Tag Archives: Light

4th Sunday of Lent: Seeing God at work in our world.

Study:  Reflect back on a moment when you suddenly “saw” a situation clearly.  What helped you make sense of it?

Pray:  Do you feel like you are in the dark right now?  Ask God for the light of grace to find your way.

Serve:  Do you know someone who is struggling to act in a situation?  How can you help them stay in God’s light?

Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Lent

Let’s take a quick look at an overview of the readings this week:

  • 1st Reading – Samuel “sees” David and anoints him with the Spirit
  • Psalm – “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
  • 2nd Reading – We are children who live in the light of Christ
  • Gospel – Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth

Images of sight, light, and darkness appear throughout these readings, reminding us of the crucial role our sight plays in daily life.  As we rely on our eyes, we recognize light and color as it interacts with our senses and guides much of our action.

God helps Samuel to see – not with human but heavenly eyesight – the qualities that will make David king of Israel; Jesus helps the man born blind to see the face of the living God.  Ephesians reminds us that as children of the light we turn away from darkness and live in goodness, while the Psalmist gives us courage to walk in the darkest of valleys…confident that the Lord is at our side.

For we know that the darkness is a part of life; indeed,  many of us have had the experience of darkness – where fear, doubt, and indecision hold us in a grip of paralysis – and we understand all too well our sense of loneliness and loss.

The Good News: God restores our sight – helping us to see the Lord at work in our world – and inspires us to direct our thoughts, words and actions by the light of faith.  May the Light of Christ open our eyes and guide our steps through this life!

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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

 


Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

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Mass Readings – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

As Mary and Joseph present their infant son in the Temple, they encounter Simeon and Anna who give praise to God for the fulfillment of the Lord’s promises – the Messiah has come bringing light into the world!  As his disciples may we continue to share this light as we present ourselves for service to God and one another.

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Archive of all of Fr. Andrew’s podcasts


5th Sunday of the Year: Salt & Light

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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:

  • 1st Reading – Through service to others God’s light will shine upon us
  • Psalm – “The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”
  • 2nd Reading – We place our faith in the power of God
  • Gospel – “Salt of the earth” and “Light of the World”

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:

  • Share your bread with the hungry
  • Shelter the oppressed and homeless
  • Clothe the naked
  • Do not turn your back on your own
  • Remove oppression, false accusation, malicious speech
  • Satisfy the afflicted
  • Be gracious and lend
  • Conduct one’s affairs with justice
  • Give to the poor

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.

 

 


3rd Sunday of the Year: Light and Darkness

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Study: When in your life have you experienced moments of darkness?  Where did you find the light to guide your way?

Pray:  Are you struggling with the darkness today?  Pray that the Lord will shine radiant light into your life.

Serve: Do you know someone who seems “in the dark” right now?  How can you bring the light of Christ to others?

Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of the Year

The readings offer several rich themes this week:

  • 1st Reading – The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light
  • Psalm – “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
  • 2nd Reading – Agree in what you say, and let there be no divisions among you
  • Gospel – John the Baptist dies, and Jesus embarks on his public ministry

The 1st reading from the prophet Isaiah, the Psalm, and the Gospel of Matthew all reference light and darkness.  The imagery speaks to us on many levels:

  • Light is necessary for sight
  • Light brings comfort and consolation
  • Light is a sign of God’s grace and presence

And yet we know that darkness is also part of our existence.  In our modern world we often do all that we can to drive the darkness away, but if you have ever been out in the country (away from all the city lights) you begin to get a sense of what most people were acquainted with through human history.

Things hide in the dark.  Crime often occurs in the dark.  Fear, anxiety, worry and distress often increase in the darkness.  While the darkness is not bad in itself, we often associate it with many challenges and concerns that form the landscape of our our hearts.

Today we hear once again how God’s light casts out all darkness.  God’s grace offers us hope, peace, and strength to face the darkness of life with conviction and trust.  We know that life is not easy; we face our burdens confident that the Lord will light our way.

Where is the darkness in your life right now?  Face it with the light of Jesus Christ!  Let the Lord’s light shine in our hearts and lives, offering us the wisdom and direction we need to live our faith today.


