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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Ms. Joan Watson. Ordinary Weekday/ Denis, Bishop, Martyr, & Companions, Martyrs/ John Leonardi, Priest First Reading: Malachi 3: 13-18, 4: 1-2b Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 1: 1-2, 3, 4 and 6 Alleluia: Acts 16: 14b Gospel: Luke 11: 5-13 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com This December, consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage to Sicily. Please visit https://stpaulcenter.com/pilgrimages to learn more.
Read Online“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Luke 11:23These words are embedded within several powerful teachings of Jesus, but, in many ways, this single sentence can stand alone as an important Christian truth. Specifically, it tells us that we cannot be neutral in our position regarding Jesus and all that He has taught us. This is an important message in the world today.Today, there seems to be a growing secular value that we might call “neutrality.” We are told by many in the world that we must accept any morality, any lifestyle, any choice that others make. And though it is true that we must always love and accept every person and treat them with the utmost dignity and respect, it is not true that we should be neutral to the choices and secular values that some choose to live and express. Sadly, when we do speak the full truth, especially the many moral truths our Lord has revealed, we are often labeled as judgmental. But this is not the truth.This quote above from today's Gospel makes it clear that we cannot remain indifferent to the teachings of our Lord and still remain in His good graces. In fact, Jesus makes it clear that the opposite is true. He says that if we are not with Him, meaning, if we do not accept all that He has revealed, then we are, in fact, against Him. Being neutral on matters of faith and morality is not actually being neutral at all. It's a choice that some make that has the clear effect of separating them from Jesus.For example, regarding matters of faith, if someone were to say, “I do not believe in the Eucharist,” then they are, in fact, rejecting God. And though it is not our duty to be their judge, it is our duty to acknowledge that they have expressed a belief contrary to the truth. They are in error, and if they persist in this error, then they do separate themselves from God. That's what Jesus is saying.The same is true regarding morality. There are many examples in the moral life that are becoming more and more blatant in their opposition to our Lord's teaching. Thus, we must remind ourselves that when we reject a moral teaching given to us by our Lord, we reject Jesus Himself.Jesus goes even further when He says that “whoever does not gather with me scatters.” In other words, it's not enough to simply personally believe all that Jesus taught, we must also teach it to others. If we do not and if we, instead, offer a false form of “acceptance” of another's error, then we are actually working against Jesus. We all have a moral duty to actively promote the truths of the Gospel given to us by our Lord. Reflect, today, upon how fully you are “with” our Lord and “gather” with Him. Do you fully accept all that He has taught and also seek to gather many others for the Kingdom of God? If you do not see yourself actively believing in and participating in the mission of our Lord, then heed these words of Jesus and allow them to gently but firmly challenge you, so that you will more fully work to build up God's Kingdom in your own heart and in the world all around you. My glorious King, You desire to build up Your Kingdom in my life and, through me, in the lives of others. Give me the grace and courage I need to fully accept all that You have taught me and to actively become an instrument of Your grace and truth in the world. May I be with You in all things, dear Lord, and gather many into Your loving arms of grace. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
This is the Thursday evening liturgy during the Fall season of Ordinary Time for the Compline podcast from the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. For more about the Center for Worship and the Arts, as well as the resources we provide, visit us at https://www.samford.edu/worship-arts/.CREDITS:© 2021 Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University.Engineered and produced by Wen Reagan for the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University.SPOKEN WORD:Wen Reagan, Stacy Love, Tracy Hanrahan, Meagan Kennedy, Pierce Moffett, Eden Walker.MUSIC:“Compline #5” by Wen Reagan, © 2020 Sursum Corda Music (BMI).“Wishing Elsewhere” by Emily Hanrahan, © 2020 Emily Hanrahan.“My Savior Left His Throne Above” by Julie Anne Vargas and Zac Hicks, © 2015 Unbudding Fig Music (ASCAP) & Julie Anne Vargas, CCLI #7056910.TEXTS:The liturgical words for this podcast series include original phrasings, but were primarily curated and designed from several public domain sources, including “An Order for Compline” from the Anglican and Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and collects collected from Grace Cathedral and the University of Notre Dame.SOUNDS:The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA."Door, Front, Opening, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org."Door, Front, Closing, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org.“06 – Crackling Candle.wav” by 14GPanskaLetko_Dominik of Freesound.org.“Lights a Candle Light with a Match” by straget of Freesound.org.The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.“Soft Shoes Walking on a Dirt Road” by Nagwense of Freesound.org.“Match Being Lit.wav” by Jeanet_Henning of Freesound.org.“Candle Blow.wav” by Bee09 of Freesound.org.Mentioned in this episode:Discover Samford's Center for Worship and the Arts - the creator...
