Catholicism

Sharing a Feast Day with Saint Martha: Action, Anxiety, and the Better Part

/ chicoinematt

Every year, July 29th rolls around and I get to celebrate two things: my birthday and the feast day of one of the most relatable saints in all of Scripture—Saint Martha of Bethany.

Over the years, I’ve come to see Martha not just as a biblical figure who shares my birthday, but as a spiritual companion who understands my temperament, my wiring, and even my weaknesses. She’s a woman of action, but also anxious. A hostess, a worrier, a doer, a disciple. And in many ways, she’s me.

Constant Motion and the Martha Mindset

Diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, I’ve always been moving. Fidgeting, bouncing, thinking ahead to the next thing. Even now, I find it hard to sit still. My kids inherited this gift too. Trying to get them to sit through an entire meal is like herding caffeinated squirrels.

So when I read the story of Martha bustling about the house while Mary just sits at Jesus’ feet, I feel seen. Martha isn’t lazy. She’s not uninterested in Jesus. She’s working, preparing, and hosting. She wants everything to be just right.

But Jesus gently interrupts her whirlwind:

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part” (Luke 10:41–42).

It’s not a harsh correction. It’s a loving invitation to pause. To recognize that Jesus isn’t asking for a five-star meal. He’s asking for you. Not your perfectly arranged table, but your heart.

Prayer Isn’t a Checklist

If I’m honest, I still fall into the same trap Martha did. I love the order of devotions, the structure of routines, and the sense of checking off boxes. But I’ve learned, again and again, that when I turn prayer into performance, I risk missing the Person.

Saint Martha reminds me to prepare the home and the heart. But her sister Mary reminds me how to receive. Both are necessary. As Pope Francis put it in a 2021 homily:

“These are not two attitudes opposed to one another… but are two essential aspects in our Christian life… works of service and charity are never detached from the principle of all our action: that is, listening to the Word of the Lord.”

Martha’s mistake wasn’t serving—it was forgetting to anchor her service in love. And Jesus didn’t scold her because she worked too hard. He lovingly redirected her toward the One Thing that truly matters: Himself.

The Tension Between Trust and Doubt

One of my favorite Martha moments happens in John 11, after her brother Lazarus dies. When Jesus finally arrives, she runs to meet Him and says something I’ve whispered in prayer more times than I can count:

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).

It’s honest and raw. The voice of someone who believes but still struggles. Been there? Me too.

But what follows is incredible. Martha, the same woman who once fretted over dinner, proclaims one of the most powerful confessions of faith in the Gospels:

“But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you… I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:22, 27).

Her faith grew in the soil of sorrow. Doubt didn’t disqualify her. It prepared her for deeper trust. That encourages me more than I can say.

Holy Order vs. Hollow Ritual

Order is good. But order without encounter becomes empty. I’ve had moments in my spiritual life where I went through the motions—saying the prayers, doing the devotions, hitting the marks—while my heart remained untouched.

Martha reminds me that external service should flow from internal receptivity. Our rituals are meant to lead to relationships. Our prayers aren’t performance; they’re presence.

Mary of Bethany shows us what it looks like to sit, to be still, and to listen. To place ourselves at the feet of Jesus. I’ve found it helpful to reread Luke 10 as a form of prayer. First imagine yourself as Martha, then as Mary. Where are you distracted? Where are you receptive?

Pope Francis said it beautifully:

“When ecclesial service is attentive only to doing… we forget the centrality of Christ. When time is not set aside for dialogue with Him in prayer, we risk serving ourselves and not God.”

That one hits close to home. I want to serve, but I want my service to be rooted in prayer. In presence, not performance.

From Scrubbing Floors to Scrubbing Souls

Martha is the patron saint of cooks, cleaners, and homemakers. I may not be much of a cook, but I can scrub a sink like a champ. My OCD tends to show up in my need for control and cleanliness, but even that God has used.

I worked fast food through high school and college. Helped my mom with her cleaning business. At the time, it all felt mundane. But looking back, I can see how God was quietly forming a friendship between me and this New Testament saint.

