God calls us to work together as living stones – building up our families, schools and churches. May we work together, guided by the hand of Jesus, to accomplish our tasks for the service of one another.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 19th Week of the Year
This short reading from the Gospel of Matthew reveals a beautiful scene: Jesus blessing the children. May we bring our children to the Lord – in prayer, sacraments, and a holy way of life – so that they can receive the blessing of God’s grace as they grow.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Friday of the 19th Week of the Year
When asked about divorce Jesus references the Book of Genesis and offers a simple but profound teaching on the sacrament of Marriage: two people become one flesh. While this holy union is a blessing from God, even in ancient times it came with challenges. May we work to support and help those who live this sacred vocation!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 6th Week of the Year
As Jesus heals the blind man in the Gospel today, he shows how healing is often an intimate process that leads back to our relationships at home. May we set before the Lord whatever is wounded in our lives, trust in his process of healing, and renew the relationships within our families and friendships.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – The Holy Family
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph helps us see how God works through each of our families. We face our struggles, make sacrifices, support each other, and receive blessings with gratitude…and through it all we grow in grace.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent
The genealogy of Jesus outlined in Matthew’s Gospel recalls the crucial role of family. Our families are crucial networks where we grow and face the challenges of life. While no one has a perfect family (certainly not Jesus!) we all can find within our own families opportunities to foster faith, hope and love.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As we celebrate Mary’s birth, we recall that she herself was part of a vast extended family. As she brought Jesus into the world, she offers us an example – that we might continue to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those in our lives.
Fr. Andrew’s Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
Our relationships – with God and one another – form the framework of our lives. In light of the readings today we strive to heal those relationships that are broken and make even stronger those that are well.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 16th Week of the Year
God calls us into a relationship of mercy and love, inviting us to follow his example with one another.
Study: Think about a best friend or cherished family member. What qualities do you find particularly precious?
Pray: Is there a relationship in your life in need of healing? Ask the Lord for grace, wisdom, and guidance to make it happen.
Serve: Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be renewed? What can you do to strengthen the connection?
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
A thumbnail sketch of the readings this week looks something like this:
In all of these readings we see the power of relationships at work touching hearts and changing lives. We are not meant to walk through this life (or the next) alone; rather, God calls us into communion and invites us to deepen the connections we have with the Lord and one another. Looking at it this way, the readings point out that a relationship with God makes many things possible:
Our relationship with the Lord is made possible through Jesus. For remember, God makes it possible for us to draw near, and God invites us to enter into this very unequal relationship to raise us up as the Lord’s sons & daughters. We’ve been “allowed in” to this intimate and tender connection with Christ.
And thus we are called to strengthen our relationships in two distinct ways – with the Lord and with the people in our lives. That means we are called to consider how we might spend a little quality time building and strengthening our connections. With the Lord that means Prayer, Sacraments, Service, and a Call to Holiness. With other people it means forgiveness, charity, “wasting time” with loved ones in wholesome recreation, and seeking to bring out the best in one another.
And if something is wounded or broken…if a relationship is in need of healing – then ask the Lord for the grace to make it happen! Remember: the Lord calls us into relationships. May we take the gift of today to strengthen these connections in our lives.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
