Giving What is Holy to Dogs
Posted on
In our first reading today we find ourselves back in the Book of Genesis, reading about Abram and Lot. For our Gospel reading, we’re back in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. What I want to reflect on today will be difficult for some to hear, and will certainly put some people off. […]
Monday, June 26, 2017
Posted on
Unfortunately for Gus, he’s being going to a lot of funerals lately so it’s given him reason to think what he would like the liturgy to be for his, including readings and songs. He invites listeners to call in and share their funeral plans. And, it wouldn’t be a Monday on Seize the Day without a […]
Judge Not
Posted on
In the first reading today we find ourselves in Genesis 12. We see the LORD telling Abram, “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” So at the tender age of 75, Abram departs. In the Gospel from Matthew 7, Jesus says, […]
Priceless
Posted on
Have you ever felt worthless? I suspect we all struggle with those feelings from time to time. Nothing could be further from the truth. We see this in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 10. Jesus tells the disciples how precious they are in the sight of God. Now, his “compliment” may not sound so special […]
John the Baptist
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the Nativity of John the Baptist. In the first reading today from Isaiah 49, we see the messianic prophesies, all of which certainly could be attributed to John the Baptist. In the second reading from Acts 13, St. Paul talks about how John heralded the word of salvation. And the Gospel […]
Friday, June 23, 2017
Posted on
Gus jumps into Friday prayer time right off the bat this morning, praying for the needs of all his listeners. Trent Horn, an apologist with Catholic Answers, called in to talk about his new book, Why We’re Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope and Love. You can get a copy of the book here. Gus […]
Jesus’ Heart
Posted on
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus speaks of His heart in the Gospel reading from Matthew 11: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and […]
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Posted on
Gus gives an update on David Daleiden, the man behind the undercover Planned Parenthood videos which show high-ranking PPFA official bartering for the sale of fetal organs and tissue, which is illegal. A The San Francisco Superior Court dismissed 14 felony counts against Daleiden and the Center for Medical Progress, which had been filed by […]
A Different Gospel
Posted on
Apparently there were some preachers coming through Corinth that were preaching a gospel different from the one that St. Paul had been preaching and teaching. And St. Paul addresses this in 2 Corinthians 11. We’ll talk about that shortly. The Gospel reading today is from Matthew 6, where Jesus teaches us how to pray. We […]
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Posted on
Gus plays the clip of his on-air flub yesterday, during the Prayer to St. Michael, and laughs incessantly for about two minutes. He invites listeners to call in and he quizzes them on mass prayers. He starts a prayer that we either hear or say at every Sunday mass and asks the caller to finish […]
God Supplies
Posted on
If you read today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 6, you might think it is Ash Wednesday. It’s not, but this is the exact same reading we hear every Ash Wednesday. Jesus teaches about the three pillars of Lent, almsgiving, prayer and fasting. In today’s first reading from 2 Corinthians 9, we see what may be […]
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Posted on
Gus shared the story of a federal judge ruling that a large white Latin cross in a park in Pensacola, FL had to be taken down. Gus then asked listeners if they thought Satan was behind this. Find the story here. Gus then spoke with Daniel Mattson, author of Why I Don’t Call Myself Gay. […]
Monday, June 19, 2017
Posted on
Gus reads an email from a listener who happens to be a mechanic who says he discovered Seize the Day from a customer who left it on in his car. Inspired by that, Gus asks listeners if there’s a particular app or Web site or other resource that helps them in their faith and how […]
Genuine Love
Posted on
Love is at the core of the message of Jesus. We see this clearly in both of our Scripture passages in today’s Mass. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 5, Jesus tells us we must love our enemies. And in the first reading from 2 Corinthians 8 St. Paul has words that test the genuineness […]
Returning Insult for Insult
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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!
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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?
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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!
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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
Posted on
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 […]