Category Archives: Lent

4th Sunday of Lent: Open the Door of Mercy. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast – 4th Sunday of Lent

This Gospel parable is well known and applicable to our lives today.  There are times when we can identify with both sons – either in need of mercy or called to give it – and we find a Father who runs out to meet us where we are.  May we open wide the doors of our hearts…and encounter Mercy.

Holy Door


Daily Mass: Loving God and our Neighbor. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

With insights from four students in Mrs. Blomfeldt’s 1st Grade class at Cathedral School, Fr. Andrew discovers some practical ways to love the people in our lives.  (Hint:  Don’t bite your sister!  Clean your room, even if it’s as messy as a pig.)

1st Grade


Daily Mass: Listen to God! Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

The prophet Jeremiah calls us to listen to God – opening our hearts to the Lord’s word – and the Psalm reminds us not to harden our hearts.  May the the words of Christ inspire us to draw near and allow God’s grace to work in our lives.

listen


Daily Mass: Christ is the Fulfillment of the Law. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

The Gospel today reminds us that as followers of Jesus Christ we look not only to the Lord’s teaching, but also to the salvation history that came before him.  As the fulfillment of the Old Testament we can draw strength from the ways that God worked in life of the people of Israel, and we can apply these lessons to our world today.

OT

 


Daily Mass: Forgiveness. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

Lent continues to drive home the point that forgiveness is crucial for our faith – an essential ingredient in a healthy spiritual life.  Who do you need to forgive today?  Who do you need to seek out and ask for forgiveness?  Christ shows us the way and commands us to carry it out.

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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years.  Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

forgive


4th Sunday of Lent – Two Sons

A man & two sons

Study: Reflect on your life for a moment.  When was a time you really (REALLY) messed up?  When was a time you were upset that others didn’t “get what they deserve” when it came to punishment?

Pray:  What in your life needs God’s forgiveness and mercy right now?  Ask for the Lord’s grace.

Serve:  How can you reach out to others, to foster reconciliation and a new beginning?  How can you help heal a situation in your life?

4th Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Who doesn’t know the parable of the Prodigal Son?  This story told by Jesus has 3 main characters:

  • The Father – who reaches out to his sons
  • The Younger Son – who is reckless and wasteful in his sins
  • The Older Son – who is angry and unwilling to forgive his brother

Let’s start with the Younger Son.  He messes up – no question about that.  He presumes his inheritance, wastes it on sinful living, and is reduced to abject poverty through his own fault.  Finally, at the end of his rope he comes to his senses and asks for mercy, if only to be a servant in his Father’s house.

The Older Son is dutiful, hard working, and faithful.  He does his duty and carries out every command.  Yet when he hears how the Father celebrates his younger brother’s return he is angry…it’s not fair!

Finally the Father.  Note how the Father goes out to both of his sons.  The Father takes the initiative:

  • with the Younger Son he runs out to meet him and assure him a place in the household
  • with the Older Son he goes out to meet him to encourage forgiveness and welcome

Perhaps we might use the next few days to consider this simple question:  Which Son am I?  Have I made some really bad mistakes, caused harm, and wounded relationships with others?  Have I held on to a grudge, nursing old injuries, unwilling to forgive and seek reconciliation?  Or perhaps we are a mixture of both – making our share of messes and denying mercy to those in need.

Whatever we discover about ourselves, we will find our Father who comes to meet us where we are and lead us to a deeper level of grace.  May we return to the Lord in our need and be filled with the grace of healing reconciliation.

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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years.  Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

 


3rd Sunday of Lent – Repent – Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

3rd Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C

The Lord is blunt and direct in the Gospel today:  we are called to repent…or perish.  The life-and-death quality of this command reminds us that God’s grace is ready to wash us clean – if we open our hearts through repentance and turn to the Lord.  As God directed Moses and led the people from slavery to freedom, may we discover new life in Christ when we repent and believe in the Good News.

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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years.  Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

repent u-turn


Daily Mass: Jesus is the Cornerstone. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

With help from some 4th graders from Mrs. Peterson’s class at Cathedral School, Fr. Andrew looks at how God can take bad things and bring about great goodness.

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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years.  Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

4th grade


Daily Mass: Repent and Hope in the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man bring the urgent need for repentance to light.  The season of Lent repeatedly reminds us to turn away from our sins as we find our hope in the grace and mercy of God.

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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years.  Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

Hope


Daily Mass: Called to Serve. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Daily Mass Readings

Jesus teaches his disciples that to follow his example requires us to become servants, pouring out our lives for one another.

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If you are looking for more material to help you this Lent, you might consider this list of presentations I have offered over the last couple of years.  Feel free to check it out and share if you find it helpful:

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

serve