Tuesday, May 30, 2017
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Gus and Fr. Leo talk about their pilgrimage weekend, which was action packed. They walked a portion of the Camino de Santiago, visited the cathedral there and witnessed its famous botafumiero (pictured below), which is a giant incense-burning censer that is swung from the ceiling over the heads of those in attendance for mass. They […]
Friday, May 26, 2017
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Gus kicks off Day 4 in the bus where he plays a spirited round of “Pilgrimage Jeopardy” to see who’s retained the most knowledge thus far. Then, Gus talks to two very special pilgrims, Fr. Leo Patalinghug’s parents and, later, Mike and Maria Bridges. Mike, also known as Sarge, talks about his conversion to the Catholic faith following […]
The Example of Elizabeth
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Today is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We remember that time when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. The first reading can be taken either from the Prophet Zephaniah or Romans 12. Do yourself a favor and read them both! The Gospel reading is the story of the Visitation […]
The Unimportance of Life
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Interesting title for today’s reflection, eh? I can hear it now…”Gus, what’s happened to you?? Are you no longer pro-life?” But those words about the unimportance of life are not mine, they are St. Paul’s. That’s right, we see them in today’s first reading from Acts 20. More in a moment. For the Gospel today, […]
Sacrifice
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A bit of a deviation from our normal format today. I’ve still got the link for today’s readings at the bottom of this post. And, of course, I encourage you to read them. There is, as always, much richness. I want to take a moment to ruminate on the holiday that we celebrate in the […]
Belonging
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At Mass today, you may be celebrating the Ascension of the Lord. Since I reflected on those readings Thursday, we’ll reflect on the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter today. In the Gospel reading today from John 17, Jesus raises his eyes to heaven and prays to the Father. He says, “I revealed your […]
An Answer to Prayer
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More great action in the first reading from Acts 18. Today we meet a Scripture expert named Apollos. After studying the Scriptures, “he established from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.” He turned out to be another one of those great converts. In the Gospel today from John 16, Jesus tells his disciples, “Amen, […]
Sinful Silence
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You may think that baldness is a recent fad. If that is the case, then St. Paul would fit right in! We see in today’s first reading from Acts 18 that, because of a vow he took, he had his head shaved. In the Gospel reading from John 16, Jesus equates the grief that His […]
Thursday, May 25, 2017
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On Day 3 in Salmanca, Gus gets to know many of the pilgrims today. First, he talks with mother/daughter pilgrims Tricia and Alice Nelson who were last minute entrants into the pilgrimage. Tricia’s other daughter, Kelly, died a few months back and they talk with Gus about her last days and how they’re dedicating this pilgrimage […]
The Ascension of the Lord
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension. In most dioceses around the country, today is not a Holy Day of obligation. For most, this feast will be celebrated this Sunday. If you are in a diocese or archdiocese where the Holy Day of obligation has been retained, you get to go to Mass today! […]
Wednesday May 24, 2017
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Gus and Fr. Leo are in Avila, Spain and they start off discussing the meeting earlier today between President Donald Trump and Pope Francis. Later, Gus does a Conversion Corner segment with pilgrims Dave and Holly Benefield and the experience of being in Madrid when the Real Madrid soccer team won the La Liga title and how they […]
Finding God
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Today in our first reading from Acts 17, we see Paul giving one of his great speeches, this time to the Greeks in the Areopagus. More on his message in a moment. In the Gospel reading from John 16, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit, telling the Apostles, “But when he comes, the Spirit of […]
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
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It’s Day 1 of the Spain & Portugal pilgrimage and Gus talks about meeting the pilgrims at the airport in Madrid. Gus talks at length with several of them about their respective faith journeys, including Tom and Gale Flynn. Tom had a miracle healing in 2008 and he also shares that inspirational story. Later, Gus […]
Monday, May 22, 2017
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It’s Day 0 of the Spain & Portugal and Pilgrimage. Gus and Michelle arrive a day ahead of the pilgrims. They talk about why they chose this location and what they’re expecting on this pilgrimage. Later, Gus’s tour companion Fr. Leo Patalinghug arrives and talks with Gus about Spain and Portugal’s deep Catholic heritage and, together, […]
Are You Convicted?
