The Immaculate Conception
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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. Let’s talk briefly today about what the Immaculate Conception is, and isn’t. Probably the most common misconception (no pun intended) that people have is that the […]
Pointing the Way
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Today is the Second Sunday of Advent. For the Gospel reading, we go to the beginning of the Gospel according to Mark. It all starts with John the Baptist. John knew that he had a job to do – to point the way to the Messiah. It would seem that John did not know that […]
The Teacher
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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; […]
Blind But Now I See
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In the first reading today from Isaiah 29, the LORD GOD says, “On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book; And out of gloom and darkness, the eyes of the blind shall see.” In the Gospel reading from Matthew 9, Jesus gives sight to two blind men. Jesus gave sight to […]
Thursday, December 4, 2014
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Gus asks the question to listeners again if they’ve ever felt like they weren’t being fed at mass. Also, Gus is off tomorrow so he invites people to call in for Prayer Time today. We also speak with Katie Geary, assistant director of communications at the Becket Fund, gives us on update on Little Sisters […]
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
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Gus welcomes Deacon Joseph Allison to the Conversion Corner. Deacon Joe came to the Catholic faith from Southern Baptist religion and a very delinquent youth, which eventually led to him becoming an evangelical minister. To read Deacon Joe’s conversion story, click here. Also, Gus asks listeners to call in who’ve ever felt like they weren’t […]
Trust the Rock
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In our first reading today from Isaiah 26, we read this: Trust in the LORD forever! For the LORD is an eternal Rock.” Rock is a theme that comes from Jesus in today’s Gospel reading from Matthew 7. “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise […]
He Feeds Us
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Life brings sorrows. With sorrows come tears. But it won’t always be that way. We see that in the first reading today from Isaiah 25. “The LORD GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces.” Our sorrows are temporary. Our joy will be eternal. In the Gospel reading today from Matthew 15, we see […]
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
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Project Christmas kicked off today as Gus welcomed Angel Aloma, executive director of Food for the Poor, called in to raise money to feed and clothe those in need throughout the world. Callers pledged money to help build wells, feed and clothe orphans, provide chicken and pigs for nourishment, goats to provide milk or simply […]
Childish or Childlike?
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The prophesies of Isaiah point so clearly to Jesus. Want proof? Take a look at today’s first reading. In the Gospel reading from Luke 10, Jesus says that the Father has “revealed (these things) to the childlike.” What does it mean to be childlike? Well, let me say this…there is a huge difference between being […]
Monday, December 1, 2014
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Gus returns from a long Thanksgiving break and it’s a Tell Me Something Good marathon! Listeners call in and share their good news and blessing at this poignant time of year. Also, Gus asks listeners if a perceived curse ever turned into a blessing. Did something come in to your life that seemed like an […]
Made Worthy
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I love the readings of Advent. We spend lots of time in Isaiah, and the Gospel passages always hit home. (Not that they don’t during the rest of the year!) Let’s pray that during this Advent season much fruit will be borne for the Kingdom in our lives. The first reading today is from Isaiah […]
Maranatha!
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Christmas is in the air! Can you feel it? Certainly all of the retailers hope you can. The world hammers us with Christmas. And there is certainly nothing wrong with getting into the “Christmas spirit.” But Holy Mother Church has a different idea about these weeks leading up to Christmas. That is why we celebrate […]
Beware the Rut
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Today is the last day of the Church year. Tomorrow begins a brand new liturgical year with the season of Advent. In the first reading from the end of the book of Revelation, we see this final beautiful view of heaven. “Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun, […]
Jesus’ Words
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In Revelation 20, St. John gives us a glimpse of the final judgement. Hopefully, reading these words can give us a new perspective on the importance of how we live our lives. “All the dead were judged according to their deeds.” John also sees a “new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and […]
All About Thanksgiving
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Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. Happy Thanksgiving! I have a link to today’s readings at the bottom of today’s post. These are optional readings for Thanksgiving Day. But rather than comment on the readings, I want to take a moment to reflect on Thanksgiving. Did you know that the word Eucharist translates to […]
Another Paradox
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Another heavenly vision from St. John in Revelation 15 for today’s first reading. St. John sees those who had won the victory over the beast singing “the song of Moses…the song of the Lamb.” It is a beautiful song. See for yourself! In today’s Gospel passage from Luke 21, Jesus talks about some of the […]
Harvest Signs
