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.
Tag Archives: Service
Daily Mass: Serve one another. Catholic Inspiration
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.
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Daily Mass: Offering our lives with joy. Catholic Inspiration
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.
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Daily Mass: Who is the Son of Man? Catholic Inspiration
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.
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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:
- Our words and actions define us – especially when we are in challenging situations.
- Who are the people in my life that are difficult to love?
- 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.
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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:
- There is great need – among the people we know and love
- We can work together: family, friends, as a parish or community
- The Peace of Jesus Christ guides our words and actions
- We focus more on people, less on material things
- We seek to promote healing at all times
- 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.
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13th Sunday of the Year – Come Follow Me! Catholic Inspiration
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.
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13th Sunday of the Year – Come Follow Me
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Study: Consider a moment when you made a total commitment to a task or project. How did your commitment give you focus and strength?
Pray: Is there something keeping you from growing in your relationship with Christ? Offer it up in your prayer and ask the Lord for help.
Serve: Do you have a gift or talent that can help another in need? Perhaps the Lord is showing you a way to help build his Kingdom.
13th Sunday of the Year Readings
There are several powerful points that surface in this week’s Scripture readings. Here are a few key thoughts:
- 1st Reading – Elisha seeks to follow Elijah
- Psalm – “You are my inheritance, O Lord.”
- 2nd Reading – Paul reminds us that we are free in Christ to live in the Spirit
- Gospel – Jesus invites, “Come follow me.”
It’s this notion of following the Lord that I’d like to focus on this week. What does it mean to follow Jesus Christ? What does it mean to say that he is the Lord of our lives? Consider these thoughts:
- Christ is the #1 priority of our lives, above all else
- We seek to follow his teaching and example in all things
- In our weakness and sin, we strive to seek his forgiveness & mercy
- We recommit our lives every day as his disciples
- We open our hearts to grow daily in his grace
Practically, I’d like to suggest to key points to help us follow the Lord. First, what are the obstacles that are keeping me away from Jesus today? There are many things that can block our path to the Lord – distraction, fear, preoccupation, overly busy, exhaustion, worry – and sometimes we need to recognize these concerns and put them in perspective.
Second, what are the gifts that I bring to the Lord? God has blessed each one of us in unique and precious ways…how might we set our talents before the feet of Christ for his service in the world? How might we use our lives today to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to others?
The Lord said, “Come follow me.” As we embrace this invitation, may we offer our lives with complete conviction as walk with Jesus today.
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Daily Mass: Salt & Light
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Readings – Tuesday of the 10th Week of the Year
“You are the Salt of the World…You are the Light of the World.” May the unique gift of our lives be used today to help one another – all for the glory of God!
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Daily Mass: The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Catholic Inspiration
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
These 1st Graders offer some suggestions about how we can love one another, following the example of the love of Jesus which flows from his Sacred Heart.
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Catholic Inspiration – Podcast Archives of Homilies & Talks- Daily Mass: Jesus reveals his power and authority
- Daily Mass: Overcoming our spiritual blindness
- Study, Pray, Serve: 23rd Sunday of the Year
- 22nd Sunday of the Year: We recognize and reject our temptations
- Daily Mass: The death of John the Baptist
- Daily Mass: Be prepared!
- Daily Mass: Stay awake and vigilant!
- Daily Mass: Paul gives us an example of Christian behavior
- Daily Mass: We cleanse our spiritual lives from the inside out
- Daily Mass: We make known the glorious splendor of God's kingdom
Three Great Things 