We can be pretty good at finding excuses not to do something, yet the Lord – who never gives up on us – continues to invite us to follow him that we might have eternal life.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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When you cook, you need a certain amount of time to get prepared: clear the work space; make an ingredients list; set out your utensils and cookware. In a similar way we need time and attention to prepare to encounter Jesus Christ in our spiritual lives. May the example of John the Baptist inspire us to make the necessary preparations we need, and empower us to help others encounter the Lord as well.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
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Study: Consider a moment when you heard really good news. How did it feel? How did it change the way you thought or acted?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance how your life can be a blessing to others.
Serve: Do you know someone who is having a bad day? How can your life bring light to their lives?
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Advent
The readings of this 3rd Sunday of Advent are filled with hope and power:
The themes here all point to God’s power and glory. As Christians we have confidence that the Lord walks with us, sustains us, and empowers us to face the challenges and obstacles of life.
Isaiah recognizes that there are troubles in this life – the poor, the brokenhearted, those captive and in prison. We, too, understand very well that there are problems that must be faced and situations that will push us to our limits. Yet we are not alone; God’s Spirit fills us with new life!
This is cause to rejoice! Our Good News in Jesus recalls that Christ is victorious over sin and death. The Lord comes into our world to breathe new life into our limbs when we are weary. We have a strength that does not fail, and we call upon God with joy.
And like John the Baptist, we can testify to the light of Jesus Christ in the world. People are hungry for this light, and people continue to give their lives that God’s light will shine…to cast out darkness and evil.
So call upon the Holy Spirit! Rejoice in the Lord! Pray always! And testify to the grace and peace that comes when Christ Jesus shines in our hearts!
This, my friends, is the Good News of the Gospel.
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The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in John the Baptist to “prepare the way of the Lord” for the coming of Jesus. Advent offers us the opportunity to make our own preparations as we repent, reconcile and look for the holy.
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Advent
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Study: Reflect on an experience where you were able to act in a strong and powerful way. How did you prepare for this work?
Pray: Do you see an obstacle in your life that is keeping you from the Lord or another person? Pray for the grace to prepare the way.
Serve: How can you assist someone who is working on a difficult task right now?
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Advent
This week we hear about John the Baptist who embodies the great call of Isaiah the prophet to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John heralds the coming of the Messiah, urging us to change our ways and prepare our hearts. Here’s a quick recap:
The stirring quality of these readings prompts us to respond decisively. God calls us to action! God comes with power! The urgency underscored in these readings today emphasizes that eternal life is at stake; what we do here on earth leads to repercussions in Heaven.
Yet we also know that careful planning frequently precedes bold action. As we follow Christ we take the time that Advent offers to reflect on how the Lord is speaking to our lives. We pause in this season because there are critical times in life that demand stillness, silence, reflection and thoughtful attention. Simply put, we slow down with the Lord so that we are ready to speed up when life switches gears.
What is God doing in our lives today? What needs preparation? How is the Lord working in and through our hearts?
Take this week and perform a simple internal spiritual inventory. Consider this one question – If God called you home tonight, would you be ready? If the answer is yes, then we live our faith with eagerness and zeal. If the answer is no, then we take time to prepare the way for the Lord.
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Mass Readings – The Passion of St. John the Baptist
John the Baptist precedes Jesus in his birth, preaching and death. John’s witness to the Lord and the giving of his life inspire us to consider how we offer our lives each day to Christ…until the day when the Lord takes us by the hand at the hour of our own death.
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Mass Readings – Saturday of the 17th Week of the Year
The death of John the Baptist is an outrage, a stark example of human cruelty that assaults our sensibilities. While we acknowledge the presence of violence and hatred in our world we continue to see in the Cross of Christ God’s response: a love that embraces our sins.
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Mass Readings – The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
As the herald of Jesus, John directs people to prepare for the coming of the messiah. His birth, words and actions all point others to the Lord…and inspire us to do the same as modern days disciples.
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Mass Readings – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary and Elizabeth – pregnant with Jesus and John the Baptist – meet and rejoice at the goodness of the Lord. Both women knew hardship, yet their faith inspires us to see God at work…in good times and in bad.
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Photo Credit: The Nativity Story, 2006.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 4th Week of the Year
The death of John the Baptist recalls the fact that doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason does NOT mean that life will always be easy. In fact, our faith in Jesus Christ will sometimes put us squarely in the face of opposition…and we recognize that we might suffer even as we serve the Lord with all our heart.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 