Vessel & Altar

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels.

Daily liturgical formation for Catholic women who pour out — and who need to be poured into. The vessel holds the treasure and pours it out. But the vessel also needs to be filled.

Start Free Trial See what’s inside ↓

What’s ready for you every morning

Today's Readings

First Reading, Psalm, Gospel — referenced and linked

Reflection

A substantive daily meditation written for Catholic women

The Challenge

A concrete call to action — something to carry into your day

One Prayer

A single prayer to anchor the day

Five minutes. Every morning.

Start Free Trial

This is what’s waiting for you every morning. Read the full reflection.

Yesterday's Reflection

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Readings

Read today’s readings at USCCB

The Reading

Sow for yourselves justice, reap the fruit of piety; break up for yourselves a new field, for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain down justice upon you. - Hosea 10:12

Reflection

The indictment ends with an invitation. The same prophet who described the false heart and the fruitless vine and the altars that became occasions of sin turns and says: break up a new field. It is not too late. The fallow ground is still breakable.

Sow for yourselves justice. The sowing is active and personal - for yourselves, not for someone else to do on your behalf. The piety that produces the fruit comes from the sowing that came first. And the breaking up of new ground is the labor that has to happen before the seed can go in.

Jesus named every one of the Twelve. He named Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus in the same breath as he named Simon who would be Peter. Each one was known before being sent. The naming is the calling. Being named and known before being commissioned - that is the shape of the vocation.

The Challenge

What is the fallow ground in your specific spiritual life right now - the practice that has gone to thorns, the prayer that has been replaced by something that produces less? Name it specifically. Break up one specific patch of it this week: the labor before the rain. And receive the naming: the Lord named you before he sent you, including the part that might not hold the authority faithfully.

One Prayer

Lord, let me break up the fallow ground before the rain comes. I name you as the one whose rain of justice falls on the seeking. And let me receive the naming - called before being sent, known before being commissioned. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us. Amen.