Podcasts about ordinary time year b

the word on the Word-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year B Mark 1:41-42 “Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.” Have you ever felt frustrated when God didn't immediately answer your prayer? This week, Melissa and Veronica relate to the struggle of feeling like your prayer is unheard. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-02-11

In those days after that tribulationthe sun will be darkened,and the moon will not give its light,and the stars will be falling from the sky,and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

A homily for the 33rd Sun of Ordinary Time Year B 11/17/2024

the word on The Word – Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Psalm 16:8-9 “I keep the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.” What does fall have to do with being a child of God? Veronica explains the connection to Melissa in this week's episode. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-11-17

Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B - Nov 17, 2024. Readings for the day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111724.cfm

The seasons are changing Homily given at Saint Aloysius, Parish, Cleveland, Ohio.

the word on The Word – Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Psalm 16:8-9 “I keep the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.” What does fall have to do with being a child of God? Veronica explains the connection to Melissa in this week's episode. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-11-17 Episode: https://soundcloud.com/ewtn-radio/the-word-on-the-word-thirty-third-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b Podcast: http://www.ewtnradio.net

the word on The Word – Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Psalm 16:8-9 “I keep the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure.” What does fall have to do with being a child of God? Veronica explains the connection to Melissa in this week's episode. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-11-17 Episode: https://i.listen.ewtn.com/~PP/~PP20241117.mp3 Podcast: https://www.ewtn.com

Read Online Jesus said to his disciples: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” Mark 13:24–25The “tribulation” of which our Lord speaks, refers to a great persecution of the Church and of those with faith. Regarding this tribulation, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the “mystery of iniquity” in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. (#675).Is this “final trial” happening today? Though it is impossible to apply Jesus' prophecy and the Catechism's teaching to one specific moment in time, the fact remains that this trial and tribulation will take place. That is for certain. But how and when it will take place we do not know. It might be that it already has taken place or that it is taking place right now. Only God can properly interpret these prophetic words.With that said, this final trial and “mystery of iniquity” does take place in all of our lives in various ways. When we devote ourselves to the love and service of God, we can be certain that our faith will be tested and that persecution will be experienced in one way or another. Knowing this, however, should not frighten us. On the contrary, it was spoken by our Lord to prepare us and to help us endure whatever trials we experience in life. Jesus' words must instill hope within us when we endure the suffering caused by evil.Jesus also said that when we see persecutions, trials and tribulation, we must “know that he is near, at the gates.” In other words, the greater the suffering one endures for their faith, the more present God is. He is there, at the gate of your heart, waiting for you to run to Him in trust and hope.As we approach the end of our current Church year, most of our readings at Mass will focus upon the end times. We will read about Jesus' glorious return in glory, the end of the world, and the establishment of His permanent Kingdom as Heaven and earth are united as one. It could take place today or tomorrow, or it might not take place for thousands of years. But it will happen. On that day, the day of the final judgment, the only thing that will matter is our fidelity to God. For that reason, we must daily strive to live as if that day were today. We must diligently prepare for that day and live for that glorious moment alone. If life is easy right now, we should work to be more selfless and sacrificial so as to be prepared. If life is challenging right now, we must enter those challenges with hope and trust, uniting every suffering to Christ's sufferings as a sacrifice of love.Reflect, today, upon Jesus' prophecy that “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” As you do, know that these are words spoken not only to the Church as a whole, but also to you. Jesus wants you to know that any suffering and tribulation you endure, every “darkening of the sun” or any way that you feel “shaken” are opportunities for you to turn to God in trust. Invite our Lord into these experiences and know that they are signs of His closeness to help purify you and prepare you for the glorious day of His return.Most glorious Judge, You will return one day in glory to judge the living and the dead. Before that day, You have revealed that Your Church will endure much suffering. Please give me hope during those moments in my life so that I can offer to You every suffering I endure as a sacrifice of love, offered in union with Your own perfect sacrifice. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Christ Pantocrator, via flickr

Salvation through Jesus. We have reached the end of the readings for the ordinary time.  Next Sunday's celebration of Christ the King has its own set of readings. Sunday's readings focus on the glorification of Jesus, and his return at the end of time as the saviour. Come help each other be prepared. 

