Jesus reproaches the villages that rejected his message of repentance, reminding us that our response to the Lord’s invitation has crucial consequences.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 15th Week of the Year
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Tag Archives: Response
Study, Pray, Serve: 5th Sunday of the Year
Here are some of the themes in the readings for the 5th Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Isaiah 6:1-2a,3-8
- The Seraphim cry out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!” as they worship the Lord upon the throne of heaven.
- When asked who will go, the prophet cries out, “Here I am, send me!”
Psalm – 138:1-5,7-8
- “In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord.”
- We praise and thank God who responds to us in kindness and truth.
2nd Reading – 1st Corinthians 15:1-11
- Paul hands on to the people what he has received, and he recounts the basic teaching about Jesus.
- Paul recognizes that he also has been called by God to preach the Good News.
Gospel – Luke 5:1-11
- Jesus gets into the boat of Simon and tells him to go back out into the water and lower his nets.
- After they caught a massive amount of fish, Peter tells Jesus to depart. The Lord, however, invites those present to cast off fear and follow him.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
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Daily Mass: Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Catholic Inspiration
Samuel’s response to the Lord’s call offers us an example to follow as we actively listen and respond to God’s gentle invitation.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 1st Week of the Year
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4th Sunday of Advent: How swift is our response to God’s grace? Catholic Inspiration
Mary, Elizabeth and even baby John the Baptist offer examples of a swift response to the presence of God. Their actions inspire us to consider how we will put the Lord’s prompting into practice today.
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of Advent
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Daily Mass: The Lord invites; what’s our response? Catholic Inspiration
At the conclusion of the Bread of Life discourse, we see a sharp contrast between those who leave and those who follow Jesus. The Lord continues to invite…what’s our response today?
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 3rd Week of Easter
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3rd Sunday of Lent: Thirsting for Living Water
Study: Reflect on a time when you felt a deep emptiness in your soul. Where did you find relief?
Pray: Is there a longing in your heart right now? Ask the Lord to touch your life with his grace.
Serve: Many people are struggling, sometimes lost in destructive distractions; how can you help them?
Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Lent
As we enter into the heart of Lent, we encounter two readings that speak of a fundamental human need: to satisfy our thirst. We have all known moments of thirst, accompanied by the profound satisfaction of a cool drink of water. The relief is tangible, and the sensation reveals in a direct way how our bodily needs can be fulfilled.
In the first reading the people are grumbling to Moses in their thirst for water. A miracle is performed by the power of God, and the people once again witness the Lord’s presence in their lives.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus is standing by a well and strikes up a conversation with a Samaritan woman. Here, however, there is more than just physical thirst; the Lord speaks to her heart and satisfies a deep longing for spiritual life. In turn, she goes back to the villagers and brings them to Jesus…so that their spiritual thirst might be quenched as well.
Today we reflect on the reality of physical thirst to help us understand the longing in our souls. What’s missing in our lives? Do we have an ache, an emptiness that longs to be fulfilled?
There are many temptations and distractions in the world that promise fulfillment: drugs, alcohol, sex, money, power, fame, beauty…but all of these ultimately leave us empty. They are pleasing for a moment, but we long for something lasting.
Jesus Christ is the answer. The Lord comes to us in our need, knows our sins, and invites us to draw into his grace. Christ speaks to the deepest longings in our hearts and offers the love, joy and peace that reign supreme in the halls of Heaven.
May we draw close to the Lord today in our need, trusting in his compassion and mercy to quench our spiritual thirst!
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Note: This post was first published on March 13, 2017
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Daily Mass: What will we do with the gift of God’s grace? Catholic Inspiration
Jesus takes the initiative and Peter responds in today’s account from the Sea of Galilee. Our lives follow the same pattern: how will we respond to the Lord’s invitation?
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 22nd Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: The speed of faith. Catholic Inspiration
Mary, Elizabeth and John the Baptist all show the speed of a vibrant response to the coming of the Messiah. Their example inspires us to consider how our faith guides and directs our actions with the people before us each and every day.
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Advent
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Daily Mass: Are you working for the Lord? Catholic Inspiration
Jesus offers a parable about servants who have been given resources by their master. The passage reminds us that we have all been blessed with opportunities to serve the Lord, and everyday we have a chance to act upon them.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 33rd Week of the Year (St. Cecilia)
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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27th Sunday of the Year: Working in the vineyard. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – 27th Sunday of the Year
The Lord offers a parable to illustrate what happens when we persistently turn away from God. Perhaps there have been times in our lives when we know what to do, but we haven’t done it; today offers us a fresh opportunity to draw near to Christ and – with his help – respond to the unique situations of our lives with in manner worthy of Jesus.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Three Great Things 