Discipline and tough love can be difficult to deal with. Regardless of whether you're on the giving or receiving end of tough love, it can be hard. It's even more difficult in today's world to give discipline and tough love because of the influences of relativism. This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the tough love of his mother, and how we need discipline in our lives. He also encouraged us to embrace the gift of discipline of the laws of God so that our lives might be rightly ordered.
Discipline and tough love can be difficult to deal with. Regardless of whether you're on the giving or receiving end of tough love, it can be hard. It's even more difficult in today's world to give discipline and tough love because of the influences of relativism. This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the tough love of his mother, and how we need discipline in our lives. He also encouraged us to embrace the gift of discipline of the laws of God so that our lives might be rightly ordered.
Discipline and tough love can be difficult to deal with. Regardless of whether you're on the giving or receiving end of tough love, it can be hard. It's even more difficult in today's world to give discipline and tough love because of the influences of relativism. This weekend in his homily, Bishop reflected on the tough love of his mother, and how we need discipline in our lives. He also encouraged us to embrace the gift of discipline of the laws of God so that our lives might be rightly ordered.
The influences of the world are all around us, and they're powerful. This weekend in his homily, Bishop DeGrood encouraged us to not grow weary, to not lose hope, or to give in to the cultural mindset of relativism. Instead, he encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus, the perfecter of faith.
Our world is filled with false idols. This past weekend in his homily, Bishop DeGrood encouraged us to reflect on our own lives to see if we recognize any idols we may be hanging onto: technology, self-identity, politics, work, relationships, the list goes on. Are they more dominant in our lives than God? Bishop then points us back to God and encourages us to stay grounded in God so we don't create our own idols.
When you think about your childhood, are you like Bishop DeGrood and have your parents' voices ringing in your ears telling you to do or not do something? Do you wish you had listened to your parents? Because of sin and our human brokenness, we do this with our heavenly Father, too. In his homily, Bishop encourages us to rise above our human brokenness and listen to what God has clearly revealed to us.This week, ponder these questions:1. Who are we going to listen to? 2. Who are we going to allow to influence our lives?3. How can you, as the hands and feet of Christ here on earth, help a mother, father or child in need and cultivate a culture of life?
This weekend in his homily, Bishop talked about the power and influence of spirits. Both good spirits, with a capital S (the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit), and evil spirits, with a little s (the devil, Satan and other evil spirits). Bishop also reflects on the sanctity of life and the family in light of the Supreme Court decision which overturned Roe v Wade, and encouraged us to respond to God's call in supporting mothers, fathers and children in need. This week, ponder these questions:1. Who are we going to listen to? 2. Who are we going to allow to influence our lives?3. How can you, as the hands and feet of Christ here on earth, help a mother, father or child in need and cultivate a culture of life?
On this solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Bishop DeGrood unpacks the mystery of the Trinity. He also explains how we can relate to each person of the Trinity. Finally, Bishop encourages us to call upon the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in our own way and express what is on our heart right now.
Can you think of a time in your life when you've eagerly anticipated a life changing event? Graduation, getting married, having a baby, or starting a new job are all examples that might come to mind. This week in his homily, Bishop DeGrood encourages and explains to us why we should have the same excitement and level of preparedness for the feast of the Ascension and the second coming of Jesus.
What does it mean for God to dwell with us? This weekend in his homily, Bishop reminded us that we are made for love and for God to dwell within us. With this reminder, we are challenged to be Catholics in whom the Word of God is alive within us in every aspect of our lives, and that we may seek the common good and not our own self interests.
