A Catholic priest since 1997, Fr. Andrew Ricci is currently the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI. His website "Three Great Things" can be found at studyprayserve.com and his podcasts can be found under "Catholic Inspiration" in the iTunes store.
During the storm on the sea the disciples cry out in fear. Jesus calms the storm and comforts them, reminding us that when fear threatens to overwhelm us we seek the one who gives us strength.
1st Reading – Zechariah offers a prophecy about Jesus
Psalm – “I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.”
2nd Reading – Paul teaches that the Spirit of Christ dwells in us
Gospel – Christ offers rest to all who labor and are burdened
When you think of all the ways that God could choose to be revealed to humanity, perhaps nothing seems at first more shocking than the tender humility that the Messiah reveals. God does not overwhelm our senses with awesome power; rather, God gets under our radar and lovingly touches our hearts without force or pretense.
Jesus Christ comes into our world:
Meek and riding a donkey (not a stallion at the head of an angelic army)
Bringing comfort and healing (as opposed to a war cry and battle plan)
Offering his Spirit so that we might be transformed into newness of life
No wonder the Psalmist could offer praises to God! The Lord is approachable, gentle, accessible and understanding. Jesus Christ meets us in our most wounded and vulnerable places, for through his Cross he has experienced the full range of human pain…and redeemed it.
So come to the Lord. Embrace the one who meets us where we are and longs to heal our pain. May we let go of our worries and fears; may we let the Lord take us by the hand and lead us into newness of life.
For many years Fr. Andrew has offered a Summer Challenge to his parishioners to limit time in front of a screen (TV, Computer, Smartphone) and rethink what we do with the gift of our lives; consider what you might do for the next four weeks – and enjoy the glory of summer – in order to evaluate your use of screen time. (36 Minutes)
St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that our participation in the life and death of Jesus Christ brings us eternal life. This Good News is our legacy as disciples and our inspiration to offer our lives with the hope and strength of God’s grace.
A leper comes to Jesus and receives healing, encouraging us to look into our hearts to discern where we are wounded so that the Lord might heal us as well.
These two great saints made an enormous impact in the Church, even as they encountered hard work and confronted their own weaknesses and sins. May we look to their example and trust in the Lord for the grace we need to face the challenges of life.
The fruitfulness of our lives offers a useful indication regarding the state of our souls. Whether its our heart or another’s, may the Fruits of the Spirit help guide us on our journey of faith.
There is a lot of Good News in the readings this week:
1st Reading – Elisha offers hope to an aging couple
Psalm – “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”
2nd Reading – Paul reminds us that we have died and risen with Christ
Gospel – Christ invites us to put Him first in our lives
As much as the world might try at times to make us think that bad news sells, deep in our hearts we long to hear Good News – words that inspire, give us hope, and energize our lives.
Good News reminds us that the Lord has a plan for our lives and invites us to trust as we make Jesus Christ the center of what we say and do. Good News is not “pie-in-the-sky” that says just hang on long enough as you’ll get your reward; rather, we keep going because every day (good or bad) has unique lessons that can draw us closer to God and one another. Good News proclaims that not only is there something fantastic at the end of the journey, but that the Lord himself will accompany us every step of the way.
Where do you see Good News in your life right now? Where have you recognized Jesus Christ at work in your life? Take a moment to thank the Lord for the blessings you have and help others to see the ways that they have been touched by God’s grace. In other words: proclaim the Good News!