Feelings of trust can swell in moments particularly touched by the Lord’s grace, power, wisdom, comfort, or love. The loyalty ignited by this encounter however can either burn out quickly like thin kindling or develop into embers so strong and hot that rather than going out, it ignites everything that touches it. These coals emerge however from walking with the Lord amidst the daily grind, from persevering with faithful trust through long periods of the ordinary, and especially long periods of struggle.
The Israelites followed God across the dried floor of the parted Red Sea, yet their relationship with the Lord did not climax at that moment, but rather only began. The weakness of their trust in God, and the need for it to be grown through patient perseverance, would be shown in the desert.
At one point, when they had reached the limits of their faith, and they “tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD in our midst or not?” (Exodus 17:7), God mercifully provided a visible sign of His presence and providence by quenching their thirst with miraculous water from a rock.
God can do anything. We can put our trust in His ability to transform us and those we love, no matter how long it takes. St. Paul offers us the encouragement that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6), and “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
Jesus assures us that with even the smallest seed of faith mountains can be moved. “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. (Matthew 17:20).
Yet, we often imagine this happening within tidy time frames. It’s so hard to wait. Especially when it means waiting on someone else. But do we trust God or not?
In the Lord’s mercy, He refreshes us along the way with reminders of His continued knowledge of our need, that He is in fact in our midst, and that He’s still leading us along the narrow way. If you are struggling to wait with patience, ask the Lord for a touch of His grace. It’s okay to pray, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:34).
This is the purpose of Lent. It draws us into the desert where we discover the truth of our weakness. Rather than giving up in discouragement, just ask God for help. “Jesus, I can’t do this, I need your grace.” He will provide it. Christ doesn’t wait for us to be perfect, He comes to help us while we are still imperfect. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Hopefully as we experience His help in moments of weakness regarding small things like our Lenten commitments to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, our trust in Him will grow so that when we experience greater trials like the Cross, we will confidently turn to Him again, relying on His grace to bring us through the Cross to the Resurrection. Love always wants to help, and “God is Love” (1 John 4:8).
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God”Matthew 5:8
Adoration of the Shepherds by Francois Boucher (1703-1770)
God is right here, right now. Oftentimes we don’t see Him because He’s so close. God is love, and love is patient, kind, and humble. Busied with distractions, we don’t hear His still small voice (1Kings 19:12). Cluttered with worldly concerns and aspirations, Christ’s deeper calling gets buried and lost in the mess. How can we see Christ when we struggle to see anyone? Purity in heart means allowing the Holy Spirit to change our calloused hearts of stone into sensitive hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). It means seeing each person as Christ does: as someone sacred, eternal, unrepeatable, and loved unimaginably by the Lord. Oftentimes we mistreat another person because we view them as something rather than someone. Whether as a means to gratify some desire, or as an obstacle to our will, we view them in a way reduced to our passions rather than as an independent person, a brother or sister in the family of God with their own divine calling and dignity. Purity in heart includes how we see ourselves, learning to treat and value our own bodies, souls, and lives with the reverence they deserve. It means living as a child of God instead of identifying our value with status, success, or wealth.
Jesus, the Word of God, “became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth”(John 1:14). If we long to say, as St. John did, that “we have seen His glory”, then we must purify our hearts to truly love and treasure that which is most precious and in humble form. Jesus drew near in His divine humanity, may we quiet our hearts and simplify our lives, with His help, that we may see Him truly, here with us whom He loves.
The Christian journey is exciting but hard, that’s why Jesus wisely sent the disciples out in two-s. We aren’t meant to do this alone!
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Whether with the paperback or ebook, join me as we reflect on this year’s Sunday Gospels.
Introduction:
This year’s gospels primarily follow the evangelist, Luke. Himself both a physician and historian, Luke captured Christ the divine healer and he emphasized the historicity of Jesus – both man and God. This union of two natures in the one divine Person of Jesus, though articulated more theologically in John, remains at the center of Luke – through Jesus’ empathetic understanding concomitant with His divine healing touch. At every turn in this gospel account, Jesus addresses our worries and limitations; He shows patience and the kindness of humble condescension to our littleness.
