Merry Christmas!
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Advent is finally over! Now begins the real celebration. Merry Christmas! I’ll pause today from the regular Scripture reflection and just share some random thoughts. A baby in a manger. A husband and a wife with no place to stay, except with animals. The Author of Life come into the world in the form of […]
Christmas Eve
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Today is Christmas Eve. Many people (myself and my family included) will go to Mass this afternoon or this evening for Christmas. Many will attend the beautiful Midnight Mass. Whenever you attend, I pray that you will be filled with blessings! I was just reading an interest study that said that only 47% of Americans […]
Preparing the Way
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Today in the liturgy, the day before Christmas Eve, we concentrate on the birth of John the Baptist. (Remeber how I talked a few days ago about the Catholic liturgy celebrating snippets of the Christmas story throughout the year? The Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist is June 24. A mini- pre-Christmas celebration […]
Dedicated to the Lord
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The Gospel reading today is from Luke 1. It is Mary’s great Magnificat. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.” Beautiful! A bit of personal trivia…my wife and I are part of Teams of Our Lady. We pray the […]
Singing Because of You
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You know something cool about the Catholic liturgy? We celebrate parts of the Christmas story throughout the year. Many of the Gospel readings that we are hearing at this time are also used at other times. For instance, today’s Gospel reading from Luke 1 is the same reading for the Feast of the Visitation on […]
Mary’s Yes
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Today’s first reading is exactly the same as yesterday’s first reading. So, if you went to Mass (you did go to Mass, didn’t you?), then you heard the prophesy from Isaiah 7: “The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Today’s Gospel reading is the same one we saw just […]
The Virgin Birth
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The Fourth Sunday of Advent. Today we light the final Advent candle. Christmas is just around the corner! And the readings reflect this. In fact, the Gospel reading today is exactly the same as yesterday. (You can read my reflection on Joseph for more.) There is quite a bit of division within Christianity these days. […]
Joseph
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More of the unfolding of the Christmas story today. In the first reading from Jeremiah 23, we read, “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land.” […]
Jesus’ Family Line
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Well, it is one week before Christmas Eve. Can you believe it?? So beginning today in the Liturgy, we see the unfolding of the Christmas story. In the first reading today we see that “The scepter shall never depart from Judah.” In other words, the Messiah, the King of Kings, would descend from the tribe […]
Married to God
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What amazing language we see in today’s first reading from Isaiah 54. More on that in moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 7, Jesus asks the people what they thought they were going to find when they went out to follow John the Baptist. Jesus says, “A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more […]
Go and Tell
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 45, you get the sense that God has a message for the people. Five times God says, “I am the Lord, there is no other!” (Or something very similar.) Only God is God…get the message? In the Gospel reading from Luke 7, John sends two of his disciples […]
Lip Service
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Today’s readings have much to do with that which comes from our lips. In the first reading from Zephaniah 3, the Lord says, “For then will I change and purify the lips of the peoples…They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue.” And […]
Comments About A Minute in the Church
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I would love to know your thoughts about my new book, A Minute in the Church. Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section. Thank you for reading the book! I pray that it blesses many. Gus Jerry wrote: Love it. I personally think it should be given to every new Inquirer […]
Jesus’ Authority
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In the first reading today from Numbers 24, we read of a prophesy of Balaam. He prophesies about how a king would come from Jacob’s line. “His king shall rise higher, and his royalty shall be exalted.” He then goes on to speak this prophesy, “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall […]
Can’t Please ‘Em
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We have a tendency to want to do things our way. Hey…someone cue up the Sinatra. Unfortunately, this doesn’t usually work out the best for us. Now, if we did it God’s way, that’s a different story. In the first reading today from Isaiah 48, we see what will happen if we do things God’s […]
Immaculate Conception
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Remember that, for Catholics, today is a Holy Day of obligation. I hope you will make it a point to attend Mass. Let’s talk briefly today about what the Immaculate Conception is, and isn’t. Probably the most common misconception (no pun intended) that people have is […]
Gus’ new book, A Minute in the Church
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Order our new book, “A Minute in the Church.” Please use the links below to order your copy, or copies, today! Order a single copy Order 5 copies Order 10 copies If you would like to order larger quantities of A Minute in the Church, please email GusLloyd@verizon.net God bless and keep you, always. Gus
What Shall I Cry Out?
