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Today we are re-releasing one of our favorite episodes to help us prepare for the upcoming season of Lent. This episode talks about why an often-overlooked part of Easter, Jesus's ascension, is essential. Come take a deep dive into this topic with Daily Grace Co. Theological Editor, Scott Dickson, and Shelby. Daily Grace Warehouse Sale Favorite Things: Fullness of Time book series Smith's minted rose lip balm Products Mentioned: The Ascension of Christ by Patrick Schreiner Heidelburg Catechism Related Resources: Theology of Easter Part 1: What Did Jesus's Death and Resurrection Accomplish? Clinging to the Cross Lent Bible Study Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Book Be With Jesus Lent Prayer Journal
Dr. Macie Sweet and Jason Miller - This year during Lent, we're offering a workshop with Dr. Macie Sweet, a scholar of medieval theology at the University of Notre Dame. For two thousand years, depictions of the crucifixion of Jesus have been portrayed through art. Age by age, artistic relics have given historians a glimpse into both cultural and theological focuses by how the cross and Jesus are represented. To register for the workshop, head to our website. This episode includes a discussion of three historical depictions of the cross. Check out the images for yourself with these links: Palatine graffito 4th century sarcophagus with scenes from the passion Man of Sorrows, Geertegen tot Sint Jans
In this episode, we reflect on the tender and often misunderstood topic of forgiveness, what it is, what it isn't, and why it's central to finding freedom in Christ. We talk honestly about how resentment and unforgiveness can quietly build in the heart, often as an attempt to protect ourselves from further pain. We also acknowledge how difficult forgiveness can be, what to do with the cry of our hearts when we have been wounded, and how to entrust it to God when we don't yet feel capable of forgiving. Friends, forgiveness does not strip us of our identity, it affirms who we are in Christ. Even in the deepest places of hurt, we find hope because of the loving presence of a God who never abandons us in our pain. Heather's One Thing - Greatness of the Lord by Brooke Ligertwood Heather's Other One Thing - The Franciscan University Community Sister Miriam's One Thing - Heather's Battle Cry Playlist Michelle's One Thing - Congratulations to Indiana University for winning the championship! Michelle's Other One Thing - The Correspondent by Virginia Evans Other Resources Mentioned: Forgiving as Unity with Christ: A Journey for Healing Resentment and Relationships by Dr. Robert Enright Announcement: Our 2026 Lenten book study will be "The Way of Trust and Love" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. Scepter Publishers has offered 15% off with the code ABIDE15. They also offer an ebook version as well. We will announce more information about the study in the coming weeks! Journal Questions: What are the unhealed places of your heart? Are you angry, sad, or frustrated at the wrong you've endured? How have I experienced shame about the wrongs I've endured or my own unforgiveness? How has this affected my health, wellbeing, or energy? How do I replay or obsess over the conflict I experienced? How have I given into constant comparison in my unforgiveness? What major changes have occurred in my life because of the injustice I've experienced and how have they affected me? Has this experience led to a more negative worldview? How has my sense of self changed? Am I seeing myself as worthless? Discussion Questions: How have you been sweeping things under the rug and calling it forgiveness? What deeper feelings lie beneath your resentment? Where in your life do you need to repent and take personal responsibility? Who has modeled repentance and forgiveness well in your life? How does your heart react to conflict and wrongdoing in relationships? Quotes to Ponder: "Ultimately, we can really forgive people only because Christ rose from the dead; his Resurrection is the guarantee that God can cure every wrong and every hurt." (Fr. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom) Resentment attacks our vital forces and does us much harm. When someone has made us suffer, our tendency is to keep the memory of the wrong alive in our minds, like a "bill" we will produce in due time to demand settlement. Those accumulated bills end up poisoning our lives. It is wiser to cancel every debt, as the Gospel invites us to. In return, we will be forgiven everything, and our hearts will be set free, whereas nurturing resentment toward others closes us to the positive things they could contribute to us." (Fr. Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom) Scripture for Lectio: "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!"" (Matthew 18:21-22) Sponsor - Blessed is She: "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus didn't ask this because He was uncertain of His identity. He asked because we often are. The disciples had walked with Him. They had seen the miracles. They had heard the teaching. And still, when the question was asked, many hesitated. Because proximity to Jesus does not automatically mean intimacy. So often, our understanding of God is shaped by what we've absorbed over time—what we were taught, what we experienced, what others modeled for us. And without noticing, we begin to believe stories that aren't true.That God is distant. That He is easily disappointed. That love must be earned. That holiness requires perfection. But Jesus does not leave us guessing. He tells us who He is: I am the Light of the World. I am the Bread of Life. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life... Join Blessed is She this Lent to journey with Jesus to Jerusalem in Who Do You Say That I Am? by Debra Herbeck. This Lenten devotional walks through the "I AM" statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John and is written to lead you out of assumptions and into encounter. This Lent, let Jesus speak for Himself. And let that truth reshape the way you live. Whether you've been walking with Jesus for years or you just met Him, drink even more deeply of the truths of who Jesus says He is in Who Do You Say That I Am? Get your women's and kid's devotionals at blessedisshe.net/lent. Blessed is She is a Catholic women's community for any woman who wants to radically follow Jesus through a vibrantly Catholic life every single day. We create beautiful and accessible resources (like this year's Lent devotional), products, and experiences to deepen prayer and foster community, both online and in person. We invite you into this community, no matter where you are on your walk with Christ. You belong here. Subscribe to our *free* daily emails to pray with the daily Mass readings and women all over the world at blessedisshe.net/subscribe and order the brand new Blessed is She Catholic journaling Bible at blessedisshe.net/shop. Timestamps: 00:00 Blessed is She 01:30 Intro 02:16 Welcome 03:25 Scripture Verse and Quotes to Ponder 06:13 Repentance Leads to Freedom 07:53 Forgiveness is Hard 09:41 How Do I Forgive When I Don't Have the Capacity? 13:27 Modeling Repentance in Our Lives 17:35 Being Honest with Ourselves Can Be Painful 24:28 Sitting in the Pain and Setting Boundaries 29:34 Reflection Questions on Forgiveness 38:03 One Things
Father Casey Jones is a priest of the Diocese of Venice, Florida. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish and school in Naples, Florida. In Today's Show: Can a Catholic Mass be said anywhere? How does Fr. Casey deal with homily writer's block? If we never told a priest how many times a mortal sin was committed, do we need to go back to confession? Is it a mortal sin not to do a form of penance on Fridays outside of Lent? Do we need to drink only water while fasting? What curricula would Fr. Casey recommend for children? Why are the Gospels anonymous if eyewitnesses wrote them? Are aliens demons? Advice on returning to confession. What graces should we be asking God for during the Mass? Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Matthew 18:15-3515“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.' 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Matthew 18:15-3515“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”21Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.23“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.' 29So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Let's be honest – you don't have a plan for experiencing Lent. So, let's fix that! This week, Steve and the gang sit down with Elyse Fitzpatrick to explore a different perspective on the Lenten season. The post Elyse Fitzpatrick | Friend Of Sinners | Steve Brown, Etc. appeared first on Key Life.
This Sunday is the first of the official four preparatory Sundays leading up to Lent in the Byzantine Catholic calendar. It is the story of the Publican and the Pharisee.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260124dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Look, the Lamb of God! When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he could have pointed to the fact that this man approaching was the almighty God, the second person of the Trinity, “through whom all things were created!” Instead, he called him “the Lamb of God.” In most cases, a lamb is nothing to get excited about. A lamb doesn’t stand a chance against a lion or bear. A lamb cannot carry anyone on its back like a noble steed. However, John knew this Lamb had a higher calling, an eternal calling, a calling that would serve all people of all time, for all people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. John knew that Jesus came to sacrifice himself as a sin offering for all people’s sins—that includes yours and mine. By doing so, the Lamb would forever destroy the power of the devil. Unlike the Passover lambs, which were sacrificed year after year, Jesus would offer himself once for all! This Lamb is our Savior, and this is something to get excited about! His victory, which is ours through faith, will never become old, outdated, or surpassed by any other. As you look to Jesus today, hail him, sing his praises, and point him out to others as the one who has taken away all our sins. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for winning the victory over the devil for me and taking away all my sins. Help me each day to rejoice in the gift of salvation you have given to me. Strengthen my faith so that I may live for you and point others to you, for you are the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260123dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 Keep Your Attention on the Lamb of God When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what did John want people to do when he said, “Look!”? The word he used means something like, “Hey, look over there!” It is a kind of interjection, a way to draw people’s attention to something important that they might have otherwise missed. If John hadn’t pointed out Jesus, most would not have given him a second glance. There was nothing about Jesus’ appearance that would make him stand out in that crowd. John’s whole ministry, however, was to get people ready for the coming of God’s promised Savior. Jesus was the one hope of salvation that sinners have. It was important they didn’t miss, or worse, ignore the Lamb of God who was standing among them. When John said, “Look!” it was more than just calling their attention to a quick curiosity or a momentary distraction. Jesus was to hold their permanent attention. The Bible says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Somewhere, at some time, someone pointed you to Jesus. You have (hopefully!) come to know him as your Lord and Savior, the one who died to set you free. Now, don’t let yourself be distracted away from him. Rather, continue to train your eyes on him and his cross, and tune your ears to his voice in the Scriptures. Through his word, he will strengthen your faith and change your heart. Let the model of his humble love and the certainty of forgiveness in his name occupy your thoughts and fill your heart with joyful service and thanksgiving. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Have mercy on me and keep my attention focused on you and your love. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260122dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 The Lamb Who Died for All When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he took away the sin “of the world”? The beginning of the Bible tells us how God created the entire human race through one man, Adam. All eight billion of us, spread around the world, are descended from him—all the way to the last baby born just before Christ returns on the Last Day. Unfortunately, just as Adam has passed down his human genes to us, we also inherit our sinful nature from him. We see evidence of that sin everywhere we look—including within ourselves. The Bible says that “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). But Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Not only the sin of some or just a few, but every single descendant of Adam and Eve. The prophet Isaiah foretold what Jesus would do: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Note that all have sinned, and the sins of all have been laid on Christ. God’s Word is clear about the extent of Jesus’ work: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2). That includes you, of course! Your sins were also placed on Jesus as he suffered for all. Whoever you are, however insignificant in the eyes of the world, lost among the masses of humanity, you, too, are loved by God and redeemed by the blood of his Son. Prayer: Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world—including my own. Have mercy on me! Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Join us for a special Author Live conversation with Debra Herbeck, author of our Lent 2026 devotional, Who Do You Say That I Am?Debra shares the heart behind the book, her own journey of faith, and the invitation Jesus extends to each of us this Lent: to encounter Him not as an idea, but as a living Person who desires to reveal Himself to us.We'll talk about prayer, Scripture, and how walking intentionally through Lent can deepen our relationship with Christ, right where we are.This conversation is an invitation to slow down, listen, and prepare your heart to journey with Jesus toward Easter.
How do we truly accompany people into the Catholic Church? This campus minister seems to have cracked the code! Dave and Gomer chat with Kevin Pesek, the Campus Minister at St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M to talk about the surprising growth they're seeing in OCIA and what's driving it. Kevin shares what's working in their approach to curriculum, why vocation numbers are soaring, and how young people are deeply hungry for an authentic relationship with Jesus in the Catholic Church. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260121dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 The Lamb of God Takes Away Our Sins When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But what does it mean that he “takes away our sin”? Sin is defined in various ways throughout the Bible. It is rebellion against God; it is failing to live up to God’s law of perfect love; it is every thought, word, and action that does not flow from a right relationship with our Creator. Sin’s corruption permeates every part of our lives. Not only does sin lead to needless pain and cause countless problems in every personal relationship, but it also separates us from the holy God who made us and who will be our judge. Finally, the wages of sin is death. As one preacher of the gospel, Martin Luther, said, there are only two places where sin can be: on the sinner or on Christ. Either we carry the weight of our disobedience ourselves and accept its consequences of eternal separation from God, or we rejoice in God's work of placing our sin—all our sin—squarely on Jesus, the Lamb of God. This is the heart of the gospel, the good news of what Christ came to accomplish for us. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). The result for those who turn to Jesus in faith is that God no longer treats us as our sins deserve. Although our corrupted nature still leads us to act contrary to his word, sin does not factor into how God sees us. Instead, he assures us that, in Christ, we have been forgiven. He gives us strength to live for him and joy in the knowledge that we are his dearly loved children through faith in Jesus. Prayer: Lamb of God, you took away the sin of the world. Thank you for your mercy! Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Today we are re-releasing one of our favorite episodes to help us prepare for the upcoming season of Lent. This episode talks about what the death and resurrection of Jesus accomplished. Come take a deep dive into this topic with Daily Grace Co. Staff Writer, Beth White, and Shelby. 2026 Lent Collection Favorite Things: Friendship bracelet kit! Creamy Sausage Rigatoni with Spinach and Garlic Products Mentioned: The Daily Grace Collective Surprised by Hope by NT Wright Related Resources: 40 Days with Jesus Study How to Keep the Joy of Easter All Year Round
durée : 00:05:24 - La Revue de presse internationale - par : Catherine Duthu - La France a interdit de son territoire dix militants d'extrême droite britanniques, accusés d'"actions à caractère violent" contre les migrants sur les côtes du Nord-Pas-de-Calais. Des médias britanniques décrivent un harcèlement qui s'intensifie contre les exilés, ces derniers mois.
