Tag Archives: Resurrection

April 24, 2017

3rd Sunday of Easter: An encounter with the Risen Lord.

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Study: Where do you find your faith renewed?  What activities build up your relationship with the Lord?

Pray:  Is there someone in your life who is searching for God?  Pray that the Lord gives you guidance to say and do what is helpful.

Serve: Is there a situation or activity where your time and talent can help others grow closer to the Lord?  How can you get involved?

Mass Readings – 3rd Sunday of Easter

The readings this week are filled with power and zeal.  The resurrection of Jesus inspires the early Church, and their encounter with the Risen Lord in the breaking of the bread testifies to the enduring grace we receive every time we come to Mass.  Take a look:

  • 1st Reading – Peter boldly proclaims the Good News to the crowd
  • Psalm – “Lord, you will show us the path of life.”
  • 2nd Reading – the resurrection renews us to live by God’s grace
  • Gospel – Jesus explains the Scriptures and is made known in the breaking of the bread

A pattern emerges: an encounter with the Risen Lord changes our lives in dynamic and life-giving ways.  Peter is no longer timid or afraid to stand up for Christ; Christians conduct themselves with faith and hope; the disciples have their minds opened and hearts burning as Jesus is present to them in the breaking of the bread.

It is the depth of this change that bears close inspection.  These people are renewed and empowered with a strength and conviction that can inspire us today.  They burn with the flame of faith, and through the example and witness of their lives the Gospel message will spread like wildfire.

This is our task today.  As we look to the early Church, we acknowledge that NOTHING was easy for them.  Their trust in God put them in the path of tremendous obstacles, trials and persecutions.  And yet with God’s grace their triumphed…and we can, too.

I’d like to suggest a simple two-step process:

  1. Where do we encounter the Lord in our lives today?
  2. How can we invite others to experience what gives us life?

The first question requires us to pause and reflect on the prayers, sacraments, fellowship and other life-giving activities that renew our hearts.  The second question challenges us to step out in faith and invite those we know and love to encounter the Risen Lord.  May the faith of the early Church inspire us to proclaim the Good News with passion and joy!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter

April 23, 2017

2nd Sunday of Easter: Transformed by the resurrection. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Easter

The power of the resurrection transformed the early Church, showing us today that the Risen Lord continues to change our hearts and lives with the grace of His love.  May we respond with an eager and lively faith!

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

***************

Photo: this little guy was kind enough to provide the special effects for the homily!

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 20, 2017

Daily Mass: The resurrection of the body. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Mass Readings – Thursday of the Octave of Easter

The appearance of the Risen Lord to the disciples offers some insights about a central teaching of our faith: the resurrection of our bodies and life everlasting.  May we use the gift of our own bodies as an offering in this life…in preparation for the body we shall receive one day in Heaven.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 18, 2017

Daily Mass: Filled with joy! Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Mass Readings – Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Mary Magdalene is transformed from sorrow to joy in the light of the Risen Lord.  She is sent forth by Jesus to proclaim a message of hope to the disciples, reminding us that we are also called to share the Good News of the resurrection through the witness of our lives.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 17, 2017

2nd Sunday of Easter: The fledgling Church.

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Study: Consider a time when you experienced joy in the presence of others.  What caused it?

Pray: Draw near to the Risen Lord and ask for His grace in your heart to face whatever is before you today.

Serve: How can your life strengthen your family and friendships right now?

Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Easter

The readings today give us a snapshot of some key points that surfaced shortly after the Lord’s resurrection:

  • 1st Reading – Thankful praise and sharing in community life
  • Psalm – “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, His love is everlasting.”
  • 2nd Reading – Christ’s resurrection lets us rejoice in the midst of trials
  • Gospel – Doubting Thomas

What do we see?  Praise, gratitude, thankfulness, sharing, community life, overcoming doubt, facing trials, and rejoicing!  In other words, this is what happens to a group of people who have been transformed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And I want to live like this.

Frankly, I want all of us to live like this.  Filled with God’s grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, engaging life at full throttle, dealing with difficulty through the power of faith….is there any other way to live?

So…in the light of these concepts that emerged from the fledgling Church…what’s keeping us from this?  Has the resurrection of the Lord “sunk in” and touched our hearts?  Do we understand what it means to say “The Lord is risen!  He is risen, indeed!” as followers of Jesus Christ?

Do we get it?

