Sent Forth

Dear Diary

This morning after Holy Mass, Sister Mary Claire and I walked home from Church. The cornfields stood tall and waiting, and the only sound for a long while was our footsteps on the gravel. Then the silence was broken by the harsh chop of a farmer cutting corn silage. Mini jumped in surprise and even howled at the clattering machine, her little Corgi voice trying to compete with the noise. We both laughed, and Mini quickly looked humbled when the sound swallowed her up.

Father LeRoy’s homily had been on the Gospel of St. Luke, where Jesus sent out His apostles with nothing but faith and His blessing. Sister Mary Claire explained as we walked that Jesus wanted them to trust God completely, not in money or belongings, but in His care. “They were to bring the peace of Christ to each house,” she said, “and if they were not welcomed, they were to let it go and move on.” I thought of how brave that must have been, to step into strange towns with nothing but your voice and the Gospel.

Sister told me that we too are called to be little apostles—maybe not in far-off villages, but right here in our own country parish. She said when we carry kindness, forgiveness, and God’s Word, it’s the same mission the Twelve were given. I held that close in my heart all the rest of the way home.

Evening Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Help me to be brave like the apostles.
Teach me to trust You more than anything I own,
and to bring Your peace to everyone I meet.
Bless Sister Mary Claire, Father LeRoy,
and the farmers working in the fields.

And please keep Mini safe from all the loud noises.

Love,
Kathy