I just spent the week at Covecrest (a Catholic summer camp, read my blog post on the experience here), where we attended daily mass, usually outdoors, the entire week. Besides the other three times I’ve been to the camp, I usually don’t go to mass every single day. This time however, the power of prayer through mass stuck with me.
We returned home from camp late Saturday night, and all the campers were invited to 5:30pm Sunday mass, wearing our new camp t-shirts. After spending a whole week together, it was strange to be apart from my campers for just a day! But also, it was powerful to continue the habit of daily mass.
After mass, some of the teens from my small group ran up to me and were so excited to see me again, after just one day away, which was so sweet. A few of us decided to attend daily morning mass today, to keep that habit going!
Morning mass is such a wonderful way to start the day, and it was special to see these beautiful women once again!
The gospel, homily, and closing prayer stuck out to me from this mass, so I wanted to share them. The priest encouraged us to dive into Matthew 7 (linked here, RSV-CE) for this week’s readings, but today’s gospel was from Matthew 7:1-5:
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
As I talked about in this blog post, I encourage you to read beyond just these few verses, to get the greater context and message of this passage.
What truly inspired me to get back on the blog today was the priest’s closing blessing to us, which was something like this: “Today… just think of today,” which reminds me so much of these verses, “and how you can be holy today. Live God’s will for your life one day at a time.”
As someone who tries to do all-the-things and all-the-things-at-once, this blessing struck me profoundly. Isn’t that so true? Is there any way to live God’s will besides just one day at a time?
I’m a pro at thinking always of the future, tomorrow, and what-comes-next before thinking of just today, so this was a reminder I needed to hear.
It’s much simpler to think of God’s plan that way: one day at a time.
Doesn’t sound as scary then, does it?
So, if you’re going to live God’s plan for your life today, what does that look like?
Unless you happen to be at some major crossroads or event in your life today, God’s will for you right now probably isn’t anything frightening. It’s probably extremely manageable. He never gives us more than we can handle, which I’m quick to forget when I’m worried about all-the-days instead of just the one we’re living in.
Y’all know I like a good challenge, so my challenge for you is just that.
How can you live God’s plan for your life today, one day at a time?
June 26, 2018
I love this! Lately I have been questioning God about my path because I always want to make sure I’m doing the right things to get me to where I want to go. I am alwaysss thinking of the future, and I want to make sure I do the right things for that future and kind of take it into my own hands. But He’s certainly been teaching me to trust him and to let go of control of my life. He is going to use me for the good, and that’s what I can feel secure in. Thanks for this reminder & uplifting post – so glad you had a great time at camp!
Ashley | thehoneyscoop.com