This One's Practical!

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 Sunday, we attended our home parish, at a new Mass time. It was an evening liturgy with candlelight, incense, and contemporary worship music. At one point during Mass, our eldest daughter, Chiara, leaned over with widened eyes and whispered, “This is a beautiful Mass!” Meanwhile, the word that stood out to me seemed very practical this week.

It was the psalm response, “I will rise and go to my father.” 

Providentially, this week I am going to visit my dad in Michigan! Not to mention, David and I also had the opportunity this week to procure plane tickets to bring our kids to visit our parents! It seems like the Lord is giving me very practical directives to spend time with my father (and my father-in-law)!

In the grand scheme of things, visits to see friends and family might not seem like a major event. Yet in these small details of life, I'm feeling comforted that God is here guiding and protecting me.

An uplifting passage of scripture that also speaks to the practicality of God's call, is about King David. He had just written instructions for his son, Solomon, to build the temple. 1 Chronicles 28 details many specifications that David included for Solomon. At the end of many directives, King David offers this encouragement:

“Be strong and steadfast, and go to work; do not fear or be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or abandon you before you have completed all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."

What work has the Lord set in front of you today? Maybe it's very simple and straightforward, almost like an instruction manual. However the Lord is calling you—whether through the practical, the ethereal, or both—let's trust Him to bring His work to completion in us, in His time and by His strength.

Amen.

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Special thanks to VIP Patrons:

Dick Safranski
Jordan Mendez
Julian Padilla
Jessica Cook
Kate Hicks
Deacon Tim & Lily Roberto
Carrie Brzezinski
Frances Jones
Elizabeth Herberg

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Radiance and Marital Advice

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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What an unforgettable Christmas Season we just finished! On the Feast of Epiphany, 10-year-old Jamal and I went to a new parish that is close to our home. It was our first time visiting. And wow: this church was beautiful! For once, I felt genuinely appreciative to be wearing a face mask, since my mouth was in a wide-open smile for most of the Mass!

In every section of the church, there was something beautiful to behold: from the chandeliers throughout the towering ceiling, to the glowing dome, to huge painted stations of the cross, and every other pew filled with families and people of all different ages and cultural backgrounds. My Word for the Week only broadened my smile.

“You shall be radiant at what you see.” - Isaiah 60:5. (It matched my Word for the Week from last Epiphany, if you’d care to see the video.)

Indeed, I was already radiant at what I saw! What a difference to celebrate Mass inside of such a beautiful space. In the ensuing days, there were many sights that filled up my heart. Notably: family time while the Green Bay Packers won the top place in the NFC to begin the playoffs!

Then, last Sunday, on the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, we brought our entire family back to Mass at the new parish. It had been a number of months! The last time we attended Mass together, we were at Mass in a gym with no congregational singing.

This time, our children were especially engaged and well behaved. A small Christmas miracle to end the liturgical season! While they would normally have grown antsy at Mass in a gymnasium, I could see that they were mystified by the beautiful images of saints and angels all around the church. They were also drawn in by the music and by the young families around us.

The Word that stood out to me seemed to concern my husband, specifically: “The benefits assured to David,” from Isaiah 51:3, and “Beloved,” (the meaning of David’s name) from 1 John 5:1. My initial reaction was course-corrected in prayer. At first, I thought, “I’m called to bring those benefits to David!” But the Holy Spirit convicted me that those words are about the Lord.

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed. I’ve tried to “do it all,” at home (to be a domestic goddess + artistic queen, so to speak) in hopes of making David happy! Yet, unsurprisingly, the idea of trying to do more than I’m able to do made me feel daunted and resentful. Through the Word, The Spirit reminded me that it’s not I but God who fulfills His promises to David. 

What a surprising turn. Just when I thought I needed to keep “making David’s dreams come true” by shouldering more and more responsibilities, the Lord gave me this Word specifically about “David.” After honest conversations this week, David and I decided to shuffle some of the household responsibilities around so that I can have more time to be in the creative zone.

As you prepare to attend Mass this week (whether online or in person) perhaps you will hear the Word and assume you know what it means for you, like I did. I’ll invite you to join me in listening for the Spirit to surprise us! Lord, teach us in new ways. Come, Holy Spirit.

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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

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Our Little Olive Plants

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 Saturday evening, 10-year-old Jamal and I attended the Vigil Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family. During the second reading, I gently punched my son’s arm as we heard the words, “Children, obey your parents,” But then Jamal laughed when the next line was, “Fathers, do not provoke your children.” It’s been a very family-centric Christmas Season and New Year, in step with my Word for the Week!

The Word that stood out to me most at Mass last weekend was, “your children like olive plants around your table,” from Psalm 128. So, what are olive plants like, anyway? I asked Google. The accuracy of the top results made me laugh!

First, according to EdenProject.com, “Olive plants are tougher than you think.” When this description appeared at the top of the search page, I grinned. Time and again, my kids are tougher than I imagine! Farther down into the web results, I found an insightful question from GardenersPath.com.

The gardening website inquired, “Are you up for a challenge that is extraordinarily rewarding? Grow olive trees!” I couldn’t think of a statement that better sums up parenthood than “a challenge that is extraordinarily rewarding!” I also found some botanical advice that left me researching new words:

“Most olive trees take about three years to come into maturity and begin to set noticeable amounts of fruit. To increase fruit set, it is recommended that you plant more than one cultivar close together.” -GardeningKnowHow.com. Does anyone understand what “cultivar” means?