What does it mean to fear the Lord?
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Jonah 4: 1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 86: 3-4, 5-6, 9-10 Alleluia: Romans 8: 15bc Gospel: Luke 11: 1-4 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com This December, consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage to Sicily. Please visit https://stpaulcenter.com/pilgrimages to learn more.
Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him…'” Luke 11:5–6Unless your friend were truly a very close friend, you may hesitate in waking them and their family at midnight to ask to borrow some food. And even if it were a very close friend, you would probably hesitate for fear of disturbing them. But in this parable, the “friend” is God. Jesus just finished giving His disciples the “Our Father” prayer, and now He adds this parable as a way of expressing the great confidence and determination with which we must pray to the Father. The parable concludes by stating that even if the person in bed does not get up to meet the request, they will do so “because of his persistence.” And though God always is attentive to our prayer, our persistence is an essential quality we must have.When we pray to God with persistence, never doubting the goodness and generosity of God, God will pour forth upon us everything that is good. Of course, if our prayer is for something that is selfish or not in accord with the will of God, then all the begging in the world will not be effective. But when we pray as the “Our Father” prayer teaches us, then we can be certain that our fidelity to that prayer, prayed with the utmost trust and persistence, will effect the good gifts of the will of God in our lives.One of the seven petitions of the “Our Father” prayer is “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” This is a truly beautiful petition that requires not only ongoing persistence but also detachment from our preference in life. To pray that “God's” will be done and that “His” Kingdom come is a way of also saying that you surrender all of your preferences to God. You come to God acknowledging that your will may not be God's will. Thus, this petition expresses detachment in a powerful way. Reflect, today, upon the importance of praying with the utmost fervor and persistence to God. Reflect, also, upon the importance of doing so with detachment. What does God want of you? What is His holy will for your life? Seek that will and that will alone with all your heart and you will discover that His will truly will come to be in your life. My perfect Lord, Your will and Your will alone is what I want and seek. I seek it with all the powers of my soul. Help me to grow in confidence in You and Your goodness. May I trust in You and believe with all my heart that You truly will bring forth Your holy will in my life if I only persist in prayer and trust. Jesus, I trust in You. Image: Qui es in Caelis by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
It's the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time! Join Dr. Scott Powell and JD Flynn as they talk about the healing of Naaman, St. Paul's final letter, and a Samaritan's confession of faith in Jesus, the high priest.Already read the readings? Skip ahead to 4:45Reading 1 - 2 Kings 5:14-17Psalm 98: 1-4Reading 2 - 2 Timothy 2:8-13Gospel - Luke 17:11-19 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pillarcatholic.com/subscribe
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This is the Wednesday evening liturgy during the Fall season of Ordinary Time for the Compline podcast from the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. For more about the Center for Worship and the Arts, as well as the resources we provide, visit us at https://www.samford.edu/worship-arts/.CREDITS:© 2021 Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University.Engineered and produced by Wen Reagan for the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University.SPOKEN WORD:Wen Reagan, Stacy Love, Tracy Hanrahan, Meagan Kennedy, Pierce Moffett, Eden Walker.MUSIC:“Compline #5” by Wen Reagan, © 2020 Sursum Corda Music (BMI).“Wishing Elsewhere” by Emily Hanrahan, © 2020 Emily Hanrahan.“My Savior Left His Throne Above” by Julie Anne Vargas and Zac Hicks, © 2015 Unbudding Fig Music (ASCAP) & Julie Anne Vargas, CCLI #7056910.TEXTS:The liturgical words for this podcast series include original phrasings, but were primarily curated and designed from several public domain sources, including “An Order for Compline” from the Anglican and Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and collects collected from Grace Cathedral and the University of Notre Dame.SOUNDS:The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA."Door, Front, Opening, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org."Door, Front, Closing, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org.“06 – Crackling Candle.wav” by 14GPanskaLetko_Dominik of Freesound.org.“Lights a Candle Light with a Match” by straget of Freesound.org.The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.“Soft Shoes Walking on a Dirt Road” by Nagwense of Freesound.org.“Match Being Lit.wav” by Jeanet_Henning of Freesound.org.“Candle Blow.wav” by Bee09 of Freesound.org.Mentioned in this episode:Discover Samford's Center for Worship and the Arts - the creator...
