For most people, sight is a crucial sense which we rely on consistently to understand and respond to the world around us. May we call upon the Lord for the sight we need to see the path from this life to the next.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 33rd Week of the Year
Study: Recall a time when you recognized God as the center of your life; a time when you hung on to faith – perhaps because other things were struggling.
Pray: Call upon the Lord to rule and guide your heart.
Serve: What is the King’s command for you today? How is the Lord directing you to help and serve another?
Mass Readings – Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe
This weekend brings the Church liturgical year to a close. Next week begins Advent, and we will start a new liturgical year with the cycle of “B” readings in the Lectionary for Mass.
Why do we end the year with the notion of Christ the King? Why do we place this feast here? What’s the point?
The feast has several levels of meaning. By calling Christ our King we are making a statement that Jesus is the Lord of our lives. It means that we place Christ first, and that we serve the Lord Jesus with the allegiance of our hearts, minds, and bodies. We belong to Christ, who rules us.
In addition, to claim Christ as our King means that we are members of his kingdom. Through our baptism we are called to the community of faith, the Church, and we possess an inheritance that is ultimately not of this world. We are citizens who have a responsibility to work together – for this world and the world to come.
Furthermore, the King will come at the end of time to call His faithful people home to heaven. We believe that the world will end on a future, unknown day (and once again, let me stress it is an UNKNOWN date…). This feast reminds us that in the end we belong to one home or the other, one Lord or another.
Finally, to say that Christ is our King reminds us that all our power, strength, hope, and direction come from Him. The skills and talents we possess are from the King (who made us). The forgiveness we cherish is from the King (who died for us). The life of the Holy Spirit which sustains us was sent by the King (who asked the Father on our behalf).
Therefore, to claim Christ as our King is to make a statement about who we are. As followers of this King we offer our lives in service to the one who is our Lord. We make this King our first priority in all things, and we look upon Jesus Christ as both the beginning and end of our existence.
This is a good time for us to search and prepare our hearts. As this Church year comes to an end we begin to make ourselves ready for the Lord who comes to us, that he might find us alert and watchful for his arrival. May we renew our allegiance to Christ our King so that he will rule us with mercy, grace, and love.
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Note: This post was first published on November 20, 2017.
Jesus offers a parable to his disciples that challenges us to consider how we are using the unique gifts and talents that we have been given for the glory and praise of God.
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
Jesus offers a parable to illustrate the need to pray without becoming weary. May we take his teaching to heart with these practical tips for our daily routine.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 32nd Week of the Year
Jesus refers to Noah and Lot as examples about how swiftly change can happen in life. The reminder is clear: may we live each day with our affairs in order, ready and prepared to respond to the Lord.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 32nd Week of the Year
Jesus warns his disciples not to go chasing for the Kingdom of God; it is already among them! Rather, we make the most of each day to live our lives for the Lord.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 32nd Week of the Year
The thankfulness of a cleansed leper reveals the power of gratitude to renew and heal our hearts.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 32nd Week of the Year
Jesus reminds the Apostles that our service of God does not earn us special status; rather, our actions acknowledge with humility that all we have is a gift from the Lord. Simply put, our service is the least we can do…the real treasure is our love.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 32nd Week of the Year
Today we honor the cathedral of Rome – the mother Church – as we recall the power of our churches to foster our faith and help us grow in grace as living temples of the Holy Spirit.
Mass Readings – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Study: Consider a moment when you were held accountable to a task. What did it feel like?
Pray: Is there something that needs to be attended to in your life? Ask the Lord for guidance to carry it out.
Serve: How can offer support to someone who is working through a challenging task right now?
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
On this last weekend of Ordinary Time we have some interesting readings to consider.
Our faith assures us that the world will one day come to an end. This is not meant to scare us, but rather to guide us with the knowledge that our lives have meaning and purpose as we prepare in this life for the life to come. Furthermore, when we die we understand that there will be an accounting of how we lived the precious and holy gift of life.
It’s this notion of being accountable that I suggest as a reflection today. The Book of Proverbs extols the virtues of a hard working and compassionate wife, reminding the reader that “charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting.” What lives on are the virtues, prayers, gifts of the Spirit and graces which God pours into our hearts which we share with one another.
And while we know that there will be a Day of Reckoning, we do not know the hour; this insights reminds us to follow St. Paul’s advice to be “sober and alert” each and every day – ready and eager for the Lord’s return.
What’s more, when that day comes, we will be judged with the awareness of our own unique situation. Like the three servants in the Gospel, we have all been given different talents, opportunities, resources and skills. It is neither a comparison nor a contest; rather, we will each be judged by how we worked and waited with what God put into our lives.
The invitation today: Are we prepared for the Lord’s return? Have we attended to our duties and tasks, or do we have unfinished business? Are there situations that require our attention and care? Sooner or later, the Lord will come…may he find us ready and waiting.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on November 13, 2017.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 