Beyond merely physical healing, Luke also proclaims the healing effect of the Good News. Jesus’ call to “repent and believe in the gospel” is both a diagnosis and a treatment plan for our most serious illness – sin. Christ cures every disease, but only those we allow Him. The only terminal spiritual illnesses are pride and despair – pride that refuses treatment or despair that refuses to hope in Jesus.
This year let’s accept the Lord’s free healthcare plan. He has already paid the price; all it takes on our part is cooperation. Let’s pray for the loyal faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary to say, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), the courage of Simon Peter and the other apostles to respond to the Lord’s call to “Put out into the deep and let down your net for a catch” (Luke 5:4), and the generosity to leave everything and follow Him (Luke 5:11). Let’s listen to Him with the attentive heart and ear of Mary of Bethany who recognized that “one thing is needful” and chose “the good portion” (Luke 10:42). Let’s humble ourselves so we may be exalted (Luke 14:11), and like the blind man on the side of the road who heard “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by” cry out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38). “The Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), may we come to recognize Him on our journey as the men on the road to Emmaus did. May our hearts burn as He speaks and may we too ask the Lord: “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.”
For the second week in a row, we have a Gospel passage about John the Baptist. John is considered the last, and greatest, of the prophets of the Old Covenant. Jesus even said of him, “among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). Yet, both John and Jesus proclaimed that the best was yet to come. The Covenant of the Jewish people with God would be elevated inexpressibly in the New Covenant established in Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus finished his sentence with: “yet he who is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
John the Baptist’s message of repentance and spiritual preparation for our salvation is at the heart of Advent. In the weeks leading up to Christmas we evaluate how well we have been living as children of God, gifted with the grace of God dwelling in our midst and within our very souls. It’s also a time to open ourselves to new possibilities and new challenges as disciples of Christ. Thus, the message of John for repentance produces the necessary disposition for conversion.
The image of John the Baptist, dressed in camel hair and eating locusts, preaching the message of repentance and authentic sorrow for sins, provides a stark contrast to the marketing images flooding us of jolly Santas, piles of presents, and delicious foods. I can understand why marketers find Santas and reindeer more appealing for sales than a desert ascetic speaking about sin. People also feel increased pressures to prepare for Christmas by finding the perfect gifts within the time constraints of frantic schedules and limited budgets. Nevertheless, the Gospel writers remind us that preparation for Christmas is ultimately preparation for the Incarnation of God our Savior. He brings the gift of heaven, but we must prepare ourselves to receive that gift through repentance.
The push to start Christmas sales has lamentably encroached on Thanksgiving but has completely replaced Advent in our culture. It has become increasingly difficult to make the weeks leading up to Christmas a time of introspection, increased prayer, and sacrifice. By the time Catholics celebrate Christmas on the Eve of Christmas day and for the two weeks following it, the rest of the culture has already moved on to New Year’s preparations and Valentine’s day.
So how can we balance living in the culture that we do and still honor the important process of conversion Advent is meant to procure? We can no longer wait to buy a Christmas tree until December 23rd because there won’t be any left. We can’t leave them up for the duration of the Liturgical Christmas season because the tree will be a fire hazard at that point, plus we will have missed our road side tree pick up provided by our garbage companies. I have surrendered this battle and get a tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. I also have to admit that I look forward to the Hallmark Christmas movies and, if possible, make a weekend of it with my mother and my daughter. Black Friday deals make Christmas gifts more affordable although I am too exhausted on Cyber Mondays to get online after work. However, I reserve some Christmas feasting for Christmas only. I play Christmas music and keep my Christmas decorations out (with the exception of the live tree) for the duration of the liturgical Christmas season. In my classroom at school I leave Christmas lights up in my room until Lent, reminding the kids that Jesus is the Light of the World.
