Midnight Mass Podcast from the Cathedral – 95 Minutes
Fr. Andrew’s Christmas Homily Podcast
Like a bridge that connects two shores, Jesus Christ comes into our world to unite us to God and one another. Fully human like us, he teaches us about God and guides us to heaven. Fully divine, he has the power to overcome sin and death and bring healing and reconciliation to our lives.
Merry Christmas!
Study: Consider your life. Are there any parts that are wounded?
Pray: Invite the infant Jesus into the humble stable of your heart. He is familiar with simple surroundings; nothing you have is too poor, and everything you offer will be warmly received.
Serve: Is there some way you can be a bridge that unites others this Christmas? Some way that you can unite, heal, or help?
The Readings of Christmas:
Midnight Mass Podcast from the Cathedral – 95 Minutes
Fr. Andrew’s Christmas Homily Podcast
The birth of the Lord celebrates a great mystery: God takes on our human form in the person of Jesus. Fully human and fully divine, the Son of God and the Son of Mary – Jesus comes into our world with a mix of what seems like incompatible qualities:
Why are these extremes so great? Why do we see in Jesus both the lowliness of our human limits and the heights of God’s glory? To put it simply, Jesus Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth.
Think about it. Because of sin we have been divided from God and one another. Isolated by fear, temptation, weakness, sin and lies, we often find ourselves cut off from the Lord and at odds with those around us. While the media is filled with examples of this division, we really only have to look into our own hearts to find the struggle that is part of the human condition.
And this is why Christ was born – to restore our relationships and unite us with a strength that is greater than anything we can do on our own. Born like us, he enters our world so that we can know God; as the the Son of his Heavenly Father he will one day destroy the power of sin and death when he carries his Cross to die and rise that we might have eternal life.
Jesus forms the bridge that allows us to span the void caused by our sins. He offers mercy and forgiveness to reconcile our hearts to God, and through this forgiveness our relationships on earth are renewed. We are united; we are connected; we are graced with divine love, peace, and joy.
Where are the gaps in your heart this Christmas? Where do you see the need for Jesus Christ to restore what was broken or wounded? Draw strength from the one who knows exactly what it feels like (he is fully human after all) and yet has the grace to make it whole (which comes from his power as the Son of God.)
And may this Christmas bring healing and hope to your heart! Merry Christmas, my friends!
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The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, Germany.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – (23rd of December in Advent)
Like Malachi and John the Baptist, we are messengers. What message are we sending? What messages do we seek? May others see Christ in the words we proclaim and the actions we offer.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – 22nd of December in Advent
Mary’s Magnificat proclaims God’s goodness. Her praise of God’s grace is understood against the backdrop of the challenges and sorrows she will face – and we can look at her example to hold on to the Lord’s blessings as we face the struggles of our lives.
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Madonna of the Magnificat, Sandro Botticelli; 1481, tempera, 118cm x 119cm, Uffizi, Florence, Italy.
Study: What are some of the blessings you find in your family? How has your family helped you to grow?
Pray: Who in your family could use a prayer right now? Take time to pray.
Serve: Is anyone in the family struggling? How can you help?
Family. That group of people we did not pick (God did) who are with us throughout the course of our lives. Some people come from big families, others are tiny. Every family has history, blessings, struggles, and unique qualities. Parts of family life are messy – parts are bliss.
The same is true for the Holy Family. A close reading of the scriptures shows the following:
And God was with them. Good times and bad, they carried on with the strength of the Heavenly Father who bestowed on them their Son.
May we do the same. In the ups and downs of our families we renew ourselves in the Lord (who really does understand family life) and trust that Christ will guide us in love.
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Holy Family, Matthias Stom. Circa 1640; oil on canvas; 945mm x 1245mm; Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya; Barcelona, Spain.
Fr. Andrew’s 4th Sunday of Advent Homily Podcast
Joy is one of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit that flows from the heart of Heaven. It bubbles up from the Good News that we welcome with eagerness and share with conviction. Two thoughts as we prepare for Christmas:
May the Joy of Jesus fill our hearts, transform our lives, and spread to those God sets before us today!
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – 18th of December in Advent
God sends the angel Gabriel to speak to Joseph in his dreams – the unguarded place in our mind where our personal walls and fences drop as we sort out problems. Perhaps like Joseph, we might look for the Lord to speak in our dreams..as we seek new ways to live our faith.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – December 17th of Advent
Our extended families often have a mix of struggles, blessings, and circumstances. Jesus is no different, and the Gospel today reminds us that just as God worked through Lord’s extended family he will work through ours.
Fr. Andrew’s Cathedral School Mass Homily
This time of year we often think of making a “wish list” for Christmas, but this Holy Season provides a wonderful opportunity to make a “blessing list” to remind us of the many ways that God has done good things for us!
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
A father asks his two sons to do a task:
Which one did the Father’s will? The one who acted. May we turn our “no” to God into a “yes” that is seen in our actions.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