In this episode, we will explore ideas such as: Faith saves, but not “faith alone.” God requires our faith to be demonstrated, sometimes in ways we don't understand. Gratitude needs to be part of our response. The readings can be found here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101225.cfm For more info about Keith, visit: https://down2earthministry.org/ Come to France with me: https://selectinternationaltours.com/product/saints-of-france-with-fr-aaron-junge-and-keith-nester/ Join my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/keithnester Join Locals: https://keithnester.locals.com Socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithnestercatholic/ X: https://x.com/KeithNester1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeithNesterCatholic
When it comes to loving our neighbor, sadly we are all Jonahs
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Shane Owens. Our Lady of the Rosary Obligatory Memorial First Reading: Jonah 3: 1-10 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 130: 1b-2, 3-4ab, 7-8 Alleluia: Luke 11: 28 Gospel: Luke 10: 38-42 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com This December, consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage to Sicily. Please visit https://stpaulcenter.com/pilgrimages to learn more.
Read OnlineJesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1What a great prayer for us to pray also, “Lord, teach us to pray…” Jesus' response to this disciple was to present him with the “Our Father” prayer. Of this prayer, Saint Andre Bessette said, “When you say the Our Father, God's ear is next to your lips.” The great mystical Doctor of the Church Saint Teresa of Ávila gave this advice while praying the Lord's Prayer: “Much more is accomplished by a single word of the Our Father said, now and then, from our heart, than by the whole prayer repeated many times in haste and without attention.” And Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said that the “Our Father” prayer was one of the prayers she prayed when she felt so spiritually barren that she could not summon up a single worthwhile thought.At the Holy Mass, when the priest invites the people of God to pray the “Our Father,” he says, in part, that this prayer is one that “...we dare to say.” This is an interesting statement which especially reveals the childlike boldness we are called to have as we pray this prayer sincerely from the heart. It is exceptionally bold to call God our “Father.”Chapter 11 of My Catholic Worship, which offers a teaching on this perfect prayer, states the following about this boldness:Each Christian is to see the Father as my Father. We must see ourselves as God's children and approach Him with the confidence of a child. A child with a loving parent is not afraid of that parent. Rather, children have the greatest trust that their parents love them no matter what. Even when they sin, children know they are still loved. This must be our fundamental starting point for all prayer. We must start with an understanding that God loves us no matter what. With this understanding of God, we will have all the confidence we need to call on Him.Since many of us are very familiar with this ideal prayer taught to us by our Lord Himself, there is a temptation to pray this prayer in a somewhat rote way. We can easily fail to say it from the depths of our hearts, making each word our own, offered with the utmost confidence to our loving Father in Heaven.How do you pray the Lord's Prayer? Do you pray it out of habit, failing to fully comprehend and mean the words you pray? Most likely this is the case for many. Reflect, today, upon this most holy prayer given to us by the Son of God Himself. He is the author of this perfect prayer, so we should use it as the foundation of all of our prayer. Try to follow the advice of Saint Teresa of Ávila quoted above. Take each word of that prayer and pray it slowly, intentionally and with love. Begin by acknowledging God as your Father. Ponder the infinite care He has for you as a perfect father would. See Him in a real, intimate, and personal way. This perfect prayer begins by acknowledging Who God is and then continues with seven perfect petitions. After praying the introduction to this prayer, pick one of the seven petitions to meditate upon so that the richness of this prayer will have a transformative effect upon your soul. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: St Peter and St Paul by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
