Tag Archives: Life

October 20, 2015

30th Sunday of the Year – Divine Power

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Extension Cord

Study:  Where have you seen signs of God’s grace at work in your life?  How did it change you?

Pray:  Are there people or circumstances in your life that are wounded or hurting?  Pray for healing power!

Serve:  Do you see someone in need?  How can you help them?

30th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

The readings this week reveal a common theme of divine power:

  • 1st – The Lord delivers his people
  • Psalm – “The Lord has done great things for us”
  • 2nd – Christ the great high priest
  • Gospel – Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus

Throughout these scriptures the Lord comes with dynamic energy: liberating, saving, healing and redeeming.  This is Good News!  In the midst of the challenges and struggles of human life we find Jesus coming to us – meeting us where we are – with the transformative power of his grace.

With this power in mind, I would suggest two points for consideration this week:

  1. What in my life needs to receive the Lord’s power?
  2. How can I share my life to give the Lord’s power?

Let’s start with receiving.  Where in my life am I wounded, hurting, or helpless?  Do I identify with Bartimaeus, calling upon the Lord for pity?  If so, our prayer (in private and at Mass) can be directed to heaven…asking for the grace we need to keep going.

Giving means we allow the Lord’s power to work through us.  Giving requires that we see the needs of those around us, determine a proper response, and act in a manner worthy of Christ.  We become the Lord’s hands and feet in service to others; our words speak encouragement and hope.

God continues to work with power in our world today, giving us all the opportunity to open our hearts to the endless grace of Christ.  May we draw near to the Lord with confidence and allow his strength to work through us as we touch the hearts of those we meet.

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June 28, 2015

13th Sunday of the Year – Healing for Ourselves and One Another – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 13th Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

Jesus defines much of his ministry with clear examples of healing others, and the Gospel today gives us an insight about how we draw near the Lord.  We have all had experiences where we long for healing.  We have seen loved ones suffer, and many of us know first hand the presence of pain in our lives.  May the example of Jairus and the unnamed woman inspire us to seek the healing grace of Christ!

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June 23, 2015

13th Sunday of the Year – Life & Death

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

God heals

Study:  Consider people you know who are suffering right now.  What is the nature of their struggle?

Pray:  Keep a list of those who are sick nearby when you pray.  Remember them often.

Serve:  How can you help someone today who suffers?  How can you be an instrument of healing and comfort?

13th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Consider for a moment someone you love who is seriously sick.  Perhaps it’s a disease, an upcoming surgery, and undiagnosed circumstance, or the relentless experience of pain...we all know loved ones who suffer – and we would do anything to help.

Now imagine that you have heard about a miracle worker who cures the sick and resuscitates the dead.  I know that if I discovered that Jesus of Nazareth was even remotely in the area I would rent a bus and bundle in everyone I could fit just for the chance that he would lay hands on them.

This is the situation we encounter in the Gospel today.  People are crushing in on Christ; they have heard of his power and they are are desperate for healing.  The double miracles in the reading point out a number of key concepts:

  • Our longing for healing
  • The desperation of those who suffer
  • The depth and breadth of emotions around illness
  • How we all have experience with sickness and death
  • God’s profound gift of healing & life

Simply put, an encounter with Jesus Christ is a healing encounter.  In the face of sickness and disease, the Lord draws near – bringing grace and power – to restore life to those who suffer.

As his disciples, we are part of this healing mission.

  1. Who is suffering in our lives right now?
  2. How can we help through prayer or service?
  3. How do we promote comprehensive healing – in Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul?

Jesus comes to bring life; may our lives – guided in faith – be directed toward healing the wounds we witness.

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March 22, 2015

Catholic Inspiration – 5th Sunday of Lent (Year A) – Fully Alive!

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Study:  How am I taking care of my health – Body, Mind, Heart, and Soul?  How am I using the precious gift of my life?

Pray: Call upon the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to live the special and unique gifts I have been given.

Serve: How can I help others live the gift of their lives today?

Fr. Andrew’s 5th Sunday of Lent (Year A) Podcast

Note: This homily was given at Cathedral of Christ the King on March 22, 2015

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December 22, 2014

The Feast of Christmas

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Scrooge Christmas

Study: What one thing can you choose to do this Christmas to make it better?

Pray:  Ask God for the help to do that one thing wisely and well!

Serve:  How can you help someone make their Christmas better?

