Fruit for the Kingdom
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Today’s first reading from Genesis 37 is the story of Joseph being sold out by his brothers. The brothers were jealous of him because he was the favored son of Israel, their father. Originally the plan was to kill him. But one of the brothers had a fit of conscience and nixed that plan. So […]
Where Riches Can Lead
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In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 16, Jesus tells the Pharisees a story about a beggar named Lazarus and a rich man. Both of them die and wind up in opposite places. More on that in a moment. In our first reading from Jeremiah 17, the Lord curses the man who trusts in human beings, […]
The Cost
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Despite what you may have heard, Jeremiah was not a bullfrog. He was a prophet. And because of that, people turned against him. In today’s first reading, we see that. Even though Jeremiah stood in the gap to plead for the people, they plotted against him to kill him. In the Gospel reading from Matthew […]
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
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Gus begins with confession today. He didn’t make one, because there wasn’t a priest around, but he did ask listeners what the longest they went without going to confession. We also hear from Catholic filmmaker and director Sean Bloomfield and his new Medjugorje video contest where Sean will select five individuals to visit Medjugorje, a village in […]
Let Us Set Things Right
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I don’t know about you, but I find that, more often than not, something is not quite right in my relationship with God. It is always my fault, this I know. But I also know that God is always ready and willing to patch things up. Our first reading today from Isaiah 1 speaks to […]
Lenten Transfiguration
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Today’s Gospel reading is Mark’s version of the Transfiguration. This is when Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to the top of the mountain (the very same mountain that we read about in the first reading) and reveals His heavenly glory. Moses and Elijah appear with him. And a voice comes from a cloud […]
Perfectly Merciful
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I’m always struck by one of the verses in today’s first reading from Deuteronomy 26. “And today the Lord is making this agreement with you: you are to be a people peculiarly his own.” I love that phrase, “peculiarly his own.” Have you ever thought of yourself that way? As “peculiarly his own?” If not, […]
Friday, February 27, 2015
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It’s Friday so that means it’s time to pray. Gus offers an extended Prayer Time for his listeners. And, Dr. Ian Murphy sits down with Gus in the Conversion Corner. Dr. Murphy is a former Baptist minister who converted to the Catholic faith in 2004. Watch Dr. Murphy’s appearance on the Coming Home Network by […]
Reconciliation Before Worship
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Have you ever had a child say to you, “That’s not fair!” We hear a similar refrain coming from the people in today’s first reading from Ezekiel 18. Phrased as a question, it might sound like this: What do mean we have to repent? God then tells them the benefits of repentance. In our Gospel […]
Thursday, February 26, 2015
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The restaurant chain Red Robin has an open invitation for Pope Francis to come to the U.S. and try one of their Wild Pacific Crab Cake Burgers. The company said “If His Holiness accepts and visits any U.S. location between February 18th and April 2nd, they will offer the Wild Pacific Crab Cake Burger to […]
Asking for Help
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It’s common knowledge that men don’t like to ask for directions. I guess in the age of the GPS, that problem has been all but eliminated. Asking for help, for men or women, is often a very difficult thing to do. We fancy ourselves strong and independent. I can handle it! In the first reading today […]
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
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Gus talks homilies this morning on Seize the Day; in particular, have you ever heard one that changed you? Did it seem like the priest or deacon was talking directly to you? Also, Catholic columnist Melinda Selmys calls in to talk about mass as nourishment rather than only as an obligation. You can read Melinda’s column […]
A Simple Message
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We have two interesting readings today that complement each other. Our first reading is from Johah 3. Jonah stops running from the Lord and finally sets out for the great city of Nineveh. He goes and preaches repentence. The people heed the words of the prophet. The king proclaims a fast, and God relents from […]
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
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Gus recounts a story he heard from a woman at a parish mission the other day who told him that her mother left the Church 35 years ago because she was treated very poorly by a priest. It prompted Gus to ask listeners to call in who left the Church and tell him why. We got several […]
The Word of God
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What a beautiful reading today from Isaiah 55. We’ll talk about it in a moment. Our Gospel reading today from Matthew 6 is where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray. He teaches them the “Our Father.” But that’s not the end of the story. Immediately after the prayer, Jesus tells them, “If you forgive men […]
Monday, February 23, 2015
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Every Monday Gus does his “Tell Me Something Good” segment. As always, people shared stories of God’s goodness and grace today. Gus welcomed Greg and Lizzy Boudreaux back to the show to talk about the release of their new EP, Now That I Have Love. Gus played some tracks from the EP. If you’d like […]
Sheep or Goat?
