The first reading encourages us to cultivate the attitude of Christ as we humbly offer our lives out of love for one another.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 31st Week of the Year
Tag Archives: Mass
All Souls Day. Catholic Inspiration
On this day we pray for all the faithful departed, that God will hold them safe and give them eternal peace.
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
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32nd Sunday of the Year: God’s wisdom as our guide. Catholic Inspiration
Study: Consider a moment when you saw someone act in a wise manner. What did you notice?
Pray: Wisdom is a precious gift; pray for it every day!
Serve: How can you help someone facing a tough challenge today? Ask the Lord for the wisdom to guide you.
Mass Readings – 32nd Sunday of the Year
With just a couple of weeks left of Ordinary Time, we hear about the wisdom of God repeatedly in the readings today.
- 1st Reading – “Resplendent and unfading is wisdom.”
- Psalm – “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
- 2nd Reading – We have hope that Christ will raise us up from death to life.
- Gospel – Jesus offers a contrast between wisdom and foolishness.
When we talk about the concept of wisdom we often refer to the ability to see the big picture. Wisdom gives us the ability to “see around corners” and anticipate circumstances; this particular virtue allows us to step back and take in events, seeing how they relate and connect with other situations.
And God offers it to us! This is a precious spiritual gift, one that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, and it helps us live each day in a vibrant manner. Without wisdom we can speak and act in ways that might have disastrous results, especially if we would have considered the ramifications and consequences that followed if we’d have only thought about other factors.
In order to apply wisdom to our lives we begin first with a strong foundation of prayer. The closer we draw to Jesus, the closer we connect with the source of all wisdom and understanding. As we thirst for the Lord we are nourished and sustained with God’s grace as we see with the eyes of Christ.
Wisdom then requires our action. Once we have insight we can then proceed to act in a manner that is guided by the nuances and sensitivities that confront us. We can act decisively and deliberately, aware of the situation and able to adjust and respond as needed.
This precious spiritual gift is for the asking…so ask! May we all call upon the Lord for this grace as we live our faith each day.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on November 17, 2017.
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Solemnity of All Saints. Catholic Inspiration
The Saints inspire us! They are human hearts who have made it to the halls of Heaven. They understand us and they cheer us on to join their ranks. May we learn about these holy heroes so that they may welcome us when the Lord calls us out of this world.
Mass Readings – Solemnity of All Saints
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Note: Here are some websites (there are many!) to learn about saints…
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Daily Mass: Having a humble heart. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus offers a parable about the value of a humble heart. May we let go of our comparisons in pride and as we draw close to the Lord’s love.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 30th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: A prayer to God for the good of others. Catholic Inspiration
The beginning of the St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians gratefully acknowledges the power of God’s grace to empower and unite us together, offering a beautiful reflection for our lives today.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 30th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Put on the armor of God. Catholic Inspiration
The Letter to the Ephesians invites us to take on the battles of life with help from Heaven as we arm ourselves with the protection of God’s grace.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 30th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Christ calls His apostles by name. Catholic Inspiration
Luke’s Gospel shows how Jesus called His twelve apostles by name, selecting them for their particular work. May remember that Christ calls us as well.
Mass Readings – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
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Daily Mass: A practical example of the Kingdom of God. Catholic Inspiration
Using an example of bread Jesus explains the Kingdom of God.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 30th Week of the Year
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All you Saints in Heaven: Pray for us!
Study: Consider the people who inspire you. What qualities do they possess that speak to your mind and heart?
Pray: Invoke your favorite saint(s) in you daily prayers. Remember that they are cheering you on the journey of faith!
Serve: How can you be an example and witness to others? How can your life draw others closer to the Lord?
Solemnity of All Saints Readings
When you think of saints, what comes to mind?
- Angel wings?
- Halos and extra holiness?
- Serene, smiling faces in clean white robes?
How about this: survivors!
Saints come in all shapes and forms – men & women, young & old, rich & poor, with a variety of abilities, challenges, and opportunities. Yet all of them share some common traits:
- They had their share of struggles. Life brought them obstacles and difficulties.
- They had their share of blessings. They experienced beauty and grace.
- They made mistakes. Sometimes their sins were epic…with horrible consequences.
- They returned to Christ. Over, and over, and over again!
We celebrate the saints this Sunday, recognizing in their lives the hope we have in Jesus Christ. The Lord makes the path to heaven possible, and the saints have walked on the way before us. They made it! Not because they were perfect, but because they turned (and returned) to the Lord.
They are our inspiration. In our struggles, in our blessings, in our mistakes…we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. We have hope that the one who bridged the gap between heaven and earth will continue to support and guide us on our journey to eternal life.
Do you have favorite saints? Call upon them for help! Are you unfamiliar with the saints? Check out any of the links below and get started learning some more about the supernatural heroes who cheer us on to eternal victory.
Mary and all the Saints…PRAY FOR US!
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Note: This post was first published October 27, 2015.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: Our faith in Christ guides our lives
- Daily Mass: The love of Christ guides a crucial discussion in the early Church
- Daily Mass: Our lives are fruitful when we remain close to Christ
- Daily Mass: We persevere with the faith of Christ
- Daily Mass: A case of mistaken identity
- Study, Pray, Serve: 6th Sunday of Easter
- 5th Sunday of Easter: Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
- Daily Mass: Living for the Lord comes with a cost
- Daily Mass: Christ is our way, our truth, and our life
- Daily Mass: Christ fulfills salvation history
Three Great Things 