The Cross of Christ reveals justice, humility and love as Christ triumphs over sin and death for the salvation of the world. We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you! For by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
Mass Readings – The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
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The Parable of the Weeds and the Wheat reveals the ongoing need we have for repentance and conversion, as we weed out unwanted sins in our souls and cultivate a heart for the Lord.
Mass Readings – 16th Sunday of the Year
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The Book of Daniel and the Gospel of John offer us examples of Justice and Mercy, crucial concepts that require our careful thought and attention as disciples of the Lord. May we strive for Justice in all our actions as we we recognize our ongoing need for God’s Mercy when we sin.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 5th Week of Lent
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Study: Consider a profound moment when you felt God’s presence. What made this possible?
Pray: Are you feeling drawn toward a certain activity or task? Ask the Lord for guidance.
Serve: What types of service do you find most rewarding? How does helping others lead you to Christ?
Mass Readings – 16th Sunday of the Year
Here’s a quick overview of the readings this week:
One way to reflect on these verses is to see how the Lord meets us in the pattern of daily life. Consider:
We understand that our relationship with God touches multiple aspects of our lives, such as prayer, sacraments, relationships, work, and recreation. The invitation today encourages us to see with our hearts how the Lord is present to us in the current moment.
Does it mean that we serve with a joyful heart? That we swiftly respond to injustice? That we compassionately care for others? That we stop and “smell the roses” in moments of rest & renewal, beauty & blessing? In all these ways we are led back to the Lord, recognizing the gifts God gives us with a grateful heart.
How is God present in your life right now? May our response bring us closer to Christ and one another.
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Note: This post was first published on July 11, 2016.
Psalm 15 offers some beautiful advice for living a just life for the Lord. Holiness is not just found in the extraordinary; often, our most powerful Christian witness occurs in the normal, everyday interactions that we have with one another.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 12th Week of the Year
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Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit, and Isaiah’s prophecy reveals uplifting qualities about the Savior…qualities that offer us an example as we live our lives for the Lord.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent
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Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 20th Week of the Year
Jesus offers a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven where merciful generosity embraces and transcends justice…reminding us that one day we will call upon the Lord for mercy when we stand before him at the end of time.
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Study: Consider your life right now. What is flourishing in your heart, and what needs to be pulled out?
Pray: Ask the Lord for wisdom to know how to grow in grace.
Serve: How might you be an example for another person? How might your work to root out sin inspire someone else to grow closer to the Lord?
Mass Readings – 16th Sunday of the Year
Several powerful themes surface in the readings this week.
A common pattern emerges from these themes as we discover that in the midst of injustice, sin, weakness and evil the Lord comes with justice, forgiveness, strength and power. Simply put, God gives us grace to confront the weeds in our lives.
So that begs the question: Where are the weeds in our hearts today? What struggle are we facing that requires the Lord’s mercy and love? Perhaps we might step back and pause this week to reflect on the state of our soul, so that we can honestly assess what is growing and what needs to go.
Jesus Christ knows our hearts and loves us unconditionally. As we look at the garden of our hearts may we trust that the one who knows us completely will help us root out what does not belong and help us grow as Sons and Daughters of God.
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Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 12th Week of the Year
The Gospel of Matthew today reveals three nuggets of wisdom that the Lord offers in the Sermon on the Mount:
The teaching is easy to understand. The hard part? Putting it into practice every day!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Photo credit: The Son of God, 2014.
Study: Reflect on a time when you were able to help someone in a profound moment of need. What gave you the “push” to help?
Pray: Is there a situation in your life that requires action but you find yourself in need of guidance? Bring this concern to the Lord in your prayer.
Serve: How can you be Salt or Light to someone today? How can your life enhance the quality and dignity of another?
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
We see some beautiful themes surface in the readings this week:
Throughout these readings the Lord’s power is manifested every time we cooperate with God’s grace through works of charity and service. Things like:
When we do these things we discover that God provides the strength, wisdom, direction and guidance to carry them out. The Lord takes our effort, reinforces it with grace, and blesses our work in ways we never imagined. Like a brilliant light shining in the darkness, the glory of Jesus Christ pierces the pain and struggles of this life and offers us hope to continue on our way.
And when we let the Lord work through us we become Salt & Light. Our lives, invigorated by God’s love, become conduits for Divine Charity to touch hearts and lives in our world today. It is the Lord’s power at work in our lives, and we are blessed every time we say “Yes!” to the call of Christ to serve those in our midst.
