Podcasts about love jesus

Curious about end times? Wondering if we're living in the final days? In this powerful message from our "You Asked For It" series, we tackle the biggest questions about Bible prophecy and Jesus' return. Discover why the end times are actually a love story, not a horror story, and learn how to be prepared (not scared) for what's coming.IN THIS EPISODE:Why there has to be an end (it's about restoration, not destruction)The signs Jesus gave us in Matthew 24 (birth pains analogy explained)Why no one knows the exact timing (and why that's actually good news)How Christianity is exploding worldwide even as wickedness increasesPractical steps to prepare for end times livingKEY TAKEAWAYS:Be Prepared, Not Scared - End times preparation is about faithfulness, not fearSigns Are Everywhere - From moral decay to global gospel spread, we're seeing Matthew 24 unfoldVictory Is Certain - Satan is defeated; Christians are on the winning sideFocus on Love - Jesus can't wait to be with His family foreverFEATURED SCRIPTURES:Matthew 24:3-42 • John 14:1-3 • 2 Timothy 3:1-5 • Revelation 1:1NEXT STEPS: □ Read Matthew 24 and identify current "birth pain" signs □ Strengthen your relationship with Jesus through daily prayer and Bible study □ Share the gospel with others (Matthew 24:14) □ Stay faithful despite cultural pressure (Matthew 24:13)Keywords: end times, Bible prophecy, Jesus return, Matthew 24, Revelation, Christian podcast, biblical teaching, prophecy explained, last daysConnect with us at www.grandpoint.church/nextstepsWatch online on YouTubeFollow us on Facebook and InstagramSign up for our free weekly newsletter

Every pastor wants to see their church love Jesus . . . but what about their kids? Today we're getting real about one of the most important — and personal — parts of ministry: helping your own children fall in love with the Savior you serve.

A new MP3 sermon from Mission Boulevard Baptist Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Solo-Oh How I Love Jesus Subtitle: MBBC Music Speaker: Various speakers Broadcaster: Mission Boulevard Baptist Church Event: Devotional Date: 8/3/2025 Length: 0 min.

https://youtu.be/SWvOs9metvI?si=U6xnpGiJ6zYnvJdF---Celebrate, The Savior is Here!Jesus Christ is Alive!Get to know Jesus Christ, He will change your life!!!Go to GOD for discernment and wisdom.Know the Truth as the Truth will make you free! (John 8:32)___The Pledge of AllegianceNEO420 = Real News + Real Information for WE THE PEOPLEWE THE PEOPLE are at war with the deepstate criminal cabal!!!Turn off your tv, radio, and stop listening to paid professional liars spreading propaganda.***SUPPORT Independent Free Speech Reporting***Thank you for the SUPPORT & SHARING the TRUTH!!!___Podcast  link is here http://neo420.com/talks-podcast/The video channel link is here. https://odysee.com/@NEO420TALKS:4The Viral Delusionhttp://www.theviraldelusion.com/HAARPDARPA BlackjackAshli Babbit false flag Jan 6 video evidence___NEVER FORGET 9 11!!!Rumsfeld admitted $2.3 Trillion missing from Pentagon Sept 10 2001.  https://odysee.com/@NEO420TALKS:4/rumsfeld-2.1Trillionunaccountedforb-ccriminalsstoleit:7Planes did NOT bring down the two towers.AE911Truth.orgGeorge Bush Sr was CIA director before being Vice President then President.Towers that fell:-Building 1-Building 2-Building 7 (seldom reported even though BBC reporter reported building down before it happened) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0VFMqi--Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.Support the show

Every pastor wants to see their church love Jesus . . . but what about their kids? Today we're getting real about one of the most important — and personal — parts of ministry: helping your own children fall in love with the Savior you serve.

