theROCK

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.”

Radiate Love

Radiate Love: Do You Radiate Christ to Others?
Dr. Edward Sri

Do you realize the people around you are depending on you to pray every day?

I know that my wife and children, for example, need a lot more than my human love for them. They need Christ loving them through me. But that can only happen if I have a consistent, daily prayer life. I do sincerely love my family. But I also know my love is tainted by my own pride, selfishness, weakness, wounds, and sin. My wife and children need more that what I can give them on my own. They need Christ’s love supernaturally working through me. And that comes from daily prayer.

How about you? Consider the people at work, in your parish, and in your community, the people you serve: do you give them more than merely your own personal skills talent, wisdom, leadership abilities, or charming personality?

We should use all of our humanity, of course, to give the best of ourselves to  others in all we do. But the best of ourselves, actually, is more than ourselves. It is Christ radiating through us.

How about your family, your spouse, your closest friends—do the people in your life encounter something in you bigger than you are? Do they encounter Jesus Christ radiating through you?

Mother Teresa emphasized this point with her Missionary of Charity sisters throughout the world….they recite a prayer that contains this beautiful petition to Jesus: “Shine through us, and be so in us, that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence in our soul. Let them look up and see no longer us but only  Jesus.

What a remarkable prayer! “Let them look up and see no longer us by only Jesus.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every soul we come in contact with each day—our spouse, our children, our friends, our colleagues at work, the people in the parish, the poor on the street—if every person we meet each day looked up and saw “no longer us but only Jesus!”

If we wish to truly radiate Christ in this world, we must be committed to daily prayer.