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Another jailbreak in our first reading today from Acts 16. Today God uses a mighty earthquake to break the chains of Paul and Silas. And the happenings after the jailbreak are amazing! Be sure to check it out. For our Gospel reading, we’re back in John 16, as Jesus speaks more about the Advocate, the […]
On Listening
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In Acts 16 today, Paul and Luke find themselves in the city of Thyatira, where they meet a woman named Lydia. More on that encounter in a moment. In the Gospel from John 15, Jesus talks about sending the Advocate, the Spirit of truth. He says, “I have told you this so that you may […]
Jesus Revealed
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In today’s Gospel reading from John 14, Jesus says, “And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” We know that Jesus is God. And that God can do whatever God wants to do. So Jesus can reveal Himself to anyone, even those who […]
You are Hated
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Jesus spoke often about love. It’s kind of what He was all about. But today we hear Him speak of hate. And not just generically, but very specifically. He tells the disciples, “Because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.” The Christian […]
Friday, May 19, 2017
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After a friend of Gus’s family experienced a medical miracle, Gus asks listeners to call in who’ve experienced a medical miracle of their own. And, John Knutsen sits down with Gus in the Conversion Corner. John, a convert from atheism, grew up the youngest child in a Catholic family but his faith waned after his […]
Love One Another
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In the Gospel reading today from John 15, Jesus reiterates the new commandment He gave to the Apostles. “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? The new commandment, wrapped up in three words. Love one another. He goes on to say, “No one has greater love than this, […]
Thursday, May 18, 2017
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Building off of yesterday’s caller segment where Gus talked with listeners about following a priest to a parish after he’s been moved, Gus asks listeners how long they think a priest or pastor should stay at a parish. And, Gus talks again about how women are coming off oral contraception because of health reasons and […]
Jesus’ Joy, Our Joy
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In today’s first reading from Acts 15, we see that the early Church was hierarchical. There was a dispute about whether the Gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow the Mosaic laws in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas knew that this was not a matter that could be settled on a local level. […]
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
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Fr. Andrew Small, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, calls in to talk about MISSIO, a unique new Catholic crowdfunding platform designed to make a difference for the poor and forgotten around the world. Also, Gus takes on a couple hot topics. First, it’s that time of the year where priests are transitioned to […]
Spiritual Horticulture
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In our first reading today from Acts 15, we see more controversy in the early Church about whether or not new believers needed to be circumcised. To settle the matter, Paul and Barnabas go to Jerusalem to bring the matter to the Apostles. Why? Because the hierarchy needed to decide the matter. In today’s Gospel […]
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
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Gus went to a different parish this past weekend because he was out of town and he noticed that the guy sitting in front of him had about three different prayer postures for his hands, so he asks listeners how they fold their hands at mass and if they hold hands during the Our Father […]
Monday, May 15, 2017
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Gus talks about a particular incident that took place over the weekend. He was in Myrtle Beach, helping his son Patrick move into his new apartment when Gus told him about a struggle he’s having with a friend. Gus said something out of character and Patrick called him out, spiritually. Gus asks listeners about a time in […]
Peace and Hardships
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Today in our readings, we see one of the great paradoxes of our faith. In the first reading, we hear Paul and Barnabas telling the people, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Not a real popular message, I’m sure. In the Gospel reading from John 14, […]
The Cult of Personality
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In the Gospel reading today from John 14, Jesus says, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.” We all like to think that we love Jesus, right? But are we keeping His word? Are we living out […]
To the Father Through Jesus
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In today’s Gospel reading from John 14, Thomas says to Jesus, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus replies, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.” There’s an interesting heresy that is especially popular […]
Our Lady of Fatima
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Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. There are not specific readings for this feast day, but I want to reflect on this today. Of course, the link to the daily readings will give you the readings for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter. It was one hundred years ago today that […]
Friday, May 12, 2017
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It’s Mothers Day on Seize the Day so Gus opens the phone lines to mothers, or those who wish to honor their mothers. Callers who get on the air get a Seize the Day prize which they can either keep for themselves or give to their mothers. At the end of the program, Gus pays tribute […]
Thursday, May 12, 2017
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Catholic News Agency recently ran an article with the headline “France’s new president is a “zombie Catholic,” which means that, although raised Catholic, its teachings play a very minor in his life, although he still identifies himself as such. The term was coined by two French sociologists, Emmanuel Todd and Hervé Le Bras, and Gus asks listeners what […]
Troubled Heart?
