God Provides
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None of us are worthy of God’s mercy. It has always been thus. In the first reading today from Ezra 9, Ezra says as much. “From the time of our fathers even to this day great has been our guilt…And now, but a short time ago, mercy came to us from the LORD, our God…” […]
We are Family!
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In the first reading today from Ezra 6, we see an interesting relationship between “government” and “religion.” The kings of that time, Darius, Cyrus and Artaxerxes all allowed and encouraged the exiled Israelites to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Darius even ordered that they be compensated for their trouble! Can you imagine? In the Gospel […]
A New Gig
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Today is the Feast of St. Matthew. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, we see that his Jewish name was Levi. He was a tax collector. His fellow Jews would have considered him a sellout. In the Scriptures, they were always lumped together with “sinners.” In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 9, Jesus walks […]
First and Last
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Jesus’ Twelve Apostles were all men. That means there was a lot of testosterone around. In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 9, Jesus asks them what they were talking about on a journey. The answer shouldn’t surprise. “They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called […]
All Kinds of Soil
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St. Paul finishes up his first letter to Timothy in today’s first reading. In a sense, he tells Timothy to hang in there, keep the faith, persevere. Do it all for Christ Jesus. The Gospel reading today is the parable of the sower and the seed from Luke 8. When I read about the different […]
Of Love and Money
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St. Paul gives some very sound advice to Timothy in today’s first reading from 1 Timothy 6. More on that in a moment. Our Gospel reading today is short, but important. Luke tells us that Jesus was accompanied by the Twelve, and a number of women. Why would he mention this? Because Luke wanted all […]
Thursday, September 17, 2015
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Gus talked about the 2015 Republican Presidential Candidate Debate Round 2 this morning and asks listeners if there were any winners or losers. Later, Fr. Jerry Brown sits down with Gus in the Conversion Corner. He’s a former Episcopalian priest who wasn’t raised with any religion as a child. You can watch his recent appearance […]
Much Forgiven, Much Love
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St. Timothy must have been a fairly young man. Perhaps he was taking some heat for his lack of years. St. Paul exhorts him in today’s first reading from 1 Timothy 4. “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love faith and purity.” […]
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
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We’re one day closer to Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the United States of America so Gus asks his listeners if they’ve ever had a “Close Encounter of the Papal Kind.” Many listeners called in to talk about meeting or getting close to Pope John Paul II and/or Pope Benedict XVI in Rome or on […]
Where to Find Truth
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In our first reading today from 1 Timothy 3, St. Paul mentions “the pillar and foundation of truth.” Care to take a guess at what St. Paul said that was? We’ll talk about it in a moment. Our Gospel reading is from Luke 7. Here Jesus talks about how mixed up that generation was. They […]
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
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Rep. Diane Black calls in to the program today to talk about her Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, H.R. 3134, which she introduced this week in the House of Representatives. The legislation has the support of 80 original cosponsors and would place an immediate moratorium on all federal funding of Planned Parenthood for the span […]
Help in Our Sorrows
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Today the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. How appropriate that this comes the day after the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Our first reading, though, is for Tuesday of the 24th week in Ordinary Time, from 1 Timothy 3. St. Paul talks about the traits necessary for a […]
Monday, September 14, 2015
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We’re less than two weeks away from Pope Francis’ first-ever visit to the United States and Gus is getting ready. Ignitum Today writer Anne Marie Miller joins Gus to go over whether or not we’re ready for this historic event. Read her recent article here. Also, on his Facebook page, Gus shared a video of […]
The Cross
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Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. In the first reading today from Numbers 21, we see a bit of typology. God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Whenever someone looked at it, they would be healed of their bite from a serpent. This […]
Faith or Works?
