Mass Readings – Saturday of the 6th Week of the Year
On the mountain Jesus is transfigured, appearing to three disciples as he stands in Heaven. His transfiguration offers us hope, that as we carry our crosses and face the challenges of life we will have the strength and guidance we need.
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Study: Reflect on a time when you had to make a decision that had profound consequences. What helped you decide wisely?
Pray: Do you have a major decision in life right now? Bring your concerns before the Lord for wisdom and guidance.
Serve: How can you empower another to make good and holy choices today?
Mass Readings – 6th Sunday of the Year
Let’s start with a quick recap of the readings:
The first reading from the Book of Sirach makes it clear that we have the freedom to make choices in our lives for good or evil, life or death. This concept of Free Will – that we are so free that we can reject even God himself – comes with sobering consequences: Those who choose life will find it, and those who choose destruction will find it…
The Psalm response encourages us to choose the Lord. As we seek to know the Lord through Prayer, Scripture, Fellowship and Sacraments we conform our hearts to Christ. Following the Lord means that we seek instruction, learn God’s commands, and then apply our faith in all aspects of our lives.
The second reading reveals the mystery of God’s wisdom, hidden through the ages and revealed in Christ, which is granted to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit – requested by Jesus and given by the Father – that our minds and hearts receive the Good News and act on it with conviction and power.
Finally, in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus sets a new standard of living. Using four precepts of the Law of Moses, the Lord demands that we go farther than what was formerly prescribed:
The Lord makes it clear that he is doing something new, building upon the precedent of the Law and moving far beyond it. Jesus calls his disciples to a deeper level of commitment, moving beyond the moral code to a morality that is written upon our hearts. We find ourselves more aware of the destructive power of sin, turning away from its snare and embracing a life in Christ.
And thus we find ourselves back at the first reading. We have a choice. No matter what has gone before we can make a break from the past and choose life! Today we seek Jesus and ask for the grace we need to choose Him with all our heart.
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Mass Readings – 5th Sunday of the Year
Jesus proclaims to his disciples that they are the light of the world, an uplifting testament to the opportunity we have to make a difference in our world as we offer the gift of our lives to God.
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Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent
Isaiah proclaims hope – that from a dead stump there will appear new life and the order of the world will change. Jesus invites us to look closely at what God is doing, as our hope in the Lord gives strength and meaning to how we live today.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Wednesday of the 33rd Week of the Year
In the Gospel parable Christ reminds us that we are called to use our gifts wisely and well, for one day we will be asked how we put them into practice.
Mass Readings – 33rd Sunday of the Year
The Gospel today reminds us that when tough times happen in our lives we:
While it is not always easy to do, we know that the Lord will help us face our difficult moments with a power that is greater than our own.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Jesus offers a parable and reminds us to pray always without becoming weary. As we persist in our prayer, we discover both strength and wisdom to face each day with God’s grace.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Friday of the 26th Week of the Year (St. Jerome)
In the Book of Job we hear of God’s power and might; Luke’s Gospel shows Jesus chastising the towns that refused to accept his message. Our response today: to call upon the Lord to guide us with wisdom and strength!
Study: Reflect on a truly difficult time in your life. Where did you find the strength to continue?
Pray: Is there a challenging situation in your life right now? Ask the Lord for grace and wisdom.
Serve: How can you help someone in a tight spot today? How can you help them carry their cross?
Mass Readings – 23rd Sunday of the Year
There is a sobering element in the readings this week that focuses on the cost of discipleship. We commonly speak of “carrying the Cross” as a way of understanding how our sacrifices and burdens become transformed when we participate in the Cross of Christ.
The first reading from the book of Wisdom reminds us that our mortal natures cannot fathom the breadth and depth of God’s plan. We rely on the Lord, and we trust that through the power of the Holy Spirit God reveals the path of our lives – and provides us with the strength for the journey.
The psalm response “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge” helps us understand that when times get tough we turn to Jesus. He is the source of our strength, and with his grace we find a safe place from which we can prepare our hearts for the demands of the day.
Paul’s letter to Philemon touches upon our human weakness. Paul, imprisoned for his faith, is sending back a runaway slave (Onesimus) to his master – urging Philemon to accept his former servant with kindness as a brother in the Lord. Paul, Onesimus, and Philemon must all trust in the Lord for the strength to do what is right, even when it is difficult.
Finally, the Gospel speaks bluntly about the cost of discipleship. The price might be our family, our relationships, our possessions…yet through it all the Lord affirms that his grace empowers us to carry our Cross. For indeed, we all have crosses, and we can face them with hope – knowing that the Lord, who carried his Cross, will help us with our own.
Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast
Mass Readings – Friday of the 21st Week of the Year
Continuing the theme of being awake, alert, and prepared…Jesus shares a parable to help us sort out wisdom from foolishness.
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Three Great Things 