Jesus offers sound spiritual advice that has practical application to our daily lives. Our treasures reveal the depth of our hearts and display what we value and cherish. May we consider the things of heaven to help guide how we live each day here on earth.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 11th Week of the Year
***************
Study: Consider a moment when you felt unconditional love. How did you react?
Pray: Are there people in your life who are hard to love? Ask the Lord to soften your heart, and place in you the desire to want to love them.
Serve: Love is expressed in many ways. How can you share the Love of Christ with others today?
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
Let’s start with a quick overview of this week’s readings:
The Easter season proclaims the Lord’s triumph over sin and death, and inspires us to fix our eyes on Heaven as our destination and goal. United together with the Lord, we understand that we are pilgrims passing through this world – and our words and actions have power and consequence.
Think about it. The Lord commands us to love. This is not some pleasant suggestion or good-idea-if-you-have-time-to-fit-it-in…this command is our call to action: Love flows from the heart of Heaven, and in our Love on earth we practice for the day when we will stand before the Author of Love itself.
And lest we get caught up in some sort of warm fuzzy feeling about Love, we know that this command is hard to carry out! Love demands our forgiveness, patience, mercy, gentleness, peace, and understanding. Simply put, we are called to Love as Christ loves us – by laying down our lives for one another.
Love, then, is not only a principal condition for Heaven, but for the Church on earth as well. Nothing reveals our sincerity and authenticity as Christians more fully than when Love shines through our words and actions.
Our goal is Heaven, and while here on earth the Church follows the example of Christ – loving God and one another. May others see the Lord’s Love in our lives today!
***************
Catholic Inspiration Archives
***************
Note: This post was first published on April 19, 2019.
Study: Reflect on a time in life when someone reached out and welcomed you. What key points stand out? Consider any opportunities you have today to do this for another.
Pray: Is there a rift in your life that calls for healing and unity? Ask the Lord for grace and mercy to make it happen.
Serve: What is one thing you can do this week to be “part of the solution” in fostering unity in your life?
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Easter
The Scripture readings this week are filled with an uplifting message: we are invited to be part of the Lord’s family of faith. Check out some high points from the readings:
Consider some points that follow from these incredible readings:
If this unity is thus part of the reality of our Family of Faith, perhaps now is a good time to practice this unity here on earth? Perhaps today we can cross the boundaries and divisions that keep us from one another as we continue to share the Good News in our words and actions?
As disciples we have been given an example of unity; our lives today provide plenty of opportunities to foster it. May the grace of Easter inspire us to be a light to one another, after all – we are members of a vast and diverse family!
***************
***************
Note: This post was first published on April 16, 2016.
As Jesus speaks to Nicodemus we discover that our hope in Christ gives us the strength we need for our earthly journey. Whatever challenges we encounter in this life, we look to the Lord’s victory over sin and death to guide us to Heaven.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Easter
***************
As the Lord teaches about eternal life, we are reminded that our lives here on earth are a preparation for our encounter with the angels and saints gathered around God in Heaven.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 33rd Week of the Year
***************
The Gospel today addresses the age-old concern about the end times…which begs a question: if the Lord called you right now, would you be ready? Are there things in life that need to be fixed, or are there perhaps opportunities that you can help flourish?
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
***************
The victory of the Saints stands as a reminder for us. For just as Christ sustained the Saints in their trials, so God will also walk with us. They inspire us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus as we encounter the obstacles of life…so that one day we will join their ranks in Heaven.
Mass Readings – The Solemnity of All Saints
***************
The Last Judgment, Michelangelo, 1536-1541, Sistine Chapel, Rome.