What was it like to encounter Jesus in everyday life when he walked on this earth? Heidi Chiavaroli's new book Draw Close to Jesus is a devotional style biblical fiction that invites you to do exactly that! In this episode, we talk about how this book became a devotional, what the season of Lent is, and how imagination can draw us closer to the heart of Jesus. Grab Draw Close to Jesus here!Connect with Heidi Chiavaroli: Website: https://heidichiavaroli.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidichiavaroliConnect with Meagan:Instagram: http://instagram.com/faithandfables/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/faithandfablespodcast Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8953622-meagan
John 11:17-27,38-45 A corpse responds to the empowering command of Christ, proving that Jesus is the Lord of life. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to echo throughout the week. Listen to multiple pastors […]
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260120dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. Colossians 2:9-10 The Lamb of God Is God Himself When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus the “Lamb of God”? First, Jesus was a sacrifice for sin that only God himself could offer. All the lambs and other animal sacrifices brought to the temple by Jewish believers would never be enough to reconcile sinners to a holy God. Rather, they served to prepare the people for the one Lamb sent by God who alone could make full payment for our sins. This is possible because Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was not only sent by God, he is God. The Bible tells us that “in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” So, when Mary gave birth to her firstborn son in Bethlehem, we can say that God in all his fullness was laid to rest in the manger. And when that child grew into a man, it was God in all his fullness who was hung on the cross to die. What does that mean for you and me? There can be no doubt that the payment made on our behalf was sufficient—more than sufficient—to cancel our debt with God. The blood that was shed for us was divine and holy blood. The very God that we have offended is the One who came to redeem us to himself, and, in Jesus, his work of redemption is complete. God and man have been fully reconciled through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who was both fully God and fully man. Resurrected from the dead and ascended to heaven, he continues to intercede for us before the Father. Our salvation has been brought to fullness. Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the eternal Son of God and yet you came to die in my place. Because of your holy life and innocent death, my sins have been forgiven and my debt with God has been paid in full. May this truth bring me comfort and peace, as I trust in you, my perfect Savior. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Portugal folklore turns feral in the mountain village of Podence, where the only warning is the clatter of cowbellsricocheting off stone walls. Then the Caretos burst from the dark—men (and now women and kids, too) swallowed in ragged ribbons of red, yellow, and green, faces erased behind blood-red demon masks, hips loaded with heavy bell harnesses that turn every lunge into a metallic scream. It's Carnival… but it moves like a hunt.This is Entrudo—a tradition believed to reach back to pre-Roman Celtic seasonal rites, an “entry” into the warm season after winter's darkness. Long before Lent ever claimed the calendar, this was a community ritual of mischief, rule-breaking, and purification: scare off the bad spirits, shake loose the old year, and drag spring and fertility into the streets by force of noise.Inside this episode:The first warning: cowbells in a stone alley, laughter turning predatoryAncient roots: the pagan “entry” of Entrudo and the Celtic ties that won't dieThe disguise: fringed wool suits, horned masks, and the deafening bell harnessRitual permission: three days where chaos is allowed—then paid forFire and farewell: the burning of effigies, bonfires, and Carnival's final cleansingNear-extinction and comeback: depopulation, revival, facanitos, and a tradition rebornUNESCO recognition: how Podence's “carnival demons” became world-famous without going tameCousins of the Caretos: Peliqueiros, Joaldunak, and Iberia's other bell-bearing “devils”If you ever find yourself in Podence after dark—listening to cowbells get closer—remember: the masks don't perform. They pounce.We're telling that story tonight.
Isaiah 42:14-21 God promises to lead the blind to safety and turn their darkness to light. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to echo throughout the week. Listen to multiple pastors discuss sermon topics […]
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260119dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Jesus Is the Lamb of God John the Baptist was appointed by God to point people to their Savior Jesus. When John saw Jesus coming toward where he was baptizing in the Jordan River, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” But in what way was Jesus a lamb? For nearly fifteen hundred years before this, Jewish believers had been commemorating the Passover Festival with a special meal featuring the meat of a lamb. In this way, they never forgot how God rescued them from slavery in a foreign land. While the angel of death had passed from house to house throughout Egypt, he passed over the homes of all who trusted God’s promise by painting their door frames with the blood of a lamb. Years later, the prophet Isaiah compared the coming Messiah to a lamb who quietly and without complaint allowed himself to be a sacrifice for others. He wrote, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). These and many other prophecies from the Old Testament help us understand why John later called Jesus “the Lamb of God.” He was sent to be our substitute, sacrificed in our place. As innocent as a young lamb looks, Jesus was even more pure at heart. The Passover lambs did not complain as they were led to be killed, partly because they did not understand what would happen to them and could not have done anything to protect themselves, even if they had known. But Jesus knew very well how he would suffer and die—and he had all the power of the Son of God to prevent it, yet he quietly and humbly accepted all of it. As the innocent Lamb of God, he came to stand between us and the punishment we deserved. Because of Jesus' sacrifice in our place, nothing stands between us and peace with God. Prayer: Jesus, Lamb of God, you came to take away the sins of the world. Have mercy on me. You willingly came to be my substitute, and with your death you became my Savior. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
John 6:47-7147 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260118dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 Closer than Cousins Jesus and John the Baptist were relatives. Their mothers, Mary and Elizabeth, were kinswomen or “cousins.” This would make Jesus and John cousins. But their closeness to one another exceeded a blood relationship. John was a herald and forerunner, the announcer of Christ’s coming. To this day, he prepares our hearts to receive the Savior by preaching repentance and faith. He preaches not only law but also gospel: “All mankind will see God’s salvation” (Luke 3:6). Again, pointing to Jesus: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). How close this witness bearer was to Jesus! And Jesus was close to John, at whose hands he was baptized. In John 5:35, he calls John a “lamp that burned and gave light.” Further: “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). At that point in time, Jesus was still lingering in the background. Only after his baptism in the Jordan would he come to the forefront to begin his public ministry. And then Jesus would increase, but John would decrease. It’s tempting to be jealous of how close John was to Jesus. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be Jesus' blood relative? But the truth is, every follower of Jesus is closer to him than we imagine. He loves us more than we can fully know. He is with us every moment of every day. When we receive the Lord’s Supper, we receive his true body and blood along with the forgiveness it won for us. You really can't get any closer than that! Rejoice in how close Jesus is to you—closer even than cousins! Prayer: Jesus, walk with me this day as you have promised. May all I do and say be pleasing to you. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Genesis 12:1-8 The Lord gave Abram the gift of faith to believe the promise that one of his descendants would be a gift for the whole world. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to […]
Genesis 12:1-8 The Lord gave Abram the gift of faith to believe the promise that one of his descendants would be a gift for the whole world. The Foundation Preacher Podcast is provided to you by WELS Congregational Services. The Foundation resources were created to help churches allow the gospel message heard in worship, to […]
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260117dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Matthew 3:13-15 Baptism Connects Here is an interesting question: If Jesus never sinned, why did he need to be baptized? The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus endured temptations but never succumbed to them. He never sinned—not once. Not a stray thought, not a rash word, not a single misdeed. So, why did he need to be baptized? Jesus needed to be baptized “to fulfill all righteousness.” Not his righteousness—ours. Every one of us needs to be baptized into Jesus, and his baptism connects us to him. We are washed just as he was. But the water that washes us is not just water, it is water connected with Jesus’ very words—”the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Martin Luther explained: “It is certainly not the water that does such great things, but God’s Word which is in and with the water and faith which trusts this Word used with the water. For without God’s Word, the water is just plain water, and not baptism. But with this Word it is baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of rebirth by the Holy Spirit.” The little words at the end of today’s Bible passage should tell us something about our life of faith: “Then John consented.” We do nothing to initiate our contact with God, but he invites us to receive faith as a gift. Our humble “consent” is not something we do actively, but something God gives us to do in response to his grace. What a great God we have! He has connected himself to us by becoming human like us. And he has connected us to him through this simple faith-creating act of baptism. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of baptism that connects me to you, my perfect Savior, and makes me a member of God’s family. Guard and protect me, body and soul, that I may experience your love and goodness always. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260116dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17 He Opens Heaven Have you ever been locked out? You get locked out of your house. You panic. What a relief when someone comes to the rescue. A friend with a key lets you in. What a dreadful thought to be locked out forever. When humanity first fell into sin, the door to paradise was slammed shut. Access to God was cut off because of sin. Do you sense it still today? Does it seem like the door to heaven is still closed? Do you ever wonder and even worry, “Will God be pleased with me? Will he let me in?” What a relief when the one who holds the keys to eternal life comes to the rescue and opens heaven. This is exactly what Jesus was sent to do: open heaven and unlock eternity for you and all who believe. These verses from Matthew chapter 3, mark the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. When Jesus was baptized, something amazing happened—heaven opened! God the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove, and God the Father spoke words of affirmation, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Jesus’ work on earth had one goal in mind: to undo sin and reverse its deadly grip on you. On the cross where he died, all debts for your sins were paid. At his empty tomb, when he rose from the dead, he declared that nothing now stands between you and God. Jesus gives these gifts in a personal way through baptism. When anyone is baptized, something amazing happens—heaven is opened! God gives his Spirit to comfort and strengthen. All sin is washed away. What God the Father declared about Jesus, he declares about everyone who is baptized, “This is my child! With this child of mine, I am well pleased!” This is what Jesus, your Savior, does for you. He opens heaven. Access to God, the loving Father, is granted now and forever. Prayer: God, our loving Father, thank you for sending your Son to be my eternal rescue. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Fr. Michael Rennier joins Adam in studio to talk about the season of Ordinary Time in the life of the Church. Seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter give us a particular focus, but what about the rest of the year? Grow in Devotion to the Holy Face! Download the Covenant Network app today! Pray the Visual Rosary at VisualRosary.org For more information on Covenant Network, visit OurCatholicRadio.org
A reflection for the fifth week of Lent.
