Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year)
Chapter 12 in Paul’s Letter to the Romans offers a beautiful exhortation to live our lives infused with the love of Christ. Below you will find the link to this daily Mass reading – make a copy and post it on your bathroom mirror as a powerful reminder!
Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year Daily Mass Reading
Fr. Andrew’s 6th Sunday of Easter Homily Podcast
Just as a passport is essential for travel on earth, so Christ’s commandment to love is essential for our travel to Heaven. Consider these similarities:
This homily was given at the Cathedral of Christ the King on May 10, 2015.
Study: When in my life have I been most authentically and genuinely loving toward others? What helped me to live this way?
Pray: Who is difficult to love in my life right now? Pray that the love of Christ comes into our hearts to transform us into God’s love.
Serve: Who am I called to love today? How can I act toward another that brings Christ’s love into their lives?
The second reading from 1 John 4:7-10 and the Gospel from John 15:9-17 are as blunt and direct as the Bible delivers. In the first and last analysis, everything we proclaim as Christians is measured and evaluated in the light of a single concept:
LOVE
And on first glance it sounds wonderful! Love evokes many wholesome and beautiful concepts that speak to our hearts; love lifts our spirits and draws us closer together – drawing strength and peace from both God and the people around us.
Yet love is also challenging. Love makes demands upon us to stretch beyond our normal comfort zones – thinking and acting in ways that are modeled on Jesus Christ. Consider…
While we strive for these practical applications of love on our good days, Lord knows we need to keep working at love – especially when we are in a bad place. Two keys thoughts can help us:
The first point is simple: we cannot fulfill God’s command to love unless we are closely connected to the Son of God. We hear that “God is love” in the 2nd reading, and we know that our lives draw grace and strength when we unite our hearts to the Lord. Staying close to Jesus helps us to evaluate and fulfill this key commandment.
The second point is immensely practical. Sometimes we don’t feel particularly loving! When that happens we can move ourselves to a better place by acting in a Godly fashion…the feelings will follow eventually. While our emotions are crucial sources of “inside information” to the state of our hearts, we guide our lives by Jesus (and not a momentary feeling) who loves us unconditionally. Thus, when we act in a loving way – love actually grows in our hearts!
“This I command you: love one another.”
**********
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, Heinrich Hofmann; 1 June 1889, 480 x 599 pixels, Riverside Church, New York, NY.
Study: Where do I see signs of unity in my life? How can I build upon them?
Pray: Where do I see signs of disunity in my life? Call upon the Lord for grace and strength.
Serve: How can I help others grow closer together? How can I foster unity?
“The community of believers was of one heart and mind…” (Acts 4:32)
I marvel at the transformation of the disciples. Before the resurrection of Jesus they were filled with fear, paralyzed by their own weakness and doubt; after the resurrection they are changed, as evidenced in even the basic ways they lived and worked together.
One heart and mind!
Unity can be challenging in even the best circumstances: we see things differently, hold our own unique values and principles, as well as personal tastes and interests. Working together is tough, yet it is a common sign of holiness – the practical proof that we are doing our part to build the Lord’s kingdom here on earth.
What supports unity? Jesus Christ! Unity with Christ provides the grace for unity with Christ’s brothers and sisters; this clear sign of faith draws others to the Good News and fosters our community with one another. Take a look at a few of the patterns that emerge in today’s readings:
Another way to say it: Sharing, Gratitude, Love, Peace – which find their source in Jesus and flow through us to the those we meet. I would suggest that the disciples used these building blocks to form the first elements of the Church, working together in unity with the grace of Christ to proclaim the Good News.
This work continues today. We all know firsthand the effects of discord – where lives are broken and fragmented by selfishness, fear, hate, and a hardness of heart – yet we believe in something greater…Christ is triumphant! Our response can mirror the disciples:
May we bring these powerful blessings of the resurrection to our world today:
One heart and mind!
**********
Resurrection, Szymon Czechowicz; 1758, oil on canvas, 525 x 392 pixels, Olesko Castle, Ukraine.
The Cathedral hosted the Youth Rally on March 18, 2015. This homily was given to the 400+ youth who came together for adoration, a keynote talk from Joel Stepanek, and Mass.
Fr. Andrew’s Youth Rally Homily Podcast
Keep praying for our youth that the Lord will touch and bless their lives with grace, wisdom, and strength!
Study: When have I experienced a profound moment of love? How did that moment change my life?
Pray: Ask for the grace to embrace and share God’s love with others. Today.
Serve: How might I put my love into action for another? How might I show someone the love I have in my heart?
Pastoral Note: The 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent provide an option for using the “Year A” readings at Mass for the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process. At the Cathedral this year, we will be using Year A during these weeks for this very reason – but for those who follow the usual cycle the reflection is offered below.
4th Sunday of Lent Readings – Year B
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast – Year B
Do you ever wonder just how great God’s love really is? How amazing? How awesome? I keep thinking about different analogies that show the reality of divine love when compared to human understanding.
For example: If my entire awareness of God’s love could be viewed, it would be like a drop of water – compared to the Pacific Ocean of God’s love. Or a grain of sand – compared to the Sahara Desert. Or a single blade of grass – compared to the Midwest Prairie.
