Friday, November 10, 2017
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Gus talks again about the story of Cady Mansell, or more accurately, her parents. She was denied first holy communion with her class because her parents insisted she wear a white suit rather than a white dress, which went against the standard dress code. In an attempt to cast their Catholic parish in a bad […]
The Dishonest Steward
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If anyone had a right to boast, it was St. Paul. A prolific writer, eloquent speaker, man of great charisma…the guy had it all. But he would never boast of himself. In today’s first reading from Romans 15, he says, “For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through […]
Thursday, November 9, 2017
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Gus is back live from his pilgrimage in the Holy Land and reminisces about something the things he witnessed and felt this time around. He highly recommends people make the pilgrimage sometime in their lives and asks listeners to call in and share their dream pilgrimage. Later, Gus talks about a first communicant in Indiana who […]
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 […]
Love and Hate
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Love and hate are two things we hear about in today’s readings. In the first reading from Romans 13, St. Paul says, “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” In the Gospel reading from Luke 14, Jesus tells a large crowd, “If anyone […]
Come to the Feast!
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Today’s first reading from Romans 12 is amazingly rich. In the first part of the reading, St. Paul talks about different jobs within the Body of Christ. The second part of the reading is what I like to call the gospel in a nutshell. Spend a few minutes today really reflecting on how you are […]
A Call From God
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It’s great to do nice things for people who will reciprocate. But Jesus gives us a different vision in the Gospel reading from Luke 14. In the first reading today, there is a passage from Romans 11 that has always had a great deal of meaning to me. St. Paul writes, “For the gifts and […]
Call No One Father
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 23, we find a verse that many use to try to discredit the Catholic faith. Jesus said, “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” Some people will point to this verse and say, “See, you Catholics call your priests ‘Father!’ Jesus said […]
The Lowest Place
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In the first reading from Romans 11 today, we see more of St. Paul’s thoughts about the chosen people, his people, Israel. He reminds them again that the Messiah has come from their midst. In the Gospel reading today from Luke 14, Jesus is eating at the home of a leading Pharisee. He tells a […]
Heart for Others
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St. Paul had a radical conversion to Christianity. Remember, he was a persecutor of Christians before; a devout Jew. He never lost his love for his people. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading today, Jesus performs another healing on the sabbath, this time on a man with dropsy. He then asks […]
All Souls’ Day
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Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls. It is the day we remember all the souls in Purgatory. Purgatory can be a controversial topic, and hard to explain. So, I would like to help you with that. Following is one of the chapters of A Minute in the Church on Purgatory. I hope this […]
The Communion of Saints
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Today is the Solemnity of All Saints, one of my favorite days of the year. Today is a Holy Day of Obligation, and rightfully so. We celebrate all the holy men and women who have achieved our goal: sainthood. We celebrate the Communion of Saints. As Catholics, we view the Body of Christ as being […]
Hope
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In today’s first reading from Romans 8, St. Paul talks about hope. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 13, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed and to yeast. The mustard seed is the smallest of seeds that grows into something great, and yeast is an […]
Monday, October 30th to Wednesday November 8th
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Gus is on pilgrimage in the Holy Land from October 30th to November 8th so there’ll be no live shows featuring Gus. We’ll be reliving some great moments from over the past few months so be sure to tune in weekdays beginning at 7:30 am ET!
Daddy!
