The Psalm Response invites us to praise God each day. Through our prayer, service and personal enrichment we acknowledge what the Lord has done for us as we share our lives with one another.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 33rd Week of the Year (St. Cecilia)
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Prayer is crucial for our spiritual life, yet we discover in the Gospel today the power that results when our prayers are grounded in the humility that recognizes our own weaknesses and sins. May we fervently call upon the Lord in our daily prayer, asking the one who knows us through-and-through for what we need.
Mass Readings – 30th Sunday of the Year
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Don’t give up. Don’t. Give. Up. The Scriptures today show us the need to be persistent, call upon one another for help and keep praying each and every day for what we need. Keep fighting, keep moving forward…but don’t give up!
Mass Readings – 29th Sunday of the Year
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The Second Letter to Timothy inspires us to take the gift of faith and stir it into flame, realizing that this task requires daily attention and effort.
Mass Readings – 27th Sunday of the Year
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Study: Recall a time when you witnessed a leader make a decision informed by Christian faith. How did it strengthen those affected?
Pray: Are you troubled by an issue in business or politics right now? Ask the Lord for guidance to proceed with your actions.
Serve: Is there some way that you can make a difference in your local community? How might your life help the people around you?
Mass Readings – 25th Sunday of the Year
This Sunday’s scripture readings give us a practical perspective from which to view some “real world” issues that surface in daily life.
And who says the Church shouldn’t talk about Business & Politics?! The prophet Amos offers harsh words about those who cheat to make a profit, and Timothy urges the community to pray for those in authority “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life.”
Far from out of touch, these passages remind us yet again of the timeless quality of Scripture to speak to enduring human concerns. Our communities rely on a strong and supportive leadership that fosters peace and prosperity. Amid political rhetoric we are constantly reminded that we are as strong as we are united, and as weak as we are divided.
Thus the Gospel helps us understand that “God and Mammon” cannot compete with one another; rather, we put the Lord first and see our work and social interactions through the eyes of faith. Money and natural resources are crucial for human life to thrive, and when people are cooperating and stewarding these practical elements under the guidance of a clear moral vision we discover the power that our faith in Jesus Christ brings to all aspects of our lives.
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Note: This post was first published on September 12, 2019.
Jesus offers three key insights that profoundly impact our spiritual lives in practical ways. The hard part? Putting them into practice every day.
Mass Readings – Wed. of the 19th Week of the Year (St. Maximillian Kolbe)
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Study: Are there situations in life where you find greed present? Ask yourself what is the source of this excessive hunger for more.
Pray: Call upon the Lord for the grace to use your resources wisely.
Serve: How can you be generous with your life today?
Mass Readings – 18th Sunday of the Year
The Lord cautions us to “guard against all greed” in the Gospel today, yet another reminder of the timeless power of our faith to speak to the human heart. Let’s take a moment to break down some common aspects of greed:
Greed disregards the needs of others as the individual focuses entirely on self. Seeking more and more, it pushes other things aside in a quest to acquire. And while we often associate greed with money, the Lord’s warning against all forms of greed is apt…we can be greedy about so many things!
So what’s the cure? How do we combat greed in our lives? Here are some key ingredients:
By weaving these elements into our lives we cultivate a perspective that sees all resources as gifts from God that are to be used wisely and well. We have been richly blessed by the Lord! May we live and share our lives in such a way that Christ’s love shines through all that we do.
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Note: This post was first published on July 25, 2016.