After some research, I think “cultivar” signifies a group of plants that are bred from two different plants to make a very distinct new plant. Sounds like children to me! Also, maybe the recommendation to plant olive trees close to other cultivars signifies how it’s best for children to grow up close to other children from different families!

Beyond feeling inspired by horticulture and amused that my own kids definitely show their personality most beginning at age 3 (akin to how the olive plants come into maturity after three years of growth), the Lord has been leading me to deep moments of gratitude for our four children. For instance, on one of the recent weekdays... 

[Here I paused writing due to a real-time interruption of an hour from my real-life children. Now I am trying to get back into the writing zone. However, my lovely children seem to have borrowed my energy and taken it for themselves so instead of writing a different example, I will just use this one. There.]

Sigh. Jesus is here with us, right?! Whether you are a fellow exhausted parent of young children, a reflective grandparent who has already walked this journey, or a spiritual mother or father figure who has enjoyed the “best of both worlds” in many regards... Cheers! We are in good company with Jesus and his family! He’s the one who makes family life holy!

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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.

What Happens When You Warn a Friend

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.

---

We went back to Mass as a family. For the first time since February. And it was on the 11th anniversary of our wedding! I was nervous. We all had to wear masks. “Are we ready? Will the kids behave? Will they remember what it was like to be at Mass together? Will I be able to breathe while scolding the kids behind my mask?!”

It was beautiful. The kids were excellent. It helped that there was so much space (because, social distancing). A number of moments were very touching for me. At one point, David caught my eye and we shared a crinkly-eyed smile, covered by our masks but still expressing the joy of having our four kids back at Mass together.

Probably the most encouraging moment came courtesy of 4-year-old Serra. As the instrumental music began to play, she looked up at me and exclaimed, “I want to sing!” It was sad, since no one was singing. And yet, she still knew. She still felt the pacing, the rhythm of the liturgy. She still wanted to respond, and she still had fond memories of belting out the closing song from the top of her little lungs.

The word that stood out to me was from the prophet Ezekiel, and it was echoed in the message of the Gospel: “You shall warn them.”

As I prayed about this word last week, the answer came by way of gratitude for what has already transpired. The Holy Spirit revealed to me some of the fruits of living this word.

I was able to spend time with one of my closest friends this week. This friend and I are close enough to speak into each other’s lives. That is to say, I have called this friend to greater honesty and integrity on many occasions, and this friend has returned the favor for me, time and again.

Calling each other to be better has been uncomfortable. Yet, we have continued to follow the advice from the gospel of Matthew about addressing issues with each other, and we have even brought in other friends to help convince the other. For example, advice that I have needed to receive from my friend deals with accepting my need to eat enough and at the proper times for my body, or about my penchant to work out so hard that I hurt myself.

This week I was able to see the fruits of those conversations. The fruits are strikingly beautiful! It was worth the struggle and the humiliation to speak honestly. Not only is my friend healthier than ever, but I am, too! The Lord painted such a clear picture for me: the other side of challenging a friend, is a greater trust of the other and a greater endurance of character.

Whose life do you have the honor of speaking into? Who are you called to correct from a place of love? Who gives you the authority to point out both their strengths and the ways that they can grow stronger? If someone is coming to mind now, I’ll invite you to take that person to prayer with me today.

Lord, help us to speak the truth in love, through the words you provide. We accept your promise from the Gospel of Matthew: “If two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.” Amen!

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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

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God's Gifts Are Irrevocable

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.

---

Two weeks ago, I went to our former home parish for the last time. I attended Mass with our eldest, Jamal. We didn’t say goodbye to anyone afterward. (We have two parishes that we belonged to on that side of town; we know far less people at this parish than at the other. Plus, everyone was masked.)

It was the first church we walked into when we moved to Arizona. This parish has many, many strengths, especially the music! And while we didn't form a strong sense of community, there was a gift in being able to slip into a pew unnoticed from week to week. There was space to receive. As Jamal and I left, I felt deep gratitude for how the Lord filled us since we first arrived.

The word that stood out to me was from Romans 11:29, “The gifts and call of God are irrevocable.”

The two weeks since then have been a blur. We moved out of our rental house and into a home of our own (about an hour away)! We started our kids in virtual school, and we have prepared them to return to school in person next week. I also realized and admitted that my live concert events are not likely to return at all this year, and perhaps not until next fall.

All the while, the Lord has been painting a new picture for me of the gift of faith. I’ve been realizing, as I shared in my previous Word for the Week entry, that I must not place my worth in my faith. Although faith is the means that the Lord provides to trust in Him, it’s his love that defines my worthiness.

As we transition in many ways as a family, it seems the Lord is allowing me to absorb this new knowledge. Last week, humorously enough, I didn’t really have a Word for the Week. I “sort of” had home church (meaning, I reviewed the weekend readings from my house), but it wasn’t a transfigured moment of faith.

So the Word for the Week from two weeks ago has continued to ring in my heart. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” The Word has assured me that the gift of faith is still in my soul, strong and available when I need it. In that knowledge, I feel compelled to rest in God’s love. To lay my head on my husband’s chest, to draw our children into an embrace, and to simply feel God’s love for us.

There will be other days to work hard in faith. There will be storms to weather and battles to fight. But this week, today, right now, my soul gets to rest. If He’s calling me to rest, then I won’t lose out on any of the gifts He’s given me. Not the gift of community, or faith, or music, or anything else.

It’s good.

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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.