The Epiphany of the Lord

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Study:  Recall a moment when you were guided to make a good decision.  Who helped you?

Pray: Is there a tough decision in your life?  Pray for God’s light to shine upon you.

Serve:  How can you help another find the Lord’s light for their lives?

Mass Readings – The Epiphany of the Lord

There are several wonderful points for reflection in this well known gospel reading:

  • The Magi who come from the East
  • A star that guides them
  • The perplexity of King Herod and all Jerusalem
  • The fulfillment of the prophecy of Micah (“And you Bethlehem…”)
  • The plot of King Herod
  • The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh
  • The warning of the Magi in a dream not to return to Herod

The word epiphany means “to shine upon” and it is the illumination of this story – by starlight, prophecy, gifts, and foreign wisdom – that help us see how God works in our world.

The birth of Christ brings light by which people begin to see the Lord.  We are no longer in darkness!  What’s more, this light is available to all peoples…for the prophecy of Micah in the Jewish tradition and the study of the stars guide the Magi to Jesus.

This light continues to shine in our world today.  God’s grace casts out darkness and brings light to guide us as we seek to follow the Lord through the cares and worries of daily life.  May we seek out the Lord’s light for our lives, and help others to be directed in faith to find Jesus Christ.


Daily Mass: Salt & Light

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Readings – Tuesday of the 10th Week of the Year

“You are the Salt of the World…You are the Light of the World.”  May the unique gift of our lives be used today to help one another – all for the glory of God!

Three Great Things


4th Sunday of the Year – Welcome to the Family

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Study:  Reflect on a time in life when someone reached out and welcomed you.  What key points stand out?  Consider any opportunities you have today to do this for another.

Pray:  Is there a rift in your life that calls for healing and unity?  Ask the Lord for grace and mercy to make it happen.

Serve:  What is one thing you can do this week to be “part of the solution” in fostering unity in your life?

4th Sunday of Easter Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

The Scripture readings this week are filled with an uplifting message: we are invited to be part of the Lord’s family of faith.  Check out some high points from the readings:

  • 1st Reading – Paul & Barnabas are a “light to the Gentiles”
  • Psalm – “We are his people, the sheep of his flock”
  • 2nd Reading – the great multitude of every “nation, race, people, and tongue”
  • Gospel – Jesus knows his sheep and they follow him

Consider some points that follow from these incredible readings:

  1. The Good News of Christ is preached to all people.  There is not limit or boundary; all have access to the Lord.
  2. The Lord claims us!  What’s more, like the Psalmist, we can boldly claim our relationship to the Lord and trust in his love.
  3. The divisions that often separate us on earth (race, creed, nationality, language) simply do not exist in heaven; we are one family.
  4. We are known by the Lord – who calls us by name – and we follow Him.

If this unity is thus part of the reality of our Family of Faith, perhaps now is a good time to practice this unity here on earth?  Perhaps today we can cross the boundaries and divisions that keep us from one another as we continue to share the Good News in our words and actions?

As disciples we have been given an example of unity; our lives today provide plenty of opportunities to foster it.  May the grace of Easter inspire us to be a light to one another, after all – we are members of a vast and diverse family!


Daily Mass: Seek God’s Light. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Thursday of the 3rd Week of the Year & The Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

The Light of Christ is like a lamp – meant to be set forth to give light to all.  St. Thomas Aquinas, through his study and prayer, sought the Divine Light, and he offers us an example to follow today.

Candlelight


Epiphany of the Lord – Light & Sight. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Epiphany of the Lord Homily Podcast

The light of the star guided the sight of the wise men to the infant Jesus.  God’s light continues to shine in our world today through Prayer, Scripture, Sacraments, and Fellowship.  May we not only use our sight to recognize the Lord’s presence, but may we also shine with the light of faith to help others draw near to Christ.

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Daily Mass: The Canticle of Simeon. Catholic Inspiration

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (5th Day in the Octave of Christmas)

Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit, held the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”  (Luke 2:29-32)

May our eyes be open, to see God’s hand touching and blessing our lives today!

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Simeon’s Song of Praise, Aert de Gelder; circa 1700-1710, Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands.