The Prayer of Simeon
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Today is the fifth day in the Octave of Christmas. In our first reading from 1 John 2, St. John talks about light and darkness. He writes, “Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.” We need to examine our hearts and accept the light of Christ […]
Holy Innocents
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents. Who are the Holy Innocents? They are the children killed by order of Herod in Bethlehem right after the birth of Christ. We read about this today in the Gospel reading from Matthew 2. Matthew tells us that this fulfilled what had been said through […]
A Divine Institution
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The Sunday after Christmas is the Feast of the Holy Family. There are numerous options for readings today, all of which talk about family and relationships. Click on the link below to the readings. We would do well to read them all. The Holy Family is the perfect example of what a family is, and […]
Enduring to the End
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr. In the first reading from Acts of the Apostles, we see the story of Stephen’s martyrdom. And in the Gospel from Matthew 10, Jesus tells the disciples, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end […]
Christmas is Here!
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Christmas is here! Christmas is here! I can remember waking up VERY early on Christmas mornings when I was a kid and yelling that out to my brothers and sisters. We would go wake up Mom and Dad, probably much earlier than they would have liked, and attack the presents under the tree with reckless […]
Always Christmas Eve
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Today is Christmas Eve. Many people (myself and my family included) will go to Mass this afternoon or this evening for Christmas. Many will attend the beautiful Midnight Mass. Whenever you attend, I pray that you will be filled with blessings! I was just reading an interest study that said that only 47% of Americans […]
He is Coming
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The golden thread in today’s readings is Elijah. In the first reading from Malachi 3, the LORD says, “Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the LORD comes.” The Gospel reading from Luke 1 is the story of the birth of John the Baptist. Years later, Jesus assured His disciples […]
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
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Master Gunnery Sgt. Brad VanHorn joins Gus today on Seize the Day. He emailed Gus following his interview with Military Religious Freedom Foundation’s Chris Rodda where she defended her organization’s stance against prayer circles following Air Force Academy football games. Gus read his email on the air and today, he tells Gus about how he’s […]
Dedicated
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The Gospel reading today is from Luke 1. It is Mary’s great Magnificat. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has looked upon his lowly servant.” Beautiful! A bit of personal trivia…my wife and I are part of Teams of Our Lady. We pray the […]
Monday, December 21, 2015
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It’s our final installment of Project Christmas 2015 today on Seize the Day. Gus is joined by Cynthia Farrell, executive director of Children’s Dream Fund. We raised $11,710 in pledges for three different children. See below for descriptions. If you were unable to call in but would like to donate, click here. Gus also talks […]
Honoring Mary
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There are two options for a first reading today – from Song of Songs and Zephaniah. Both are beautiful and deserving of your meditation. In the Gospel reading from Luke 1, we see the scene of Elizabeth welcoming Mary into her home. First, Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit” when she uttered words that […]
Blessed Are You Among Women
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Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Christmas is right around the corner. In the first reading today, the Lord speaks through the prophet Micah, saying that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. And the Gospel reading from Luke 1 is the story of the Visitation, when Mary went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who […]
Made For a Purpose
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In the first reading today from Judges 13, we see the story of an angel coming to announce the birth of a child. The woman was barren, and the angel told her that this child was “to be consecrated to God from the womb.” He would serve a very special purpose for the Kingdom of […]
Friday, December 18, 2015
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Today was Project Christmas Phase III today on Seize the Day! Together, we raised $20,565 for Operation Once in a Lifetime! Founder Sgt. Patrick Sowers joined Gus and told the story of SSgt. Jonathan Bone, who passed away earlier this week suddenly, leaving behind a wife and four children. We also raised money for Sgt. […]
Dream, Dream, Dream
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Today in the first reading from Jeremiah 23, the Lord says, “Behold, the days are coming when I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is right and just in the land.” I’m sure that, looking at this prophecy, the people were […]
Thursday, December 17, 2015
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Gus talks with listeners today about personal miracles they’ve experienced over the course of their lives. We talk with parents who’ve lost children and experienced healing through a miracle and even a lady who witnessed a “miracle of the sun” in North Carolina when she was a child. We also revisit Gus’ debate yesterday with Chris […]
Lionhearted
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Today is one week before Christmas Eve. In the liturgy, we begin to see the unfolding of the Christmas story. The Gospel reading for today is the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel. It is the genealogy of Jesus. If you’ve ever had a difficult time pronouncing some of the names in this list, click here for […]
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
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Chris Rodda, research director at the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, joins Gus Lloyd to talk why their organization is trying to ban involuntary prayer circles at Air Force Academy football games. She tells Gus that these prayer circles are forced on students who don’t wish to participate, which Gus tells her he finds hard to believe. […]
Sharing the Faith
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 45, you get the sense that God has a message for the people. Five times God says, “I am the Lord, there is no other!” (Or something very similar.) Only God is God…get the message? In the Gospel reading from Luke 7, John sends two of his disciples […]
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
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Gus talks Christmas today. First, he talks about the surprisingly low number of Christmas cards he’s received so far this year. Then, he talks with listeners who’ve lost loved ones around this time of year. We got a very emotional call from Randy in Texas who lost his young daughter 21 years ago. Take a […]
Time for a Change
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A genuine encounter with Jesus changes a person. In today’s readings we read about people who have encountered God and changed. In the first reading from Zephaniah 3, we see that most of the people have rejected God. But the LORD says, “For then I will change and purify the lips of the peoples, that […]
Whose Authority?
