Jesus acknowledges the faith of the Roman soldier, inspiring us at every Mass to echo his words of faith and trust in the Lord.
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Catholic Inspiration Archives
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Photo credit: The Passion of the Christ, 2004.
Tag Archives: Mass
School Mass: Putting our faith in Jesus Christ. Catholic Inspiration
Daily Mass: Creative work and prayerful rest. Catholic Inspiration
The story of creation includes both the dynamic force of work and the renewing power of rest. We, too, require a balance of both, for when we invite the Lord into our labor and our relaxation we find that they are truly blessed.
Mass Readings Tuesday of the 5th Week of the Year
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6th Sunday of the Year: Blessings, Curses and Woes
Study: Consider when you were blessed with strength and guidance in a tough time. How did you experience this blessing?
Pray: We all know many people who are having a tough time right now. Ask the Lord to give them the courage and conviction to carry on.
Serve: Is there some way you can be a blessing to another? How might you use your gifts and talents to alleviate suffering today?
Mass Readings – 6th Sunday of the Year
Let’s take a quick review of the readings:
- 1st Reading – Jeremiah speaks of blessings and curses in relationship to the Lord
- Psalm – “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.”
- 2nd Reading – St. Paul preaches about the resurrection of Jesus Christ
- Gospel – Jesus offers a series of blessings and woes in Luke’s Gospel
There is a dangerous trap that Christians must always be alert to avoid. It runs like this:
- I follow Christ and carry out his commands.
- I strive to live a good and holy life.
- Therefore, because I am a “good” person, God will bless me with an easy life.
In other words, since I am doing what God commands, God owes me. We often find this thinking surfaces when something bad happens – and illness, death, reversal of fortune, pain, or any number of bad scenarios – and suddenly people start blaming God. “Why is God doing this to me? I’m a good person! I don’t deserve this!”
The trap misleads us into thinking that our faith is suppose to protect us from the unfortunate. If we buy into this concept, then we begin to treat our faith at best as a legal contract and at worst as a magical formula where we have power over God.
Life is hard. Life makes demands and challenges us with pain, discomfort, struggle and testing. While we might wish that all days were easy, we know that tough times come along.
And in the face all these obstacles God blesses us with grace, uniting us in our relationship with the Lord and one another. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are blessed when our lives are configured to God and cursed when we step away from the Lord. We can be tempted to trust more in fleeting things like wealth, power, good looks or fame, yet only God offers the enduring strength of love in this life and the next.
The next time something difficult happens, ask this one question: How does my faith in Jesus Christ help me right now? We are blessed when we experience God’s grace to face life’s obstacles. We are blessed when we allow the Lord to work through our lives – even when it’s hard. We are blessed when we receive God’s love with open and gentle hearts.
May God bless us all with exactly what we need to continue on our journey through life today.
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5th Sunday of the Year: Our response to God’s invitation. Catholic Inspiration
Both Isaiah and St. Peter initially express doubt and fear in the presence of God’s invitation. Yet like them we are called to move beyond our self-imposed obstacles and accept the Lord’s prompting in our lives…even when it’s hard.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: Find the balance in work and rest. Catholic Inspiration
The Gospel today shows the disciples both at work and at rest with Jesus. Finding balance in our lives can be challenging, yet when we take the long view we recognize that there are many different elements that enrich God’s gift of life.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: The death of John the Baptist
The death of John the Baptist reminds us of the cost of discipleship. Yet as we look at the Cross of Christ, we find hope and strength to face the hardship of life with the conviction of the Lord’s saving death and resurrection.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: We are empowered by God for service. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus summons the Twelve and empowers them to carry out his ministry. The Lord continues to call disciples today, giving us the grace we need to do his work.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: How strong is your faith? Catholic Inspiration
Jesus comments on the lack of faith he witnesses in his native place. This passage gives us a reason to pause and reflect on our faith, pondering how we might grow in our relationship with Christ.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Jesus heals us. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord heals two people in the Gospel of Mark, inviting us to acknowledge our wounds and turn to Christ with trusting faith.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 4th Week of the Year
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5th Sunday of the Year: Lord, send me!
Study: Recall a moment where you felt that God was prompting you to action. What motivated you to act? What held you back?
Pray: What grace do you need to carry out your current tasks? Storm heaven for the strength you require.
Serve: How can you make an ordinary action extraordinary? How can you do a little thing with great love?
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
The readings incorporate the theme of being sent on mission:
- 1st Reading – Isaiah responding to the Lord’s invitation
- Psalm – Responding to the Lord’s call with songs of praise
- 2nd Reading – Paul’s recap of the response of the apostles
- Gospel – Jesus making “fishers of men” of the Peter & the apostles
In all these cases some common points surface:
- God takes the initiative and calls us
- We (however unworthy) are invited to respond
- God provides the grace and strength
- We are called to offer our lives in action
These are beautiful thoughts as we sit on the doorstep of Lent! Friends, God continues to call us – providing grace – that we might respond and offer our lives for service in the world. So let’s turn these points around from our perspective:
- How has the Lord called each one of us…today?
- What excuses or obstacles are keeping us from responding?
- What particular grace do we need from the Lord – ask for it!
- Remember: all action – great or small – that we offer will be blessed by God to make a difference in the world.
May our words follow the example of Isaiah in the first reading today: Here am I, Lord…send me!
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Note: This post was first published on February 2, 2016.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- All Saints: We learn from the saints how to shine with the light of Christ
- Daily Mass: Jesus teaches about humility
- Daily Mass: We serve the Lord in a variety of wonderful ways
- Daily Mass: Jesus sets his sights on Jerusalem
- Daily Mass: Christ calls us by name
- Daily Mass: Jesus offers two parables about the Kingdom of God
- Daily Mass: Jesus heals on the sabbath
- Study, Pray, Serve: All Saints
- 30th Sunday of the Year: When filled with God's love, we can love one another
- Daily Mass: The Lord urges us to repent
