“Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them” (St. Thèrése of Lisieux).

As we enter more deeply into this holy season of Lent, we are given many opportunities to deepen our faith and life of prayer: parish missions and Stations of the Cross, carefully chosen personal practices of self-enrichment and self-denial, group volunteer opportunities to serve people in need … and the list goes on.

Sometimes, though, our entrance into the holy is not preplanned and is not part of any community-wide program for renewal and faith formation. Sometimes, the holy comes to meet us right where we are.

A Holy Moment

Recently, I was helping an elderly Sister prepare for bed as I neared the last leg of my shift in our infirmary. In the course of this task, I happened to catch a glimpse of the crucifix that hung on a wall in the adjoining room.

It was a beautiful reminder of Christ’s presence in this Sister, in this moment. It spoke to my heart, telling me that this was, indeed, a holy moment … deeply holy.

The wonder of this special moment was palpable.

I go about my day doing any number of things, whether it’s updating a webpage, creating a flier, promoting upcoming retreats, or even cleaning a bathroom. The things I do do not need to be something that sounds sophisticated, complex, or beneficial to a large group of people.

In Giving That We Receive

In caring for one person with patience, kindness, and even a little humor, I am given the privilege of caring for Jesus.

I use the word “privilege” intentionally. One of our recent popes, I believe, commented on this privilege, saying that people involved in acts of mercy will realize that they are truly receivers of mercy. The line in the prayer attributed to St. Francis, “It is in giving that we receive,” rings true.

As we continue through this season of grace, I pray that you and I may be more aware (and more grateful) of the special moments that fill our day and that you, too, may have beautiful glimpses into Christ’s presence in your everyday encounters.

I pray that you and I may realize Who we are serving along our way. If we are aware, we have so many opportunities to show love to our Lord in the mundane—or, rather, the holy— moments of our lives.

Sr. Christina Marie Neumann is a Franciscan Sister in Hankinson, North Dakota. She has a background in communications, which she has drawn upon in various capacities over the years. She has fourteen years’ experience working with the elderly and disabled and now assists with various projects at her community’s provincial house and retreat center, including maintaining the retreat center's website and authoring a weekly blog on behalf of her Franciscan community.