire in my spirit.

The peace I experienced on Pentecost wasn’t coming from the world or from our surroundings. Rather, it proceeded from the same Spirit behind the old Gospel hymn, “I’ve got peace like a river in my soul.” I’ve known that song as long as I can remember! Now, I’ll get to sing it with new fervor.

It’s my turn to practice what I preach, or⁠—as Mahalia Jackson so eloquently sang⁠—to “live the life I sing about in my song.”

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Special thanks to VIP Patrons:

Kim Moline
Dick Safranski
Jordan Mendez
Julian Padilla
Jessica Cook
Kate Hicks
Sara Chacon
Kelly Wesaw
Deacon Tim & Lily Roberto
Carrie Brzezinski

To become an Amanda Vernon Patron and receive exclusive rewards, signup at amandavernon.com/patron.