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We get a couple of very apocalyptic readings today. In Revelation 14, we see one “like a son of man” reaping his harvest on the earth. But it’s good news-bad news. The first harvest is good. The second harvest gets thrown into “the great wine press of God’s fury.” Which harvest will you be in? […]
A Widow’s Trust
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In today’s first reading from Revelation 14, we see once again the figure of the Lamb. He has with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who have his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. The Scripture says of them, “On their lips no deceit has been found; they are unblemished.” It reminds […]
The Perfect King
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Today the Church celebrates the end of the liturgical year. Fittingly enough, it is the Feast of Christ the King. All of the readings today point to the kingship of Christ. In the Gospel reading from Matthew 25, Jesus talks about what it will be like when He comes in to His Kingdom, and how […]
Post-Resurrection Life
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The first reading today from Revelation 11 is filled with imagery of martyrs, prophets of old, Rome and more. I encourage you to read a bit of background on what John describes. In the Gospel from Luke 20, some Saducees, who don’t believe in the resurrection of the body, throw a trick question at Jesus […]
Friday, November 21, 2014
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Gus kicks off the show with Prayer Time. Listeners call in and share their prayer intentions with Gus who offers them all off in a communal prayer. Also, Gus is joined by Catholic blogger Shaun McAfee to talk about his latest article entitled “13 Things You Should NEVER Say to a Priest.” To read his […]
Thursday, November 20, 2014
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Gus is back live after Listener Appreciation Day on the Catholic Channel! Gus kicks the show off by thanking everyone who participated and helped make it a huge success. He also dips into the Seize the Day mailbag and reads a few complimentary and not-so complimentary emails and talks about the pros and cons of […]
The Sweet and the Sour
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In the Gospel reading today from Luke 19, we see Jesus cleansing the temple area of those who are selling things. He says, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” We then read that “every day He was teaching in the temple […]
Know Jesus, Know Peace
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In the first reading today from Revelation 5, we see a striking figure in John’s vision of heaven. An angel asks the question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And then we see Him. “A Lamb that seemed to have been slain.” The next time you’re at Mass and the […]
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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It’s a Seize the Day Shuffle today as Gus makes his way back to Tampa following his appearance at Listener Appreciation Day at the SiriusXM studios in New York City. We’re back live tomorrow. Enjoy a couple more pictures from yesterday’s unprecedented event!
Fear and Love
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Some of the images we read about in the Book of Revelation can seem rather odd. That’s certainly the case in our first reading today from Revelation 4 – strange looking creatures covered with eyes and wings. The important thing is to get the message that God gives us through John’s visions. In the Gospel […]
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
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Today was Listener Appreciation Day on the Catholic Channel. Gus, along with several listeners, made the journey to the SiriusXM studios in New York City to kick off this unprecedented, all-day channel-wide event. Gus broadcast the show in front of a live studio audience and got to know just about each one much better. And […]
Monday, November 17, 2014
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Today, Gus welcomes Dr. Matthew Cabeen to the Conversion Corner. Dr. Cabeen is a biologist and a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University and a convert to Catholicism from Evangelical Christianity. To watch Dr. Cabeen’s conversion story on the Coming Home Network, click here. Also, Mary Rezac, journalist at the Catholic News Agency, calls in to […]
The Danger of Being Lukewarm
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Our Gospel reading today is the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19. It is a great story of repentance and redemption. In the first reading today from Revelation 3, we hear Jesus addressing the Churches of Sardis and Laodicea. His words to the Church of Laodicea are a stark reminder to all. “I know your […]
Friday, November 14, 2014
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Gus gives a summation of the USCCB Fall Meetings, which closed yesterday, and talks about some of the reports that came out of it, including one particular one that talks about lukewarmness among young Catholics who have taken the stance to “agree to disagree” with Church teaching. Catholic News Agency D.C. Correspondent Matt Hadro joins […]
The Desire of Your Heart
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In the first reading today, we begin a brief trip through the Book of Revelation. Today Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus. He says, “Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Repent…” Sounds pretty harsh, huh? Another reason why He stressed perseverance in faith and love […]
Do Something!
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Today’s first reading from Proverbs talks about a worthy wife. I am blessed to have one myself. In the second reading, St. Paul tells the Thessalonians that they are “children of the light and children of the day.” And in the Gospel reading from Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the talents. In the […]
Faith on Earth?
