From Heart to Heart: Forgiven to Love as Christ Loves

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

Reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-35

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,

A man once decided to volunteer at a hospital. His work was simple: he visited patients who had no family or friends coming to see them. On his first day, he entered one room after another, sitting beside people he had only just met. He listened to their stories, held trembling hands, prayed with those who welcomed prayer, and offered encouragement to those who felt forgotten.

He spent the entire day with strangers. Yet by evening, they were no longer strangers. Their gratitude—the relieved smile, the quiet “thank you,” the light returning to a lonely face—was more than enough to bring him back the next day, and the next.

Whenever he left a room, he tried to leave something of Jesus behind: the light and love of Christ flowing from his heart into the heart of the person he had visited. He would offer a smile and a word of hope. Then he would say, “I love you as Jesus loves you.”

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The Exaltation of the Cross: From Suffering to Hope

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Every September 14, the Church pauses to celebrate something that at first glance seems strange: the Exaltation of the Cross. The word exaltation means “lifting up” or “glorifying.” It’s a reminder that the instrument once used for shame and execution now stands as the very sign of salvation and hope. We do not merely remember the crucifixion on this feast — we rejoice in the triumph of Christ’s love poured out on the wood of the Cross.

The Cross is not only an event in history; it is the key that unlocks the whole Christian mystery. To exalt the Cross is to recognize that in this sign of suffering, God has revealed His deepest love. As St. John Vianney once said, “Everything is a reminder of the Cross. We ourselves are made in the shape of a cross.” The Cross is imprinted not only on the Church’s liturgy, but in the very design of our bodies and our lives.

The History and Meaning of the Feast

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What Are You Still Holding Onto?

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“Go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21).

I have heard the story of the Rich Young Man countless times. As a cradle Catholic, it is one of those Gospel passages that became familiar to me at an early age. For years, though, I mostly interpreted Jesus’ words in terms of material possessions.

The young man was wealthy. Jesus told him to sell what he owned. The lesson seemed straightforward: Don’t become too attached to your stuff.

There is truth to that interpretation. But the older I get, the more I realize Jesus’ invitation goes deeper. Christ asks the young man to surrender whatever prevents him from following God completely.

And that is a much more challenging request.

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Letting God’s Love Flow: Becoming Vessels of Christ’s Light

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20

Dear Friends in Christ,

Let me begin with a story from not so long ago, yet one that shines as a living parable of the light and love of God. Saint Teresa of Calcutta—known to the world as Mother Teresa—walked the crowded, dusty streets of her city, gathering the dying, the abandoned, and the forgotten into her arms.

When others averted their eyes or crossed to the other side, she knelt down, touched the wounds of the suffering, and looked into their faces with a tenderness that could only have come from God. She saw, in each broken body and lost soul, the face of Jesus Himself. The love she poured out was not her own, but God’s love moving through her—her hands became His hands, her words became the whispers of Christ’s mercy, her heart beat with the steady, patient love of the Holy Spirit. The world saw her as extraordinary, but what she did was simple: she let God enter her heart, and in doing so, she let God’s love flow out to everyone she met.

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Exploring the Cellars of the Soul

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Editor’s note: Article originally published on April 11, 2017.

I mentioned this analogy a few weeks ago when referring to the spiritual life, but I like the tangibility of it so I will mention it again. Saint Teresa of Avila likened the soul and its journey in the spiritual life to the navigation through a large a castle whereby our soul consists of several mansions. When I talked about this image with my parish’s discipleship group, I half-joked that I not only have mansions I need to order but also lots of “cellars of my soul” I need to examine and clean out.

Teresa of Avila

Save the Best Wine

On a serious note, I firmly believe there are many cellars within my soul I need to discover and maintain. A common definition of cellar means “of the lowest rank or grade”. Another usage of the word cellar is in relation to place where wine is stored. I have never actually lived in or owned a home with a cellar. However, I have tasted wine and I have experienced years where my favorite sports team resided in the cellar of the league standings.

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The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies: Episode 39

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Welcome to another The Simple Catholic Sunday Funnies! Growing up, one of my favorite parts of Sunday was flipping to the comics section of the newspaper: a little pocket of humor, color, and light-heartedness to start the week.

Now, in that same spirit, I’m excited to share this weekly collection of wholesome, funny Catholic comic strips. Thanks to the incredible talents of artists like Father Alvaro Comics, The Catholic Cartoonist, Sam Estrada, Tomics, and Fr. Michael DeBlanc. These comics bring a joyful twist to our shared faith, reminding us that laughter is one of God’s great gifts.

Enjoy Catholic comics!

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