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In the first reading today from Leviticus 19, Moses gives the people instructions from God on how to conduct their lives. It sounds very similar to the Ten Commandments. It ends with the great commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In the Gospel reading from Matthew 25, we see a familiar story from […]
Temptations of the Devil
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Today is the First Sunday of Lent. Our Gospel reading is from Mark 1. St. Mark recounts the forty days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before He began His public ministry. While He was in the desert, Satan came to tempt and test him. St. Mark’s version is very short, but […]
Seeing the Doctor
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We hear more today about things that are pleasing to God in our first reading from Isaiah 58. The Lord also talks about how we should conduct ourselves on the sabbath. “If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice – Then you shall delight in the […]
Friday, February 20, 2015
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Fr. Burke Masters calls in to the program to talk about his conversion and vocation story. Fr. Burke is the vocations director in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois and a Catholic speaker. He and Gus will be speaking at the Man Up Conference in Pembroke Pines, Florida on Friday, February 27th. You can learn more […]
A Pleasing Fast
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We often think of fasting as abstaining from food. Make no mistake about it, this is a good thing – IF we are doing it with the right intentions for the right reasons. But in our first reading today from Isaiah 58, we read about true fasting. More on that in a moment. In the […]
Thursday, February 19, 2015
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Gus gets off to a cold start today! Looking at the cold temperatures throughout the nation, Gus asks listeners to call in and tell him how cold it is in their “neck of the woods,” to quote famous Today Show weatherman Al Roker. Next, Gus is joined by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and his […]
The Choices We Make
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In our first reading today from Deuteronomy, Moses tells the people what they must do in order to enter the promised land. Obey the commandments of the Lord, love Him, walk in his ways. “Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding […]
Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2015
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Happy Ash Wednesday! Today Gus talked about all things Ash Wednesday and Lent, including the rules for fasting for Catholics. Gus also read Pope Francis’ Lenten Message for 2015. If you’d like to read this beautiful message, click here. Gus welcomed Fr. Mike Van Sloun, pastor of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Wayzata, MN to talk […]
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
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Gus is helping everybody get ready for the start of Lent. He asks listeners what they’ve given up or taken on in Lents past, that were particularly fruitful, in an attempt to inspire other listeners who may be struggling with what sacrifice they’re going to make for 2015. Also, in the spirit of the season, […]
Return to Me
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Is it just me, or does Lent seem to creep up on you each year? It’s Ash Wednesday already! If you haven’t yet figured out what to do this Lenten season, today would be a good time to pray about that. Some great ideas come right from Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. Almsgiving, prayer and […]
Understanding Jesus
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We see some tough questions from Jesus in today’s Gospel reading. More in a moment. For our first reading, we’re in Genesis 6 and 7, reading about Noah. Everyone else on earth was evil, so God decided to start over again with Noah and his family. When Jesus tells the disciples, “Watch out, guard against […]
My Brother’s Keeper?
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We have a very short Gospel reading today from Mark 8. The Pharisees are looking for a sign from Jesus. But Jesus tells them that “no sign will be given this generation.” What they failed to realize is that the sign was standing right in front of them. A good lesson for us to remember: […]
We are Lepers
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In the first reading today from Leviticus 13, we read about what will be done with lepers. He “shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” In the Gospel reading from Mark 1, […]
Not My Fault!
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In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 8, we read about a miracle. Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. And after everyone had eaten their fill, they picked up the fragments left over and got seven baskets full. Now that’s love! In the first reading today from Genesis 3, God […]
The Deceiver
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Satan is really good at one thing: deception. More on that in a moment. Ancient prophesies said that the Messiah would come and make the deaf hear and the mute speak. Guess what Jesus does in today’s Gospel reading from Mark 7. For the first reading today from Genesis 3, we’re back in the Garden […]
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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Gus continues his celebration of National Marriage Week by asking listeners how they met their spouse and whether or not faith played any role. Also, Father Joshua Johnson, aka the Rapping Priest, calls in to the show to tell his fascinating vocation story. Father Joshua is one of the two priests featured in Ascension Press‘ […]
Man, Woman, Marriage
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Did you know that there are two creation accounts in Genesis? We saw the first part of the second story of creation yesterday. Today we see the more complete version of God making a partner for the man. “The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.’ ” He then […]
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
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Gus starts off today talking about the upcoming feature film “50 Shades of Gray” with syndicated Catholic radio host and author Teresa Tomeo and just how it glamorizes dysfunctional sexual relationships and objectifies women. Teresa has addressed that subject in her book “Extreme Makeover.” You can order the book and learn more about Teresa by clicking here. […]
Don’t!
