Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – The Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle
The call of St. Andrew reminds us that the Lord continues to invite us to follow him and proclaim the Good News so that others can experience the saving love of Christ.
Note: these pictures were taken in Amalfi on my recent visit in Italy. Andrew is the patron saint of the town and the Cathedral.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent
Isaiah proclaims hope – that from a dead stump there will appear new life and the order of the world will change. Jesus invites us to look closely at what God is doing, as our hope in the Lord gives strength and meaning to how we live today.
Study: Is there anything keeping you from God or another person right now? What steps do you need to take to make it right?
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the strength to repent and seek forgiveness. Remember – the harder it is the more powerful the healing!
Serve: Is there some way you can be an agent of forgiveness? How can you bring people closer to God and one another?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist comes on the scene blazing like a torch as he exhorts the people to repent of their sins. He minces no words with the Pharisees and Sadduccees; rather, he makes it clear that the path to God leads through the good fruit of our actions.
John is blunt and direct. There is no spin in his message, no soft touch. He comes to us as a verbal bulldozer, seeking to carve out a direct route that leads to the Lord. I can only imagine what it was like to be in his presence, eager to hear his words yet feeling the sting of his speech. After all, repentance is a great thing to talk about…but often painful to put into practice.
And yet nothing brings about healing faster than forgiveness. When relationships are wounded and we find ourselves in a broken and fragile place, repentance clears the ground and allows us to rebuild our lives in an honest and direct fashion.
Repentance has some key components:
As we prepare in this Advent season for the birth of the Messiah, we have the opportunity to examine our hearts and consider what is not worthy of the Lord. Using a good examination of conscience or just the common sense in our souls we have the chance today to repent of our sins, seek forgiveness from God and one another, and live each day in the light and power of Christ.
John tells us that while he baptizes for repentance, the Lord will baptize us in Spirit and fire – allowing us to draw into the very heart of God’s love. Only through repentance will we be able to encounter the burning intensity of divine charity; for when we stand before the Lord whatever is not fitting will burn away. May we cast out whatever is not worthy, and prepare to welcome His holy fire with open hearts.
***************
St. John the Baptist Preaching, Luca Giordano, 1695.
Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Advent
All of the Scripture readings evoke a call to action; we are invited to get ready, be prepared, and attentive to the Lord and one another. May this Advent season – a gift of the Church – help us all to get our hearts and minds ready for the birth of Jesus Christ!
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 34th Week of the Year
Life is tough at times, and we can be overcome by exhaustion and distraction. Yet the Lord invites us to remain vigilant, asking for the strength we need to face each day.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Friday of the 34th Week of the Year
We acknowledge that at the end of time there will be a final judgment – where our lives will be examined and we will either be saved or damned in the light of our relationship with Jesus Christ.
**********
The Last Judgment, Michelangelo, 1536-1541, Sistine Chapel, Vatican.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Thanksgiving Day
Today as a country we practice what our faith in Christ commands: to be thankful for all that God has given us. Let’s count our blessings and be grateful for what we have. May we all thank the Lord for the gift of life and the chance to let the love of Jesus flow through our hearts. Happy Thanksgiving!
**********
Note: This picture of Msgr. Ed Meulemans and I was taken in July 2015. He is a great friend and mentor…and I am thankful for his presence in my life!
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 34th Week of the Year
The Scriptures today make it clear that life will have its share of difficulties and challenges. Yet as we we face our trials we look to the triumph of Christ for our inspiration to keep going when life is tough and persevere on the path that leads to heaven.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 34th Week of the Year (The feast of St. Cecilia)
The Lord reminds us not to be afraid of the uncertainty of life; rather, we embrace our faith and live with God’s grace and power…making the most of each and every day.
Study: Consider one thing you can do today to live your faith. What would it be?
Pray: Do you have any unfinished business that you need to complete? Ask the Lord for the strength and conviction to finish it.
Serve: Is there someone in your life who struggles with depression, fear, or doubt? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Advent
We start a new liturgical year in the Church (that’s “Year A” if you need to use the Lectionary for Sunday readings and “Cycle I” for daily Mass) with a vision of the end of time when the Son of Man comes in glory.
Several key points emerge:
Advent gives us a rich – but very short – opportunity to prepare our hearts for Christmas. All of these points listed above serve as excellent reminders regarding how we live each day fully invested in the present moment. We live for the Lord, following his commands, so as to be ready whenever and wherever our lives will take the next turn in the road.
For when God calls us into eternity we hear that the unity, peace, and joy we glimpse in precious moments in this life will come to fulfillment. United in the Lord, we will join the heavenly host when this world passes away.
I invite us all to consider how we might do one thing better each day – to be more focused, more aware, more present – so that we can give glory and honor to Jesus Christ. We follow the Lord with all our hearts; may we make the most of every day to live our faith to the fullest.
May this Advent be a time of blessing for us all!
Three Great Things 