This is the Tuesday evening liturgy during the Fall season of Ordinary Time for the Compline podcast from the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. For more about the Center for Worship and the Arts, as well as the resources we provide, visit us at https://www.samford.edu/worship-arts/.CREDITS:© 2021 Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University.Engineered and produced by Wen Reagan for the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University.SPOKEN WORD:Wen Reagan, Stacy Love, Tracy Hanrahan, Meagan Kennedy, Pierce Moffett, Eden Walker.MUSIC:“Compline #5” by Wen Reagan, © 2020 Sursum Corda Music (BMI).“Wishing Elsewhere” by Emily Hanrahan, © 2020 Emily Hanrahan.“My Savior Left His Throne Above” by Julie Anne Vargas and Zac Hicks, © 2015 Unbudding Fig Music (ASCAP) & Julie Anne Vargas, CCLI #7056910.TEXTS:The liturgical words for this podcast series include original phrasings, but were primarily curated and designed from several public domain sources, including “An Order for Compline” from the Anglican and Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and collects collected from Grace Cathedral and the University of Notre Dame.SOUNDS:The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA."Door, Front, Opening, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org."Door, Front, Closing, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org.“06 – Crackling Candle.wav” by 14GPanskaLetko_Dominik of Freesound.org.“Lights a Candle Light with a Match” by straget of Freesound.org.The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.“Soft Shoes Walking on a Dirt Road” by Nagwense of Freesound.org.“Match Being Lit.wav” by Jeanet_Henning of Freesound.org.“Candle Blow.wav” by Bee09 of Freesound.org.Mentioned in this episode:Discover Samford's Center for Worship and the Arts - the creator of
A Bible study on Luke 17:11-19, the Gospel reading for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C.
Get all set for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time with Father RoskoSummaryIn this episode of 'All Set for Sunday,' hosts Scott Williams and Jeff Trailer, along with Father Roscoe, discuss the upcoming Sunday readings, the importance of gratitude in the Christian life, and the significance of the Eucharist. They share personal anecdotes about receiving Communion, the role of holy water, and the beauty of Eucharistic miracles. The conversation also touches on Father Roscoe's upcoming trip to Italy and the community aspect of the church, concluding with a light-hearted discussion about a new puppet in the parish.TakeawaysThe podcast aims to prepare busy Catholics for Sunday Mass.Gratitude is a vital aspect of the Christian faith.Practicing gratitude can enhance our relationship with God and others.The Eucharist is a means of communion with Christ.It's important to spend time in prayer after receiving Communion.Holy water has different types of blessings and significance.Eucharistic miracles serve as reminders of faith.Community and connection are essential in the church.Father Roscoe shares his experiences as a priest.The introduction of a puppet in the parish adds a fun element. Chapters03:30 Exploring the Readings for the Week06:23 The Importance of Gratitude09:33 Practicing Gratitude in Daily Life12:19 The Real Presence in Communion15:38 Experiences of Receiving Communion18:33 The Significance of Holy Water21:21 Father Roscoe's Upcoming Trip to Italy24:31 Community and Connection in the Church27:17 Conclusion and Farewell
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn. Ordinary Weekday/ Bruno, Priest, Hermit, Religious Founder/ Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin, Religious Founder First Reading: Jonah 1: 1 – 2: 1-2, 11 Responsorial Psalm: Jonah 2: 3, 4, 5, 8 Alleluia: John 13: 34 Gospel: Luke 10: 25-37 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com This December, consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage to Sicily. Please visit https://stpaulcenter.com/pilgrimages to learn more.
