The Gospel of Matthew highlights how the temptation of riches can undermine the central place of the Lord in our lives. Rather, we are invited to constantly examine what is most important in our hearts as we seek to put Christ first before all else.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 20th Week of the Year
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The Letter to the Hebrews describes our life as a great race before a cloud of witnesses. Life is difficult, yet with God’s grace and the help of people, angels and saints we can face our struggles with the conviction that we will cross the finish line into Heaven.
Mass Readings – 20th Sunday of the Year
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Rebuking the disciples, Jesus calls the children to come near so he can bless them. It’s a powerful image for us as we strive to be a source of Christian faith so our kids can know Jesus and be blessed by him today.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Jesus speaks about the reality of divorce in the Gospel of Matthew. As we deal with divorce in our lives today, we constantly work to build up marriage even as we walk with those wounded when it doesn’t work out.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 19th Week of the Year
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On this feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary we see her swift response – in word and action – to God’s call for her life. Mary example inspires us to do the same as we proclaim the greatness of the Lord in our lives.
Mass Readings – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Jesus offers three key insights that profoundly impact our spiritual lives in practical ways. The hard part? Putting them into practice every day.
Mass Readings – Wed. of the 19th Week of the Year (St. Maximillian Kolbe)
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Matthew’s Gospel offers a couple of key insights into God’s love for humanity. The Lord seeks us out when we are lost and astray with a compassion that knows no limit; our task is to humbly receive this gift with the openness of a little child.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 19th Week of the Year
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Study: Name a time when your endurance was tested to complete a project. What kept you going?
Pray: Call upon the Lord for strength! Consider the many ways God has touched and blessed your life.
Serve: We all can help lighten the load of others. Who can you help today?
Mass Readings – 20th Sunday of the Year
In the book of Hebrews we hear how living our faith can be compared to running a race. A cloud of witnesses (the Angels and the Saints) are cheering us on, and we set our eyes on a great prize at the finish line.
Yet we know that a race can be filled with difficulty. Our endurance is tested, an injury may occur, an accident or change in circumstances can overturn our best plans. Both Jeremiah and Jesus experienced these types of trial and anguish, reminding us that it happens in our lives as well.
So where do we find our strength? The answer comes from the Psalm Response: Lord, come to my aid! In our need we call upon God for the grace we need to face our challenges and keep our eyes fixed on the Kingdom of Heaven.
May we look to the Lord for what we need today, and even if we fall…trust that Christ will pick us up and set us on the path that leads to life.
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Note: This post was first published on August 8, 2016.
The Letter to the Hebrews stresses the power of faith in the life of a Christian. Faith strengthens both the head and the heart, and as we foster our faith we are empowered with the grace we need to face the challenges before us.
Mass Readings – 19th Sunday of the Year
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The Lord teaches a key concept – the Paschal Mystery of death to new life – through the example of a grain of wheat. What needs to “die” in us today so that God’s grace can raise up something new and blessed in our hearts?
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 18th Sunday of the Year (St. Lawrence)
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