Spiritual sacrifice, examination of conscience, and remorse for sins is harder to find time for. When my kids were little we would do Bible crafts and the kids had fun placing a felt ornament on our Jesse tree corresponding to a daily Scripture passage we would read. Now that my kids are older, it’s harder to find a time we are all home to pray together. As a busy mom, I appreciate that the Church offers practical advice regarding spiritual preparation during Advent, and oftentimes opportunities organized by the parish to help us. Scripturally, spiritual preparation consists of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Parishes often offer Advent reflections, retreats, and youth ministry events to facilitate more introspective prayer during this time. We can add one of these events to our calendar just as we would any Christmas party invitation. Fasting is especially difficult, with so many Christmas parties and cookie exchanges taking place, but consider fasting from something simple and achievable, so that even in those moments you are connected to Christ and honoring the preparation for His coming that He deserves. I wouldn’t suggest giving up sweets altogether, but maybe you set a limit for yourself or give up something else that’s meaningful to you. Almsgiving may be the one aspect of Advent that lingers in our culture as generosity during the Christmas season seems to be a sentiment that still resonates in people’s hearts. Parishes, schools, offices, and neighborhoods band together for charitable causes and provide opportunities for us to give. Let’s not forget that Christmas also provides less visible opportunities for giving, like keeping our eyes open for family members, neighbors, or colleagues who are lonely and inviting them to our homes.
Fasting and almsgiving can further be applied in our interactions with one another. The increased social contact brings with it both joy and discord; providing many more opportunities for spiritual works of mercy. Christmas get-togethers bring out the best and worst in people. It provides opportunities to fast from gossip and to give encouragement; to fast from pettiness and to bear wrongs patiently, to fast from competitiveness and to give comfort. When we encounter persons we find annoying, frustrating, or difficult to be around, we can reflect on the compassion of the Lord, who became man, for love of that same person. When we are moved by the generosity and love of others towards ourselves, we can praise Christ as we tangibly experience His love in our own lives.
Advent has become an uphill battle, but the view from the top makes climbing it worth all the effort. This Advent I hope we can find a way to prepare our hearts and our lives for Christ a little more in some small way. I hope we acknowledge and surrender to Him sins we need Him to heal. Let’s demonstrate our authentic gratitude for his grace through prayer and acts of love. Finally, let’s try to keep Christ in Christmas, and John the Baptist in Advent.
Consider:
“Emmanuel” means God-with-us. Consider the gift of the Incarnation, that God became man, and dwelt among us.
How has your heart and life opened to Christ over the years? How has He dwelt more and more in your life?
Are there any areas of your life from which you keep Christ closed off? Are there any places, people, or activities you wouldn’t feel comfortable having Christ present?
Reflect on the people you will encounter this season. Consider them from Christ’s point of view. How might you be the hands and heart of Christ to them in your interactions?
Practical Application:
Choose one way this Advent to pray, fast, and give.
Put a church sponsored Advent or Christmas event on your calendar, then attend it.
Fast from gossip and critical remarks.
Intentionally give to Christ, above your regular tithing. Choose a charity or a particular person and be generous to Jesus by being generous to them.
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It’s a good time of year for making room – in our closets, our homes, our schedules, and our lives for all the gifts, parties, and people that accompany Christmas. We live in a challenging culture for this. Its obsession with stuff has gotten out of control, necessitating storage units just to hold the overflow. Rampant competitiveness in seemingly every area of life adds pressure to our schedule, forcing our waking hours to overflow into the late night and early mornings just to keep up. You may be able to stay afloat in this atmosphere for a while, but the pressure and the pace are unsustainable without sacrificing more important things. In an effort to combat this, I regularly sort through our things and reassess our schedule of activities to ensure we can prioritize what matters.
Advent provides an opportunity for us to do the same thing in our spiritual lives. In anticipation of the greatest gift – Jesus Christ, the Son of God – we must make room in our souls, our schedules, and our lives. Its a time to step back and make an honest examination of what occupies our hearts. Much like when I hold up an old sweater and debate whether I will really wear it again or not, I must examine the things I spend time and energy on and ask if they are still worth it, or just taking up valuable space.
If it’s so difficult to let go of an old ratty sweater overrun with pills, how much more difficult to let go of old bad habits or frames of mind? We hold on to useless or worn out things simply because we hate change and we love nostalgia. We may rationalize that we will “use that someday” but we don’t even know all the “thats” we have anymore. In truth, we simply don’t want to let go of something that’s been with us for so long.
