Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 17th Week of the Year
The Kingdom of Heaven is precious, worth more than any treasure on earth. Are we willing to order our lives in Christ so that we are ready to dwell there?
Tag Archives: Inspiration
Daily Mass: Final Judgment. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 17th Week of the Year
Jesus explains a parable to the disciples, showing how one day we will all face final judgment for our lives.
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The Last Judgment, Michelangelo, 1536-1541, Sistine Chapel, Vatican.
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18th Sunday of the Year – Guard against greed
Study: Are there situations in life where you find greed present? Ask yourself what is the source of this excessive hunger for more.
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the grace to use your resources wisely.
Serve: How can you be generous with your life today?
Mass Readings – 18th Sunday of the Year
The Lord cautions us to “guard against all greed” in the Gospel today, yet another reminder of the timeless power of our faith to speak to the human heart. Let’s take a moment to break down some common aspects of greed:
- Self-centered, focusing on “what I want”
- Excessive, always wanting more
- Applies to a wide variety of human wants – money, fame, power, food, etc.
Greed disregards the needs of others as the individual focuses entirely on self. Seeking more and more, it pushes other things aside in a quest to acquire. And while we often associate greed with money, the Lord’s warning against all forms of greed is apt…we can be greedy about so many things!
So what’s the cure? How do we combat greed in our lives? Here are some key ingredients:
- Gratitude – being thankful for what we have
- Contentment – seeing the blessings in our lives
- Stewardship – using wisely the resources in our care
- Generosity – sharing the gifts of life with those in need
- Prayer – fostering our relationship with God, the source of all gifts
By weaving these elements into our lives we cultivate a perspective that sees all resources as gifts from God that are to be used wisely and well. We have been richly blessed by the Lord! May we live and share our lives in such a way that Christ’s love shines through all that we do.
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17th Sunday of the Year: It’s all about relationships. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
Our relationships – with God and one another – form the framework of our lives. In light of the readings today we strive to heal those relationships that are broken and make even stronger those that are well.
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Daily Mass: Weeds and Wheat. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 16th Week of the Year
The parable of the weeds and the wheat speaks to both the reality of sin and final judgment. We know that sin is part of our lives, and we have the opportunity to seek the Lord’s forgiveness now…because one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
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Daily Mass: Mary Magdalene
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – The Feast of Mary Magdalene
She is the first person Jesus appears to after his resurrection. Mary Magdalene, a “sinner” who found in Christ forgiveness and compassion, becomes our model today. May we, in our own weakness and sin, see Christ and respond with love to his call.
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Appearance of Jesus Christ to Maria Magdalena, Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov, 1835, Location currently unknown.
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Daily Mass: God’s gift of grace. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 16th Sunday of the Year
The disciples were blessed because they heard and saw the proclamation of the Good News. Their response inspires us to receive God’s message of hope and live our faith with power and conviction.
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Daily Mass: The garden of our hearts. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 16th Week of the Year
The Sower scatters the seed, but the growth depends on the soil and circumstances. In the same way, the Good News is given to all…what will be the response in the garden of our hearts?
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Daily Mass: God’s Mercy & Love. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 16th Week of the Year
God calls us into a relationship of mercy and love, inviting us to follow his example with one another.
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17th Sunday of the Year – The Power of Relationships
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Study: Think about a best friend or cherished family member. What qualities do you find particularly precious?
Pray: Is there a relationship in your life in need of healing? Ask the Lord for grace, wisdom, and guidance to make it happen.
Serve: Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be renewed? What can you do to strengthen the connection?
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
A thumbnail sketch of the readings this week looks something like this:
- 1st Reading – Abraham haggles with God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah
- Psalm – “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”
- 2nd Reading – We were buried in baptism and risen with Christ through his Cross
- Gospel – The Lord’s prayer, a friend & neighbor, and a father & son
In all of these readings we see the power of relationships at work touching hearts and changing lives. We are not meant to walk through this life (or the next) alone; rather, God calls us into communion and invites us to deepen the connections we have with the Lord and one another. Looking at it this way, the readings point out that a relationship with God makes many things possible:
- Abraham pleads and negotiates with God to try to save the people.
- The Psalmist proclaims the Lord’s help in time of trial.
- Our baptism connects us to Christ’s saving death & resurrection.
- We can call God “father” and request, give, and seek for what we need.
Our relationship with the Lord is made possible through Jesus. For remember, God makes it possible for us to draw near, and God invites us to enter into this very unequal relationship to raise us up as the Lord’s sons & daughters. We’ve been “allowed in” to this intimate and tender connection with Christ.
And thus we are called to strengthen our relationships in two distinct ways – with the Lord and with the people in our lives. That means we are called to consider how we might spend a little quality time building and strengthening our connections. With the Lord that means Prayer, Sacraments, Service, and a Call to Holiness. With other people it means forgiveness, charity, “wasting time” with loved ones in wholesome recreation, and seeking to bring out the best in one another.
And if something is wounded or broken…if a relationship is in need of healing – then ask the Lord for the grace to make it happen! Remember: the Lord calls us into relationships. May we take the gift of today to strengthen these connections in our lives.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: The Lord has made known his salvation
- Daily Mass: We are guided by the Fruits of the Spirit
- Daily Mass: Let your mercy come to us, O Lord
- Daily Mass: The lesson of the sign of Jonah
- Study, Pray, Serve: 29th Sunday of the Year
- 28th Sunday of the Year: We respond to God's banquet invitation
- Daily Mass: We are blessed when we hear and observe the Word of God
- Daily Mass: By the finger of God, Christ drives out demons
- Daily Mass: We practice our faith with persistence
- Daily Mass: Lord, teach us to pray!
