Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 21st Week of the Year
The contrast between the first reading and the Gospel shows two very different examples of behavior. It begs a question: How does our faith help us to live in the routine and everyday challenges we encounter?
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Mass Readings – The Passion of St. John the Baptist
John the Baptist precedes Jesus in his birth, preaching and death. John’s witness to the Lord and the giving of his life inspire us to consider how we offer our lives each day to Christ…until the day when the Lord takes us by the hand at the hour of our own death.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Study: Recall a time when you were entrusted with power. How did you use it?
Pray: Ask the Lord for guidance over the things and situations in your control right now.
Serve: How can you help someone who is struggling with a decision of leadership? How can you offer solid support?
Mass Readings – 21st Sunday of the Year
Take a look at the keys in your pocket. As you hold them, think about what they do:
Keys allow us access and empower us with authority. Keys give us control over our physical world and they help us to use resources wisely and well. They are also symbols that speak to identity and purpose – just think about what happens when our keys are lost or taken from us….
In the first reading and the Gospel today we discover the power of God’s keys:
These promises to Eliakim and St. Peter are mighty – they will receive the power, authority,and responsibility from God lead and guide. Consider these three points:
Power: they receive the strength and ability to carry out the work entrusted to them. Power gives them resources and skills to accomplish great things. Without power they are weak; with God’s power they can do more than they ever dreamed possible.
Authority: these keys are a sign of leadership and respect. The keys they possess allow them to direct and command others. Those who hold the keys are followed; those who hold the keys stand before us and provide wisdom, insight, and vision.
Responsibility: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48b) With great power comes great responsibility, and those who have been given strength and ability are required to use it with wisdom. Indeed, having the keys of Authority are a burden to demonstrate transparency, accountability, and trust.
Again, look at the keys in your pocket. How do we use them? Today we might consider the gifts and talents God has given us: we have an opportunity at this moment to exercise our own power and authority with God’s guidance, knowing that one day the Lord will seek an accounting with what we have done.
May our own keys inspire us to live with conviction and direction – using the resources we have received with the insights offered by our faith in Jesus Christ. The Lord is the source of all keys, may we call upon him to help us use them!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Note: This post was originally published on August 18, 2014.
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
When God said to King Solomon, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you,” Solomon offers a response that is profound…inviting us today to consider how we carry out the Lord’s plan for our lives as we serve others with God’s grace.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – The Feast of St. James, Apostle
Jesus addresses a teachable moment when he explains that glory in Heaven comes from offering one’s life in charity and service. James and John will drink from the cup of of Christ, reminding us that every time we offer our lives for others we follow the example of Christ.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 14th Week of the Year
Having offered his personal example, the Lord now extends his authority to the Twelve Apostles so that they can continue his ministry. He calls them by name…just as he calls each one of us today.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 11th Week of the Year
God loves a cheerful giver, and with the enthusiasm of a child we can offer our lives in prayer, service, fasting and almsgiving. May we give generously and joyfully, recalling that all that we have is a gift from the Lord.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
We are called to be a “living stone” in the hands of the Lord. Purchased by the blood of Christ, our lives are precious – worthy not only of redemption but as an offering through which God can transform and create something dynamic and new. May we offer our lives today and recognize in our sisters and brothers the beauty of their souls.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent
Paul testifies at Antioch that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation, descendant of David and heralded by the prophets…the Lord of all creation. And he taught us to serve one another – giving us the example of the foot washing – that we might understand that God’s love is comprehensive and accessible to all.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Study: Where have I made sacrifices in my life? What do these sacrifices reveal about my values and priorities?
Pray: Reflect on those who are suffering right now. Draw near to them in your prayer, asking the Lord to give them strength.
Serve: Who is carrying a cross in your life today? How can you help them?
Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast (10 minutes, given at Cathedral on April 3, 2015)
For what would you give your life? For who?
Perhaps this is too extreme as a starting point. Perhaps the first question should be where in my life have I made consistent sacrifices? Where in my life have I given up something because I believed in something more important?
Sacrifices reveal the depth and character of our heart. They show our values, principles, and convictions in straightforward and direct ways. Our sacrifices quickly point out the hidden parts of our soul – either to be confirmed/denied by the words we speak – and proclaim to others our inner self.
In general sacrifice means giving our lives – sometimes in simple service, minor inconveniences, labors of love, seasons of selflessness, or in extreme cases: offering our lives. We make sacrifices all the time.
So did Christ.
As we read the Passion of the Lord today we discover the love Christ has for every human soul; the Lord willingly hung upon the Cross for our sins – sacrificing his innocent life for the pains and hurts we have inflicted upon one another. His sacrifice reveals his love for us (even on our worst days) as something so precious that it is worth all the pain and humiliation that the devil could provide.
Where do we see ourselves in the Passion? What crosses have we been given to carry – participating in some small way with the Cross of Christ? Or are we like Simon of Cyrene or Veronica – assisting with others in their own journey to Calvary? Are we making sacrifices or offering support for others in their need? We read the Passion every year on Good Friday to remind ourselves not only of what the Lord has done for us, but also that we, too, have a part to play. Our crosses participate in the Cross of Christ; our support for one another shares in the comfort which others offered to Jesus.
May this Good Friday drive us to our knees – thanking the Lord for what he did for us, and inspiring us to walk willingly with others in their need.
This post was originally published on April 3, 2015
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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.
Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks
Three Great Things 