Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent
The Gospel proclaims that we receive from Jesus what he received from his Father in heaven. As Lord and savior, Christ will judge us at the end of time by our deeds, reminding us that we have a precious opportunity today to live our faith with power and joy.
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Christ with Thorns, Carl Heinrich Bloch, before 1890, Hope Gallery, Salt Lake City, USA.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
Anyone who farms or gardens knows the crucial need for water. Essential for life, water also calms our souls and heals our hearts. Today’s Old Testament and Gospel readings remind us that Christ is the flowing water that brings life to the world.
Study: Reflect on a time in life when you made a grave mistake or serious sin. How did you face it?
Pray: Is there something that is keeping you from the Lord or another person? Ask the Lord for the grace to reconcile.
Serve: Is there a situation in your life that offers you a chance to extend mercy? Consider ways to make it happen.
5th Sunday of Lent Readings – Year C
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast
Have you ever been clearly in the wrong? Made a mistake that was self-evident and completely your own fault? Don’t worry…you’re in good company. As much as we don’t like to admit it or claim it, we have all fallen short of the Lord’s commandments. We sin.
There are a couple of easy traps that we need to avoid:
What we find in the Gospel today is something in between that exemplifies God’s Mercy. The woman caught in adultery (where’s the man?!) is dragged before the Lord and forced to stand out in her shame as the people try to trap Jesus.
His response is profound. “Let the one among you who is without sin, be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one the realization of their own sins causes the crowd to dwindle away; they have all fallen short, and they have all been in need of mercy.
Yet the Lord is not done. After all, he is the only one without sin in the group! He alone has the right to carry out judgment. Yet this is what he says:
“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin.”
Note both points:
In light of this Gospel I suggest the following takeaways:
As we embark on the last weeks of Lent, may we never fear to approach the Lord in our sins. For as we honestly claim our faults we draw forgiveness from the one who came to save and set us free.
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The image is taken from the movie The Passion of the Christ.
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.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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.)
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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
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:
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:
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 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
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 