Martha teaches me that holiness isn’t just found in the chapel—it’s found in the kitchen. It’s found in laundry rooms and drive-thrus and carpool lines. God sanctifies the ordinary, if we let Him.

Image: Jesus, Lazarus, Martha and Mary | St. Botolph without Aldersgate

Martha and Mary, Ora et Labora

Saint Benedict’s motto for monastic life was ora et labora—pray and work. Not pray then work. Not work instead of prayer. But a life that is both active and contemplative. That’s the balance I want to seek. And that’s the balance Martha eventually found.

She reminds me that it’s okay to be the one who wants to set the table. Just don’t forget to sit down and eat with the Guest of Honor.

So today, as I celebrate another year of life, I’ll also celebrate a friend in heaven who gets it. Who knew anxiety, doubt, distraction—and still became a beloved disciple of Christ.

Happy Feast Day, Saint Martha. Teach me to love Jesus in the serving and the stillness.

Related Links 

Saint Martha- Disciple of Our Lord 

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus: Friends of Jesus

Martha, Mary, and the Heart of Discipleship: Putting God First

Thank you for sharing!

A 930 Word Interview with Fête in Heaven

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Kate Roshak via phone call on July 7th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

What inspired you to start Fête in Heaven?

I was involved in the Libertarian memes pages in 2016. As I stayed involved with them I started creating my memes and some of them went viral. 

Slowly, I zoned into Catholic memes. From the start, I wanted to name my account after my childhood pastor. He passed away in 2006. And this particular priest in college had a comic strip for the Notre Dame newspaper. He was a comedian. 

After about a year of thinking about it, I took the handle Fête in Heaven. 

How did Fr. Fête’s legacy shape the tone and content of your memes?

He was just the funniest priest. He would have the whole parish rolling in laughter, but he had this balance to tell the hard truths. There was this homily he spoke out against abortion. 

Fr. Fête’s first assignment was in Youngstown, Ohio. And that’s a rough part of Ohio. The fire department had to talk to father about having too many live trees in the church for Christmas as it was due to a fire hazard. He was just larger than life! 

We used to gather for Christmas, and one year I walked in on the finishing touches and Father Fête asked me to get the Christmas lights to the top of this tall tree. My dad walks into the church and sees me way at the top of these tall ladders and panics. And Father Fete assured me that it was okay, but that if I was to fall it would be on the altar and not on the manager scene, since that’s where sacrifice takes place. My dad wasn’t a fan of that joke but I thought it was funny!

What’s your creative process when making a meme—do you start with a theological insight, a punchline, or something totally random?

A lot of times the inspiration will hit when I’m at Mass, listening to the homily. Sometimes I will add a little code word in my phone. Sometimes I will have a picture that’s so funny. 

On a big liturgical holiday or saint’s feast day I try to think of how I will honor this saint. Sometimes if I go a few days without making a meme I will ask the Holy Spirit to send me something. 

I like making memes. I can create a meme quicker than it takes to send a text message. 

In your opinion, what role does humor play in evangelization, especially in today’s social media landscape?

I have learned that you catch more flies with honey, than vinegar. And I think that’s so true. It’s important to keep my memes sweet (although sometimes it can be a bit spicy). For example my personal taste is to point out irony when it comes to pointing out the differences between Catholic and Protestant theology. I think humor keeps the door open for the Holy Spirit to work. 

How do you balance staying faithful to Catholic teaching while also making content that’s lighthearted and funny?

As my page has slowly grown this is something I worry about. Making sure I don’t fall into heresy or create something blasphemous. 

I do have some very close friends who on occasion I bounce my memes off them first. I have sent them to priests and seminarians. For the most part, I am overthinking it. I try very hard to maintain that level of responsibility with sharing the Catholic faith. 

If I’m not going to Mass or going to Confession I’m not going to have much inspiration for memes. I try to hold myself accountable when I am creating this type of content. 

Have you ever posted a meme that got unexpectedly deep—or sparked a serious faith conversation in the comments or DMs?

