Tag Archives: Hope

June 19, 2017

12th Sunday of the Year: God’s grace in the darkness of evil.

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

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!

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time

April 24, 2017

3rd Sunday of Easter: An encounter with the Risen Lord.

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Study: Where do you find your faith renewed?  What activities build up your relationship with the Lord?

Pray:  Is there someone in your life who is searching for God?  Pray that the Lord gives you guidance to say and do what is helpful.

Serve: Is there a situation or activity where your time and talent can help others grow closer to the Lord?  How can you get involved?

Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Easter

The readings this week are filled with power and zeal.  The resurrection of Jesus inspires the early Church, and their encounter with the Risen Lord in the breaking of the bread testifies to the enduring grace we receive every time we come to Mass.  Take a look:

  • 1st Reading – Peter boldly proclaims the Good News to the crowd
  • Psalm – “Lord, you will show us the path of life.”
  • 2nd Reading – the resurrection renews us to live by God’s grace
  • Gospel – Jesus explains the Scriptures and is made known in the breaking of the bread

A pattern emerges: an encounter with the Risen Lord changes our lives in dynamic and life-giving ways.  Peter is no longer timid or afraid to stand up for Christ; Christians conduct themselves with faith and hope; the disciples have their minds opened and hearts burning as Jesus is present to them in the breaking of the bread.

It is the depth of this change that bears close inspection.  These people are renewed and empowered with a strength and conviction that can inspire us today.  They burn with the flame of faith, and through the example and witness of their lives the Gospel message will spread like wildfire.

This is our task today.  As we look to the early Church, we acknowledge that NOTHING was easy for them.  Their trust in God put them in the path of tremendous obstacles, trials and persecutions.  And yet with God’s grace their triumphed…and we can, too.

I’d like to suggest a simple two-step process:

  1. Where do we encounter the Lord in our lives today?
  2. How can we invite others to experience what gives us life?

The first question requires us to pause and reflect on the prayers, sacraments, fellowship and other life-giving activities that renew our hearts.  The second question challenges us to step out in faith and invite those we know and love to encounter the Risen Lord.  May the faith of the early Church inspire us to proclaim the Good News with passion and joy!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter

April 18, 2017

Daily Mass: Filled with joy! Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Mass Readings – Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Mary Magdalene is transformed from sorrow to joy in the light of the Risen Lord.  She is sent forth by Jesus to proclaim a message of hope to the disciples, reminding us that we are also called to share the Good News of the resurrection through the witness of our lives.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 16, 2017

Easter Homily

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Mass Readings – Easter Day

In the light of that first Easter day the disciples were transformed as they began to comprehend the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Freed from the fear of sin and death, they embraced their faith and changed the world.  May we continue to follow their example as we allow Easter joy to fill our hearts and renew our lives.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

 

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 16, 2017

Easter Day

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Easter Lily

Study:  When have you experienced a profound moment of change and growth?  What brought it about?

Pray:  Open your heart to Jesus Christ.  Let the joy of the resurrection transform your life.

Serve:  Claim your faith!  Let your love for the Lord direct your thoughts, words, and actions – in whatever you face today.

Easter Day Readings        Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast (posted April 20, 2014)

In the early hours of that first Easter Day we celebrate an incredible hope as word spread through the city of Jerusalem – Jesus is alive.

His followers had been crushed by the agony of the Cross.  Lost – beyond all sense of pain, sorrow, and grief – from the darkness of their fear and despair they passed on the message: we have seen him, we have touched him, we have eaten with him – the Lord has been raised!

I have always been struck by the transformational effect the resurrection of Jesus had upon his disciples:

  • Fear to Faith
  • Helplessness to Hope
  • Lament to Love
  • Cowardice to Courage

The same disciples who once fled for their lives will now go out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.  They will face persecution, suffering, and martyrdom in order to testify to the truth of Easter Day: the Resurrection of Christ.  What’s more, they will do this with an overwhelming sense of conviction and strength.

No one can ignore the power of this effect.  The encounter with the Risen Lord changes everything.  What is there to be afraid of?  Jesus has broken the chains of sin and death – we can face anything in this world with confidence.  Jesus has triumphed, and in the light of Easter Day we now draw on his strength to face our battles with joy.

