What Has Your Attention? - Fr. Pat McGrath, SJ 7.26.26

What's been occupying your mind these past few weeks? Is it your career? A relationship? A dream you've been putting off? Or maybe a worry or fear you can't seem to shake. What we consistently give our attention to slowly shapes the people we become. Some things energize us and bring a quiet sense of purpose, even when they're challenging. Other things quietly drain us. They keep us stuck in cycles of anxiety, comparison, busyness, or the constant pressure to prove ourselves, pulling us further from the life we were created to live. One of the signs we're moving in the direction God is calling us is that, even amid hard work, there's a deeper sense of peace. We begin to see the fruits of our efforts. But when we're investing our energy in things that aren't truly ours to carry, we often feel restless, exhausted, and stuck. And sometimes the hardest step is letting go of what's familiar—even when we know it's no longer serving us—because the unknown can feel frightening. Today, Father Pat McGrath invites us to pay attention to what has captured our hearts and gives us the courage to reorient our lives toward what God is calling us to do.