Read OnlineMartha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:40–42In many ways, this statement of our Lord summarizes the most important and central message of the Gospel. We are all called to choose “the better part” every day.Jesus was close friends with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. He frequently visited their home, which was only a short distance from Jerusalem. On this occasion, when Jesus was visiting their home, one of these siblings, Mary, had placed herself at Jesus' feet, listening to Him and conversing with Him. Martha was busy with the important details of hospitality and appeared to be upset with Mary, so she confronted Jesus, asking Him to tell Mary to help her. But in so doing, she was also unknowingly trying to dissuade Mary from the most important purpose of her life.As Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, she gave us an example of the most important focus we must have in life. Though our days will be filled with many necessary duties, such as cooking, cleaning, working, entertainment, and caring for others, we must never forget that which we were made for and that which we will be doing for all eternity: adoration of our glorious God.Consider all that occupies your day. Though most of what you do may be important, do you daily take time out to adore our Lord, listen to Him and glorify Him through your prayer? We can often make time for many other important duties in life, as well as those that are not so important. We may spend hours on chores, immerse ourselves in movies, devote whole evenings to reading, fulfill our duties in the workplace, but only devote a minute or two each day, if even that, to silent prayer and adoration of our God!What would happen to your life if you chose “the better part” for a full hour every day? What if you decided that the first hour of your day would be dedicated to an imitation of Mary in the Gospel passage and that you would do nothing but adore Jesus through silent prayer and meditation? At first, you may think of the many other tasks you could be doing at that moment. You may decide that you do not have the time for extended prayer every day. But is that true? Perhaps you are actually being Martha to yourself, saying to yourself that you should do more important things with your time and that Jesus will understand if you do not spend time with Him alone in adoration and prayer every day. If that is you, then be very attentive to this Gospel passage. In many ways, Jesus deeply desires to say this about you. He wants to say of you that you have chosen the better part for an extended period of time every day and that this will not be taken from you.Reflect, today, upon that which is most important in life. Dispel excuses and temptations to simply fulfill all the other important duties of life, neglecting that which is most important. Reflect upon the simple truth that Jesus does want you to devote much time to Him every day for silent prayer and adoration. Do not give into excuses and distractions. Commit yourself to remain at the feet of Jesus, adoring Him, listening to Him and loving Him. If you do, you will find that your life is more ordered and that the time you spend in prayer bears more good fruit than every other important duty you fulfill every day. My inviting Lord, I do believe that adoration of You in silent and devout prayer is the most important duty I have to fulfill every day. May I never be deterred from adoring You every day, devoting as much time as You desire to silent and loving prayer. May I discover this gift of prayer, dear Lord, and sit at Your feet with Mary and with all the glorious saints. Jesus, I trust in You.Image - Erasmus Quellinus II, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
Father teaches us how important it is to forgive.
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Gospel Luke 10:25-37 There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He said in reply, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." He replied to him, "You have answered correctly; do this and you will live." But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.' Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise.” Reflection When Jesus first responded to his request, ‘What do I have to do to gain eternal life'? Jesus started with where the man was. Basically he said, ‘Well what does it say in the law'? And then he quotes the law. And Jesus said, ‘That's correct, follow that law'. But then wanting to justify himself, which is kind of interesting, he was probably going to tell a great story about how he helped someone else. But the truth is, Jesus is about to expose something that is missing in the man. The law is one thing, but the law can never cover every decision we make when it comes to love, mercy, understanding, compassion, empathy. We see here how two figures in a story Jesus uses according to the law of being purified. They couldn't get near a dead person. If they did, they weren't able to function in the temple. That was the law, and Jesus is pointing out something so important. Nothing is more important than love and mercy, compassion. And the law is never enough for us to make those decisions. Closing Prayer Father, we live always in an institution that has regulations and rules. They're all around us. But we must know when it comes to our faith life, in our religion, our relationship with God, primary is not the law, but the primary thing is mercy, love, compassion. Help us see that. Help us live that. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the Monday evening liturgy during the Fall season of Ordinary Time for the Compline podcast from the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. For more about the Center for Worship and the Arts, as well as the resources we provide, visit us at https://www.samford.edu/worship-arts/.CREDITS:© 2021 Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University.Engineered and produced by Wen Reagan for the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University.SPOKEN WORD:Wen Reagan, Stacy Love, Tracy Hanrahan, Meagan Kennedy, Pierce Moffett, Eden Walker.MUSIC:“Compline #5” by Wen Reagan, © 2020 Sursum Corda Music (BMI).“Wishing Elsewhere” by Emily Hanrahan, © 2020 Emily Hanrahan.“My Savior Left His Throne Above” by Julie Anne Vargas and Zac Hicks, © 2015 Unbudding Fig Music (ASCAP) & Julie Anne Vargas, CCLI #7056910.TEXTS:The liturgical words for this podcast series include original phrasings, but were primarily curated and designed from several public domain sources, including “An Order for Compline” from the Anglican and Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and collects collected from Grace Cathedral and the University of Notre Dame.SOUNDS:The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA."Door, Front, Opening, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org."Door, Front, Closing, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org.“06 – Crackling Candle.wav” by 14GPanskaLetko_Dominik of Freesound.org.“Lights a Candle Light with a Match” by straget of Freesound.org.The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.“Soft Shoes Walking on a Dirt Road” by Nagwense of Freesound.org.“Match Being Lit.wav” by Jeanet_Henning of Freesound.org.“Candle Blow.wav” by Bee09 of Freesound.org.Mentioned in this episode:Discover Samford's Center for Worship and the Arts - the creator of...
