It’s What Comes Out
Posted on
Today in Jeremiah 30, we see the old “bad news good news” scenario. God tells Jeremiah to write down a summation of the past, present and future. The bad news is what has recently happened to His people. The good news is that God has not forgotten His ancient covenant. “You shall be my people, […]
Monday, August 4, 2014
Posted on
Gus gets motivational this morning, talking about goals. One goal we all have in common is to get to heaven, so he asks his listeners what spiritual goals have they set for themselves. Also, we get a visit from Anne Fox, president of Massachusetts Citizens for Life to talk about her state enacting temporary buffer […]
Eyes on the Prize
Posted on
In the first reading today from Jeremiah 28, we see a new prophet on the scene, Hananiah. Or do we? Hananiah makes a prophesy, but it turns out that he was speaking on his own, not from the Lord. God doesn’t look too kindly on this sort of thing. See what happens to him yourself. […]
Christ’s Great Love
Posted on
In today’s second reading and the Gospel reading, we read about the great love of Christ. St. Paul asks, “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” He then goes on to give a big list of things, none of which “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ […]
Spilling Innocent Blood
Posted on
More prophet talk for us today. In the first reading, the priests and prophets want Jeremiah put to death. But Jeremiah tells them, “If you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves.” In the Gospel, we read about more innocent blood, that of John the Baptist. Matthew recounts the story […]
Friday, August 1, 2014
Posted on
On his 34th wedding anniversary to his bride, Michelle, Gus dedicates the entire show to weddings. He talks about their lifestyle before they brought God into their marriage and asks his married listeners how their marriages have changed over the years. He also asks what special things they do together on their anniversary. Also, it’s […]
A Prophet’s Pain
Posted on
In both of our readings today, we see and hear that prophets get “dissed.” In Jeremiah 26, our first reading, we see Jeremiah saying everything that God tells him to say. The people’s response? “You must be put to death!” Gee, that’ll make you want to open your mouth next time, won’t it? Then in […]
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Posted on
Gus is all about St. Ignatius of Loyola on today’s edition of Seize the Day. After all, it is his feast day. First, Gus kicks everything off by playing Bible Roulette, Ignatian style. Callers who get on the air get a Bible passage that they can reflect and meditate on all day in the style of […]
Clay in the Potter’s Hands
Posted on
Today we see what I hope is a familiar story in Jeremiah 18. Though you may not know the chapter and verse, it is the story of Jeremiah going to watch a potter at work. More in a moment. In the Gospel, we read the final verses in Matthew 13, the “parable chapter.” Jesus tells […]
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Posted on
Gus talks about dating today on Seize the Day! He asks listeners to call in to talk about how they met their spouse, particularly if they met via an online dating site. Also, Gus is joined by Fr. Brian Jordan, O.F.M. and his attorney, Matthew Dowd, from Wiely Rein, LLC, to talk about their court […]
Treasure Map
Posted on
In Jeremiah 15 today, God speaks of the need for repentance. “Thus the Lord answered me: If you repent, so that I restore you, in my presence you shall stand.” Yet another reminder for us that repentance only brings about good things. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus tells two very brief parables […]
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Posted on
Gus kicks off the show by talking about weight loss. He and his family are big fans of the reality series “The Biggest Loser” and he asks people to call in who’ve lost great amounts of weight to explain what was the spiritual component of that experience. We also hear from Edward Clancy, outreach director […]
A Heart of Service
Posted on
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Martha. As per ususal, there are options for the readings. The options for a Gospel reading are from John 11 or Luke 10. In these two readings, we see two different sides of Martha. In John, Martha is filled with faith, and even echoes the words of St. […]
Monday, July 28, 2014
Posted on
Gus is back from a parish mission over the weekend and he kicks off Monday with Tell Me Something Good and helps his listeners beat back the Monday morning blues. Later on, Gus is joined in the Conversion Corner by Dr. David Anders, a former Protestant historian. You can read Dr. Anders’ conversion story here.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Posted on
Gus is back from a parish mission over the weekend and he kicks off Monday with Tell Me Something Good and helps his listeners beat back the Monday morning blues. Later on, Gus is joined in the Conversion Corner by Dr. David Anders, a former Protestant historian. You can read Dr. Anders’ conversion story here.
Kingdom and Yeast
Posted on
What an interesting story in our first reading from Jeremiah 13. It is about a loincloth – we would think of it in terms of underwear today. The root of the story is about pride. In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 13, we hear a couple more parables from Jesus. The first compares the […]
What is Heaven Worth?
Posted on
In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus tells two very brief parables about what the Kingdom of heaven is like. Though often times His messages were hidden, Jesus always used examples that His listeners would relate to. Today He talks about finding things that would make us rich beyond our wildest dreams. A treasure buried […]
Jesus’ Grandparents
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. Tradition tells us that these were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For the record, Joachim and Anne are not mentioned in the Scriptures. As the parents of Mary, Joachim and Anne were Jesus’ grandparents. As a new grandfather (my first grandson, Beckett, […]
Friday, July 25, 2014
Posted on
Friday means Prayer Time on Seize the Day. Gus takes the prayer intentions of his callers and offers them all up as a communal prayer. If you want to be a part of Prayer Time, call in next Friday. Also, Gus is joined by Arina Grossu, director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family […]
Saint James
Posted on
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. James. This James is the son of Zebedee and the brother of St. John the Apostle. He is known as James the Greater. This isn’t because he was considered greater that the other Apostle James, but because he is mentioned first in the Gospels. Our first reading is […]
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Posted on
Gus dedicates a lot of time to singer Tom Petty today. It seems that the singer is not a fan of the Catholic Church as evidenced by his new song “Playing Dumb,” which addresses the priest sex abuse scandal. In a recent interview with Billboard Magazine, Mr. Petty says that “no one’s got Christ more […]
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Posted on
Gus dedicates a lot of time to singer Tom Petty today. It seems that the singer is not a fan of the Catholic Church as evidenced by his new song “Playing Dumb,” which addresses the priest sex abuse scandal. In a recent interview with Billboard Magazine, Mr. Petty says that “no one’s got Christ more […]
Are You Listening?
Posted on
People can be a bit dense, slow on the uptake. I know – I tend to be one of those people. This is kind of a theme that runs through the readings today. God tried and tried to get through to his people. But in the first reading from Jeremiah 2, the Lord says, “Two […]
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Posted on
Lots of compelling discussion today on Seize the Day. First, Gus asks his listeners if theirs is a marriage divided; that is, what role does faith play in your marriage? Are you both Catholic and do you go to mass together, or is your spouse of a different faith and spend your Sunday worship apart? […]
No Limits
Posted on
Today in the first reading, we begin a journey through the book of the prophet Jeremiah. At the opening of the book, we read about the call of Jeremiah. Our Gospel reading is from Matthew 13, a chapter that is filled with the parables of Jesus. Today we read the parable of the sower. When […]
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Posted on
Do you believe in signs? That’s what Gus asked his listeners today. Do you feel like God has ever sent you a sign as a response to a prayer and is it OK to ask God for a sign? Gus also asks his listeners another question: do you remember the day you gave yourself over […]
A Page From Mary’s Story
Posted on
Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. There are different options for the first reading, so I’ll let you read them and mull them over yourself. You can choose from Song of Songs 3:1-4 or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. (You may also get the reading for Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time.) The […]
Monday, July 21, 2014
Posted on
Gus kicks off Monday with radio personality and Catholic blogger Elizabeth Ficocelli in the Conversion Corner. Elizabeth was raised Lutheran but always felt a strong bond with Catholicism, which eventually led to her conversion. To learn more about her, visit her Web site by clicking here. Also, inspired by a funny note from a pastor […]
Three Things
Posted on
If you took a survey and asked this question: What does God require of you? I’m sure you’d get plenty of answers. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 12, some scribes and Pharisees come to Jesus asking Him for a sign. Jesus tells them that they will receive only […]
To Being Wheat
Posted on
For the Gospel reading today, we’re back in Matthew 13 for some more parable action. Jesus gives and then explains the parable of the wheat and the weeds. (Note: when you hear the reading at Mass, the explanation may not be read.) This is where a man sows good seed in his wheat field and […]
Evil Doesn’t Pay
Posted on
In our first reading today from Micah 2, we see once again what God has planned for those who plan iniquity. The responsorial Psalm mirrors this. In our Gospel reading, we see Jesus telling those He heals not to make him known, so that the words of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. People do […]
Evil Doesn’t Pay
Posted on
In our first reading today from Micah 2, we see once again what God has planned for those who plan iniquity. The responsorial Psalm mirrors this. In our Gospel reading, we see Jesus telling those He heals not to make him known, so that the words of the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled. People do […]
Friday, July 18, 2014
Posted on
Friday means Prayer Time on Seize the Day. Gus takes calls from listeners all across the country with their special intentions and offers up a communal prayer. Inspired by that segment, Gus asks his listeners if they’ve ever been unemployed and how that experience affected them spiritually. Also, Steven Aden, senior counsel at Alliance Defending […]
