Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross reveals the value God places on human life and inspires us to share our lives as an offering back to God.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Tag Archives: Service
Palm Sunday
Study: Reflect on a time you experienced weakness and suffering. Where did you find the strength to continue?
Pray: Gaze upon a crucifix and offer to Christ any struggles you are facing right now. Bring the needs of your loved ones to the foot of the Cross as well.
Serve: Is there someone in your life who is carrying a heavy cross right now? How can you offer comfort and assistance?
Palm Sunday Readings (with Year A reading for the Procession with Palms)
How many times throughout our lives have we made the sign of the Cross? Stop and think: at Mass; meal prayers; morning & evening prayers; special gatherings; and moments of blessing and grace. This simple action, which we teach to children at an early age, invokes a connection with the passion of Jesus.
We adorn our homes with the Cross. A crucifix is a common gift to a new home; crosses are placed in bedrooms and common areas as a reminder that Jesus is the source of our help and strength.
We adorn ourselves with the Cross as well: a crucifix on a chain; a cross in our pocket; earrings; rings; bracelets; and all the extra cards, bookmarks, figurines, and miscellaneous items that remind us that Jesus died on a Cross.
The passion we read every year on this day focuses our attention on the central mystery of our faith. Out of love for us God sent His Son, Jesus, who gave his life on the Cross that we might have eternal life. Through his suffering and death, we recognize that God has made a pathway possible that we might all journey through this life to the gates of Heaven.
The Cross teaches us many lessons:
- Life is difficult, and at times painful
- Weakness and sin are part of our experience
- God identifies with our pain
- God dies that we might have life
At the core of our teaching the Cross stands as the testament of God’s love for us. Yet the Cross appears to be an embarrassment – after all, why would God (all powerful, all knowing, supreme) choose to be humiliated? Does that not mean that God is weak? Why could God not take away our sins in a way that showed majesty and splendor?
In reality, the weakness revealed in the Cross uncovers our frailty, not God’s. Jesus endured the Cross because of our broken, wounded nature. He carried the Cross because we were unable to – as St. Paul writes “The wages of sin is death” in Romans 6:23 – and he bore the suffering, pain, and grief that are the natural result of our sinfulness. God is not weak, rather God takes on our weakness so that we can be made whole.
The Cross proclaims the truth that God meets us where we are in life. In our weakness, in our humiliation, in our low moments of doubt and sin God comes to us. Jesus, like us in every way but sin, understands our pain because through his Cross he shares in the suffering of the world. He knows us, loves us, and saves us through his Cross.
Every time we make the sign of the Cross may we recall what the Lord endured for us. Through the Cross we discover our strength as we trust in God’s love and seek to follow that love as we journey through this life toward the world to come.
We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world!
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Daily Mass: The greatest must be a servant. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Lent
Who are the greatest among us? Those who serve and act as instruments of the grace and power of Christ. May we all become great!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Daily Mass: Helping one another. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent
One way we can measure our success as disciples: how we help one another. Whether it is the justice described by Isaiah or the example of Jesus in the Gospel, the Lord accepts our service toward one another as if it were done to Him.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Monday Conversation: What are you doing for Lent? Catholic Inspiration
Monday Conversation – 25 Minutes
Lent provides a wonderful opportunity to implement new actions that draw us closer to the Lord and one another. As we reflect on our current situation, consider ways that speak to our interests, and integrate the sacraments of the Church, we find ourselves poised to make this the best Lent ever.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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5th Sunday of the Year: Salt & Light
Study: Reflect on a time when you were able to help someone in a profound moment of need. What gave you the “push” to help?
Pray: Is there a situation in your life that requires action but you find yourself in need of guidance? Bring this concern to the Lord in your prayer.
Serve: How can you be Salt or Light to someone today? How can your life enhance the quality and dignity of another?
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
We see some beautiful themes surface in the readings this week:
- 1st Reading – Through service to others God’s light will shine upon us
- Psalm – “The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”
- 2nd Reading – We place our faith in the power of God
- Gospel – “Salt of the earth” and “Light of the World”
Throughout these readings the Lord’s power is manifested every time we cooperate with God’s grace through works of charity and service. Things like:
- Share your bread with the hungry
- Shelter the oppressed and homeless
- Clothe the naked
- Do not turn your back on your own
- Remove oppression, false accusation, malicious speech
- Satisfy the afflicted
- Be gracious and lend
- Conduct one’s affairs with justice
- Give to the poor
When we do these things we discover that God provides the strength, wisdom, direction and guidance to carry them out. The Lord takes our effort, reinforces it with grace, and blesses our work in ways we never imagined. Like a brilliant light shining in the darkness, the glory of Jesus Christ pierces the pain and struggles of this life and offers us hope to continue on our way.
And when we let the Lord work through us we become Salt & Light. Our lives, invigorated by God’s love, become conduits for Divine Charity to touch hearts and lives in our world today. It is the Lord’s power at work in our lives, and we are blessed every time we say “Yes!” to the call of Christ to serve those in our midst.
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Daily Mass: Appointed and Sent. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Friday of the 2nd Week of the Year
Calling his disciples, the Lord appointed and sent Twelve to preach the Good News and drive out demons. Christ continues to call apostles today, inviting us to continue his mission on earth…with our eyes fixed on heaven.
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Daily Mass: Rise, pick up your mat, and walk! Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Friday of the 1st Week of the Year
Another podcast from Indiana…this time with Fr. Andrew’s nephews Drew & Dominic. They discuss the miracle of the paralytic, where Jesus both forgives sins and heals the body at the same time.
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2nd Sunday of the Year
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.
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Christmas Season: Let us love in deed and in truth. Catholic Inspiration
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.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: We are blessed when we hear and observe the Word of God
- Daily Mass: By the finger of God, Christ drives out demons
- Daily Mass: We practice our faith with persistence
- Daily Mass: Lord, teach us to pray!
- Daily Mass: We draw near and listen to the Lord
- Daily Mass: The Good Samaritan reveals who is our neighbor
- Study, Pray, Serve: 28th Sunday of the Year
- 27th Sunday of the Year: The stone rejected...has become the cornerstone
- Daily Mass: The triumph of Christ over evil
- Daily Mass: Angel of God, my guardian dear!