October 5, 2025. Fr. Tyler's (er, um, Fr. Steve's) homily for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Enjoy! Gospel Luke 17:5-10 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
Fr. John Ehrich, STL Frjohnteaches.com Fr. John's Music
A sermon for Ordinary Time from Rector Jon Odom, reflecting on Nehemiah 4:1-9.
Helping our neighbor is often timely, costly, and inconvenient
"Increase our faith."
ROSARY - JOYFUL MYSTERIES today. DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET for Monday.
The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. Scott Hahn. Ordinary Weekday/ Bruno, Priest, Hermit, Religious Founder/ Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin, Religious Founder First Reading: Jonah 1: 1 – 2: 1-2, 11 Responsorial Psalm: Jonah 2: 3, 4, 5, 8 Alleluia: John 13: 34 Gospel: Luke 10: 25-37 Learn more about the Mass at www.stpaulcenter.com This December, consider joining Catholic author Mike Aquilina, historian James L. Papandrea, and Fr. Kevin Barrett on a unique pilgrimage to Sicily. Please visit https://stpaulcenter.com/pilgrimages to learn more.
Fr. Larry Richards of The Reason For Our Hope Foundation Podcast
Read OnlineThere was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25The question is very good. We should all seek to understand, with all our hearts, what we must do to inherit eternal life. Of course the problem is that this scholar of the law did not ask this question with sincerity and openness. Rather, he asked Jesus this question to test our Lord. This scholar, as well as other scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and elders, was envious of Jesus and sought to find fault with Him. This scholar appeared to be concerned that Jesus was teaching contrary to the Law of Moses. But what does our Lord do? He says nothing more than to put the question back to the scholar, asking him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” The scholar answers correctly, according to the Law of Moses, and Jesus responds to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” Thus, the test was passed.What's interesting and helpful to ponder in this exchange is the way Jesus responds to this scholar. Because Jesus knew the scholar's heart, and because He knew that this scholar was not asking with humility and openness, Jesus responded with great prudence, inviting the scholar of the law himself to answer his own question. Though we are not able to read another's heart in the way our Lord did, we should learn a lesson from Him on how to respond to others who have as their goal to trick, trap, test, and twist our words if they disagree with us. This is especially important in matters of faith and morality. If you are striving to live the Gospel with all your heart and you encounter the “testing” of others as a result of the holy life you are striving for, ponder Jesus' actions here. Too often, when another challenges us or tests us, we become defensive and even offended. As a result, we can enter into arguments back and forth that bear little or no fruit. Jesus did not argue. He did not allow this test to trip Him up. Rather, He only offered responses that could not be doubted. Jesus knew that this scholar was not interested in the deepest spiritual truths. He was only interested in finding fault. Therefore, the deeper and fuller Gospel message could not be offered.We should also learn from this passage the importance of coming to Jesus with an open heart, sincerely seeking the deepest spiritual answers to life. We ought never test Jesus. Instead, in humility, we must believe that He is the source of all truth and that He has every answer in life that we seek. Reflect, today, upon two things. First, reflect upon how completely open you are to all that Jesus has to say. If you were to ask our Lord this question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?,” what would Jesus say to you? Would He only be able to offer you general answers in the form of questions? Or would Jesus see the open and sincere nature of your heart and be able to speak in great depth and detail to you? Second, reflect upon anyone with whom you constantly have to defend yourself for the practice of your faith. If this is your experience, perhaps reexamine your approach, realizing that the deepest pearls of your faith should only be shared with those who are sincerely open and are seeking to embrace them with all their heart. My deep and wise Lord, You and You alone have every answer to life. You and You alone can reveal to me all that I need to know in life so as to achieve holiness and fulfillment. Please open my heart so that I can come to You with humility and sincerity, open to all that You wish to reveal to me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C 2025 Gospel Luke 17:5-10 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