Christmas Readings

Vigil Mass     Mass during the Night     Mass at Dawn     Mass during the Day

Fr. Andrew’s Homily

A Christmas Carol
Part V: Christmas Day

When Scrooge finally awakes on Christmas morning, he is a changed man.  Filled with joy and newfound hope, he begins to live his life very differently from the day before.  Reaching out to the people in his midst, Scrooge recognizes the beauty and richness that has always been around him.

Whether it’s buying an enormous turkey for the Cratchit family, wishing a small boy “Merry Christmas!”, accepting a dinner invitation at his nephew’s home, or raising Bob Cratchit’s salary, what we discover is that Scrooge is transformed.  He has recognized something powerful in his life, and he is following a new course of action.

In the Gospel today Mary greets her kinswoman Elizabeth, who also recognizes something wonderful has happened.  The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy – a sign that God was present in a powerful way.  Elizabeth understood that God was working in Mary’s life, and she responded to this insight accordingly.

There comes a moment in our lives when we discover something new.  Perhaps we have seen a mistake in the past or regret an action that we have done; at these times we encounter a reason to hope and start over.  We have a reason to live.

The reason?  Christmas joy!  Our lives are transformed by the grace of Christ; through the birth of Jesus all barriers between heaven and earth have been removed and we are united with God.  Once we throw open the doors of our hearts, the power of the Christ child brings a renewal and healing – we live in hope!

It is this sense of hope which can give us new life.  Emerging from doubt or despair, we rediscover that God walks with and among us – helping us in moments of sadness and leading us to peace.  Yet God requires that we actively accept this invitation.  The promise of hope needs our action, and it relies on our willingness to follow.

Scrooge provides an example for us.  With the help of the Spirits of Christmas, he saw a world filled with very different possibilities.  He discovered that he need not be unhappy; he could change his life and embrace the joys which were all around him.  His willingness to see, judge, and act become an inspiration for us – reminding us that life gives us opportunities to change our ways and follow God’s call.

As Elizabeth recognized God’s presence in Mary, we too are invited to discover the Lord in our midst.  May our eyes be open to see God among us, and may we respond with hearts that are open to the abundant love which is our inheritance.

Merry Christmas!

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December 15, 2014

4th Sunday of Advent

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Scrooge Tombstone

Study:  Recall a time when you were confronted with a tough decision.  What helped you to make and carry out your choice?

Pray:  Ask the Lord for the wisdom and guidance to make daily decisions that are filled with grace.

Serve:  Is there someone in your life facing tough decisions right now?  How can you help them?

4th Sunday of Advent Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily

A Christmas Carol

Part IV: Scrooge’s Choice

There comes a point in A Christmas Carol where we begin to understand Ebenezer Scrooge.  We’ve seen his past, present, and future – how he’s interacted with people – and we come to crux of the matter: will he make a change?  Will he embrace the warnings and lessons of the Ghosts and chart a new course for his life?

Every person has a story.  Every person has had moments of joy and sadness, success and failure, blessing and burden.  Yet in the course of our lives we have been given the gift of choosing how we will live; the Lord offers us the freedom to accept or reject a life of love.   We, too, have been given opportunities to reflect and decide how we will live.  What do we choose?

In the Gospel today Mary greets her kinswoman Elizabeth, who also recognizes something wonderful has happened.  The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped from joy – a sign that God was present in a powerful way.  Elizabeth understood that God was working in Mary’s life, and she responded to this insight accordingly.

There comes a moment in our lives when we discover something new.  Perhaps we have seen a mistake in the past or regret an action that we have done; at these times we encounter a reason to hope and start over.  We have a reason to live with joy.

It is this sense of hope which can give us new life.  Emerging from doubt or despair, we rediscover that God walks with and among us – helping us in moments of sadness and leading us to peace.  Yet God requires that we actively accept this invitation.  The promise of hope needs our action, and it relies on our willingness to follow.

Scrooge provides an example for us.  With the help of the Spirits of Christmas, he saw a world filled with very different possibilities.  He discovered that he need not be unhappy; he could change his life and embrace the joys which were all around him.  His willingness to see, judge, and act become an inspiration for us – reminding us that life gives us opportunities to change our ways and follow God’s call.

As Elizabeth recognized God’s presence in Mary, we too are invited to discover the Lord in our midst.  May our eyes be open to see God among us, and may we respond with hearts that are open to the abundant love which is our inheritance.

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October 22, 2014

The Feast of All Souls

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

cemetery

Study:  Recall close family and friends who have died.  Reflect on how they blessed your life.