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Today’s second reading from St. James is a treatise on faith and works. St. James says “faith without works is dead.” More on that in a moment. In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 8, Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” That reading ends with Jesus saying that we must take […]
Good and Rotten
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You probably think you’re a pretty big sinner. I know I do. I mean, I think I’m a pretty big sinner, not you! St. Paul knew that he was a big sinner. But he also knew that, through his conversion to Christ, he was an example of God’s goodness. In our Gospel reading from Luke […]
Ignorant No More
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 6, Jesus talks about removing the beam from your own eye before addressing the splinter in your brother’s eye. For our first reading, we begin St. Paul’s first Letter to Timothy. “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated […]
Thursday, September 10, 2015
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Austen Ivereigh is Gus’ guest today and he talks about the Syrian refugee crisis in Europe and the pope’s appeal to parishes throughout the continent to take in a family seeking asylum. Read Austen’s article here. And, since Gus is off tomorrow, he offers Prayer Time today to his listeners. Also, Bob Dunning joins Gus […]
Put On
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The Gospel of Christ can be tough to live by. I would say impossible without God’s grace. Take today’s Gospel reading, for example. Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” These are things that run counter to our nature, […]
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
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In the wake of the Vatican’s announcement yesterday that Pope Francis has reformed the marriage annulment process, Gus talks with Canon Lawyer Michael Ritty, of Canon Law Professionals, LLC, about the annulment process and how Pope Francis’ reform will affect it moving forward. Gus resumes the discussion with listeners who’ve been through the annulment process and […]
The Other Side of the Coin
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I’m a believer that we become what we think about. Apparently so is St. Paul. In today’s first reading from Colossians 3, he says, “…seek what is above” and “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” Sound advice. In the Gospel today from Luke 6, we begin the Sermon on the […]
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
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Gus continues a Monday tradition (even though it’s Tuesday) of Tell Me Something Good, where listeners share their blessings. Gus talked about how he and Michelle went to see the movie War Room over the holiday weekend. He gave it three out of four stars. Watch the trailer here. Fr. Jonathan Morris joined Gus to […]
Happy Birthday, Mother Mary!
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Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary…Mary’s birthday! Now, we don’t really know the exact day, date or year that Mary was born. We really don’t even know where she was born. In fact, we have no certainty at all about the details of Mary’s life before the […]
On Labor
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Happy Labor Day! I hope you are taking a day of R&R today. There are plenty of options for readings today. The link that I will provide is actually for Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time. But if you attend Mass today, you may hear different readings for Labor Day. The Gospel reading […]
Selective Hearing
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 7, a deaf man with a speech impediment is brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus restored his hearing and immediately his speech impediment was removed. Just as when Jesus restores the sight of blind people they represent us and our blindness, so too does this man represent us and […]
In It for the Long Haul
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Did you know that the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath? Of course you do. But the people of Jesus’ time had to be told that. We hear those words come from the mouth of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. In the first reading from Colossians 1, St. Paul reminds the people that […]
Friday, September 4, 2015
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Gus starts off talking about the arrest of Rowan, Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis for contempt of court for not issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples and gets listener reaction. Also, Fr. Thomas Haan calls in to the program. He was a star high school quarterback in Indiana in the early-2000s who played, for […]
Thursday, September 3, 2015
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Gus talks more on Pope Francis’ pastoral letter for the Year of Mercy, which allows priests to absolve women who have had abortion (previously, in some dioceses, only a bishop could absolve this sin) and he invites women and men to call in who’ve had an abortion experience. Also, Gus talks surveys and asks people to […]
A Good Bridge to Burn
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In today’s first reading from Colossians 1, we get a great dose of Christology – a message about who Christ truly is. In the Gospel reading from Luke 5, Jesus talks about the old and the new, patching an old cloak with new fabric, and putting new wine into old wineskins. In many places, the […]
I’m in Deep
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Today’s first reading is a beautiful prayer from Colossians 1. St. Paul reminds us that “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” In the Gospel today from Luke 5, Jesus gives Peter and the boys, […]
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
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Gus welcomes Chris White to the program. Chris is the associate director of Catholic Voices USA and he talks with Gus about the negative effects of a contraception-minded society. You can read about it in his latest article. In light of that, Gus asks listeners to call in who, at one point in their life, […]
Sharing Jesus
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Yet another treat in store for us! Today we begin a trip through St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians. As in many of his letters, St. Paul begins with an affirmation. He tells them of his prayers for them, and applauds them for their love and faithfulness. I can only hope that, if St. Paul […]
