Jesus teaches his disciples to be ready – vigilant and prepared – so that we can respond immediately when God calls us to offer our lives for service in the world.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 29th Week of the Year
***************
Monthly Archives: October 2019
30th Sunday of the Year: O God, be merciful to me a sinner!
Study: Consider a time when you experienced mercy. What did it feel like?
Pray: Are you struggling to be merciful to someone right now? Ask the Lord for help!
Serve: Is there an act of mercy you can do for someone in need today? How can you make it happen?
Mass Readings – 30th Sunday of the Year
The readings this Sunday could have been chosen for the Year of Mercy. Take a look:
- 1st Reading – “The Lord is a God of justice, who knows no favorites…”
- Psalm – “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”
- 2nd Reading – “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.”
- Gospel – Two men went to the Temple to pray…and the one who said, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner” was heard!
As Pope Francis constantly reminds us, the name of God is Mercy. Jesus shows us repeated examples of the mercy and love of the Father, inviting us to both receive God’s grace and then live with mercy toward one another.
It’s a simple message, direct and to the point. Yet we know from our own experience how hard it can be to practice mercy in our world today! We suffer injury, offense, misunderstanding and hassle in our daily interactions with one another. People get under our skin. We get angry. We lose our focus.
And thus this simple message continues to speak to our hearts, heal our souls, and guide us into the grace that comes when we foster forgiveness and pursue peace. Mercy is a practical application of the Great Commandment to love one another; mercy becomes our homework for holiness by which we put the example of Jesus into our own daily practice.
God’s mercy washes us clean and heals the wounds caused by sin. As we seek the Lord’s mercy in our lives, may we allow this gift of mercy to move through us and touch the lives of those we meet.
***************
Catholic Inspiration Archives
***************
Note: This post was first published on October 17, 2016.
Share this:
29th Sunday of the Year: Don’t give up! Catholic Inspiration
Don’t give up. Don’t. Give. Up. The Scriptures today show us the need to be persistent, call upon one another for help and keep praying each and every day for what we need. Keep fighting, keep moving forward…but don’t give up!
Mass Readings – 29th Sunday of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: Our public commitment to Christ. Catholic Inspiration
Luke’s Gospel reveals the supernatural consequences of acknowledging or denying Jesus Christ. May we embrace our faith and become living witnesses for the Lord.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 28th Week of the Year
**************
Share this:
Daily Mass: St. Luke shows us how to proclaim the Good News. Catholic Inspiration
Today the Church honors St. Luke, the Evangelist who wrote his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. A possible companion of St. Paul, Luke shows us that being a disciple provides daily opportunities in words and actions to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – St. Luke, Evangelist
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: Sin is the problem; Jesus Christ is the solution. Catholic Inspiration
Paul’s Letter to the Romans outlines the problem of sin in our world and how God offers a solution through the death and resurrection of Christ. May we put our faith in the Lord today, and embrace this precious gift of eternal life!
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 28th Week of the Year (St. Ignatius)
***************
Catholic Inspiration Archives
Share this:
Daily Mass: We stop judging others and acknowledge our sins. Catholic Inspiration
The Letter to the Romans is a powerful expression of St. Paul’s thought. In this passage we discover the danger of judging others and glossing over our own sins. Rather, we acknowledge our need for the Savior and embrace the grace of the Cross.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 28th Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: Focusing on the inside. Catholic Inspiration
It’s easy to sometimes focus on externals and miss the spiritual disciplines that are essential. May we take the time today to reflect on where we put effort in our lives as we follow Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 28th Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
29th Sunday of the Year: Don’t give up; keep going!
Study: Reflect on the last time you encountered a difficult situation. Where did you find the strength to continue?
Pray: Are you or someone close to you going through tough times right now? Ask God for renewed strength!
Serve: Are there people you know who are struggling right now? What can you do to support them?
Mass Readings – 29th Sunday of the Year
We often tell loved ones to “hang in there” when the going gets tough. God provides us with strength for the journey, and we see examples of this in the readings this week:
- 1st Reading – Aaron and Hur support Moses as he prays during a battle.
- Psalm – “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
- 2nd Reading – Timothy is encouraged to “remain faithful to what you have learned and believed.”
- Gospel – Jesus offers the parable of the persistent widow who confronts the dishonest judge.
Let’s face it: sometimes life is hard! In these moments we discover strength within us that we never knew before, but we also come to recognize how we need help from the Lord and those around us.
And while no one likes difficulty, it is often through our persistence in the face of obstacles that we grow and mature. Challenges can become opportunities in which we exercise our will to continue. Like athletes who train with weights, the resistance we face helps us become strong.
As you ponder these readings and consider the challenges of life, give some thought to these points:
- Is there something hard in my life that I need to face?
- Are there people in my life who will support me in the midst of challenges?
- Are the people I am called to support in their challenges?
- Do I pray every day for myself and others to face difficulties with God’s grace?
In the midst of tough times God is present with grace, wisdom and strength. May we call upon the Lord as we face our challenges today with persistence.
***************
***************
Note: This post was first published on October 10, 2016.
Share this:
28th Sunday of the Year: Gratitude, some of our best spiritual medicine. Catholic Inspiration
Two different foreigners offer their gratitude to God for the second chance that they received, reminding us that counting our blessings is one of the best spiritual medicines we possess to help us face the challenges of life.
Mass Readings – 28th Sunday of the Year
***************
Share this:
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: What we measure out to others will be measured back to us
- Daily Mass: What is growing in our hearts?
- Daily Mass: We join the Lord's family when we do the will of God
- Daily Mass: Confronting the darkness of evil
- Study, Pray, Serve: 4th Sunday of the Year
- 3rd Sunday of the Year: The light of Christ restores our life
- Daily Mass: Living our faith when the world wants to mock us
- Daily Mass: Jesus calls us by name for specific tasks in the world
- Daily Mass: We yearn for the healing power of Christ
- Daily Mass: Confronting the hardness of our hearts
Three Great Things 