My Weakness, His Strength
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In the first reading today from 1 Corinthians 3, we hear more about foolishness and wisdom. St. Paul advises us to become a fool. Unfortunately, I have that covered, though probably not in the way that St. Paul means it. In the Gospel reading from Luke 5, we see a miraculous catch of fish. After […]
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
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Catholic radio host, author and speaker Jon Leonetti, who took part in the Catholic Channel’s Mother Teresa documentary, calls in to talk about the soon-to-be saint and his free eBook “Beginners Guide To Mother Teresa of Calcutta: (Almost) Everything You Need To Know In 10,000 Words.” Afterwards, Gus asks listeners to call in and share their […]
God’s Co-Workers
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Jesus was a very busy guy. We see this in today’s Gospel reading from Luke 4. He heals Simon’s mother-in-law, He heals all the sick in the town and casts out many demons. When He tries to get a moment alone, the people track Him down and try to prevent Him from leaving their town. […]
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
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Fr. Leo Patalinghug calls in from the airport to talk about the Olive Mass, in which he’ll be participating this September. Also, he and Gus preview their pilgrimage to Rome, which begins this weekend. Afterwards, Gus talks about Mother Teresa and how she may be the most influential Catholic figure of the 20th century. Gus talks […]
Monday, August 29, 2016
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Gus is back from a week-long silent retreat at the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in the North Carolina mountains (Jonathan Creek pictured below) and he gets back in touch with his listeners by playing Augustine Day-By-Day with the listeners since he feast day was yesterday. Gus has a book of 365 sayings by St. Augustine […]
The Mind of Christ
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For “who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him?” But we have the mind of Christ. These are the last words of today’s first reading from 1 Corinthians 2. In this reading, St. Paul talks about understanding the things of the Lord. He juxtaposes “the natural man” with “the one […]
The Price of Truth
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Today the Church celebrates the Passion of St. John the Baptist. The Gospel reading is from Mark 6, the account of why and how John the Baptist was beheaded. It is a sad and grisly story, but one that we can learn much from. I encourage you to read it. Herod is something of a […]
Payback
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 14, Jesus is dining at the home of a leading Pharisee and notices how everyone is posturing for a position of honor. So He tells them a parable. He advises them not to go after places of honor lest they be embarrassed. He tells them to “go and take […]
Using Our Talents for the Kingdom
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Augustine. In the first reading today from 1 Corinthians 1, St. Paul says that “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong…” Being weak and foolish myself, I’m kinda liking this reading! […]
A Happy Fool
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins. Five of them are foolish and five of them are wise. They were all waiting to attend a wedding. The bridegroom was long delayed. When he finally arrived, five of them were ready, five were not. Read it and see […]
Monday, August 22 to Friday, August 26, 2016
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Gus is away on silent retreat this week, but Seize the Day is still live and talking! Fr. John Devaney and Tom Basile ably fill in for the incomparable Gus Lloyd. We’ll be talking with all sorts of people, including some Dominican friars, about the queenship of Mary, and, since the original Catholic Channel radio […]
Called to Fellowship
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Today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 24 is very Advent-ish. It begins with Jesus saying, “Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” For our first reading, we begin St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. The reading today ends with this: “He [God] will keep you firm to the […]
Saint Bartholomew
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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 […]
Predicting the End
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Jesus continues pronouncing woes on the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 23. For the first reading, we’re back in 2 Thessalonians, where St. Paul issues a warning. “We ask you with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling with him, not to be shaken out of […]
My Prayer for You
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Jesus was never afraid to confront evil and hypocrisy. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 23, He lights into the scribes and Pharisees, calling them “hypocrites, blind guides” and “blind fools.” Sometimes the truth hurts. The first reading today is from 2 Thessalonians 1. In it, St. Paul tells the Church what he prays for […]
The Narrow Gate
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 13, someone asks Jesus, “Will only a few be saved?” Jesus responds, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” “Enter through the narrow gate.” Enter where? I think it’s obvious that Jesus is talking […]
Our Priests as Fathers
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 23, we find a verse that many use to try to discredit the Catholic faith. Jesus said, “Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.” Some people will point to this verse and say, “See, you Catholics call your priests ‘Father!’ Jesus said […]