Enter the kingdom as a little child with Lucia and Anja Watson as they go through the Gospel readings for this Sunday's Mass. CHILDREN'S LITURGY is put together for Radio Maria by Lucia Watson based on CAFOD's Children's Liturgy material. If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. -Year B - Sunday, 17 November 2024 (EPISODE:505) Readings for Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.- Year B FIRST READING: Dan 12:1-3 Ps 16:5+8, 9-10, 11. “Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.” SECOND READING: Heb 10:11-14, 18 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (Luke 21:36). Alleluia, alleluia! Be watchful, pray constantly. That you may be worthy to stand before the son of Man. GOSPEL: Mark 13:24-32 Image Credit- adapted from this original image - pwkelly - https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/YmlrnwqiarL5HvTwWfMp?ru=Paul-Evangelion References: Homily Fr Paul W. Kelly Image Credit: Shutterstock Licensed. Image Credit- adapted from this original image - pwkelly - https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/YmlrnwqiarL5HvTwWfMp?ru=Paul-Evangelion Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com To listen to the weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by visting here: https://surfersparadiseparish.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=85b9ddd594b242276d423bfe9&id=002282d9e0 Details relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog: "Faith, Hope and Love - Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL) Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA) "The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers. Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993). (Sydney Australia). Sung "Mass in Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria, Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org. "Faith, Hope and Love" theme hymn - In memory of William John Kelly (1942-2017) - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. “Quiet Time.” Instrumental Reflection music. Written by Paul W Kelly. 1988, 2007. & This arrangement: Stefan Kelk, 2020. “Today I Arise” - For Trisha J Kelly. Original words and music by Paul W. Kelly. Inspired by St Patrick's Prayer. Arranged and sung, with additional lyrics by Stefan Kelk. 2019. Sound Engineering and editing - P.W. Kelly. Microphones: - Shure Motiv MV5 Digital Condenser. And (2024+) Rode Nt-1 + AI-1 Sound Mixer. Editing equipment: -- MixPad Multitrack Studio Recording Software v10.49 (NCH Software). NCH – WavePad Audio Editing Software. Masters Edition v 17.63 (NCH Software) Sound Processing: iZotope RX 10 Audio Editor (Izotope Inc.) Text transcription as per recorded podcast version is transcribed by TurboScribe.ai {excellent and accurate transcription from voice to text} [Production - KER - 2024] May God bless and keep you. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B -(Sunday, 17 November 2024) (EPISODE: 505) The Lord be with you.

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. 

Generosity, hospitality, sacrifice. Homily given at Saint Aloysius Church Cleveland, Ohio

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B - Nov 10, 2024. Readings for the day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111024.cfm

Wisdom from widows Two of today's readings contain stories of widows in desperate life circumstances. These stories teach essential lessons in recognizing and reaching for abundant and lasting life. Come and find out.

Read OnlineJesus sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Mark 12:41–42If you were in charge of the Temple treasury, which would you prefer? The rich putting in large sums of money? Or one poor widow putting in two small coins? Of course, an honest answer to that question might be hard to give. Much good can be done with large sums of money, right? Wouldn't it be better to accept more than a few cents? The dilemma one would experience in this situation reveals a misperception that we regularly encounter in life. Is more better than less? Is wealth better than poverty? Is success better than failure? It all depends upon the spiritual reality at hand.Take, for example, success vs. failure. Say one person sets off on a selfish and immoral business venture that quickly produces a huge income. Many would consider that a success. Say another person prayerfully sought to fulfill the will of God and started some other business. After years of trying, that business failed and went into bankruptcy. Which situation is better? Clearly, the one who sought to fulfill the will of God is the winner. Why? Because the spiritual fruit of fidelity to the will of God, despite worldly setbacks, produced an eternal treasure more valuable than earthly wealth.God judges the heart, not the worldly outcome. In fact, from a worldly perspective alone, Jesus' life was a complete failure. He was arrested, charged with a capital crime, beaten and killed. His earthly kingdom—desired by many of his followers—was never established. Many of them abandoned Him when He was killed. Even after He rose from the dead, He didn't establish an earthly kingdom.Of course, in the spiritual realm, the realm of eternal realities, Jesus' life was infinitely successful. His death destroyed death itself, and His Resurrection enabled all who believe in Him to share in eternal life. His spiritual Kingdom is now in full bloom and will one day be visible to all.Back to our original question. If you were in charge of the Temple treasury, and you were given the same option that Jesus pointed to of receiving the large sums of money from the rich, or the two coins from the poor widow, it would certainly be better to accept the two coins. If that is hard to comprehend, then it is a sign that you live more according to the values of the world than the values of the spiritual Kingdom of God. The poor widow gave more than two small coins; she also gave the spiritual gift of her generosity and complete trust in God. She gave all she had and trusted that God would take care of her and use her gift for good. This is infinitely more fruitful for the building of the Kingdom of God than the gift of someone's excess of money. God does not need our money, but we need to give it, be detached from it, and be ready and willing to give everything we have, all that we are, our entire livelihood to God. This is trust. This is a spiritual gift that will have far greater eternal ramifications for the salvation of souls than all the money in the world. Reflect, today, upon the compliment Jesus pays to this poor widow. “She, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” Do you contribute your whole livelihood? Do you dedicate everything you have, all your energies and gifts, and all that you are to the service of God for His glory? We are called to give everything to God—not just a portion of our lives. Reflect upon how well you imitate this poor widow and seek to follow her holy example.Most generous Lord, You gave all that You had and all that You are out of love for the salvation of the world. Help me to imitate Your total gift by returning all to You, entrusting my entire life, all that I am, and my entire livelihood to You. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above:  She Gave All She Had, via flickr

