After the release of Peter and John, the community prays for a bold faith to speak and act in the name of Jesus.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter
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Category Archives: Easter
Daily Mass: A prayer for bold and fervent faith. Catholic Inspiration
3rd Sunday of Easter: The power of the Risen Lord.
Study: Where do you find your faith renewed? What activities build up your relationship with the Lord?
Pray: Is there someone in your life who is searching for God? Pray that the Lord gives you guidance to say and do what is helpful.
Serve: Is there a situation or activity where your time and talent can help others grow closer to the Lord? How can you get involved?
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Easter
The readings this week are filled with power and zeal. The resurrection of Jesus inspires the early Church, and their encounter with the Risen Lord in the breaking of the bread testifies to the enduring grace we receive every time we come to Mass. Take a look:
- 1st Reading – Peter boldly proclaims the Good News to the crowd
- Psalm – “Lord, you will show us the path of life.”
- 2nd Reading – the resurrection renews us to live by God’s grace
- Gospel – Jesus explains the Scriptures and is made known in the breaking of the bread
A pattern emerges: an encounter with the Risen Lord changes our lives in dynamic and life-giving ways. Peter is no longer timid or afraid to stand up for Christ; Christians conduct themselves with faith and hope; the disciples have their minds opened and hearts burning as Jesus is present to them in the breaking of the bread.
It is the depth of this change that bears close inspection. These people are renewed and empowered with a strength and conviction that can inspire us today. They burn with the flame of faith, and through the example and witness of their lives the Gospel message will spread like wildfire.
This is our task today. As we look to the early Church, we acknowledge that NOTHING was easy for them. Their trust in God put them in the path of tremendous obstacles, trials and persecutions. And yet with God’s grace their triumphed…and we can, too.
I’d like to suggest a simple two-step process:
- Where do we encounter the Lord in our lives today?
- How can we invite others to experience what gives us life?
The first question requires us to pause and reflect on the prayers, sacraments, fellowship and other life-giving activities that renew our hearts. The second question challenges us to step out in faith and invite those we know and love to encounter the Risen Lord. May the faith of the early Church inspire us to proclaim the Good News with passion and joy!
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Note: This post was first published on April 24, 2017.
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2nd Sunday of Easter: God’s Mercy strengthens our community. Catholic Inspiration
The Acts of the Apostles reveals a powerful example of communal life that challenges us to examine our relationships at every level and interaction. Community is crucial…but not always easy! May we call upon God’s Mercy for the help to make our communities flourish.
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
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Daily Mass: The steadfast conviction of St. Peter. Catholic Inspiration
The boldness of St. Peter is not for a moment. Rather, he displays a steadfast conviction to live his life for the Lord Jesus…not quitting, not giving up…for the resurrection of Christ has changed his life forever.
Mass Readings – Saturday in the Octave of Easter
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Daily Mass: St. Peter responds to opposition. Catholic Inspiration
St. Peter’s bold response in faith to the opposition reveals an example we can follow as we face the challenges before us today.
Mass Readings – Friday in the Octave of Easter
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
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Daily Mass: St. Peter leads people to Jesus. Catholic Inspiration
As the people draw near to St. Peter, amazed by the healing of a crippled man, he redirects the attention on himself to give glory to Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – Thursday in the Octave of Easter
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Daily Mass: St. Peter heals in the name of Jesus Christ. Catholic Inspiration
The healing miracle in the Acts of the Apostles reveals the power of the resurrection as Peter acts in the name of Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – Wednesday in the Octave of Easter
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Daily Mass: St. Peter preaches repentance. Catholic Inspiration
St. Peter exhorts the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We hear these words in this Easter season because repentance is an ongoing part of our life in the Lord.
Mass Readings – Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
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Daily Mass: St. Peter teaches the faith. Catholic Inspiration
St. Peter – transformed by the resurrection of Christ – now speaks the truths of the faith with conviction…inspiring us to share our faith with one another.
Mass Readings – Monday in the Octave of Easter
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2nd Sunday of Easter: The Church proclaims the resurrection!
Study: Consider a time when you experienced joy in the presence of others. What caused it?
Pray: Draw near to the Risen Lord and ask for His grace in your heart to face whatever is before you today.
Serve: How can your life strengthen your family and friendships right now?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Easter
The readings today give us a snapshot of some key points that surfaced shortly after the Lord’s resurrection:
- 1st Reading – Thankful praise and sharing in community life
- Psalm – “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, His love is everlasting.”
- 2nd Reading – Christ’s resurrection lets us rejoice in the midst of trials
- Gospel – Doubting Thomas
What do we see? Praise, gratitude, thankfulness, sharing, community life, overcoming doubt, facing trials, and rejoicing! In other words, this is what happens to a group of people who have been transformed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And I want to live like this.
Frankly, I want all of us to live like this. Filled with God’s grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, engaging life at full throttle, dealing with difficulty through the power of faith….is there any other way to live?
So…in the light of these concepts that emerged from the fledgling Church…what’s keeping us from this? Has the resurrection of the Lord “sunk in” and touched our hearts? Do we understand what it means to say “The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed!” as followers of Jesus Christ?
Do we get it?
We all have obstacles, challenges, and the reality of temptation and sin in our lives. That was true for the Early Church as well. But note this: they changed. In the light of the Risen Lord their lives were forever altered: praising God, facing hardship, working together, filled with joy.
This is our invitation today, and it works in three simple steps:
- Accept the resurrection of Jesus Christ
- Bring the Lord’s power into your heart
- Change whatever is not worthy of Heaven and live in his Light
There is no better way to journey through this life!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Note: This post was first published on April 17, 2017.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: The Church thrives in the face of persecution
- Daily Mass: The martyrdom of St. Stephen
- Daily Mass: God gives us strength and peace
- Study, Pray, Serve: 4th Sunday of Easter
- 3rd Sunday of Easter: Christ meets us where we are and leads us
- Daily Mass: Our service of others reveals our love for Jesus
- Daily Mass: We are on the right path when we stay close to the Lord
- Daily Mass: We must obey God
- Daily Mass: God so loved the world!
- Daily Mass: Our faith in Christ unites us in heart and mind
Three Great Things 