Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

January 18, 2016

3rd Sunday of the Year – The Spirit of the Lord

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Pope_Francis_met_with_street_children_during_his_visit_to_the_Philippines_onJan_16_2015_Credit_ANSA_OSSERVATORE_ROMANO_CNA_1_16_15

Study: What is your favorite way to read Scripture – a devotional, chapter-a-day, daily Mass readings, or just a bookmark in the Bible?

Pray: Consider using a little bit of Scripture as part  of your daily prayer – think of it as a “spiritual multivitamin” for your health!

Serve: How is God’s Spirit directing your life – is there a task or opportunity that you feel prompted to act?

3rd Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

The readings this week are filled with power as we hear how God’s Word and Spirit touch our hearts.

  • 1st Reading – The Israelites hear the Word of God with joy
  • Psalm – God’s Word is Spirit and Life
  • 2nd Reading – The Lord’s Spirit works through us in many different ways
  • Gospel – The Spirit of the Lord is fulfilled in Jesus Christ

I suggest two thoughts for your consideration this week.  First, God’s Word continues to proclaim Good News in our world today, and we are invited to embrace the Lord’s message – allowing the mercy, love, joy, and peace of the Gospel to soak into our hearts.

My point here is about actively seeking the Lord in our daily life, making God’s Word a part of our regular spiritual diet.  By dwelling on the Good News we foster our Christian perspective to engage the challenges of daily life with courage and wisdom.  We know that there are plenty of difficulties and obstacles; we feast upon God’s Word for the strength to engage life at full power.

Second, with God’s Word in our hearts we live our faith as part of a larger community – sharing our particular gifts and talents for the good of all.  No one person possesses all gifts; rather, we cooperate (like Paul’s example of the parts of a body) and contribute our skills so that all might be blessed.

That means we:

  • Claim our gifts
  • Use our gifts
  • Recognize the gifts of others
  • All for the glory of God!

So, three final questions for your reflection:

  1. How are you allowing God’s Word to touch your heart?
  2. How is the Spirit of the Lord calling you this week?
  3. How might you be prompted to share your life with others?

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.  (Luke 4:18-19)

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CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters

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January 17, 2016

2nd Sunday of the Year – God Gives Good Gifts – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 2nd Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

At the wedding at Cana the Lord’s miracle of water to wine shows that God gives with quality and generosity.  This notion of gift is picked up in Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians.  These precious gifts – given by God – are meant to be used.  Our invitation today: to acknowledge the good things Christ has given and put them into practice.

monopoly

A quick shout out to my nieces and nephews who made my vacation so much fun and who shared their Scripture insights with me – that was a gift that I found truly precious!

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January 14, 2016

Daily Mass: Jesus & The Leper

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast for Thursday of the 1st Week of the Year – with help from his nieces and nephews

The encounter between the Lord and the leper reveals the direct access that people have to Christ – even with horrible illness.  The leper’s plea is met with the overwhelming response for healing and wholeness.  In the same way, may we openly approach Jesus in our need, trusting in his mercy and tenderness.

i miei nipoti - 2

This was my last chance to share podcast insights with my family during my vacation with them in Indiana.  What fun!  From now on, when I am stuck on ideas for a homily I am going to ask the kids for points of interest…seriously, I really cherished their thoughts.

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January 12, 2016

Daily Mass: Healing the Unclean

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – with a little help from his niece and nephews

Jesus heals the man with the unclean spirit, showing his power and authority.  In the same way, we turn to the Lord to cast out what does not belong in our own hearts.

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January 11, 2016

2nd Sunday of the Year – God’s Abundant Goodness

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Wedding at Cana - Paolo_Veronese_008

Study:  Reflect on a time when you experienced something profoundly good.  How did it shape you?

Pray:  Are there needs in your life or in someone you know?  Ask the Lord to touch and bless them with goodness.

Serve:  How can you bring abundant goodness to another today?  How can your service make a real difference in someone’s life?

