Mary’s Magnificat is a song of praise about God’s goodness and mercy. As we prepare for Christmas, may this proclamation inspire us to count our blessings and opportunities to put our faith into practice.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mary, Elizabeth and John the Baptist all show the speed of a vibrant response to the coming of the Messiah. Their example inspires us to consider how our faith guides and directs our actions with the people before us each and every day.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
The Gospel of Luke recounts today the exchange between Gabriel and Mary. We know the details, and as we hear the specific names and particular locations we recall that God continues to touch our lives through this great account of salvation through our lives today.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Adoration of the Child, Honthorst, 1619-1620, Uffizi, Florence, Italy.
In the Gospel today we learn about the priestly lineage of John the Baptist. John’s ministry – calling people to repentance and showing them the “Lamb of God” – fulfills the priestly role and sets the stage for the coming of the Messiah.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Study: Recall a time when you had to make an important choice. What helped you?
Pray: Do you have a critical decision to make right now? Ask the Lord for guidance.
Serve: How can you assist someone who is facing a crucial situation? How can you offer support?
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Advent
We often think of angels as something out of a Precious Moments collection: cute, sweet and gentle. Yet the image we see in the Scriptures is often startling and overwhelming…after all, angels are always saying “Be not afraid!” when they show up.
Gabriel greets Mary and reveals the astonishing news of God’s plan for our salvation: Mary will be the mother of God as the Holy Spirit conceives a child in her womb. This is how the savior of humanity will enter into the world, taking on our likeness in all things but sin.
But note this: Mary had to respond. Although she was specifically chosen by God and prepared to become the mother of the messiah, she still had to give her consent. Her freedom to choose was essential in the plan of salvation. Why? Because the Almighty has not created us to be robotic slaves but free souls, souls that seek to grow in wisdom, courage and love.
God initiates the action, but he does not force us to act. Rather, the Lord invites us to respond so that we will grow, becoming more and more the persons we were meant to be.
This Christmas consider what the Lord is inviting you to do. Reflect on how God is working in your life and how you are being prompted to develop your life in new and powerful ways. Say yes to Jesus Christ, and see how the Lord will change your heart to become like his.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Annunciation, Bottecelli, 1481, Uffizzi, Florence, Italy.
The readings are filled with examples of God’s power, offering us hope, life and joy as we embrace the Lord’s grace in our lives. Where do we see Good News in our lives? How can we bring Good News to others? May these final days of Advent inspire us to live our faith!
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
The Lord explains how Elijah returned in the person of John the Baptist, and then Jesus goes on to say how he will suffer just like John. As we draw near to the Feast of Christmas, we remember how God so loved the world he gave His only Son…to teach us how to offer our lives for one another.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Photo Credit: Son of God, 2014.
We can be pretty good at finding excuses not to do something, yet the Lord – who never gives up on us – continues to invite us to follow him that we might have eternal life.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
When you cook, you need a certain amount of time to get prepared: clear the work space; make an ingredients list; set out your utensils and cookware. In a similar way we need time and attention to prepare to encounter Jesus Christ in our spiritual lives. May the example of John the Baptist inspire us to make the necessary preparations we need, and empower us to help others encounter the Lord as well.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
We all experience moments of feeling burdened, exhausted and worn out. What’s the answer? Jesus Christ! May we draw near to the one who knows us best and draw strength to face the tasks at hand.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 