A reflection for the fourth week of Lent.
A reflection for the first week of Lent.
A reflection for the third week of Lent.
A reflection for the second week of Lent.
durée : 00:05:09 - La Revue de presse internationale - par : Catherine Duthu - BBC Eye Investigation a enquêté sur les réseaux russes qui recrutent des étrangers dans des pays pauvres et / ou ravagés par la guerre, comme le Yémen ou la Syrie, pour les envoyer au front en Ukraine. Ces jeunes hommes rêvent d'argent et de citoyenneté russe mais se retrouvent piégés au combat.
Fr. Ben needed a little break after the holidays, so Khira and Silvia take over! In this episode, they discuss the struggles with resolutions and, if you didn't even make one, then Lent is on the way. How can prepare for it? Watch as Khira and Silvia give practical advice on this.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260115dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope. Isaiah 42:3-4 He Follows Through Those working in environments where there is a great deal of brokenness can easily become discouraged. Those in a caretaker role can easily become drained as they try to meet the needs of the ones they serve. Often, we strive to serve and accomplish a task with high ambitions, but over time, we run out of energy and become discouraged. The Servant of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, came down to ground zero to serve souls in dire need of saving and nurturing. He doesn't get discouraged and give up. He follows through until the mission is accomplished. Before Jesus, the Lord sent many servants in the form of prophets, kings, and others who were to serve people. Some started strong but easily got discouraged. Some accomplished great things, but they had their limitations. Others served only themselves. They were only human, and none was able to follow through perfectly as servants of the Lord. Jesus is different. He’s not only human. He is truly God from eternity. Making a promise is one thing. Keeping it is an entirely different thing. There are likely times in your life when you have been the victim of a broken promise, big or small. There are times when you promised something with every intention of keeping it, but for whatever reason, you couldn’t or didn’t follow through. Jesus has the divine authority to make promises, and he has the divine authority to keep promises. God’s greatest promise was to save you from the brokenness and destruction of sin by declaring you not guilty. He promises to care for your soul for time and for eternity. Jesus followed through until his mission was accomplished and God’s promise was kept. This promise still stands today. It has endured thousands of years and has traveled thousands of miles. It has reached our distant shores and our troubled hearts and gives hope of life now and forever with the Lord. Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for following through on the greatest promise ever. Sustain me each day by your sure promises. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Fr. John Brancich, FSSP, is the pastor of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Nashua, New Hampshire. He was ordained into the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter in 2004. In Today's Show: Is prayer in a state of mortal sin efficacious? What types of prayers should be said after Mass? What do you need to be capable of consenting to marriage? Why is the Gloria omitted during Lent and Advent but not the Sanctus? Can those who are divorced receive holy communion? Can a Catholic parent take a job as a psychic to provide for their family? What is the significance of the relic of the blood of Christ? Should Children leave Mass to attend a Children's Liturgy? Do priests still need to say Mass if no congregation is present? And more. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!