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What an awesome reading today from Romans 8. St. Paul talks about us being sons and daughters of God. More on that in a sec. In the Gospel reading from Luke 13, Jesus has the audacity to cure a woman on the sabbath, in the synagogue, no less! The leader of the synagogue takes Jesus […]
Loving God and Neighbor
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus is asked, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” His answer may have surprised some. When Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment (singular), he gives a plural answer. “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and […]
Turning to St. Jude
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Today is the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles. Typically I do your :60 on the daily Scripture readings. But I want to veer from the format today. The readings are the same as the feast days of other Apostles; Ephesians 2:19-22, which I recently wrote about, and Luke 6:12-16, which is the listing […]
Friday, October 27, 2017
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Have you ever felt unwelcome at a parish and did it affect your faith life? Gus talks with callers who’ve experienced that lonely feeling and what their parish does or can do to make people feel welcome. Also, noted convert, and former Protestant theologian, Dr. Francis Beckwith, returns to the Conversion Corner to share his […]
Our Struggle with Evil
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Could Jesus have been talking about Purgatory in today’s Gospel reading? He talks about being thrown into prison and how “you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” In its deeper spiritual meaning, this could well be a reference to Purgatory. Like me, St. Paul struggled with sin. He was trying […]
Thursday, October 26, 2017
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Since Gus spoke to listeners who’ve converted to Catholicism from a Protestant denomination, after telling his own “reversion” story, he invites Catholic reverts to call in and share their story of leaving the Catholic faith and coming back. We also have the Protestant Hour. In lieu of the upcoming 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, Gus […]
Holy Bodies
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In the first reading today from Romans 6, St. Paul talks about presenting our bodies for sanctification. We’ll talk more on that in a moment. In the Gospel passage from Luke 12, Jesus says, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” He then goes on […]
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
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“Let me tell you ’bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees and the moon up above….and a thing called love.” Gus talks about human sexuality with listeners. No, he doesn’t go into graphic details, but, rather, asks listeners if their parents gave them “the talk” when they were kids and if […]
Much is Required
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Perhaps St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading from Romans 6 are ones we should read every day, or even commit to memory. “For sin is not to have any power over you, since you are not under the law but under grace.” We are under grace!! In the Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus […]
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
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Gus talks about an article on a recent Pew Research Study that says most U.S. Protestants are not united about or, in some cases, unaware of some of the controversies that were central to the historical schism between Protestantism and Catholicism. Gus goes over the importance of our Catholic theology and some of the difference between […]
Grace Overflows
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In today’s first reading from Romans 5, St. Paul talks about sin and grace. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus tells his disciples to be “ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” The word that strikes me the most in this is “immediately.” Are we […]
Monday, October 23, 2017
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Gus got the old “stewardship” homily at mass, also known as the asking for money homily. But, it also means being active on the parish council, parish finance committee, and offering your time, talent or treasure. Gus asks listeners how often stewardship is talked about at their parish and how they react to it. Also, Gus […]
You Can’t Take It With You
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In today’s first reading from Romans 4, we read St. Paul’s thoughts on the importance of faith. He talks about Abraham, and how his faith was “credited to him as righteousness.” This is important stuff, and part of the basis of the Protestant doctrine of sola fide, or that we are justified by faith alone. We certainly […]
On Caesar
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 22, we hear a famous saying of Jesus. He is asked whether it is lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar. His reply: “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” We live in very divisive times, and lots of people […]
The Spirit Speaks
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We’re back in Romans 4 for the first reading today. Paul continues to talk about faith and again uses the model of faith as an example, Abraham. In the Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus speaks of the importance of standing up for him. “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son […]
What You’re Worth
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In today’s first reading from Romans 4, St. Paul talks about the importance of faith. He points to Abraham as the example of faith. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Yes, faith is of the utmost importance. Without it, we have nothing. In the Gospel reading today from Luke 12, […]
Thursday, October 19, 2017
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Gus talks about Colorado-based Christian baker Jack Phillips (pictured below) who received an email cake request from a Satanist who wanted it for a celebration of Lucifer’s birthday. Phillips refused the request and now it’s headed to the Supreme Court. He asks listeners what they’d do if they were a baker and got this request. Later, Bob Dunning […]
Justification
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 11, Jesus continues to pronounce woes on the scholars of the law. These are some pretty scathing remarks. “Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.” Today’s first reading […]
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