Let's focus on why we love Jesus, not just for what he has done for us, but because he is the most fascinating, wonderful, awesome and lovely person that has ever existed. (Col 1:15-20)

Want to submit an episode topic request? Text 'em here!My fellow entrepreneur who also loves Jesus...Let's have an honest chat. If you've ever felt conflicted about charging for your God-given talents, this episode is for YOU.Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or commuting to work...I hope this message LIGHTS UP your spirit and helps you find balance in pricing your services or products in the business that God had called you to create. In today's episode of the God Empowered Entrepreneur Podcast, we're peeling back the layers of the guilt and fear many of us feel when setting our prices.Too much? Too little? What is right? Together, let's explore how to remain GOD-CENTERED in your business's pricing that generates healthy income for you AND greater impact for the people you serve. Because this isn't just about making a sale...it's about offering helpful SOLUTIONS to others that are rooted in your divine calling.In this episode, I'll walk you through:

In this episode of Romance Unleashed, Mel sits down with the radiant and honest Jodi-Kay to explore the many layers of reading romance as a form of healing, empowerment, and self-discovery. From unpacking the strength of morally grey heroines to navigating trauma through triggering reads, they dive into what it means to be a woman of faith who also embraces pleasure, desire, and stories not written through the male gaze. This one's for anyone who's ever wondered if they're “too much” or “not enough.” Spoiler: You're exactly who you're meant to be.

Pastor Eddie Robinson III, July 16, 2025 — Wednesday Night Bible Study

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Jesus Promises Another Helper! Do you LOVE Jesus?  Are you sure?  Do you love Him the way HE wants you to love Him?  Do you know what His requirements are for you to love Him?  In other words, DO YOU KNOW JESUS"S LOVE LANGUAGE?? Come and see!  Important that you be able to answer that question knowledgeably! If you are blessed by today's Bible study, please support my channel by liking, subscribing, commenting, and sharing with your friends and family!  I am not a Pastor, and agree with God's word that women are not supposed to be Pastors.  However, all people are called to share the gospel. It is perfectly acceptable and Biblical for women to lead Bibles studies outside the church as an ancillary addition to the church, and especially if it is a viable avenue for study of the Word on a daily basis, like I'm doing on this show, and paving the way for all of us to be closer to the Lord and become more knowledgeable of the Bible.  If you care to contribute to my work with the Daily Bible study and sharing the Gospel, as part of your tithes and offerings, you can do so through PayPal by sending it to my PayPal address of: ReneHoladay@gmail.com  Thank you for watching and God Bless you all! ;() --------------------- The primary study bible that Rene' uses is the 'Spirit-filled Life Bible, by Jack Hayford, and is available in hard cover or faux leather on Amazon at:  https://amzn.to/434fBnQ You can watch this episode on Youtube at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v9ekffu7ds Please be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, and SHARE!

Love People?”, we explore Jesus' powerful lesson on mercy over tradition, drawn from Matthew 12 and Mark 2. When the Pharisees condemned His disciples for eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus reminded them that God desires mercy, not sacrifice. This message calls us to examine our own hearts: Do we love people, or are we trapped in judgment and religion? Through Scripture, we uncover how the Holy Spirit transforms our minds, fills our hearts with compassion, and helps us bear good fruit—not through performance, but through love.

Brad reminds us that it is impossible to Love Jesus and not love the church.

Jesus and Therapy? Yes. You can have both. — with Charles MortensenLet's not sugarcoat it:Needing help doesn't mean you're weak. It means you're done pretending.And therapy? It's not a betrayal of your faith. It's how some of us finally start to breathe again.We've been told:“You just need to pray more.”“Therapy is for people who don't trust God.”“If you were really spiritual, you wouldn't struggle.”Lies.Straight-up lies that have kept too many of us silently drowning.In this raw and honest conversation, licensed therapist and Jesus-loving soul Charles Mortensen pulls back the curtain on what real healing looks like—not just spiritual, but emotional, mental, and rooted in truth.This episode is for:The ones who still show up to church but feel numb insideThe ones who've prayed until their voice cracked but still feel stuckThe ones who love Jesus but don't know how to face the wounds they buriedWe're unpacking:What therapy can do that church sometimes can'tThe secret signs someone's breaking—even when they look “fine”How unhealed trauma distorts your view of GodWhy therapy isn't less spiritual—but often the most Spirit-led thing you can doAnd the moments of breakthrough that change everythingIf you're barely holding it together behind a Sunday smile, this is your wake-up call.Stop letting shame have the mic.Stop calling pain “just a phase.”Stop waiting for healing to happen without stepping into it.Jesus heals. And sometimes, He uses a therapist's office to do it.So press play. Let this episode hit you in the soul.Because healing isn't just possible—it's necessary. It grows us to be the version God intends for us to be.you don't have to carry it all alone anymore.Listen now. Send it to someone who's been hiding their pain. And start the journey.Because freedom is calling—and you are not meant to walk towards it alone.