The death of Jesus on the Cross was for our sins; the resurrection of Jesus was for our lives.  The power of Easter Day directs our attention to the sacred and precious gift of life.  Life is worth fighting for, worth dying for, and worth living for – in this world and the next.  The resurrection reveals God’s love for our lives; we are worth the sacrifice of the Cross and empowered to live with faith, hope, and love.

How will we live this great promise of faith?  How will we allow the power of Easter to transform us?  For remember: the moment we acknowledge the truth of the resurrection our lives fundamentally change.  Directed by the saving work of Christ we now engage the world on new terms: we witness through word and action the love of Jesus each and every day.  With our eyes fixed on heaven we boldly walk this earth as his disciples.  We live our lives with real truth and power.  We live our lives as God’s sons and daughters.

The authentic witness of our faith is THE WAY that people truly discover Jesus.  It was true for the disciples on that first Easter Day, and it is true for disciples today.

Perhaps today is the day that our faith takes on a deeper meaning and purpose in our lives – placing Jesus first in all that we say and do.  May this Easter Day fill our hearts with grace and power to live in the light of Christ.  May we let the Lord into our hearts and allow our lives to be transformed by his love.

Christ is alive!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

February 27, 2017

1st Sunday of Lent: Facing our temptations

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

jesus-wilderness

Study:  When in life have you been profoundly tempted?  What patterns do you notice in your life?

Pray:  The temptations we face provide a special place in our prayers; bring them to the Lord!

Serve:  How can you support others who are tempted so that they can face them with grace?

Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Lent

We enter into the great season of Lent with classic readings about temptation, sin and God’s grace:

  • 1st Reading – The temptation of Adam & Eve
  • Psalm – “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”
  • 2nd Reading – The sin of Adam is redeemed by Christ
  • Gospel – The devil tempts Jesus…and fails

First, let me be perfectly clear:  Temptation is a part of the landscape of human life.  From the time of our first parents at the dawn of creation, humanity has experienced temptation.  We can wish all we want, but the fact remains that we are constantly facing great and small temptations throughout the course of our lives.

What’s more, we have all experienced times when temptation has led us to sin.  Being tempted is one thing; falling into sin is another.  For once sin is a part of our lives, our souls are wounded in a way that requires God’s grace to cleanse and heal.

This awareness of temptation and sin can easily lead us to a state of despair.  We can fall into the trap that says “Well, you messed up.  What’s the point now?  You might as well just give up.” Admittedly, the devil would like nothing better than to let us think that there is no hope…that we are lost and without strength to find our way out of the messes of life.

Yet we start our Lent with hope.  Yes, we acknowledge that temptation and sin are real, but we take comfort that this is why Jesus Christ came – to break the bondage of sin, restore our relationships with God and one another, and lead us into eternal life.  The Lord knew about temptation first hand, yet not only did he triumph over Satan’s testing, but he freed us through his death and resurrection.

In our moments of temptation and sin may we run to the Cross of Christ!  As we encounter our own trials may we trust that the Lord stands ready to offer us help and strength – both to face what comes before us this day, and to heal us in our moments of need.

***************

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Lent

February 26, 2017

8th Sunday of the Year: Do not worry! Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

trust-god-s-plan-for-your-life

Mass Readings – 8th Sunday of the Year

When worry overtakes us we lose our focus on the Lord and run the risk of wasting the gift of our lives.  Jesus knows this, and his teaching in the Gospel today reminds us that as we follow Christ we will receive what we need to encounter each day when we think, pray and share over the worry that confronts us.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

February 18, 2017

Daily Mass: Transfiguration hope. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

sky-1107952_960_720

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 6th Week of the Year

On the mountain Jesus is transfigured, appearing to three disciples as he stands in Heaven.  His transfiguration offers us hope, that as we carry our crosses and face the challenges of life we will have the strength and guidance we need.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

February 5, 2017

5th Sunday of the Year: You are the light of the world. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

fullsizerender

Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year

Jesus proclaims to his disciples that they are the light of the world, an uplifting testament to the opportunity we have to make a difference in our world as we offer the gift of our lives to God.

***************

Fr. Andrew’s Podcast Archive

 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

January 22, 2017

3rd Sunday of the Year: The Lord is my light. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

sunshine

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of the Year

We know firsthand the different types of darkness that occur in daily life: fear, grief, loss, pain, anger, loneliness, rejection and doubt.  In these moments we call upon the Lord – who casts out the darkness – so that we can live in the Light of Christ.

diocese-of-superior-catholic-schools-017

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast