Lisa Brenninkmeyer's Blog, page 2

For Your Weekend: You're Causing Division

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 12:49–53

When I was twenty-one, I was newly returned to the Church and on fire for the Lord. It was an amazing, beautiful, and exciting chapter of my faith. But I think in many ways, if I'm being honest, I was insufferable for my family to be around. Not because my family wasn't Catholic, but because what I often thought was zeal and piety was really just judgment, pridefulness, and scrupulosity.

One night, during a college break, my younger sister and ...

For Your Weekend: Will You Let the Master Serve?

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 12:32–48

When I read the opening words of Sunday's gospel—“Fear not, little flock" (Luke 12:32 RSVCE)—I wondered how this blog hadn't landed in the lap of our dear friend and chicken aficionado, Laura Phelps. Undoubtedly, she would have had some beautiful wisdom about these tender words from our Lord and the lessons to be learned from a little flock of chickens. 

The image is so sweet and captivating that I was tempted to write about it myself. And thou...

For Your Weekend: Emptying Carts and Pulling Down Barns

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 12:13–21

Empty suitcases, Christmas decorations, golf clubs, youth sports trophies, stuffed animals, VHS cassette tapes, photo albums, baking sheets, art supplies, wrapping paper, Easter baskets, garbage bags stuffed with clothing donations: you name it, it’s in my downstairs closet. Determined to let go of the excess, detach from material things, and clear out the space, I try to make a trip into this abyss of clutter and chaos often, guarding myself f...

For Your Weekend: Ask, Seek, Knock … and Don’t Stop!

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 11:1–13

Some of my favorite memories of my children when they were toddlers were bedtime prayer time. “Okay, bedtime, prayer time!” I’d yell to get them scampering upstairs and into the bedtime routine. Baths, silliness, stories, and more silliness would often ensue. But when we finally quieted down, after the stories were read and the stuffies were placed just right, we would fold our hands and say our prayers. 

Teaching them the Our Father was one of ...

For Your Weekend: When You Feel Unseen in Your Serving

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 10:38–42

“Lord, do you not care?”

I read the words that spilled out of Martha’s mouth directed toward Jesus from this week’s gospel, and within my heart, a profound understanding resonated. 

Girl, preach. (That was me, not the Lord.)

If I weren’t already familiar with this passage, I would be expecting Jesus’ response to be one of compassion and understanding. Also, I would expect Him to nudge Mary up off the floor.

Martha desired not only to serve our ...

For Your Weekend: We’ve Been Robbed

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 10:25–37

“I can’t talk now, I am integrating chickens.” 

Add this to my list of “texts I never thought I’d send.” When the recipient shared that she had no idea what I was talking about, I explained that we were introducing our new flock of chickens to the old and that this required constant supervision because, as the chicken experts warn, things can go awry. This was news to me, but as a new backyard chicken owner, everything about these birds is news...

For Your Weekend: Let Your Joy Be Rooted in Heaven

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 10:1–12,17–20

Have you ever felt like your productivity defines your worth? As if your ability to accomplish and succeed and check all the boxes makes you more worthy, more lovable? 

You're not alone. So many of us struggle with it. Or at least go through seasons of wrestling with it. Even when I think that I've let go of the lie that my worth is performance-based, I catch myself slipping back into it. I see it in the way I question if I'm doing enough ...

For Your Weekend: When the World Wears You Down

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Matthew 16:13–19

Normally, at this point in the year, I don’t mind the blissful chaos of summer. I welcome the relief that comes with the ease of the season. But as I write this, I am far from relieved. I’m worn thin and worn out—not necessarily from the daily chores, schedules, or relationships, but from the world.

This world, as it is right now, is wearing me out.

Anyone else looking to the heavens, silently praying that Jesus might return today? 

My heart...

For Your Weekend: When You Consume More Guacamole than Jesus

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read Luke 9:11–17

Life lately has felt like feeding the five thousand. In other words, it has felt impossible. Appliances and people are breaking all around me, the weather has not been cooperating with outdoor events, and writing has felt like sprinting through quicksand. On top of all this, people I have been entrusted to care for continue to ask me, “What’s for dinner?” 

Fun fact: Not only do I have nothing left to give, but I also have no idea what’s for dinn...

For Your Weekend: Invited into the Mystery

Dig Deeper into Sunday’s Gospel: Read John 16:12–15

While working on my master's in theology, I took a course on the Trinity. In it, we reflected upon and discussed Andrei Rublev’s icon of the Trinity, one that would later be gifted to us after the completion of our first year, and one I still look upon often, as it draws me into the beautiful mystery of our triune God. 

It would be easy to write an entire blog on the symbolism and significance of this icon, but I will spare you the art history ...