We all have obstacles, challenges, and the reality of temptation and sin in our lives.  That was true for the Early Church as well.  But note this: they changed.  In the light of the Risen Lord their lives were forever altered: praising God, facing hardship, working together, filled with joy.

This is our invitation today, and it works in three simple steps:

  1. Accept the resurrection of Jesus Christ
  2. Bring the Lord’s power into your heart
  3. Change whatever is not worthy of Heaven and live in his Light

There is no better way to journey through this life!

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter

April 17, 2017

Monday Conversation: The Easter Season…now what do I do? Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

The Easter Season lasts 50 days, and many people ask, “Now what do I do?”  This glorious season is meant to transform us by the light of the Risen Lord.  Here are three key points from this Monday Conversation (22 Minutes):

  1. Review Lent
  2. Face the fear of Sin & Death
  3. Evaluate our lives by the light of Heaven

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Podcast, Retreats/Reflections

April 16, 2017

Easter Homily

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Mass Readings – Easter Day

In the light of that first Easter day the disciples were transformed as they began to comprehend the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Freed from the fear of sin and death, they embraced their faith and changed the world.  May we continue to follow their example as we allow Easter joy to fill our hearts and renew our lives.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

 

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 16, 2017

Easter Day

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Easter Lily

Study:  When have you experienced a profound moment of change and growth?  What brought it about?

Pray:  Open your heart to Jesus Christ.  Let the joy of the resurrection transform your life.

Serve:  Claim your faith!  Let your love for the Lord direct your thoughts, words, and actions – in whatever you face today.

Easter Day Readings        Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast (posted April 20, 2014)

In the early hours of that first Easter Day we celebrate an incredible hope as word spread through the city of Jerusalem – Jesus is alive.

His followers had been crushed by the agony of the Cross.  Lost – beyond all sense of pain, sorrow, and grief – from the darkness of their fear and despair they passed on the message: we have seen him, we have touched him, we have eaten with him – the Lord has been raised!

I have always been struck by the transformational effect the resurrection of Jesus had upon his disciples:

  • Fear to Faith
  • Helplessness to Hope
  • Lament to Love
  • Cowardice to Courage

The same disciples who once fled for their lives will now go out into the world to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.  They will face persecution, suffering, and martyrdom in order to testify to the truth of Easter Day: the Resurrection of Christ.  What’s more, they will do this with an overwhelming sense of conviction and strength.

No one can ignore the power of this effect.  The encounter with the Risen Lord changes everything.  What is there to be afraid of?  Jesus has broken the chains of sin and death – we can face anything in this world with confidence.  Jesus has triumphed, and in the light of Easter Day we now draw on his strength to face our battles with joy.

The death of Jesus on the Cross was for our sins; the resurrection of Jesus was for our lives.  The power of Easter Day directs our attention to the sacred and precious gift of life.  Life is worth fighting for, worth dying for, and worth living for – in this world and the next.  The resurrection reveals God’s love for our lives; we are worth the sacrifice of the Cross and empowered to live with faith, hope, and love.

How will we live this great promise of faith?  How will we allow the power of Easter to transform us?  For remember: the moment we acknowledge the truth of the resurrection our lives fundamentally change.  Directed by the saving work of Christ we now engage the world on new terms: we witness through word and action the love of Jesus each and every day.  With our eyes fixed on heaven we boldly walk this earth as his disciples.  We live our lives with real truth and power.  We live our lives as God’s sons and daughters.

The authentic witness of our faith is THE WAY that people truly discover Jesus.  It was true for the disciples on that first Easter Day, and it is true for disciples today.

Perhaps today is the day that our faith takes on a deeper meaning and purpose in our lives – placing Jesus first in all that we say and do.  May this Easter Day fill our hearts with grace and power to live in the light of Christ.  May we let the Lord into our hearts and allow our lives to be transformed by his love.

Christ is alive!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Podcast

April 10, 2017

Holy Week Preparations

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Holy Week

Pastoral Note: This post was originally given on April 12, 2014.  I share it once again in the hope that all of us will enter more fully into the gift of this sacred time.  Fr. Andrew

Study:  Recall a time in your life when you experienced death and new life.  Where did you find the strength?  Who helped you through this time?

Pray:  Spend some time reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus this week.  Read Mark 14-16; Matthew 26-28; Luke 22-24; and John 18-21.  Take in as many prayer opportunities as possible in your parish.

