The Gospel of Humility

 Readings 042526 

I was asked once in Spiritual Direction,
“What is your greatest sin?”
And my heart went back
to something small—
a simple plate of cookies.

I was in high school.
A ninth‑grade spirit squad member
offered me what she had made
with kindness,
with sincerity,
with all she could give.

And instead of gratitude,
pride rose up in me.
I thought I deserved better.
I thought I had been slighted.
I thought others looked down on me
because the gift was small.

I still remember
the hurt in her eyes.
Because in that moment,
I did not preach the Good News.
I preached my own wounded pride.

Scripture tells us:
“Clothe yourselves with humility…
for God opposes the proud
but bestows favor on the humble.”
And again:
“Humble yourselves
under the mighty hand of God.”

The Gospel is never carried
by a proud heart.
It is carried by the grateful one—
the heart that receives
whatever is offered
as grace.

So as Christ sends us out—
“Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel”—
preach from a place of humility.
The humility that sees the giver.
The humility that heals.
The humility that lets love speak.

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, 

Clothe my heart in humility.
Heal the pride that shadows my sight.
Teach me to receive with gratitude,
to honor the giver more than the gift.
Cleanse the wounds my arrogance has caused.
Let mercy be the language of my life.
Send me to proclaim Your Gospel with a humble heart.

Amen

True Food, True Drink

 Readings 042426

I was raised Baptist—
grape juice in tiny cups,
cracker crumbs on a silver tray,
passed down the pew
every fifth Sunday.

We called it remembrance—
a way of honoring
what Jesus did long ago.
And I was grateful for it.
It shaped my love for Scripture
and my reverence for the Lord.

But when I became Catholic,
and knelt to receive
the Blessed Sacrament,
something in me knew—
deep knew—
that this was the Scripture
come alive.

Not symbol.
Not poetry.
Not a gesture toward heaven.

Because Christ’s words
never soften their edge.
The Gospel refuses
to be reduced to symbol.

“How can this man
give us His Flesh to eat?”
they asked.

And Jesus did not retreat.
He pressed in.
He doubled down.
“Amen, amen, I say to you…”

True Flesh.
True Blood.
True Food.
True Drink.

And when I received Him,
I knew—
this is the Bread
that came down from heaven.
This is the Life
that cannot be borrowed.
This is the Christ
who remains in me,
and I in Him.

What once was remembrance
became communion.
What once was symbol
became Presence.
What once was ritual
became the very heartbeat
of my faith.

He feeds us
with Himself.
And He raises us
even now.

This is the gift
that found me
when I stepped forward
and opened my hands
to the Living Christ.

True Food.
True Drink.
True Life.
And He raises us
even now.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You are the Bread come down from heaven.
Feed my heart with Your Presence.
Steady my steps with Your grace.
Remain in me as I remain in You.
Make my life a witness to Your love.
Raise me to new life each day.

Amen