Pray:  Remember those who are grieving the loss of loved ones in your prayers.

Serve:  Is there an act of kindness you can to for someone grieving?  How can your support help them face the reality of death and the hope of the resurrection?

Readings for the Feast of All Souls

I would like to explain how we get this feast on the weekend. Normally, the feast of All Saints is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Church. However, when a Holy Day falls on a Saturday or a Monday it is “suppressed” so that the Sunday mass does not lose its importance. And when a feast (like All Souls) actually falls on a Sunday – then that is often the feast whose prayers and readings are used.

This is why I went to seminary for a decade….!

There are a number of possible readings to choose from for this feast. They should sound familiar; indeed, for anyone who frequently attends funerals they will echo with past memories.

The Feast of All Souls is a celebration where the whole Church remembers all who have died. On this day we offer prayers, hear readings, and recall the memories of our beloved dead.

Yet the way we do this is in the example and image of Jesus Christ. Think of Holy Week: we celebrate Good Friday (the day He died) and Easter Sunday (the day He rose).

During those days we recall the suffering and pain of Jesus in His last hours on earth. We recite the passion, process the Cross, and dwell upon His sorrow and anguish. Yet it also means that we celebrate with joy His resurrection from the tomb. We fill the church with flowers, sing alleluias, and rejoice that His death led to new life.

What’s true for Jesus is true for us. When we remember our beloved dead we must remember both our grief (because of death) and our hope (because of eternal life). As we offer our prayers this weekend, we then not only admit our sorrow at the loss of a loved one, but we cling to our belief that we will one day be together with the Lord in Heaven.

Therefore, to be genuine people of faith we both acknowledge the pain of death and affirm the hope of eternity. In this way we do not overly focus on one or the other, but recognize that both are a part of our lives as disciples of Christ here on Earth.

On this feast we remember our beloved dead. We hold fast in faith that their passing is not the end, but the beginning of a new life with Christ in Heaven. In this feast we are thus also reminded that we, too, will one day make this journey. May we trust that as others have traveled from death to life, we will follow in the Lord’s path as well.

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March 24, 2014

4th Sunday of Lent – A Life Worth Living

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Beautiful Life - People

Study:  When have you sensed and recognized the precious value of life?  How did you respond?

Pray:  Offer prayers for those who struggle to embrace the gift of their lives.

Serve:  Is there someone nearby who is overcome by weakness, failure, or struggle?  How can you help?

4th Sunday of Lent Readings

The philosopher in me ponders a recurring question:  Why does God bother with us?  Why does the Lord of all creation seem to care about us?  Why does God have anything to do with us, especially when the universe is such a big place?  After all, why would God want to spend time caring for over seven billion people – aren’t there more important things to do?

Consider the role God plays in the readings this week:
1st – God chooses us according to our hearts.
Psalm – God shepherds us in our need.
2nd – God enlightens us in our darkness.
Gospel – God heals in our weakness.

In all four cases, God is acting on our behalf, despite our weakness, failings, and struggles.  The Lord continues to reach out to people, making hope possible in the midst of the challenges of life.  It does not seem to matter that people make mistakes or fall short of their abilities.  God still seems to care.

We are told that we are made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), and we are told that God loved us so much he sent Jesus (John 3:16). What then can we learn about the Lord from these readings we hear today?

It seems to me that throughout these readings we discover that God values our lives, even when they are broken and limited by sickness and sin. God looks at us, with all our faults, and rejoices whenever we turn our hearts and minds to Jesus.

If the Lord finds joy in our lives, however feeble or faint, should we not do the same?  If God was willing to give us Jesus that we might have eternal life, should we not reflect on just how powerful this gift of life really is and act accordingly?

When we acknowledge that God acts for us because God loves us – completely, sincerely, and out of a thorough knowledge of all our sins – then we have hope.  We recognize that life is precious, and we find inspiration to make the most of this day, this moment, lest we lose even one opportunity to share our lives with God and one another.  With understanding comes this simple fact: we possess a life worth living – made by God, redeemed by God, and sustained by God!

Once we believe that Jesus died because he loves us, then all the actions we see in the readings today make sense.  May we embrace what God has done for us, and share with joyful hearts a life worth living.

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March 16, 2014

3rd Sunday of Lent – Thirsty for Water

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Living Water

Study:  When have you been in need for water?  When have you been in need of God’s grace?

