Monthly Archives: November 2017

Daily Mass: Hustle, hard work and Heaven. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Friday of the 31st Week of the Year (St. Leo the Great)

A lazy steward is praised by Jesus.  Why? Because he worked hard and made sacrifices, reminding us that sometimes we can be more eager about earthly things than eternal ones.  May we hustle and work hard for the praise of God in Heaven.

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The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Ezekiel and the Psalmist show how the temple is a source of living water that brings forth life; Jesus speaks of his own body as a temple, and as his followers we discover that we are built upon Christ as the great foundation.  May we work together to continue to proclaim the building up of God’s kingdom here on earth as we serve the Church which Christ founded.

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Daily Mass: Love fulfills the Law. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 31st Week of the Year

Paul reminds us in the Letter to the Romans that the commandment to love our neighbor both sums up and fulfills the law.  Now all we have to do is live it each and every day.

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Daily Mass: The Body of Christ. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year

St. Paul teaches that we are part of the Body of Christ, and as members of this body we work with and for one another.  What’s more, Jesus explains in a parable that the Kingdom of Heaven is open to many that society might not recognize as belonging to this body.

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32nd Sunday of the Year: The wisdom of God.

Study: Consider a moment when you saw someone act in a wise manner.  What did you notice?

Pray: Wisdom is a precious gift; pray for it every day!

Serve: How can you help someone facing a tough challenge today?  Ask the Lord for the wisdom to guide you.

Mass Readings – 32nd Sunday of the Year

With just a couple of weeks left of Ordinary Time, we hear about the wisdom of God repeatedly in the readings today.

  • 1st Reading – “Resplendent and unfading is wisdom.”
  • Psalm – “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
  • 2nd Reading – We have hope that Christ will raise us up from death to life.
  • Gospel – Jesus offers a contrast between wisdom and foolishness.

When we talk about the concept of wisdom we often refer to the ability to see the big picture.  Wisdom gives us the ability to “see around corners” and anticipate circumstances; this particular virtue allows us to step back and take in events, seeing how they relate and connect with other situations.

And God offers it to us!  This is a precious spiritual gift, one that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, and it helps us live each day in a vibrant manner.  Without wisdom we can speak and act in ways that might have disastrous results, especially if we would have considered the ramifications and consequences that followed if we’d have only thought about other factors.

In order to apply wisdom to our lives we begin first with a strong foundation of prayer.  The closer we draw to Jesus, the closer we connect with the source of all wisdom and understanding.  As we thirst for the Lord we are nourished and sustained with God’s grace as we see with the eyes of Christ.

Wisdom then requires our action.  Once we have insight we can then proceed to act in a manner that is guided by the nuances and sensitivities that confront us.  We can act decisively and deliberately, aware of the situation and able to adjust and respond as needed.

This precious spiritual gift is for the asking…so ask!  May we all call upon the Lord for this grace as we live our faith each day.

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31st Sunday of the Year: Listen, Learn and Live. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – 31st Sunday of the Year

Both the prophet Malachi and Jesus exhort the people to take to heart God’s commands.  As we Listen, Learn and Live we grow as disciples; may we draw near to the Lord, the Church and one another…listening for the wisdom that will help us put our faith into practice.

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Daily Mass: Humbled & Exalted. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 30th Week of the Year

As the Lord observes people positioning themselves for places of honor at a banquet, he uses the opportunity to teach about pride and humility, inviting us to avoid making comparisons and seeking a simple approach.

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Daily Mass: Put first things first. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Friday of the 30th Week of the Year

Jesus uses a healing as an opportunity to teach about how we can put God first in our lives, even when it means we break a few rules.

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Daily Mass: The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls). Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) 

(Note: there are many choices for today; this link offers a few options.)

Today we pray for all who have died, sometimes still grieving their loss, and sometimes smiling as their memory warms our hearts.  What’s more, our prayers are part of the communion we share in Jesus Christ, and we offer them for those who have gone before us…that they might meet us one day in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.  And let the perpetual light shine upon them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

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School Mass: The Solemnity of All Saints. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – The Solemnity of All Saints

When athletes compete in a stadium, the cheering crowd inspires and encourages them to do their best.  In a similar way the saints inspire us with their example – they cheer us on from Heaven – and at the same time remind us that we can join them as we embrace the challenges of this life with our eyes fixed on Jesus…our coach, trainer, medic, and greatest fan.

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