Where I am guilty, I don’t go deep in the comments sections. I just don’t have the time. I know there are some posts that have longer threads of comments usually as it relates to the comments. I have had other conversations with other meme-lords but that’s all in the DMs and private. 

Which meme of yours are you most proud of, and why? (Or which one made you laugh the hardest while making it?)

One of my favorites that does very well every year is one of Sacred Heart cupcakes (One year I made cupcakes for my family) and they were very DIY. 

I also made one because it’s local to me. I saw a photo of a church dedication, the priest and seminarian looking into the sun, and found it on a diocesan website. The caption was about as they were watching parents wrestle their toddler in the car seat their vocation was reaffirmed. 

How do you handle the occasional backlash or misunderstandings that can come with using humor in a faith-based space?

I don’t know if it’s a grace God has given me but I have been able to take a step back and walk in the other direction. If somebody can’t see the grace in using humor to share the Gospel it’s probably not inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

I have done a good job of tuning out the haters. 

If Fr. Fête were scrolling Instagram today, what kind of meme do you think would make him laugh the most?

That’s a good question, he would probably laugh at some of the parish council Susan memes. I’m thinking of Fr. David Michael Moses (he did a video about going out the window to hide from “Susan”. 

Where’s the best place to find your memes? 

Instagram and Facebook 

About Kate: 

Kate Roshak grew up in N. Canton, Ohio and is the oldest of 10 children. After college, she broke up with Ohio winters and moved south. Kate currently resides in Memphis, TN with her two daughters. She stays busy working and balancing “mom life” but she also runs and loves staying active. Currently Kate is in her “Soccer Mom Era” and loving every minute of it!

Thank you for sharing!

Martha, Mary, and the Heart of Discipleship: Putting God First

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

 A Gospel Reflection on Luke 10:38–42

My dear friends in Christ,

As we gather here today, surrounded by the gentle presence of our Lord Jesus, I invite you to settle your hearts and simply listen; not just with your ears, but with the quiet spaces inside you where God loves to whisper. Today we reflect on a Gospel that feels almost like a scene from our own lives: Luke 10:38–42, the story of Martha and Mary.

Welcoming Jesus: The Home of Martha and Mary Comes Alive

Picture it. Jesus comes to visit Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in their home near Jerusalem; a home filled with love, laughter, and, on this day, a little bit of tension. Martha is hustling, doing all the things a good host does: cooking, cleaning, making sure everything is just right for their honored guest. Meanwhile, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, soaking in every word. And Martha, overwhelmed and maybe feeling a little alone in her service, finally speaks up: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.”

If you’re anything like me, you’ve felt like Martha before. Maybe more often than you’d like to admit. There’s always something that needs doing: at home, at work, in our families, even in our parishes. The world demands so much from us. But Jesus, with a gentleness that cuts right through the noise, answers: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things, but there is only one thing that matters. Mary has chosen the better part, and it will not be taken from her.”

This isn’t Jesus scolding Martha, or telling us to stop working, or to ignore our responsibilities. Far from it. Jesus is inviting Martha – inviting all of us – to step out of our anxious busyness and into the peace of his presence. He’s saying, “Let me be your center. Let me be your peace. Come, sit with me; let your heart rest in me.”

Two Coins, Two Priorities: Choosing Between the World and God

St. Ignatius of Antioch wrote about two “coinages”: one of God, one of the world; each stamped with a different image, a different set of priorities. The question for us is simple, but not easy: When we look at our own lives, which coin do we spend? Which side do we show the world? Is our life marked by frantic activity, or by a deep trust that God’s love is enough?

The truth is, we are called to be both Martha and Mary. We are called to serve, to work, to love our families and our neighbors. But before all that, we are called to be with Jesus. To listen. To pray. To let ourselves be loved by God so that everything we do flows from that love. Because when we put God first, when we let the Holy Spirit fill our hearts, our work becomes more than just busyness; it becomes worship.

And why do we place God first? Because of what Jesus has done for us in the Paschal Mystery: his suffering, death, and resurrection. Through his sacrifice, he opened the way for us to be reconciled with our Father, to receive forgiveness, and to share in the very life of God. Every time we sit at Jesus’ feet in prayer, every time we choose love over anxiety, we are living out the gift of new life he won for us. It’s not just our own strength that lets us choose the better part – it’s Christ living in us, through the Holy Spirit, because of the cross and the empty tomb.

