The Lord’s parable of the three servants challenges us all to acknowledge the gifts we have been given AND use them to the best of our ability.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 33rd Week of the Year
***************
Monthly Archives: November 2019
Daily Mass: The Lord upholds us! Catholic Inspiration
We all face days that overwhelm us. Sometimes we can feel like there is nothing left, and we have nothing else to give. It is at precisely these moments that we realize that it is the Lord who sustains us, upholds us, and guides us!
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 33rd Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe
Study: Consider a crucial time when you asked and received help. How did it feel?
Pray: Is there anything that is keeping you from receiving God’s grace? Ask the Lord for the courage to ask!
Serve: Do you know someone who is struggling to receive mercy or forgiveness? How can you help them grow in faith?
Mass Readings – The Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe
The Gospel image is both brutal and tender, revealing God’s saving grace and mercy in the midst of the Passion of the Cross. The good thief (who tradition names Dismas) calls upon the Lord saying, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
How these words speak to my heart! In a single phrase the King of Kings and Lord of Lords becomes approachable as Christ bridges Heaven and Earth, crushes Hell and invites us to enter into eternal life: “Today you will be with me in paradise!”
The good thief shows both humility and boldness. He knows his sins, and yet he speaks to the Lord with a gentle conviction, asking for a grace that he cannot achieve on his own. His trust inspires us as we acknowledge our own sins and draw near to the one whose death and resurrection saves and sets us free.
May these words strengthen our faith as we call upon the Lord. May they help us to seek Christ before all else as we repent and call upon God’s grace. May we truly say:
Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!
***************
***************
Note: This post was first published on November 14, 2016.
Share this:
33rd Sunday of the Year: Persevere in faith to face our fears. Catholic Inspiration
What are we afraid of? As we embrace our faith in Jesus Christ we have the power to confront our fears and engage our life for service in the world. Fear points out our weak spots so that we can call upon the Lord for the grace we need to live for God.
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: Remember the blessings. Catholic Inspiration
The Psalm Response serves as a wake up call: “Remember the marvels the Lord has done!” Take a moment right now and do a quick inventory of the blessings in your life. Do it…then say a prayer of gratitude!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 32nd Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: Live each day like it’s the only day. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord speaks in the Gospel of Luke about the suddenness of God’s action in human affairs. The invitation is simple: be ready! Since we do not know when the Lord will call us from this life, we live each day as if it were the only one…thus living every day as a precious treasure from God.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 32nd Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: The beauty and power of Wisdom. Catholic Inspiration
Wisdom is a gift from God that is holy, precious and powerful. The pursuit of Wisdom leads us to encounter the beauty of life with terrible clarity, yet with a joy and tranquility that overflow our hearts with bliss. Seek Wisdom!
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 32nd Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: The healing that draws us closer to Christ. Catholic Inspiration
The Samaritan who was healed from his leprosy by Jesus now draws near to the Lord in gratitude. May we look for Christ’s presence in our lives and swiftly respond as we grow closer to the Lord and one another.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 32nd Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
Daily Mass: The souls of the just are in the hands of God. Catholic Inspiration
The reading from Wisdom (often heard at funerals) inspires us to encounter even the most difficult times with confidence in God’s guidance and strength. Whatever we have to face today, may we trust in the Lord!
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 32nd Week of the Year
***************
Share this:
33rd Sunday of the Year: Facing the tough times.
Study: Consider a time when you felt paralyzed by fear. What helped you to act in a healthy way?
Pray: Do you have a situation where you are struggling for the right words to day? Ask the Lord for the wisdom to speak.
Serve: Is someone struggling in your life right now? How can you help them persevere?
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
In the Gospel Jesus responds to the questions of those who are wondering when the destruction of the Temple will happen. Through the course of his dialogue three key points surface:
- Do not fear.
- Trust in the Lord for the wisdom to speak.
- Persevere!
These points are crucial – they touch so much of our daily lives! How often have we experienced moments of fear, or searched for just the right words to say, or looked for strength when we felt weak? This advice is solid, practical, and helpful.
And yet while we may very well find ourselves nodding in agreement, we also know that this is often hard to do. Fear can suffocate us and manipulate how we speak and act; sometimes we speak and live to regret what we said or how we said it; and there are days when we wonder why are we doing what we do.
The Lord understands. Christ faced his fears in the Garden of Gethsemane; he spoke to the hearts of those who persecuted him, even as he persevered on the way to Calvary.
Today we examine our lives for vulnerable spots where we are weak and prone to temptation. It is here that we call upon the Lord – to face our fears, trust in God’s wisdom, and keep going with a strength that is greater than our own.
***************
***************
Note: This post was first published on November 7, 2016.
Share this:
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- 4th Sunday of Advent: Our faith gives strength to our lives
- Daily Mass: Let the Lord enter!
- Daily Mass: We receive the Good News in our hearts
- Daily Mass: We strive for God's justice and peace
- Daily Mass: The family tree of Jesus as told by Matthew
- Daily Mass: Christ invites us to do the Father's will
- Daily Mass: Teach me your ways, O Lord
- Study, Pray, Serve: 4th Sunday of Advent
- 3rd Sunday of Advent: Christ fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah
- Daily Mass: Lord make us turn to you
Three Great Things 