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
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Gus’ new book “A Minute in the Church: The Mass” drops today and he welcomes the author….Gus Lloyd…..to Seize the Day! Listen to the entire interview here. We also welcome Dr. Scott M. Sullivan to the Conversion Corner. Dr. Sullivan grew up in a non-denominational evangelical Christian household. To watch his recent appearance on the […]
Children of Light
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We hear more about Jesus’ return in our first reading today from 1 Thessalonians 5. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 4, we see Jesus casting out a demon from a man. The people are amazed and say, “For with authority and power he commands unclean spirits, and they come out.” […]
Now Available – A Minute in the Church: The Mass
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For most Catholics, the Mass is so familiar. We’re often very comfortable in the routine. We know when to sit, stand and kneel. We know the responses and the rituals. Many Catholics take great comfort in this. After all, we know all about the Mass. Or do we? When I reverted to Catholicism, I was […]
Monday, August 31, 2015
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Gus kicks off the week with Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser who talks about Planned Parenthood’s reaction to the Center for Medical Progress’ videos and how they’re planning to counter them. You can read more about it by clicking here. Also, Gus’ new book “A Minute in the Church: The Mass” drops tomorrow […]
He’s Coming Back
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Last week we heard numerous readings from near the end of Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus exhorted His disciples to stay awake. In today’s first reading from 1 Thessalonians 4, St. Paul explains why. In the Gospel reading today, we begin a journey through the Gospel of Luke. We pick up in chapter 4 where Jesus […]
Inside Out
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 7, Jesus talks about what makes a person unclean, or defiled. In this passage of Scripture, Jesus declares all foods clean. He says, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Jesus goes on, “from within […]
Passion of St. John the Baptist
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Today the Church celebrates the Martyrdom of John the Baptist. In the past it has been called the beheading of and the martyrdom 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 […]
Friday, August 28, 2015
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Today is the Feast of St. Augustine. Gus revives a long-standing tradition on Seize the Day of sharing the wisdom of St. Augustine. Gus had listeners call in and give him a date, where he turned to in his book, Augustine Day by Day, and read the reflection and prayer from that day. You can […]
God’s Will: Your Holiness
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In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins who are awaiting a wedding feast. Five of them were foolish, five of them were wise. The foolish ones did not bring enough oil for their lamps and when the bridegroom was delayed, they ran out of oil and did […]
Thursday, August 27, 2015
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Gus started the day recounting the events of yesterday morning when TV reporter Alison Parker and her cameraman Adam Ward were killed while live on the air. Gus told about how it was personal since his oldest son is in TV news. He then asked listeners who have lost a child to call and share […]
Like a Thief in the Night
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Today is the feast of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. St. Monica spent years praying for her pagan son to come to faith. Those prayers paid off, as Augustine became one of the greatest thinkers and saints in history. In the first reading today from 1 Thessalonians 3, St. Paul talks about praying […]
The Word at Work
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We’re back in 1 Thessalonians today for the first reading. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mathew 23, we continue to hear Jesus give it to the scribes and Pharisees, calling them hypocrites again and again. St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, “We too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving […]
How We Speak
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In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus has some not-so-nice things to say to the scribes and Pharisees. He refers to them as hypocrites, blind guides and blind Pharisees. All this while warning them about hypocrisy. In the first reading today we’re in 1 Thessalonians 2. St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians about how he and his companions […]
Rid of Duplicity
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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 […]
Bring Back the Awe!
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Most everywhere I speak, I ask for a show of hands from people who have someone in their lives who no longer goes to church or practices the faith. Every time I ask, it’s nearly unanimous. Almost every hand in the room goes up. It’s truly heartbreaking. Baptisms are down, marriages are down, Mass attendance […]
Do You Also Want to Leave?
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For the past three Sundays, we have been reading from John 6, the Bread of Life discourse. John 6 begins with Jesus feeding the multitude. Then it moves to Capernaum, where Jesus speaks again and again about eating His Flesh and drinking His Blood. After Jesus talked about eating His Flesh and drinking His Blood, […]
Lead by Example
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Even though she was not a daughter of Israel, Ruth is one of a few women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. We see how she wound up in the line of the Messiah in today’s first reading. In today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 23, Jesus warns the disciples not to be like the scribes […]
Ruth’s Example
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The Book of Ruth is one of the shorter books in the Bible. In today’s first reading, we meet Ruth. Ruth was King David’s great-grandmother. But the story of how that came to be is fascinating, and we see the beginning of it today. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 22, Jesus is asked which […]