Pray:  Is there something in your life that is parched and dry?  Ask the Lord for the Living Water that refreshes our souls.

Serve:  Is there someone you know who is withered and weak?  How can you bring them new strength and assistance?

3rd Sunday of Lent Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Imagine a tall glass of water.  You are tired and hot, and you hold the cool glass and start to drink.  Immediately, relief spreads through your throat and body, and as you set down the glass you say, “Ahhh!” and smile.

We all have experiences of being thirsty.  Maybe it is after a few slices of pizza or some extra salty snacks; perhaps it’s before an operation or medical checkup, when we are told that we cannot eat or drink anything from midnight on; it could be that we have just had a lot of exercise and are dehydrated.  Yet no matter what the situation is, we know the feeling when we are thirsty for water.

Our bodies need water.  Some studies tell us we  should be drinking a minimum of eight glasses a day.  This dependence on water is found in our survival; a person can live for weeks without food, but only a couple of days without water.

Our critical need for water becomes the source of the images found in the first reading and Gospel today.  Water is the subject for both Moses and Jesus.  Under God’s direction and guidance, Moses strikes the rock and provides water for the people in the desert.  Jesus, through his discussion with the woman at the well, reveals that he is the water that gives eternal life.

These readings remind us that God brings the Living Water to us.  In our need the Lord quenches our thirst as he did for the people in Meribah.  In our need the Lord comes to us as he did for the woman at the well.  For just as we need water to sustain our bodies, so too do we need Jesus Christ to give us life in this world and in the world to come.

Are you spiritually thirsty?  Is there something missing that you long for in your soul?  Is it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control?  Just as our bodies respond to water with renewed strength, so also our thirst for “living water” reminds us that God offers us refreshment for our souls.  Lent is a perfect time to recognize our need for the Lord and ask for the grace and strength to face the challenges of today.

It is with water that we welcome new members into the Christian family through baptism.  It is with Holy Water that we sign ourselves with the Cross of Jesus Christ.  During the Easter season we will celebrate the sprinkling rite as we renew our own baptismal promises.  In all these cases, water becomes the medium to remind us of God’s presence.

Every time we pick up a glass of water we have the chance to remember how dependent we are on this simple substance.  May this reminder lead us more deeply into the mystery of God’s love for us and our need to recognize the Lord each day in the world around us.  May we drink deeply from the living water of Jesus Christ.

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March 25, 2013

Easter – Abundant Life

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

iPhone 034

Study:  Reflect on moments where you have experienced new life – in a relationship, in a position, in an opportunity.  Consider how your experience of new life can help you embrace the resurrection of Jesus

Pray:  Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been freed from sin and death.  Take a moment in your prayer to thank God for this gift, and count your blessings.

Serve:  How might you bring the hope of new life to others?  How might your life bring life to those around you?

Easter Sunday Readings

All around us, we see signs of change as we enter the season of Spring.  The weather is (slowly) getting warmer, the snow is beginning to melt, and we await the rain to soften the earth and add much needed moisture to the ground.

These signs point to the simple fact that once again new life is bursting forth upon the land.  Spots of green start to appear on the countryside.  Flowers and plants begin to grow.  What was once dead has now been renewed.

The change of seasons shows us in a simple yet powerful way a fundamental truth in our world: out of death comes new life.  Around us we discover that from the cold and barren Winter, the earth is renewed through the annual cycle of life.  Death cannot last forever; it is shattered by the force and power of life – healing, restoring, and making all things new.

With this season of life comes new hope.  We see the changes in nature and respond with new vitality.  We want to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, maybe start a few projects (I said maybe…!), and live with a renewed sense of energy.  As we experience the signs of abundant life revealed in nature, we desire to take hold of our own lives – that we might live with a passion and intensity worthy of this wonderful gift.

Every year the Church celebrates the central mystery of our faith during this season of life.  Beyond his suffering and death on the Cross we celebrate the victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Through this redemption, we have been freed from two of our greatest fears, sin and death, and given the gift of abundant life.

As Christ rose from the dead, not even the grave could contain him, and his triumphant resurrection anchors our hope in eternal life.  We rejoice that through this mystery we now have a path to follow.  We know that death is not the final answer, we know that beyond the suffering and struggle of this life lies our hope in the abundant life of heaven.

Strengthened by our hope in Christ, we are invited to live this moment with our whole hearts.  Having received the gift of life, we are called to share that gift with love and joy, so that the abundant life of the resurrection may pour into this world as well.

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