The fact is, there is no comparison that can truly show the height, depth, power, or magnitude of the love of God. No analogy, no image, no description can do it justice…yet we can use our limited language to give us a hint:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17)
This is God’s demonstration of love. Look at a Cross; listen to the Stations; read the Passion. The love of God is not words or clever thoughts. The love of God is manifest through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – out of love for us.
The question is – Do we believe it? Do we accept in our hearts that this love is for us? Do we live with the conviction that God values us, cherishes us, treasures us, forgives us, and loves us with this sort of intensity?
If we do believe, then our lives are forever changed. If we receive these words and open our hearts, then God will come and transform us. The Lord’s power is that great; once we say “Yes” to Christ we begin a process that will draw us steadily closer to God and one another.
We have heard these words so often that we can take them for granted. We can overlook their meaning and miss the point. Lent gives us time to search into our hearts and recognize this love for what it is – God’s way of calling us home.
May we be ready to respond!
Are you looking for a quick and practical audio retreat? Perhaps this is for you…
The following three talks were given at a Catholic Men’s Retreat sponsored by the Knights of Columbus in Hayward, WI on September 13, 2014.
In these talks you will find a practical exploration of some ways that we can grow closer to the Lord through Study, Prayer, and Service; it should be no surprise to my readers! These “Three Great Things” are the very foundation of this site, and it seemed only fitting to spell out a few opportunities that we have to deepen our relationship with Christ.
All three talks are freestanding: you can listen to them alone or together as a set. It should become readily apparent, however, that these three are interrelated – prayer and service; service and study; study and prayer – they build, support, and give meaning and purpose to one another. Yet by engaging each one separately, it is my hope that we can tease out some everyday opportunities that foster our faith and offer ready made applications for life.
When you click on the underlined/bold text, you will be redirected to a site where you can hear the talks.
1st Talk – Study: Some intellectual ways we can learn and develop
2nd Talk – Prayer: Practical points that speak to different styles that help us cultivate our relationship with the Lord
3rd Talk – Service: A simple method and application to personal approaches that make a difference in the world
My prayer for 2015: that we all draw near to Jesus Christ (in any number of unique and practical ways) through our Study, Prayer, & Service!
Study: Recall a time in your life when another person made a profound difference in your life. How did they show you support?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and insight to be a human agent for divine love. Pray for an open heart to be guided by Christ!
Serve: Who in your life would benefit from your service and kindness right now? Is it family, a friend, a co-worker, or an acquaintance?
There are many ways to say, “I love you.” Some people do it easily with words, others use gestures, physical closeness, empathy, or service. Sometimes it happens when we respond to the unspoken questions or needs of another – anticipating the situation without even having to be asked. Other times it is merely our presence, when we sit or walk with another beyond the necessity of words; at times like these it is simply the awareness that we are not alone that gives us strength.
Within the Holy Family we can talk about the practical ways that Mary and Joseph cared for and loved Jesus. Providing for the Lord’s basic needs, showing affection, teaching, offering safety, and guiding with earthly wisdom are just a few of the examples that reveal how they provided a home for their son.
On this feast we can enter more fully into the gift of Mary’s life – as a mother. The intimacy and connection between mother and child is profound. There is a closeness – something physical, relational, and spiritual – that often uniquely touches our lives. While it’s true that there are times when we are closer/farther from our moms, we can recognize that this bond has the power to connect with something deep within our souls.
Mary shared this connection with her Son. Jesus, whose titles range from “Savior,” “Messiah,” “Lord of Life,” “Prince of Peace,” and “Son of God” could also claim another:
Son of Mary
The Feast of Mary, the Mother of God is a celebration where we can comprehend a bond that we share with the Lord. Like us, he possessed this earthly connection with his mom – a connection that underscores how Christ comes to us and bridges the gap between Heaven and Earth so that we might know God. The Lord became like us (in all things but sin) so that we could draw near to the Almighty – there is no obstacle, no boundary, no barrier that prevents us from encountering God.
Within the context of this mother/son relationship Mary had countless opportunities to say, “I love you” to her boy. She said it with words, conveyed it with caring and comforting actions, and demonstrated it with subtle expressions of affection. Since Jesus became like us, then he also received the blessings and joys that come from being loved in this very human, very powerful way.
As we enter into this New Year, how will we say, “I love you” to the Lord? How will we reveal our love for Christ in the faces of our brothers and sisters? Perhaps it’s with a word of encouragement, a random act of kindness, anticipating a need, or responding to a situation. May we eagerly look about for ways to show our love – to the people in our lives and the Lord who put them there.
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?
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.
Study: When was the last time you went to Confession?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the guidance and strength to make an examination of conscience
Serve: Is there anything in my life that is keeping me from genuninely helping others?
This homily was given at a communal penance service at the Cathedral on December 13, 2014 prior to the opportunity for individual confessions. The theme “Taking out the Trash” was used to convey that just as we need to remove the garbage from the kitchen (before it starts to stink), we also need to look into our hearts and remove what does not belong. The encounter with grace offers us the courage to look honestly and trust that the Lord will give us the strength we need to turn to him and experience his mercy, forgiveness, and love.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 