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Our “golden thread” today is that of shepherds and sheep. In the first reading from Isaiah 40, the prophet says, “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.” Then in the Gospel reading from Matthew 18, Jesus speaks […]
Friends
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I don’t know about you, but I so love the Advent readings from the Prophet Isaiah. They are filled with so much beauty and hope. “Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.” In the Gospel reading today from Luke 5, we see a healing of a […]
More Johns
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Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 3, we read about John the Baptist. As Matthew tells us, he is the one about whom the prophet Isaiah wrote, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ ” That’s really […]
More Than a Teacher
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As you read today’s first reading from Isaiah 30, I hope your mind is immediately drawn to Jesus. We see these prophesies so perfectly fulfilled in Jesus. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading today, we see Jesus sending out the Twelve, with authority. He tells them, “Without cost you have received; […]
According to Your Faith
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The Advent readings in the Liturgy are marvelous! Today’s “golden thread” features healing of the blind. In the first reading today from Isaiah 29, the Lord says, “On that day the deaf shall hear…the eyes of the blind shall see. The lowly will ever find joy in the Lord, and the poor rejoice in the […]
Built on Rock
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Have you ever been to New York City? If not, you’ve surely seen it before. Skyscrapers all throughout Manhattan reaching to the heavens. Ever wonder how they put those things all so close together, and how they always remain so firm? It’s because of their foundation. Manhattan has this amazingly strong bedrock underneath all those […]
Behold our God!
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 15, Jesus feeds a great multitude. He says, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd…I do not want to send them away hungry.” The disciples gave Him seven loaves and a few fish. Jesus fed the whole crowd. Afterwards, there were seven baskets of fragments left […]
The Other Brother
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew. Andrew was an Apostle, the brother of Simon Peter. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent.” In the first reading today from Romans 10, St. Paul asks, “And how can people preach unless they are sent?” He then goes on to quote from Isaiah 52: “How […]
Such Faith
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We’ll be reading a lot from Isaiah during the Advent season. And rightly so. In the first reading today, we see where we can “take cover” from the things that beat us down. “For over all, the Lord’s glory will be shelter and protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from […]
Stay Awake!
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Today we begin a new year in the Church. Happy Advent! The world wants us to think that this is the Christmas season. But the Christmas season actually STARTS with Christmas! Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t get in the Christmas spirit. We should. But our mindset needs to go far beyond shopping and […]
The No-God Rut
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Today is the last day of the Church year. Tomorrow begins a brand new liturgical year with the season of Advent. In the first reading from the end of the book of Revelation, we see this final beautiful view of heaven. “Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, […]
Words to Live By
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In Revelation 20, St. John gives us a glimpse of the final judgement. Hopefully, reading these words can give us a new perspective on the importance of how we live our lives. “All the dead were judged according to their deeds.” John also sees a “new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and […]
Thanksgiving
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Today in the U.S., the Church gives some options for readings for Thanksgiving Day. One of these options is Sirach 50:22-24. It is such a beautiful reading. I thought I would share it with you today. And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters men’s growth from […]
Eternal Hairdos
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Another heavenly vision from St. John in Revelation 15 for today’s first reading. St. John sees those who had won the victory over the beast singing “the song of Moses…the song of the Lamb.” It is a beautiful song. See for yourself! In today’s Gospel passage from Luke 21, Jesus talks about some of the […]
Signs Within
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We get a couple of very apocalyptic readings today. In Revelation 14, we see one “like a son of man” reaping his harvest on the earth. But it’s good news-bad news. The first harvest is good. The second harvest gets thrown into “the great wine press of God’s fury.” Which harvest will you be in? […]
Stretching by Giving
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Our first reading today is from Revelation 14. Here we see the hundred and forty-four thousand “who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” This number, by the way, is symbolic. It means a great multitude. Some (like the Jehova’s Witnesses) take this number to be literal and say that that […]
The Kingship of Christ
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Today the Church celebrates the end of the liturgical year. Fittingly enough, it is the Feast of Christ the King. All of the readings today point to the kingship of Christ. In the Gospel reading from Luke 23, the people are sneering at Jesus as He hangs on the cross. Above him there was an […]
Can't Fool Jesus
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Much of the imagery found in Revelation is taken from other places in Scripture. Case in point is today’s first reading. John sees two witnesses: two olive trees. This same imagery is found in Zechariah 4. There are other allusions in these passages, too. And at the end of the reading, we see the two […]
Sweet and Sour
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 19, we see Jesus cleansing the temple area of those who are selling things. He says, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” We then read that “every day He was teaching in the temple […]
What Makes for Peace
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In the first reading today from Revelation 5, we see a striking figure in John’s vision of heaven. An angel asks the question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And then we see Him. “A Lamb that seemed to have been slain.” The next time you’re at Mass and the […]
Investing in Eternity
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In the first reading today from Revelation 4, we see in John’s vision of heaven some very strange looking creatures. These are the passages in Revelation that sometimes throw people for a loop. But don’t let that happen to you. Theologians and great saints down through the ages have exegeted these passages (St. Jerome and […]
Letter From a Young Catholic Man on Modesty
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For all the mothers of girls of any age out there:  Three of my four sisters recently attended  a talk billed as being on the subject of modesty and I was thinking what a great opportunity for lots of girls to hear about how important modesty is in the world today. Unfortunately, the talk ended up […]
Lukewarm? Look Out!
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Our Gospel reading today is the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19. It is a great story of repentance and redemption. In the first reading today from Revelation 3, we hear Jesus addressing the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea. His words to the Church of Laodicea are a stark reminder to all. “I know your […]
Forward in Love
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In the first reading today, we begin reading from the Book of Revelation. This can be one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted books in the Bible. Nothing a bit of study and reading won’t cure! In the Gospel reading today from Luke 18, Jesus gives a blind man his sight. In Revelation 2, John […]
Testimony To and From Jesus
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Christianity has to be from God. Why do I say this? Because Jesus told His disciples again and again what they were in for. “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.” […]
Teenage Persistence in Prayer
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In today’s first reading from 3 John, St. John encourages the faithful to help and support those who do missionary work in the Church. In the Gospel reading from Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of a widow who wants to get a ruling from a corrupt judge. She continues to pester him to give […]
Losing = Saving
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Our first reading today is from 2 John. This is the shortest book in the Bible, just 13 verses. But what a power-packed 13 verses! St. John writes, “For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments.” He then talks about those who would lead people astray. “Anyone who is so ‘progressive’ as […]
Drain Me of Me
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Father, I am so full of myself. I know that if I truly wish to serve you, If I truly wish to share your word and your love, This must not be the way. And so today, Father, I ask you: Drain me of me Of all the self-inflated ego Drain me Of all the […]
The Kingdom of God Among You
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Today’s first reading is taken from St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. Here Paul urges his old friend to welcome back his slave, Onesimus. Onesimus had been travelling with and assisting Paul, and Paul had become very fond of him. In fact, he refers to Onesimus as “my child, whose father I have become in my […]
The Ten Percenters
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What a great first reading today from Titus 3. St. Paul reminds us that we are saved “through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” An obvious reference to our baptism. In the Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus heals ten lepers. Of the ten healed, only one bothered to come back […]
Zeal for God's House
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of he Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. This Basilica, constructed by the Emperor Constantine, is called the mother church of Christendom. The readings today all refer to buildings in one way or another. The first reading talks about the temple in Ezekiel 47. The second reading talks about how […]
Kindle as Evangelization Tool
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While on the way back to Tampa, I discovered a new evangelization tool: my Amazon Kindle! Just by reading my Kindle, I managed to strike up a few conversations with some super nice people who were just curious about my Kindle. The first was a woman at the airport in St. Louis. She sat next […]
Causing Sin
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In today’s first reading from Titus 1, St. Paul talks about the attributes of a bishop. “Blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be […]