What gives you the strength to keep going, to persevere when opposition seems overwhelming? The Canaanite woman in the Gospel of Matthew offers us an example of persistence in faith as we follow the Lord in challenging times.
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 18th Week of the Year (St. Dominic)
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The Holy Spirit transforms the Lord’s disciples, empowering them in the face of adversity and uniting them in love. The same Spirit continues to work in our lives today, inviting us to call out for the help and guidance we need as we journey through this life.
Mass Readings – Extended Vigil
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The accident at the oil refinery in Superior last week was a stark reminder how we rely on and support one another in times of danger. Where do we find the strength to work together? United in our faith in Jesus Christ we are nourished with God’s grace so that we can offer our lives for one another.
Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of Easter
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The resurrection of Jesus brings hope and life as we turn away from our sins and embrace the living Lord. No matter what’s happened in the past, may we draw strength from God’s love and walk in the light of Christ’s amazing grace. The Lord is risen! He is risen, indeed.
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Study: Where in my life have I discovered God’s strength and grace? How have others helped me?
Pray: Where do I need God’s strength right now? Call upon the Lord with boldness to face the challenges of life.
Serve: How can I be an instrument of God’s strength to another? How can I help someone today?
I can only imagine the surge of excitement that went through the disciples as the word was shared. Beyond the agony of the Cross and the sorrow of the Tomb on that first day of the week the message was proclaimed: He’s Alive!
And everything changes. This group of disciples – bound by fear and selfishness – are transformed with a new strength and conviction. Their encounter with the Risen Lord will empower them to face the obstacles of this world with joy and hope. They have seen the risen Christ…what is there to fear? They have embraced the one who has conquered sin and death – there is NOTHING that can shake their confidence in the light of Easter morning.
This same strength comes to us. Like the first disciples, we can turn to Jesus and allow his saving grace to renew us with a strength far beyond our own. We can claim a hope that sustains us in the midst of our challenges and struggles. The Easter sunrise brings light to the darkest corners of our hearts.
What in our lives needs to be touched by Jesus Christ? We are invited to boldly come forward, receive his resurrection strength, and face whatever this world presents with confidence: the victory of Christ enlivens us to travel through life with the conviction that the grace he gave his disciples continues in our hearts today.
May this Easter season be a time of transformation and renewal; a time where we embrace the gift of our lives with a new freedom and conviction. In the light of this Easter, may we follow the one who leads us from sin and death to the abundance of life…in this world, and the world to come.
Happy Easter!
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Note: This post was originally published on March 29, 2015.
Peter, James and John had a profound experience on the mountain, and Abraham encountered an angel in his test of faith. Both experiences were graces that came at different points of their journey through life. As we follow the Lord through the regular practice of our faith may we take to heart any special graces we receive as gifts from God to continue on our path.
Mass Readings – 2nd Sunday of Lent
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When Jesus asks his disciples “Who do you say that I am?” Peter gets it right. Jesus is the Christ, the Lord, the one who saves us from our sins and empowers us as Sons and Daughters of God. Our acceptance of this reality transforms our lives with his light and power!
Mass Readings – Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Apostle
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Photo Credit: Son of God, 2014.
