Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – with a little help from his niece and nephews
Jesus heals the man with the unclean spirit, showing his power and authority. In the same way, we turn to the Lord to cast out what does not belong in our own hearts.
Study: Consider your life. Are there any parts that are wounded?
Pray: Invite the infant Jesus into the humble stable of your heart. He is familiar with simple surroundings; nothing you have is too poor, and everything you offer will be warmly received.
Serve: Is there some way you can be a bridge that unites others this Christmas? Some way that you can unite, heal, or help?
The Readings of Christmas:
Midnight Mass Podcast from the Cathedral – 95 Minutes
Fr. Andrew’s Christmas Homily Podcast
The birth of the Lord celebrates a great mystery: God takes on our human form in the person of Jesus. Fully human and fully divine, the Son of God and the Son of Mary – Jesus comes into our world with a mix of what seems like incompatible qualities:
Why are these extremes so great? Why do we see in Jesus both the lowliness of our human limits and the heights of God’s glory? To put it simply, Jesus Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth.
Think about it. Because of sin we have been divided from God and one another. Isolated by fear, temptation, weakness, sin and lies, we often find ourselves cut off from the Lord and at odds with those around us. While the media is filled with examples of this division, we really only have to look into our own hearts to find the struggle that is part of the human condition.
And this is why Christ was born – to restore our relationships and unite us with a strength that is greater than anything we can do on our own. Born like us, he enters our world so that we can know God; as the the Son of his Heavenly Father he will one day destroy the power of sin and death when he carries his Cross to die and rise that we might have eternal life.
Jesus forms the bridge that allows us to span the void caused by our sins. He offers mercy and forgiveness to reconcile our hearts to God, and through this forgiveness our relationships on earth are renewed. We are united; we are connected; we are graced with divine love, peace, and joy.
Where are the gaps in your heart this Christmas? Where do you see the need for Jesus Christ to restore what was broken or wounded? Draw strength from the one who knows exactly what it feels like (he is fully human after all) and yet has the grace to make it whole (which comes from his power as the Son of God.)
And may this Christmas bring healing and hope to your heart! Merry Christmas, my friends!
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The Adoration of the Shepherds, Gerard van Honthorst, 1622, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne, Germany.
Study: Where have you seen signs of God’s grace at work in your life? How did it change you?
Pray: Are there people or circumstances in your life that are wounded or hurting? Pray for healing power!
Serve: Do you see someone in need? How can you help them?
30th Sunday of the Year Readings
The readings this week reveal a common theme of divine power:
Throughout these scriptures the Lord comes with dynamic energy: liberating, saving, healing and redeeming. This is Good News! In the midst of the challenges and struggles of human life we find Jesus coming to us – meeting us where we are – with the transformative power of his grace.
With this power in mind, I would suggest two points for consideration this week:
Let’s start with receiving. Where in my life am I wounded, hurting, or helpless? Do I identify with Bartimaeus, calling upon the Lord for pity? If so, our prayer (in private and at Mass) can be directed to heaven…asking for the grace we need to keep going.
Giving means we allow the Lord’s power to work through us. Giving requires that we see the needs of those around us, determine a proper response, and act in a manner worthy of Christ. We become the Lord’s hands and feet in service to others; our words speak encouragement and hope.
God continues to work with power in our world today, giving us all the opportunity to open our hearts to the endless grace of Christ. May we draw near to the Lord with confidence and allow his strength to work through us as we touch the hearts of those we meet.
Fr. Andrew’s Podcast Presentation
This 45 minute retreat was given to the Northern Waters Parish Nurse Group on October 9, 2015. The presentation explores a four step process of personal healing and renewal:
By examining four quadrants of human life (physical, intellectual, relational, spiritual) this presentation guides the listener toward personal growth in practical ways .
Fr. Andrew’s 23rd Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast
Illness shows no partiality: young & old, rich & poor, male and female, regardless of race, creed or education. Yet in the midst of human illness we find Jesus meeting people in the diversity of their needs with an encounter that leads to healing and grace. The Letter of James reminds us that we, too, are called to show no partiality; rather, we reach out to those before us as fellow children of God. May the Lord strengthen us in Prayer, Word, and Sacrament to be renewed with the grace of Jesus Christ – empowering us to engage one another with healing and hospitality.
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This is my 100th podcast! To celebrate I ask that if you find this helpful, please pass it along to others. Catholic Inspiration can be found at:
For those of you on Facebook, I would appreciate it if you would “share” this…my goal is to have 100 shares before I post #101!
God bless you! Fr. Andrew
Study: Recall a moment when you experienced profound healing. Then consider a time when someone was genuinely hospitable to you.
Pray: Ask the Lord to see others with the eyes of Jesus.
Serve: How can you bring healing to another today? How can you reach out and welcome someone?
23rd Sunday of the Year Readings
Two big themes bubble up in the Scriptures this week:
Both of these themes are part of the fabric of human life. We all know firsthand experiences of illness, disease, and discomfort. We know the relief that comes from health, especially after a long period of suffering. Jesus spent a substantial portion of his ministry healing others; indeed, every encounter with the Lord brought about some type of transformative renewal.
Hospitality touches another part of our existence. It is so easy to prejudge one another! Looks, clothing, money, power, success….we can quickly get caught up in externals and fail to recognize the shining soul that dwells in the heart. James (as usual) minces no words here – he speaks bluntly, calling us to treat one another as sons & daughters of God.
Where do you see healing in your life? Where do you see hospitality? Perhaps today we can be agents of both, helping others in moments of weakness and need, and reaching out to all with the love of Christ.