Turning to the Holy Spirit: Finding Strength and Peace in Daily Choices

How do we do this? We start by asking the Holy Spirit for help. We ask for the grace to put God first, to let him shape our priorities, our days, our hearts. And when we stumble – and we all do – we remember that God’s mercy is endless. There’s always a place for us at Jesus’ feet.

Every day is a new chance to choose “the better part.” It might be as simple as a moment of silence before the day begins. A whispered prayer in the car. A few verses of Scripture before bed. Or, if you’re overwhelmed, maybe just a deep breath and a simple, “Jesus, I need you.” Every act of turning toward Jesus, no matter how small, draws us closer to the heart of God.

And here’s the real miracle: When we let ourselves rest in Jesus, we find that we are not alone in our work. He works with us. He gives us the strength to serve, to love, to carry the burdens of life with a peace the world can’t give. And he invites us to share that peace with everyone we meet.

Living the Invitation: Carrying Christ’s Love into the World

So today, as we go out into the world, let’s remember Jesus’ invitation: “I love you, my son. I love you, my daughter. Come, be by my side. Let our hearts become one.” Let’s choose the better part. Let’s place our trust in God, and let his love flow from us: in our work, in our families, in every act of kindness and service.

May we be a people marked not by anxiety, but by love. Not by busyness, but by presence. And may we always remember: Jesus is with us, now and always, loving us into the fullness of life.

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!

The Domestic Church at Bedtime: Prayer Meets Real Life

/ chicoinematt

There’s something about the rhythm of a day that either drags us down or draws us closer to heaven.

Morning rush, midday crash, evening blur, bedtime chaos… then late-night scrolling. Then we wake up and do it all again.

But what if our messy, snack-filled, Lego-strewn, kid-powered day could become prayer?

That’s the gift of the Liturgy of the Hours—also called the Divine Office. It’s the Church’s invitation to sanctify time. Not just Sundays. Not just in silence. All of it.

So this week, we decided to dive in as a family and pray Night Prayer. Just one night. That was the goal.

We made it four days in a row.

That’s a miracle.

And not the “sun-dancing-Fatima” type. More like the “everyone was in the living room and no one was bleeding or eating marshmallows under the couch while we prayed” kind of miracle. #parentingwin

Daily prayer is like the roots of the spiritual life.

Day One: We Begin

We opened with:

“God, come to my assistance.”
— “Lord, make haste to help me.”

The dog started barking. Not sure if it was a leaf, a squirrel, or some minor demon. One kid began reading a bedtime story aloud. Another hung upside down on the couch like a bat.

Then came the sound of wheels on tile.

Our youngest daughter had gone rogue. She retrieved her pedal-less bike from the garage and was now circling the kitchen island like she was warming up for the toddler Indy 500.

My wife and I gave each other a look. The “is-this-worth-it?” look. We decided: let her ride. She wasn’t distracting the others, and honestly, her joy was kind of contagious.

Somewhere during the Psalm, one kid disappeared downstairs and came back with a snack. Again. Another resumed fiddling with a Rubik’s Cube. A third attempted to recite the Gospel Canticle in a British accent (no idea why).

We picked up toys already—eleven times that day. And here they were again, littered across the floor like sacred breadcrumbs leading us to sanctification.

And still…
We prayed.

The Divine Office, Lived Loudly

You see, the Liturgy of the Hours isn’t just for monks in cloisters or clergy in collars. It’s for families like ours—with ADHD, barking dogs, tired parents, and snack heists.

It’s the Church’s ancient prayer that baptizes time itself. A liturgical rhythm flowing around the Mass. A pattern of praise that runs through the cracks of ordinary life like gold in kintsugi pottery.

Each Hour of the Divine Office gives shape to the day:

  • Morning Prayer: praise and purpose
  • Evening Prayer: surrender and thanksgiving
  • Night Prayer: rest and trust
  • (Plus those middle ones if you’re especially caffeinated)

At the heart of each Hour? The Psalms.

