Be Amazing!

28 Sunday Jun 2026

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Baptism, Charity, Confirmation, Eucharist, Evangelization, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Holy Communion, Jesus, Love, Matrimony, Mercy, Mt 8:5-17, Prayer, Reconciliation, Roman centurion, Sacraments, Trust

A reflection on Matthew 8:5-17

I retired from my parish staff position back in April for a variety of reasons, two of which were to take care of things around our house and property that haven’t got done over the last three years, and to regain a satisfactory prayer life that suffered due to the hours I worked. Now, I’m able to spend sufficient time in prayer each morning before donning work clothes and heading outside. The long hours of daylight are allowing me to get much done, but by the time I wrap things up, it’s too late to write any reflections on what might have inspired me during my morning prayer. Such was the case yesterday. But, I feel like it is blog worthy so I’m going to post it a day late anyway.

Saturday’s Gospel was from Mt 8:5-17, the instance when the Roman centurion appealed to Jesus to cure his paralyzed and suffering servant. When Jesus responded that He would come and cure him, the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.” The centurion must have witnessed some miracles performed by Jesus and knew in his heart that all Jesus needed to do was ‘say the word’ and his servant would be healed. There was no need for Jesus to go to his house. The centurion’s faith so amazed Jesus that he proclaimed, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith!”

The centurion’s reply to Jesus should sound familiar to us. At every Mass during the Liturgy of the Eucharist we nearly mimic his words when we respond to the priest’s invitation to Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” As I read those words I had to ask myself, “Does my faith amaze Jesus?”, and, perhaps more importantly, “If not, what can I do so that it will amaze Him?”

First of all, do I say the centurion’s words with faith, trusting that my prayer will be answered? Sometimes, but sometimes I just rotely repeat them while my mind wanders. And what does it mean for my soul to be healed? Well, I think it means many things, two of which are to be healed from doubt and other mental intrusions, like anxiety and busyness, that sneak in and supplant strong faith, and to be healed from succumbing to the variety of bad habits and temptations for venial sins and the occasional mortal sin. I know I can’t overcome these hurdles by myself, but do I truly believe that I can with Jesus’ help?

Spending quality time with Jesus in daily meditation will surely make my faith stronger. Conversing with Him, letting him know what’s going on in my life, my struggles and my joys, and listening to His response and direction will help me uncover my vices and replace them with virtues.

How much time do I spend being thankful for all the blessings He bestows on me. Although I give thanks every day, it’s probably not enough. Jesus asks us to pick up our crosses and follow him. How often do I complain about my predicaments and undesired situations? Too often. And do I thank Him even for the things I didn’t choose, don’t like, and can’t change, knowing that He’s allowing them to make me more dependent on Him? Not nearly enough.

Do I stop to reflect on the many graces I’ve received through the Sacraments? Through Baptism, Christ infused the grace of charity into my soul. How often do I utilize that grace and pay it forward by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy? I can do better. I know that the Sacrament of Holy Communion gives me the strength to live a morally right and just life, but do I call that to mind at the moment of decision before committing an improper action or failing to do a proper one? Again, I can do better. Have I let fear override the grace I received from my Confirmation that gives me the fortitude to proclaim the gospel to others and evangelize? (Ah, finally one with which I think I do well!) Do I walk out of the confessional after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation feeling renewed because I’ve been absolved from my sins and given the grace to resist repeating them again? (Yes!, another one with which I can happily say, “I’m all in!”) Do I believe that I’ve been given all the graces necessary in the Sacrament of Matrimony to love unselfishly for the greater good and joy of my spouse? I believe it but, unfortunately, I sometimes forget it.

It’s obvious that, although I’d like to be, I’m not an amazing person. I have work to do.

How about you? Does your faith amaze our Lord? If not, what can you do to be more amazing?

(“Dear Lord, thank you for the time I spend with you in prayer. I am grateful for this exercise of growing in self-knowledge, the starting place for growing in holiness. Please help me turn to You more often and to say with faith as great as that of the centurion, ‘…only say the Word and my soul shall be healed.’ Amen.”)

(Be Amazing! was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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Is Your Heart Filled with Joy?

24 Sunday May 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Blessed Sacrament, Communion, Eucharist

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Blessed Sacrament, Communion, Eucharist, Faith, Grace, Gratitude, Happiness, Holy Communion, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Joy, Love, Pentecost, Reverence, The Living God

I hope you’re enjoying and having a safe Memorial Day holiday weekend! I’m visiting my mother in my small home town in Missouri and, although it’s Sunday and Memorial Day is officially not until tomorrow, I visited my father’s gravesite at the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery this afternoon.

Today is Pentecost Sunday, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles 50 days after Christ’s resurrection. My wife and I attended Mass this morning at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with about 50 other faithful (there simply aren’t many Catholics in southeast Missouri). This small parish doesn’t have the numbers to have an actual choir but they do have two women with beautiful, harmonizing voices who led the congregation in singing the hymns a cappella. We actually sounded fairly good.

