Fr. Jordan DeGuire, OP

In today's Gospel the Pharisees demand a sign from Jesus. But he has already given them a sign which they refuse to believe. Can we approach God with an openness, letting God's revelation surprise us, or have we already decided that we know who we are and who God is?

In today's Gospel we have the story of two sisters, Martha and Mary. Mary sits at Jesus' feet to hear his teaching, and Martha complains that she has to do all of the work of hospitality. In reality, they are both doing the work of being a follower of Christ, but we all need to know the most important task of a Christian is to fall more and more in love with Jesus. So whether we are accomplishing the tasks that need to be done or taking the time to rest with Jesus, our attention should be Jesus, the one thing necessary.

Paul asked God three times to have a "thorn taken from his flesh", but his prayer was denied. It was an opportunity for him to learn to trust God more. Whether we feel close to God in prayer or far away, it is an opportunity to grown in our relationship with God.

Jesus tells us to store up treasure in heaven where thieves cannot steal it. We know this, and yet we often prefer treasure on earth because we can touch it. Can we learn to trust God, and take up our cross, and follow Jesus?

Drawing from Oliver Wendell Holmes' wisdom on simplicity beyond complexity, he explores how true Christian joy isn’t naive optimism—it’s a deep, abiding peace that comes through life’s struggles.

A profound reflection on spiritual growth, trust in God’s timing, and how even when life feels unproductive, God is preparing us for greater fruitfulness.