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Are you supporting those doing missionary work? You should be. St. John exhorts us to do that in our first reading today from 3 John:5-8. He says of those doing missionary work that “we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.” In today’s Gospel reading from Luke 18, […]
Losing for Gain
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Our first reading today is from 2 John. This is the shortest book in the Bible, just 13 verses. But what a power-packed 13 verses! St. John writes, “For this is love, that we walk according to his commandments.” He then talks about those who would lead people astray. “Anyone who is so ‘progressive’ as […]
Thursday, November 13, 2014
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Gus devotes much of the morning to Sister Cristina. She’s the nun who won Italy’s version of “The Voice” earlier this year and became an international sensation. Her self-titled debut album was just released and Gus plays a few tracks, including her interpretation of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” and he asks his listeners to call […]
The Kingdom, The Church
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Today’s first reading is taken from St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. Here Paul urges his old friend to welcome back his slave, Onesimus. Onesimus had been travelling with and assisting Paul, and Paul had become very fond of him. In fact, he refers to Onesimus as “my child, whose father I have become in my […]
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
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Gus talks about ecumenism and how it’s something that Pope Francis has really emphasized since the start of his papacy. Gus takes it to the listeners and asks how they would react if one of their kids told them they wanted to attend a non-Catholic service. Also, Gus is joined in the Conversion Corner by […]
The Other Good Samaritan
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Faith in Christ requires change. For many of us, that means a lot of change. St. Paul alludes to this in the first reading from Titus 3. “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another.” Sounds a lot […]
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
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Happy Veterans Day to all you out there who served from Gus Lloyd and all of us from Seize the Day! In honor of your service, Gus takes calls from veterans and asks them to tell a little bit about their time spent in service to our country. Gus also talks about his father’s service […]
Veteran’s Day
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Today is Veteran’s Day in the USA. How appropriate that in the Church today is the Feast of St. Martin of Tours. St. Martin was a military man. He had a radical conversion after having a vision of Jesus. In the Gospel reading today from Luke 17, Jesus talks about living up to our obligations. […]
Monday, November 10, 2014
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It’s a Monday morning on Seize the Day and that always means it’s time for Tell Me Something Good. Gus and his listeners share their good news and recent blessings in an effort to beat back the Monday blahs. And, in lieu of Veterans Day, which is tomorrow, we revisit our interview with Fr. Mike […]
Friday, November 7, 2014
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Gus opens up with Prayer Time for his listeners who call in with their special intentions. Later on, Phil Lawler, editor of Catholic World News, calls in to talk about how the media has misreported many Catholic news stories, especially where Pope Francis is concerned. To read Phil’s report on that, click here. And, Gus […]
An Increase in Faith
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In the first reading today, we begin St. Paul’s Letter to Titus. Here St. Paul talks about the qualifications for priests and bishops. In the Gospel reading today from Luke 17, the Apostles say to Jesus, “Increase our faith.” Interesting, isn’t it? I mean, here is a group of guys who have given up everything, […]
The Body – The Temple
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In today’s first reading from 1 Corinthians 3, St. Paul says, “You are God’s building. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” And in the Gospel reading from John 2, Jesus talks about the people destroying the temple and in three days […]
Trustworthy
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St. Paul went through a lot in his life. Early on, he had it all. He was well off, well educated, well liked. But later he was beaten, thrown in prison and eventually martyred. In today’s first reading, he tells the secret of getting along in both situations. Read Philippians 4:13 for the answer. In […]
The Dishonest Steward
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In today’s first reading from Philippians 3, St. Paul talks about people whose “God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’ Their minds are occupied with earthly things.” St. Paul reminds that “our citizenship is in heaven.” We always need to be thinking of the eternal. In the Gospel reading today, Jesus tells […]
Thursday, November 6, 2014
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Gus and his family were finally able to lay his sister Nancy’s ashes to rest yesterday and he asks his listeners to share their thoughts on cremation. Also, Gus asks his listeners about giving at mass. Do they give weekly? Monthly? Do they not give at all? In this day of technology, do any of […]
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
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It’s the day after Election Day and the GOP took control of the House and the Senate. Gus talks with Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, about what galvanized the Republican base. Also, Gus is joined by his good friend Fr. Mike Morris who was diagnosed with brain cancer and tells us how he’s […]
This Man Welcomes Sinners
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In the first reading today from Philippians 3, St. Paul says basically, if anyone has a right to boast, it is me. I have the pedigree, followed all the Jewish laws; yet none of it means a thing. He writes, “I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ […]