Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 22nd Week of the Year
The fishing began poorly, but the preaching was bold and the nets were filled. The Lord called to the disciples, and the response – beyond all doubt and fear – led to the greatest catch all.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 21st Week of the Year
Three people were given gifts, but their responses were different – reminding us that while we all receive different blessings in this life, the Lord asks that we use them to the best of our ability.
Mass Readings – 21st Sunday of the Year
God’s invitation rings out loud and clear – in good and bad times – to remind us to draw near to the Lord and one another.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 20th Week of the Year
To respond to a call is one thing, to come prepared with one’s best effort is another. As we follow the Lord’s call we renew our hearts to give God our very best.
Study: Consider a time when you were personally invited to participate in an event. How did it feel? How did you respond?
Pray: Is there a difficult situation or decision confronting you right now? Ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom.
Serve: Are there people in your life who are struggling to respond to a circumstance in life? How can you help them?
Mass Readings – 21st Sunday of the Year
Here are some key points that surface in the readings this week:
A crucial theme emerges from the first reading, psalm and Gospel around the global call to all nations to draw near to the kingdom of God. Language, race, color, and creed are not obstacles but rather variations of the diversity of God’s creation. Simply put, all people are called to draw near to the Lord. The invitation is open to everyone.
Of course, not everyone will listen and respond. Some will reject the message, others will get caught up in distractions, while still others will pursue things that are contrary to a life in Christ. Thus it is crucial to note that while all are invited, each person has the freedom to choose his or her own unique path in life.
The second reading to the Hebrews helps us to see the challenges of life as a form of discipline – where we face obstacles and grow stronger in God’s grace – which helps us grow as disciples. Here the focus is not that life will be easy, but rather that in our trials we draw closer to Jesus Christ and become more completely sons and daughters of God.
How is the Lord calling you today, and what will be your response? Where are the challenges in your life…and how will you respond? We recognize that God’s invitation and daily difficulties come to all of us. Today we reflect on how we respond to the Lord in a faithful, vibrant way.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 16th Sunday of the Year
The disciples were blessed because they heard and saw the proclamation of the Good News. Their response inspires us to receive God’s message of hope and live our faith with power and conviction.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 16th Week of the Year
The Sower scatters the seed, but the growth depends on the soil and circumstances. In the same way, the Good News is given to all…what will be the response in the garden of our hearts?
Study: When did you experience a moment of profound insight that led you to action?
Pray: Are there any major decisions or challenges in your life right now? Pray for the light to see your way, and the courage to carry it out!
Serve: Is there someone in your life in need of light? Can you help them understand or give them strength to support their actions?
Think for a moment about all the different ways we respond to light:
* Christmas lights
* Stop and Go lights
* Night lights
* Flashlights
* Candlelight
* Lantern light
* Key chain & Pocket lights
* Car lights
* and many, many, more!
All these lights surround us and help us navigate our everyday activities. They bring guidance, comfort, joy, understanding, and security to our lives. Indeed, light is a precious gift that brings meaning and purpose to our world.
Yet it is not enough for light to simply shine upon us; light is the beginning – but it evokes and calls forth a response from us.
Look at it this way. A stop-and-go traffic light cannot simply be seen; it must be followed and acted upon (or else you are likely to get rear-ended). Failure to respond to the light leads to difficulty, while those who are guided by the light and act accordingly find their way.
We hear about light in the Gospel today. The Magi observed the light, and they followed and searched until they understood what it meant. The light was the beginning; only through their journey and response did they discover the precious gift of Jesus – the Light of the World.
Many saw the light. It was there in the sky for all to see. Yet only a few responded and recognized that the starlight was a sign from God. Thus, it was not enough just to see; for indeed we celebrate those who both saw and acted upon the light.
It is our belief that God continues to shine upon us today. The Light of Christ burns brightly – in the Scriptures, the Sacraments, moral teachings, our conscience, our prayer, and the comfort and support of family and friends.
Yet even as God is revealed to our world the light alone is not enough. We, too, are invited to act as the Magi and respond to the light. May we open our eyes and our hearts this day, recognizing the Lord and responding to His Light.
Study: Reflect on your life right now. Is there something difficult that needs God’s grace?
Pray: Take a moment in your prayer to accept the love of Jesus. Pause on the readings of Christmas and allow his grace to touch your heart.
Serve: Share the love of Christ with another – a gentle word, a kind deed, and tender thought.
Christmas Eve Readings: Vigil Mass Mass at Midnight
Christmas Day Readings Mass at Dawn Mass during the Day
The titles are endless:
* King of Kings * Lord of Lords * Prince of Peace
* Rod of Jesse * Key of David *Desire of Nations
* Wonder Counselor * God Hero * Emmanuel
* The Messiah *Christ the Lord
Yet the Savior of the world did not stand on his title, did not presume his glory, and did not claim power. He was born homeless in the midst of poverty and the threat of violence. Simply put, the Lord came into our world in the most humble way – to remind us that nothing, NOTHING is out of reach of God’s saving grace.
Born like all of us as a vulnerable baby, dependent on others, he would grow to teach us about his Father in heaven and how we are called to love and serve. Again, the Lord did not claim his power, but rather invites us to hear his voice and follow.
Have you heard the bells of Christmas? Some are tiny ornaments on the tree. Some are massive that hang in belfries and call us to worship. Some are on the sleigh. Others are rung by hand. In many ways the bells remind us of Jesus – the sound we hear is an invitation to act.
No matter where we have been and what we have done, Jesus Christ comes into our world – in the messy, challenging, difficult, stressful, and chaotic parts of our lives – and he calls us gently and lovingly. Do we listen? Do we respond?
He knows us, he shares our nature, and he reaches out. There is nothing to fear – he understands us better than we understand ourselves – and he loves us completely. This Christmas let the love of the Savior touch your heart. Hear his call and respond with love for the Lord and the people God has put in your life today.
Merry Christmas!
Study: Look back on some recent responses to others. Have these responses been guided by Jesus Christ?
Pray: Are there any major decisions or challenges in my life? Take these to prayer and ask the Lord for direction.
Serve: How can I help someone to make the right decision? How can I help them make a holy response to their circumstances?
A man had two twin sons. One son was an optimist, the other was a pessimist. On their birthday their father brought them to the barn. Two stalls were marked, one with each boy’s name, and in the middle of each stall was a small pile of manure.
The pessimist immediately began to complain of the smell, wondering why he had to clean up the mess of an animal. The optimist immediately began to search through the barn. When his grinning father asked him what he was looking for, the boy replied, “I want to see my new horse!”
Life often offers us situations that contain both good and bad elements. At such times we have the opportunity to make choices that illustrate our priorities and values. In others words, our responses reveal what is going on in our hearts.
The Gospel today offers two powerful responses. Jesus and Zacchaeus both respond to the situations in which they are placed, and their actions reveal their sincerity and conviction.
Jesus encounters Zacchaeus on his journey through Jericho. We are informed that Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector – despised by the local population as a greedy man who supports the Roman Empire. He is a “sinner” to the people, and their grumbling shows that they believed he had no business with Jesus.
Yet the Lord makes no distinction in his greeting to Zacchaeus. He calmly speaks to the man, informing him that he will dine at his house that day. The response of Jesus is simple: he reaches out to a person in need of conversion and healing, regardless of past history.
Zacchaeus also displays an amazing response. The fact that he climbed a tree to see the Lord indicates that he wanted to make a change in his own life. When Jesus offers him an invitation, Zacchaeus immediately accepts; furthermore, he boldly states a change of heart in his financial practice!
These two responses serve as an invitation for us as well. Like Jesus, we may examine those situations where we are called to reach out to others. Like Zacchaeus, we may study those moments when we wish to accept the mercy and help of another. In both cases, our responses will reveal what is going on in our hearts. May the Lord help us to choose wisely, as we respond to the world around us.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 