One Faithful Yes at a Time

By Maribeth Gieseke

I was raised Catholic. My parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors were mostly Catholic. We were not rich but always had what we needed. We never missed Sunday Mass and my parents went to Mass more often, even daily when they could. I also remember my parents making time to go to Confession every once in a while.  We said a family rosary frequently but not necessarily daily.  I also remember my mom and dad taking us to visit Jesus in the church, just to pray and encouraging us to sit with Jesus. We prayed often to St Anthony and St Jude.  Mother Mary and the Sacred Heart were also part of our quick prayer life when we needed something. 

My family ensured that I encountered Jesus every day.  My parents were not just cultural Catholics but believed this stuff, so did I. But I did not know much about the Bible until I watched the 700 Club, a Protestant TV show. I learned so much. But I always knew Jesus was present in the Eucharist. 

However, I remember in my 20s though thinking “Why am I Catholic?” and deciding just as Peter did in John 6: 68 -69, “Master to whom shall we go, You have the words of eternal life.”  I knew I could not leave Jesus in the Eucharist. 

Did that decision change my life? Not in any huge way. But I did live my life as a Catholic, although a quiet one and one with many sins. I became a nurse to help people, although I can’t say I was a perfect nurse (no one is). Eventually I became a wife and mother, not knowing that this vocation holds many crosses as well as the advertised joy. We were parishioners at St. Max and raised our kids Catholic, did service projects, prayed the rosary sometimes and participated in adoration once in a while.

I did not completely realize until recently that every good thing I did was done because of Jesus in my life. He was living within me because I was intentionally doing some of the “right” things. I had been living my life as a disciple of Jesus simply by doing the good things that Jesus through the Holy Spirit encouraged me to do. 

As my children grew and needed me less, I felt called to do more for God. My husband and I slowly became more involved in some of the activities at St. Max.  I decided to learn how to offer prayers publicly by working with Disciples on a Mission to pray at the festival. Since increasing our openness to God, my prayer life is more robust, more comforting and I am more joyful as well as more motivated to help others.

After prayerfully discerning the need to leave my job in October of 2024, I needed to find ways to be busy and I wanted to help at St Max. A friend encouraged me to join the Disciples Radiating Christ group. Disciples Radiating Christ is an introduction to discipleship that the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is implementing. So, I joined and watched the 4 sessions.

I believe these sessions helped me to solidify the path that Jesus and the Holy Spirit have set before me. It is a concrete way to figure out where this relationship with Christ started and where it is now (encounter). Disciples Radiating Christ emphasizes that everyone has a story, even me. (You read my story above – nothing exciting). Finally, it gives some methods to decide how to start or continue on this lifetime path of discipleship, through stewardship and service.

Disciples Radiating Christ has solidified my conviction that everything in my life has been a gift from God, even the hard times. God is in every sunset, every friendship, every tear, and in my time at St Max. God has led me on my path of discipleship by living my life as a Catholic, although not as quiet as I once was. Now I am praying for others in private and in public (although not standing on street corners…yet), volunteering where and when I am able and living my vocation as a wife, mother and grandmother (so cool), all with the goal of putting God first.

I am not a saint, although I hope to be, some day. I am a disciple though, living every day knowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit are the breath and fire beneath my very normal sometimes boring life. Disciples Radiating Christ is not a program but new way of life, so everyone can find God in our lives, share our stories and help others to know and share the love and mercy of the Father, Son and Spirit every day.