MADE: Catholic Edition

Remember that TV show MADE? This is the Catholic Edition. I want to be MADE into a Saint. 10 women, 1 House, 3 rooms, and 1 prayer closet.

The line up Abby, Bri, Kalynn, Kristin, Lindsay, Senite, Shaina, Vicki and I have been given a great blessing (or burden depending on the day) to live together in community to serve and love the poor in the mile high city of Denver.

Our daily life consists of an early wake up alarms begin going off anywhere between 6:00 a.m. to 6:35 a.m. ( yes I get up at 6:35 sometimes even 6:45.) We leave the house by 7:00 a.m. in order to make it to mass, morning prayer, personal prayer followed by a much needed breakfast. Around 9:30 a.m. our intellectual formation begins. We have listened to all kinds of great talks from an array of speakers on the human person, social teachings basically learning the intellectual side of why we are here. After, we pray the Angelus we have lunch ( well a sandwhich if you consider that lunch EVERYDAY AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH). We finish up the afternoon with some more lectures and then are released to our homes.

I usually try to take a nap, but fail because there are 10 women in ONE house...

We then have evening prayer, dinner and some type of community dialogue this will sometimes include the mens house, which consists of John, Joe, Phil, and Kevin. (A tad outnumbered you might say, so if you know of any men willing to give of their time and talents for the Lord send them our way)

Finally, we have night prayer to end our day. Many people at this time go to bed, but I have found it be quite relaxing to play a game of scrabble. Thus far, Abby and I have not been defeated.

The past week of training has just flown by, but it has truly been a blessing to be part of something so much bigger than oneself. It is a bit overwhelming to be entrusted with so much, but the  Lord has a plan. He always lets us know He is in control and shows us how much we need to trust.

Our first mass together the Gospel was about the 5 loaves and 2 fish (Matthew 14: 13-21). The disciples came to Jesus and hold Him to just let the people go already because it was getting late and they didn't have enough food to give them. However, Jesus needed them to trust. He needed them to just give their all and He would make it happen. Jesus says to them no you feed them. The disciples at this point are so confused and just don't get it, but they do as He says and give him all they have.

This is what He does with us. Jesus takes our small offering, which usually are nowhere near enough, and makes miracles with them. Everyone was satisfied not because of what the disciples brought, but because of what Jesus did. However, Jesus needed the disciples to trust and give everything over. We cannot hold back anything from the Lord as small and simple as it may seem. He needs our all.

The folowing day we had the reading where Peter walks on water with Jesus and then he begins to sink. This is another example about trusting the Lord fully and not taking our eyes off of Him. Basically, everyday the Lord reveals to us why He has called each one of us here to Denver. More importantly He calls all of us to do His will. It will not look the same for everyone, but each is just as equally important. Even though we will fall because we focus on all the ways things are impossible instead of retreating back into the safety of the boat, which Peter could have done, let us call out to the Lord each time we fall.

He doesn't dissapoint.

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

We are each called to do this in different ways. May the Lord continue to grant us the grace to do His will and may we never cease in seeking His grace.

Please continue to pray that all of our hearts may be more open to the Lords will and grow in love for others. Love will hurt, but it will not harm us. May we each have the courage to love more deeply.