Today is day 14 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 14. 14. What should you do as the sign of your repentance and faith? After receiving instruction in the faith, I should be baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, thus joining his Body, the Church. If I have already been baptized, I should confess my sins, seek the guidance of a minister, affirm the promises made at my Baptism, and take my place as a member of the Church. (Psalm 51:5–7; Ezekiel 36:25–27; Matthew 28:19–20; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Peter 3:18–22) Our prayer today is the Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Lent found on page 606 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260114dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:3 He Doesn’t Break, He Binds When something is just about broken or on its last leg in our house, my solution is often, let’s scrap it! It’s not worth the money to fix. I don’t have the patience and the time to breathe life back into it. For me, it’s much easier to start from scratch and buy or build a new one. My wife has a more restorative approach. She doesn’t so quickly give up on the worn-out thing. She has a knack for salvaging the broken trinket and turning it back into a prized possession. I’m sure it would be much easier for the Lord to look at the brokenness of the world and the brokenness of my life and just scrap it and move on. The reality for the world, and every person living in it, is that we were not just broken. We have broken God's commands. We can’t mend our own brokenness. We can’t muster up enough strength to solve the problem of sin on our own. If you’ve ever tried, you eventually burn out and give up. But God doesn’t give up and move on. Why not? Because of his great love for us, he doesn’t break. He binds. He doesn’t snuff us out. He breathes in new life. Isaiah points to Jesus in today’s Bible verse. Notice your Savior’s approach to you. Sometimes you might feel like a bruised reed ready to break under the weight of pressure and guilt. Jesus comes not to break but to bind and mend. He took extreme care and effort to save and restore you, giving his very life on the cross. He has forgiven all your sins, all the times you’ve broken a command. He doesn’t break; he binds. He salvages and saves, and at the same time, he makes new those who believe in him. To souls once spiritually burnt out, he patiently fans into flame the gift of faith and gives new life full of peace, purpose, and hope. He restores what was once lost and makes that soul God’s prized possession. Prayer: Lord, Jesus, when I am bruised and ready to break, you bind up my brokenness and breathe in new life with your words of forgiveness and hope. May I always praise you for your salvation! Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
(6:44) Bible Study: 1 Samuel 1:9-20 Father shares the interesting things in this story! Mark 1:21-28 Everyone has sin. If you don’t think you have than you are wrong! (22:08) Break 1 (24:40) Letters: What does epiphany mean? What book other than the bible can you read during Lent? Why does God let us sin? Father answers these and other questions, send him a letter at simon@relevantradio.com (37:08) Break 2 (38:08) Word of the Day Begotten (42:27) Phones: Mark - How is it that is usually demons the ones who recognize Jesus and not the people? Elly - What is the most meaningful words to say when I receive Jesus in holy communion? Heidi - I would like to ask about Heaven and Purgatory. Why Catholics talk about purgatory especially with near death experiences? John - About idolatry, and veneration of relics. Re: veneration of the Child Jesus at Christmas Mass. Why would I kiss a statue of baby Jesus?
Today is day 13 and we are continuing the section on Salvation with question 13. 13. How can you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ? With God's help, I can acknowledge and turn from my sins, receive the gift of God's grace in Jesus Christ, and embrace the new life he freely gives me. [One way to do this is by sincerely praying in the way described in the “Turning to Christ” section on page 20.] (Psalm 86:1–7; Joel 2:32; Acts 16:30–34; Romans 10:11–13; Hebrews 12:1–2) Our prayer today is the Collect for the Second Sunday of Lent found on page 605 of the Book of Common Prayer (2019). If you would like to buy or download To Be a Christian, head to anglicanchurch.net/catechism. Produced by Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Madison, MS. Original music from Matthew Clark. Daily collects and Psalms are taken from Book of Common Prayer (2019), created by the Anglican Church in North America and published by the Anglican Liturgical Press. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Catechism readings are taken from To Be a Christian - An Anglican Catechism Approved Edition, copyright © 2020 by The Anglican Church in North America by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260113dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:2-3 He Speaks Gently Do you know someone with a voice that commands attention? If you are at a large family gathering and you need to quiet the crowd, there might be someone in your family with a deep and commanding voice to get everyone’s attention. Certain leaders are known for their distinct voice that can capture a nation’s attention with powerful words. If God were to speak to you to get your attention, what kind of voice do you think he'd use? Would it sound like thunder? In today’s Bible verse, the Lord’s Servant is depicted as speaking gently. He doesn’t rely on worldly rhetoric and a booming tone to catch people’s attention. He has a gentle voice that we might not expect at first. The Lord’s Servant is Jesus. It’s not the sheer volume of his voice that captures our attention. It’s what he speaks and how he speaks. He speaks gently. What a difference from the many voices we hear in the world around us. Sometimes the loudest voice we hear could be our own. When we are alone and in our heads, we dwell on something we’ve done or said. We can be very hard on ourselves because we recognize our shortcomings or failures. Psychologists call this self-talk, and when our self-talk is negative, they might suggest replacing it with more positive thoughts. That might be helpful, but here’s a more powerful way to change the way we think about or talk about ourselves—hear the voice of your Savior and listen to how he talks about you. Don’t look in a mirror. Look to your Savior and listen to what he has to say. He’s not shouting at you, saying, “Come on, how could you do that again?” He will not shout and cry out or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” With a sure and gentle voice, he says, “I love you. I forgive you.” Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me tune out the many voices of the surrounding world and calm my troubled heart so I can hear and dwell on your gentle words of pardon and peace. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Tuck into Tuesday's helping of Dave's Bad Jokes.
