Closed Doors, Open Windows
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In our Gospel reading today, we begin a journey through John 6. Later in the chapter we will be reading and reflecting on the Bread of Life discourse, Jesus’ principle teaching on the Eucharist. But at the beginning of John 6, we read today about a miraculous feeding of the multitudes. Coincidence? I think not. […]
Thursday, May 1, 2014
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Today, Gus revisits the discussion brought forth yesterday by Fr. Dwight Longenecker about a married priesthood. Would you, as a parishioner, be willing to contribute more to your parish collection in order to fund a married priest’s family? Catholic documentary producer Jeffrey Robb calls in to talk about how his latest project was removed from […]
Obedience
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There is a theme today in the readings: obedience. We hear Peter and the Apostles talk about it in the first reading from Acts 5. And in the Gospel reading from John 3 we read, “Whoever disobeys the Son will not see life.” Peter and the Apostles are dragged before the Sanhedrin, the high court […]
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
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Today, Gus talks about traditional clerical garb, i.e., nun’s habits, priest cassocks, etc., and he asks his listeners what they think when they see that in public. Gus also welcomes Fr. Dwight Longenecker, National Review contributor, to talk about his recent blog post about the cost of the married priesthood. To read Fr. Longenecker’s post, […]
The Good News
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In today’s first reading from Acts 5, we see the first of numerous jail breaks in the Acts of the Apostles. Seems that the authorities wanted to keep the Apostles silent, to stop them from preaching Jesus. So they kept throwing them in the pokey. But God would have none of it. So He sent […]
Tuesday, April 29, 2013
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Today, Gus talks Catholic statistics…particularly emerging Catholic adults ages 18-23, which prompts him to ask his listeners what their experience was following confirmation. Did they grow in faith or did they fall away for a time? To check out the statistics Gus quoted on today’s Seize the Day, click here. Also, Gus welcomes Devin Rose […]
Born of the Spirit
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We see in our first reading today from Acts 4 that the first community of believers was “of one heart and mind.” Jesus prayed for unity among His disciples. The Church still prays for unity today. May all of us who believe in Jesus be of one heart and mind. In the Gospel reading today […]
Monday, April 28, 2014
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It’s the day after the canonizations of Pope St. John XXIII and Pope St. John Paul II. Now, there’s talk that Pope Paul VI (pope from 1963-1978) may possibly be canonized this October. Gus asks if it’s possible to canonize someone too quickly. Should a certain amount of time pass or are you OK with […]
Monday, April 28, 2014
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It’s the day after the canonizations of Pope St. John XXIII and Pope St. John Paul II. Now, there’s talk that Pope Paul VI (pope from 1963-1978) may possibly be canonized this October. Gus asks if it’s possible to canonize someone too quickly. Should a certain amount of time pass or are you OK with […]
Are You Born Again?
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Another awesome first reading today from Acts 4. After Peter and John were released, the disciples all got together and prayed, “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness.” The Scripture says “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak […]
God’s Mercy
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Today, the second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. So, rather than do a reflection on the daily Scriptures, I thought we could take just a moment to reflect on God’s mercy. If you do a search of the Scriptures, you will find hundreds of references to the mercy of God. Think about it…if […]
God’s Mercy
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Today, the second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. So, rather than do a reflection on the daily Scriptures, I thought we could take just a moment to reflect on God’s mercy. If you do a search of the Scriptures, you will find hundreds of references to the mercy of God. Think about it…if […]
The Gift to Proclaim
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Today in Acts 4, the Sanhedrin comes to the conclusion that something astonishing happened through Peter and John. But just to be safe, they tell them not to ever again speak of the name of Jesus. Peter responds with, “It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” Of […]
Friday, April 25, 2014
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This Sunday, Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II officially become saints in the Catholic Church. Gus asks his listeners just what the pope means to them? Do you closely follow or study popes or don’t you? Is it something that you have strong feelings about or no feelings at all? Also, it’s Friday so […]
Following God’s Instructions
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Our salvation has a name. That name is Jesus. In today’s first reading from Acts 4, St. Peter makes that message very clear to the authorities who were questioning him. “There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to […]
Thursday, April 24, 2013
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In light of this past weekend’s Easter mass, Gus asks his listeners if they’ve ever been to mass with family or friends who are Catholics, but not practicing. If they get in the communion line, do you say anything or do you just let it pass? Also, Gus welcomes Caroline Brennan, regional information officer for […]
Our Ignorance
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You’ve heard the old expression “Ignorance is bliss.” In the first reading today from Acts 3, St. Peter refers to the people’s ignorance. More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading from Luke 24, we read about what happened right after the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus makes […]
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
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Today, Gus plays an encore broadcast of Canonization 101: The Making of a Saint, which focuses on the Catholic Church’s two newest saints, Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Their canonization date is this Sunday, April 27th. Also, Gus welcomes Edward Clancy, director of evangelization and outreach for Aid to the Church in […]
