Tagged: message of the day

FOLLOWING THE LEADER

“The Pharisees and the scribes of their party said to His disciples, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and non-observers of the law?’ ” –Luke 5:30 Jesus dined with sinners. He healed on the Sabbath. He touched lepers and spoke to a Samaritan woman. He did not condemn even an adulterous woman, but he labeled the Pharisees “blind guides” and “whitened sepulchers” (see Mt 23:24, 27). What it all boils down to is that Jesus refused to be “politically correct.” Are there ways in which you have bought into the anti-gospel values of the current political ideologies?...

A WHOLE-PERSON FAST

“My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, You will not spurn.” –Psalm 51:19 Mass Readings: March 3 First: Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9; Resp: Psalm 147:12-13,15-16,19-20; Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19 On this first Lenten Friday, we fast by limiting our intake of food as well as abstaining from eating meat. We fast so as to share in the sufferings of the body of Christ (Col 1:24). We are to care more about the broken body of Christ than our own hungry bodies. If our growling stomachs only lead us to focus on our own needs, is...

WHAT IS YOUR CROSS TODAY?

“Jesus said to all: ‘Whoever wishes to be My follower must deny His very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in My steps.’ ” –Luke 9:23 Mass Readings: March 2 First: Daniel 3:25,34-43; Resp: Psalm 25:4-9; Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 The meaning of life and of Lent is to be and make disciples for Jesus. His plan is to send us to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). To be Jesus’ disciples, we must do nothing less than to lose our lives for His sake (Lk 9:24). Disciples “live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who...

PUBLIC OR PRIVATE?

“Blow the trumpet in Zion.” –Joel 2:15 Mass Readings: March 1 First: 2 Kings 5:1-15; Resp: Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3-4; Gospel: Luke 4:24-30 There is a public dimension to Lent. The ashes on our forehead proclaim to the world that we are mortal, that we are sinners in need of God’s mercy, and that we are united with other Catholics. Together all Catholics fast, pray, do penance, and give alms to grow together as a holy people, powerful in intercession. There is a private, interior dimension to Lent. We are to give our lives to the Lord for His own sake,...

ANOTHER SEASON OF GIVING

“Give to the Most High as He has given to you, generously, according to your means.” –Sirach 35:9 Mass Readings: February 28 First: Exodus 3:1-8,13-15; Resp: Psalm 103:1-4,6-8,11; Second: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12; Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 God the Father loves us so much that He gave us His Son (Jn 3:16). Jesus said: “There is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35). The Holy Spirit is both the Gift of the Father and the Son and the Giver of gifts (see 1 Cor 12:4ff). The essence of the Triune God is the giving and the gifts. Thus, those baptized into God are re-born...