As we embark on this season of Lent we hear the words as we receive our ashes: “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” May we turn away from sin and look to Christ for the grace we need each day.
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Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent
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Study: When in life have you been profoundly tempted? What patterns do you notice in your life?
Pray: The temptations we face provide a special place in our prayers; bring them to the Lord!
Serve: How can you support others who are tempted so that they can face them with grace?
Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Lent
We enter into the great season of Lent with classic readings about temptation, sin and God’s grace:
First, let me be perfectly clear: Temptation is a part of the landscape of human life. From the time of our first parents at the dawn of creation, humanity has experienced temptation. We can wish all we want, but the fact remains that we are constantly facing great and small temptations throughout the course of our lives.
What’s more, we have all experienced times when temptation has led us to sin. Being tempted is one thing; falling into sin is another. For once sin is a part of our lives, our souls are wounded in a way that requires God’s grace to cleanse and heal.
This awareness of temptation and sin can easily lead us to a state of despair. We can fall into the trap that says “Well, you messed up. What’s the point now? You might as well just give up.” Admittedly, the devil would like nothing better than to let us think that there is no hope…that we are lost and without strength to find our way out of the messes of life.
Yet we start our Lent with hope. Yes, we acknowledge that temptation and sin are real, but we take comfort that this is why Jesus Christ came – to break the bondage of sin, restore our relationships with God and one another, and lead us into eternal life. The Lord knew about temptation first hand, yet not only did he triumph over Satan’s testing, but he freed us through his death and resurrection.
In our moments of temptation and sin may we run to the Cross of Christ! As we encounter our own trials may we trust that the Lord stands ready to offer us help and strength – both to face what comes before us this day, and to heal us in our moments of need.
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Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent
Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – 8th Sunday of the Year
When worry overtakes us we lose our focus on the Lord and run the risk of wasting the gift of our lives. Jesus knows this, and his teaching in the Gospel today reminds us that as we follow Christ we will receive what we need to encounter each day when we think, pray and share over the worry that confronts us.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 7th Week of the Year
As Jesus welcomes and blesses the children in the Gospel of Mark, we are reminded to foster a world where our children are safe and protected as we recall that we, too, seek the Lord with the tender trust of a child.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Friday of the 7th Week of the Year
The book of Sirach speaks about the great gift of friendship. As we build up our friendships on earth, may we also foster our life with Jesus Christ – the best friend of all.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 7th Week of the Year (St. Polycarp)
Our conversion of heart never stops; we are either drawing closer to Christ or farther away. As we follow the Lord we recognize our actions have consequences that affect our lives…both in this life and the life to come.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle
The presider’s chair in any Catholic Church is a place of authority, overseen by a bishop who is a successor to the apostles…of which St. Peter is the rock upon which Jesus builds His Church. May we draw strength from the Lord, our Great Shepherd, and offer our lives to care for those entrusted to us.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 7th Week of the Year
As the Lord attempts to teach the disciples he catches them arguing about who is the greatest. His response: to set before them a child…that as they welcome the innocent and vulnerable into their midst, they welcome Him.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Study: Reflect on a time when worry and anxiety overwhelmed you. What broke the cycle and restored your perspective?
Pray: Is there something that you are worried about right now? Bring it to prayer and ask the Lord for guidance and peace in your heart.
Serve: Do you know someone who is overly anxious? How can you help comfort, calm and support them?
Mass Readings – 8th Sunday of the Year
Worry, worry, worry! How often are we caught up in the anxieties, cares, stresses, and distractions of life! How easy it is to get spun up by things (often far outside our control) and waste time and energy that could be spent in a much more fruitful manner.
Here’s a quick overview of the readings:
Of course, just saying “Do not worry!” is not enough. It’s a simple sentence yet often difficult to put into practice. Why? Because there are many things in life we care about, and that natural concern – if left unattended – can take on a life of its own. When we let our natural cares run out of control we lose our perspective, and in turn we start to focus on the wrong priorities.
Yes, there are things that we need to worry about: making sure that our basic needs are met, attending to the natural cares of ourselves and our loved ones, doing the necessary planning and preparation so that life flows smoothly. This is part of our daily work, and as such we make the effort to do our best.
Here’s a simple question that I find often helps determine if I should worry about something: “Do I have any power to change or influence this situation?” If the issue in question is within my influence and control, then perhaps it is something that I need to attend to. But if the issue is outside my influence, then perhaps I need to let it go…worrying about it will only waste my life!
Easier said than done. That’s why I believe Jesus took the time to talk about this “useless worry” with his disciples. The Lord knows our hearts and understands how worry can overtake our lives.
So today, if we discover that worry is wasting our time and attention, may we call upon the grace of God to let it go and trust that the Lord will give us what we need to face the cares of life.
Mass Readings – 7th Sunday of the Year
Jesus says “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” This command to love one another as God loves us will challenge our attitudes, actions and prayer as we strive to follow the Lord’s example of love.
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