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In the first reading today from Numbers 24, we read of a prophesy of Balaam. He prophesies about how a king would come from Jacob’s line. “His king shall rise higher, and his royalty shall be exalted.” He then goes on to speak this prophesy, “A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall […]
Gaudete Sunday
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Today is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. Today we light the pink, or rose, candle on the Advent wreath. It is called Gaudete Sunday because of the opening antiphon of the Introit Gaudete in Domino semper (Rejoice in the Lord always). The opening words of the second reading from Philippians 4 are these, “Rejoice […]
Our Lady, Our Mother
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. When the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on a hill in Tepeyac, Mexico, in December of 1531, she declared, “I am your most merciful Mother; I want to show my loving clemency and compassion to those who call upon me in their […]
Friday, December 11, 2015
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Gus talks with film director Andrew Hyatt about his recent offering “Full of Grace,” which will be released on DVD on January 5th. It is currently on an “Evenings of Reflection” tour. Click here to find it if it’s going to be shown at a parish near you! Also, Gus talks about a news story concerning a […]
The Way You Should Go
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Love always desires the good. God is love. Therefore, God always desires the good. He always wants what is best for us. He also knows that often what we want is not what is best for us. In the first reading from Isaiah 48, it’s put like this: “I, the LORD, your God, teach you […]
Thursday, December 10, 2015
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Rod Bennett, author of “The Apostasy That Wasn’t: The Extraordinary Story of the Unbreakable Early Church” is Gus’ guest today on Seize the Day. Rod and Gus talk about how the early Church was clearly helped divinely and how it still is in many ways. Afterwards, Gus talks with listeners who are recent Catholic converts about […]
Never Forsaken
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Today in the first reading from Isaiah 41, we get a greater understanding of God’s hand at work in our lives. God says, “Fear not, I will help you.” The responsorial, from Psalm 145, drives this home…”The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.” And in the Gospel reading from […]
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
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Project Christmas Phase II kicked off today with the Order of Malta’s Prison Ministry and is joined by Chairman Steve Caron, Fr. George Williams and volunteer Sharon Whiddon. We raised $4,000 in one hour. If you weren’t able to call in and would still like to donate, click here. Also, Gus asks listeners what their […]
Soar Like an Eagle
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We’re back in Isaiah for our first reading today. The final verse in today’s reading is Isaiah 40:31. I’ll talk about it in a moment. Our Gospel passage today is a short one, from Matthew 11. Jesus tells the people, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you […]
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
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Gus talks a lot about the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the commencement of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s feast day, Gus talks with listeners about what their mother and/or their Holy Mother means to them. For the opening of the Year of Mercy, Gus goes over […]
Immaculate Conception and Jubilee of Mercy
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Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Remember that today is a Holy Day of obligation. I hope you will make it a point to attend Mass. We have a double blessing today because we begin the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Let’s talk briefly today about what the Immaculate Conception is, and isn’t. […]
Monday, December 7, 2015
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Gus kicks off the week talking to Maureen Ferguson of the Catholic Association about the Senate’s vote to defund Planned Parenthood. She provides detail on who supported this and who didn’t and how the eventual veto by President Barack Obama won’t stifle the push to end abortion in this country. Then, Gus talks with documentary […]
God’s Got This!
