Jesus reminds the Apostles that our service of God does not earn us special status; rather, our actions acknowledge with humility that all we have is a gift from the Lord. Simply put, our service is the least we can do…the real treasure is our love.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 32nd Week of the Year
Study: Consider a moment when you were held accountable to a task. What did it feel like?
Pray: Is there something that needs to be attended to in your life? Ask the Lord for guidance to carry it out.
Serve: How can offer support to someone who is working through a challenging task right now?
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
On this last weekend of Ordinary Time we have some interesting readings to consider.
Our faith assures us that the world will one day come to an end. This is not meant to scare us, but rather to guide us with the knowledge that our lives have meaning and purpose as we prepare in this life for the life to come. Furthermore, when we die we understand that there will be an accounting of how we lived the precious and holy gift of life.
It’s this notion of being accountable that I suggest as a reflection today. The Book of Proverbs extols the virtues of a hard working and compassionate wife, reminding the reader that “charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting.” What lives on are the virtues, prayers, gifts of the Spirit and graces which God pours into our hearts which we share with one another.
And while we know that there will be a Day of Reckoning, we do not know the hour; this insights reminds us to follow St. Paul’s advice to be “sober and alert” each and every day – ready and eager for the Lord’s return.
What’s more, when that day comes, we will be judged with the awareness of our own unique situation. Like the three servants in the Gospel, we have all been given different talents, opportunities, resources and skills. It is neither a comparison nor a contest; rather, we will each be judged by how we worked and waited with what God put into our lives.
The invitation today: Are we prepared for the Lord’s return? Have we attended to our duties and tasks, or do we have unfinished business? Are there situations that require our attention and care? Sooner or later, the Lord will come…may he find us ready and waiting.
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Note: This post was first published on November 13, 2017.
Both the first reading and the Gospel reveal how Wisdom is a precious treasure that can help us prudently prepare to face the uncertainty of life. May we pray for the gift of this virtue, especially when we find ourselves dealing with change and difficulty.
Mass Readings – 32nd Sunday of the Year
Jesus reminds us that we cannot serve two masters. Sooner or later, we must choose who (or what) guides and directs our lives.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 31st Week of the Year
Jesus offers a parable in Luke’s Gospel that highlights the need to make course corrections in our life through prudent actions.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 31st Week of the Year
Jesus offers two parables to illustrate how Heaven rejoices when we repent, revealing the positive power of this critical component of our Christian life.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 31st Week of the Year
The Psalm Response inspires us to turn to the Lord and allow God’s grace to flood our hearts with courage, wisdom and strength.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 31st Week of the Year
The first reading encourages us to cultivate the attitude of Christ as we humbly offer our lives out of love for one another.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year
Study: Consider a moment when you saw someone act in a wise manner. What did you notice?
Pray: Wisdom is a precious gift; pray for it every day!
Serve: How can you help someone facing a tough challenge today? Ask the Lord for the wisdom to guide you.
Mass Readings – 32nd Sunday of the Year
With just a couple of weeks left of Ordinary Time, we hear about the wisdom of God repeatedly in the readings today.
When we talk about the concept of wisdom we often refer to the ability to see the big picture. Wisdom gives us the ability to “see around corners” and anticipate circumstances; this particular virtue allows us to step back and take in events, seeing how they relate and connect with other situations.
And God offers it to us! This is a precious spiritual gift, one that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, and it helps us live each day in a vibrant manner. Without wisdom we can speak and act in ways that might have disastrous results, especially if we would have considered the ramifications and consequences that followed if we’d have only thought about other factors.
In order to apply wisdom to our lives we begin first with a strong foundation of prayer. The closer we draw to Jesus, the closer we connect with the source of all wisdom and understanding. As we thirst for the Lord we are nourished and sustained with God’s grace as we see with the eyes of Christ.
Wisdom then requires our action. Once we have insight we can then proceed to act in a manner that is guided by the nuances and sensitivities that confront us. We can act decisively and deliberately, aware of the situation and able to adjust and respond as needed.
This precious spiritual gift is for the asking…so ask! May we all call upon the Lord for this grace as we live our faith each day.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on November 17, 2017.
Jesus offers a parable about the value of a humble heart. May we let go of our comparisons in pride and as we draw close to the Lord’s love.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 30th Week of the Year
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Three Great Things 