Tag Archives: Inspiration

The Holy Trinity

017rublev troitsa

Study:  Reflect on the strongest relationships in our lives.  What qualities and characteristics are present?

Pray:  Ask the Lord for the guidance to see where we can build and renew our relationships.

Serve:  Are there people around us that we need to forgive or assist?  What steps can we take right now to start this process?

Holy Trinity Readings

One God…Three Persons.

That’s the Trinity, and when you get right down to it, this central mystery of the Christian faith is just that – mystery.  I have heard and used many images as illustrations to aid in understanding the Trinity:

  • Shamrock – one leaf, three petals
  • Water – one substance, three states (solid, liquid, gas)
  • Numbers – one meaning, many languages (five, cinque, etc…)

These examples (and many like them) try to get at the notion of how something can be the same and different at the same time.  How unity and diversity can be present at the same time; how the individual and the communal are manifested simultaneously.

It’s a mystery.

And at the heart of the mystery we have a communion of Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – a revelation that God comes to us in communion and invites us to be communion with others.   We are not alone!  God (in communion) invites us into this communion to create communion with one another.

Where do we find communion in our lives?  Some obvious places:

  • Home & Family
  • Work
  • School
  • Neighborhood

You get the idea.  Wherever two or more are present, the opportunity for communion is possible.  The point: How strong is the communion we have have with God and one another?  How united are we in faith, hope, and love?

May we reflect on the current state of our relationships today and renew them, allowing the grace of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – to bless the communion we have with those around us.

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Trinity, Andrei Rublev; 1411-1427 (est.), Tempera, 142 cm x 114 cm, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

This post was originally published on May 26, 2015.


Pentecost: The Power of the Holy Spirit. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Pentecost Day

Like a power tool, our lives come alive with the power of the Holy Spirit when we:

  1. Stay connected to Christ
  2. Live each day with conviction
  3. Recognize the unique contributions of one another

Come Holy Spirit!  Fill our hearts with the fire of your love!

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Daily Mass: Follow me. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 7th Week of Easter (Charles Lwanga & Companions, Martyrs)

The Lord tells Peter to follow him and not focus on what others are doing.  What a good reminder for us!  May we recognize that the Lord has plans for us all; our task: to carry out our work and follow Jesus with all our heart.

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Daily Mass: Do you love the Lord? Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Friday of the 7th Week of Easter

“Do you love me?” This is the question that the Lord puts to Peter three times following the resurrection.  It’s a good reminder, for in the end our lives are measured by the love – shared and received – that’s found in our hearts.

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Daily Mass: That all may be one in Christ. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter (Justin Martyr)

The Lord prays for the unity of the disciples, and how pertinent that prayer remains today!  May we work tirelessly to promote our connections and relationships, building up our community at all levels in life.

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The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary and Elizabeth – pregnant with Jesus and John the Baptist – meet and rejoice at the goodness of the Lord.  Both women knew hardship, yet their faith inspires us to see God at work…in good times and in bad.

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Photo Credit: The Nativity Story, 2006.


Daily Mass: I pray for them. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 7th Week of Easter

Jesus tells his heavenly Father, “I pray for them.” His words offer hope: the Lord prays for us!  Our faith, transmitted through time and space from those first disciples, inspires us to pray for one another with the grace and strength of Christ.

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The Feast of Pentecost

Holy-Spirit-Dove

Study: Where in my life have I experienced God’s grace and strength?

Pray:  What particular needs in my life call for the help of the Holy Spirit?

Serve:  Where can I use the gifts God has given me to serve another right now?

Mass Readings – Vigil of Pentecost

Mass Readings – Pentecost Day

The image St. Paul uses in the 2nd reading this weekend is a body.  Composed of different parts which do unique and special functions, the body is united when all the parts come together.  So, too, all of us are united into the Body of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Look at these themes from Pentecost Mass Readings of the Day:

  • The Spirit gives power to communicate across barriers of race and tongue (1st Reading)
  • The Spirit gives life and renews the face of the earth (Psalm response)
  • The Spirit gives different gifts to people for different needs (2nd Reading)
  • The Spirit is breathed on the disciples by Jesus (Gospel)

In other words, the Holy Spirit unites people, renews life, provides unique gifts, and is granted to the Church by Christ.  This is the day that the disciples were empowered to continue the mission of Jesus; filled with the Spirit they will witness the Good News of the Lord through their words and actions.

Their example becomes our model.  The same Spirit that changed their lives comes to us.  The same Spirit that gave them the grace and strength to go forth gives us the power we need to offer our lives for Christ.  God continues to invite us to serve, and the Lord pours forth the Holy Spirit to help us carry out the work of this day.

Are there barriers in our life?  Come Holy Spirit!

Are there parts of life in need of renewal?  Come Holy Spirit!

Are there gifts we have that need to be used and directed?  Come Holy Spirit!

Jesus freely gave the gift of the Spirit to his disciples – may we turn to the Lord with conviction that as we call for the Holy Spirit in our lives we will be given what we need for the work of this day.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.


The Ascension of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – The Ascension of the Lord

We say in the creed, “He ascended into Heaven” yet we often do not consider what that means for our lives here on earth:

  • Where are we going?
  • What are we doing?
  • How are we doing it?

With Heaven as our home we can evaluate and review our words and actions in preparation for the day when the Lord calls us to follow Him from this world to the next.

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Daily Mass: Asking the Father in the name of Jesus. Catholic Inspiration

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 6th Week of Easter

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you” reminds us that our requests are rooted in our relationship with the Lord.  As we grow closer to Christ we change and grow, not only learning what to ask for, but trusting that the one who knows us best will give us what we need.

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts