Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

September 15, 2015

25th Sunday of the Year – Troubled Times

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

489-Winston-Churchill-Quote-If-you-are-going-through-hell-keep-going

Study:  Recall a time when you were overwhelmed by difficulty.  What got you through it?

Pray:  Call upon the Lord for the courage and strength to face your challenges.

Serve:  Is there someone you know who is struggling?  How can you offer your support?

25th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Don’t you wish life would always be easy?  Wouldn’t it be great if challenges and obstacles disappeared with a simple thought?  What’s more, how about if evil, darkness, fear, and violence would vanish from the face of the earth?

I know: I will now wake up from my pleasant dream.  Since the dawn of creation evil and sin have been part of our world, and for this very reason Jesus Christ died and rose.  The death and resurrection of the Lord confronts the darkness  and shines with the light of faith.

As Christians we can thus recognize two fundamental principles:

  • Evil and sin are part of the fabric of life
  • Jesus Christ offers us salvation through his victory on the Cross

Simply put, this means that we have hope in the face of difficulty.  God continues to give grace and strength, empowering us to face our fears and engage life with the faith to continue in the presence of adversity.  We know that life is hard; we know that with the Lord’s help we can carry on.

Where do you find darkness and evil in your life right now?  Where do the difficulties and obstacles present themselves?  Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge these pitfalls and recognize how they tempt and distract us.

For the minute we understand our struggles, we are equipped with the knowledge to petition the Lord for the help we need.  What’s more, as we understand the struggles of those around us, we can reach out with love of Christ to support one another with sincerity and genuine assistance.

May we honestly confront the challenges of life, trusting in the Lord for the grace we need.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time

September 12, 2015

24th Sunday of the Year – Walk the Walk, Together! – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 24th Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

Where do we find the strength to keep going when life tries to knock us off course?

  • We lean on others
  • We lean on the Lord

Yes!  We can walk the walk…with a little help from on earth and in Heaven.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Podcast

September 8, 2015

24th Sunday of the Year – Can we Walk the Walk?

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

11350-fog-mist-walking-journey-path.400w.tn

Study:  Recall a time when you had to carry out a difficult task.  Where did you find your strength?  How did others respond to your actions?

Pray:  Consider the challenges before you right now and ask the Lord for the wisdom and courage you need.

Serve:  Is there someone in your life who is walking a difficult path?  How can you help them?

24th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

My dad often used the saying:

“He can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?”

It was a favorite line of his when he heard a lot of words but didn’t see much action.  Fact is, most of the time our words signal our behavior; our actions prove it.

The Letter of James puts this notion of action into the context of faith: we demonstrate our faith by the works of daily life.  Talking about our love for the Lord is good, but showing it consistently is crucial.  Let’s face it – as disciples we are at our best when we are living examples of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Of course, sometimes living our faith is difficult, challenging, and painful.  There are times when we are tested to keep going in the right direction, to stay true to our values and purpose, and to hang in there when we might be tempted to stop.  Not only are we living witnesses, but the proof of our faith is often revealed in our actions when times are toughest.

Both Isaiah and Jesus testify that some paths will demand everything we have, even our lives.  In these moments we trust completely in God for the wisdom, courage, and power we need.

As we walk the walk of faith we remember that we do not do it alone: the Lord continues to put people in our lives and strengthens us through Sacraments, Scripture, Prayer, and Fellowship.  What’s more, there are times when we are called upon to support others on their walk – giving strength to those who struggle.

Whether we are leaning on another or lending a helping hand to someone in need…may we walk the walk, with Jesus Christ by our side.

 

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

September 6, 2015

23rd Sunday of the Year – Healing & Hospitality – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 23rd Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

Illness shows no partiality: young & old, rich & poor, male and female, regardless of race, creed or education.  Yet in the midst of human illness we find Jesus meeting people in the diversity of their needs with an encounter that leads to healing and grace.  The Letter of James reminds us that we, too, are called to show no partiality; rather, we reach out to those before us as fellow children of God.  May the Lord strengthen us in Prayer, Word, and Sacrament to be renewed with the grace of Jesus Christ – empowering us to engage one another with healing and hospitality.

***************

This is my 100th podcast!  To celebrate I ask that if you find this helpful, please pass it along to others.  Catholic Inspiration can be found at:

For those of you on Facebook, I would appreciate it if you would “share” this…my goal is to have 100 shares before I post #101!

100!

God bless you!  Fr. Andrew

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Podcast

September 1, 2015

23rd Sunday of the Year – Healing and Hospitality

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Jesus-healing-hands_fs

Study:  Recall a moment when you experienced profound healing.  Then consider a time when someone was genuinely hospitable to you.

Pray:  Ask the Lord to see others with the eyes of Jesus.

Serve:  How can you bring healing to another today?  How can you reach out and welcome someone?

23rd Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Two big themes bubble up in the Scriptures this week:

  • Healing: Isaiah proclaims and Jesus performs
  • Hospitality: James urges that we show no partiality

Both of these themes are part of the fabric of human life.  We all know firsthand experiences of illness, disease, and discomfort.  We know the relief that comes from health, especially after a long period of suffering.  Jesus spent a substantial portion of his ministry healing others; indeed, every encounter with the Lord brought about some type of transformative renewal.

