Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle
St. Paul’s conversion shows how God calls us to make changes in our lives as we draw close to Jesus Christ and proclaim the Good News. The Lord reaches out to us in our weakness, inspiring us to turn away from our sins and become living witnesses to the world.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of the Year (St. Francis de Sales)
Jesus teaches in the Gospel today that all who do God’s will are part of his family. Through prayer, Scripture, sacraments and fellowship we become spiritually fruitful as we offer our lives to the Lord.
Study: How do you recognize a humble person? What qualities do you look for in others?
Pray: Do you struggle with pride (the opposite of humility) in some aspect of your life? Ask the Lord to soften your heart.
Serve: Is there a way you can help someone without calling attention to yourself? How might you do a random act of kindness today, without any desire for personal acknowledgement?
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of the Year
Let’s take a quick overview of the readings this week:
Throughout these readings the notion of humility surfaces, and this virtue often serves as a foundation for our life of faith. Here are some reasons why…
First, humility sets us in right relation with God. About the time we get caught up in ourselves, something happens that derails our plans and reminds us that we are not the center of the universe. When we see our lives in a larger context (the country, the world, the solar system…you get the idea) we suddenly discover that we are in fact very, very small. As the creator of all we look to the Lord with a deeper understanding and consideration that our lives – a bit of dust for a blink of an eye – are nothing compared to the glory and grandeur of God.
Second, humility sets us in right relation with others. Every person we meet is created in the image and likeness of God, and our lives are sustained by the Father’s will alone. The same grace that forgives us our sins also extends to our sisters and brothers…and if the Lord lavishes mercy upon all in their moment of need, then perhaps we might want to cut them a little slack in their shortcomings as well. Simply put, we can be kind, patient and forgiving with others as God has been with us.
Third, humility helps us honestly assess our human hearts. Seeing ourselves in proper relationship with the Lord and one another, we can embrace our lives (with their blessings & burdens) and live our faith in a genuine and engaging way. We see our sins with greater clarity, comprehend God’s mercy more fully, and live with gratitude the gifts we’ve been given with joy as we bring aid and assistance to one another. In other words, humility helps us to be authentic: we know ourselves better so we can share our lives more fully with one another.
Through humility we place God first as we sincerely and honestly reach out to those around us. A humble person is open, honest, easy to get along with and helpful in a moment of need. May our faith in Christ teach us humility, and help us to humbly respond to those the Lord sets before us today.
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of the Year
We know firsthand the different types of darkness that occur in daily life: fear, grief, loss, pain, anger, loneliness, rejection and doubt. In these moments we call upon the Lord – who casts out the darkness – so that we can live in the Light of Christ.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 2nd Week of the Year (St. Agnes)
The Book of Hebrews proclaims that we are cleansed by the blood of Christ – which fills us with grace to live each day as a precious and holy gift.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of the Year
Calling his disciples, the Lord appointed and sent Twelve to preach the Good News and drive out demons. Christ continues to call apostles today, inviting us to continue his mission on earth…with our eyes fixed on heaven.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 2nd Week of the Year
The Book of Hebrews reminds us that we have a great high priest, Jesus Christ, who has offered his once-for-all sacrifice on our behalf. Through our encounter with the Lord, may our lives be touched by his grace as we live our faith in the world.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of the Year
Fr. Andrew discusses with his sister Amy (on her birthday no less!) a healing miracle, and they examine two key points about our intention and perspective as we live our faith in Christ.
***************
Top photo – Amy & I
Bottom photo – taken early this month at Holy Spirit parish while on vacation with my sister’s family (and I miss them already!)
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Reading – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of the Year (St. Anthony Abbot)
The readings reference two of the great covenants God made with the people of Israel through Abraham and David. These covenants, which the Lord does not revoke, find their fulfillment and purpose in Jesus…the Lord of the Sabbath.
Study: When in your life have you experienced moments of darkness? Where did you find the light to guide your way?
Pray: Are you struggling with the darkness today? Pray that the Lord will shine radiant light into your life.
Serve: Do you know someone who seems “in the dark” right now? How can you bring the light of Christ to others?
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of the Year
The readings offer several rich themes this week:
The 1st reading from the prophet Isaiah, the Psalm, and the Gospel of Matthew all reference light and darkness. The imagery speaks to us on many levels:
And yet we know that darkness is also part of our existence. In our modern world we often do all that we can to drive the darkness away, but if you have ever been out in the country (away from all the city lights) you begin to get a sense of what most people were acquainted with through human history.
Things hide in the dark. Crime often occurs in the dark. Fear, anxiety, worry and distress often increase in the darkness. While the darkness is not bad in itself, we often associate it with many challenges and concerns that form the landscape of our our hearts.
Today we hear once again how God’s light casts out all darkness. God’s grace offers us hope, peace, and strength to face the darkness of life with conviction and trust. We know that life is not easy; we face our burdens confident that the Lord will light our way.
Where is the darkness in your life right now? Face it with the light of Jesus Christ! Let the Lord’s light shine in our hearts and lives, offering us the wisdom and direction we need to live our faith today.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
