God is not far from us - He is always by our side, journeying along with us and accompanying us. “When two or three gather in my name, I am in their midst" (Mt 18:20), Jesus says. He is inviting us to help others experience Him through our accompaniment. And as the world is increasingly becoming individualistic, the need to accompany one another is most needed now more than ever. We are called to be a source of comfort, consoling, a helping hand to those who are alone in our midst.

Readings at this Mass: Jer 21:1–6 | Eph 2:13–18 | Mk 6:30–34

Each of you is Church, bona fide members of the Body of Christ, in whom Jesus lives and interacts with the world. Your relationships are potential vehicles of grace, windows through which God’s love can reach through and touch those who don’t know Him. Think about that when you’re online, or about to get into a political debate, or you run into that annoying neighbor. Your words, your thoughtfulness, your willingness to befriend, can be sacraments of the saving love of God Himself.

Readings at this Mass: Am 7:12–15 | Eph 1:3–14 | Mk 6:7–13

God is the author of all our hobbies; the director of our recreation and guide on our vacations; the maker of your loved ones; the giver of love, joy, and peace. God wants you to delight in these things and know they are His gift to you. But we don't always recognize His sacramental presence in them, whether due to pride, contempt, or fear. To admit to these weaknesses in our lives and surrender them to God, taking them to confession to be healed, leads to a renewed sense of awe and joy.

Readings at this Mass: Ez 2:2–5 | 2 Cor 12:7–10 | Mk 6:1–6a

God wants so much to save us from those moments of death and sin. "Do not be afraid," He says, "just have faith." He wants us to rely on Him and His Most Sacred Heart. He is here for you and me, so ask Him to carry you, to restore and renew you, to strengthen you and remind you that you are wholesome, you are imperishable, and you are created in God's image.

Readings at this Mass: Wis 1:13–15; 2:23–24 | 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13–15 | Mk 5:21–43

If 99% of our time is spent living for ourselves, focused on our agenda, relying on our own powers, it'll be hard to turn to the Lord or sense His presence when we need Him. So start training now, so you'll be ready. If you've gotten lazy, recommit to daily prayer. If it's been awhile, go to Confession. When you get out of bed in the morning, offer your day to God before doing anything else. Let the Lord into those broken places and allow Him to become your strength and still point.

Readings at this Mass: Jb 38:1, 8–11 | 2 Cor 5:14–17 | Mk 4:35–41

Our lives are a day-to-day movement toward or away from God. Like a child learning, it's a function of baby steps. Consider this your homework for the summer. Take measure of where you are in your faith today and again at the end of the summer. Try not to be in a hurry; instead, be patient, open to God's grace, and attentive to His still, small voice every day.

We ought to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to carry out the will of God for each one of us as brothers and sisters of Christ. How do we do that? In the moments of our daily life which we seem to be pulling away with temptations and discouragement, while asking whose voice it is that we are hearing, we can call upon the Holy Spirit by saying: “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”

When God asks us to change, we tend to resist or ignore it and lose ourselves in worldly distractions. The tension that's created is an indicator of where God is pressing on us, where He wants to work. Fr. Bill has a phrase he likes to use: "Mine (as in, 'dig') for conflict". Search your heart for those places of conflict and tension and dig into them. Invite the Lord into those places and ask for what you need: the grace to forgive, the humility to ask for help, whatever it may be.