Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – with a little help from his niece and nephews
Jesus heals the man with the unclean spirit, showing his power and authority. In the same way, we turn to the Lord to cast out what does not belong in our own hearts.
Study: Reflect on a time when you experienced something profoundly good. How did it shape you?
Pray: Are there needs in your life or in someone you know? Ask the Lord to touch and bless them with goodness.
Serve: How can you bring abundant goodness to another today? How can your service make a real difference in someone’s life?
2nd Sunday of the Year Readings
This week’s readings proclaim God’s goodness in a variety of ways:
We often talk about the Lord’s commandments as things we should NOT do. While this is often true and helpful, we can sometimes miss the point about all the ways our lives can DO things that are inspired (and indeed, commanded) by God. We are called:
Simply put, God’s goodness to us inspires us to share this abundant goodness with each other. We are invited to take hold of our lives and make the most of each day – loving and serving, forgiving and helping, blessing, healing, rejoicing, and renewing. We have been given the gifts of life and faith….let’s live them with power!
The gut check in all this flows from our fundamental attitude: do we live our faith with love, joy, and peace? Do people see goodness in the words we say and the actions we perform? Is our Christian witness evident in the manner and conduct of our interactions with others? May God’s goodness empower our lives to burn like a blazing torch – leading others closer to God and one another.
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The Wedding at Cana, Paolo Veronese; 1562, Louvre Museum, Paris, France.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Thursday of the 33rd Week of the Year)
Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. He sees the tribulation that will come, and he opens his arms to embrace the sadness…that he might touch it and bless it. May we turn to the Lord in our moments of sorrow and allow his grace to guide us. Sorrow is not the end, and with God’s help we will face our tears with hope.
Study: Recall a couple of times in your life – when you were prepared and when you were caught off guard. How did if feel? What was the outcome?
Pray: Do you have unfinished business in your life? Take your challenges to prayer and ask the Lord for wisdom and courage.
Serve: Is there a broken or wounded relationship in your life? Perhaps you might make the first move to bring healing and reconciliation to the situation.
33rd Sunday of the Year Readings
The first reading and the Gospel today are direct and to the point: there will be hardship and distress. Tribulation is part of the journey. Get ready!
And yet we can sometimes get caught in the (mistaken) sentiment that because we follow Jesus Christ everything is suppose to be sunshine and daisies. On the contrary – our faith puts struggle front and center, reminding us that we are called to be ready and prepared for the unexpected. Because just in case you were hoping for some secret sign from the Bible when the world will end, Jesus offers one of my all-time favorite lines of Sacred Scripture:
“But of that day or hour, no one knows,
neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mark 13:32)
No one knows the hour….this is a very big deal. Remember these points:
So how do we live? The answer is simple – TODAY we speak and act so that if the Lord called us right now we would be ready. TODAY we say:
We live our lives one day at a time – we can’t go back and we can’t go forward – it is only in the present moment that we can do and say. Thus, if we stay shackled to the past we can’t live today, and if we keep putting off what is needed we are wasting the moment we have. TODAY is our opportunity to address any unfinished business, to right wrongs and tell the people in our lives how we feel about them. In other words, today we squeeze out every opportunity we have to love the Lord and one another…
…for of that day or hour, no one knows.
Study: Reflect on a moment when you gave generously of your time, resources, or money. What was the cost, and what did you discover?
Pray: Take time to thank the Lord for the blessings lavished upon you. Cultivate gratitude in your heart and express it in your life.
Serve: Who has the Lord placed in your life to serve? How can your life be a blessing of generous giving to another?
32nd Sunday of the Year Readings
The theme of generous giving runs through these four readings this week:
Let’s look at how this theme surfaces throughout these readings.
Earthly blessings. The psalm reminds us that God is the source of all that we have, and it begs a simple point: Are we grateful? I know firsthand how easy it is to take even the simplest blessings for granted. All it takes is to lose something that is part of our routine (health, work, friendship) to rediscover the gift that was right in front of our eyes.
Spiritual Salvation. Jesus Christ offers his life once-for-all that through his death and resurrection we might have eternal life. The Father gave his only Son that we might be saved. This profound act of divine generosity speaks of a love that is vast and all encompassing. God does this for us!
Profound human generosity. These two women gave from their need, not their want. It was not surplus food or money…it was their livelihood. It is crucial to note that no gift is too big or small in God’s eyes; what’s crucial is the relationship between the offering and the person – is it given as a token or as something of value?
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Do we take time to acknowledge the blessings we have? No really…do we pause in the course of our day – in a moment of prayer – and thank the Lord for the gifts we have been given? Let me be clear: without gratitude generosity means nothing, for without thankfulness we have no appreciation and respect for the gift that is given.