1. We should have an attitude of love towards Jesus (v. 1-11).2. We should act like we love Jesus (v. 12-19).

Justin Hibbard concludes our series on the Catholic approach to prayer by addressing the claim made by many Evangelicals: “Religion is man's way to get to God; Christianity is God's way to get to man.” Is that true? Is all religious practices Pharisaical and a distraction from a relationship with Jesus? Or does religion actually help us pursue the heart of God?Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTube.SHOW NOTES:* Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus by Jeff Bethke* Bishop Barron on "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"* Fr. Pontifex - Why I Love Religion, And Love Jesus* Episode 73: Faith Seeking Understanding* Episode 131: Why Prayer is so Hard* Episode 135: Intentional Prayer Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

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David Mathis | At the end of his Gospel, John gives us a grand finale of the mercy, wisdom, greatness, and never-ending glory of Jesus Christ.

Leadership Rooted in Love: Jesus' Question to Peter, Our Call Today The Homily centers on two key scripture narratives: . . . . . . Paul's bold proclamation of the resurrection and Peter's dialogue with Jesus after the resurrection. Paul, under arrest, uses every opportunity . . . his Jewish heritage and Roman citizenship . . . to proclaim that Jesus is risen. His unwavering faith challenges both religious authorities and societal norms, showing that trials can be transformed into testimonies. Do You Love Me In the Gospel, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” . . . each question probing deeper into the nature of Peter's love, moving from sacrificial love (agape) to friendship (philia). Jesus meets Peter at his level but calls him higher, toward a leadership rooted in self-giving love. True discipleship, and leadership in the Church, requires putting Christ above all . . . above family, possessions, and even livelihood. The Homily concludes by inviting all Christians to follow Paul's courage and Peter's transformation: to proclaim Jesus by the way we live, love, and lead, imitating Christ's sacrificial love. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Leadership Rooted in Love: Jesus' Question to Peter, Our Call Today -------------------------------------------------------------- Quote From the Homily He can only be a leader if he becomes, first of all, a disciple of Jesus. And a disciple of Jesus is the one who loves with the love that is sacrificial. This is why at the end, Jesus says to him. Follow me . . . love as I have loved, give up yourself as I have given up yourself. Leadership in the church is a leadership that sacrifices itself for its ship. Oftentimes, the world suggests a view of leadership. That is completely different from the leadership of Jesus because the leadership in the church of Jesus is a leadership that is based on love. -------------------------------------------------------------- Pope Peter : Flemish Artist and Painter: Peter Paul Rubens: 1611 -------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: John 21: 15-19 First Reading: Acts 25: 13-21

Scripture: Philemon 1-7

Today's devotion is written by Gina Fensterer.

Welcome to part one of our series "Agape | What the modern world is missing". We pray that God uses this message in your life today to encourage you and build your faith.Pursuit Church on Social Media:facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PursuitChurchDenver/?ref=bookmarksinstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuit_church/Pursuit Worship on Social Media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pursuit-Worship-671274439695803/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuit.worship/

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Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "I Love Jesus But..." Enjoy!

Jack hates school. The lectures on algebra, grammar, and the periodic table bore him. But he loves building houses. His father takes him to work in the summer, and Jack can’t get enough. He’s only sixteen but he knows about cement, shingles, and how to frame a wall. What’s the difference between school and construction? Love. Jack loves one and not the other. His love fuels knowledge. As believers in Jesus, we’re to “love the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Paul says a satanic figure will use “signs and wonders” (v. 9) to deceive “those who are perishing” (v. 10). Why are they perishing? “They refused to love the truth and so be saved” (v. 10). Their failure to love the truth blinds them from knowing it. They’ll be duped (v. 11). What do we know? That important question depends on a more basic one: what do we love? Our passions incline our heart and direct our mind. We cherish what we love. We protect it and seek more of it. If we love truth and wisdom we’ll search for them as precious gold (Proverbs 4:7-9). They’ll guard us. “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you” (4:6). What is true wisdom? Jesus says it’s Him. “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Our most important question is who do we love? Love Jesus and you’ll learn His way. He’ll guard your life by guiding you into His truth.

