Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Friday of the 26th Week of the Year (St. Jerome)
In the Book of Job we hear of God’s power and might; Luke’s Gospel shows Jesus chastising the towns that refused to accept his message. Our response today: to call upon the Lord to guide us with wisdom and strength!
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – the Feast of St. Matthew
Matthew heard the call of Christ and responded by bringing lots of imperfect people to the Lord. We, too, can take comfort that the Lord welcomes our response – not because we’re perfect, but because the Lord longs to heal and renew our lives.
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.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