Enter the kingdom as a little child with Lucia and Maria Watson as they go through the Gospel readings for this Sunday's Mass. CHILDREN'S LITURGY is put together for Radio Maria by Lucia Watson based on CAFOD's Children's Liturgy material. If you enjoyed this programme, please consider making a once off or monthly donation to Radio Maria England by visiting www.RadioMariaEngland.uk or calling 0300 302 1251 during office hours. It is only through the ongoing support of our listeners that we continue to be a Christian voice by your side.

the word on The Word – Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B 1 Kings 17:11 “And as [the woman] was going to bring it, [Elijah] called to her and said, ‘Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.'” Are you willing to share food? What if you're hungry? Melissa and Veronica highlight the significance of a widow sharing bread with Elijah. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-11-10

"The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction." In the darkness of our modern world, we cling to the hope and promise of Jesus Christ.  

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.Mass Readings:1 Kings 17;10-16Psalm 146Mark 12;38-44"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina. PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormo...#thirtysecondsundayinordinarytime #32ndsundayinordinarytime #thewidowsmite #thewidowofzarephath #sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel  #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #hectormolina #awalkintheword  #catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

Homily for the 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year B), preached at St. Mary Mother of God Roman Catholic Church by Deacon Matthew Newsome on Sunday, November 3, 2024. Christ shows us the mind and heart of the Father in the most intimate way and invites us to be his friends. No other religion in the world could imagine their gods doing such a thing, because our perspective, our understanding of reality is just too small and limited. God widens our narrow perspective. That's what love does.

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.Mass Readings:Deuteronomy 6;2-6Psalm 18Mark 12;28b-34"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina. PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormo...#thirtyfirstsundayinordinarytime #31stsundayinordinarytime #jesusandthescribe #thegreatestcommandment #shema #sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel  #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #hectormolina #awalkintheword  #catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

Do you know about Jesus or do you know Jesus? Enjoy this week's homily.

the word on The Word – Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.” How are you supposed to love the Lord? Veronica and Melissa discuss Jesus' expectation and how to live it practically. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-11-03

You will have long life. Homily given at Saint Aloysius Church Cleveland, Ohio.

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B - Nov 3, 2024. Readings for the day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110324.cfm

