When we are tempted to overthink a situation and make things more complicated than necessary, may the example of Naaman and the people Nazareth wake us up to turn to the Lord for guidance and insight.
Mass Readings – Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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Both the first reading and the Gospel reveal how Wisdom is a precious treasure that can help us prudently prepare to face the uncertainty of life. May we pray for the gift of this virtue, especially when we find ourselves dealing with change and difficulty.
The Psalm Response inspires us to turn to the Lord and allow God’s grace to flood our hearts with courage, wisdom and strength.
Study: Consider a moment when you saw someone act in a wise manner. What did you notice?
Pray: Wisdom is a precious gift; pray for it every day!
Serve: How can you help someone facing a tough challenge today? Ask the Lord for the wisdom to guide you.
Mass Readings – 32nd Sunday of the Year
With just a couple of weeks left of Ordinary Time, we hear about the wisdom of God repeatedly in the readings today.
When we talk about the concept of wisdom we often refer to the ability to see the big picture. Wisdom gives us the ability to “see around corners” and anticipate circumstances; this particular virtue allows us to step back and take in events, seeing how they relate and connect with other situations.
And God offers it to us! This is a precious spiritual gift, one that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit, and it helps us live each day in a vibrant manner. Without wisdom we can speak and act in ways that might have disastrous results, especially if we would have considered the ramifications and consequences that followed if we’d have only thought about other factors.
In order to apply wisdom to our lives we begin first with a strong foundation of prayer. The closer we draw to Jesus, the closer we connect with the source of all wisdom and understanding. As we thirst for the Lord we are nourished and sustained with God’s grace as we see with the eyes of Christ.
Wisdom then requires our action. Once we have insight we can then proceed to act in a manner that is guided by the nuances and sensitivities that confront us. We can act decisively and deliberately, aware of the situation and able to adjust and respond as needed.
This precious spiritual gift is for the asking…so ask! May we all call upon the Lord for this grace as we live our faith each day.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on November 17, 2017.
In the Letter to the Ephesians we who have been chosen by God and believe in Christ are sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. May we call upon the Spirit every day for strength and wisdom!
Study: Have you ever gotten something you wished for? In hindsight, was it what you really wanted or needed?
Pray: What graces or virtues do you need in your life right now? Ask the Lord with boldness and confidence!
Serve: How is the Lord leading you to offer your life today? How can you fulfill God’s command to serve others?
Mass Readings – 17th Sunday of the Year
Here’s a quick review:
If the Lord would grant you one request, what would you ask for? We can learn a lot about ourselves by what we seek, and sometimes we discover when we get it that it might not have truly been the best thing. Yet, it is the desire in our hearts, however, that tells us if we are on the right track.
Solomon asked to be wise and understanding…a wonderful response!
Jesus uses the parable of the pearl to remind us that there are some things in life so precious that other wishes and requests pale in comparison. With this in mind, here are a couple of thoughts to consider:
God will take the sum of our lives – good and bad – and bless it with grace. As we seek the Lord today, may we bring our hearts and offer ourselves….so that our response will draw us closer to Jesus Christ and one another.
Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
Note: This post was first published on July 24, 2017.
Solomon’s prayer request to God shows shows his love for the Lord and his desire to serve the people. May we take his example to heart in our daily prayer, asking the Lord for what we need to be better disciples today.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 4th Week of the Year
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Wisdom is a gift from God that is holy, precious and powerful. The pursuit of Wisdom leads us to encounter the beauty of life with terrible clarity, yet with a joy and tranquility that overflow our hearts with bliss. Seek Wisdom!
Mass Readings – Thursday of the 32nd Week of the Year
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The Lord uses a parable to raise an obvious point: it’s wise to be prepared! May this wisdom inspire us to be prepared for the day when the Lord will call us out of this world.
Mass Readings – Friday of the 21st Week of the Year
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Living one’s life for the Lord does not mean it will be easy; rather, we face the struggles before us with God’s grace to carry out what must be done. A blessed life, then, is not about wealth, health, or earthly glory…it’s about being in right relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mass Readings – 6th Sunday of the Year
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