Returning Insult for Insult
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When is the best time for someone to turn to the Lord? To give their life to Jesus? The answer is NOW! St. Paul says as much in our first reading today from 2 Corinthians 6. “Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” If you’re hesitating in any […]
Corpus Christi
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of The Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi. All of the readings today point to the Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith. The Gospel reading from John 6 is particularly poignant. I’ve read statistics that say that 65-75% of Catholics don’t believe in the Real […]
Ambassadors for Christ
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Remember the days when a man’s word was his bond? These days that seems a bygone era. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the importance of our words. “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One.” In today’s first reading from 2 Corinthians 5, St. […]
Friday, June 16, 2017
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Canon lawyer Jacqueline Rapp calls in today to answer divorce, remarriage and, especially, annulment questions from listeners. Also, Father’s Day is this Sunday so Gus invites listeners to call in an brag on their dads, husbands, sons; anyone in their lives who’s a dad. And, it’s Friday and that means Prayer Time on Seize the […]
Thursday, June 15, 2017
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Gus talks about the shooting yesterday in Washington D.C., at practice for a Congressional baseball games, which left Rep. Steve Scalise in critical condition and talks with listeners about if this was just an isolated incident or if this is endemic of a bigger societal problem. Later, Fr. Timothy Reid, a convert from the Methodist faith, […]
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
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Well, we’re one week away from the official start of summer and family vacations will be starting soon so Gus asks listeners where they go to mass on vacation and do they give to that church’s collection? Later, Gus talks about some sad news out of England that the rate of selective abortions for parents of […]
Radical Surgery for Sin
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What an awesome first reading today from 2 Corinthians 4. “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persectued, but not abondoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” This kind of language from St. Paul always gets me fired up! The world can kick us and beat us and […]
Fixing Our Relationships
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Freedom is a great thing. We all want to be free. How do we find freedom? St. Paul tells us in today’s first reading. “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” In our Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus says, “If you bring your gift […]
Tuesday, June 14, 2017
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Today is St. Anthony of Padua‘s feast day so Gus dedicates the show to him. After giving a little background on the revered saint, which includes being the patron saint of lost articles, people and souls, Gus listeners about a time in their lives when they lost something, prayed to St. Anthony and found it. […]
Called and Qualified
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Some people think that the New Testament is far removed from the Old Testament, that Jesus came to do away with everything in the old law and replace it. Funny, Jesus says just the opposite. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 5, He says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law […]
Monday, June 13, 2017
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Gus starts off eulogizing a dear friend of his who passed away last week, Marie Bobak, who was the funeral director at his old parish. Afterwards, Gus asks listeners to call in and share how and what they pray after communion. And, it wouldn’t be a Monday without a little Tell Me Something Good. Eternal rest […]
Fill the World with Sonshine!
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Ever get a word stuck in your head? Maybe a word or a phrase that you just can’t get out of your mind. Let me give you a suggestion for one today. We get it from our first reading from 2 Corinthians 1. The word is “Yes!” St. Paul says that “yes” has always been […]
Blessed are You
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For our first reading today we begin a journey through St. Paul’s second Letter to the Corinthians. Today’s reading is all about encouragement. Our Gospel reading today is the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5. We know them as the Beatitudes. Have you ever read the Beatitudes in relation to yourself? […]
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Our Gospel reading is John 3:16-18. John 3:16 may be the most well known Bible verse. Most people would at least claim to know the reference, if not what John 3:16 says. (By the way, it is “God so loved the world that he gave […]
No Pain, No Gain
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 12, a poor widow puts two small coins into the treasury of the temple. Rich people were coming in and putting large sums of money into the treasury. Jesus took note of this and said, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the […]
Friday, June 9, 2017
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Gus talks about a statement made recently by German Cardinal Walter Kasper about how the world needs a more “evangelical Catholicism and Catholic Protestantism” to build on unity grounded in baptism. After talking about his experience in an evangelical church, Gus takes suggestions from listeners on how we, as Catholics, can better do that. And, […]