Read OnlineThe scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.' And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Mark 12:32–33This scribe got it. He posed a question to Jesus after Jesus was challenged by some of the Sadducees who did not accept Jesus' teachings about the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees were trying to trip Jesus up, and this scribe listened carefully to Jesus' answer and found it to be well said. Therefore, this scribe asks Jesus his own question. He doesn't ask this question in an attempt to trap Jesus, but because he appeared to sincerely want to hear Jesus' answer. So he asked Jesus, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” To that question, Jesus gives a summary of the whole law of God saying that we must first love God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength and then love our neighbor as ourselves.We must all try to imitate this scribe. It was risky for him to show support of Jesus. Many of the other scribes were quite hostile toward Jesus. Therefore, by openly expressing His agreement with what Jesus taught, he was putting himself at risk of being criticized. But it appears he was not concerned about that. He was a seeker of truth, and Jesus ended up paying him a huge compliment by saying, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”In our growingly secular world, there are many truths of God that are being openly questioned and challenged. Agreement on what are the moral truths is becoming more of the exception than the norm. As a result, we will all find ourselves experiencing hostility from the world simply by being seekers of the truth. Many people even find that a mere refusal to openly support objective immorality will make them a target of the secular world.Are you a seeker of truth? Do you recognize the holy truths of God when you hear them? If so, do you have the courage you need to pursue those truths and articulate them in accord with the mind of God in the presence of others? Evangelization is different from proselytism. Proselytism is a hostile and forceful preaching of the truths of God. It is argumentative and lacks basic respect for the freedom and dignity of others. Evangelization, on the other hand, is an essential practice that every follower of Christ must engage in. At the heart of evangelization is an honest and humble seeking of the truth in every situation. One who evangelizes does not attack another. They do not criticize and condemn. Instead, they seek to understand the full truth themselves and then openly share that truth with those who are open to it.In many ways, this scribe did just that. He listened, understood, inquired, and then freely shared his faith in what Jesus said. Those who listened to him, especially other scribes, might not have agreed with his conclusions. They might have even criticized him among themselves. But the witness of this scribe might have opened the minds and hearts of others who were listening. Some would have sensed his openness, his understanding, and his joyful response and allowed his conversation with Jesus to affect them for the good. Thus, by openly seeking the truth, this scribe also evangelized others and Jesus praised Him for his good work. Reflect, today, upon the way that you share your faith with others. Are you one who tends to be argumentative and condemning? Or do you allow the joy of your own discovery of the truths of God do the evangelizing? Be a seeker of Truth. Do so openly and with joy. If you do, others will discover in you the truths of God that they need and will be invited to imitate your truth-seeking in their own lives. Lord of all Truth, in You and You alone will we discover the truths that set us free. Give me the grace and courage I need to always seek out the truth You teach. As I discover and understand all that You teach, help me to express my discoveries with joy and enthusiasm so that others will also be drawn to You. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Christ preaching - unfinished by Richard Parkes Bonington, via Wikimedia Commons

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.Mass Readings:Jeremiah 31:7-9Psalm 126Mark 10:46-52"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina. PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormo...#thirtiethsundayinordinarytime #30thsundayinordinarytime #bartimaeus #blindbartimaeus #jesushealsbartimaeus #sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel  #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #hectormolina #awalkintheword  #catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B - Oct 27, 2024. Readings for the day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102724.cfm

"This poor widow, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." As members of the Body of Christ, we are both the ones who are thirsty, and the ones who offer drink.

A homily for the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B 10/27/2024

God works best in the places that we are most vulnerable. Enjoy this week's homily. (Sorry for the delayed response)

the word on The Word – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Mark 10:47 “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" What are you willing to give up for Jesus? Melissa and Veronica talk about one man's persistence and what we can learn from it. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-10-27

Celebrate your faith. Homily given at Saint Aloysius Parish, Cleveland, Ohio.

Read OnlineAs Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Mark 10:46–47Imagine the humiliation you might experience if your only way to survive each day was to sit on the side of the road and beg. As a blind man at that time, Bartimaeus was not able to work and support himself. Many saw his blindness as a curse from God and the result of his sin or the sins of his parents. He would have been treated as an outcast of society and as a burden to his family and community. Thus, the mental and emotional trauma a blind person experienced at that time would have been just as difficult to deal with as the physical blindness itself.The symbolism in this story is extraordinary and teaches us many things about our Christian journey. First, we must strive to identify with Bartimaeus' humility and weakness. On a spiritual level, we are all blind and, in our fallen natural state, we are spiritual outcasts. This means that we cannot attain Heaven by ourselves.Bartimaeus is a symbol of our fallen natural state. We need to humble ourselves every day and see ourselves as people in dire need who are incapable of saving our own souls. Bartimaeus is also a symbol of what we must do in order to be drawn out of the blindness and misery we experience in life. The moment he heard that Jesus was walking by, he cried out for mercy. But he didn't just cry out to our Lord. He did so with perseverance. The people who heard him crying out rebuked him and told him to stop. But their rebukes only led him to be more fervent in his prayer. Also, it appears that Jesus ignored him at first. Why would Jesus do that? It certainly wasn't because Jesus didn't care. It was because our Lord knew that Bartimaeus would persevere and He wanted him to do so. Jesus wanted Bartimaeus' prayer to become more resolute, and it did.The prayer of Bartimaeus must become the way we pray. It is very easy to become discouraged in life and to lose hope. When that happens, our prayer becomes weak and ineffective. At times, we will experience many other temptations to give up on prayer. The rebukes by the crowd are a symbol of the many temptations we will experience to give up on prayer. When those temptations come, we must double our effort and strengthen our resolve. Jesus' silence at first must also be seen as an invitation to pray with greater faith. If we pray and feel as though God is not listening, we must know that God does hear us and His initial silence is His way of inviting us closer and to a deeper level of faith and prayer.When Jesus stopped and told the disciples to bring Bartimaeus to Him, Bartimaeus immediately got up, threw off his cloak and went to our Lord. His cloak is a symbol of everything we need to shed in life that keeps us from immediately and quickly responding to the promptings of grace. Though there is nothing wrong with having a cloak, in that moment it was a slight hindrance to his prompt response to Jesus. So also with us; we must be ready and willing to eliminate anything that keeps us from responding to God the moment He calls to us.Finally, Bartimaeus' prayer was perfect. “Master, I want to see.” Spiritually speaking, we must work to foster the deepest desire to see God, to see our Lord. If we desire the gift of faith, the ability to see spiritual truths and understand them, then our Lord will answer that prayer. Our Lord will also say to us, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.”Reflect, today, upon this poor blind beggar, Bartimaeus. See in his humble soul a model of how you must see yourself and of how you must pray. Observe the humility of your fallen state, the isolation you experience from your sin, and the perseverance you need to have in prayer. Follow the example of Bartimaeus, and our Lord will remove the blindness of your heart so that you can follow Him more fully every day.My healing Lord, by myself I am weak, a beggar and a sinner. My only hope is to cry out to You in my need and to do so with much zeal. Please do restore my sight, dear Lord. Heal me and help me to see You so that I can follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured images above: The Healing of the Blind Bartimaeus by Workshop of Fernando Gallego, via Wikimedia Commons