And equally crucial point follows: Do we give generously? Do we share what we have in a manner that shows our prayer and reflection? All gifts, great or small, are precious in the Lord’s eyes when they are offered in a spirit of love; all gifts, great or small, lose their significance when they are given without respect for the sacrifices and blessings they represent.
Simply put: we give generously out of gratitude for God’s generous gifts to us! Take a moment this week to pause and reflect on your blessings. Then consider the ways that you can offer your life. Whether it is with time, talent, or treasure – God will take our gifts, generously given, and make them a blessing in the world.
Study: Where have you seen signs of God’s grace at work in your life? How did it change you?
Pray: Are there people or circumstances in your life that are wounded or hurting? Pray for healing power!
Serve: Do you see someone in need? How can you help them?
30th Sunday of the Year Readings
The readings this week reveal a common theme of divine power:
Throughout these scriptures the Lord comes with dynamic energy: liberating, saving, healing and redeeming. This is Good News! In the midst of the challenges and struggles of human life we find Jesus coming to us – meeting us where we are – with the transformative power of his grace.
With this power in mind, I would suggest two points for consideration this week:
Let’s start with receiving. Where in my life am I wounded, hurting, or helpless? Do I identify with Bartimaeus, calling upon the Lord for pity? If so, our prayer (in private and at Mass) can be directed to heaven…asking for the grace we need to keep going.
Giving means we allow the Lord’s power to work through us. Giving requires that we see the needs of those around us, determine a proper response, and act in a manner worthy of Christ. We become the Lord’s hands and feet in service to others; our words speak encouragement and hope.
God continues to work with power in our world today, giving us all the opportunity to open our hearts to the endless grace of Christ. May we draw near to the Lord with confidence and allow his strength to work through us as we touch the hearts of those we meet.
Study: Consider an experience of suffering in your life. What lessons did you learn? How did you change and grow?
Pray: Many people carry heavy crosses every day…pray for them that they find the strength and grace they need.
Serve: Many people carry heavy crosses every day…how can you help them?
29th Sunday of the Year Readings
The readings today weave together around some common themes:
Let’s start with Jesus. The Lord’s mission included not only teaching and healing, but was most clearly articulated in his death and resurrection for the life of the world. Christ died for our sins – taking our place by his suffering on the Cross for the evil we have done. His resurrection blazes a trail for us that leads to Heaven.
It is crucial to note that suffering is the path, not the goal. God the Father did not choose Jesus to suffer out of a desire for pain, but to bridge the gap between the human and divine. The Lord is the High Priest whose suffering draws near to a wounded and broken humanity. Like us in all things but sin, Jesus embraces us as he stretched out his hands on the Cross.
The victory of the Resurrection reveals suffering as the doorway, a path that when taken purges and cleanses, through which Christ has passed to break the bonds of sin and death. Suffering does not end in suffering; it leads to a freedom in Christ that is filled with grace, mercy, and peace.
This message has elements of consolation and challenge for us today. The consolation? We look to Christ for our redemption – turning to the Lord whose saving death and resurrection give us eternal life.
The challenge? We are called to face our suffering, recognizing in the crosses of our lives the path of redemption that God sets before us. In other words, we drink from the cup of Christ’s suffering – but we do it with conviction, faith, and hope.
The suffering we face today is part of our transformation as disciples. We engage the challenges of this life, not because we welcome pain, but because we see God’s hand at work in our struggles to purify our hearts and desires. Through this process we offer our lives, following the example of Jesus Christ to bring life to those in our midst.
Drink from the cup. Consider the sufferings of today as an offering to the Lord – given out of love that our lives might be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ!
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La crucifixion, Philippe de Champaigne; 1644-1646, 800 x 600 pixels.
Study: Reflect on a moment when you put your entire heart into a project. What did you experience?
Pray: Ask God for grace to remove obstacles that are you keeping you from the Lord and others.
Serve: How can you help others follow Jesus Christ? How can your life strengthen them to focus on the Lord?
28th Sunday of the Year Readings
I confess that I have a real respect for people who show their dedication and conviction to a task. When I see others put their heart and soul into something:
I see a passion and joy emerge. They work hard, often long and grueling hours, yet they love it and they glow with an inner light. Their dedication gives them meaning, purpose, and a zest for life.
This sense of dedication comes into focus in the Gospel reading today. The encounter with Jesus and the rich young man reveals both an enthusiasm and a hesitancy to follow God. The man wants to do what is right, he wants to be holy, but he is not yet ready to offer his entire life.
Where do we see ourselves in the Gospel today? What might be keeping us back from dedicating our lives to the Lord? Some obvious obstacles:
But what happens if we pause, reflect, and dedicate our lives to Jesus Christ? What happens the minute we reorganize our lives around the Lord, allowing his grace to flow through all our thoughts, words, and actions? Simply put, we become fully alive – we find in Christ both our strength and peace. Our lives take on a whole new level of meaning and purpose as we engage one another with renewed sense of faith, hope, and love.
