Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Podcast Homily (Feast of St. Leo the Great)
St. Leo’s life offers us three points to consider for our own faith:
St. Leo, PRAY FOR US! Help us to turn to Jesus Christ as we face the blessings and burdens of life.
Study: Recall a couple of times in your life – when you were prepared and when you were caught off guard. How did if feel? What was the outcome?
Pray: Do you have unfinished business in your life? Take your challenges to prayer and ask the Lord for wisdom and courage.
Serve: Is there a broken or wounded relationship in your life? Perhaps you might make the first move to bring healing and reconciliation to the situation.
33rd Sunday of the Year Readings
The first reading and the Gospel today are direct and to the point: there will be hardship and distress. Tribulation is part of the journey. Get ready!
And yet we can sometimes get caught in the (mistaken) sentiment that because we follow Jesus Christ everything is suppose to be sunshine and daisies. On the contrary – our faith puts struggle front and center, reminding us that we are called to be ready and prepared for the unexpected. Because just in case you were hoping for some secret sign from the Bible when the world will end, Jesus offers one of my all-time favorite lines of Sacred Scripture:
“But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
No one knows the hour….this is a very big deal. Remember these points:
So how do we live? The answer is simple – TODAY we speak and act so that if the Lord called us right now we would be ready. TODAY we say:
We live our lives one day at a time – we can’t go back and we can’t go forward – it is only in the present moment that we can do and say. Thus, if we stay shackled to the past we can’t live today, and if we keep putting off what is needed we are wasting the moment we have. TODAY is our opportunity to address any unfinished business, to right wrongs and tell the people in our lives how we feel about them. In other words, today we squeeze out every opportunity we have to love the Lord and one another…
…for of that day or hour, no one knows.
Fr. Andrew’s 32nd Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast
It’s all about blessings. God lavishes graces and blessings upon us…let’s take time to acknowledge them! And then out of gratitude…let’s consider how we might be a blessing to others! Consider today how we might share our time, talent, and treasure to bless the life of another…drawing us closer to the Lord and one another.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Thursday of the 31st Week of the Year)
Sometimes we need to be reminded that the Lord welcomes us every time we turn from our sins and seek God’s grace. If there is anything holding us back (you know…fear, doubt, worry, shame, sin, or some other spiritual junk) then perhaps today is our chance to return to the one who loves us completely.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year)
Chapter 12 in Paul’s Letter to the Romans offers a beautiful exhortation to live our lives infused with the love of Christ. Below you will find the link to this daily Mass reading – make a copy and post it on your bathroom mirror as a powerful reminder!
Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year Daily Mass Reading
Study: Reflect on a moment when you gave generously of your time, resources, or money. What was the cost, and what did you discover?
Pray: Take time to thank the Lord for the blessings lavished upon you. Cultivate gratitude in your heart and express it in your life.
Serve: Who has the Lord placed in your life to serve? How can your life be a blessing of generous giving to another?
32nd Sunday of the Year Readings
The theme of generous giving runs through these four readings this week:
Let’s look at how this theme surfaces throughout these readings.
Earthly blessings. The psalm reminds us that God is the source of all that we have, and it begs a simple point: Are we grateful? I know firsthand how easy it is to take even the simplest blessings for granted. All it takes is to lose something that is part of our routine (health, work, friendship) to rediscover the gift that was right in front of our eyes.
Spiritual Salvation. Jesus Christ offers his life once-for-all that through his death and resurrection we might have eternal life. The Father gave his only Son that we might be saved. This profound act of divine generosity speaks of a love that is vast and all encompassing. God does this for us!
Profound human generosity. These two women gave from their need, not their want. It was not surplus food or money…it was their livelihood. It is crucial to note that no gift is too big or small in God’s eyes; what’s crucial is the relationship between the offering and the person – is it given as a token or as something of value?
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Do we take time to acknowledge the blessings we have? No really…do we pause in the course of our day – in a moment of prayer – and thank the Lord for the gifts we have been given? Let me be clear: without gratitude generosity means nothing, for without thankfulness we have no appreciation and respect for the gift that is given.
And equally crucial point follows: Do we give generously? Do we share what we have in a manner that shows our prayer and reflection? All gifts, great or small, are precious in the Lord’s eyes when they are offered in a spirit of love; all gifts, great or small, lose their significance when they are given without respect for the sacrifices and blessings they represent.
Simply put: we give generously out of gratitude for God’s generous gifts to us! Take a moment this week to pause and reflect on your blessings. Then consider the ways that you can offer your life. Whether it is with time, talent, or treasure – God will take our gifts, generously given, and make them a blessing in the world.
Fr. Andrew’s Solemnity of All Saints Homily Podcast
“Do you want to be a saint?” When we look at the lives of the saints we see people just like us – young/old, rich/poor, possessing a wide variety of skills, experiences, and abilities. May their example inspire us to live our faith in Christ…so we can one day rejoice with them in heaven.
Fr. Andrew’s Thursday of the 30th Week of the Year Podcast
St. Paul lays out a problem and a solution in the 1st Reading today. In the face of sin and death, Jesus Christ conquers all. As we face the struggles before us, may we turn to the Lord for the grace we need. After all, the victory is His.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Tuesday of the 30th Week of the Year
The images of a mustard seed and yeast remind us that little things can bring about big changes. The spiritual virtue of Hope empowers us to face our lives with the grace of Christ, who will work through us in little ways to make a difference in the world.
Study: Consider the people who inspire you. What qualities do they possess that speak to your mind and heart?
Pray: Invoke your favorite saint(s) in you daily prayers. Remember that they are cheering you on the journey of faith!
Serve: How can you be an example and witness to others? How can your life draw others closer to the Lord?
Solemnity of All Saints Readings
When you think of saints, what comes to mind?
How about this: survivors!
Saints come in all shapes and forms – men & women, young & old, rich & poor, with a variety of abilities, challenges, and opportunities. Yet all of them share some common traits:
We celebrate the saints this Sunday, recognizing in their lives the hope we have in Jesus Christ. The Lord makes the path to heaven possible, and the saints have walked on the way before us. They made it! Not because they were perfect, but because they turned (and returned) to the Lord.
They are our inspiration. In our struggles, in our blessings, in our mistakes…we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. We have hope that the one who bridged the gap between heaven and earth will continue to support and guide us on our journey to eternal life.
Do you have favorite saints? Call upon them for help! Are you unfamiliar with the saints? Check out any of the links below and get started learning some more about the supernatural heroes who cheer us on to eternal victory.
Mary and all the Saints…PRAY FOR US!
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All Saints Picture, Albrecht Durer; 1511, oil on panel, 441 x 500 pixels, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 