The Communion hymn sung this morning was I Received the Living God, and my attention was captured by the opening refrain:

“I received the living God, and my heart is filled with joy, I received the living God, and my heart is filled with joy.”

I looked up from the hymnal and gazed at the faces of those who had just received Communion and were walking back to their pews. I didn’t see a lot of joy on their faces. But, I didn’t expect to. Even in my home parish I seldom see any inkling of joy on the faces of those who have just received Communion. Instead, I see something akin to solemn sadness – heads down, sad eyes, no smiles, slow-walking – like their best friend just died. I’ve always thought there was something wrong with that picture.

For sure, there must be reverence when receiving the Eucharist, but I’ve never thought this was a time for sadness. This ought to be the highlight of one’s day! Yes, Jesus died a terrible death on a cross, an event that should never be forgotten or minimized, but he did it out of true love for each of us, a love that should be received with gratitude. His sacrifice saved us from eternal death and, instead, gives us hope for eternal salvation. He knew we would need His grace to combat the evil one so He gifts Himself to us supernaturally in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, an amazing gift that should arouse us and fill our hearts with joy.

In my home church, we have a figure of the risen Jesus on a cross above the entrance doors to the sanctuary. Jesus has his arms extended forwards in a gesture suggesting His immense love for us. When I receive Communion there, I look up with reverence to Jesus on the Crucifix hanging above the altar and I say “Thank You! for Your sacrifice”. Then, as I’m returning to my pew, it feels natural to look upon the cross with Jesus’ arms outstretched and say another reverent “Thank You for Your love and for the gift of Yourself in the Sacrament I just received!” There is always a smile on my face that reflects the gratitude and joy in my heart for having just received the living God.

When you receive the living God, will you let your heart be filled with joy?

“Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You made of Yourself for my sins, and thank You for giving Yourself to me in the Eucharist for the grace I need to be the disciple, husband, father, son, brother, and friend that You would have me be. Just knowing how much I am loved by You when I receive Your Precious Body and Blood fills my heart with joy! Thank You! Amen.”

(Is Your Heart Filled with Joy? was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

My “Re-Birthday”

30 Monday Mar 2026

Posted by Jerry Robinson in OCIA, Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Sacraments

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Baptism, Birthday, Confirmation, Easter, Eucharist, Evangelization, Faith, Grace, Great Easter Vigil Mass, Holy Communion, Holy Week, Jesus, Love, Mercy, OCIA, Order of Christian Initiatio of Adults

Today is Monday of Holy Week, the most important week in the Christian calendar. As Director of Evangelization and responsible for our parish family’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) it is not only a holy week, but a busy and stressful one, as well. Our parish family is blessed to have 45 new adults and youths who will be receiving one or all of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist at the Great Easter Vigil Mass this Saturday night. The 28 weeks we’ve been preparing them has been a true joy. Now their preparation is over, and the preparation for orchestrating a beautiful, memorable, and flawless celebration is front and center.

As I began planning seating arrangements for Saturday night, I realized that today, March 30th, is the anniversary of my entrance into the Church. Thirteen years ago this date, Saturday, March 30th, I was sitting right where these Elect and Candidates will be sitting this Saturday night. My wife, children, parents, and many new friends were present to see me officially put an end to 56 years of secularism. I was filled with anticipation, but not sure what to expect.

During those years, I had not exactly been a golden boy. There were many actions on my part about which I was none too proud. As the priest poured the water over my head three times in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I truly felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. The heavy burden of past sins I had come to regret were washed away by a stream of love. This, I thought, is what they mean by “mercy”.

Receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation didn’t quite have the emotional impact as did my baptism. I understood the anointing was an invisible sign of the graces being received which I would need to fully live and proclaim my faith, but I didn’t yet know what that would look like or how it would manifest itself in me. Looking back, I hope I’ve done it justice by helping others draw closer to and follow Christ.

And then there was the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. I still don’t know how to adequately describe the feeling of receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord that first time. The best expression would be to simply say that I felt totally loved. To know that two millennia ago, Jesus underwent His passion, death and resurrection out of love for my sake elicited a tremendous sense of gratitude; but the sudden realization that He had just sacrificed Himself again, and offered Himself to me so that I would have every grace I needed to live the life He would have me live, overwhelmed me with so much joy that I was brought to the point of tears. I still feel that way at every Mass.

Today, as I celebrate the thirteenth anniversary of my “Re-Birthday”, I have two desires: to do God’s will such that these 45 soon-to-be new or fully sacramentalized Catholics will also feel the love, joy, and peace that I felt when I was in their shoes just a few years ago; and that they will develop a loving relationship with Jesus such that they will want to share it with other people who need Him.

“My loving Jesus, thank You for the mercy and love You have shown me these 13 years since I came to know You. Thank You for the grace to do Your will in helping others come to know You, too. I pray for each of the adults and youths who will be entering the Church that they will stay true to their new faith, take seriously their obligation to live sacramentally, and to live Your commission to evangelize. Amen.”

(My “Re-Birthday” was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)