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength . . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself." A central teaching of Jesus, this is how the Kingdom of God becomes real in our world today.

A homily for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B 10/20/2024

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.Mass Readings:Isaiah 53:10-11Psalm 33Mark 10:35-45"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina. PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormo...#twentyninthsundayinordinarytime #29thsundayinordinarytime #sufferingservant #passionprediction #sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel  #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #hectormolina #awalkintheword  #catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

Are you striving for Honor or Fulfillment! Enjoy this week's homily.

the word on The Word – Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B Mark 10:36 “And [Jesus] said to them, ‘What do you want me to do for you?'” What do you do: ask or demand? Veronica and Melissa look at a moment when two disciples told Jesus what they wanted. For Sunday's Reading: ewtn.com/catholicism/daily-readings/2024-10-20

Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B - Oct 20, 2024. Readings for the day: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102024.cfm

Read OnlineJames and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Mark 10:35–37What a bold statement from James and John. But notice the gentleness in Jesus' response. The other apostles, however, were not as gentle. We read that when they heard about this request from James and John they “became indignant” about it. In response, Jesus explains to them all that “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”Our fallen human nature is regularly tempted to desire worldly greatness, prestige, honors and admiration. We want others to think well of us and even to envy us. But this is a sin. Recall that this was one of the temptations that Jesus overcame in the desert. The devil tempted our Lord by promising Him earthly rule over all the nations. Jesus rejected this temptation and, by doing so, provides all the grace we need to do the same. One thing this passage reveals is that our Lord is patient with us as we work through our sin. He was patient and gentle with James and John while they attempted to gain places of honor next to Him. He was patient with the indignation of the other apostles when they struggled with envy and jealousy. And Jesus will be patient with us as we work through the sins that most tempt us.In addition to His patience, Jesus also provides us with the tools we need to overcome our own temptations. One tool Jesus provides us with is truth itself. Jesus' truth, found in His many teachings and in the example He set, is often contrary to the wisdom of our age and the tendencies we experience within our fallen human nature. In fact, we can be certain that almost every tendency and desire we will experience in life will be disordered to a certain extent. This is because our human nature itself is disordered on account of original sin. The only way to reorder our desires and tendencies is to turn to the clear and profound truths our Lord has given us.Regarding the desire for worldly honors and greatness, Jesus provides the truth spoken above: “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” Do you desire to be a servant? And to go even further, do you desire to be the slave of all? Hopefully you do, but most likely you do not.The reordering of our desires and tendencies begins by gently confronting them with the truth Jesus spoke. It is helpful to see Jesus speak these words to us with all gentleness and love, just as He did to the apostles. Facing the truth within our fallen human nature does not have to be difficult. We only make it difficult when we refuse to admit our disorders. In reality, conversion of our hearts and the reordering of our desires can be a gentle, peaceful and even joyful process if we allow our Lord to speak to us in the way He spoke to the apostles. Of course, when we become obstinate, self-righteous, or remain in denial, our Lord will become more severe and we will experience the pain of our sin. But when we face the truth with openness and with a willingness to let grace change us, we will convert more quickly and will experience the joy and freedom that the embrace of the truth bestows. Reflect, today, upon the disordered desires of these apostles. Reflect, also, upon Jesus' gentle correction of them. As you do, look into your own soul and seek to discover the disordered desires and tendencies that Jesus wants to reorder within you. Do not be afraid to face the gentle and freeing truths that our Lord wants to speak to you. Listen to Him, be open, and wisely accept what He says to you so that you will be free and will experience the joys that await.My freeing Lord, You speak all Truth clearly and gently. You desire to enter my life, reveal my sin, and help me to overcome it. Please give me the grace I need to always listen to You and to allow Your words to change my life. Please free me from every disordered desire and tendency in my life, dear Lord, so that I can experience the joy of true freedom. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured images above: Christ meeting the wife and the sons of Zebedee By Paolo Veronese, via Wikimedia Commons