Friday, August 19, 2016
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Tammy Abshire, director of stewardship for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, calls in to talk about the torrential rains that have dumped nearly 7 trillion gallons of rain in that state since August 12th. Tammy talks about how it’s affected their parishes and schools, in addition to everywhere else in their community. If you would […]
The Spirit that Animates
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The toe bone connected to the foot bone. The foot bone connected to the ankle bone. Ever heard of dem bry bones? (It’s an old spiritual tune.) That song was written about today’s first reading! More in a moment. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is asked which commandment in the law is the greatest. Be […]
Thursday, August 18, 2016
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Gus talks with listeners about raising their children in the faith and how they’ve dealt with it when their kids turn away from it. Gus talks about how he stopped going to mass once he got his driver’s license and the circuitous route it took him back to God. Then, author Steven Liparulo calls in to […]
Wednesday, August 18, 2016
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Gus starts off by explaining his equipment malfunction, which caused him to be off yesterday and Monday. He also gets very deep on his 60 Second Reflection, which talks about God’s Justice in Jesus’ parable, featured in today’s Gospel, about the laborers in the vineyard who were paid a day’s wage even though some had […]
A Heart of Stone
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In today’s first reading from Ezekiel 36, God tells the people that He is going to take some corrective measures. We also hear the renewal of the covenant…”You shall be my people, and I will be your God.” The Gospel reading from Matthew 22 is the parable of a king throwing a wedding feast. He […]
God’s Justice
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Today’s first reading is one that should be required daily reading for priests and bishops. Through Ezekiel, God talks about some not-so-good shepherds. He is not pleased; and when He is not pleased, things don’t end well for those with whom He is not pleased. Pray for our bishops and priests, that they may be […]
Believing in the Impossible
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It seems the prince of Tyre thought an awful lot of himself – fancied himself a god. This didn’t sit well with the one true God. See what message God has for this guy in today’s first reading from Ezekiel 28. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 19, we pick up the story of the […]
Mary’s Assumption
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since it falls on a Monday this year, it is not a Holy Day of Obligation in the US. This is one of those days that is greatly misunderstood by many. So let’s talk about it, and hopefully clear up some misconceptions […]
Division and Jesus
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One of the titles of Jesus is Prince of Peace. Yet in today’s Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus says just the opposite. “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” He then goes on to tell how He will become a source of […]
What God Wants
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Jesus had a heart for children. Take a look at today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 19. He says, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” This is just one of the reasons why Catholics have always baptized their children. In today’s […]
Priestly Celibacy
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I today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 19, Jesus gives His teaching on marriage. In it, He speaks about those who have “freely renounced marriage for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.” This speaks directly to the practice of celibacy for priests and men and women religious. In light of that, I want to share […]
Thursday, August 11, 2016
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Gus spent the entire show today talking about mental illness. He shared about his own struggle with depression and how mental illness affects so many families. A main theme shared by many was that mental illness is just that – an illness. We must lose the great stigma attached to it and see it for […]
Forgiveness and Feelings
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Today in Ezekiel, the prophet is told to do some things in full view of the people as an example. He acts as one going into exile, showing the people what was about to happen to them. In the Gospel from Matthew 18, Peter asks Jesus how often he has to forgive a brother who […]
The Deacon
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Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence. Lawrence was a deacon who was martyred in the year 258. He was roasted to death on a gridiron and even told his tormentors to turn him over when he was done on one side. In honor of St. Lawrence, I want to honor deacons today. Here […]
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
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School is getting ready to start back up in Gus’ area, so he asks listeners to call in about the school calendar in their area. Today is the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. Gus asks listeners about the morality of that act. Yesterday, on the feast of St. Dominic, […]
Feasting on God’s Word
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 18, Jesus asks a question about a man who has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray. Jesus says, “Will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” God is always looking after us when we go astray – […]
Monday, August 8, 2016
