The Letter to the Hebrews stresses the power of faith in the life of a Christian. Faith strengthens both the head and the heart, and as we foster our faith we are empowered with the grace we need to face the challenges before us.
The Lord teaches a key concept – the Paschal Mystery of death to new life – through the example of a grain of wheat. What needs to “die” in us today so that God’s grace can raise up something new and blessed in our hearts?
Jesus speaks bluntly in the Gospel of Matthew, making it crystal clear that his disciple must take up his cross and follow the Lord in order to enter into eternal life.
When Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” he is inviting them into a spiritual self-discovery that leads to personal change. The moment we claim Jesus as Lord we recognize our relationship to the Messiah and declare our allegiance to follow where he leads.
The Lord’s interaction and subsequent care for the Canaanite woman offers us an insight into how we reach out to others…even when they are not part of our “group.”
The transfiguration of the Lord reveals the glory and power of Jesus to three of his disciples. The revelation is given to prepare them for the struggles to come, reminding us that God often gives us special graces to meet new challenges.
The Lord offers a direct warning about the sin of greed in the Gospel today. While we are often quick to perceive greed in others, the reality is that this temptation touches us all in great and small ways. Fr. Andrew’s homily offers three antidotes to help us shake off the lure of this deadly sin.
The death of John the Baptist assaults our senses for its cruelty, pettiness and injustice. As John precedes the Lord in life, so also he precedes him in death…reminding us that the offering of our lives will include profound sacrifice.
What do we do to strengthen and nourish our faith in Jesus Christ? The Lord’s response in his native place reminds us that being a disciple is a daily decision that demands our determined discipline.
The Lord teaches that our actions today result in eternal consequences. As we offer the gift of our lives may we be guided by the light of the Kingdom of Heaven.