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Gus reads an Aleteia article entitled “10 Ways to Crush the Morale of Priests,” emphasizing the Church’s need for better catechization and gives away copies of “A Minute in the Church: The Mass.” Also, Christopher Zehnder, general editor of the Catholic Textbook Project, sits down with Gus in the Conversion Corner to talk about his faith journey. […]
Feast of St. Luke
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke is the author of two books of the New Testament, the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. In fact, Acts may be considered a “sequel” to Luke’s Gospel, as that story picks up right where Luke ends. St. Luke is […]
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
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Gus reads a recent opinion piece by Sofia Feingold, entitled “Why Children’s Liturgies Give Me the Willies,” which appeared earlier this month in the National Catholic Register. In many parishes with lots of young families, many kids are escorted to a separate room to be taught the readings and the Gospel in a more instructional […]
Not Ashamed of the Gospel
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One of the things that I admire most about St. Paul (there are many) is his boldness. And the first line of today’s first reading really sums things up. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus derides the Pharisees for being […]
Monday, October 16, 2017
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus says, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign but no sign will be given it,” and recalls the story of Jonah, caught in the belly of the whale for three days, which changed the hearts of the people of Ninevah. Based on this, Gus asks listeners […]
The Signs are Everywhere
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In the first reading today we begin a journey through St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. St. Paul greets the believers in Rome with this – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” My sentiments exactly. In the Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus says to the crowd, […]
The Wedding Garment
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus tells a parable about a king who gives a wedding feast for his son. When the servants went out to summon the invited guests, they refused to come. Some even beat and killed the servants. So the king has servants go out and invite people off the […]
Blessed
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God will take care of His people. That is His promise, His covenant. It is one that will last forever. In today’s first reading from Joel 4, we hear this from the Lord. “But Judah shall abide forever, and Jerusalem for all generations.” No matter how bad things had gotten for His children, in the […]
Friday, October 13, 2017
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Gus talks about sharing our conversion stories, even with all the warts and sordid stories that came along with it. but he asks at what age is it appropriate or inappropriate to share those type of details, i.e. sex, drugs and rock & roll-type details. Also, today marks the centennial of the Miracle of the Sun […]
Satan’s Persistence
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Jesus spoke often about Satan and demons. He spent no small amount of His time driving out demons. In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus drives out a demon and is accused of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul. After debunking that theory, Jesus goes on to talk about how after an […]
Thursday, October 12, 2017
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Today Gus asked about what you do with items that charities and non-profits send you unsolicited in the mail, like coins, address labels, holy cards, etc. Listeners called in to share what they do. Many donate them to churches for youth groups or confirmations classes. Others put them in “blessing bags” to give to the […]
Asking for the Spirit
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Sometimes it seems that the wicked prosper. This has been going on for time immemorial. It comes up in today’s first reading from Malachi 3. Though it may seem that way now, in the end it will not be so. Read about what God has to say. In the Gospel reading from Luke 11, Jesus […]
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
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Can non-Catholics receive holy communion in a Catholic Church? Gus talks about a story he read recently on Aleteia where U2 lead singer Bono was seen receiving communion at a Catholic mass this past Sunday in Colombia. Bono professes to be Christian but it’s unclear whether or not he’s Catholic. Gus asks listeners about times […]
Angry with God
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In our Gospel reading today from Luke 11, Jesus’ disciples ask Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus does. He teaches them the perfect prayer. We know it as the Our Father. In the first reading from Jonah 4, we read, “Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry that God did not carry out […]
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
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Based on Jesus’ discussion with Martha about Mary, the focus of today’s Gospel, Gus talks about spending time with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration and talks with listeners about whether they consider their prayer lives active, like Martha, or contemplative, like Mary. For those who attend Eucharistic Adoration, Gus asks how often they do it and […]
Active and Contemplative
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We see a great story of repentance today in our first reading from Jonah 3. The whole great city of Nineveh repents of their evildoing at the preaching of Jonah. Today’s Gospel reading from Luke 10 is the story of Martha and Mary, her sister. Jesus is dining at their home and Martha is doing […]
Monday, October 9, 2017
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God, indeed, has a sense of humor and it shows today. Gus talks with listeners about mass antics. What is the funniest or most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at mass? Also, it’s Monday so Gus engages in a little Tell Me Something Good. And, today is Columbus Day so @ 9:30, Gus tosses […]
Friday, October 6, 2017
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Gus talks about the Rosary and what it means to him. The month of October, after all, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary so Gus opens up the phone lines and gives away copies of A Minute in the Church: Life in Christ to listeners who call in and talk about what the […]