On this feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary we see her swift response – in word and action – to God’s call for her life. Mary example inspires us to do the same as we proclaim the greatness of the Lord in our lives.
Matthew’s Gospel offers a couple of key insights into God’s love for humanity. The Lord seeks us out when we are lost and astray with a compassion that knows no limit; our task is to humbly receive this gift with the openness of a little child.
The Letter to the Hebrews stresses the power of faith in the life of a Christian. Faith strengthens both the head and the heart, and as we foster our faith we are empowered with the grace we need to face the challenges before us.
The Lord teaches a key concept – the Paschal Mystery of death to new life – through the example of a grain of wheat. What needs to “die” in us today so that God’s grace can raise up something new and blessed in our hearts?
Jesus speaks bluntly in the Gospel of Matthew, making it crystal clear that his disciple must take up his cross and follow the Lord in order to enter into eternal life.
When Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” he is inviting them into a spiritual self-discovery that leads to personal change. The moment we claim Jesus as Lord we recognize our relationship to the Messiah and declare our allegiance to follow where he leads.
The Lord’s interaction and subsequent care for the Canaanite woman offers us an insight into how we reach out to others…even when they are not part of our “group.”
The transfiguration of the Lord reveals the glory and power of Jesus to three of his disciples. The revelation is given to prepare them for the struggles to come, reminding us that God often gives us special graces to meet new challenges.
The Lord offers a direct warning about the sin of greed in the Gospel today. While we are often quick to perceive greed in others, the reality is that this temptation touches us all in great and small ways. Fr. Andrew’s homily offers three antidotes to help us shake off the lure of this deadly sin.