Fr. Andrew’s 13th Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast
Jesus defines much of his ministry with clear examples of healing others, and the Gospel today gives us an insight about how we draw near the Lord. We have all had experiences where we long for healing. We have seen loved ones suffer, and many of us know first hand the presence of pain in our lives. May the example of Jairus and the unnamed woman inspire us to seek the healing grace of Christ!
Study: Consider people you know who are suffering right now. What is the nature of their struggle?
Pray: Keep a list of those who are sick nearby when you pray. Remember them often.
Serve: How can you help someone today who suffers? How can you be an instrument of healing and comfort?
13th Sunday of the Year Readings
Consider for a moment someone you love who is seriously sick. Perhaps it’s a disease, an upcoming surgery, and undiagnosed circumstance, or the relentless experience of pain...we all know loved ones who suffer – and we would do anything to help.
Now imagine that you have heard about a miracle worker who cures the sick and resuscitates the dead. I know that if I discovered that Jesus of Nazareth was even remotely in the area I would rent a bus and bundle in everyone I could fit just for the chance that he would lay hands on them.
This is the situation we encounter in the Gospel today. People are crushing in on Christ; they have heard of his power and they are are desperate for healing. The double miracles in the reading point out a number of key concepts:
Simply put, an encounter with Jesus Christ is a healing encounter. In the face of sickness and disease, the Lord draws near – bringing grace and power – to restore life to those who suffer.
As his disciples, we are part of this healing mission.
Jesus comes to bring life; may our lives – guided in faith – be directed toward healing the wounds we witness.
Study: Reflect on wounded relationships in your life. What needs to be done to bring them healing?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the grace to bring healing to the relationships in your life, especially where suffering has caused misunderstanding or fear has led to doubt and uncertainty.
Serve: Are there people in your life that are struggling in their relationships? How can you be a bridge that fosters unity and reconciliation?
6th Sunday of the Year Readings
Last week I focused on the personal nature of suffering. When we are in pain, when we hurt, we can easily focus on ourselves. This is not necessarily a bad thing; suffering can help us confront reality and strive for healing and wholeness. In our suffering we are aware of blessings that we may have taken for granted – our sight can become sharper as we realize the gifts that have been lavished upon us.
There is another dimension of suffering, however. Suffering commonly affects relationships; when one person suffers, it is often the case that others suffer as well. Consider the following:
There are countless examples, but the point is clear – the pain and anguish a person suffers can directly affect relationships with God and one another. Suffering can become an obstacle that blocks us from the very persons who can bring healing and relief. Often the greatest wound from suffering is isolation: in our weakness we withdraw from the very people who can help us the most.
The 1st Reading, Responsorial Psalm, and Gospel today reveal both the obstacles of suffering and the bridges that God makes possible through healing grace. In the face of suffering the Lord comes, not just to bring healing to a person, but healing to the relationships among persons. God longs not only to renew our lives but the lives around us as well. Where suffering brings isolation the Lord brings unity – drawing us together in reconciliation and love.
This communal aspect of suffering thus begs two questions for our consideration:
When the Jesus healed the leper in the Gospel today, he did more than give the man back his health – he gave back his relationships as well. The man (formerly cut off from human society) is now restored to his family, his friendships, and his participation in the community. His life has been restored.
As we look to our own encounters with suffering we keep an eye to the ways in which our relationships are harmed/healed. May we call upon the grace of Christ to touch our lives, and bless the lives of those around us.
Study: Reflect on moments of sickness and healing. Where did you see God’s hand at work in your life?
Pray: Is there something in your heart that is keeping you from being healed? Ask the Lord for the grace to remove the obstacles that prevent the saving touch of Jesus.
Serve: Who in your life is struggling with suffering right now? How can you help support them in their need?
5th Sunday of the Year Readings
Maybe you’re different, but I find it ridiculously easy to take my health for granted. I can find myself in patterns of thought where I just assume that my body will work exactly the way it is suppose to, without hindrance, mishap, or breakdown – and you know what happens when you assume…
Let’s face it: suffering stinks.
It took parish priesthood to teach me how precious is the gift of life, and that includes the gift of health. I make routine visits to the hospitals, say Mass at the nursing homes, and anoint people frequently at church for the surgeries, procedures, tests, and treatments that are part of our battle for healing. All of us know – either personally or through loved ones – the challenges of suffering.
Some might ask, “Why does God allow this to happen? Wouldn’t a loving God keep everyone healthy and happy?” Admittedly when we see people who, through no fault of their own, endure horrible pain and illness we rightfully want to know why; at least, it is one of my Top Ten questions to ask the Almighty. And while we do not get our answers in this life, we can acknowledge that suffering is part of human experience; it is something that – in greater and lesser ways – we will all encounter in our journey through life.
We see an authentic expression of suffering in the words of Job and the crowd who came to Jesus. Job’s words echo the cry of many who lose hope in the face of ongoing physical, mental, and spiritual anguish; the press of the crowds around Jesus underscores our deep desire to find healing and relief.
And in the midst of the reality of human suffering, we encounter Jesus at the heart of our experience. The Lord does not avoid human misery; rather, he reaches out to touch and bless it. It is this encounter with Jesus – healing body and soul, preaching Good News to the poor in spirit, and casting out evil wherever it is present – that renews lives and fosters hope.
God seeks our healing:
So, what needs to be healed in our lives today? What in our lives – Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul – needs to be touched and blessed by Christ? God knows our need, may we come to the Lord and seek the one who longs for us to be made whole.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 