The exchange about marriage and divorce in the Gospel of Matthew reminds us that these topics have been challenging and messy from the beginning of time. May we call upon the Lord today for the strength to support the marriages around us and help those who face the pain of divorce with the compassion of Christ.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Jesus responds to Peter’s question about forgiveness with a parable that reveals the power of forgiveness as an intense way of life. It’s not easy, but it is the path that we walk to receive God’s merciful grace into our hearts.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Mary’s Magnificat of praise inspires us to live our faith with joy and power as we face all the circumstances of life.
Mass Readings – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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How do we measure greatness? Is it by strength, intelligence, resources or opportunity? Jesus shows the disciples today that greatness happens when we can become like children – trusting and allowing the Lord’s greatness to direct and empower our lives.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 19th Week of the Year (St. Maximilian Kolbe)
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Study: What are some of the things that make a dinner special for you? What makes it a feast?
Pray: Offer a prayer for those who go hungry this day – either because they lack food or the companionship to share it.
Serve: Is there someone you know with whom you could share a meal? How might you make your meal a feast with others?
Mass Readings – 20th Sunday of the Year
Growing up in a large Italian-American family, big dinners were a common occurrence. The usual suspects like Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving were typical; but family gatherings (with all the adults talking and the kids talking louder) provided numerous opportunities for people to gather and make the simple task of taking nourishment a beautiful experience for body, mind, heart, and soul.
Tables were set, special foods chosen, delicacies prepared in advance…all these steps to make the dinner something special, something extraordinary.
They were feasts.
Indeed, whenever we take the time and effort to make dining an experience, we create opportunities that touch us on multiple levels. Good food is augmented by delightful conversation, enlivened with beauty, and woven together with human hopes and dreams. A feast is not just an abundance of food; it is a rich expression of God’s goodness working through others to nourish our lives in profound ways.
All of the readings point to different ways the Lord sustains our lives:
Every Mass provides us with the opportunity to draw near the altar and be renewed through our reception of Holy Communion. Christ sets the table for us, inviting us to turn away from destructive and harmful forces, so that we might receive the grace we need to continue on the journey of life.
Come to the Feast!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Note: This post was first published on August 10, 2015.
In the Scriptures we see a common theme: God’s response to the grumbling, griping, complaining and murmuring of others. May we live each day, not feeding our fears, but feasting on the faith that comes from the Bread of Life!
Mass Readings – 19th Sunday of the Year
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Jesus casts out a demon that was rendering a boy and his dad in torment. As the disciples admitted their helplessness, the Lord exhorts them (and us!) to grow in faith.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 18th Week of the Year
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
A single grain of wheat teaches us about the journey from death to life and the abundance that God provides through our offering. May we have the courage to embrace our faith and put it into practice!
Mass Readings – Friday of the 18th Week of the Year (St. Lawrence)
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Poor St. Peter! One minute he is named by Jesus as the rock upon which the Church will be built, and the next minute he is chastised by the Lord for falling prey to temptation. Welcome to the spiritual life! Yet this spiritual battle of building up and tearing down is part of our journey of faith, inviting us to always keep our focus on Christ.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 18th Week of the Year
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
What gives you the strength to keep going, to persevere when opposition seems overwhelming? The Canaanite woman in the Gospel of Matthew offers us an example of persistence in faith as we follow the Lord in challenging times.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 18th Week of the Year (St. Dominic)
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 