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I’m hearing more and more about how so many people are frightened today. Not just because of terrorist attacks or random violence. Sure, that’s part of it, but it goes to something much deeper. Today’s readings give us hope and some powerful advice. In the first reading from Isaiah, we read this: “Strengthen the hands […]
Prepare the Way of the Lord
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Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. In the Gospel reading from Luke 3, we read about the ministry of John the Baptist. He is the one about whom the prophet Isaiah wrote, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’ ” That’s really […]
The Teacher Will Come
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As you read today’s first reading from Isaiah 30, I hope your mind is immediately drawn to Jesus. We see these prophesies so perfectly fulfilled in Jesus. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading today, we see Jesus sending out the Twelve, with authority. He tells them, “Without cost you have received; […]
Friday, December 4, 2015
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Gus talks to an angel today….literally. Fr. Fredy Angel, of the Diocese of Savannah, calls in to Seize the Day to talk about the methods he used to turn around the struggling Queen of Angels parish in Lakeland, Georgia. His story was recently profiled in Our Sunday Visitor. Also, Gus asks listeners if, in the wake of […]
Do You Really Believe?
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Once again, another theme runs through the readings for today. In the first reading from Isaiah 29, we read this…”And out of the gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” Be sure to read the rest of the reading, too. It is most beautiful! Our Gospel passage is from Matthew 9. Not […]
Thursday, December 3, 2015
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Gus reacts to the news in San Bernadino, California; the latest location of a mass shooting spree, at the hands of Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik, which left 14 people dead and 17 injured. Gus takes umbrage with the New York Daily News headline that read “God Isn’t Fixing This,” and asks callers what […]
Rock On!
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When you build a structure, a house or a building, it must have a firm foundation. Otherwise it may fall. The firmest of foundations is rock. This is the “golden thread” that runs through today’s readings. In the first reading from Isaiah 26, we read, “Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an […]
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
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Gus is joined by Rep. Diane Black this morning who talks about the unfair reaction the pro-life movement is facing in the wake of Robert Lewis Dear’s killings at the Planned Parenthood facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Listen to the full interview here. Afterwards, Dr. James Tonkowich sits down with Gus in the Conversion Corner. […]
Behold Our God!
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 15, Jesus feeds a great multitude. He says, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd…I do not want to send them away hungry.” The disciples gave Him seven loaves and a few fish. Jesus fed the whole crowd. Afterwards, there were seven baskets of fragments left […]
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
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Today, we begin Phase I of our annual Project Christmas. Each year, in the four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Gus has one charity on per week to raise money for needy individuals. Today, we welcome Angel Aloma, executive director of Food for the Poor, calls in to raise money for the poor in 17 […]
Judging Justly
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Advent is a great time to be (or become) a fan of the Old Testament. So many have the mistaken notion that the Old Testament is passe, or no longer valid. Psshh! We know that the New Testament is concealed in the Old, and Old Testament revealed in the New. We’ll be reading so many […]
Monday, November 30, 2015
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Gus opens the show by remembering his sister Phyllis who passed away early last week. Her health had been declining for some time, but it was rather unexpected. This is the third child that Gus’ mom has lost, and her oldest. We also welcome Monica Miller to the program. She’s the director of Citizens for a Pro-life Society. […]
Leaving It All Behind
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Today is the Feast of St. Andrew. He was the brother of Simon Peter. In today’s first reading from Romans 10, St. Paul asks a series of questions, ending with “And how can people preach unless they are sent?” St. Andrew was an Apostle. The word apostles means “one who is sent.” In today’s Gospel […]
Beware
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Today we begin a new year in the Church. Happy Advent! The world wants us to think that this is the Christmas season. But the Christmas season actually STARTS with Christmas! Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t get in the Christmas spirit. We should. But our mindset needs to go far beyond shopping and […]
Focus
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus exhorts the disciples to “Be vigilant at all times.” He talks about not letting “carousing and drunkeness and the anxieties of daily life” get in the way of being prepared for the return of the Lord. Sound advice, no? I don’t know about you, but sometimes I […]
Jesus’ Words
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In our first reading today from Daniel 7, the prophet is privileged to get a vision of heaven. He sees “One like a son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven.” It was Jesus. The One whose “kingship shall not be destroyed. In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 21, Jesus says, “Heaven and earth […]