Tag Archives: Inspiration

Daily Mass: Faith in face of fear. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 13th Week of the Year

During the storm on the sea the disciples cry out in fear.  Jesus calms the storm and comforts them, reminding us that when fear threatens to overwhelm us we seek the one who gives us strength.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

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Happy 4th of July!


14th Sunday of the Year: Meek and humble of heart.

Study:  When have you experienced tenderness in your life?  How did it affect you?

Pray:  Is there someone you know who is in pain right now?  Pray for the gentleness of Jesus to touch them.

Serve:  Is there someone you can help?  Perhaps you are uniquely suited to ease their burden and bring them comfort.

Mass Readings – 14th Sunday of the Year

Here’s a quick recap of the readings:

  • 1st Reading – Zechariah offers a prophecy about Jesus
  • Psalm – “I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.”
  • 2nd Reading – Paul teaches that the Spirit of Christ dwells in us
  • Gospel – Christ offers rest to all who labor and are burdened

When you think of all the ways that God could choose to be revealed to humanity, perhaps nothing seems at first more shocking than the tender humility that the Messiah reveals.  God does not overwhelm our senses with awesome power; rather, God gets under our radar and lovingly touches our hearts without force or pretense.

Jesus Christ comes into our world:

  • Meek and riding a donkey (not a stallion at the head of an angelic army)
  • Bringing comfort and healing (as opposed to a war cry and battle plan)
  • Offering his Spirit so that we might be transformed into newness of life

No wonder the Psalmist could offer praises to God!  The Lord is approachable, gentle, accessible and understanding.  Jesus Christ meets us in our most wounded and vulnerable places, for through his Cross he has experienced the full range of human pain…and redeemed it.

So come to the Lord.  Embrace the one who meets us where we are and longs to heal our pain.  May we let go of our worries and fears; may we let the Lord take us by the hand and lead us into newness of life.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

 


Monday Conversation: The Summer Challenge! Catholic Inspiration

For many years Fr. Andrew has offered a Summer Challenge to his parishioners to limit time in front of a screen (TV, Computer, Smartphone) and rethink what we do with the gift of our lives; consider what you might do for the next four weeks – and enjoy the glory of summer – in order to evaluate your use of screen time. (36 Minutes)

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts


13th Sunday of the Year: Dying and rising with Christ. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – 13th Sunday of the Year

St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that our participation in the life and death of Jesus Christ brings us eternal life.  This Good News is our legacy as disciples and our inspiration to offer our lives with the hope and strength of God’s grace.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts


Daily Mass: Healing miracles. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 12th Week of the Year

Matthew’s Gospel offers three healing miracles and reminds us that the Lord continues to heal today.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts


Daily Mass: The healing touch of Christ. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Friday of the 12th Week of the Year

A leper comes to Jesus and receives healing, encouraging us to look into our hearts to discern where we are wounded so that the Lord might heal us as well.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts


St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – The Feast of St. Peter & St. Paul

These two great saints made an enormous impact in the Church, even as they encountered hard work and confronted their own weaknesses and sins.  May we look to their example and trust in the Lord for the grace we need to face the challenges of life.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts


Daily Mass: Know the tree by its fruit. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 12th Week of the Year (St. Irenaeus)

The fruitfulness of our lives offers a useful indication regarding the state of our souls.  Whether its our heart or another’s, may the Fruits of the Spirit help guide us on our journey of faith.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts


Daily Mass: Nuggets of wisdom from the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 12th Week of the Year

The Gospel of Matthew today reveals three nuggets of wisdom that the Lord offers in the Sermon on the Mount:

  • Do not waste or squander the gifts of life and faith
  • Be fair and just with one another
  • Work hard to seek God above all else

The teaching is easy to understand.  The hard part?  Putting it into practice every day!

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

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Photo credit: The Son of God, 2014.


13th Sunday of the Year: Good News that offers hope.

Study: Recall a time when you received really good news.  How did it affect your life?

Pray: Reflect on the blessings of your life – perhaps even make a list – and take a moment in your prayer to thank the Lord.

Serve: It’s easy to take our blessings for granted; look for a way to help someone in your life recognize the gifts they have been given.

Mass Readings – 13th Sunday of the Year

There is a lot of Good News in the readings this week:

  • 1st Reading – Elisha offers hope to an aging couple
  • Psalm – “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”
  • 2nd Reading – Paul reminds us that we have died and risen with Christ
  • Gospel – Christ invites us to put Him first in our lives

As much as the world might try at times to make us think that bad news sells, deep in our hearts we long to hear Good News – words that inspire, give us hope, and energize our lives.

Good News reminds us that the Lord has a plan for our lives and invites us to trust as we make Jesus Christ the center of what we say and do.  Good News is not “pie-in-the-sky” that says just hang on long enough as you’ll get your reward; rather, we keep going because every day (good or bad) has unique lessons that can draw us closer to God and one another.  Good News proclaims that not only is there something fantastic at the end of the journey, but that the Lord himself will accompany us every step of the way.

Where do you see Good News in your life right now?  Where have you recognized Jesus Christ at work in your life?  Take a moment to thank the Lord for the blessings you have and help others to see the ways that they have been touched by God’s grace.  In other words: proclaim the Good News!

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts