The woman who approaches Jesus meets no barriers or obstacles; instead she encounters the grace and mercy of the Messiah. May we look to the Lord in our need and trust in the power of his love.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 24th Week of the Year
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The kids at Cathedral School honor veterans, emergency service personnel, firefighters and law enforcement at a Blue Mass that calls upon our Guardian Angels for guidance and help in times of trial.
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The Lord’s power over life and death in the Gospel of Luke reminds us that Jesus is the Christ and Messiah. May we let his grace transform our hearts.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 24th Week of the Year
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Study: Recall a time when you were overwhelmed by difficulty. What got you through it?
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the courage and strength to face your challenges.
Serve: Is there someone you know who is struggling? How can you offer your support?
Mass Readings – 25th Sunday of the Year
Don’t you wish life would always be easy? Wouldn’t it be great if challenges and obstacles disappeared with a simple thought? What’s more, how about if evil, darkness, fear, and violence would vanish from the face of the earth?
I know: I will now wake up from my pleasant dream. Since the dawn of creation evil and sin have been part of our world, and for this very reason Jesus Christ died and rose. The death and resurrection of the Lord confronts the darkness and shines with the light of faith.
As Christians we can thus recognize two fundamental principles:
Simply put, this means that we have hope in the face of difficulty. God continues to give grace and strength, empowering us to face our fears and engage life with the faith to continue in the presence of adversity. We know that life is hard; we know that with the Lord’s help we can carry on.
Where do you find darkness and evil in your life right now? Where do the difficulties and obstacles present themselves? Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge these pitfalls and recognize how they tempt and distract us.
For the minute we understand our struggles, we are equipped with the knowledge to petition the Lord for the help we need. What’s more, as we understand the struggles of those around us, we can reach out with love of Christ to support one another with sincerity and genuine assistance.
May we honestly confront the challenges of life, trusting in the Lord for the grace we need.
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Note: This post was first published on September 15, 2015.
The Scriptures touch upon a common theme: responding with faith in a time of trial. Isaiah, James, and Peter all face difficult moments, and in their responses we can examine our own lives and consider how we draw upon our faith when life tests us.
Mass Readings – 24th Sunday of the Year
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Loving other people sounds like a wonderful thing…until we encounter a situation that is hostile, antagonistic, and angry. Yet when we strive to love others in these painful situations we find ourselves drawing near to Jesus, who teaches us to love our enemies and gives us the grace to do so.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 23rd Week of the Year
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Light comes from many sources and is crucial for our gift of sight. Fr. Andrew invites the Cathedral School kids to consider how to let the light of Jesus shine in their hearts and out into the world.
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As Jesus calls and empowers the Twelve to be Apostles, we see how the Lord continues to work in our lives…calling us to follow and then sending us into the world to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 23rd Week of the Year
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Study: Recall a time when you had to carry out a difficult task. Where did you find your strength? How did others respond to your actions?
Pray: Consider the challenges before you right now and ask the Lord for the wisdom and courage you need.
Serve: Is there someone in your life who is walking a difficult path? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 24th Sunday of the Year
My dad often used the saying:
“He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?”
It was a favorite line of his when he heard a lot of words but didn’t see much action. Fact is, most of the time our words signal our behavior; our actions prove it.
The Letter of James puts this notion of action into the context of faith: we demonstrate our faith by the works of daily life. Talking about our love for the Lord is good, but showing it consistently is crucial. Let’s face it – as disciples we are at our best when we are living examples of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Of course, sometimes living our faith is difficult, challenging, and painful. There are times when we are tested to keep going in the right direction, to stay true to our values and purpose, and to hang in there when we might be tempted to stop. Not only are we living witnesses, but the proof of our faith is often revealed in our actions when times are toughest.
Both Isaiah and Jesus testify that some paths will demand everything we have, even our lives. In these moments we trust completely in God for the wisdom, courage, and power we need.
As we walk the walk of faith we remember that we do not do it alone: the Lord continues to put people in our lives and strengthens us through Sacraments, Scripture, Prayer, and Fellowship. What’s more, there are times when we are called upon to support others on their walk – giving strength to those who struggle.
Whether we are leaning on another or lending a helping hand to someone in need…may we walk the walk, with Jesus Christ by our side.
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Note: This post was first published on September 8, 2015.
The Lord’s healing ministry reminds us that God continues to bring healing into our world today. May we examine our lives and reach out to others with the healing grace of Christ.
Mass Readings – 23rd Sunday of the Year
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Photo Credit: Son of God, 2014.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
