Young Adult
Follow the link bellow to watch a witness by Leah Darrow, a Catholic speaker with a great message to share with us. Then use the questions below to reflect with yourself or a friend.
Leah Darrow - Made for Greatness
Leah Darrow - Made for Greatness
- Is there a time in your life that you have felt like you were a loser, worthless, or unlovable? What were the circumstances in your life that made you feel like that?
- Can you relate to the feeling that you are unworthy of God’s love and forgiveness? What makes you feel this way?
- Do you ever try to fill a void in your life with things of the world? What do you turn to first when you are upset? Do you use social media or television to escape or distract you from the reality of your life?
- What are different gifts or talents God has given you? How do you use them? For yourself or for the glory of God?
- If you were to stop and see your life from the outside, what would you see? Do you like what you see?
If done well, this prayer may take a little bit of time. It is a personal reflection over the scriptures and quotes that Leah mentioned in her witness. I would encourage you to use a journal to collect your thoughts, and find a quite prayer space at home, at a church, or in adoration.
The Prodigal Returns
Begin by reflecting on Leah’s story of her dad coming to get her in New York. She had expected him to scold her for the decisions she had been making and the way she had been living her life. But to her surprise Leah was greeted by her father with arms open wide, a smile on his face, and saying to her, “I am so happy to see you!” Are there things in your life that you are ashamed of or afraid to bring to God, do you feel like He cannot love you or accept you because of your sins?
Read the parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
Take some time to imagine yourself in this scene. Have you walked away from the Father? Why? Where has that decision lead you? Are you fulfilled and satisfied? What are you still lacking? Do you need the Father?
Now, imagine yourself standing at the end of a road returning back home. Imagine the Father running to you, embracing you, and bringing you back in. What does He say to you? What does He do? How does this make you feel? What do you say to him? What is his response?
The Father longs to have you return home and waits for you with a patient heart.
The Father’s Love for Us
Reflect on the following quote of St. John Paul II:
"We are not the sum of our weaknesses or failures. We are the sum of the Father’s love for us."
Do you look at your life in light of your failures or weaknesses? How would your life be different if you focused more on how much the Father loves you? How would your perspective of life change? How would your self worth change? What is one thing you can practically do everyday to remind yourself that you are the sum of the Father’s love for you?
Ask God to reveal to you His great love for you and your worth as His son or daughter
Made for Greatness
Reflect on the following quote of Benedict XVI:
"The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."
Read Matthew 6:25-34
It is tempting to settle into the comforts of our lives, to rely more on our money and material possessions than on God’s providence. Do you seek comfort and worldly stability in your life more than you seek a relationship with God? Are you living more for the comforts of this world or for the promise of heaven? Are there certain things in your life you make a priority over God? Do you choose what is comfortable out of fear and insecurity? Do you believe that God has a plan of greatness for your life? What is He calling you to? Have you put limits on what God is allowed to do with your life? Do you trust God to take care of you and provide for you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the comforts in your life that you put before Him. Invite God to break down any walls you’ve put up. Surrender your fear and doubt and trust God’s plan for you leads to life in abundance. As you end this holy hour take some time to sit in silence and let Christ simply look at you and love you.
The Prodigal Returns
Begin by reflecting on Leah’s story of her dad coming to get her in New York. She had expected him to scold her for the decisions she had been making and the way she had been living her life. But to her surprise Leah was greeted by her father with arms open wide, a smile on his face, and saying to her, “I am so happy to see you!” Are there things in your life that you are ashamed of or afraid to bring to God, do you feel like He cannot love you or accept you because of your sins?
Read the parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
Take some time to imagine yourself in this scene. Have you walked away from the Father? Why? Where has that decision lead you? Are you fulfilled and satisfied? What are you still lacking? Do you need the Father?
Now, imagine yourself standing at the end of a road returning back home. Imagine the Father running to you, embracing you, and bringing you back in. What does He say to you? What does He do? How does this make you feel? What do you say to him? What is his response?
The Father longs to have you return home and waits for you with a patient heart.
The Father’s Love for Us
Reflect on the following quote of St. John Paul II:
"We are not the sum of our weaknesses or failures. We are the sum of the Father’s love for us."
Do you look at your life in light of your failures or weaknesses? How would your life be different if you focused more on how much the Father loves you? How would your perspective of life change? How would your self worth change? What is one thing you can practically do everyday to remind yourself that you are the sum of the Father’s love for you?
Ask God to reveal to you His great love for you and your worth as His son or daughter
Made for Greatness
Reflect on the following quote of Benedict XVI:
"The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness."
Read Matthew 6:25-34
It is tempting to settle into the comforts of our lives, to rely more on our money and material possessions than on God’s providence. Do you seek comfort and worldly stability in your life more than you seek a relationship with God? Are you living more for the comforts of this world or for the promise of heaven? Are there certain things in your life you make a priority over God? Do you choose what is comfortable out of fear and insecurity? Do you believe that God has a plan of greatness for your life? What is He calling you to? Have you put limits on what God is allowed to do with your life? Do you trust God to take care of you and provide for you?
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the comforts in your life that you put before Him. Invite God to break down any walls you’ve put up. Surrender your fear and doubt and trust God’s plan for you leads to life in abundance. As you end this holy hour take some time to sit in silence and let Christ simply look at you and love you.
As the season changes, we see the bright colors of summer passing away before the cold blows in to stay...at least for a while. During your reflection, you may have looked at, or brought to light some things in your life that you need to "die to" in order to live out your call to greatness. Even the turn of the seasons show that there are things we need to let go to in order to experience the fullness of spring. The promise of new life is a promise Christ is making to us again and again.
So what habit, sin, or attitude do we need to "die to" this fall? Commit yourself to that one thing. If you are a symbolic person, catch a leaf, write what you want to be freed of, pray over it that God may bless you with what you need, and let it go in the wind.
Change is in the air and each step to a better version of yourself is a answer to a call for greatness in your life.
So what habit, sin, or attitude do we need to "die to" this fall? Commit yourself to that one thing. If you are a symbolic person, catch a leaf, write what you want to be freed of, pray over it that God may bless you with what you need, and let it go in the wind.
Change is in the air and each step to a better version of yourself is a answer to a call for greatness in your life.