Bartholomew/Nathanael
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Bartholomew. Bartholomew is listed among the Twelve. He was brought to Jesus by the Apostle Philip. Tradition tells us that he preached the Gospel in India, where he was rewarded with the crown of martyrdom. The first reading today is from Revelation 21, where we get a […]
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
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Fr. Dave Dwyer, host of the Busted Halo Show, calls in to clear up some misconceptions and misunderstandings about the seal of confession. Gus recaps his conversation from yesterday about the seal of confession. Australia is trying to pass a law that would require priests to report any of instance of child abuse revealed to them […]
Hitler in Heaven?
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We have two very interesting readings today. The first reading from Judges 9 is about trees ruling over each other. Except it’s not about trees at all. It’s about how sometimes those in leadership are not the cream of the crop. Sound familiar? In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable about […]
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
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Lawmakers in Australia are trying pass a law that would require priests to report any instance where child abuse revealed to them in the confessional. Gus talks about the teaching on the Sacrament of Confession and explains the Church’s teaching on why the seal of confession can never be broken. He gets listener reaction. Also, […]
Monday, August 21, 2017
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At mass this past weekend, Gus was singing along in his hymnal to “Taste And See,” when he noticed all the masculine pronouns had been removed and replaced with neutral one, which caused him to stop singing. He admits he’s not a fan of changes like that. He asks listeners what they think. And, it’s […]
The Queenship of Mary
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You won’t hear special readings for this feast, though the prayers in the Mass reference this. So today’s readings are for Tuesday in the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time. This feast comes one week after the Assumption. It is such an […]
Be Careful What You Ask
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In the first reading from Judges 2, we see that the people turned away from God. The consequences were not pleasant. “[God] allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies…Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them…” The Gospel reading is one that I hope is familiar from Matthew 19. Jesus […]
Instant Gratification?
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 15, we see a model of persistence. A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus and asks Him to heal her daughter. Jesus ignores her. After some prodding from the disciples, He tells the woman no. She asks again. Jesus again refuses her request. Rather than getting discouraged and leaving, the […]
Friday, August 18, 2017
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Gus reads an opinion piece by Catholic writer Ryan Bomberger, which talks about how, in this climate of perceived rampant racism, Planned Parenthood kills more African American than white supremacists and compares the mass coverage a few hundred white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia received compared to the lack of coverage the March for Life gets, which […]
Decide Whom You Will Serve
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We have a very short Gospel reading today. But as always, it is packed. Jesus says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” This is why Catholics baptize their infants. We “let them come to Christ” from their earliest days. In […]
On Marriage
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In the first reading today from Joshua 24, Joshua gives the people a bit of a history lesson. This is pretty common, as people need to be reminded from time to time about the marvelous things God has done for them. That was true then, and still is today. In the Gospel reading from Matthew […]
Thursday, August 17, 2017
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Joseph Pearce, senior editor with the Augustine Institute and noted Catholic author, joins Gus to talk about his former life as a white supremacist and his radical conversion to the Catholic faith. Joseph wrote a piece, in the wake of the events in Charlottesville this past weekend, that appeared yesterday in the National Catholic Register […]
Exercising Our Forgiveness Muscles
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In today’s first reading from Joshua 3, we see a miracle that rivals the parting of the Red Sea. Do you know about it? Read it! And in the Gospel reading (Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus tells Peter he must forgive “not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Jesus then goes on to tell the story of a […]
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
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A recent CBS News report that talked about how the country of Iceland touting that they’ve eliminated Down’s Syndrome. Turns out, it’s being done through abortion. Gus condemns this practice and how it’s being presented as something positive. He asks if you can perpetuate an evil in order to attain a good. Later, Catholic Creatives […]
Gathered in His Name
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Today we read about the death of Moses. It has been fascinating reading about his life and times. As I’ve mentioned many times, no on had a relationship with God quite like Moses. And today’s passage from Deuteronomy 34 reminds us of that. “Since then no prophet has arisen in Israel like Moses, whom the […]
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
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Today is the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary so Gus gives today the title of Mother’s Day. He talks about Mary’s role in the Church and how and why the Catholic Church venerates her. Then, Gus talks with listeners about their relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary. We hear from a few […]
Monday, August 14, 2017
