The Book of Sirach reminds us to choose wisely as we confront the daily decisions before us. Not only is it crucial what we choose; we are also defined be how we choose to do it.
Mass Readings – 6th Sunday of the Year
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Tag Archives: Choices
6th Sunday of the Year: We shape our lives by what we choose and how we choose to do it. Catholic Inspiration
4th Sunday of Advent: Make your choice
Study: Recall a time when you were confronted with a tough decision. What helped you to make and carry out your choice?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and guidance to make daily decisions that are filled with grace.
Serve: Is there someone in your life facing tough decisions right now? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Advent
A Christmas Carol
Part IV: Scrooge’s Choice
There comes a point in A Christmas Carol where we begin to understand Ebenezer Scrooge. We’ve seen his past, present, and future – how he’s interacted with people – and we come to crux of the matter: will he make a change? Will he embrace the warnings and lessons of the Ghosts and chart a new course for his life?
Every person has a story. Every person has had moments of joy and sadness, success and failure, blessing and burden. Yet in the course of our lives we have been given the gift of choosing how we will live; the Lord offers us the freedom to accept or reject a life of love. We, too, have been given opportunities to reflect and decide how we will live. What do we choose?
In the Gospel today Mary greets her kinswoman Elizabeth, who also recognizes something wonderful has happened. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped from joy – a sign that God was present in a powerful way. Elizabeth understood that God was working in Mary’s life, and she responded to this insight accordingly.
There comes a moment in our lives when we discover something new. Perhaps we have seen a mistake in the past or regret an action that we have done; at these times we encounter a reason to hope and start over. We have a reason to live with joy.
It is this sense of hope which can give us new life. Emerging from doubt or despair, we rediscover that God walks with and among us – helping us in moments of sadness and leading us to peace. Yet God requires that we actively accept this invitation. The promise of hope needs our action, and it relies on our willingness to follow.
Scrooge provides an example for us. With the help of the Spirits of Christmas, he saw a world filled with very different possibilities. He discovered that he need not be unhappy; he could change his life and embrace the joys which were all around him. His willingness to see, judge, and act become an inspiration for us – reminding us that life gives us opportunities to change our ways and follow God’s call.
As Elizabeth recognized God’s presence in Mary, we too are invited to discover the Lord in our midst. May our eyes be open to see God among us, and may we respond with hearts that are open to the abundant love which is our inheritance.
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Note: This post was first published on December 15, 2014.
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Daily Mass: A life of Choices and Consequences. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 14th Week of the Year
Our choices in a life of faith lead to consequences: Christ calls us to follow and fully offer our lives, yet we also have the freedom to walk away and ignore the offer. What will you do today?
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Daily Mass: The Natural Consequences of Good & Evil. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Daily Mass Readings – Thursday of the 7th Week of Ordinary Time
Both James and the Lord point out the natural consequences of good and evil in the Scripture readings today. Our choices have real effect in our lives, both natural and spiritual. May we seek God above all else, allowing the grace of Jesus Christ to guide what we say and what we do.
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21st Sunday of the Year – Facing Difficulties with Wisdom & Courage – Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s 21st Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast
Life is difficult. In the midst of our struggle to make good choices and carry out challenging tasks, we call upon God for the help we need. As we encounter Jesus Christ in Holy Communion to be strengthened for the burdens of life, we pray for Wisdom to choose wisely and Courage to carry it out.
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21st Sunday of the Year – Hard Sayings, Tough Decisions
Study: Recall a time when you were confronted with a tough decision. Who or what helped you to face your situation?
Pray: Are you facing a difficult time? Ask the Lord for wisdom and courage.
Serve: Is there someone in your life who is struggling with a challenge? How can you help them?
21st Sunday of the Year Readings
The crowds had listened to Jesus. They had seen the healings and witnessed the miracle of the fishes and loaves. They had been nourished body and soul by the Lord’s presence, and after hearing the “Bread of Life” discourse they began to doubt and walk away…
“This saying is hard, who can accept it?” – John 6:60
There are moments in life when we are called to confront a difficult situation. We are challenged to understand and carry out a task that may be unpleasant or unwelcome. We have a choice: we can walk away and allow events to run on their own, or we can engage the situation knowing that every step will be hard. What do we do?
Joshua expresses the nature of a tough decision in his words to the Israelites in the first reading:
“If it does not please you to serve the Lord, then decide today whom you will serve.” – Joshua 24:15
Let’s face it. There are times in life when we struggle to make and carry out the right choice. Perhaps we don’t know what to do; perhaps we know but we struggle to do it. Sometimes it can seem like the weight of the world rests on our shoulders as we muddle through hard sayings and tough decisions.
What are you confronting today? What challenges are set before you? May we ask God for two key gifts: Wisdom and Courage. We ask for wisdom to know what to do, and we pray for courage to carry it out!
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4th Sunday of Advent
Study: Recall a time when you were confronted with a tough decision. What helped you to make and carry out your choice?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and guidance to make daily decisions that are filled with grace.
Serve: Is there someone in your life facing tough decisions right now? How can you help them?
A Christmas Carol
Part IV: Scrooge’s Choice
There comes a point in A Christmas Carol where we begin to understand Ebenezer Scrooge. We’ve seen his past, present, and future – how he’s interacted with people – and we come to crux of the matter: will he make a change? Will he embrace the warnings and lessons of the Ghosts and chart a new course for his life?
Every person has a story. Every person has had moments of joy and sadness, success and failure, blessing and burden. Yet in the course of our lives we have been given the gift of choosing how we will live; the Lord offers us the freedom to accept or reject a life of love. We, too, have been given opportunities to reflect and decide how we will live. What do we choose?
In the Gospel today Mary greets her kinswoman Elizabeth, who also recognizes something wonderful has happened. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped from joy – a sign that God was present in a powerful way. Elizabeth understood that God was working in Mary’s life, and she responded to this insight accordingly.
There comes a moment in our lives when we discover something new. Perhaps we have seen a mistake in the past or regret an action that we have done; at these times we encounter a reason to hope and start over. We have a reason to live with joy.
It is this sense of hope which can give us new life. Emerging from doubt or despair, we rediscover that God walks with and among us – helping us in moments of sadness and leading us to peace. Yet God requires that we actively accept this invitation. The promise of hope needs our action, and it relies on our willingness to follow.
Scrooge provides an example for us. With the help of the Spirits of Christmas, he saw a world filled with very different possibilities. He discovered that he need not be unhappy; he could change his life and embrace the joys which were all around him. His willingness to see, judge, and act become an inspiration for us – reminding us that life gives us opportunities to change our ways and follow God’s call.
As Elizabeth recognized God’s presence in Mary, we too are invited to discover the Lord in our midst. May our eyes be open to see God among us, and may we respond with hearts that are open to the abundant love which is our inheritance.
Three Great Things 