Fr. Andrew’s Christ the King Homily Podcast
Christ, our Savior, Lord, and Friend…is also our King. What’s more, the King has given us some very specific commands – here are three:
As we follow the King may we carry out his commands!
Study: Recall a time when you carried out a difficult command. What gave you strength?
Pray: Is there a difficult situation facing you right now? Draw near to Christ in the Eucharist for wisdom and courage.
Serve: Actions speak louder than words…so how can your actions today show others that Christ is your King?
Readings for the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe
We conclude the Church’s liturgical calendar with this Feast in honor of our Lord. The title is one that speaks to a role that appears in history, literature, and culture: the KING.
Here are some common key points to remember:
Sounds simple, right? So how do we apply these concepts to Jesus? Consider this:
Practically, I suggest that we focus this week on three key commandments that Christ gave us:
Remember: the King commands us to forgive, receive Him in the Eucharist, and love one another. These are not suggestions, or helpful hints when we have free time! These are commands…and as we acknowledge that Jesus is our King we also know that we can draw near to the Lord for the strength and wisdom we need to carry them out.
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This icon of Christ Pantocrator is on loan to the Cathedral of Christ the King from Fr. Andrew Ricci. “Pantocrator” may be literally translated into “Ruler of All” or “Almighty” and it is an ancient way of depicting Jesus.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Thursday of the 31st Week of the Year)
Sometimes we need to be reminded that the Lord welcomes us every time we turn from our sins and seek God’s grace. If there is anything holding us back (you know…fear, doubt, worry, shame, sin, or some other spiritual junk) then perhaps today is our chance to return to the one who loves us completely.
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.”
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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!
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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!
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
