As Jesus calls the first disciples he says, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” May we respond to Christ today – knowing that as we follow the Lord we will be empowered to invite others to join us.
Mass Readings – Monday of the First Week of the Year
Study: Reflect on an experience in life when you have been called to do something. Who called you? What did it feel like?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance to discern how to follow Jesus Christ today.
Serve: Are there people in your life who are experiencing a calling? How can you help them discover their path?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of the Year
Have you ever had moments in life when you wish the answers were written in the sky with letters that were clear and easy to read? Where there is no doubt what to do; no hesitation that a certain choice is the best; no worry that something has been missed? The question surfaces frequently: How do we know the Lord’s call for our lives?
In the Scriptures today we have two examples where people are being called by God:
While each story presents a perspective that is unique, both have some points that are worth noting:
The same three steps continue today. God keeps inviting! The Lord’s grace ceaselessly pours out upon the earth, inviting and empowering us to draw closer to God and one another. Everything we have comes from the Lord, who takes the initiative to reach out to us in love.
Our response – both in word and deed – completes this initiative. Accepting the Lord’s call we grow in wisdom and strength, developing our God-given gifts for service in the world. As we continue to say yes to the Lord’s guidance we become more and more alive, become a conduit through which Christ’s mission touches the hearts and lives of others.
So how and where does the Lord speak today? Where do we look for the call? A few starting thoughts…
May we say yes to the Lord’s call in our lives, responding with full and open hearts, serving one another with the strength of Jesus Christ!
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Note: This post was originally published on January 12, 2015.
The Baptism of the Lord inspires us to claim the gift of our own baptism as we follow Christ and live the gift of life infused with faith.
Mass Readings – Baptism of the Lord
John the Baptist reveals a humility and depth of knowledge as he recognizes how the ministry of Jesus must grow. “He must increase; I must decrease.” May these words apply to each one of us as we welcome Christ as King of our hearts.
Mass Readings – Saturday after Epiphany
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The desire of Jesus to make clean the leper in the Gospel of Luke reveals the Lord’s desire to cleanse each one of us: body, mind, heart and soul.
Mass Readings – Friday after Epiphany
In this third part of the reflection on love from the First Letter of John, we see how our love for others reflects the love that flows from the heart of God. When we love one another we are acting on the Lord’s commandment and showing the world the face of Christ.
Mass Readings – Thursday after Epiphany (Christmas Weekday)
The First Letter of John offers a rich insight regarding how God’s love gives us the courage to face our fears.
Mass Readings – Wednesday after Epiphany
Love finds its origin and power in God, for God is love. May we draw close to the Lord so that His love will overflow our hearts.
Mass Readings – Christmas Weekday (St. John Neumann)
From the very start of his earthly ministry, Jesus preached for repentance – the ongoing call to conversion of heart – as we turn from our sins and embrace our lives for the Lord.
Mass Readings – Monday after Epiphany
Study: Find out about your baptism. When was it? Who performed it? Who are your Godparents? Who else was present?
Pray: Thank the Lord for the gift of faith to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.
Serve: How can you live your baptismal call today? How can your faith inspire or assist another?
Mass Readings – The Baptism of the Lord
A few years ago I was having lunch when I ran into Fr. Bob Koszarek, a retired priest from our diocese. When I asked him what brought him out for lunch he said, “I am celebrating the anniversary of my baptism.” The comment struck me, especially when he followed it up with, “Do you know the day of your baptism?”
The answer is no. Yet as I prepare for Mass this week I have made a commitment to find out. We claim (rightly so) that baptism is a crucial sacrament in the Church – the gateway to all other sacraments whereby we are configured to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most people know if they have been baptized; my sense is that very few know the actual date.
Our faith is a precious gift – worth fighting for, worth dying for. Perhaps today we pause to recall just how precious it truly is…Jesus Christ poured out his blood on the Cross for us that we might have eternal life. His baptism was the revelation of the Trinity, where we hear the Father’s voice from heaven as the Spirit descends upon the Son in the form of a dove. Our baptism allows us to participate fully in God’s presence for the grace and guidance we need.
I invite us today to claim our baptism. Some simple steps:
Our baptism is not a one time event. Rather, it is an ongoing expression of Christ working through us. May the Baptism of the Lord inspire us to live our faith with joy as we engage our lives with his power.
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Note: This post was first published on January 4, 2016.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 