Sometimes, God answers your prayers in a way you don't expect. That's how Jennifer's journey began. She and her husband had been married for 30 years, with three beautiful daughters. On the outside, everything seemed steady—but inside, Jennifer was silently struggling. Depression, anxiety, deep wounds from trauma, and the weight of parenting adult children had left her feeling exhausted and emotionally distant from her husband. She was in a dark place. But God. Her husband was the first to find Delight Your Marriage. Quietly, he joined our men's program. At first, he didn't even tell Jennifer. She just started to notice something changing. A peace in him. A gentleness. A stronger connection to God. Moved by what she saw, Jennifer said yes to his invitation to explore the women's program. What followed was a spiritual discipleship journey that would not only transform her marriage—it would transform her heart. How Christian Marriage Coaching Transformed Her Heart One line within the program touched Jennifer's heart: “I needed to love Jesus more than my pain.” It wasn't even directed at her during the call, but something about it resonated so deeply with her. She realized that in her grief and disconnection, she had allowed pain to take a front seat in her heart. But Jesus wanted her whole heart. She confronted lies she had believed about herself, her marriage, and her role as a mother and wife—and let God's truth replace them. She allowed God to break the chains of shame and fear, and instead chose freedom and forgiveness. Emotional and Physical Intimacy in Marriage Restored One of the most beautiful outcomes of Jennifer's story is the transformation in her intimacy with her husband! “It wasn't about frequency,” she said. “It was about connection. And now we're truly connecting—emotionally, spiritually, physically. We're more vulnerable, more united, and more in love.” That emotional and spiritual shift opened a door to true intimacy—something both of them had longed for but never fully accessed. And it all started when she began to let God love her—and let herself believe it. How Christian Marriage Help Can Impact Parenting Jennifer is a mother to three adult daughters. And though parenting adults has its own challenges, her healing began to spill over into her family life. With newfound clarity on how women are designed by God to be loved—safe, known, and whole-heartedly cherished—Jennifer began to understand how to mother her adult daughters in a way that honors their hearts. She started recognizing what they needed emotionally, just like she had discovered in herself. Even though parenting adult children can be complicated and painful, she now walks in hope—not shame. God is restoring what was broken. Handling Conflict in Marriage Without Spiraling Jennifer and her husband also found a new way to approach emotional triggers. They call it “spiraling.” This emotional awareness and God-centered communication brought a new peace to their marriage. They don't fight the way they used to. Now, they support each other through those low moments and move forward with unity. A Message to the Wife Who Feels Hopeless in Her Marriage When I asked Jennifer what she'd say to a woman in the same spot she once was, her answer was so honest and full of faith: “There's hope in Jesus. Be brave. Even if your husband is the problem, you can still change your heart—and it can change your marriage.” She continued: “This program has figured out how to help you out of crisis. Even if you're emotionally shut down, even if you feel like things can't get better—they absolutely can. God is in the business of healing, and He uses this process to restore hearts and homes.” The Power of a Women's Christian Coaching Community Jennifer also found healing through the community of women she met through the program. “It was such a gift to talk about things we never could talk about with friends—especially around sex and intimacy. The support, the prayer, the connection... it's unlike anything I've ever experienced. Women need this.” She felt seen, supported, and strengthened by walking this journey with other women in a safe, faith-filled environment. Christian Marriage Healing: A Beautiful New Chapter Today, Jennifer says her marriage is more joyful, more tender, and more united than ever before. They've always been best friends—but now they're more emotionally connected, spiritually aligned, and fully present for one another. “There's nothing I can't share with him now,” she said. “God gave us a beautiful marriage—but now we're living it with freedom, honesty, and deep love.” Final Thoughts We are so thankful for work that God did in this marriage and the way it not only impacted Jennifer and her spouse, but their children and future generations. He truly is a God of redemption.  With love, The DYM Team PS - If you're ready to take the next step and join a community of like-minded people wanting to build their marriages God's way, we would love to hear from you: delightyourmarriage.com/cc PPS - Here is a quote from (another) recent graduate: "I was on the verge of separating from my husband. Things had taken such a turn for the worse between us that life was not sustainable for me as things were going. My husband joined the program and I noticed some changes in him. Things started improving but we had a lot of healing to do; I had a lot of healing to do...We've been to several counselors before this point and my husband wasn't interested in finding another one. He had asked me to join the Delighted Wife program before but things were too broken and I was not willing to do a program that I thought was only about getting me to have more sex with him...But, after seeing him change some and knowing we needed help, I agreed to the program. While sex was a part of Delighted Wife, there were so many other areas for me to focus on first. It laid the foundation for a better and healthier relationship overall. The intimacy part follows."

