Catholic writer

Faith Like a Mustard Seed: Trust, Humility, and Service in Christ

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 17:5-10

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we gather as one community of faith, we pause to give thanks and praise and glory to our LORD God—for his love that never runs out, for his grace that meets us right where we are. We thank our Father in heaven for the greatest gift: his only begotten Son, Jesus. Through Jesus—his Word made flesh—God’s love isn’t just an idea. It’s something we can receive, hold onto, let grow inside us, and share with the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we pray today, let’s become aware of Jesus’ true presence among us. He’s here—in our prayer, in the Mass, in the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), and in the loving hearts of those around us. When we sit quietly and listen with a prayerful ear, we can hear Jesus whispering into our hearts: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me, and together our hearts shall be one; one with our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit.” To follow Jesus is to say yes to our Father’s will, by walking the same path he walked: trusting the Father, serving others, and embracing humility as children of God.

Small Faith, Big God: Trust, Humility, and the Quiet Power of Obedience

In today’s Gospel from Luke, the apostles ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” Maybe you’ve felt like them—overwhelmed, wondering if you’ll ever measure up, maybe even doubting. Jesus answers with what seems like an impossible image: “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” He’s not talking about magic tricks or superpowers. He’s saying that real faith, even if it’s tiny, is powerful—because it’s not about how much spiritual energy you can work up, but about trusting God. Even a little genuine trust is enough, because God does the heavy lifting.

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Answering Christ’s Call: Loving the Lazarus Among Us

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Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today we gather in joy, giving thanks and glory to our LORD God, whose love never ends. Every time we come together—whether in prayer, at Mass, in the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), or in the ordinary moments of our lives—Jesus is truly present with us. He walks beside us, gently reminding us, “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you.”

Life can distract us from this truth. But when we pause and listen, we realize Jesus’ presence is more than comfort—it’s a call. He invites us to see with his eyes and love with his heart, reaching out to those around us with compassion.

The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus: A Call to See and Respond

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The Feast of the Presentation: Obedience and Faith

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By: Karen Estep

The Feast of the Presentation is an example of Mama Mary being obedient to
the Lord. Under Mosaic Law, women who have given birth have to wait a specified
amount of time to return to worship at the temple. In Mary’s case because Jesus was a
male child, she had to wait 40 days. Thus, this is the reason we celebrate the Feast of
the Presentation on February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas.

I imagine for a woman that had given her life over to the Lord not getting to
worship in His house may have seemed like a daunting task. It probably required a
good amount of patience and an enormous amount of obedience. I feel like even 2,000
years later, we, just like Mary, are being called to have such faith.

A Journey of Faith Across Denominations

I did not grow up Catholic. I was baptized at 2 months old into the Lutheran faith.
However, for various reasons, my family did not attend a church until I met my best
friend in 2nd grade. She invited me to attend the church where her parents were
pastors, The Salvation Army. I was invited to a VBS that they were running and that is
where I first encountered Jesus for myself.

After getting married, my husband and I decided that we wanted to attend a
Methodist church in our area. While that church was just what we needed as
newlyweds, as we matured in our faith and had our own family, we felt called to
something more. However, that something more would call us to be patient and
obedient due to COVID closing everything down.

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Radical Trust and Single-Minded Devotion: Faithfulness in the Little Things

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

A reflection on the Gospel of

Friends in Christ,

As we gather here in prayer to give glory to our LORD God through Jesus, let’s pause for a moment to recognize something sacred: Christ is truly present among us. He’s here in our prayers, in the Scriptures proclaimed, in the Mass, in the sacraments—especially in the Eucharist. He’s also here in the smiles, the kindness, and the loving hearts of those sitting right beside us. When we really know that Jesus walks with us wherever we go, it changes how we listen. We start to tune our ears and our hearts for His voice, especially in times of prayer. And if we’re quiet, if we listen closely, sometimes we can sense those gentle words He speaks right into our hearts: “My son, my daughter, I love you so much. I am always with you. Come, follow me, and together our hearts will become one—one with our Father in Heaven and the Holy Spirit.”

Radical Trust: Faithfulness in the Little Things

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Lifted Up in Love: Trusting the Cross and the Spirit’s Grace

/ chicoinematt

A Gospel Reflection on John 3:13-17

Beloved friends in Christ,

Today, as we gather in prayer, we experience our LORD God’s love, right here, right now through Jesus. Jesus isn’t far off. He’s close, as close as our own breath. He’s the One who fills the silence of our hearts, who whispers love into the places we’re afraid to show, who sits beside us in every joy and every struggle. In our prayers, in the Mass, in the sacraments—especially the Eucharist—and in the faces of those around us, He is truly with us.

Maybe you can sense Him right now: quietly, gently, saying, “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come, be by my side, and together our hearts shall become one.” That’s the invitation at the center of our faith. Jesus is our Teacher, our Friend, our Savior. His Cross and Resurrection changed everything.

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Carrying Our Cross: Embracing Christ’s Call to Follow

/ chicoinematt

A reflection on the Gospel of Luke 14:25-33

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Let us give our LORD God thanks, praise, and glory for sending us His only beloved Son, Jesus. Through the Holy Spirit, we acknowledge Christ’s living presence among us as we gather in prayer this hour. Jesus—our Teacher, Mentor, and Best Friend—is here right now, listening to our words and thoughts, walking with us through every joy and struggle, always loving us and drawing us closer to God.

