Your Servant is Listening
Posted on
2 comments
In the first reading today, we're in 1 Samuel 3, reading about the call of Samuel. It is a story that we can take lessons from. In the Gospel reading...
Deceptive Appearances
Posted on
6 comments
Welcome back to Ordinary Time! Since the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord was yesterday, we begin Ordinary Time today. The first reading is from 1 Samuel 1:9-20. You...
The Baptism of the Lord
Posted on
Today marks the end of the Christmas season, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Today we read in Mark 1 about Jesus coming to John the Baptist to...
Awakening
Posted on
Today is the Feast of Epiphany. We celebrate the time when the three Wise Men, a.k.a Three Kings or Magi, appeared to offer gifts to Jesus. Such an interesting story...
The Process of Victory
Posted on
There are two options for a Gospel reading today. One is the genealogy of Jesus from Luke 3. The other is from Mark 1, where Jesus is baptized in the...
No Tracks in the Kingdom
Posted on
In our first reading from 1 John 3, St. John poses a difficult question. "If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how...
What are You Looking For?
Posted on
Today's first reading from 1 John 3 can be a difficult one to grasp. St. John writes, "Whoever sins belongs to the Devil, because the Devil has sinned from the...
Children of God
Posted on
Good Day, Child of God! Are you comfortable with that "title?" I certainly hope so, because that is what you are! So says St. John in our first reading from...
Your Identity
Posted on
In today's Gospel reading from John 1, the Jews send some priests and Levites to ask John the Baptist, "Who are you?" Be sure to read his answer. Who are...
A Resolution
Posted on
Happy New Year! Every year I make a Scriptural New Year's Resolution. I find a passage of Scripture that speaks to something I really need to work on in my...
Thoughts of the Heart
Posted on
Today is the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas. It's a good day for us to consider the difference between the things we say and the thoughts of our...
The Holy Innocents
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Who are the Holy Innocents? They are the children killed by order of Herod in Bethlehem right after the birth...
Disciple of Love
Posted on
Today we celebrate the Feast of St. John the Evangelist. St. John was the beloved disciple, the author of the fourth Gospel, three letters in the New Testament and the Book of Revelation. Our first reading today is from the beginning of St. John’s first letter. “We proclaim now…our fellowship is with the Father and […]
Enduring to the End
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr. In the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, we see the story of Stephen’s martyrdom. And in the Gospel from Matthew 10, Jesus tells the disciples, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end […]
Christmas is Here!
Posted on
Christmas is here! Christmas is here! I can remember waking up VERY early on Christmas mornings when I was a kid and yelling that out to my brothers and sisters. We would go wake up Mom and Dad, probably much earlier than they would have liked, and attack the presents under the tree with reckless […]
Holiday or Holy Day
Posted on
Isn’t it odd that Christmas Eve is one of the shortest days of the year? I know…there are 24 hours in every day. But the winter solstice was just a couple of days ago, and in North America, we have one of the shortest amounts of daylight today. I say that it’s odd because, even […]
A Message
Posted on
Today’s first reading is from Malachi 3. Malachi prophesies about the Lord’s messenger, “the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.” This prophesy is fulfilled in the person of Jesus. But Malachi also prophesies, “Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes.” Jesus told the people that John […]
The Magnificat
Posted on
In today’s first reading from 1 Samuel 1, we see Hannah giving up her only son to the service of the Lord. Eli, the priest, had prayed that Hannah might be granted the desire of her heart, a son. After Samuel was born, she gave him to Eli to be brought up to serve the […]
Blessed
Posted on
Blessings abound in today’s readings. Just try reading the first reading from Zephaniah 3 and not feel blessed. I suspect your reaction will be, “Thank you, Lord!” The Gospel reading today is the story of the Visitation from Luke 1. Mary goes to visit her pregnant, and much older, relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth, filled with the […]
The Virgin Birth
Posted on
A survey from 2013 shows some interesting facts about Americans. 68% of American adults believe that Jesus is God or the Son of God (same thing – it’s called the Trinity). Yet only 57% believe in the Virgin birth. There is quite a bit of division within Christianity these days. Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox all have […]
Speechless
Posted on
Today the Church gives us two stories of men whose births were announced by an angel, Samson and John the Baptist. There are many similarities between the two, as the readings show us. In the first reading from Judges 13, the angel of the Lord appears to Samson’s mother (whose name is never mentioned in […]
Monday, December 18, 2017
Posted on
As we head into Seize the Day’s Christmas/New Year’s break, Gus opens up the lines today to Tell Me Something Good. In an effort to beat back the Monday blues, Gus invites listeners to call in and share their recent blessings and answers to prayer.
Righteous Joseph
Posted on
Today in the first reading from Jeremiah 23, the Lord says, “Behold, the days are coming when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is right and just in the land.” I’m sure that, looking at this prophecy, the people were […]
Rejoice!