Anxiety is real—and many young Catholics struggle with it silently, unsure if faith alone should “fix it.” In this episode, we open up the conversation around mental health, faith, and healing. We explore how anxiety doesn't make you a bad Catholic—and how real interior freedom starts with radical honesty before God.Drawing from Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe (pp. 43–44), we reflect on how peace doesn't come from escaping our struggles, but from accepting our limits and leaning into grace. This is an honest, hope-filled conversation for anyone who's ever wrestled with anxiety and wondered where God is in the midst of it.

John 21: 15-19 Rev. Lanier Wood 

To Love Jesus is to Obey Him

Do you love Jesus

John 21:1-19After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. This is how he showed himself to them. Gathered there were Simon Peter, Thomas who was also called the Twin, Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the Sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” And they went and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just after daybreak, Jesus came and stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. He said to them, “My children, you haven't any fish, have you?” They said to him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” So they cast it and they were not able to haul in the net because it was full of so many fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Simon Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was Jesus, he put on some clothes for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. The others went in the boat, bringing with them the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land; only about a hundred yards off.When they had come ashore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring with you some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three of them. But even though there were so many fish, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”Now, none of them dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they new that it was Jesus. He came and took the bread and gave it to them and he did the same thing with the fish. This was the third time he had appeared to them since he had been raised from the dead.After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time, Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” A third time, Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter, upset that he had asked him a third time, “Do you love me?,” said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. When you were a child, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you chose to go. But when you grow old you will stretch out your arms and others will fasten a belt around you and lead you to places that you may not choose to go.” (He said this in order to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) And when he has said this, he said to him, “Follow me.” Pastor Cogan said something, almost in passing last Sunday, in his sermon reflecting on Pope Francis. It was a one-liner that caught my attention in the moment and that came back to me when I read today's Gospel. He said that Pope Francis – faithful, humble servant that he was – “was a shepherd who smelled like his sheep.” “… a shepherd who smelled like his sheep.”Did anyone else catch that? Or remember that? Or wonder any more about that? I did, because I think it has a lot to say about where we find Jesus and his disciples – and especially, this famous conversation and command to Peter – on the beach at breakfast, not long after the resurrection.“Do you love me?” … “Yes.” … “Feed my lambs.”“Do you love me?” … “Yes.” … “Tend my sheep.”“Do you love me?” … “Yes.” … “Feed my sheep.”And you can't blame Jesus for asking again, and again, and again. It's no coincidence that Jesus asked him three times, after what had happened just days before, of course, when Peter, questioned just before the crucifixion, denied Jesus three times to strangers, just as Jesus warned him that he would. So, this “Q and A” between Jesus and Peter – this whole experience on the beach after Easter, really – is chock full of symbolism and meaning. But, to the sheep and the lambs…Too much of the time for us, “sheep” and especially “lambs” – so close to Easter Sunday, in the spring of the year – elicit a warm and fuzzy, soft and sweet, cute, cuddly, cozy kind of vibe – don't you think? They are the stuff of Springtime and Easter baskets, right. But the truth is, sheep are actually dirty and lambs are pretty dumb. (Here's that video I'm sure many of us have seen of a sheep being both – dirty and dumb.) And remember that even the “sheep” Jesus refers to so often, even before this brunch on the beach, are pitiable and lost and in need of redemption, too. Remember that the “sheep” in Jesus' teachings need to be separated from the goats, they need to be found because they've gone astray, they need to be saved from the clutches of the wolves that surround them, and they need to listen for the sound of their shepherd's voice to lead them. And besides, all of that, remember that the warm and fuzzy Lamb, in Jesus himself, gets sacrificed, after all. And remember that the Lamb of God, in Jesus Christ, showed up to do the dirty work of taking away the sin of the world.There's not much “warm and fuzzy” or “cute and cuddly” or “soft and sweet” about any of that, in the end. The Lord's work is dirty work, to say the least. So it's notable, for me, that Jesus uses “sheep” and “lambs” as a metaphor for Peter, the fisherman – again – this time around.So when he talks about feeding sheep and tending to lambs, it seems to me, that Jesus is talking about the hard and holy stuff of life and discipleship for believers, this morning. And he's implying that you really need to LOVE Jesus, in order to fully enter into the business of following him faithfully.So we're invited to wonder, what in the world that means for you and me? Where are the sheep and the lambs, the lost and the lonely, the scared, the sick, the suffering – and the stinky – in this world and in your life?He makes it really hard for us to avoid the question. When Jesus asks us if we love him, who and how and what is he really asking us to consider? How many of us – like Pope Francis – smell like the sheep we're called to love and serve?For starters, it seems random, but it's no mistake that the Gospel writer says there were 153 fish in the net that morning. It's not likely anyone actually counted those fish. It's a number that smarter people than me suggest is meant to symbolize the entirety of creation; or they say it symbolizes all the people and every nation of the world. So, it's just another reminder that, as followers of Jesus, we're meant to tend to, feed, care about, and love all people; from every nation; in every land; even when it's hard. Even when it stinks. Do you love Jesus, even if it leads to people and to places where you may not want to go? Do you love Jesus, even if it leads people to your doorstep who you wish wouldn't come?Of course, we answer this question in other ways, too.I hope, when we consider our financial commitments to the General Fund in the days ahead, we'll hear that question, again: “Do you love me?” And I pray our commitments and the offerings that follow will be one meaningful way that we respond – even if it's uncomfortable, unfamiliar, unconventional by the world's standards and expectations.I hope, as we're filling out our Time and Talent Sheets for the year ahead, too, that Jesus' question will ring in our ears, “Do you love me?” And that how we choose to serve the world through our little part of the kingdom at Cross of Grace will reveal our answer in a faithful way – and that we'll do it even when it's inconvenient sometimes; even if it's new; even if it's something we've done before or something we never thought we'd do at all. Even if it stinks from time to time, like helping to clean the church or to mow the lawn.I hope, that as we live our lives in this broken and hurting world, that we see around us – on the evening news, in the hallways at school, in the house down the street, on the faces of strangers, and in the mirror – I hope we see the sheep and lambs of Jesus – the children of God – who are starving for, who need and who deserve to be fed and tended to and loved with the same grace we long for, need, and try to share around here.I hope that when we wonder about what it looks like to love Jesus, that we aren't afraid to get our hands dirty, to stop pretending that life in this world – our own lives or the lives of our neighbors – are always neat and tidy, soft and sweet, cute, cuddly, and convenient. I hope our lives of faith in this world leave us smelling like sheep.Because the truth is we are all sheep. Each of us is a lamb. We all stink of the sin that covers us. And we're all unable to be free of it on our own.So Jesus shows up to inspire us and to encourage us and to love us, first – all so that we might follow him – like he invites Peter to do – into a new way of life. So that we'll follow him into a kingdom that is built on service and sacrifice, generosity and grace, mercy and good news; a kingdom built with very clear directions from the resurrected and living love of Jesus Christ our Lord – who so faithfully feeds, tend to, and loves us – and the world – so that we can't help but return the favor, in his name.Amen

