Today’s readings remind us of the dangers of “jealousy and selfish ambition.” In the second reading, we are told that jealousy leads to disorder and a lack of peace. I think that many of us can find examples in our own lives, as well as in the world around us where we see the truth of this message.

I will never forget what one of my professors in graduate school said, “If we measure in small enough increments, everyone is getting better.” He was referring to clients attending counseling services and how slow progress can be at times. Now that I am out of graduate school and in the field, I see what he means. It is easy to get frustrated with ourselves and with others when we do not see the results that we desire or expect.

In my work as a counselor, people often come to meet me with the goal of being happy. Happiness is an interesting concept, especially given our fallen nature. I have not found a Scripture yet that promises permanent happiness to us on this side of Heaven. Sometimes we think that if we find the perfect job, significant other, or prayer practice that we will find lasting happiness.

This weekend we are celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary! These occasions are a great time to reflect on our relationship with Mary and the ways that she can assist with our mental health. We all grow up with imperfect parents. No matter how good our parents are, they are human, and humans make mistakes.

Mindfulness is a topic that often has a bad reputation when discussed among Catholics. It’s often associated with Eastern religions such as Buddhism and therefore cannot be utilized within our prayer lives as Catholics. However, this belief is false. Mindfulness is the practice of remaining conscious of the present moment.

When I talk to priests about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, they say that one of the most frequent things they hear in confession is, “I’m tired of coming back here week after week and month after month repeating the same sins.”

This week’s Gospel reminds us of what God can truly do with the gifts that we bring to Him. When I reflect on this Gospel, I like to think of the boy that brought the loaves and fish to share. With such a large number of people, his gift could have been perceived as insignificant and dismissed as a useless contribution.

In my line of work, I have met many people who describe experiences of counseling that were not productive or helpful and that left the person thinking that counseling was a waste of time. Whether it is an individual, couple, or a parent bringing a child, some people leave with a bad experience…

The Gospel reading this weekend provides us with a rich reflection on boundaries with others. Jesus calls for the disciples to shake the dust off their feet and move on if they are not welcome. It seems like it would be very tempting for the disciples to stay where they are unwelcome and try to convince people to repent. It seems like this would be the path of generosity, charity, and perseverance. However, while generosity and charity are very important and holy virtues in our faith, many people could benefit from learning about boundaries.

This week’s Gospel has always reminded me of the difficulty of changing one’s identity in the eyes of another. It is easy to think we know another person and to make judgments from this past knowledge.

What do you think of when you hear the word normal? It is very common to look at the norms that we perceive in our environment and then compare ourselves to them. When we do this, we often…