This weekend, Tyler launched the Abide series, focused on helping believers experience God more consistently through intentional spiritual practices. Drawing from John 15, we were reminded that fruitfulness comes not from sporadic faith, but from remaining rooted in Jesus through daily rhythms. As a church, we are committing to a communal Rule of Life, beginning with daily prayerful engagement with Scripture and limiting our screen intake. Over the next seven weeks, Tyler and Terrence will introduce seven additional rhythms and restrictions, which we will then practice together during Lent beginning February 23. The first discipline introduced is fasting, defined biblically as abstaining from food. Tyler invited us to fast from everything except water or plain coffee/tea on Monday, January 12, from 7:57 AM to 5:45 PM. If you missed it, we encourage to join in tomorrow or choose another day this week. Every time you feel hunger, pause to reflect and pray. Ask: What does your body, your mind, and your heart hunger for most? God, grow my hunger for You.
From the archive! Dr. Tom Curran asks Fr. Jeff Lewis common questions about the transition into ordinary time after celebrating Christmas, in anticipation of Lent. Fr. Jeff Lewis talks about attending the recent SEEK Focus Conference and reflects on the Baptism of Jesus.
On Sunday we kicked off a new sermon series : Revealed and Given: A Journey with Jesus through Epiphany and Lent. In the coming weeks, we'll be looking at stories about Jesus from the four Gospels that disclose or reveal something important about Jesus' identity and mission. This Sunday, Rick Hutton will be preaching on another seminal Epiphany story, the wedding feast at Cana.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260112dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1 He Brings Justice “That’s not fair!” How many times do thoughts like that cross our minds? We object when watching the big game and the referee makes an unfair call. We see injustices in the world that are not so trivial, and we wonder, “Isn’t anyone going to do something about this?” We see things people do and say to each other. They hate, and they hurt. We want justice. We long for things to be right. We long for someone to make things right. Time and again, we have been let down by empty promises of those who vow to do what is right. We’ve looked to flawed humans as though they and their policies could make this world right and bring justice that would last. Only one person can do that, the one Isaiah pointed to. People in Isaiah’s day longed for justice. Leaders had let them down. Those who were supposed to serve and help were serving themselves. Those who were supposed to care for people’s souls cared only about themselves. But the Lord’s Servant would be different. Isaiah’s prophecy about the Lord’s Servant points to Jesus, the Lord himself. About 700 years after Isaiah’s word, Jesus would stand on the banks of the Jordan River and be revealed as the one who would bring perfect justice, who would right all that is wrong in the world. Normally, when we demand justice, it’s for others who have done wrong. However, we must admit that we, too, have been in the wrong. We deserved God's just punishment. But Jesus brings justice in a very gracious way. Jesus rights all the wrongs of the world, and our wrongs too. He did that by always doing what was right as our perfect substitute and Savior. He fulfilled perfect justice by suffering under God’s just punishment on the cross to spare us from that wrath. In Christ, we are justified, that is declared not guilty. This is who Jesus is and what he has done! Prayer: Lord Jesus, when I see injustice in the world may I look to you as the answer. As I also recognize the wrongs that I have done, may I look to you as the answer. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 14:19-3319 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Canon Stephen Sharpe, ICKSP, serves as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Shrine in Detroit, Michigan. He was ordained in 2020. In Today's Show: What do traditional priests like Canon Sharpe think of the Divine Mercy Chaplet? Is the communion fast supposed to be one hour before Mass or one hour before communion? Can those who commit apostasy repent? How can I maintain a spiritual life with a puppy? Was "Saul the Persecutor" Paul the Apostle? Will only 144,000 people enter heaven? Cannon Sharpe's thoughts on the decrease of Catholicism in the Philippines. How does Prayer fit into God's plan? Does the ICKSP have community as a part of its charism? According to the Rubrics, who should be saying the communion antiphon? Penitential suggestions for Lent. Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!