The Lord’s parable about the landowner who hires workers throughout the day offers us an insight into how God continues to extend grace and mercy to us throughout our lives.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 20th Week of the Year
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
The Gospel of Matthew highlights how the temptation of riches can undermine the central place of the Lord in our lives. Rather, we are invited to constantly examine what is most important in our hearts as we seek to put Christ first before all else.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 20th Week of the Year
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Study: Consider a time when you were personally invited to participate in an event. How did it feel? How did you respond?
Pray: Is there a difficult situation or decision confronting you right now? Ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom.
Serve: Are there people in your life who are struggling to respond to a circumstance in life? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 21st Sunday of the Year
Here are some key points that surface in the readings this week:
A crucial theme emerges from the first reading, psalm and Gospel around the global call to all nations to draw near to the kingdom of God. Language, race, color, and creed are not obstacles but rather variations of the diversity of God’s creation. Simply put, all people are called to draw near to the Lord. The invitation is open to everyone.
Of course, not everyone will listen and respond. Some will reject the message, others will get caught up in distractions, while still others will pursue things that are contrary to a life in Christ. Thus it is crucial to note that while all are invited, each person has the freedom to choose his or her own unique path in life.
The second reading to the Hebrews helps us to see the challenges of life as a form of discipline – where we face obstacles and grow stronger in God’s grace – which helps us grow as disciples. Here the focus is not that life will be easy, but rather that in our trials we draw closer to Jesus Christ and become more completely sons and daughters of God.
How is the Lord calling you today, and what will be your response? Where are the challenges in your life…and how will you respond? We recognize that God’s invitation and daily difficulties come to all of us. Today we reflect on how we respond to the Lord in a faithful, vibrant way.
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Note: This post was first published on August 15, 2019.
The Letter to the Hebrews describes our life as a great race before a cloud of witnesses. Life is difficult, yet with God’s grace and the help of people, angels and saints we can face our struggles with the conviction that we will cross the finish line into Heaven.
Mass Readings – 20th Sunday of the Year
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Rebuking the disciples, Jesus calls the children to come near so he can bless them. It’s a powerful image for us as we strive to be a source of Christian faith so our kids can know Jesus and be blessed by him today.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Jesus speaks about the reality of divorce in the Gospel of Matthew. As we deal with divorce in our lives today, we constantly work to build up marriage even as we walk with those wounded when it doesn’t work out.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Jesus offers three key insights that profoundly impact our spiritual lives in practical ways. The hard part? Putting them into practice every day.
Mass Readings – Wed. of the 19th Week of the Year (St. Maximillian Kolbe)
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