Pause for a few moments to be still. As you breathe deeply, remember that you are in the presence of a loving God.

1 Corinthians 13:13

So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

When the pressures of life seem unbearable, it is natural to want to escape. The Church has a rich history of religious who chose to leave worldly concerns and turn their attention to God. Their choice was not to escape but to change their focus. The same change can happen to us when we focus on the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Faith allows us to believe and give ourselves totally to God; hope gives us the assurance that God's way will be done; and love frees us to give ourselves completely to others. Faith, hope, and love are the gifts poured out on us by the Holy Spirit.

How would my life be different if I lived by faith, hope, and charity?

Do I ever let my timetable or expectations cloud my ability to be hopeful? How can I encourage others to be aware of the work of the Holy Spirit that conveys each of these gifts?

(Turn the stresses from your life over to the Lord in prayer, using these words or those of your own.)

Lord, you know the stresses and issues that cloud my mind and heart. Send forth your Spirit that I may with greater clarity embrace and act upon the gifts of faith, hope, and love.