As Fr. Timothy Gallagher says:

“Jesus not only prayed the Psalms; He fulfilled them.”

When we recite these prayers, we don’t just imitate Christ—we enter His prayer. We join a chorus echoing through centuries and continents.

Even when that chorus includes a 6-year-old spinning in circles during the Responsory.

Real Reverence Can Have Wiggles

By the fourth night, something shifted. Not externally—we still had interruptions. The dog barked. Someone spilled water. The pedal-less bike made its triumphant reappearance.

But the kids knew the words. They settled in quicker. They anticipated the prayers. One of them even whispered, “Is this where we say ‘Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit’?” 

Yes. Yes it is.

That moment—the soft reverence of a tired child remembering the psalm by heart—was holier than any candle-lit retreat. It was grace in the moment.

If you aren’t able to pray Evening Prayer from Liturgy of the Hours, here’s a short and simple one to start with.

Final Blessing

We closed with:

“May the all-powerful Lord grant us a restful night and a peaceful death.”
— Amen.

Then they each climbed into bed. It still takes many minutes to get to bed after prayer. Someone always forgets a drink of water or a stuffed animal. But there’s a beginning of a calmness (at least by a few degrees to start off). They really prayed. With their bodies, their voices, their interruptions… and their hearts. And we prayed together as a family (and in communion with the Church). 

So we’ll keep at it. Because God doesn’t just want our polished, filtered, idealized versions. He wants our real days. Our noisy homes. Our ordinary hours.

He wants this hour—even if it comes with Rubik’s Cubes, kitchen bike laps, and the occasional trail mix theft.

After all, as St. Ambrose said:

“The Psalms soothe the temper, lighten sorrow, offer security at night, and stir up holiness by day.”

Turns out, holiness sometimes looks like picking up toys for the twelfth time… and then praying anyway.

Related Links

3 Ways the Holy Family will Help Your Family

How The Jesus Prayer Impacted My Life

Praying the Divine Office as a Family 

Pray the Divine Office

Thank you for sharing!

Mission in the Wake of Loss: We Carry You Still

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Jocelyn Abyad via phone call on June 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. 

What inspired you to start We Carry You Still, and how did your personal experience shape its mission?

In 2020 and 2021 my husband and I lost three babies due to miscarriage (at 10 weeks, 6 weeks, and 15 weeks). We were blindsided and found there were not a lot of existing resources that were compatible with our faith.

My husband and I did some research on this and found our own journey of healing. I found a local grief support group called Forget Me Not (they later merged with Owl Love You Forever). 

From the work we saw with Forget Me Not, we were inspired to create more Catholic resources for those experiencing loss. My mom, myself and a couple friends started We Carry You Still  as a non-profit in 2024. 

How does your Catholic faith—and the richness of the Eastern tradition—inform the way your organization accompanies grieving families?

I am an Eastern Catholic and my mom is a Roman Catholic, so we had the East and West represented. As we brought my friends on board, they are actually Orthodox, our mission expanded. The Orthodox similarly are not providing enough support on the miscarriage issue. Our faith is an Incarnate one. When you lose a child due to miscarriage it feels like this invisible weight that people are carrying on their own. One of the beauties of our faith is that we have a physical faith. We have our Mother in Heaven. She knows how it feels to bury Her child.  

You mention that miscarriage affects not just the parents, but the entire Body of Christ. What does that communal aspect of grief and healing look like in practice?

Well the name of our ministry reflects that vision. We address this on several levels. First, we know that the parents and immediate family carry the baby that was lost in their hearts, even for years to come.. We offer free Memory Boxes for the women who experience the miscarriage to help them remember their child and process their grief.. 

Similarly, we are empowering the community to show up for the grieving family with this gift box. Sometimes the community wants to help and show up but they don’t know how. This gives them a way to do that. Everybody together is carrying each other in their grief. Mothers, fathers, living children and even parents who had miscarriages decades ago. And helping the community around them support those in grieving their loss. 