Posted on
Today is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. Today we light the pink, or rose, candle on the Advent wreath. It is called Gaudete Sunday because of the opening antiphon of the Introit Gaudete in Domino semper (Rejoice in the Lord always). The opening words of the second reading from 1 Thessalonians are these, […]
God of Surprises
Posted on
Today’s first reading is from the Book of Sirach. The author talks of Elijah, “whose words were a flaming furnace.” Then in the Gospel reading from Matthew 17, the disciples ask Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answers and tells them that “Elijah has already come.” But the scribes […]
Friday, December 15, 2017
Posted on
Gus talks about what Pope Francis said in his Wednesday General Audience about Catholics who don’t attend mass regularly. He said being a good person isn’t enough. He said mass is where we, as Catholics, receive our strength. Gus asks listeners who’ve stopped going to mass at some point in their lives to call in […]
Wisdom and Her Works
Posted on
In the first reading today from Isaiah 48, God says, “I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.” Going the way God wants us to go is rarely the easy way. But it is always the way of wisdom. In our Gospel […]
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Posted on
We lost a great priest last night, Fr. Andrew Joseph Apostoli, co-founder of the Franciscan Fathers of the Renewal, who died at the age of 75. For nearly 25 years, Fr. Apostoli hosted Sunday Night Prime on EWTN and was a prolific author and one of the foremost experts on the Fatima apparitions. In his […]
Not Forsaken
Posted on
Today in the first reading from Isaiah 41, we get a greater understanding of God’s hand at work in our lives. God says, “Fear not, I will help you.” The responsorial, from Psalm 145, drives this home…”The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.” And in the Gospel reading from […]
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Posted on
Today, we had Phase III of Project Christmas. This time, we raised over $17,000 for SBPUSA, a charity based out of New Orleans that is helping rebuild homes in the greater Houston area in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which ravaged the area in late August. If you were unable to call in but would still […]
Fly Like an Eagle
Posted on
We’re back in Isaiah for our first reading today. The final verse in today’s reading is Isaiah 40:31. I’ll talk about it in a moment. Our Gospel passage today is a short one, from Matthew 11. Jesus tells the people, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you […]
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Posted on
Gus talks about the news that came out of the Vatican last week that Pope Francis was contemplating changing the English translation of the line in the Our Father that says “lead us not into temptation” to “let us not enter into temptation.” The story is mostly false. The pope is not seeking to change the […]
Our Loving Mother
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on a hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, in December of 1531, she declared, “I am your most merciful Mother; I want to show my loving clemency and compassion to those who call upon me in their […]
Monday, December 11, 2017
Posted on
Gus plays a contemporary Christian song, played often around this time of year, called “Mary Did You Know.” Some controversy has arisen of late, from many Catholics, who call the song heretical because of its implication that Mary did not know the baby is her womb was the Messiah. Gus reads a few excerpts from […]
Be Strong, Fear Not!
Posted on
I’m hearing more and more about how so many people are frightened today. Not just because of terrorist attacks or random violence. Sure, that’s part of it, but it goes to something much deeper. Today’s readings give us hope and some powerful advice. In the first reading from Isaiah, we read this: “Strengthen the hands […]
Pointing the Way to Jesus
Posted on
Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. For the Gospel reading, we go to the beginning of the Gospel according to Mark. It all starts with John the Baptist. John knew that he had a job to do – to point the way to the Messiah. It would seem that John did not know that […]
The Teacher
Posted on
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; […]
Friday, December 8, 2017
Posted on
Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church. Gus explains that this feast day doesn’t celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Jesus, rather the Immaculate Conception of Mary and explains the Church teaching on why the Catholic Church believes, undeniably, that Mary was conceived immaculately. Later, in […]
Mary’s Immaculate Conception
Posted on
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a Holy Day of obligation. 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 that the Immaculate Conception refers to the moment when Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary. […]
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Posted on
Today is Phase 2 of Project Christmas and, once again, we’re joined by Operation Once-in-a-Lifetime and its founder Patrick Sowers. We raised over $11,000 for two needy families If you were unable to call in and donate and still wish to, you can do so by clicking here. Also, Gus goes over a recent article […]
All Talk, No Action
Posted on
Having a strong foundation is vital – for buildings and for people. Having a strong foundation is one of the themes we see in today’s readings. In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 7, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but on the one who […]
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Posted on
Jim Campbell, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, calls in to give Gus the details of yesterday’s Supreme Court oral arguments between the attorneys for Jack Phillips and the Masterpiece Cakeshop, who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, and the attorneys for the plaintiffs. Jim also gives us the history of how […]
Behold our God!
Posted on
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 […]
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Posted on
Gus concluded a parish mission the other night and spoke with a couple whose teenage children have told them they no longer wish to go to mass. Gus speaks to how heartbroken they were and that all he could tell them was that he’d pray for them. Gus asks listeners to call in and share their […]
Revealing the Father
Posted on
Our first reading today is from Isaiah 11. “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” This is a prophecy about how the Messiah, Jesus, would descend from the line of David. (Jesse was David’s father.) We’ll see this reading again as we […]
The Universal Church
Posted on
The word “catholic” means universal. We see prophesies about the universality of the Church in today’s readings. In the first reading from Isaiah 2, the prophet says of the mountain of the LORD, “All nations shall stream toward it; many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain, to the house […]
Advent and Doing Right
Posted on
Christmas is in the air! Can you feel it? Certainly all of the retailers hope you can. The world hammers us with Christmas. And there is certainly nothing wrong with getting into the “Christmas spirit.” But Holy Mother Church has a different idea about these weeks leading up to Christmas. That is why we celebrate […]
Drowsy Hearts
Posted on
In the Liturgical year, this might be considered New Year’s Eve. The new Church year starts tomorrow with the First Sunday of Advent. The theme of the Advent readings is always stay awake; be prepared, for you know not the hour. That theme has also been consistent recently. Today is no different. In the Gospel […]
Friday, December 1, 2017
Posted on
Gus talks with listeners again about church weddings and how some of the fees can be off-putting to some people. He asks listeners how they feel about it and whether or not they had to pay a fee for use of the church at their wedding. And it’s Friday, so that means we dedicate some […]
His Words Will Not Pass Away
Posted on
In our first reading today from Daniel 7, the prophet is privileged to get a vision of heaven. He sees “One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven.” It was Jesus. The One whose “kingship shall not be destroyed. In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus says, “Heaven and earth […]