Similarly, we resist honestly evaluating our priorities, bad habits and sins. In some ways they can begin to feel like a part of our identity. However, the process of decluttering our soul can be marvelously freeing and enable us to move forward in our lives. The questions we must ask will vary as much as the clutter in our homes. You may have to consider, “Am I a hard worker, or have I become a workaholic?” Or the opposite: “Do I have a healthy amount of down time in my life, or have I just become lazy?” About attitudes one might ask “Am I someone who doesn’t get riled up about much, or am I just complacent?” or the opposite: “Am I someone who cares passionately about things, or do I make an idol out of causes or get too involved in other people’s business?”
Outside perspective can help. If you share a closet, garage, or home with someone, they will quickly tell you which items have been hogging space for no reason. Loving family and friends can also offer valuable insight about your life. They can more easily identify the ways you have grown as a person and the things that hold you back. The Holy Spirit can also guide you if you ask. He can enlighten your mind to see things from God’s perspective and soothe you with grace to let the lesser goods go.
After decluttering, the final preparations for Christmas celebrations involve cleaning. Mineral build up on the faucet, sticky fingerprints and globs of ketchup on the refrigerator, half-finished projects that have become an eyesore or safety hazard, and dusty surfaces dull the beauty of our homes. It takes time and sweat, but the shiny glean in every room renews our appreciation of God’s gifts and the warmth of home. In the same way, our virtues and gifts can dull from the challenges of everyday life. Stepping back for a little introspection can help us reclaim those pieces of ourselves we love and let them shine again.
During our Advent soul-work, we may find some things need to go, some things may be reasonable to keep, and some things may need a deep clean. Yet, at the end of the process our souls will glimmer with the beauty God has given us, and Christ will have more room to fill with the gift of His divine presence and peace.
Consider:
Prayerfully list your priorities. Where do God, work, family, friends, hobbies, and self-care rank?
Consider your schedule: How well do you balance time for God, time for taking care of yourself, time for helping others, and time to accomplish your work well?
Consider your possessions: How well do your things represent your priorities? Are there ways your possessions could better reflect what matters to you?
Consider your heart: What occupies your desires most? Be honest. Then relate them back to your priority list. Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to increase your desire for the Lord and for loving relationship with others, and to decrease your desire for what competes with them.
Consider your mind: What occupies your thoughts? What do you spend time learning about? How well are you making time for introspection and spiritual growth? Do you take the time to think of others or to identify your own needs? What tends to distract you or consume your mind? How might you detach somewhat?
Practical Application:
Make room for Christ in your home, your schedule, and your heart. Declutter your biggest horde, simplify your time commitments, and increase your prayer and spiritual reading by 10 minutes.
Do an examination of conscience and encounter Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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It’s the season of watching. Watching for sales and gifts, watching beautiful Christmas lights, watching school Christmas programs, watching Hallmark movies, watching the mail for Christmas cards and watching for our loved ones to visit. It can also become watching the calendar fill with a myriad of commitments and watching our to-do list lengthen like the unfurling of a scroll that tumbles across the floor to the end of the room.
The excitement of the season can also be draining. We endeavor to conserve our energy and find balance between the work to prepare for Christmas, and actually relaxing enough to enjoy it. The thrill of finding the perfect gift on Black Friday devolves just a few short weeks later into frantic stress over the hard-to-buy-for person. The hours in the day seem to disappear as fast as the shrinking sunlight. Upon lighting the first advent candle as a child, I would groan at the long wait ahead of four interminable weeks. Now, as I pull the advent wreath from my tub of Christmas decorations, I groan that there are only four short weeks left to get everything done.
If we let the activity distract our aim, we may miss the target and lose the opportunity for reconnection and generosity that Christmas offers. However, if we keep our sight on the purpose of each of our activities, we may hit the mark. The cleaning, decorating, cooking, shopping, travelling, and planning can either leave us exhausted and cranky toward those we love, or they can invigorate us with energy and joy as we revel in lavishing our love on them and treasuring precious time together.
This time is also rich in opportunities to lavish our love upon Christ. During Advent, parishes often offer a spiritual retreat or host an evening with a speaker. The liturgy of the mass includes special prayers and Scriptures, and many people add advent traditions of prayer in their home such as lighting advent candles, reading Scriptures alongside a Jesse Tree with children, or another devotion. Community outreach is everywhere you turn from winter wear drives at work or school, to food donations, and toy drives.
