The Prophet Isaiah calls the people to corporal works of mercy. May this exhortation inspire us to see the needs of our brothers and sisters and respond with the love of Christ.
Mass Readings – Friday after Ash Wednesday
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Tag Archives: Service
Daily Mass: Isaiah calls us to corporal works of mercy. Catholic Inspiration
5th Sunday of the Year: Our response to God’s call. Catholic Inspiration
The dynamic response to Christ in the Gospel of Mark inspires us to consider how we will respond to the Lord in our lives as we seek ways to grow and become aware of the needs of those around us.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
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2nd Sunday of the Year: Here I am Lord! Catholic Inspiration
The response of Samuel and Andrew shows us how we call upon the Lord in our moment of need and then share what we have received with those placed in our lives.
Daily Mass: Be somebody’s somebody today. Catholic Inspiration
The healing miracle and revelation of Jesus as God are made possible through the selfless service of four friends who made the effort to help somebody in need. May their example inspire us to be somebody’s somebody today!
Daily Mass: The Lord teaches and leads us. Catholic Inspiration
Isaiah reminds us that the Lord teaches and leads us, offering guidance and insight to help us find our way through this life to the next.
Daily Mass: We serve the Lord with a gift of love. Catholic Inspiration
Jesus reminds the Apostles that our service of God does not earn us special status; rather, our actions acknowledge with humility that all we have is a gift from the Lord. Simply put, our service is the least we can do…the real treasure is our love.
33rd Sunday of the Year: The effort it takes to live the faith. Catholic Inspiration
Study: Consider a moment when you were held accountable to a task. What did it feel like?
Pray: Is there something that needs to be attended to in your life? Ask the Lord for guidance to carry it out.
Serve: How can offer support to someone who is working through a challenging task right now?
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
On this last weekend of Ordinary Time we have some interesting readings to consider.
- 1st Reading – Proverbs offers praiseworthy qualities of a good wife.
- Psalm – “Blessed are those who fear the Lord.”
- 2nd Reading – We remain sober and alert in the light of Jesus Christ.
- Gospel – Jesus tells the parable of the three servants entrusted with different amounts by their master, explaining what happened when the master returned home.
Our faith assures us that the world will one day come to an end. This is not meant to scare us, but rather to guide us with the knowledge that our lives have meaning and purpose as we prepare in this life for the life to come. Furthermore, when we die we understand that there will be an accounting of how we lived the precious and holy gift of life.
It’s this notion of being accountable that I suggest as a reflection today. The Book of Proverbs extols the virtues of a hard working and compassionate wife, reminding the reader that “charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting.” What lives on are the virtues, prayers, gifts of the Spirit and graces which God pours into our hearts which we share with one another.
And while we know that there will be a Day of Reckoning, we do not know the hour; this insights reminds us to follow St. Paul’s advice to be “sober and alert” each and every day – ready and eager for the Lord’s return.
What’s more, when that day comes, we will be judged with the awareness of our own unique situation. Like the three servants in the Gospel, we have all been given different talents, opportunities, resources and skills. It is neither a comparison nor a contest; rather, we will each be judged by how we worked and waited with what God put into our lives.
The invitation today: Are we prepared for the Lord’s return? Have we attended to our duties and tasks, or do we have unfinished business? Are there situations that require our attention and care? Sooner or later, the Lord will come…may he find us ready and waiting.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on November 13, 2017.
Daily Mass: Greatness flows from a humble heart. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord teaches that greatness comes from a humble heart that recognizes the good that others do.
Daily Mass: What is the Lord’s task for today? Catholic Inspiration
As Jesus empowers his disciples to minister to the people, we are reminded that the Lord continues to invite us to serve in His name to those in our lives.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 24th Week (St. Pius of Pietrelcina)
26th Sunday of the Year: A call to action.
Study: When in your life have actions “shouted down” the words we hear?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the strength to be consistent in what we say and do.
Serve: How do my words encourage others? How do my actions show my care and support?
Mass Readings – 26th Sunday of the Year
It seems like there are certain phrases that get said throughout our lives. These words are commands, invitations, and requests to make things happen – and they come in many forms:
“Take out the trash”
“Clean your room”
“Do the dishes”
“Come to my…” (athletic game, concert, etc.)
“Would you volunteer at…” (pick one!)
“Help me with…”
Let’s face it. We are asked to do many things throughout this life. From chores and tasks to acts of kindness and civil responsibility, many of these actions are simply part of our existence on this earth.
Yet once we hear these words we are asked to respond. This happens in two crucial ways:
* What we say (our WORDS)
* What we do (our ACTIONS)
When we are confronted with a request or invitation how we respond says a lot about who we are. If our words and actions are in agreement everything is fine – “yes” means yes and “no” means no. But if we say one thing and do another, then the weight of our choice is measured in our actions.
This is the message of the Gospel today. Jesus speaks of two sons who receive a request from their father. One says yes but does not act, the other says no but changes his mind and acts. In the end, the one who acted did his father’s will.
We journey through life confronted by countless choices everyday. Some things we know should be done, others should not. Some things are options that could be done; we have to weigh the priorities of our time, energy, ability, and need. Yet what we discover is that we are defined not by what we say, but by what we do.
As people of faith we have other commands to follow: Love God; Love one another; Repent and forgive; Work for justice; Seek peace. Indeed our faith is reflected not in our words but our actions; even the Golden Rule “Do to others as you would have them do to you…” (Mt 7:12) is nothing more than a reminder that actions speak louder than words.
Note: This post was originally published on September 23, 2014