A Greater Gift
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Another great story from Acts 3 for our first reading today. We’ll talk about that in a moment. The Gospel reading from Luke 24 is one of the most interesting stories in the New Testament. It is the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. After spending time with Jesus and not […]
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
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On this Tuesday after Easter, Gus opens up the phone lines to “newly minted” Catholics; that is, those who were welcomed into the Church this past weekend on the Easter Vigil. Gus even hears from a caller who was so moved by the Easter Vigil mass he attended, that he’s seriously considering going into the […]
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
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On this Tuesday after Easter, Gus opens up the phone lines to “newly minted” Catholics; that is, those who were welcomed into the Church this past weekend on the Easter Vigil. Gus even hears from a caller who was so moved by the Easter Vigil mass he attended, that he’s seriously considering going into the […]
Our Daily Decisions
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Back we go to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 today. When the people heard about salvation through Christ Jesus, they asked Peter and the other Apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” More on that in a moment. In the Gospel reading today, we’re in John 20, reading about St. John’s post-resurrection […]
Jesus’ Tomb: Empty!
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Happy Easter Monday! Liturgically, the Easter season will be around for quite some time. How appropriate! We have forty days of Lent, but fifty days of Easter. So up until Pentecost, we will be taking a trip through the Acts of the Apostles in our first readings. Acts is like a real-life adventure story, so […]
An Easter Prayer
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Well, we made it! All the way through Lent, through the cross and now onto the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. Praise God! Every year on Easter one of my most fervent prayers is for the people who only go to church once or twice a year. As I have said before, I […]
An Easter Prayer
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Well, we made it! All the way through Lent, through the cross and now onto the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. Praise God! Every year on Easter one of my most fervent prayers is for the people who only go to church once or twice a year. As I have said before, I […]
Newly Minted
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Another long Lenten journey has come to a close. Tonight we celebrate the great Easter Vigil. Over 100,000 people will be welcomed into the Catholic Church around America. Wow! What an exciting moment. I know it is one that will never be forgotten for the many catechumens and candidates who will be welcomed into full […]
You Were There
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Today is the one day of the year when there is no Mass celebrated. The commemoration of Good Friday is the most solemn day of the year. The readings for the Good Friday liturgy are so moving. In the first reading from Isaiah 52, we see prophesied that which Jesus would endure on this day. […]
Thursday, April 17, 2014
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It’s Holy Thursday on Seize the Day and the start of the Triduum. Gus welcomes Duncan Stroik, professor of architecture at the University of Notre Dame, to talk about the unique responsibility Catholic architecture plays in our faith life. Also, author Stephen Mansfield joins Gus to talk about his book “Killing Jesus,” which provides an […]
A Life of Service
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Lent is over today. We begin tonight the Sacred Triduum. It is one long liturgical celebration that encompasses Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. I hope you will make it to church for all of the services. Tonight’s Mass of the Lord’s Supper is one of the most moving liturgies of the Church year. […]
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
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We’re halfway through Holy Week and on today’s Seize the Day Gus welcomes Ryan McLaughlin to the Conversion Corner. Ryan is a evangelical convert who talks with Gus at length about his conversion to the Catholic Church. You can learn more about him and his faith journey by checking out his blog here. Also, Jenny Kraska […]
Be Mindful of Me, Lord
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When we think of the brutality that Jesus suffered for us, we can see that this was all foretold in today’s first reading from Isaiah 50. “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” He did […]
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
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On this Tuesday in Holy Week, Gus speaks to David Adams, vice president for missions, Cross Catholic Outreach, to talk about the latest on the Shroud of Turin. In addition to all the carbon dating, which places the Shroud in first-century Jerusalem, the markings seen on the man in the cloth reveal those left by […]
Peter and Me
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Our first reading today is from Isaiah 49, more from the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Our Gospel reading is from John 13. Here we see Peter at his finest, just moments before […]
Monday, April 14, 2014
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It’s Monday in Holy Week and Gus asks what your Palm Sunday mass experience was like. Did you get palms before or after mass and did you make palm crosses? Also, Gus welcomes Fr. Joseph Espaillat, director of youth ministry in the archdiocese of New York, to talk about his vocation and energizing Catholic youth with […]
Monday, April 14, 2014
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It’s Monday in Holy Week and Gus asks what your Palm Sunday mass experience was like. Did you get palms before or after mass and did you make palm crosses? Also, Gus welcomes Fr. Joseph Espaillat, director of youth ministry in the archdiocese of New York, to talk about his vocation and energizing Catholic youth with […]
Dungeons and Prisons
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Monday of Holy Week. For the next few days, our first readings will be from Isaiah, the prophesies of the Servant of the Lord. We’ll talk about today’s reading in a moment. The Gospel reading today is from John 12. Jesus goes to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary anoints his feet with […]
Hosanna in the Highest!
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“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest!” What a week this must have been for Jesus. Of course, He knew what was about to happen in the coming days. But what if that were you or me riding on that donkey […]
One Will Die
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In the first reading today from Ezekiel 37, the LORD says through the prophet: “My servant David shall be prince over them, and there shall be one shepherd for them all.” This one shepherd is, of course, Jesus Christ. In the Gospel reading today from John 11, Caiaphas, the high priest, says to the Sanhedrin, […]
Friday, April 11, 2014
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Happy Friday from Seize the Day! Today, Gus kicks off the show with Prayer Time. Listeners call in and give Gus their special prayer intentions. Also, Gus talks about grandparents and the role they can play in our spiritual upbringing. Grandparents call in to talk about how they try to influence their grandchildren’s faith. Finally, […]
Doing the Father’s Works
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In today’s first reading from Jeremiah 20, we hear the people plotting against Jeremiah. But they will not be victorious; they will not have their way. Jeremiah says, “But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph…Praise the Lord, for he has rescued the life of […]
Thursday, April 10, 2014
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It’s Ladies’ Morning on Seize the Day. Gus talks with some of his female listeners about whether they were a stay-at-home mom or a working mom and what that experience was like for them spiritually. Also, can you believe it’s been 10 years since Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ was released? Gus […]
Living Up to the Covenant
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There are only a very few instances of God changing someone’s name in the Scriptures. Today we see the first of these in Genesis 17. Abram gets a new name. “Your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations.” This is pretty groundbreaking stuff, as Abraham and […]
Out of the Fire
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In today’s first reading from Daniel 3, we see the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego getting thrown into the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith. Faith enough to know that when they got thrown into the furnace, God would set them free. In today’s Gospel from John 8, Jesus talks about being […]
Try the Up-Look
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Today’s first reading from Numbers 21 tells us the story of God sending saraph serpents among the people of Israel, who had become terrible whiners. God then commands Moses to make a bronze serpent and mount it on a pole. Whenever someone looked up at the serpent, they would be healed and live. In the […]
Monday, April 7, 2014
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Today Gus shared the story of his visit to Worcester, MA for the men’s conference this past weekend. Gus was reduced to tears when 1200 men all stood and prayed a Hail Mary for his sister, Nancy. Catholic evangelist Anthony Gentile joined Gus today to tell the story of his conversion. Anthony now speaks around […]
A New Beginning
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In today’s readings, we see the stories of two women who are about to be killed. In the first reading from Daniel, we see the story of Susanna. Two wicked men falsely accuse her of a crime punishable by death. But their falsehoods are revealed by Daniel. It really is a magnificent story, one that […]
The Glory of God
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Today’s Gospel reading from John 11 is probably the longest reading of the Church year outside the reading of the Passion. It is the story of Jesus raising His friend Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was good friends with Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. The sisters sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was […]
Hearing Anew
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Another ominous reading for our first reading today, this time from Jeremiah 11. As we draw closer to Holy Week and Good Friday, we begin to see the readings get darker. In the Gospel reading from John 7, the people continue to conjecture from where the Christ would come. “The Christ will not come from […]
Psalm 34
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An eerie first reading today from Wisdom 2. It describes the things that Jesus went through to a tee. Be sure to read it and see if you don’t shake your head in amazement knowing that this was written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. The Gospel reading today is from John 7, […]
Thursday, April 3, 2014
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Gus talks about his experience going to the movies yesterday to watch Russell Crowe’s latest movie, Noah. The results? Well, is it possible to give it three thumbs down? Also, Gus talks about the Archbishop of Wilton Gregory’s apology to his parishioners for building a $2.2 million dollar mansion he built for himself. He is the […]