The commandment to love challenges us to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ. May we look to the example of the saints to love – event when it’s hard – as we draw near to the Lord and one another.
Mass Readings – 7th Sunday of the Year
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Tag Archives: Forgiveness
Daily Mass: Facing our temptations. Catholic Inspiration
The Letter of James gives crucial insight into the nature of temptation. As we encounter our own temptations, may we never tire of calling upon God for the grace we need to face them.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 6th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Facing the darkness in our hearts. Catholic Inspiration
As Jesus speaks of the darkness found in the human heart, we are invited to face the sin that lurks within us…trusting in the Lord’s light to overcome it.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 5th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Lord forgive the wrong I have done. Catholic Inspiration
The Psalm Response cuts right to the heart of a deep and urgent need in our souls: to call upon the Lord for the forgiveness and mercy we need as we acknowledge our sins.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 4th Week of the the Year
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Daily Mass: Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned. Catholic Inspiration
Psalm 51 speaks from the depths of our hearts, reminding us of those times when we have fallen short of our Christian calling, yet inspiring us to drawn near to Christ for the healing of our hearts.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 3rd Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Faith, Forgiveness and Healing. Catholic Inspiration
The healing of the paralytic in Capernaum reveals the connections between faith, forgiveness and healing. May our faith grow each day as we draw closer to the Lord and one another.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 1st Week of the Year (St. Anthony, Abbot)
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2nd Sunday of Advent: Repent and Forgive.
Study: Is there anything keeping you from God or another person right now? What steps do you need to take to make it right?
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the strength to repent and seek forgiveness. Remember – the harder it is the more powerful the healing!
Serve: Is there some way you can be an agent of forgiveness? How can you bring people closer to God and one another?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Advent
John the Baptist comes on the scene blazing like a torch as he exhorts the people to repent of their sins. He minces no words with the Pharisees and Sadduccees; rather, he makes it clear that the path to God leads through the good fruit of our actions.
John is blunt and direct. There is no spin in his message, no soft touch. He comes to us as a verbal bulldozer, seeking to carve out a direct route that leads to the Lord. I can only imagine what it was like to be in his presence, eager to hear his words yet feeling the sting of his speech. After all, repentance is a great thing to talk about…but often painful to put into practice.
And yet nothing brings about healing faster than forgiveness. When relationships are wounded and we find ourselves in a broken and fragile place, repentance clears the ground and allows us to rebuild our lives in an honest and direct fashion.
Repentance has some key components:
- Knowing good from bad
- Taking ownership for when our actions have been bad
- Seeking to turn away from the bad and strive to embrace the good
- Claiming the mercy and grace of God to renew our lives
- Asking for forgiveness and putting it into practice
As we prepare in this Advent season for the birth of the Messiah, we have the opportunity to examine our hearts and consider what is not worthy of the Lord. Using a good examination of conscience or just the common sense in our souls we have the chance today to repent of our sins, seek forgiveness from God and one another, and live each day in the light and power of Christ.
John tells us that while he baptizes for repentance, the Lord will baptize us in Spirit and fire – allowing us to draw into the very heart of God’s love. Only through repentance will we be able to encounter the burning intensity of divine charity; for when we stand before the Lord whatever is not fitting will burn away. May we cast out whatever is not worthy, and prepare to welcome His holy fire with open hearts.
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Note: This post was first published on November 28, 2016.
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Daily Mass: Sin, forgiveness and God’s love. Catholic Inspiration
The interaction between Jesus and the woman in the Gospel of Luke reveals the healing power of God’s love when we receive the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 24th Week of the Year
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24th Sunday of the Year: The Prodigal Son.
Study: Recall a time when you experienced a moment of profound forgiveness. How did it change you?
Pray: Are you holding on to anger and resentment? Pray for God’s mercy to soften your heart.
Serve: Is there someone you know in need of mercy? Is there some way you can help others, especially when they are caught up in shame, embarrassment, or the awkwardness of their weaknesses and sins?
Mass Readings – 24th Sunday of the Year
We hear in the Gospel of Luke the familiar parable of the The Prodigal Son. It’s worth a moment to touch on a few key points from this passage:
- The younger son asks for his inheritance before his time (what kind of person does this?)
- The younger son completely wastes the entire inheritance; he has no excuse
- The younger son hits “rock bottom” and figures it’s better to be a servant with his dad than starving with the pigs
- The Father’s mercy is overwhelming: ring, robe, sandals, fatted calf, and a party
- The older son is furious – this is not justice!
- The Father is also merciful to his older son as he teaches him about mercy
What a powerful parable! In our daily lives the need for forgiveness is so compelling that it is vital to dwell on the divine mercy of God and recall our need to return to the Lord in our moments of weakness and sin.
Like both brothers in the parable, we all sin and fall short of God’s grace; yet like the brothers, we also have a Father who loves and welcomes us whenever we seek to turn back. Both brothers could speak to their Father – in either humility or anger – and the Father responds to both with tenderness.
Today I would like to suggest two key points for our reflection in the light of this passage:
- How are my sins keeping me from God and others in my life?
- What steps do I need to take to return to the Lord and receive his grace?
God longs to welcome us back, and when we can humbly embrace our mistakes and sins we discover a grace beyond anything imaginable. May we have the courage to examine our hearts and return to the Lord – the source of all mercy.
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Note: This post was first published on September 5, 2016.
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Daily Mass: Christ reconciles us to God. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus Christ knows our hearts – the good, the bad and the ugly – and he offers mercy through his sacrifice on the Cross that we might have life. Take his hand!
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 22nd Week of the Year
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Calling, Yongsung Kim, Oil on Canvas.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: We live our faith with zeal and conviction
- Daily Mass: Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows
- Daily Mass: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christ
- Study, Pray, Serve: 25th Sunday of the Year
- 24th Sunday of the Year: It's all about forgiveness
- Daily Mass: The Lord offers two practical spiritual insights
- Daily Mass: We work on ourselves first before we point out the faults of others
- Daily Mass: Jesus invites his disciples "to measure up" to his teaching
- Daily Mass: Jesus speaks of blessings and woes
- Daily Mass: Even in the messiness of our lives, God is with us
Three Great Things 