"He Sprang Up"

Sunday's Gospel was another one of those we've heard a thousand times. Oh lookie, Jesus performed a miracle, and we kind of phase in and out of listening to it and the homily that follows. We've heard over and over about how awesome and powerful Jesus is.

But this Sunday at Mass I was reminded how important the details are in the Bible. After all, these weren't typed on a computer or even a typewriter; these books were originally carefully handwritten, so anything within them is important. This isn't just a little detail Mark felt like adding, each of these are important. With that reminder, my mom and I were questioning why it was important that Bartimaeus was even named. Wouldn't it have made more sense to leave him nameless, so that this poor blind man could stand for anyone?

It was my dad who solved it for us though. Bartimaues was called to by Jesus, called by name to come to Him and ask Jesus to heal him. Without sight, literally with blind faith, Bartiemaues had to believe as we all do now, by only hearing about Jesus had done. But by believing, Bartimaues was able to not only have his sight given to him, but also given the opportunity to follow Christ. He "sprang up" and went to the Lord.

Do you spring up to follow Christ when the opportunity arises? Even on a Monday? Even on a cold, dark Monday when all you want to do is stay under those warm blankets and not force yourself up and out of bed earlier than you have to, so that you can do your devotional before the day has truly began?

Spring up this morning! Be thankful for the opportunities before you, and get after it. You're called to do something today, what is it? Go and do it!


Tota tua,

LeAnn

Ostranenie

Defamiliarizing During Lent

I've been asked many times if I get bored at Mass. "It's the same thing every time," they point out, "do those words mean anything to you?" 

The answer is yes those words mean something to me, but only because I make sure that they do, but this is a struggle. The traditions of the Church are rich and beautiful, but if you are not actively participating in them, they are just words, no different than greetings we exchange without giving actual thoughts to the conversations happening. They are just reactions, not communicating.

Mass should be all about communicating, not a routine, but a treasured conversation between God and you. If you aren't actually focused on the conversation, what good is that conversation?

Try to de-familiarize yourself with Mass over the remaining weeks of Lent. Try to see it as something unfamiliar so that you can look at it differently and more deeply, not just as part of your Sunday routine, but as a precious moment, different from all the others you have throughout the week. Let Lent be an ostranenie to you, encouraging you see the Holy Mass in an entirely new light and prepare yourself for Jesus' return this Easter.

Don't just go through the motions, immerse yourself in God's Light each Sunday, whether at Mass or a different celebration. We could all benefit from a little more attention to our time with God.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn

Perspective

This last week...

Oh buddy.  This last week has just been the pinnacle of my semester.  Not to be a "Debbie-Downer", but oh goodness, it's been a grueling past couple of weeks and this one just really stuck it to me.

Temptations were flying at me Friday night; the standard broke college kid fare of cheap alcohol and thrill of not being responsible for your poor decision-making the next morning.  But at the beginning of the semester, I signed a contract with parents that agreed to not partaking in drugs or alcohol illegally; so instead of getting hammered, I hightailed it home.

I'm lucky that I go to school only an hour and fifteen minutes from home; because as much as I would like it to be, Pittsburg KS is not my home.  The moment I turned on highway 37, I could feel so much tension fall off my body.  I could catch my favorite radio station, I knew these roads like the back of my hand.  There is a high amount of security in the area that you grew up in; and it was exactly what I needed.

Home was exactly what I needed to help me find what I had lost over the last few weeks; my perspective.  Perspective on what really matters; on my goals and my decisions.

That when it's all said and done, am I really going to remember the idiot who lied to me?  Is he worth letting my grades and other, more important personal relationships take a hit?

Absolutely not.

Because when it's all said and done, this is not my end goal.  I don't want to get married within the next two years, I definitely don't want to stay here indefinitely.  What needs to matter most is my future, my goals and plans, and how I'm going to get there.  I don't need a boyfriend; I need friends and family.  I don't need drama; I need to be able to focus.

By Sunday afternoon, at 3:30, I had pulled the sense of peace and security that I found at home into my heart and head, and I was ready to head back to Pittsburg.  And although PSU campus is not my home, McCray Hall, my friends, Twin, future is here, and that's enough perspective for me to be incredibly thankful for all I have.

So let me tell you; this next week is going to be much better.

Totus tuus,

LeAnn