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Today in the first reading, Paul continues his address to those in the synagogue in Antioch. And in the Gospel reading, we see Jesus in the upper room, at the Last Supper. He has just finished washing the disciples’ feet when He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; […]
You are Chosen
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In today’s first reading from Acts 13, Paul gets up in the synagogue in Antioch and begins to tell the story of salvation to the people. Today’s reading ends with John the Baptist. Tomorrow we’ll pick it up from there and hear of the Messiah, Jesus. In the Gospel reading from John 13, Jesus is […]
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
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Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle calls in to talk about her new book, “Our Lady of Fatima: 100 Years of Stories, Devotions, and Prayers,” which is especially poignant as Bls. Francisco and Jacinta, two of the three children who Our Lady of Fatima visited in 1917, are being canonized by Pope Francis this weekend. Gus also revisits […]
Remaining in Darkness
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It’s interesting to see how often the Holy Spirit speaks in Acts of the Apostles. We see another instance of this in today’s first reading, where the Holy Spirit says, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then the Holy Spirit sends them forth…just as is […]
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
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What Catholic feast day is special for you? Gus matches callers, dates and feast days. He invites listeners to call in and either share a special feast day for them, or if there’s a special date for them and would like to know what saint has a feast day that day, Gus tells them. Also, Gus […]
Seeing the Grace of God
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In today’s first reading from Acts 11, news reaches the Apostles in Jerusalem about the growing Church in Antioch. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Did you know that’s where the word “Christians” came from? “When [Barnabas] arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the […]
Monday, May 8, 2017
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Gus talks about how he learned from his deacon friend the other day that the vast number of times “shepherd” is mentioned in the Gospel. It’s something new he never knew before. He invites listeners to call in and talk about times they learned something new, and it doesn’t necessarily have to have a religious […]
Friday, May 5, 2017
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Gus plays some clips from the White House rose garden yesterday where President Donald Trump spoke about the religious freedom executive order he signed, which allows certain protections from the federal government and a relaxing of the Johnson Amendment, which prevented religious institutions from preaching politics from the pulpit. Gus is joined by Becket Fund […]
A Good Shepherd
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Why do Jews not eat certain foods and Christians do? Peter and many of the early Christians, who were Jews, struggled with this. In today’s first reading from Acts 11, God gives Peter a revelation about this. In our Gospel reading today from John 10, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” He then goes […]
Living the Abundant Life
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In the Gospel reading today from John 10, Jesus says, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” What does this mean? A great thing for us to think about each day. Let me start by talking about what it DOESN’T mean. In our way of thinking today, the word […]
To Whom Shall We Go?
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In the first reading today from Acts 9, we see a blossoming Church. It is growing rapidly, even with the great persecution she was suffering. Peter raises a woman from the dead, and because of that, many came to believe. In the Gospel reading today, we finish up in John 6. After Jesus talked about […]
Literally, Literally
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Today’s first reading from Acts 9 tells us about the conversion of St. Paul. It’s a story that is always worth reading and reflecting on. Today I want to reflect on the Gospel reading from John 6. Today’s Gospel is at the heart of Catholic theology on the Eucharist. We hear Jesus saying, “Unless you eat the […]
Thursday, May 4, 2017
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Gus talks about the recent announcement made by Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Archbishop Joseph Naumann that they’d be severing ties with the Girl Scouts of America because of their ties to Planned Parenthood and would now join with the American Heritage Girls. Gus gets listener reaction. Also, today is the National Day of […]
Bread = Flesh
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A very interesting story in our first reading today from Acts 8. The Holy Spirit sends Philip, one of the first deacons, to interpret the Scriptures for an Ethiopian eunuch. After this, the eunuch says, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent me from being baptized?” Philip baptizes him, then disappears. This passage always […]
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
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Former NBA All-Star Caron Butler (pictured below) joins Gus in our NY studio to talk about how his troubled youth took a turn for the better after being arrested 15 times before turning 15. While incarcerated at a youth detention center in his home state of Wisconsin, Caron started reading a Bible his grandmother had given […]
Slow on the Uptake
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Today is the Feast of Saints Philip and James. Philip and James were two the the Apostles. The first reading today is from 1 Corinthians 15, where St. Paul mentions that Jesus appeared to James. The Gospel reading today is from John 14, where Philip says to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that […]
Tuesday, May 5, 2017
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Following the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker yesterday, Gus talks about being evangelists of our faith in the workplace. He takes calls from listeners about how they display their faith at their workplace. Later, Fr. Timothy Reid (pictured below) joins Gus in the Conversion Corner and shares his amazing conversion story, which ultimately led him to the […]
The New Bread from Heaven
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Stephen was the first martyr; he was the first person in recorded history to shed his blood and die for the sake of his faith in Jesus. In the first reading today from Acts 7, we read about how that happened. Be sure to note the last words from the lips of St. Stephen. In […]