Where is your heart anchored? What is shaping your days, your choices, your relationships? Are you rooted in something deep and lasting—or are you feeling unsteady, tossed around by the noise of the world? If our hearts are in God, if we are deeply rooted in faith, then we are like a tree planted by water—strong, nourished, and able to endure. But if we are disconnected, distracted, or overwhelmed by fear, we can wither. Last week, Pope Francis wrote to the U.S. bishops about the tensions and divisions we see around us, urging us to live with charity, clarity, and solidarity—to build bridges that bring us closer together rather than allowing fear to pull us apart. Today, Father Pat McGrath reflects on this call to be rooted in God’s love, to simplify what distracts us, and to enter into the work of loving—especially when it’s hard.