God’s Desire
Posted on
In the first reading today from Isaiah 38, King Hezekiah is on his death bed. He cries and prays, and the LORD answers his prayer and the prophet Isaiah informs the king that he will be given another fifteen years of life. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 12, the Pharisees see Jesus’ disciples picking […]
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Posted on
Gus gets a little macabre today when he asks what song you’d like played at your funeral. The discussion was prompted by a conversation he and his wife had while taking a walk. We had lots of different tunes as chosen by our listeners including Church hymns like On Eagle’s Wings and Panis Angelicus to pop […]
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Posted on
Gus gets a little macabre today when he asks what song you’d like played at your funeral. The discussion was prompted by a conversation he and his wife had while taking a walk. We had lots of different tunes as chosen by our listeners including Church hymns like On Eagle’s Wings and Panis Angelicus to pop […]
Meekness and Humility
Posted on
In today’s first reading from Isaiah 26, the prophet talks about how physical death is not the end for us. In fact, he talks about the resurrection of the dead. Check it out! In our Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek […]
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Posted on
Gus takes the border discussion head on today when he asks his listeners what they would say if their bishop or pastor told them they were going to assist the droves of children of migrant workers who have crossed the border into the U.S. and asked for your help? It’s a heavy question and the […]
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Posted on
Gus takes the border discussion head on today when he asks his listeners what they would say if their bishop or pastor told them they were going to assist the droves of children of migrant workers who have crossed the border into the U.S. and asked for your help? It’s a heavy question and the […]
Too Big for Their Breeches
Posted on
The Assyrians were a powerful people. They were definitely the bad boys on the block. More on them in a moment. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus speaks of how the mysteries of the kingdom have been hidden from the wise and the learned, but revealed to the childlike. Assyria had the most […]
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Posted on
It’s a very papal edition of Seize the Day! Gus starts off talking about another interview Pope Francis did with the Italian magazine La Repubblica. In it, the holy father supposedly said that 2% of Catholic priests are pedophiles, although the Vatican is disputing that quote. So, Gus asks his listeners what they think when […]
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Posted on
It’s a very papal edition of Seize the Day! Gus starts off talking about another interview Pope Francis did with the Italian magazine La Repubblica. In it, the holy father supposedly said that 2% of Catholic priests are pedophiles, although the Vatican is disputing that quote. So, Gus asks his listeners what they think when […]
History Repeats
Posted on
An intriguing story in our first reading today from Isaiah 7. A couple of big-shots are planning to attack Jerusalem and overthrow Judah. And God says, “No way!” In the Gospel reading from Matthew 11, Jesus pronounces woes on some towns – Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum – because He performed mighty deeds there, but they […]
Monday, July 14, 2014
Posted on
Gus went to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes over the weekend and wonders if it’s creepy or not for a grown man with a wife and kids to go see a movie by himself. He also revisits smoking and asks his listeners who were smokers to call in and tell him how long they […]
Monday, July 14, 2014
Posted on
Gus went to see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes over the weekend and wonders if it’s creepy or not for a grown man with a wife and kids to go see a movie by himself. He also revisits smoking and asks his listeners who were smokers to call in and tell him how long they […]
Loving Jesus More
Posted on
Social justice has become somewhat controversial these days. Unfortunately, many have a very skewed notion of what social justice is. Want to get a look at what God says? Read today’s first reading from Isaiah 1. As a courtesy, I’ll give you the long and short of it. “Put away your misdeeds from before my […]
The Power of Story
Posted on
Today’s Gospel reading is from Matthew 13. Matthew 13 is often called “The Parable Chapter.” This chapter is loaded with parables of Jesus, and we’ll hear all of them from this chapter over the course of the next three weeks. In today’s reading, the disciples ask Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables.” […]
Here I Am
Posted on
Our first reading today is from Isaiah 6. It is one that you will often hear from Vocation Directors. And rightfully so. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. “Rather, be afraid […]
Friday, July 11, 2014
Posted on
It’s Friday so that means it’s time for two of our favorite segments; Prayer Time and Open Forum Friday. Gus takes the listeners prayer requests and, later on, takes their Catholic questions. Also, Gus is joined by Chuck Donovan of the Charlotte Lozier Institute who recently published a study on Downs syndrome. 99% of those […]
If God Brings You To It…
Posted on
While reading today’s first reading and responsorial, you may feel like you’re in the midst of Lent. The reading from Hosea 14 is one that we see during Lent, and the responsorial is from Psalm 51 is a Lenten mainstay. Be sure to read and meditate on both! In the Gospel reading today from Matthew […]