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Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 7 has had a profound effect on me. Jesus tells the disciples that it’s not what one puts into the mouth that defiles (thus declaring all foods clean), but it is what comes out of us that defiles. Read the list and see if any of these things ever come […]
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
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With NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams still in the news for “misremembering” his helicopter being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade during the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Gus asks listeners their thoughts. Is this a big deal or not? Should Brian Williams be forgiven and be allowed back in the anchor seat? Gus also talks […]
The Lips and The Heart
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In the first reading today from Genesis 1 and 2, we read the rest of the creation account, days five through seven, including the first account of God creating man. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them.” In today’s Gospel reading from Mark […]
Monday, February 9, 2015
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Lino Rulli, the Catholic Guy, stopped by Gus’ studio in Tampa, affectionately referred to as “the Bunker” by Lino, and spent a whole hour talking and gabbing with Gus about all things Catholic, including why Lino has such a hard time getting to mass all the time. And, Sister Briege McKenna calls in to Seize the Day […]
In the Beginning
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Today for our first reading, we begin at the beginning. Genesis 1. “In the beginning…” We’ll be in the book of Genesis for the next couple of weeks. Today we read about days 1-4 in the creation story. More in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Mark 6, we see Jesus once again healing. […]
Time for Prayer
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Jesus was a busy guy. It seems He was always on the go – preaching, teaching, healing, feeding. Yet we see that He always took time for prayer. In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 1, Jesus spends all night healing people and casting out demons. One might guess that He got very little sleep. After […]
A Sacrifice of Praise
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Today we finish up the Letter to the Hebrews. I don’t know about you, but I think it has been a great time of learning during our time in Hebrews. Today the sacred author tells us to “continually offer God a sacrifice of praise…” More on that in a moment. In our Gospel reading from […]
Friday, February 6, 2015
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Inspired by today’s first reading (Heb 13: 1-8), which says, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels,” Gus asks listeners to call in if they ever had an “angelic encounter.” Also, in today’s Gospel reading, we hear the story of the imprisonment and beheading of St. John the […]
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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Gus talks about distractions at mass today. It’s something he always deals with and he asks listeners to call in who struggle with the same thing and offer what they do to overcome them. Also, we welcome a couple priests onto the show. First, we’ve talked about healing a lot on Seize the Day this […]
Entertaining Angels
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Today’s Gospel reading from Mark 6 is the story of the beheading of John the Baptist. Sad and tragic, yes, but a great story for us about standing up for truth no matter the consequences. There’s a very interesting line in today’s first reading from Hebrews 13. “Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some […]
FROG
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Invisible realities can be tough to comprehend. We tend to only focus on the concrete – that which we can see and hear and touch. But there is so much more. We get a hint of that in today’s first reading from Hebrews 12. This passage often reminds me of Mass. If we could see […]
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
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Gus welcomed Martin Pistorius to the Catholic Channel studios in New York City today for a one-on-one interview about his harrowing ordeal. Martin contracted meningitis as a young boy, which left him in a paralytic, vegetative state for 12 years, completely aware of his surroundings but unable to communicate. Eventually, Martin’s aromatherapist discovered his cognitive abilities […]
Discipline
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Today we’re going to talk about discipline. Not a fun topic, I know. If you clicked over to another web site right now, I wouldn’t blame you! But in today’s first reading from Hebrews 12, discipline is a main theme. So talk about it we must. In the Gospel reading from Mark 6, Jesus is […]
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
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Inspired by today’s Gospel reading (Mark 5: 21-43), which recounts the story of Jesus’ healing of the synagogue leader Jairus’ daughter, Gus talks about miracle healings and asks listeners what role illness and healing has played in their respective spiritual journeys. Also, Lorraine and Chris Wallace stop by the Catholic Channel studios to talk about her […]
Faith and Healing
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In today’s first reading from Hebrews 12, the Sacred Author tells us “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” A wonderful reminder that we are never alone. The angels and saints are constantly interceding for us. Take comfort in that, my friend! In the Gospel reading today from Mark 5, we see […]
Monday, February 2, 2015
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Gus talks Super Bowl commercials today! He asks listeners to call in and tell how they felt about this year’s batch. Gus’ favorite, by the way, was the Snickers ad with Danny Trejo and Steve Buscemi. Watch it by clicking here. We also hear from John Michael Talbot, prolific Catholic musician and founder of the Brothers […]