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Gus opens up the floor to a couple of interesting discussion topics. First, he talks about the “dark arts” and asks listeners if they’ve ever dabbled in Ouija Boards, Tarot cards, palm readings, etc. Also, Gus talks about this past Sunday’s homily, where Jesus walks on water, and he asks listeners to call in and share what […]
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. There is so much to this feast that I couldn’t possibly fit it into one short reflection. I will share with you a chapter from my book A Minute in the Church Volume II that helps […]
For Your Own Good
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Our Gospel reading today recounts what I think may be Jesus’ coolest miracle. (I know, I know…I shouldn’t “grade” the miracles of our Lord. But this one is very cool!) The collectors of the temple tax want to get what’s coming to them from Jesus. So Jesus tells Peter to go out and catch a […]
Doubt
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In the Gospel reading from Matthew 14, we read the story about Jesus walking on the water during a storm. Peter asks Jesus to command that he come to him on the water. Jesus does, and Peter jumps out of the boat and begins walking on the water. Then he begins to doubt, and begins […]
Moving a Mountain
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Moses wanted to make sure that the children of Israel remembered who God was, and that He alone was worthy of their worship. He gives them yet another reminder in today’s first reading from Deuteronomy 6. “Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them […]
Eternal Retirement Planning
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The children of Israel were God’s chosen people. Moses reminds them of this, and gives some advice, in today’s first reading from Deuteronomy 4. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 16, we hear Jesus say, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What […]
To Serve Like Lawrence
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence was a deacon and a martyr. Our prayers go out today and every day to all the faithful deacons of the Church, through the intercession of St. Lawrence. Thank you, deacons, for your service to God’s people! The first reading today is from 2 Corinthians […]
When God Says Go, You Go!
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In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 15, we see an amazing example of perseverance in prayer, and the unselfishness of a mother. A Canaanite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This “disqualified” the woman and her daughter. But […]
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
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Due to unforeseen circumstances, like a bolt of lightning directly striking Gus’ house yesterday afternoon, we were unable to bring you a live Seize the Day today. We are working hard behind the scenes to get Gus back up on the air as soon as possible so be listening! In place of the live show, […]
On Jealousy
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Moses was the greatest prophet ever. He was a great leader. Any time people are in high positions, there will be those who are jealous of them. More in a moment. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 14, Jesus walks on the water. So does Peter. For a moment. In today’s first reading from Numbers […]
Monday, August 7, 2017
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Gus is back LIVE today after spend a week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he and his wife spent considerable time on the beach and visited with their eldest son Patrick. Also, Gus visited an auto parts store yesterday, to buy wiper blades for his youngest son, and he noticed an air freshener for sale […]
Feeding of the Multitude and the Eucharist
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Being a leader can be a great burden. It certainly was that for Moses. In today’s first reading from Numbers 11, Moses asks God, “Please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress.” How sad. In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 14, Jesus feeds […]
Good That We are Here
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. In the first reading from Daniel 7, Daniel sees a vision of Jesus in His glory. Of course, he didn’t know it was Jesus, but “one like a Son of Man.” In the second reading from 2 Peter 1, St. Peter recounts the Transfiguration […]
A Jubilee
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In today’s first reading from Leviticus 25, we read about the jubilee. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 14, we read the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. John wasn’t afraid to tell even the king that he was doing wrong. Unfortunately, it cost him his head. […]
A Prophet at Home
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 13, the people from Jesus’ native place brush him off, because they “know” him. Jesus says, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” Why is that? I’m sure you’ve heard the old axiom “Familiarity breeds comtempt.” Perhaps that saying is […]
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
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In the first reading today from Exodus 40, we read about the Dwelling. Notice the capital “D” in the word. This was the place in the Israelite camp where God stayed. We read about how the children of Israel scheduled their travels around the comings and goings of God in the Dwelling. Today’s Gospel reading […]
Radiant
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We all encounter God in one way or another. Moses’ encounters with God were different from all others. He spoke to God face to face. Though Moses wasn’t aware of it, these encounters with God actually changed his physical appearance. We see in today’s first reading from Exodus 34 that the skin of his face […]
Ears to Hear
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 13, Jesus explains the parable of the weeds and the wheat. There are so many aspects to this parable, and messages for us. I’ve often commented about how we get to choose whether we want to be wheat or weeds. Jesus ends His explanation with this: “Whoever has ears […]
Monday, July 31st to August 4th, 2017
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Seize the Day is on vacation July 31st to August 4th, but that doesn’t mean you have to tune out. Listen to some of our best moments from the past couple of months all this week. Gus will return live on Monday, August 7th.