Today, the first Sunday of Advent, our Gospel reading serves to focus our sight on the right target – the Good News that Christ has come and will come again. He has saved us, freed us from sin, and heals our souls. During the present age we have been entrusted by Him, “each with [our] own work,”(v.34) but we must always remember that He is the Lord and ultimately we watch and await His return.
So how do we keep watch? Daily in prayer, weekly at Mass, and at every moment by showing love toward Christ in those around us. Mother Teresa served others each day with Jesus’ words in mind: “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)
May this season of Advent and Christmas invigorate rather than drain, as we keep our aim on love and on Christ.
Consider:
What do you enjoy most about the weeks leading up to Christmas? How might you enjoy them more, and prioritize your time better?
Reflect on the gift of the Incarnation. Consider the humility of Christ to become man. Contemplate His love for you, that He desired to be so close. Reflect on the gift of His grace and redemption.
What gifts has Christ given to you over the years? What gifts has He blessed you with this year? Are there any spiritual gifts you might put on your Christmas list to Him presently?
What gift might you offer to Christ?
Practical Application:
As we spend more time with family, friends, and coworkers this season, spend more time with Christ as well. Decide on how you will do this – go on a retreat, attend a speaker at your church, read an advent devotional each day, spend 5 minutes a day with Scripture.
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Thank you for everyone’s kind words and encouragement. Every time I thought about not writing this, one of you would reach out to me and share your appreciation for the first volume as you were reading it. This kept nudging me forward and confirming it must be God’s will. I hope He speaks in your hearts and embraces you in His profound love.
St. John wrote that “God is love” (I John 4:8; emphasis added). He actively loves you and I at every moment. He created the world out of nothing to be a home for humankind and continues to hold all things in existence and guide them by His divine providence. He created each of our souls at the moment of our conception. The Second Person of the Trinity even became man, suffered, and died for our Redemption after we sinned so we could become new creations by grace. Even before creation however, God was Love. Jesus revealed God’s Trinitarian nature, that in His very essence God is a union of three divine Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His very nature is an eternal relationship of love!
Moreover, Genesis reveals that God’s love is so great He made humankind in His image to participate in His love. Thus the God who is love, created us to also be love. In the first creation account He created man and woman at the same time, that they too might be a union of persons, capable of love and creativity like God.
“God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it.” Genesis 1:27-28
In the second Genesis account God created man first but he felt alone and unfulfilled. There was no suitable partner for him among all of God’s animals. Why? Aren’t dogs and cats adorable? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to enjoy God-given reign over all of creation without having to share it with anyone? Adam had waterfront property, lush gardens, and plenty of food. He had everything a single person could desire – power, pleasure, abundance, security, and was surrounded by affectionate pets. Why was he unhappy?
“The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.” Genesis 2:18
Made in the image of God, Adam could only find fulfillment through being a union of persons. Together Adam and Eve could unite both body and soul. They could know one another, choose one another, and love one another, both spiritually and physically.
In the Beginning, living in God’s image was simple and joy filled. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden. Their work was without toil and they rested each Sabbath to worship God and rejoice in gratitude. As Pope Benedict XVI explains in his book In the Beginning:
“In the creation account the sabbath is depicted as the day when the human being, in the freedom of worship, participates in God’s freedom, in God’s rest, and thus in God’s peace.”
Things only get complicated after the Fall, that first dreadful sin. God is a realist. He made everything according to a rational order and taught Adam and Eve those laws so they might be safe and flourish. In their moment of temptation however, they rebelled in pride, chasing the illusion that they could be the creators of reality rather than creatures already a part of reality. Yet, the truth is always true. God said their choice would bring death, the serpent said it wouldn’t, and Adam and Eve chose based on their senses – “it seemed good and looked delightful.” They chose against God and they found He was right – death entered the world.
It’s easy to point the finger at their foolishness but consider our own common teenage rebellions. Despite the love and trustworthy guidance of good parents, how often do teens think to themselves, “I know more than mom and dad. I’m going to do this my way and ignore their rules,” only to find themselves suffering the results their parents had warned them of?
