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 […]
Monday, May 1, 2017
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Gus starts off talking about the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, which is today. He goes a little bit into the history. The feast day was begun in 1955, by Pope Pius XII, who installed it as a counter measure towards the rise of communism. Several communist nations celebrated the worker every May 1st, […]
What Are You Working For?
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St. Stephen is considered the “proto-martyr” or first martyr. In today’s first reading from Acts, we see St. Stephen being put on trial, with many false witnesses coming to testify against him. In the Gospel, we continue with John 6. We hear Jesus say to the people, “Do not work for food that perishes but […]
The Importance of Scripture
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In today’s first reading from Acts 3, St. Peter talks about the empty tomb. And in today’s Gospel from Luke 24, Jesus appears to two of His disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. After Jesus was made known to them “in the breaking of the bread,” They said, “Were not our hearts burning within us […]
Thank a Deacon!
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For today’s Gospel reading, we’re back in John 6. The disciples are out on a boat when they see Jesus walking toward them on the water. It was dark and naturally the disciples had never seen anything like this before, so they were afraid. But Jesus calms their fears, saying, “It is I. Do not […]
Closed Doors, Open Windows
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In our Gospel reading today, we begin a journey through John 6. Later in the chapter we will be reading and reflecting on the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus’ principle teaching on the Eucharist. But at the beginning of John 6, we read today about a miraculous feeding of the multitudes. Coincidence? I think not. […]
How Much of the Spirit Do You Want?
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In today’s first reading from Acts 5, Peter and the Apostles were called on the carpet by the Sanhedrin for teaching in the name of Jesus. Their response? “We must obey God rather than men.” Words for us to live by. In the Gospel reading from John 3, we see a very important thought from […]
Personalizing John 3:16
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In today’s first reading from Acts 5, we see the first of numerous jail breaks in the Acts of the Apostles. Seems that the authorities wanted to keep the Apostles silent, to stop them from preaching Jesus. So they kept throwing them in the pokey. But God would have none of it. So He sent […]
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
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Catholic author Bret Thoman joins us from Italy where he is in the midst of walking the Camino of Saint Benedict, a walking trail from St. Benedict’s birthplace, Norcia, to the monastery where he died and where his body is kept, Montecassino. He’s doing this to draw awareness to the damage caused by last year’s devastating earthquake […]
Monday, April 24, 2017
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Over the weekend, one of Gus’s nieces got married. Also, his daughter and son-in-law celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary over the weekend. Gus talks with listeners about their wedding day memories. And, it wouldn’t be a Seize the Day Monday without a little Tell Me Something Good!
Resist the Devil
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Today is the Feast of St. Mark. Mark was a cousin of Barnabas, accompanied St. Paul on his first missionary journey and later went with him to Rome. He was a disciple of St. Peter whose teaching was the basis for Mark’s Gospel. The Gospel reading today is the end of Mark’s Gospel, where Jesus […]
Born Again in Baptism
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Another awesome first reading today from Acts 4. After Peter and John were released, the disciples all got together and prayed, “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness.” The Scripture says “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak […]
Sharing God’s Mercy
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Today, the second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. So, rather than do a reflection on the daily Scriptures (I’ll trust you to do that on your own!), I thought we could take just a moment to reflect on God’s mercy. If you do a search of the Scriptures, you will find hundreds of […]
Holy Boldness
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In Acts today, we see Peter and John before the Sanhedrin saying, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” And in the Gospel from Mark 16, Jesus tells the Eleven to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Peter and John give […]
Friday, April 21, 2017
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Billy Kangas sits down with Gus in the Conversion Corner. Billy was raised in the Lutheran faith and his conversion began when he started asking himself tough questions about the nature of authority in his own denomination, but couldn’t quite buy the idea of papal authority. Gradually, he came around. Check out Billy’s recent appearance on […]
A Fishy Number
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In today’s reading from Acts 4, Peter and John spend the night in the clink and the next day they proclaim Jesus to the powers that be. The Scripture tells us that Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” As we should be! In the Gospel reading from John 21, the disciples have an encounter […]
Thursday, April 20, 2017
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Today, Gus talks about the First Reading from today’s mass, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, where St. Peter, at Solomon’s portico, addressed those in attendance about Jesus and how they handed him over to Pilate in their ignorance. Afterwards, Gus talks with listeners about times in their lives when they were ignorant in […]
Ignorance is Bliss?
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You’ve heard the old expression “Ignorance is bliss.” In the first reading today from Acts 3, St. Peter refers to the people’s ignorance. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read about what happened right after the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus makes […]
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
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Gus talks about two suicides that took place over the last two days. First, former NE Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was found hanging in his jail cell this morning. Second, Steve Stephens, the Facebook killer who killed 74-year-old Robert Godwin (pictured below) in cold blood and posted the video on Facebook, took his own life during a […]
Emmaus and the Eucharist
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They have an encounter with the risen Jesus, but don’t recognize Him, until “he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” What does this mean? As Catholics, we believe that at Mass, […]