As Jesus speaks of the darkness found in the human heart, we are invited to face the sin that lurks within us…trusting in the Lord’s light to overcome it.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 5th Week of the Year
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Tag Archives: Jesus Christ
Daily Mass: Solomon’s prayer. Catholic Inspiration
Solomon’s prayer over the newly built Temple shows us the power of a place to draw our hearts to God. May these words inspire us – at church or at home – to call upon the Lord in the places where we dwell.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 5th Week of the Year
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6th Sunday of the Year: Make your choice.
Study: Reflect on a time when you had to make a decision that had profound consequences. What helped you decide wisely?
Pray: Do you have a major decision in life right now? Bring your concerns before the Lord for wisdom and guidance.
Serve: How can you empower another to make good and holy choices today?
Mass Readings – 6th Sunday of the Year
Let’s start with a quick recap of the readings:
- 1st Reading – We have freedom to choose…good or evil, life or death
- Psalm – “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!”
- 2nd Reading – Wisdom comes from the Spirit, hidden & mysterious
- Gospel – Jesus establishes a new level of intensity for faith in God
The first reading from the Book of Sirach makes it clear that we have the freedom to make choices in our lives for good or evil, life or death. This concept of Free Will – that we are so free that we can reject even God himself – comes with sobering consequences: Those who choose life will find it, and those who choose destruction will find it…
The Psalm response encourages us to choose the Lord. As we seek to know the Lord through Prayer, Scripture, Fellowship and Sacraments we conform our hearts to Christ. Following the Lord means that we seek instruction, learn God’s commands, and then apply our faith in all aspects of our lives.
The second reading reveals the mystery of God’s wisdom, hidden through the ages and revealed in Christ, which is granted to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit – requested by Jesus and given by the Father – that our minds and hearts receive the Good News and act on it with conviction and power.
Finally, in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus sets a new standard of living. Using four precepts of the Law of Moses, the Lord demands that we go farther than what was formerly prescribed:
- Thou shall not kill now extends to reconciliation for any offense
- Adultery now extends to all forms of lust
- Divorce takes on a larger context
- Making an oath now changes to meaning “Yes” and “No”
The Lord makes it clear that he is doing something new, building upon the precedent of the Law and moving far beyond it. Jesus calls his disciples to a deeper level of commitment, moving beyond the moral code to a morality that is written upon our hearts. We find ourselves more aware of the destructive power of sin, turning away from its snare and embracing a life in Christ.
And thus we find ourselves back at the first reading. We have a choice. No matter what has gone before we can make a break from the past and choose life! Today we seek Jesus and ask for the grace we need to choose Him with all our heart.
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Note: This post was first published on February 12, 2017.
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5th Sunday of the Year: Be salt and light! Catholic Inspiration
The Lord’s exhortation to be salt and light is an affirmation of human dignity and an invitation to share our lives with one another. As we reflect on what we do and how we do it, may we call upon Christ for the strength we need.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: Solomon’s prayer for wisdom. Catholic Inspiration
Solomon’s prayer request to God shows shows his love for the Lord and his desire to serve the people. May we take his example to heart in our daily prayer, asking the Lord for what we need to be better disciples today.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Confronting evil in our lives. Catholic Inspiration
We find in today’s gospel passage the stark evil surrounding the death of John the Baptist. All the elements in this passage are evil, driven by pride, hatred and jealousy. Our response? The Cross of Christ.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Our strength comes from the Lord. Catholic Inspiration
As the Lord sent out the Apostles to continue his ministry, he gave them instructions that inspire us today as we serve the Lord.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Lord forgive the wrong I have done. Catholic Inspiration
The Psalm Response cuts right to the heart of a deep and urgent need in our souls: to call upon the Lord for the forgiveness and mercy we need as we acknowledge our sins.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 4th Week of the the Year
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Daily Mass: Faith in Christ that heals our hearts. Catholic Inspiration
The Gospel of Mark offers two short scenes where people are healed from terrible affliction. In both cases, their faith sustains them to trust in the Lord and seek healing for their lives.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 4th Week of the Year
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5th Sunday of the Year: We are Salt and Light in the world.
Study: Reflect on a time when you were able to help someone in a profound moment of need. What gave you the “push” to help?
Pray: Is there a situation in your life that requires action but you find yourself in need of guidance? Bring this concern to the Lord in your prayer.
Serve: How can you be Salt or Light to someone today? How can your life enhance the quality and dignity of another?
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
We see some beautiful themes surface in the readings this week:
- 1st Reading – Through service to others God’s light will shine upon us
- Psalm – “The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”
- 2nd Reading – We place our faith in the power of God
- Gospel – “Salt of the earth” and “Light of the World”
Throughout these readings the Lord’s power is manifested every time we cooperate with God’s grace through works of charity and service. Things like:
- Share your bread with the hungry
- Shelter the oppressed and homeless
- Clothe the naked
- Do not turn your back on your own
- Remove oppression, false accusation, malicious speech
- Satisfy the afflicted
- Be gracious and lend
- Conduct one’s affairs with justice
- Give to the poor
When we do these things we discover that God provides the strength, wisdom, direction and guidance to carry them out. The Lord takes our effort, reinforces it with grace, and blesses our work in ways we never imagined. Like a brilliant light shining in the darkness, the glory of Jesus Christ pierces the pain and struggles of this life and offers us hope to continue on our way.
And when we let the Lord work through us we become Salt & Light. Our lives, invigorated by God’s love, become conduits for Divine Charity to touch hearts and lives in our world today. It is the Lord’s power at work in our lives, and we are blessed every time we say “Yes!” to the call of Christ to serve those in our midst.
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Note: This post was first published on January 30, 2017.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: A practical guide to sharing the Good News
- Daily Mass: The Church thrives in the face of persecution
- Daily Mass: The martyrdom of St. Stephen
- Daily Mass: God gives us strength and peace
- Study, Pray, Serve: 4th Sunday of Easter
- 3rd Sunday of Easter: Christ meets us where we are and leads us
- Daily Mass: Our service of others reveals our love for Jesus
- Daily Mass: We are on the right path when we stay close to the Lord
- Daily Mass: We must obey God
- Daily Mass: God so loved the world!
Three Great Things 