2nd Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

This week’s readings proclaim God’s goodness in a variety of ways:

  • 1st Reading – God calls Israel his “Delight”
  • Psalm – the people proclaim the “marvelous deeds of the Lord”
  • 2nd Reading – the Spirit showers us with rich and varied gifts
  • Gospel – Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding in Cana

We often talk about the Lord’s commandments as things we should NOT do.  While this is often true and helpful, we can sometimes miss the point about all the ways our lives can DO things that are inspired (and indeed, commanded) by God.  We are called:

  • to live joyfully
  • to proclaim God’s Good News
  • to engage the gifts we have been given for others
  • to change and transform the world around us with God’s grace and blessing

Simply put, God’s goodness to us inspires us to share this abundant goodness with each other.  We are invited to take hold of our lives and make the most of each day – loving and serving, forgiving and helping, blessing, healing, rejoicing, and renewing.  We have been given the gifts of life and faith….let’s live them with power!

The gut check in all this flows from our fundamental attitude:  do we live our faith with love, joy, and peace?  Do people see goodness in the words we say and the actions we perform?  Is our Christian witness evident in the manner and conduct of our interactions with others?  May God’s goodness empower our lives to burn like a blazing torch – leading others closer to God and one another.

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The Wedding at Cana, Paolo Veronese; 1562, Louvre Museum, Paris, France.

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January 9, 2016

The Baptism of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Baptism of the Lord reflection with his nieces and nephews

The baptism of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke today invites us to consider how our own baptism ignites the fire of faith in our lives.  Each day we have unique opportunities to share the gift of grace that comes from our own baptism – extending the light and love of Christ in our world.

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January 7, 2016

Daily Mass: Loving One Another. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – January 7th in the Christmas season

Fr. Andrew’s nieces and nephews help him explore the reading from 1 John in Mass today.  God loves us – even when we are far from perfect – and strengthens us to love each other.  Sometimes it is difficult (if not downright painful) to love like Jesus…but we call upon the Lord to help us with his grace to love one another.

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January 6, 2016

Daily Mass: Calming the Storm. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast – January 6th in the Christmas Season

Fr. Andrew talks with his nieces and nephews about how Jesus walked on water to the disciples during a storm.  May we recall that just as Christ calmed the storm and comforted his friends, we too can draw near to the Lord in the storms and fears of our lives.

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January 5, 2016

Daily Mass: Feeding the 5000. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – January 5th in the Christmas Season

The Miracle of the Fishes and Loaves reminds us that God continues to Take, Bless, Break, and Give from the little we offer and transform it into abundance.  With a little help from his nieces and nephews, Fr. Andrew reminds us that every Mass participates in the grace of Jesus Christ.

At the Altar

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January 4, 2016

The Baptism of the Lord

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Bautismo_de_Cristo_por_Navarrete_el_Mudo

Study:  Find out about your baptism.  When was it?  Who performed it?  Who are your Godparents?  Who else was present?

Pray:  Thank the Lord for the gift of faith to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.

Serve:  How can you live your baptismal call today?  How can your faith inspire or assist another?

The Baptism of the Lord Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

A few days ago I was having lunch when I ran into Fr. Bob Koszarek, a retired priest from our diocese.  When I asked him what brought him out for lunch he said, “I am celebrating the anniversary of my baptism.”  The comment struck me, especially when he followed it up with, “Do you know the day of your baptism?”

The answer is no.  Yet as I type this post I have made a commitment to find out.  We claim (rightly so) that baptism is a crucial sacrament in the Church – the gateway to all other sacraments whereby we are configured to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Most people know if they have been baptized; my sense is that very few know the actual date.

Our faith is a precious gift – worth fighting for, worth dying for.  Perhaps today we pause to recall just how precious it truly is…Jesus Christ poured out his blood on the Cross for us that we might have eternal life.  His baptism was the revelation of the Trinity, where we hear the Father’s voice from heaven as the Spirit descends upon the Son in the form of a dove.  Our baptism allows us to participate fully in God’s presence for the grace and guidance we need.

I invite us today to claim our baptism.  Some simple steps:

  • Thank the Lord for the gift of faith to know Jesus and live as a Christian disciple
  • Embrace your faith through study and prayer
  • Serve others in the name of Jesus Christ (and with his help and strength)
  • Allow your life to bring Good News to the World

Our baptism is not a one time event.  Rather, it is an ongoing expression of Christ working through us.  May the Baptism of the Lord inspire us to live our faith with joy as we engage our lives with his power.

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Bautismo de Cristo, Juan Fernandez Nararrete; circa 1567, The Prado, Madrid, Spain.

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