What kind of spiritual and practical support does We Carry You Still offer for couples navigating miscarriage or infant loss?

We also offer healing retreats (no matter how long it has been since you lost a baby). 

Our retreats are offered to women and couples. We are in the unique position that my husband is serving as a priest and father who knows the loss of a child personally. 

Our box packing events are an opportunity for people to help pay if forward and put their grief to work. While we do have some people who haven’t experienced this type of loss helping with the grief boxes, it is predominantly those couples who have experienced loss themselves with miscarriages helping to prepare these boxes for those couples who are currently going through the grief of losing a child. 

Many Catholic parents struggle with how to talk to their other children about miscarriage. Do you have any advice for families walking through that?

First off, on our website, we offer informational guides and resources. We have a guide for anyone who is touched by these losses. We have guides in both English and Spanish. On our resources page we have book recommendations for both adults and children. Everything we recommend is in line with official Church teaching. 

Typically, for children it is helpful to keep them informed about the miscarriage, bring them to the funeral, visit the graves of their siblings, and invite them in prayers.

There’s this context by which the children can experience such loss through the lense of faith. There’s a hope in the Resurrection and seeing our babies (and their siblings) in Heaven. 

I think that while my children were very sad at the moment, having them be a part of the grieving process in light of our Catholic faith has been impactful in the healing process. 

How can parishes, priests, and Catholic communities be more supportive to families facing this kind of loss?

I think number one if I speak broadly, this is the forgotten front of the pro-life movement. We do a good job of praying outside abortion clinics and pray to end abortion and euthanasia. And yet we leave faithful couples in the pew who have experienced miscarriage with little to no support.

Burying the dead is a corporal work of mercy. If women are prepared to bury their babies; if people were given these resources they would be more prepared to deal with these crises when they happen. 

I think we can be more sensitive on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Use more inclusive language that acknowledges that there is a range of experiences of motherhood and fatherhood.

Providing information is a key way. In the Diocese of Phoenix, we will be participating in the annual NFP training and giving couples resources if and when they may need it. To at least give them resources in the back of their mind should they experience a miscarriage. 

For those who want to help but aren’t sure how, what’s the best way Catholics can support someone who’s grieving the loss of a child?

I would point back to the guides we have on our website. Don’t be afraid to mention the child. The parents will not forget about their child. If you can remember the child by name it can be very empowering. 

I try to ask open-ended questions to see how they are feeling. And I also ask people to tell me about your family instead of how many kids you have. 

Where can my audience learn more about your work? 

Visit us at We Carry You Still and take a  visual tour to learn more. You can also follow us on: Facebook and Instagram @wecarryyoustill . There are two other excellent ministries in this line of work. One is Redbird which supports child loss of any age and the other is Springs in the Desert, who supports Catholics experiencing infertility.

About Jocelyn: 

Jocelyn Abyad is the wife of Fr. Zyad Abyad and mother of 7 daughters on earth and 3 babies in Heaven. She holds a degree in psychology from Arizona State University and worked as a finance banker for over a decade before choosing to stay home to homeschool her children. Alongside her husband, she serves at St. John of the Desert Melkite Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona.Jocelyn shares insights on homeschooling and liturgical living across multiple platforms as Melkite Momma and is a regular contributor to Byzikids Magazine. Throughout her work and personal experiences, Jocelyn seeks to foster faith, family, and community.

Thank you for sharing!

Mercy Without Limits: The Good Samaritan and the Heart of the Paschal Mystery

/ chicoinematt

Guest Post by: David Tonaszuck

 A Gospel Reflection on Luke 10:25-37

Today, as we gather in prayer and quiet reflection, I invite you to listen; not just with your ears, but with your hearts—to the words of Jesus, spoken gently to each one of us: “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Come and be by my side, and together our hearts shall be one; one with our Father in heaven and united with the Holy Spirit.”

