theROCK

Just Be

As I was driving to do some volunteer work last Friday afternoon, I had Relevant Radio on. I occasionally listen to this station to unclutter from the noise of typical news/talk radio. It serves as a mini retreat from time to time. My favorite show to catch is with Drew Mariani. While I was listening, a question was posed for consideration: What would it be like at your house if Jesus came to dinner?

This is always a fun one for me to ponder. I have had varying responses based on my state of life. One thing I know for sure, it would be very interesting. Let’s just pretend that the arrival was unannounced/unplanned, He just showed up. This would cause me to have great anxiety. At my core, I am very much like the character of Martha in the gospels. She is the one who, while Jesus is visiting their home, is scurrying about making sure everything is perfect. A surprise visit doesn’t allow for planning, and I would be fretting that not everything is perfect. Knowing myself, I would be instantly aware of every little thing out of place and try to subtly fix it. I would depend on my husband to entertain Jesus until I could get situated; offer a beverage, a bite to eat, what will we do for dinner? Then, it would hit me – I have Jesus in my house!

I would like to think that I’d shift into Mary mode, dutifully listening and hanging on His every word, once I had the chance to dote on our Lord a bit. In being able to focus on the fact that Jesus was in my house, I would not have the faintest idea what we’d talk about since He already knows everything. I would like to think we would simply be our normal selves. I would like to think that would be why He came to visit us – to meet us where we are. This is what we try to do at St. Dominic Catholic School as we welcome every Knight, every day. We all come with so much in our hearts and on our minds that we hope the time spent in these halls are a time to allow children to just be. No pressure. No worry. Just be. We also strive to provide an environment that intentionally provides opportunity to connect with Jesus. No pressure. No worry. Just be.

Thank you for having faith in us. Thank you for having hope and trust in the work we do. Thank you for being partners with us. Thank you for being here.

Humility

On Labor Day, we honor the dignity of work and those whose labor sustains our families, communities, and nation. Work is a daily opportunity to practice humility: respecting coworkers, being willing to listen, and serving without demanding recognition. True humility acknowledges that all talents and opportunities—all we have comes from God, and is a sacred gift. Our labor is meant to serve not just ourselves, but the good of others. 

In ordinary life, humility can be lived in small, almost hidden ways. It can be as simple as apologizing when we are wrong, letting others speak first, or showing gratitude for even the
smallest kindnesses. It can be quietly helping a neighbor, or working diligently without needing public praise. Even letting someone go ahead of us in line, or yielding to another car in traffic, is a small act of humility. Humility is not about thinking less of ourselves, but about thinking of ourselves less.

Prayer is central to cultivating humility. As our parish focuses on the 10 Habits of a Disciple, we begin with the importance of daily prayer. Prayer allows us to bring our problems, concerns, and hopes to God who desires to be in relationship with us, and then to listen. Sometimes prayer is simply sitting in silence, giving God the space to speak.

But humility is essential in prayer. We must be willing to accept that God’s response may not be what we want to hear. Being humble means acknowledging that God sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for us, even when His answer is difficult. In this way, prayer becomes an act of surrender—a way of saying, “Lord, your will, not mine, be done.”

Let us strive to live with the humility of Christ in our homes, workplaces, and communities. May we choose the lowest place with confidence that God Himself will lift us up. And above all, let us remember the importance of daily prayer. For in praying, we not only deepen our relationship with God, but we also allow Him to shape us into better disciples of Jesus—disciples who live humility not just in word, but in action.

Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself to become one of us and taught us to take the lowest place. Teach us to live each day with humility—at home, at work, and in our communities. Help us to turn to You in daily prayer, sharing our joys and struggles, and listening for Your voice. May we accept Your will with trust, and may our lives reflect the love and humility
of Your Incarnation.

Spontaneous Prayer

Another principial reminded me that prayer is not just about the words we say, but about the relationship we build with Jesus. It’s easy to hear this and think, “I know that!” But I challenged myself to wonder how we, as a parish and school community, can model this better for our children.

One powerful way to do this is through spontaneous prayer—simply talking to God aloud throughout the day. It doesn't require formal words or long prayers; it’s just sharing moments of connection with God as they come up. This can be a beautiful way to demonstrate to our children that prayer is a natural part of our daily lives.

I remember my grandma would pray aloud in the car whenever we heard an ambulance or firetruck's siren. She’d say something like, “God, you are strong, a healer, and protector. Please protect our first responders and those they help today.” It was short, simple, and heartfelt. That moment of spontaneous prayer helped me understand how easy it is to talk to God at any time, in any place.

Of course, we can also use memorized prayers as a family. These prayers are a wonderful way to teach our children the rich traditions of our faith. But incorporating moments of spontaneous prayer into our day—whether it's before a meal, on the way to school, or as we hear a siren—helps show that prayer doesn’t need to be complicated or formal. It’s simply about speaking to God from the heart, right when we need it.

I encourage you to consider building spontaneous prayer into your family routine. Perhaps a bedtime prayer, a prayer for someone in need, or even a simple “Thank you, God, for today.” These small practices can have a profound impact on our children, showing them that they can pray now, no matter their age, and that prayer can be as simple as saying, “I love you, Jesus. Thank you for this day.”