Tag Archives: Service

2nd Sunday of the Year

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Study: Consider a time when you were invited to take on an opportunity.  What helped you accept it?  What caused you to resist?

Pray:  Ask the Lord to guide your life.  Surrender your heart to Jesus Christ and make him the Lord of your life.

Serve: Is there someone in need of your guidance?  Perhaps as a coach, mentor, teacher, or friend?  How can you help them?

Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of the Year

Here’s a quick overview of the readings this week:

  • 1st – The prophet Isaiah describes a servant of the Lord
  • Psalm – “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”
  • 2nd – Paul addresses the church of Corinth
  • Gospel – John the Baptist testifies to Jesus

In all of these readings we see the pattern emerge about serving the Lord.  Isaiah describes it; the Psalmist proclaims it; Paul refers to it; John the Baptist shows it.

Throughout salvation history God has  called men and women to offer their lives in a variety of different ways.  Perhaps in a holy way of life or through heroic sacrifice; or maybe through service, works of charity, or prayerful stillness.

It’s crucial to note, however, that the Lord continues to call disciples today.  Our lives – redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ – are precious, holy, and sacred.  We have been given the gift to choose how we will live, and thus become a gift to the world.

Every day we reaffirm the gift of our lives.  Perhaps you are searching for the Lord’s call in your life today…take time to discern how you can offer your life.  Perhaps you have chosen your vocation…then live it with passion!  And while we can’t change the past, we can learn from it, and apply the insights into making the present moment a blessed offering to God.


Christmas Season: Let us love in deed and in truth. Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Christmas Season (St. John Neumann)

The first reading invites us to love one another in deed and in truth, putting our faith into practice as we recognize the needs of those around us and respond with the compassion of Jesus Christ.


Daily Mass: Serving the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 32nd Week of the Year

All that we have comes from the Lord: our life and all our blessings that are so easy to take for granted.  Yet our daily response to serve the Lord shows not only our acknowledgement of God’s gifts, but it also reveals our awareness of our relationship to the Lord and and one another.


Daily Mass: The narrow gate. Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 30th Week of the Year

The Lord invites us to enter through the narrow gate…seeking to know him and recognize him in our lives.


Daily Mass: Serve one another. Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Saturday of the 20th Week of the Year

We reveal our faith in Christ through the practical and everyday ways we serve one another.


Daily Mass: Offering our lives with joy. Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 19th Week of the Year, the Feast of St. Lawrence

Just as a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies – to produce much fruit – so our lives are offered in the world to bring a fruitful, spiritual harvest.  May this offering be filled with joy, for God loves a cheerful giver.


Daily Mass: Who is the Son of Man? Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – Thursday of the 18th Week of the Year

St. Peter’s praise and censure in the Gospel remind us that we follow Christ in good times and in bad.  Indeed, when things are toughest, our faith provides the grace to see us through.


15th Sunday of the Year – Be a Good Samaritan

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Study:  Recall a time when you were treated kindly…and you didn’t deserve it.  How did this kindness affect you?

Pray:  Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love?  Ask the Lord for grace and strength.

Serve:  Is there a “neighbor” in your life that you are feeling called to help?  How can you reach out?

Mass Readings – 15th Sunday of the Year 

The story of the Good Samaritan takes many of us back to our elementary school days of religious education.  It’s worth taking a moment to examine the structure of the context within which the parable is located in chapter ten of Luke’s Gospel:

  • v. 25 – The lawyer’s question
  • v. 26 – Jesus’ counter-question
  • v. 27 – The lawyer’s response
  • v. 28 – Jesus’ imperative & command
  • v. 29 – The lawyer’s 2nd question
  • v. 30-36 – The Good Samaritan parable
  • v. 37a – The lawyer’s response
  • v. 38b – Jesus’ imperative & command

The first half of this passage pertains to the notion of eternal life and what we must do – loving God and one another.  This is a recap of the two Great Commandments, and we all generally nod our heads in agreement at the lawyer’s answer.

The second half, however, pushes the question “Who is my neighbor?” as Jesus uses the parable to point out that all people – regardless of race, color, religion – are our neighbor.  Remember: the Samaritan is not Jewish, yet fulfills the command of loving the neighbor!

The takeaway for us today happens on many levels:

  1. Our words and actions define us – especially when we are in challenging situations.
  2. Who are the people in my life that are difficult to love?
  3. How might I take steps to love these “neighbors” God sets before me?

While there are many ways to demonstrate our love for the Lord, a clear example occurs when we act in kind and merciful ways toward one another.  May see clearly our neighbors and respond to their needs with the love of Jesus Christ.


14th Sunday of the Year – Sent by the Lord

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Study: Consider an experience where you were sent out to do a task.  What was difficult?  Where did you find strength to carry it out?

Pray:  Is there something you are feeling called to do, but find it challenging?  Ask the Lord for the grace to make it happen!

Serve:  How can you help those who are doing the Lord’s work right now?  How can you support missionaries, service groups, and those who care for the sick?

Mass Readings – 14th Sunday of the Year

The Gospel of Luke recounts how Jesus sent out 72 disciples.  Note these features:

  • There is great need (The harvest is rich, the laborers are few…”)
  • They go out in pairs – to support each other
  • They come with peaceful hearts
  • They travel simply, trusting in the providence of God
  • They cure the sick
  • They proclaim the Kingdom of God

And they are successful!  They return to Jesus, rejoicing that even demons are cast out by the power of the Lord’s name.

What a powerful reminder that we, too, are sent by the Lord.  God calls us, empowers us, and directs our lives to bring faith, hope and love to those who cross our path.  Let’s apply the Gospel reading then accordingly:

  1. There is great need – among the people we know and love
  2. We can work together: family, friends, as a parish or community
  3. The Peace of Jesus Christ guides our words and actions
  4. We focus more on people, less on material things
  5. We seek to promote healing at all times
  6. We proclaim the Good News of Christ

Christ sent out his disciples with great success, and he continues to call forth disciples today to continue his saving work.  May we respond with open hearts as we make a difference among the people God places before us.


13th Sunday of the Year – Come Follow Me! Catholic Inspiration

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Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Mass Readings – 13th Sunday of the Year

As we follow Christ, may we place Jesus at the center of our lives – clearing away all distractions – and bringing the gift of our lives for the Lord’s service in the world.