Homily for the Third Sunday of Easter - May 4, 2025

Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" three times, underscoring the Lord's loving response to our human weaknesses by meeting us where we are and inviting us to love as God loves us. (Lectionary #48) May 3, 2025 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com  

In a season of Stillness—but I'm still here. ❤️‍

Reigning Through Love: Jesus' True Model of Leadership in Holy Week Today the Church marks the beginning of the celebration of the Paschal Mysteries . . . . . . Christ's suffering, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes two key themes from the Gospel of Luke: -1- Jesus as a Humble King: Unlike worldly leaders who often seek power at the expense of others, Jesus demonstrates a kingship rooted in humility, love, and self-sacrifice. His leadership resonates with the hearts of the people, offering them hope and salvation. -2- Jesus' Innocence and the Eucharistic Kingdom: Luke highlights Jesus' innocence repeatedly throughout His Passion. From Pilate, Herod, a repentant thief, and a Roman centurion—all recognize His blamelessness. Despite being unjustly condemned, Jesus offers Himself through the Eucharist, declaring, “This is my body… this is my blood.” His innocent sacrifice brings redemption to all. We are reminded that true leadership mirrors Christ . . . leading with compassion and integrity. And ultimately, our salvation lies not in our own righteousness but in the innocent sacrifice of Jesus. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Reigning Through Love: Jesus' True Model of Leadership in Holy Week ----------------------------------------------------------- image: Behold the Man: Ecce Homo: Hungarian Painter: Mihály Munkácsy: 1896