Psalm 94 expresses both the challenges of earthly life and the steadfast strength of God’s grace. May we face our obstacles today with faith that the Lord walks with us!
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 15th Week of the Year
Tag Archives: grace
Daily Mass: The Lord will not abandon His people. Catholic Inspiration
16th Sunday of the Year: Weeding the garden of our hearts.
Study: Consider your life right now. What is flourishing in your heart, and what needs to be pulled out?
Pray: Ask the Lord for wisdom to know how to grow in grace.
Serve: How might you be an example for another person? How might your work to root out sin inspire someone else to grow closer to the Lord?
Mass Readings – 16th Sunday of the Year
Several powerful themes surface in the readings this week.
- 1st Reading – The Lord is the source of justice
- Psalm – “Lord, you are good and forgiving.”
- 2nd Reading – The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness
- Gospel – Jesus offers several parables; two of them are about weeds and seeds
A common pattern emerges from these themes as we discover that in the midst of injustice, sin, weakness and evil the Lord comes with justice, forgiveness, strength and power. Simply put, God gives us grace to confront the weeds in our lives.
So that begs the question: Where are the weeds in our hearts today? What struggle are we facing that requires the Lord’s mercy and love? Perhaps we might step back and pause this week to reflect on the state of our soul, so that we can honestly assess what is growing and what needs to go.
Jesus Christ knows our hearts and loves us unconditionally. As we look at the garden of our hearts may we trust that the one who knows us completely will help us root out what does not belong and help us grow as Sons and Daughters of God.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on July 17, 2017.
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Daily Mass: Fear is useless; trust in Christ. Catholic Inspiration
While the experience of fear is part of human life, we know that it is often useless, depriving us of time, energy and focus. The answer? We turn to Jesus Christ for the strength and wisdom we need.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 14th Week of the Year (St. Benedict)
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Daily Mass: Our task will not be easy, but God will give us strength! Catholic Inspiration
The Lord speaks with great clarity that persecution and hardship will accompany us as disciples, even as we trust in the Lord for the grace and strength to overcome them.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 14th Week of the Year
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14th Sunday of the Year: Removing the obstacles to God’s grace. Catholic Inspiration
Christ’s invitation to come to Him in our weariness and labor reveals a compassion that has no limit or boundary. May we remove the obstacles that keep us from His grace!
Mass Readings – 14th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: Let’s pay attention to our own sins first. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord offers some powerful spiritual insights to the disciples, reminding us of the importance to examine carefully the state of our souls.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 12th Week of the Year
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12th Sunday of the Year: God’s grace shines in the darkness
Study: Consider a time when you had to confront evil. How did your faith in Christ give you strength?
Pray: Is there a difficult situation in your life right now? Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance.
Serve: Do you know someone who is struggling right now? How can you offer support?
Mass Readings – 12th Sunday of the Year
The readings this Sunday all come with an edge to them, signifying that there’s a lot at stake in a life of faith. Take a look:
- 1st Reading – Jeremiah praises the Lord even as he recognizes the evil of others.
- Psalm – “Lord, in your great love answer me.”
- 2nd Reading – Sin and death came through Adam; grace and peace come through Jesus Christ.
- Gospel – The Lord will acknowledge those who acknowledge Him, and he will deny those who deny him.
These readings address the reality of sin and evil in our world. We know this reality through our experience, and whether through our own actions or the actions of others we recognize that the human heart has the capacity for sin.
Yet we also recognize that God’s grace is greater than the darkness. This is why Christ came into the world! Through the Lord’s cross and resurrection we have hope to call upon Heaven for the strength, courage and wisdom we need to face the challenges of life.
Have we sinned? Then we seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Have we been wounded by wickedness and evil? Then we call upon the Lord’s grace.
The triumph of Jesus Christ inspires us to follow the example of Jeremiah and Paul – acknowledging the Lord in this world so that we can be with Him in the next!
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Note: This post was first published on June 19, 2017.
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Daily Mass: God gives us the strength we need today. Catholic Inspiration
The showdown between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal illustrates how we rely on the Lord for the strength we need, even against impossible odds.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 10th Week of the Year
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The Holy Trinity offers us a path to move forward in unity. Catholic Inspiration
COVID-19 taught us about the challenges of isolation, loneliness, anxiety and fear; the recent riots have brought to light the undercurrents of anger, hatred and opportunism. Our path forward must consider the need for unity…something that lies at the heart of the Most Holy Trinity.
Mass Readings – The Most Holy Trinity
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Daily Mass: When the going gets tough, get going…with God! Catholic Inspiration
In the Second Letter to Timothy we hear the call to remain steadfast in the face of persecution and hardship.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 9th Week of the Year
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: Will we build our lives on rock or sand?
- Daily Mass: The birth of John the Baptist
- Daily Mass: The Lord offers three practical, spiritual insights
- Daily Mass: Stop judging!
- Study, Pray, Serve: 13th Sunday of the Year
- 12th Sunday of the Year: We face our fears with face in Christ
- Daily Mass: Do not worry!
- Daily Mass: What is the treasure of our hearts?
- Daily Mass: The Lord's Prayer
- Daily Mass: Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving
Three Great Things 