Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Friday of the 1st Week of Advent)
Two blind men encounter Jesus…and gain their sight. May we turn to the Lord for greater sight – that what we see will inspire us to respond with the light of faith.
Tag Archives: Action
Daily Mass: Build on Rock. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent)
When we listen to the Lord and put his teaching into practice, we are like the wise who build their houses on rock. May the knowledge we possess be transformed into action so that we can face the storms of life with the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ!
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1st Sunday of Advent – Be Vigilant Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s 1st Sunday of Advent Homily Podcast
A beginning is always a crucial time – how we start often defines the outcome of a project or task, as well as our attitude as we work. We are reminded today to be vigilant: constantly prepared; swift to act; and disciplined in our effort. May the start of our Advent season prepare us for a glorious Christmas!
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30th Sunday of the Year – Living our Faith
Study: Reflect on some people who live their faith through their loving thoughts, words, and actions.
Pray: Is there a person or situation in your life that calls for greater charity? Ask the Lord for the wisdom and guidance to do it.
Serve: Is there someone in your life right now who would benefit from your time, attention, and/or effort? How can you help?
30th Sunday of the Year Readings
I thought I would take this week to talk about something that arises out of the gospel message. The question comes from the insight of Jesus in today’s reading. Simply put, what is the central and most important part of being a Christian? What should be the focus around which we build our lives?
The answer is explicit: LOVE.
Jesus takes the two commands, love of God and love of neighbor and links them as the heart of the Christian message – from which the teaching of the entire Scriptures finds its soul. Love is the sign of the Church, it is the proof of faith, and it is the reality which reveals to others the depth of our commitment as disciples of Jesus Christ.
But what do these commands mean for us? After all, the question for each of us is “How does the law of Love affect me? How do these commands shape my life?”
I look at this from three different angles:
* By how I THINK.
* By how I SPEAK.
* By how I ACT.
In other words, do my thoughts, words, and actions reveal the law of love in my life? When I look at myself in each of these areas do I measure up with the commands of Jesus?
Imagine that each of these parts of life could be made into a movie. I see myself watching “The Thoughts of Fr. Andrew,” followed by “The Words of Fr. Andrew,” and then “The Actions of Fr. Andrew.” Do I like what I see on the screen?
When we come to the end of our lives, I doubt if many of us will wish we had worked more, or earned more money, or bought more things. In the end I expect most of us will wish we had spent more time loving the people in our lives – through what we thought, said, and did.
This love, which comes from God, is intended for us to share while we are here on earth. Our faith tells us that one day the Lord will call us home. On that day may we find ourselves prepared; having loved one another in this life we will then step into eternal Love in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Epiphany – Responding to the Light
Study: When did you experience a moment of profound insight that led you to action?
Pray: Are there any major decisions or challenges in your life right now? Pray for the light to see your way, and the courage to carry it out!
Serve: Is there someone in your life in need of light? Can you help them understand or give them strength to support their actions?
Think for a moment about all the different ways we respond to light:
* Christmas lights
* Stop and Go lights
* Night lights
* Flashlights
* Candlelight
* Lantern light
* Key chain & Pocket lights
* Car lights
* and many, many, more!
All these lights surround us and help us navigate our everyday activities. They bring guidance, comfort, joy, understanding, and security to our lives. Indeed, light is a precious gift that brings meaning and purpose to our world.
Yet it is not enough for light to simply shine upon us; light is the beginning – but it evokes and calls forth a response from us.
Look at it this way. A stop-and-go traffic light cannot simply be seen; it must be followed and acted upon (or else you are likely to get rear-ended). Failure to respond to the light leads to difficulty, while those who are guided by the light and act accordingly find their way.
We hear about light in the Gospel today. The Magi observed the light, and they followed and searched until they understood what it meant. The light was the beginning; only through their journey and response did they discover the precious gift of Jesus – the Light of the World.
Many saw the light. It was there in the sky for all to see. Yet only a few responded and recognized that the starlight was a sign from God. Thus, it was not enough just to see; for indeed we celebrate those who both saw and acted upon the light.
It is our belief that God continues to shine upon us today. The Light of Christ burns brightly – in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, moral teachings, our conscience, our prayer, and the comfort and support of family and friends.
Yet even as God is revealed to our world the light alone is not enough. We, too, are invited to act as the Magi and respond to the light. May we open our eyes and our hearts this day, recognizing the Lord and responding to His Light.
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15th Sunday of the Year – Like Riding a Bike
Study: Consider one area in your life that you could improve living your faith. What would it be?
Pray: Ask the Lord to give you opportunities to stretch and grow.
Serve: How might the Lord be calling you to be a Good Samaritan today? Right now?
My first bike was lime green. It had a banana seat with curved handlebars (NOT designed for comfort). The fenders were made out of industrial steel and it weighed more than I did. In time I made a little wooden box to fit behind the seat that was barely big enough to hold chewing gum. I thought it was the most awesome set of wheels in the world.
I still remember learning to ride it. My family lived out in the country and we had a fairly long driveway. I started with training wheels until one day my dad took them off. He walked beside me a couple of times as I practiced and then watched at a distance as I rode (and occasionally fell) on the driveway.
Do you remember when you learned to ride? At the time it is an exhilarating feeling. The wind rushes by, the speed is great, and a new found sense of freedom appears. What a moment!
Yet this discovery happens through trial and error. Learning to ride a bike takes diligence and determination. You can’t read it in a book or learn about it by watching television. Riding a bike happens when we get on the seat and start pedaling. It happens when we act, and in the process we learn by doing.
In the Scriptures today we are reminded that all the learning and teaching of our faith is only good when it is put into action. The commands are not difficult to understand, and they do not require extensive explanation. Yet without hard work, time, and steadfast application they are meaningless; only through action does our faith become real.
The Good Samaritan is a wonderful example. As this Samaritan – filled with compassion – tends to the wounds and sores of the beaten man, he differs from the Levite and Priest (who knew better and still walked by). He was a stranger and foreigner, yet he practiced his faith in God with a sincerity that serves as a sharp contrast to the “religious professionals” of his day.
We have opportunities every day to practice our faith. Kindness, charity, forgiveness, patience, hope, and understanding are but a sample of the ways we show to others the faith we profess. In the end our faith is not complicated; the challenge is to live each day with the conviction that God calls us to holiness and invites us to live the love of Christ with one another.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: The command to love
- Lenten Bootcamp: 4th Night - What we learn from our time, money, and the people in our lives
- Daily Mass: The Lord drives out demons
- Daily Mass: Jesus fulfills salvation history
- Daily Mass: The crucial need for forgiveness
- Daily Mass: God works in our lives in ways that we do not expect
- Study, Pray, Serve: 4th Sunday of Lent
- A reflection on forgiveness in our lives
- 3rd Sunday of Lent: We thirst for Christ
- Daily Mass: The parable of the prodigal son
Three Great Things 