Serve:  Who in your life is dealing with life and death issues right now?  How might you be present to them to offer help, comfort, or strength?

**********

We enter into the heart of the Christian mystery: Holy Week offers us a time to pause, reflect, and pray as the Church ponders on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This mystery, often called the Paschal Mystery, recalls us to the saving work of the Lord.  His death frees of from the burdens of sin and death, and his resurrection opens for us the path to eternal life.  This mystery is profoundly experienced over the Triduum – the 3 Great Days:

  • Holy Thursday – the Mass of the Lord’s Supper
  • Good Friday – the Passion of the Christ
  • Easter (Vigil/Day) – the Resurrection of the Lord

On Holy Thursday we find ourselves in Jerusalem, eating with the disciples at the Lord’s Supper and feeling awkward as he washes their feet – wondering how we would react if he did that for us.  We might identify with Peter or Judas – especially when we consider the times we have willingly betrayed or turned our back on the Lord.

On Good Friday we experience the physical pain, emotional abandonment, and personal humiliation on the path to Calvary (also called Golgotha or Skull Place) and look on with horror at the cruel death of Jesus.  We might also consider the times we have helped others – as Simon did when he was forced to carry the Cross of Christ.    And then we stand in profound sorrow with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, helpless as the innocent suffer injustice.

On Easter we wait in vigil and rise early in the morning with Mary Magdalen, only to find to our wonder and joy that the tomb is empty:  Christ is alive!  Our world, like that of the apostles, is changed forever as we experience new hope and life.

A word to the wise – we get out of Holy Week what we put into it.  Here are some simple ways for an incredible experience.

  • Make church services a top priority – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (Vigil or Day).
  • Take time to read and reflect on the scriptures (see at the top under “Pray”).
  • Make Holy Thursday an opportunity to offer a special act of service or kindness to another.
  • Make Good Friday fasting extra special with a gift to a particular charity that helps the poor.
  • Make Easter a time of gratitude – take a quiet moment to count our blessings and thank the Lord.
  • Find some time throughout this week to tell the people in our lives how much we love them.

May this be a time for all of us to grow closer to the Lord and one another.

***************

Walking with the Lord in Holy Week (March 9-12, 2015 – Our Lady of the Valley – Green Valley, AZ) This parish mission takes the listener on a journey with Christ – from his entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, his Passion, and his Resurrection.

***************

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Easter, Feasts & Solemnities, Lent

February 27, 2017

1st Sunday of Lent: Facing our temptations

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

jesus-wilderness

Study:  When in life have you been profoundly tempted?  What patterns do you notice in your life?

Pray:  The temptations we face provide a special place in our prayers; bring them to the Lord!

Serve:  How can you support others who are tempted so that they can face them with grace?

Mass Readings – 1st Sunday of Lent

We enter into the great season of Lent with classic readings about temptation, sin and God’s grace:

  • 1st Reading – The temptation of Adam & Eve
  • Psalm – “Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.”
  • 2nd Reading – The sin of Adam is redeemed by Christ
  • Gospel – The devil tempts Jesus…and fails

First, let me be perfectly clear:  Temptation is a part of the landscape of human life.  From the time of our first parents at the dawn of creation, humanity has experienced temptation.  We can wish all we want, but the fact remains that we are constantly facing great and small temptations throughout the course of our lives.

What’s more, we have all experienced times when temptation has led us to sin.  Being tempted is one thing; falling into sin is another.  For once sin is a part of our lives, our souls are wounded in a way that requires God’s grace to cleanse and heal.

This awareness of temptation and sin can easily lead us to a state of despair.  We can fall into the trap that says “Well, you messed up.  What’s the point now?  You might as well just give up.” Admittedly, the devil would like nothing better than to let us think that there is no hope…that we are lost and without strength to find our way out of the messes of life.

Yet we start our Lent with hope.  Yes, we acknowledge that temptation and sin are real, but we take comfort that this is why Jesus Christ came – to break the bondage of sin, restore our relationships with God and one another, and lead us into eternal life.  The Lord knew about temptation first hand, yet not only did he triumph over Satan’s testing, but he freed us through his death and resurrection.

In our moments of temptation and sin may we run to the Cross of Christ!  As we encounter our own trials may we trust that the Lord stands ready to offer us help and strength – both to face what comes before us this day, and to heal us in our moments of need.

***************

Podcast Resources for a Powerful Lent

Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | posted in Lent