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Many times people ask the question “How do I live a deeper spiritual life?” I usually respond by suggesting that they pray daily, reflect on the teachings of their faith and the Bible, receive the Sacraments on a regular basis and engage in practical charity for others.

Connie returned home to Chicago and continued to live a long memorable life. Hers is the story of a young woman who loved her country and fellow human beings even during the horrors of war and is worthy to remember.

Connie helps nurse the survivors of the Dachau Concentration Camp back to health.

Connie's troops advance into Strasbourg and work in the hospitals that had been run by the German forces. Then they continue through Germany and arrive at Dachau.

While Connie was quartered in Rome she "buzzed" the Vatican with a young American pilot and met Pope Pius XII. Later in France, she had a close encounter with General Charles de Gaulle.

Connie's adventures continue as she is deployed to North Africa and Italy. Her faith sustains her and comforts the soldiers she nurses.

Heroes are often not seen or known. Good deeds are often not recognized, nor or they necessarily dramatic. I share this story with you to remember that simply doing the right thing can be heroic. For the next few weeks join us as we follow Connie's life as a nurse who served in WWII. This week Connie enlists and begins her training.

Christ reminds his apostles that they are privileged to have these things [the mysteries of God] explained to them, and to see the workings of God. This introduces the Greatest Commandment, to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself, and how it is the core of our moral life.

As followers of the Lord, we need to keep moving forward in our goal to share the promises of Christ. We need to stay positive, focused, and purposeful, yet take time to enjoy God's creation He has given us.

The Lord taught the disciples not to stay where they were not welcomed. The Good Lord does not want us to spend time with people who are not open to the Word that we have to share, but rather keep positive and keep moving forward to find those who do want to hear and live the message that has been revealed.

The Lord taught the disciples to “greet others with peace.” Our purpose as disciples is summarized by that statement. We should be a people of peace and reconciliation.

We have been given so much to share with others. People who want to listen to you may well be called by God to do so. Do not focus on your living circumstance. God has put you in the right place and amongst the right people to minister.

We are called to share together the ministry that Christ has given us. We need to know our talents and strengths and use them for the common good, according to the will of God as best we can understand it. Interestingly from the beginning,

The emphasis in the instruction “Take only what is needed” is an interesting reverse of the previous instruction “Take nothing that is not needed”. The additional caution is made to “greet no one along the way”.  Scripture encourages us to say only the “good things” we need to hear.

The Lord instructed the disciples to take nothing that was not needed. He likewise challenges us to live in a simple manner; to put aside our normal ways and desires for the sake of others and to serve Him.

Christ instructs His Apostles to "cleanse lepers". Bringing people back into relationship with God, and with other people, is a way to resolve the problem of the "leper".

The disciples were instructed to “raise the dead.”  This miraculous sounding instruction, which sounds impossible, reminds us that “all things are possible with God.”  The understanding of life means a great deal more than merely physical life. We need to be alive emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

 In being open to what is good, or Godly, we naturally put aside what is evil.  In this way we “cast out demons”.

The Lord was concerned for his own people and instructed the disciples to go first to the "lost sheep" of the House of Israel. We need to help people find their way back to a meaningful relationship with God.  The best place to start is right at home.

Begin with Prayer - Our Lord instructed the disciples to pray before they began their mission work, especially for vocations and to prepare the way for the coming Lord. We should begin all we do in prayer.