These aren’t just words for comfort. They’re an invitation. An invitation to relationship, to unity, and to a love that doesn’t just fill us up, but spills out into the world around us. And nowhere does Jesus make that more practical, more concrete, than in the parable we hear today: the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

Who Is My Neighbor? The Scholar’s Question and Jesus’ Challenge

In Luke’s Gospel, a scholar asks Jesus what must be done to inherit eternal life. As He often does, Jesus answers with another question: “What is written in the law?” The scholar recites the great Commandments: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus commends him, but the scholar, wanting to justify himself, presses further: “And who is my neighbor?”

That’s the question that cracks everything open. Not “What should I do?” but “Who counts? Where do I draw the line?” It’s a question that tries to limit love, to keep it manageable. But Jesus won’t let us off that easily. He tells a story that blows up all our categories.

The Samaritan’s Mercy: Love That Crosses Boundaries and Exceeds Expectations

You know how it goes: a man is beaten, robbed, and left for dead. Two respected religious men; a priest and a Levite – pass by. They see the man, but for whatever reason: fear, ritual purity, inconvenience – they cross to the other side. Then comes a Samaritan: a stranger, even an enemy in the eyes of Jesus’ audience. And he’s the one moved by compassion. He stops, tends the man’s wounds, carries him to safety, and pays for his care. Not just the bare minimum, but more than anyone could expect.

What’s striking here isn’t just who helps, but how he helps. The Samaritan doesn’t ask if the man is worthy, or if he’s the right kind of person. He sees need, and his heart responds. Mercy, not calculation. Compassion, not qualifications. In this, Jesus shows us what it means to truly love our neighbor: to cross boundaries, to take risks, to put love into action.

Becoming a Neighbor: Moving from the Right Answer to a Life Shaped by Mercy

And so, Jesus flips the scholar’s question around. It’s not “Who is my neighbor?” but “How can I be a neighbor?” The difference is everything. We’re not called to pick and choose who is deserving. We’re called to become people whose hearts are shaped by mercy, whose lives overflow with the love we ourselves have received from God.

But let’s be honest: this isn’t always easy. It’s one thing to know the words: “Love your neighbor as yourself”; and another thing entirely to live them, especially when loving means inconvenience, sacrifice, or stepping outside our comfort zones. The scholar in the Gospel had the right answer in his mind, but it hadn’t yet made its way to his heart, or from his heart to his hands.

Transformed by Love: Letting God Shape Our Hearts and Build His Kingdom Through Us

That’s where grace comes in. The love the Father pours into our hearts through Jesus and the Holy Spirit isn’t meant to stay locked up inside. It’s meant to flow outward. And this love is made visible in the Paschal Mystery. Through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God shows us the deepest mercy; a mercy that reaches us even in our brokenness and lifts us up to new life. In the cross and the empty tomb, we see the true cost and the true power of compassion. Jesus did not pass us by in our suffering; He became our neighbor, carrying our wounds, healing us, and opening the way to eternal life.

When we ask God to help us love as He loves, His Spirit begins to change us. He softens our hearts, opens our eyes, and gives us the courage to act. Through prayer, the Sacraments – especially the Eucharist, where we encounter the living Christ who gave Himself for us: through acts of charity and forgiveness, we are drawn closer to Jesus. And as we draw near to Him, we begin to see Him in every person we meet.

When that happens, living the new covenant isn’t just about reciting commandments. It’s about letting God’s love move us from the inside out: so much so that it becomes natural to serve, to forgive, to show mercy, to be a neighbor to anyone in need.

This is how the Kingdom of God grows: not by drawing lines, but by building bridges. Not by asking “who counts?” but by counting everyone in. Every act of mercy, every step towards another in love, builds up the Body of Christ.

So let’s return to those words of Jesus: “I love you, my son, my daughter, and am always with you.” Let them sink in. Let them change you. And then, go out: overflowing with that love; to give praise, thanksgiving, and glory to our Father in heaven, and to love those around you as He loves you.

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!

An 888 Word Interview with Ana Munley

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Ana Munley via phone call on June 26th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given. 

How did you start your Tiktok?

I had a regular account I made in 2020. I posted something about reading the Bible in 2024 and it was flagged as a violation. It sat under review for several weeks. I was upset and feeling like I was being silenced about sharing my faith. So on December 15th, 2025 I decided to make a new TikTok and this one dedicated to my Catholic faith. 