Restored Sight
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We see in the Scriptures numerous stories of sight being restored. Bartimaeus and Saul come to mind immediately. Today in our first reading, we see another blind man getting his sight back. It is Tobit. In the Gospel from Mark 12, Jesus asks how the Christ could be the son of David. After all, David […]
Thursday, June 8, 2017
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Based on today’s first reading from Tobit, which talks about the marriage of Tobiah and Sarah, and how the two prayed together for its sanctity, Gus talks to listeners about the importance of couple prayer and what it can do for a marriage. Gus challenges his married, and dating, listeners to the 30-Day Prayer Challenge, where the two […]
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
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Gus talks to Matt Loboda whose daughter Joy made headlines earlier a few months back when she suffered a near drowning incident, which stopped her heart for 30 minutes. Miraculously, she was revived and has made a full recovery. Matt tells Gus the story. Afterward, Gus talks with listeners who’ve experienced a close call or near-death experience […]
The Importance of Couple Prayer
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There are many touching, beautiful prayers in the Scriptures. Today in our first reading from Tobit, we see a newly married couple praying together. If this doesn’t bring a tear to your eye, then perhaps you need a check up from the neck up. In the Gospel reading, Jesus is asked which is the greatest […]
Not God of the Dead
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In today’s first reading from Tobit 3, we’re introduced to one of the archangels, Raphael. God hears the prayers of Tobit and Sarah, and sends Raphael to carry out His will. In the Gospel reading from Mark 12, some Saducees come to Jesus with yet another trick question. They pose to him a scenario where […]
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
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Gus remembers his sister Nancy who died from cancer three years ago today under Gus and Michelle’s care. It still chokes him up just thinking about it. He later talks to listeners who were, or are, caregivers to a loved one with cancer. Also, Gus sits down in the Conversion Corner with Emily Stimpson Chapman, a […]
Caesar’s or God’s?
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In the Gospel reading from Mark 12, Jesus is asked by some Pharisees and Herodians about paying taxes. They try to trip Him up by asking, “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not? ” Jesus’ reply is quite well known to most people. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar […]
Monday, June 5, 2017
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Gus is back live from his Spain & Portugal pilgrimage and he talks about some of the things they did in their final couple days. He also talks about Pentecost Sunday and the start of Ordinary Time. Later, Gus tackles President Trump’s decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord last week and he goes […]
Do the Right Thing
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Welcome back to Ordinary Time! After forty days of Lent and fifty days of Easter, we return now to ordinary time. Our first reading today is the beginning of the book of Tobit. This is one of those books that is found in the Catholic Bible, but not in a Protestant one. (Unless it contained […]
Come, Holy Spirit, Come!
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Today is Pentecost Sunday. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the birthday of the Church. We see this event in the first reading from Acts 2. At Mass today, you’ll hear the Veni, Sancte Spiritus- sometimes called the Golden Sequence. I thought it appropriate to share today. Come, Holy Spirit, come! And […]
You Follow Me
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In Acts 28 today, we see Paul continuing in his ministry, even while in custody. Oh, that we could all have the evangelistic spirit of St. Paul! In the Gospel reading from John 21, Peter sees John coming toward him and Jesus and asks Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus’ reply is interesting. Jesus tells […]
The Big Question
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In the first reading today from Acts 25, Paul is in Caesarea awaiting trial. He is asked if he wants to go to Jerusalem to have his case heard. Paul declines, knowing that God is sending him to Rome. So Paul appeals his case to the Emperor. Our Gospel reading is from John 21, one […]
Thursday & Friday, June 1-2, 2017
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Gus’s pilgrimage in Spain and Portugal continues on. We’re all done with new shows for today and tomorrow, so Gus and the pilgrims can focus on their final days abroad, but we are playing some of our favorite moments from the past two weeks. Gus will be back Monday morning, live from Tampa so be […]
God’s Love
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Paul was seen by many as a rabble-rouser. In today’s first reading from Acts, he creates a stir between the Pharisees and the Sadducees over the resurrection of the body. Things get so heated that troops have to come in and rescue Paul before he gets torn to shreds. Then the Lord tells Paul that […]
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
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Gus kicks off today’s show by talking with his wife Michelle about her impressions of Portugal. She talks with Gus about walking the Camino de Santiago, praying the Rosary at Fatima and the several God moments she’s had over the course of the pilgrimage. Later, Gus talks with pilgrims Erica Choy and Cathy Leddy Codner […]
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 […]