When have you thought the same thing about God’s guidance? God guides us through the natural law, Scriptures, and the Church. Yet, we still struggle with the tempting thought that what we feel like doing is better than what we ought to do. Again and again, we suffer when our feelings prove illusory and God’s guidance true.
People will often say, “The Church isn’t realistic. It needs to get with the times.” Abstinence for unmarried persons instead of birth control? Fantasy. Truthfulness at work? You’ll never get ahead. Children instead of pets? Maybe one or two, but beyond that will be misery. Church every Sunday? That’s excessive. Resting on Sunday? Who will get all the work done? Yet, the truth remains the truth. Our illusions do not change reality. We chase where our impulses lead only to find ourselves depressed and unhappy.
Happiness is simple. It means being a real realist. It means living as a human person not something else you or the culture imagines. It may not be easy, but God gives us grace to live in the truth.
God’s laws only become complicated insofar as we make them complicated. For example, in my classroom I have a mini basketball and hoop for kids to play during passing time. I begin the year with two rules: when the bell rings the ball gets put away, and no blood (I don’t want kids getting hurt and there’s a reason I’m a teacher and not a doctor or nurse). Some classes get it, and those are the only two rules that I ever need. They have a little fun and our class begins on a positive note. Others overcomplicate things. They start fighting over the ball, become overly rough or competitive, launch it over people’s heads, or any number of things that pop into their mind. In consequence, they force me to make more rules to ensure that my basic two are met and what began as simple fun becomes a frustration.
Jesus teaches that God really only has two rules as well. If we simply love God with our whole self – heart, mind, and soul, everything else falls into place. Living in union with God we find our true selves and the source of all happiness. From our free relationship of love with God, we then seek to love others, His image among us. Through self-gift and loving relationship, we find self-fulfillment and deep joy because we are living in reality, feeding on real food and journeying toward our real end.
All the other rules are in response to the myriad of ways we violate the basic two. If we loved God first then our neighbor, we would have the common sense to do the other things as well. If I love God, I’m going to spend Sunday with Him. If I love my neighbor, I’m not going to lie or cheat him, and if I see him in need I will want to help.
Developing Christian common sense may take time, depending on your past formation or experiences. Jesus knows our brokenness, blindness, and weakness. He came to be our Healer, the true Light to guide us, and the source of Strength to transform us. Love has a mysterious and beautiful power to melt away sadness and hurt and fill us with joy.
You might begin by needing a rule to go to Mass on Sunday, but once you experience the touch of Christ’s love, you will find it a gift instead of an obligation.
Consider:
When have you experienced God’s love – through another person, in prayer, or at Mass?
When has God’s truth been a sure guide for you during a confusing time?
Which laws of God, either through Scripture or the Church, do you find most difficult to accept or to live out?
How has God’s grace enabled you to live virtuously or love at a level you couldn’t have imagined before?
How might you love God more? What areas of your heart, mind, soul, or strength do you still withhold from him? Is there a teaching of Christ you struggle to accept? Is there someone you find difficult to give generously of your heart to? Do you spend Sunday with the Lord and family or use your strength for more work instead? Do you spend time thanking God and being in His presence, or do you love something else more?
Make a Resolution (Practical Application):
Each day this week give God more of your heart, mind, or strength. Ask Him to increase your love for Him in each of these areas then do one concrete thing a day to act on that love.
Ideas:
To love God more with your mind spend 5 more minutes a day with Scripture, listen to Christian podcasts or radio, learn about the faith at your parish or by reading a spiritual book.
To love God more with your heart, increase your affection for Him by making a gratitude list, praying a Psalm (especially 23, 27, 119, or 139), meditating on the rosary, or attending a daily Mass.
To love God more with your strength, do something of service for someone in need. Care for someone who is sick, help a co-worker who is swamped, volunteer to help at your church by taking care of the building or grounds or by helping with the service as a greeter or usher. Most importantly, resolve to avoid servile work on Sunday and instead play with your kids or go visit a friend.
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Scripture encourages us to 
The Christian journey is exciting but hard, that’s why Jesus wisely sent the disciples out in two-s. We aren’t meant to do this alone!
Take Time For Him 