Imagine yourself sitting beside the Lord, leaning in as He speaks words that pierce right to the heart: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me, and together our hearts shall become one; one with our Father in heaven, united with the Holy Spirit.” This is the invitation Jesus offers every time we meet Him—whether in prayer, in adoration, or reflected in the faces of those around us. He calls us to a relationship where He comes first, a relationship that transforms us from the inside out.

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The Way Up Is Down: Humility, Grace, and the Heart of Christ  

/ chicoinematt

A Reflection on the Gospel of Luke 14: 1, 7-14 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Today, as we gather in the presence of our Lord Jesus—our Teacher, our Master, and our very Best Friend—let’s do something that’s actually pretty simple but surprisingly hard: let’s just sit with Him. Imagine Him right next to you. Not far off, not just a story in a book, but close. Quiet. Gentle. Listen for the voice that speaks to your heart, the one that says, “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and follow me on the path of righteousness—loving our Father in heaven wholly, and loving those around us as I love you. And together, our hearts shall become one; one with our LORD God and with the Holy Spirit.” 

The Gospel’s Upside-Down Wisdom: Humility, Mercy, and God’s True Economy   

In today’s Gospel from Luke, chapter 14, Jesus gives us a warning and a promise. He says, in effect, “The way up is down. If you want real glory, don’t chase it. Be humble. Love others.” And He doesn’t just say this—He lives it. The Holy Spirit draws us into the very shape of Jesus’ own life: His humility, His suffering, His rising again. It’s right there at the center of the Gospel: if you want to be free, if you want to be blessed, put others ahead of yourself. 

Picture the scene. Jesus is at a fancy dinner thrown by a Pharisee. Everyone’s jostling for the best seats, hoping to be noticed, to be important. Jesus watches this and tells them a story that flips everything. Don’t try to grab the seat of honor. Take the lowest place. If you belong higher, you’ll be called up—and you won’t have to be embarrassed. “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” It’s simple, but it’s the opposite of how we’re wired. 

Then Jesus goes further. He says, “Don’t invite people who can pay you back. Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” And He promises a different kind of reward: “You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” What does this mean? It means God’s kingdom runs on a different economy than ours. It’s not about keeping score. It’s about mercy. About giving without keeping track. 

The Paschal Mystery: Christ’s Humility, Self-Emptying Love, and the Grace of the New Covenant 

Let’s tie this to the heart of our faith—the Paschal Mystery. That’s the passion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The whole thing is about self-emptying love. Humility wasn’t just something Jesus taught. It was something He lived all the way to the cross. As Paul writes in Philippians, “Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” 

The cross is the lowest place. Jesus goes there for us, for people who could never pay Him back. And because of this, the Father raises Him up. That’s the pattern: humble service leads to real glory. Not just for Jesus, but for us, if we follow Him. 

This is the New Covenant. It’s not a business deal with God—“I do good, God rewards me.” It’s about grace. We don’t earn our spot at God’s table; we’re invited because He loves us. And we’re called to treat others the same way. Invite, serve, love—especially those who can’t give us anything in return. 

Living Humility Day by Day: Trusting the Spirit and Serving Like Jesus 

So, what does this look like in real life? First, ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. We can’t do this on our own. Ask the Spirit to make us more like Jesus, to help us live and love as He did. Practice humility—listen before you speak, serve rather than be served, celebrate others’ successes. Reach out to the overlooked and the lonely, not because there’s something in it for you, but because that’s what Jesus does. Check your motives—“Am I doing this to be seen, or out of genuine love?” And trust God with your honor. Let go of needing immediate praise. God sees. He knows. 

This isn’t just about table manners. It’s about how we live, how we see ourselves, how we treat every person we meet. Jesus wants us to look at others as He does, to serve generously, expecting nothing in return. 

As we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit shapes us. We become children of God, and we trust Him with our lives. We’re not alone. The Spirit helps us live generously and humbly—even when it isn’t easy. 

So, at a dinner where everyone wanted the best seat, Jesus flipped the script. He taught that greatness is found in choosing the lowest place. He called us to love those who can’t repay us, to welcome the poor and forgotten, to give without expecting anything back. That’s how we follow Jesus. That’s how we let the Holy Spirit make us into people who see every neighbor with God’s eyes. 

Let’s remember those words from Jesus: “I love you, my son. I love you, my daughter. I am always with you.” Go, give praise, thanksgiving, and glory to God. Love and serve those around you, putting each person ahead of yourself, building up the Body of Christ, living in the Kingdom of heaven, and saying yes to God’s will. 

Amen. 

Amen.

About Live the Eucharist

About Our Guest Blogger

Blessed Carlo Acutis once said, “Not me, but God.” His words echo deeply in my own spiritual life. This blog is not about me, but about the work of the Holy Spirit. I choose to remain anonymous because the voice behind these reflections isn’t what matters — the One speaking through them is.

I am a lifelong Catholic with a deep love for Scripture, the sacraments, and the quiet ways God speaks through everyday life. Live the Eucharist was born from my desire to share how the Gospel and the Eucharist shape not just my Sundays, but every step of the journey.

My hope is that these reflections bless you, challenge you, and draw you closer to Jesus — truly present in the Eucharist and profoundly present in your daily life.

Thank you for sharing!