Your Golden Calf
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Moses sure had to put up with a lot from the Israelites. In today’s first reading from Exodus 32, we see what easily could have been the last straw. But it wasn’t. More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading today from Matthew 13, we see two very short parables: the parable of […]
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
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In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the final parables in Matthew 13. The first two have to do with getting rich. Jesus said to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he […]
Martha, Martha
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Martha. As per usual, 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. […]
Friday, July 25, 2017
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Did you know that the mass has only been said in the local vernacular regularly for 48 years? Before that, it was said, almost universally, in Latin and that was the norm for at least 1,000 years, if not more. The Latin mass is still around and available in many dioceses here in the United […]
The Ten Suggestions?
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Most everyone knows that the Ten Commandments are found in the Bible. But did you know that they are found in the Bible twice? The first instance is in Exodus 20. That is today’s first reading. (If you’re keeping score, the second instance is in Deuteronomy 5. Take that to the water cooler!) In the […]
Thursday, July 27, 2017
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The homily at mass is not THE most important part of mass, but it is important nonetheless. Gus talks about when priests and deacons incorporate personal stories into their homilies. It’s not always well-received. Gus asks listeners their thoughts on when the homilist incorporates personal stories into his homily. Also, it’s National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week […]
Getting It
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What would it be like to see God? Not to see the image of God in the poor or the majesty of God in a mountain, but to actually SEE God. I’m guessing it would be a pretty frightening thing. It sure was for the children of Israel. In today’s first reading from Exodus 19, […]
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
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Deacon Tom Dubois, executive director of the National Association of Diaconate Directors calls in to shed some light on the permanent diaconate. Gus frequently gets emails from listeners expressing interest in the permanent diaconate but aren’t really sure what it all entails. Deacon Tom tells Gus and our listeners his story, his discernment process and what […]
Happy Grandparents’ Day!
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Happy Grandparents’ Day! Now I know that Hallmark doesn’t declare this today, but today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne. Tradition tells us that these were the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary; they were Jesus’ grandparents! (For the record, Joachim and Anne are not mentioned in the Scriptures.) As a […]
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
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After five years of being his producer, Gus finally invites Scooterman, aka Scott Shea (pictured below), to be his co-host for a day on Seize the Day. Scooterman sits down in the Conversion Corner and tells Gus and the listeners his reversion story. He’s a cradle Catholic who fell away when he was a teenager […]
The Example of St. James
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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 often known as James “The Greater,” only because he is mentioned first (before the other James) in the listing of the Apostles. Our first reading is from 2 Corinthians 4. […]
Monday, July 24, 2017
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Yesterday’s Gospel was taken from Matthew 13 where Jesus tells the gathered crowd a series of parables. Gus says his priest gave a terrific homily and asks listeners what their homily was like and whether or not they received any “spiritual nuggets.” And it wouldn’t be a Monday on Seize the Day with a Tell […]
Friday, July 21, 2017
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Gus sums up a recent Religion News Service article he read entitled “Catholicism’s Two-Party System,” which talks about how the liberal versus conservative cold war, which permeates American society, has also crept into our Church. Gus asks listeners if they believe that. And, it’s Friday so that means we take some time for prayer on […]
God Wins
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Ever ask God for a sign? Jesus has something to say about that in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 12. We’re back in Exodus, following the story of Moses for our first reading. After the Passover, Pharaoh agreed to let the children of Israel go. Shortly after they left, though, he changed his mind and […]
The Weeds and the Wheat
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Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 13 is the parable of the weeds and the wheat. A bad guy comes and sows weed seeds into a man’s wheat field. When the servants find out, they ask the master if they should pull the weeds. The master says that they will be separated at harvest time. Jesus […]