The words of John the Baptist serve as a reminder for all of us to let Jesus Christ take greater and greater control of our hearts.
Mass Readings – Saturday after Epiphany
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Category Archives: Christmas
Daily Mass: The will of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord reveals his compassion for the leper who begs to be healed in the Gospel today. May we trust in Christ’s merciful will for us in our need as we draw near to the one who longs for us to be made whole.
Mass Readings – Friday after Epiphany
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Photo Credit: Son of God, 2014.
Daily Mass: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Catholic Inspiration
As Jesus proclaims the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah in his hometown of Nazareth, we are reminded that through Christ we have the same Spirit in our hearts. Our task: to live it!
Mass Readings – Thursday after Epiphany
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Daily Mass: Take courage and be not afraid. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord’s words to the disciples speak to us as well: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” As we face the challenges of life may we look to Jesus for the grace we need to carry on.
Mass Readings – Wednesday after Epiphany
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Daily Mass: Building up Body and Soul. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord takes pity on the crowd and he nourishes them through teaching, compassion and food. Following his example, we are called to do the same as we help our brothers and sisters by building them up…body and soul.
Mass Readings – Tuesday after Epiphany
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The Baptism of the Lord
Study: Find out about your baptism. When was it? Who performed it? Who are your Godparents? Who else was present?
Pray: Thank the Lord for the gift of faith to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.
Serve: How can you live your baptismal call today? How can your faith inspire or assist another?
Mass Readings – The Baptism of the Lord
A few years ago I was having lunch when I ran into Fr. Bob Koszarek, a retired priest from our diocese. When I asked him what brought him out for lunch he said, “I am celebrating the anniversary of my baptism.” The comment struck me, especially when he followed it up with, “Do you know the day of your baptism?”
The answer is no. Yet as I prepare for Mass this week I have made a commitment to find out. We claim (rightly so) that baptism is a crucial sacrament in the Church – the gateway to all other sacraments whereby we are configured to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most people know if they have been baptized; my sense is that very few know the actual date.
Our faith is a precious gift – worth fighting for, worth dying for. Perhaps today we pause to recall just how precious it truly is…Jesus Christ poured out his blood on the Cross for us that we might have eternal life. His baptism was the revelation of the Trinity, where we hear the Father’s voice from heaven as the Spirit descends upon the Son in the form of a dove. Our baptism allows us to participate fully in God’s presence for the grace and guidance we need.
I invite us today to claim our baptism. Some simple steps:
- Thank the Lord for the gift of faith to know Jesus and live as a Christian disciple
- Embrace your faith through study and prayer
- Serve others in the name of Jesus Christ (and with his help and strength)
- Allow your life to bring Good News to the World
Our baptism is not a one time event. Rather, it is an ongoing expression of Christ working through us. May the Baptism of the Lord inspire us to live our faith with joy as we engage our lives with his power.
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Bautismo de Cristo, Juan Fernandez Nararrete; circa 1567, The Prado, Madrid, Spain.
Note: This post was first published on January 4, 2016.
Epiphany: Light that leads to action. Catholic Inspiration
While we all know the Magi who greet the Christ child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, we can sometimes take for granted that the light they saw led them to action. While knowledge is power, it is useless until it is applied; may the wise men inspire us to put the gift of our lives in service for the Lord.
Mass Readings – The Epiphany of the Lord
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