St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church

By Amanda Hinson

Whew! What week is it since we have seen each other?! Already 6 weeks! I can't believe how long we've been going in this quarantine. Can you? I miss the normal routine and wonder when we're going to be able to plan a real birthday party again.

At the Last Supper, Jesus was talking to his disciples and told them about what would soon take place to him. As you know, he was about to be crucified and die on the cross; and then he'd rise again from the grave three days later.

He told His disciples something that can speak to us today:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 

⁵Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Dear Jesus,

Help us to put our trust in you right now. Help settle our hearts and lead us to you that we may always be with you.

--Amen.

SONG BREAK!

A couple weeks ago, we talked about having courage. Courage is the ability to do something, even if you are scared, or to have strength in the face of pain or grief. I believe that all of us today are being called to Courage. We are called to face our unknowns and our darkness with strength. I can't imagine trying to go through hardship, temptations, or sickness without being able to ask Jesus for strength and courage.

We can ask Him for strength!

Some of us are in homes filled with people; some are nearly alone. When loneliness creeps in, know that Jesus is with you! He wants to be in a loving relationship with each one of us. As youth, it can be easy to feel alone even if we're surrounded by people. I pray for you all that you are feeling the love of Jesus that casts out that loneliness. He did not create us to be alone, so we need to find ways for healthy human contact even while we stay at home. At the same time, Jesus is able to fill our deepest needs for companionship. HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE!

You remember John 3:16? For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

Those are Jesus' words. He went on to say,  “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him....” (John 3:17 NRSV)

What would you like to ask Jesus to save us from today?

Jesus had said he would go to prepare a place for us. How can we live our lives today to be ready to meet him one day in person? How do we follow the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Is it possible?

Remember, Jesus doesn't want to condemn the world; he wants to save it! It is his great love for all of us that compelled him to die on the cross for us. He continues to take care of us, comfort us, guide us, lead us, and bring us into holiness through the Holy Spirit.

SEEING JESUS FACE TO FACE

Below is a video about the Venerable Carlo Acutis.  This young man died in 2006 at the age of 15 from Leukemia. He was passionate about the Eucharist and used his talents to put together a website to catalog all the Eucharistic miracles. Not long after he died people began calling for his beatification. Pope Francis declared him to be Venerable on July 5, 2018. Pope Francis also approved a miracle attributed to Carlo which means he would be beatified sometime in 2020 in Assisi.

Carlo Acutis’ mother, Antonia Salzano, told CNA Newsroom: “Jesus was the center of his day.”

Questions for you:

• Is Jesus the center of your day?
• Are you closer to him today than you were last week?
• How can you walk in His ways this week?
• How can you seek and know His truth?
• What ways is he present in your life?
• What are you inspired to do for others during this time?

No matter what the past few days or weeks have looked like for you and God, it's not too late to get on track again. Jesus loves you. His job is to take us to the Father. The Father sent His son so that we as children of God may live together with him for eternity.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

--Amen.

Feel free to comment below! Tell us about what you or someone you know is doing for others!