Hospitality touches another part of our existence.  It is so easy to prejudge one another!  Looks, clothing, money, power, success….we can quickly get caught up in externals and fail to recognize the shining soul that dwells in the heart.  James (as usual) minces no words here – he speaks bluntly, calling us to treat one another as sons & daughters of God.

Where do you see healing in your life?  Where do you see hospitality?  Perhaps today we can be agents of both, helping others in moments of weakness and need, and reaching out to all with the love of Christ.

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

August 30, 2015

22nd Sunday of the Year – The Battle is Within – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

In football, trick plays are sometimes used to fake out an opponent with misdirection – focusing on something unimportant while the play is happening somewhere else.  Life works the same way: it is easy to spend our time and resources on trivial matters and miss out on critical issues.

The Lord points this out in the Gospel today, inviting us to concentrate on the battle within our hearts.  Here are three things to consider:

  • Using an Examination of Conscience
  • Going to Confession
  • Daily Prayer and Sunday Mass

Through regular use we strengthen our hearts and focus our lives on important things, asking the Lord for the help and guidance we need to conquer our daily battles.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Podcast

August 25, 2015

22nd Sunday of the Year – The Battle is Within

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Medieval Battle

Study:  Reflect on a time when you struggled with something in the privacy of your heart.  What helped you?

Pray:  Ask the Lord for the grace and healing you need to fight the challenges within you.

Serve:  Perhaps you know someone who is facing a difficult time alone.  How might you reach out?

22nd Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Listen to the Lord’s words to the people in this Sunday’s Gospel:

He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.

“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”  Mark 7: 14-15,21-23

We see the effects of sin on the outside in the words and actions that are evident through observation and experience.  Yet the Lord reminds us that the origin of our sin begins within the human heart, and it is there that the battle rages.

We can cloak our lives, guarding our speech and hiding our actions, yet eventually the pattern of our soul emerges through our interactions with one another.  Only God clearly sees our hearts, and it is to the Lord that we turn to:

  • Recognize the role of sin in our hearts
  • Call upon God for the grace we need to be made whole
  • Live our lives in freedom from sin, guided by the Holy Spirit
  • Renew our strength through Sacraments, Scripture, Fellowship, and Prayer

Because our hearts are hidden from view, it is crucial that we take time for reflection and prayer to review the state of our souls.  Some powerful tools to help us:

  1. A good Examination of Conscience
  2. A visit to the Confessional
  3. Frequent attendance at Mass and reception of Holy Communion
  4. Personal Prayer
  5. Someone to whom we are accountable for our thoughts, words, and actions

May we pause to look honestly at our hearts, and call upon Jesus Christ for the grace we need to fight the battle within!

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

August 23, 2015

21st Sunday of the Year – Facing Difficulties with Wisdom & Courage – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 21st Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

Life is difficult.  In the midst of our struggle to make good choices and carry out challenging tasks, we call upon God for the help we need.  As we encounter Jesus Christ in Holy Communion to be strengthened for the burdens of life, we pray for Wisdom to choose wisely and Courage to carry it out.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Podcast

August 18, 2015

21st Sunday of the Year – Hard Sayings, Tough Decisions

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

tough decisions

Study:  Recall a time when you were confronted with a tough decision.  Who or what helped you to face your situation?

Pray:  Are you facing a difficult time?  Ask the Lord for wisdom and courage.

Serve:  Is there someone in your life who is struggling with a challenge?  How can you help them?

21st Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

The crowds had listened to Jesus.  They had seen the healings and witnessed the miracle of the fishes and loaves.  They had been nourished body and soul by the Lord’s presence, and after hearing the “Bread of Life” discourse they began to doubt and walk away…

“This saying is hard, who can accept it?”  – John 6:60

There are moments in life when we are called to confront a difficult situation.  We are challenged to understand and carry out a task that may be unpleasant or unwelcome.  We have a choice: we can walk away and  allow events to run on their own, or we can engage the situation knowing that every step will be hard.  What do we do?

Joshua expresses the nature of a tough decision in his words to the Israelites in the first reading:

“If it does not please you to serve the Lord, then decide today whom you will serve.”  – Joshua 24:15

Let’s face it.  There are times in life when we struggle to make and carry out the right choice.  Perhaps we don’t know what to do; perhaps we know but we struggle to do it.  Sometimes it can seem like the weight of the world rests on our shoulders as we muddle through hard sayings and tough decisions.

What are you confronting today?  What challenges are set before you?  May we ask God for two key gifts: Wisdom and Courage.  We ask for wisdom to know what to do, and we pray for courage to carry it out!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Ordinary Time, Podcast

August 16, 2015

20th Sunday of the Year – Come to the Feast – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 20th Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

Family dinners – be they big or small – touch our hearts in a number of ways:

  • Nourish our bodies with wholesome, plentiful food
  • Unite us together, setting aside our differences for a moment of peace
  • Empower our lives, for service in the world

The same is true when we come to the Lord’s table at every Mass.  We are nourished with Christ’s Body & Blood.  We are united as the People of God – as brothers and sisters, neighbors and friends.  We are empowered to go forth, touching the hearts of those we meet with the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.

May our reception of Holy Communion feed our souls, foster unity, and empower us to live our lives for the Lord!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Podcast