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Every Monday, Gus does an episode of “Tell Me Something Good!” Listeners called in to share about their blessings and how God is at work in their lives. Share some good news with someone today! In light of Gus’ Scripture reflection on No More Temple Tax, Gus talks about money today. He asks what the […]
No More Temple Tax
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Today’s first reading is from the opening chapter of the Book of Ezekiel. In it Ezekiel sees a vision of heaven. It is truly an awesome sight. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 17, the collectors of the temple tax ask Peter whether Jesus pays the tax. When Peter walks into the room where Jesus […]
Be Prepared
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 12, Jesus talks about servants whose master has gone off to attend a wedding. They prepared themselves for his return. They were even ready should he return in the second or third watch of the night. Jesus then says, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour […]
A Look into the Future
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration. In the first reading, we see the origin of the title “Son of Man” from Daniel 7. It is a kind of prefiguring of the Transfiguration. In the second reading, St. Peter recounts the event as an eyewitness. And the Gospel is from Luke 9, the story […]
Friday, August 5, 2016
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Gus starts the hour talking about a restaurant we visited in Toronto, while covering the 134th KofC Supreme Convention, called The Burger’s Priest, which had a very Roman collared, priestly theme. Afterwards, he starts a couple rounds of Get to Know Me, where he chats with listeners and asks them a series of questions. Those […]
On Profit
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 16, Jesus asks a couple of questions. “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?” The answers would be none and nothing in that order. I want to reflect briefly on […]
Tuesday, August 1st to Thursday August 4th, 2016
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Gus was in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to broadcast live from the Knights of Columbus 134th Supreme Meeting. Gus spoke to many prominent members of the KofC, including Supreme Knight Carl Anderson (pictured below), KofC Chaplain Archbishop William Lori, Education Director for the KofC Museum Peter Sonski. He also talked with Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop […]
Peter’s Revelation
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In the first reading today from Jeremiah 31, we hear the LORD talking about a new covenant the he will make. “I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Is God’s law written on your heart? In today’s Gospel […]
Spiritual Stick-to-it-iveness
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God is always ready to give His people another chance. When His people turned their backs on Him, He allowed them to suffer the consequences. But in today’s first reading from Jeremiah 31, the Lord says, “With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore […]
“Come”
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In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 14, Jesus is walking on the water. What would you think if you were out in a boat and you saw someone walking toward you – on the water? You’d probably think you were seeing a ghost. The disciples of Jesus did. When Jesus tells them it is He, […]
Monday, August 1, 2016
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Today is Gus and Michelle’s 36th wedding anniversary! Gus says he and his bride Michelle weren’t religious when they got married but they did get married in a Catholic church. He believes that God worked through that sacrament to reach them and, had it not been for their Church wedding, they probably wouldn’t be married today. Gus […]
Feeding the People
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An interesting story in our first reading today from Jeremiah 28. Hananiah was a prophet in the time of Jeremiah. He prophesies before the people and before Jeremiah. But God tells Jeremiah that Hananiah’s prophesy was a false one. This didn’t end well for Hananiah. In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 14, Jesus feeds […]
Greed is Good?
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 12, Jesus says, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Wow! How often do we lose sight of that? Way too often, I’m afraid. It makes me think of how people often identify themselves. I think […]
Innocent Blood
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More prophet talk for us today. In the first reading, the priests and prophets want Jeremiah put to death. But Jeremiah tells them, “If you put me to death, it is innocent blood you bring on yourselves.” In the Gospel, we read about more innocent blood, that of John the Baptist. Matthew recounts the story […]
Friday, July 29, 2016
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Gus talks with Kristen Eck, the woman who missing seminarian Brian Bergkamp (pictured below) rescued while kayaking, which presumably cost him his life. Kristen explains that she was friends of friends of Brian’s and only met him that morning and that he seemed confident and at peace the entire time he was saving her. News did break […]
Serving Like Martha
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Today we celebrate the feast of St. Martha. As per ususal, 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. […]
Thursday, July 28, 2016
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Gus is back from three sick days and explains to his listeners his heart scare last Sunday and asks listeners if a health scare ever changed their attitude about certain things. Later, SiriusXM White House Correspondent Jared Rizzi calls in from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia to talk about the what the mood is like […]