I think I was trying too hard this morning.

I recently had a conversation with someone about how a homily is supposed to focus on the Gospel. And for some reason, I carried that into my prayer this morning. I kept trying to make something out of the Gospel, but it just wasn’t coming together. I didn’t feel my thoughts on a passage in the Gospel were resonating. To be honest, I thought it sucked.

Then I realized something. I’m not writing homilies. I’m simply sharing what comes from my prayer. And today, it was the first reading that stood out to me.

St. Paul tells us that God has “lavished” the riches of His grace upon us.

Lavished. What a word!

My first thought was all the blessings God has given me. Family, friends, work, and so much more. But Paul is talking about something much greater. God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. He loved us before we ever had a chance to do anything to earn that love.

And here I am worrying about my workload, trying to control things, and sometimes forgetting to bring God into my ordinary day.

But before I’ve accomplished a single thing today, I am already a beloved son of God. I am His. I don’t have to earn that. He has already given me something greater than anything I could accomplish on my own.

Maybe that’s what I need to work on. Not trying harder to control my day, but recognizing God in it. Remembering that I am His, and that everything I have begins with Him.

So my prayer today is simple. Lord, help me recognize the riches of Your grace. Help me surrender control, be a good steward of what You’ve entrusted to me, and let everything I do today be done with charity.

Where are you trying so hard to make things happen that you aren’t letting God do His part?

I pray you get the graces you need today.

Keep up the good fight.

I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.

Scripture: Ephesians 1:1–10 | Psalm 98:1–6 | Luke 11:47–54