On this Feast of the Lateran Basilica – the Cathedral of Rome – we look to St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians for inspiration. As we honor the building that signifies the universal Church, we reaffirm our daily commitment to cleansing the temple of our hearts.
Mass Readings – Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
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Holy Mother Church…pray for us!
Jesus cites two passages of the Old Testament to teach what are the Great Commandments of loving God and Neighbor. As we put this love into practice, we will be drawn into an ever-increasing dynamic of communion, forgiveness and service.
Mass Readings – 31st Sunday of the Year
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The Book of Tobit, Part V – In the final installment, we see the revelation of the angel Raphael who urges Tobit and Tobiah to give unceasing praise to God.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 9th Week of the Year
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The relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is a communion of love which speaks to our hearts in the aftermath of these last 15 months. In our moments of isolation, tension and stress, may we turn to the Holy Trinity for the grace we need to foster unity in our hearts and with one another.
Mass Readings – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
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Study: Reflect on the strongest relationships in our lives. What qualities and characteristics are present?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the guidance to see where we can build and renew our relationships.
Serve: Are there people around us that we need to forgive or assist? What steps can we take right now to start this process?
Mass Readings – The Most Holy Trinity
One God…Three Persons.
That’s the Trinity, and when you get right down to it, this central mystery of the Christian faith is just that – mystery. I have heard and used many images as illustrations to aid in understanding the Trinity:
These examples (and many like them) try to get at the notion of how something can be the same and different at the same time. How unity and diversity can be present at the same time; how the individual and the communal are manifested simultaneously.
It’s a mystery.
And at the heart of the mystery we have a communion of Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – a revelation that God comes to us in communion and invites us to be communion with others. We are not alone! God (in communion) invites us into this communion to create communion with one another.
Where do we find communion in our lives? Some obvious places:
You get the idea. Wherever two or more are present, the opportunity for communion is possible. The point: How strong is the communion we have have with God and one another? How united are we in faith, hope, and love?
May we reflect on the current state of our relationships today and renew them, allowing the grace of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – to bless the communion we have with those around us.
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Trinity, Andrei Rublev; 1411-1427 (est.), Tempera, 142 cm x 114 cm, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
This post was originally published on May 26, 2015.
The Samaritan who was healed from his leprosy by Jesus now draws near to the Lord in gratitude. May we look for Christ’s presence in our lives and swiftly respond as we grow closer to the Lord and one another.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 32nd Week of the Year
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Jesus reminds us that we are salt and light – disciples called to live our faith in the world – so that when people see our good deeds they will give praise to our Heavenly Father. May we offer our lives today, trusting that the Lord will take our offering and bless it with grace to continue Christ’s mission in the world.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 10th Week of the Year (St. Barnabas)
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In the Gospel today the Lord cleanses the temple and then teaches the people. Every time we enter into a church and stand before the Blessed Sacrament in the tablernacle, we encounter the same Risen Lord – body and blood, soul and divinity.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 33rd Week of the Year
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Every Mass offers us the miracle of an encounter with Jesus Christ. As we draw near to the altar to receive the Lord in Holy Communion, may we strive to understand WHAT we are doing and WHY we are doing it!
Mass Readings – The Body and Blood of Christ
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
The mystery of the Trinity – one God and three Persons – reveals the crucial role of communion in our spiritual lives. We can measure our discipleship in a powerful way by the depth of our communion with God and one another, and we can actively explore the opportunities that we receive and extend communion with the people in our lives.
Mass Readings – The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Three Great Things 