Pastoral Reflections Finding God In Ourselves by Msgr. Don Fischer
Originally aired on October 6, 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mass Readings for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - October 5, 2025 Reading 1, Habakkuk 1:2-3,2:2-4 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Reading 2, Second Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Gospel, Luke 17:5-10
This is the Sunday evening liturgy during the Fall season of Ordinary Time for the Compline podcast from the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University. For more about the Center for Worship and the Arts, as well as the resources we provide, visit us at https://www.samford.edu/worship-arts/.CREDITS:© 2021 Center for Worship and the Arts, Samford University.Engineered and produced by Wen Reagan for the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University.SPOKEN WORD:Wen Reagan, Stacy Love, Tracy Hanrahan, Meagan Kennedy, Pierce Moffett, Eden Walker.MUSIC:“Compline #5” by Wen Reagan, © 2020 Sursum Corda Music (BMI).“Wishing Elsewhere” by Emily Hanrahan, © 2020 Emily Hanrahan.“My Savior Left His Throne Above” by Julie Anne Vargas and Zac Hicks, © 2015 Unbudding Fig Music (ASCAP) & Julie Anne Vargas, CCLI #7056910.TEXTS:The liturgical words for this podcast series include original phrasings, but were primarily curated and designed from several public domain sources, including “An Order for Compline” from the Anglican and Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and collects collected from Grace Cathedral and the University of Notre Dame.SOUNDS:The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA."Door, Front, Opening, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org."Door, Front, Closing, A.wav" by InspectorJ (www.jshaw.co.uk) of Freesound.org.“06 – Crackling Candle.wav” by 14GPanskaLetko_Dominik of Freesound.org.“Lights a Candle Light with a Match” by straget of Freesound.org.The following sound effects were used in this podcast series and are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.“Soft Shoes Walking on a Dirt Road” by Nagwense of Freesound.org.“Match Being Lit.wav” by Jeanet_Henning of Freesound.org.“Candle Blow.wav” by Bee09 of Freesound.org.Mentioned in this episode:Discover Samford's Center for Worship and the Arts - the creator of...
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
"You're worth more than a Ferrari."
Fr. Hezekias & Annie examine what it means to wait faithfully when God seems silent, exploring Habakkuk's anguished cry as Babylon approaches, Jesus' radical teaching that servants deserve no thanks, and Paul's urgent charge to guard truth amid suffering.
Father Tomlinson preaches the homily on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Father Davison preaches the homily on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The Revd Catherine Williams leads a service of Morning Prayer for Monday during Ordinary Time. With music from St Martin's Voices. Find the service and join in via the free Daily Prayer app or online via the Church of England website: www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-in-daily-prayer/morning-prayer-contemporary-monday-6-october-2025
The Revd Catherine Williams leads a service of Evening Prayer for Sunday during Ordinary Time. St Martin's Voices. Find the service and join in via the free Daily Prayer app or online via the Church of England website: www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/join-us-in-daily-prayer/evening-prayer-contemporary-sunday-5-october-2025
Homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. You have already been given everything you need to be a saint. Imagine finding out that you had an inheritance. So many problems could be solved and you could do so much...if only you had more. But what if you had everything you need already? Mass Readings from October 5, 2025: Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-92 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Luke 17:5-10