St. Peter’s call to Jesus across the water offers us a number of aspects of fear as it appears in our hearts. From terror to doubt, from panic to illness…Christ comes and strengthens our faith so we can respond to his saving gift of grace.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 18th Week of the Year
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Study: What are some of your regular chores? Which ones do you find boring, dreary, dull, or difficult?
Pray: Take a moment to count your blessings. Consider the many ways you have been blessed by God.
Serve: How can you help someone with a difficult chore? How can you assist another with a challenging task?
Mass Readings – 19th Sunday of the Year
Every summer my sister and I had a standard routine during school vacation. We would get up, have some breakfast, and face the dreaded work list. Our mother was the master of list making – with her perfect penmanship, she would write out the chores that needed to be done before Amy and I could go down to the beach for some fun. We would groan and complain,”This is SO HARD!” while mom just smiled and reminded us that we all have work to do to keep the house running.
One time when I was feeling particularly oppressed, I had the gall to ask, “What did you do?” and I discovered that my folks:
In other words, I quickly discovered that my life – even with my terrible chores – depended completely on them.
Both Elijah and the crowds in the Gospel discover a similar lesson today. Elijah was grumbling and the people were murmuring, but God fed them (both physically and spiritually) with food for this life and the next.
The point is simple: our lives are completely and entirely dependent upon God. While it is true and important to note that we all have work to do, it is crucial to remember that we have this work because God allows it. Our lives are supported every moment by the grace of the Almighty; the Lord sustains our lives so that we might offer them in our work…the “chores” that we get to do. What’s more, God nourishes us so that we can do these chores with strength, courage, and wisdom.
For several weeks now we have heard how God feeds us with heavenly bread; perhaps today we might take a moment in gratitude to thank the Lord for what we have received, so that we can do today’s work with an open mind and a willing heart. May our chores remind us that they are part of life – a gift which we have received from God.
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Note: this blog was first published on August 4, 2015.
Like water and air, we require food to survive. Our physical needs point to similar spiritual nourishment, and Jesus responds by telling us that he is the Bread of Life. May we hunger to receive the Lord regularly in the sacrament of Holy Communion!
Mass Readings – 18th Sunday of the Year
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The cruel death of John the Baptist offers a brutal reminder that our world is filled with forces of destruction. In the face of injustice we keep our eyes fixed on the Cross of Christ, so that we can acknowledge the evil around us with the strength of the Lord who triumphs over it.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 17th Week of the Year – St. John Vianney
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The Gospel today reminds us that seeing and listening to Jesus is not enough to foster our faith; rather, we already have what we need to respond to the Lord in our hearts for the grace that God extends to us all.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 17th Week of the Year
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Like fishermen who cast their nets and then sort their catch on land, Jesus teaches that we will be sorted at the end of time. Knowing that there will come a day when we will judged can help us live each day as a precious gift that is meant to be lived with faithful conviction.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 17th Week of the Year
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Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of Heaven is a treasure so precious that nothing else compares to it. It’s a good reminder for us when we are distracted or tempted by other things that seek to lead us astray.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 17th Week of the Year (St. Alphonsus Liguori)
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Sometimes we might be tempted to downplay the presence of evil and final judgment…no so, today, in the Gospel of Matthew! The Lord explains a parable with grim consequences for those who choose to follow the path that leads to death and eternal damnation.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 17th Week of the Year (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
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Study: Reflect on a time at Mass that profoundly spoke to your heart. What stood out?
Pray: Prepare your heart for your next Holy Communion. What do you need to bring to Jesus Christ?
Serve: Is there someone who you can encourage to return to Mass? Can you help them draw near to the table of the Lord?
Mass Readings – 18th Sunday of the Year
Jesus said to them,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” John 6:35
We know that our bodies need food to sustain life; what we discover today is that our souls need spiritual food to sustain eternal life. Where do we find this bread from Heaven? Jesus Christ!
Have you ever experienced that feeling when you are exhausted? Out of gas? Wrung out? It is often a sign that we require rest and nourishment; we come to the table to be fed.
The same is true with our souls. There are times when we are intellectually drained, feeling lost and confused, doubting ourselves and uncertain about our next decision. We can feel crushed, worn out by the demands of life and overwhelmed by the challenges that confront us.
What we require is a different type of nourishment – we look to a Person who loves us, understands us, and provides us with the grace and strength, the peace and perspective, to be renewed for the next step on our journey. Christ feeds us with his Body & Blood, so that we might become more fully his disciples; we come to the altar to be fed.
What are you hungry for today? What challenges do you face? May we draw near to the Lord in Holy Communion and allow his love to transform our lives – for this world and for the world to come.
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Note: this blog was originally published on July 27, 2015.
Hunger is one of our most basic needs, a reminder that we are dependent on a steady diet of decent nutrition to thrive. This need also applies to our spiritual lives, and we come to the Lord who feeds us with bread from Heaven.
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
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Three Great Things 