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By: Molly Kreikemeier & Lila Lowery Hello, we are taking a break from our normal blog post as exam week approaches. We just wanted to send you a message about managing stress through difficult times. December brings some of the most stressful times of the year. While the season is supposed to be filled with joy and hope as we await the birth of Jesus, many are instead struck with the reality of stress. Students rush to fit in as much information as possible for exams. Many also become busy decorating their houses and buying presents for their loved ones. Often, during the season, we forget what Advent truly is about awaiting the birth of Jesus, and we find ourselves full of stress blinding our vision. Managing stress feels like such a daunting task, but there are many tips to help manage stress in simple yet useful ways. To start, you can make sure you are taking breaks and providing time for yourself to breathe. Piling on work and studying too hard only leads to burnout. Sometimes, it can be difficult to take a break without falling into a pit of procrastination, so here are activities that can help ease your mind. Exercising is a great way to provide yourself with a break without distracting yourself. I like to go on walks outside and get some vitamin D to help keep my serotonin levels high. Another simple way to give yourself a break is to listen to music. Music can definitely be a calming source during a stressful situation. Tidying up your workspace can help clear your mind and allow you to find clarity. Lastly, during exam week, make sure to stay attuned to your body's cues: eating healthy, limiting caffeine, getting at least 7 hours of sleep, exercising, and staying hydrated are all ways to make you feel less tired and sluggish during the exam season. If you begin to really struggle, remember to pray to God for help and guidance in your time of need. God is always there for us, especially during times of stress. He invites us to cast our anxieties on Him because He cares for us. As it says in 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." Turning to God in prayer can provide immense comfort and peace. Philippians 4:6-7 also reminds us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." These verses encourage us to trust in God's plan and seek His presence when we feel overwhelmed. I hope these tips and reminders help you manage stress during this busy season. Remember, you are never alone, and God is always there to support you. I’d like to end this short blog post off with a prayer to reflect on:  Dear Lord, as I take this exam, I thank you that my value Is not based on my performance, but on your great love for me. Come into my heart so that we can walk through this time together. Help me, not only with this test, but the many tests of life that are sure to come my way. As I take this exam, bring back to my mind everything I studied and be gracious with what I have overlooked. Help me to remain focused and calm, confident in the facts and in my ability, and firm in the knowledge that no matter what happens today you are there with me. Amen. – a Salesian Prayer

By: Molly Kreikemeier “Hence, I will boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell within me. For this reason, I rejoice when I endure weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and distress for the sake of Christ. For it is when I am weak that I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10). Happiness can sometimes feel like an abstract concept. Often, we find ourselves gravitating towards a mindset that waits to be happy. This constant feeling of never being good enough can stray us from the path of true happiness. I sometimes even find myself saying, “I will be happy when I get my grades up.” I was talking to someone once, and she told me she felt she had to wait until she stopped sinning to go to mass. Waiting for happiness can prolong the miserable sentiments and essential dread that rings through your life. It becomes hard to be happy when there is always a hardship or a struggle blocking the path. In the context of Corinthians, Paul felt like he was not a true apostle because the super-apostles claimed he was not that spiritual and didn’t have hyper-spiritual experiences. Paul talks to God, and God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12: 9). Through Corinthians, we learn that God doesn’t want us to wait to be happy but rather we should rejoice when we are challenged. This is because it is through our weaknesses and struggles that the power of God makes us strong. A simple way to find happiness in our lives when we are struggling is through gratitude. Practicing gratitude can help deepen our understanding and help us see how God works in mysterious ways. For instance, if you feel like you are struggling in school, pray to God and thank Him for the opportunity to learn and grow through education. Each day, try to tell God five things you are grateful for. This practice can shift your focus from what you lack to the blessings you have, helping you to see the strength in your weaknesses and the joy in your challenges. Gratitude can transform our mindset, allowing us to rejoice in our hardships and recognize glimpses of God in our everyday lives.  Sources: “Epistle: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (Pentecost 6: Series B).” 1517.org , 2014, www.1517.org/articles/epistle-2-corinthians-121-10-pentecost-6-series-b . Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

By: Dorothea Weingart “10 And as he sat at dinner[a] in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting[b] with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners” (Matthew 9:10-13). As humans, we commonly fall into the idea that only if we are good enough, or if we sin the least, God will love us more, however, as seen, I think that, that is the exact opposite. Jesus chooses to find the people who need the most mercy and the people that are the farthest away from Him, to truly focus in on. He wants all of us to draw near, and will spend time with those who are the most “spiritually sick”. He cares about us, and wants us to remain near to Him.  I think one of the first takeaways from this passage is seeing Jesus choosing to sit with the sinners. From the beginning, Jesus wants to spark curiosity from others around Him. He is choosing to spend His time with the people that are least socially accepted. The people that most would think not to sit with. As humans, we like to put ourselves on higher pedestals from others “socially” below us. We want to have some ease of mind that we are not the lowest and that there is something that falls under us. However, it’s important to continuously remind ourselves that we do not have true judgement. We do not have the capacity to always choose what’s fully right from wrong without the grace of God. In some cases, being poor in life can be a way more fruitful and desirable thing. The less we have, the more dependent we are on Christ and His timing. Wealth, if used incorrectly, can be one of the most dangerous temptations that separates us from Christ.  Thinking back into the historical context of this passage, often religious sacrifices were animals. However, this was harder for poor people, because the animals were often very expensive. For some, they could only sacrifice small birds, whereas the rich would sacrifice larger and more expensive animals. Jesus says ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’; He doesn’t want to see our riches and wealthy lifestyles displayed to Him on earth, because He knows not everyone can attain that (Matthew 9:13). Let me break this down for you, Jesus welcomes all. He invites all to Him, because He loves us. Let me ask you this, if God loves us all, and wants all of our attention, would religion only be accessible to just the rich? No, anyone should be able to participate. Sacrifices aren’t meant to be a bragging fest, but a way to let go of yourselves and give up for the greater glory of God; With this, humility is necessary. Something the rich or righteous, in this passage, lacked. God wants our willingness to not show off to others the amount of money we hold in our pockets, but to realize that the first step to true ‘wealth’, is in recognizing that we are far too weak, and that God holds the key to our eternal life.  Embracing our flaws and receiving help from those around us seem to be central themes arising in this passage. So I challenge you; Go to God in prayer, and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal your true soul. Let the Father, the creator of all, engulf you in His mercy. Recognize His mercy and love for you. And after, use that experience as an example, to give that love to others. Being merciful to your community is one step closer to receiving mercy from our Father. The more you are merciful with others around you, the more grace is given to you from God. He is love and has more love than you can ever imagine. Accept it! If you woke up today, God has something big in store for you. Explore the relationship you have with Him, deepen it, and never give up.  So never stop humbling yourself or accepting help from God in prayer. He desires your raw and authentic self, not the person you hide behind. He doesn’t want your earthly wealth or riches, but rather the true gifts that flow from your soul.