The invitation today is simple: Put Jesus Christ first in your life. Let him be your Lord. Allow him to touch every aspect of your life, and watch as his light shines through your heart!
Study: Reflect on the strongest marriages you know. What are the qualities and behaviors that you see in these couples?
Pray: Who do you know is struggling with divorce? Ask the Lord to give them guidance and strength.
Serve: Are there couples you can support in their marriage? Are there people wounded by divorce in your life? How can you help them today?
27th Sunday of the Year Readings
In our current culture you would be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t been touched by the reality of divorce in either family or friendship. Divorce is part of the landscape of our lives, and we find ourselves confronted by a real challenge:
The sacrament of Marriage proclaims a fundamental reality that has both earthly and heavenly dimensions. On earth we recognize the union of a man and woman as part God’s plan which fosters intimacy, love, and the possibility of new life. Sexual expression within marriage becomes a blessed event, whereby the two become one.
This sense of unity that is present in marriage echoes the complete unity we have with the Lord. Jesus Christ is the bridge that joins us to the Father; God the Son took on our human form so that we could be reunited with the Father. Sin no longer divides us.
Yet division is part of our human experience, and nowhere is this more evident than in the reality of divorce. Life is messy, awkward, and challenging – and we all know that there are times when situations melt down and relationships unravel. We regret it, we lament it, we wish it could have been different…and we recognize that there is real pain and loss – but we have to find a way to deal with it.
So how do we foster marriage and at the same time help those who experience divorce? While there are several essential elements, I suggest a few key points:
But perhaps most importantly of all – we reach out to one another: walking with those who are single, supporting those who are married, and helping those who are divorced. We need each other, and when we are united we are vastly stronger than when we are isolated.
Take time this week to consider the people in your life. How can you help them follow Christ? How can your life bless others in their vocation as they strive to live it? How can you be a healing agent who strengthens marriage and helps those wounded by divorce? We need each other, and we call upon the Lord for grace as we remember the words of the Psalm Response:
May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.
Study: Reflect on a situation where you have experienced either jealousy or greed. How did you move past it? (HAVE you moved past it?)
Pray: Ask the Lord for the grace to confront these vices and replace them with the Love, Joy, and Peace of Christ.
Serve: Is there something that you can do to help break the cycle of greed or jealousy in your life today? How can your life show others a better way to live?
26th Sunday of the Year Readings
Whew! While every week the Scripture readings give us plenty to ponder about, we are confronted this week with some particularly nasty (but common) elements that can surface in the human heart:
We know that Joshua and John are great figures in the history of our faith. Joshua, as the successor of Moses, will lead the people as they claim their space in the Promised Land after their enslavement in Egypt. He is God-fearing and righteous. John is a close companion of the Lord, the brother of James, who has been personally called by Jesus to follow and be “a fisher of men.”
Empowered by God with particular graces, both are chosen for special work of leadership, yet they make the common (and altogether too human) mistake of getting their noses bent out of joint because great things are happening of which they are not a part. Sound familiar?
Ever had a moment when you were upset because you were afraid that someone was moving in on your turf? Taking over a work, task, ministry, or role that was yours? While it’s true that there are times when people unfairly gobble up the work of others, it is also true that sometimes we are at fault because our expectations are too limited: we have assumed that the work, task, ministry, or role was ONLY ours to control. We can cultivate assumptions that opportunities are strictly limited – that there is no room to share with others – and that we alone are allowed or expected to act.
Yet this is not how the Lord works! Both Jesus and Moses welcome others to participate in the Good News – to prophesy, to drive out evil, to bring life and hope. Simply put, there is room for others to help, for the obvious reason that the needs of the world are vast. A question then arises: Do we share? Do we welcome and encourage others to join us in God’s work?
James hits us over the head with greed – an inappropriate hunger for more (often wealth) that shows no regard for the needs and rights of others. Greed (one of the 7 Deadly Sins) is one of those ugly vices that we always despise in others and often overlook in ourselves. And while an insatiable desire for money is an easy target, remember that greed can also appear in little ways:
When greed takes over we can lose our sense of balance and perspective. People can get lost as we place a higher value on the thing we greedily seek. The sad thing is, we might get what we desire, but we can lose that which is most important: the opportunity to love and be loved by the people in our lives.
We know jealousy and greed first hand: these are real vices that can fester in our souls. The question today…how will we respond to their presence? Jesus invites us in to the Gospel today to pluck them out! They have no place in Heaven, and here on earth they are obstacles that keep us from the Lord and one another.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