For about a month I only had Tiktok, but with the ban looming, I went over onto Instagram in January 2025. 

Your Instagram bio says “Rooted in Christ. Built on Truth.” Can you share how that phrase became your personal mission and what it means in your day-to-day life?

I think it’s because growing up I was a cradle Catholic. My family was Catholic in name only. Being lukewarm, our life was about comfort over our actual faith.. but as I started to dig deep and look at the teachings I realized it is the way it is because it’s rooted in truth. Because of that, my faith was deepened and transformed. 

I like to describe the Catholic faith being like the railings on the side of a highway to keep you on the road and safe, to keep you from veering off the road.

I always want to stay rooted in truth. The tagline speaks to the content that I share and the intent I have with sharing it. 

You’ve grown a large following on Instagram and TikTok rather quickly. What do you think has resonated most with your audience—and what has surprised you about this journey?

The answer is the same one. What’s resonated with me the most is the rediscovery of my faith and hearing from cradle Catholics. It’s like you are re-catechetizing Catholics. 

Bishop Barron said we are taught this “Sunday school” type of catechesis in either OCIA or in Catholic schools,but there’s so much richness in the faith.

People want to learn more but don’t know where to start. I’m not here to debate people and tell them they’re wrong. 

My approach is more like bringing light to the truth instead of fighting darkness with more darkness. 

You’re the host of the AfterMass podcast. What inspired you to launch it, and what kinds of conversations or themes do you hope to bring to light through that platform?

My first episode comes out next week. I want to provide reverts and new converts more information about the faith in a long-form manner. It’s based on how to be a more devout Catholic and how you can be the best Catholic you can be. 

I want it to be a place to have conversations and not just a bite-sized version on the other platforms. 

Being an “Unapologetic Catholic” online isn’t always easy—how do you navigate pushback or criticism while staying grounded in truth and charity?

This is something I have taken to Confession. My priest has given me really good advice. When you deal with negative comments especially the ones that bash the Theology of the Catholic Church. My priest told me that the Catholic Church doesn’t need my defense, She has stood before you and will remain after you.

Another thing to realize is to keep it charitable for the sake of those people who are watching and reading the comments who may slightly think the same thing as the negative commenters. Can my response help the people reading/commenting? If not, then I don’t comment that way. 

I get feisty and a bit sassy at times (you can see that in some of my videos) but I always aim to have my responses be rooted in charity and truth for the sake of those reading.. And that is my approach.

Have there been any particular saints, devotions, or Church teachings that have deeply shaped your spiritual life and how you share your faith online?

Not necessarily any saints that shaped anything online, but Saint Rita has resonated with me. She is the patron saint of impossible causes (victims, the sick, etc). As far as my online work, Saint Maximlian Kolbe inspires me. He played a huge role in online evangelization and his life and death are a great example of not only how to spread the Good News of your faith but also how to live it.

What advice would you give to young Catholics who want to evangelize on social media but are nervous about being too “out there” with their faith?

My number one thing is to start with something that resonates with you. For example, if the Rosary is a devotion you are particularly passionate about and drawn to, start with that. 

There’s a way to deliver your faith from a place rooted in faith while also delivering it with love and charity. 

Looking ahead, what’s next for your ministry or digital presence? Any projects you’re especially excited about?

The podcast is definitely top of the list, and I am also working with a Catholic shop called Abundantly Yours in designing a Rosary (Saints Jude and Rita design). I’ll be sharing why these specific rosaries are important to me and sharing more of my personal struggles and how these Saints have helped me. 

Where’s the best place to learn more about your ministry? 

YouTube

TikTok

Instagram

Podcast

About Ana: 

Living in sunny Florida with my husband Joe and our two kids, Emilia and Lucas. I’m a Catholic content creator, corporate professional and host of After Mass, a podcast for Catholics who want more than just Sunday. First podcast episode drops 7/1! Follow along on TikTok & Instagram: @anamunley where I’m sharing Catholic truth with conviction, compassion and zero fluff.

Thank you for sharing!