Like a hidden treasure or a pearl of great price, our faith is a precious gift that offers the most valuable return of all…eternal life in heaven. (I suggest that we all work for that…)
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 17th Week of the Year
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As the Lord explains the parable of the weeds and the wheat to the disciples, we are are reminded in a vivid way that our lives are accountable to the God.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 17th Week of the Year
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Study: Are there situations in life where you find greed present? Ask yourself what is the source of this excessive hunger for more.
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the grace to use your resources wisely.
Serve: How can you be generous with your life today?
Mass Readings – 18th Sunday of the Year
The Lord cautions us to “guard against all greed” in the Gospel today, yet another reminder of the timeless power of our faith to speak to the human heart. Let’s take a moment to break down some common aspects of greed:
Greed disregards the needs of others as the individual focuses entirely on self. Seeking more and more, it pushes other things aside in a quest to acquire. And while we often associate greed with money, the Lord’s warning against all forms of greed is apt…we can be greedy about so many things!
So what’s the cure? How do we combat greed in our lives? Here are some key ingredients:
By weaving these elements into our lives we cultivate a perspective that sees all resources as gifts from God that are to be used wisely and well. We have been richly blessed by the Lord! May we live and share our lives in such a way that Christ’s love shines through all that we do.
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Note: This post was first published on July 25, 2016.
Our relationships with the Lord and one another form the foundation for all our interactions and accomplishments. In good times and bad, we build up these connections, recognizing the crucial need to keep them vibrant and strong.
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
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The Lord’s parable of the weeds and the wheat makes it clear that at the end of time there will be an accountability of good and evil. May we be inspired to be counted among the wheat!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 16th Week of the Year
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Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples and unlocks for us the insights we need to confront our challenges and engage our faith.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 16th Week of the Year
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As James and John were striving for places of honor while the other Apostles were indignant, Jesus uses the situation to teach that the call of his disciples comes from offering oneself for service…even to the point of suffering out of love for others.
Mass Readings – Feast of James, Apostle
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The parable of the sower and the seed reminds us that there are many obstacles that seek to prevent us from following the Lord. May we cultivate our hearts so that Christ may raise up a rich harvest.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 16th Week of the Year
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The Lord teaches that those who do the will of his Heavenly Father are part of his family. May we claim this relationship as we put into practice our faith in Jesus Christ!
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 16th Week of the Year
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Study: Think about a best friend or cherished family member. What qualities do you find particularly precious?
Pray: Is there a relationship in your life in need of healing? Ask the Lord for grace, wisdom, and guidance to make it happen.
Serve: Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be renewed? What can you do to strengthen the connection?
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
A thumbnail sketch of the readings this week looks something like this:
In all of these readings we see the power of relationships at work touching hearts and changing lives. We are not meant to walk through this life (or the next) alone; rather, God calls us into communion and invites us to deepen the connections we have with the Lord and one another. Looking at it this way, the readings point out that a relationship with God makes many things possible:
Our relationship with the Lord is made possible through Jesus. For remember, God makes it possible for us to draw near, and God invites us to enter into this very unequal relationship to raise us up as the Lord’s sons & daughters. We’ve been “allowed in” to this intimate and tender connection with Christ.
And thus we are called to strengthen our relationships in two distinct ways – with the Lord and with the people in our lives. That means we are called to consider how we might spend a little quality time building and strengthening our connections. With the Lord that means Prayer, Sacraments, Service, and a Call to Holiness. With other people it means forgiveness, charity, “wasting time” with loved ones in wholesome recreation, and seeking to bring out the best in one another.
And if something is wounded or broken…if a relationship is in need of healing – then ask the Lord for the grace to make it happen! Remember: the Lord calls us into relationships. May we take the gift of today to strengthen these connections in our lives.
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Note: This post was first published on July 18, 2019.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 