I have two verses for you today. “As they were looking on, [Jesus] was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.’” Acts 1:9-11. “Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees?” Romans 8:24. Imagine you’re one of the apostles. Jesus died, and you were stricken. Jesus rose again from the dead, and you were astonished, elated, incredulous, convicted. Holy stinking cow, he ROSE FROM THE DEAD. Your faith is on fire. Then you’re all together on a hilltop just float up and disappear behind a cloud. You’re standing there. Staring. Maybe you’re waiting for him to come back. Maybe you’re wondering what the heck you’re going to do without him. Maybe you’re waiting for more cool tricks. Oh hey, here are two angels! “Back to work,” they tell you. Then they give you a promise: “Jesus… will return in the same way as you have seen him go…” That’s definitely something to hope in! Then, follow this up with St. Paul: “Now hope that sees for itself is not hope.” St. Paul connects the dots for us. The virtue of Christian hope stems from the Ascension. Hope is a virtue found, not in fulfillment, but in deficit. Hope is found in absence, in waiting, in not having. Hope is only possible when our dreams, our wishes, our desires, are unseen, unfulfilled. When you find yourself without, that’s when you can hope. Your HOPE #VirtueChallenge: Imagine all the thoughts going through your head as you stand in the apostle’s shoes, staring into the empty sky at the moment after the Ascension. Now imagine your renewed sense of purpose at the angels’ promise of Jesus’ return. Apply this to your life. What things are unseen, or un-had in your life? Lift your eyes to God; it’s okay to acknowledge that you don’t see him there. But now, let the words of the angels touch your heart now. Let hope enter into the deficit. Share your thoughts 👇

Had a rough morning. I woke up early, like usual, to get some work done before my kids got out of bed. Then I ran into technical difficulties that kept me from getting anything done and landed me on the phone with support for over an hour. By then my work time was blown and my kids were awake and I was getting frustrated and panicked. I needed me some Jesus. So we threw our shoes and coats on and rushed off to Mass. Late, but we made it. That first reading from Sirach? Pure gold. "My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast... Accept whatever befalls you... and in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold and silver are tested." Man I wanted to crush this morning's misfortune with speed and finality. I wanted to be a boss. To work hard and smart and do amazing things. But this trial came my way. And Jesus followed in its footsteps, giving me the wisdom and grace and patience to weather it. My friends, when life tests you with fire, turn to him. He may not take your trials away as fast as you want, but if you are patient, he will help you crush it. Your daily hope #VirtueChallenge - what misfortune or roadblock is standing in your way today? I know you want to crush it. But right now, be patient. Place your hope, not in human accomplishment, but in God's plan for your life. Make a sincere movement of your heart to accept whatever trials come your way. Bonus: post (here or on your own social media page) about a trial you're experiencing, with a prayer of patience and acceptance, and tag it: #virtuechallenge #crushingit @tojesussincerely

"Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become 'the father of many nations,' according to what was said, 'So numerous shall your descendants be.'" Romans 4:18. I love the phrase: hoping against hope. This verse is about Abraham. An old man, he had suffered from the cross of infertility, along with his wife Sarah, for many years. By all human considerations, there was no hope left. Their childbearing years had long since come and gone. But Abraham had hope, against all odes. He had hope, against all human hope. His hope was supernatural hope. It was hope in God. Are there things that seem, humanly, hopeless in your life right now? Open your hearts to the hope against all human hope, to hope in God – who can do all things, no matter how impossible seeming. Your daily HOPE #VirtueChallenge: Grab a piece of paper. Label it “Hope against hope.” List all the things you hope for that seem humanly impossible. Give these to God today, with prayer, trust, and firm hope in his power to do the impossible.

#MyMassTakeaway - Love your enemy When we wonder why God allows so much discord between us, especially those we most love, just take a moment to consider this. You may be your enemy's greatest gift. You are the person who suffers the effects of their fallen human nature – the hatred, mistreatment, persecution – big or small. You are just the one whose eyes can be opened to the reality of evil, deficit, disharmony, and the need for salvation – not just for the other, but for ourselves, too. You may be the person God’s calling to bless them with mercy and forgiveness, grace and love. You may be the one God's calling to pray them into heaven. You can choose to love your enemy, your daily enemy, the enemy closest to your heart. Be the one to create the world that Jesus calls us to in today’s Gospel. The world where mercy and forgiveness abound. The world in which judgment and condemnation have no place. The world in which enemies love each other. Be your enemy’s greatest blessing. Even if they never return the favor in this life, remember: "Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." -Luke 6:38. Love your enemy now, for the sake of heaven. Full reflection on the blog. ❤

Do you think you can't be holy? Think again. You're already holy. You have been made holy by Christ's sacrifice on the cross for you. By his suffering and death FOR YOU. He has claimed you as his own. You are consecrated to him. You belong to him. By your baptism, you received this gift, the gift of holiness. The gift of being set apart for God. It's not your merit that's going to get you to heaven. Take comfort in Christ who has already made you holy. Have hope in Christ who CONTINUES to make you holy. Let the gift of holiness continue to be poured out upon you through reception of the Eucharist. You have sins and failings? Let Jesus take care of that. He will transform you through the sacraments of confession and holy communion. Don't let your weaknesses hold you back. Don't let your fear of not being good enough hold you back. Don't believe that lie that says you can't be holy. Instead, accept your identity in Christ. Let your hope be in your relationship with him. Walk in the path of life that keeps you by his side. You are already holy. You are set apart for him. Believe it, hope in it, live it. Your daily HOPE #virtuechallenge - open your Bible to Hebrews 10. Read the whole chapter. Let the words sink in. Reflect on Christ's self sacrifice which has already made you holy. Thank him for that gift from the bottom of your heart.