A homily for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 10/13/2024

"Let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice!" Bartimaeus teaches us to seek Jesus confidently and follow him on his way of the Cross.  

Read Online“Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Mark 10:24–27Have you ever been “exceedingly astonished” by the demands of the Christian life? Hopefully you have been. And if you have been, hopefully you are no longer. Being exceedingly astonished is one of many purifications we must go through in order to enter the Kingdom of God.The “eye of a needle” is a reference to one of the gates in the wall surrounding the city of Jerusalem. After dark, the gate would be closed and the only way to enter was through a small door in the center of that gate. A person could pass through by ducking down, but a camel could not enter unless it got down on the ground and literally crawled through. This took much effort and direction from the master of that camel, but it was possible.The point of this story is to emphasize that we will not be able to easily stroll into Heaven. In this case, Jesus was speaking about how easy it is for a person with money to become so attached to that money that they fail to obtain the riches of Heaven. The rich young man, to whom Jesus was just speaking, went away sad because Jesus lovingly invited him to detach from his earthly wealth so as to obtain the riches of Heaven. Jesus said to him, “​​Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” To that, the rich young man went away sad.Greed and an all-consuming attachment to material wealth clearly have the potential to destroy your soul. That's a fact. There is no way around it. But this teaching applies to every other form of attachment also. When we are attached to any sin to a serious degree and refuse to separate ourselves from that sin, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, if love of God does not motivate us to turn from sin, perhaps fear of hell will.When the disciples witnessed this rich young man preferring his wealth over Heaven, and then Jesus standing His ground and making it clear that it is very hard to make it to Heaven, their astonishment would have challenged them personally. But that is good. It is good because it reveals that they were also convicted of their own unholy attachments and their astonishment arose from a holy fear within. As they saw the rich young man walk away, they would have thought about those things that they also held onto that needed to be purged from their lives. “Astonishment” in this case is the holy realization that they needed to change. The good news, however, is that when a person does change and becomes freed from the attachments that keep them from God, then they will no longer have any attachment that will lead them to be astonished at God's demands. The ultimate goal is to overcome the astonishment caused by the demands of discipleship so that conformity to these demands becomes a way of life.Reflect, today, upon anything that our Lord has taught that is difficult for you to face. Is there any commandment that you tend to ignore? Any teaching that you attempt to rationalize? Any demand that appears to you to be too much? If you are to enter the eye of the needle, you must be wholeheartedly committed. Jesus will not shy away from demanding a total surrender of your life to Him. Reflect upon those attachments that you continue to hold onto and try to see Jesus speaking to you about those attachments as He spoke to this rich young man. Overcome all astonishment and make unwavering submission to the will of God your way of life. This is the only way to enter the gates of the Kingdom of God. Most demanding Lord, Your invitation to discipleship is an invitation to surrender every sinful attachment over to You so as to be freed of those sins. You ask and demand of me everything, dear Lord. May I accept Your demands of holy love and respond generously, holding nothing back, so that I can share in the riches of the Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Jerusalem. Jaffa Gate. Needle's eye. Matt. 19:24, via Wikimedia Commons

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B.Mass Readings:Wisdom 7:7-11Psalm 90:12-17Mark 10:17-30"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina. PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormo...#twentyeighthsundayinordinarytime #28thsundayinordinarytime #richyoungman #richyoungruler #eyeoftheneedle #camelthroughtheeyeoftheneedle#sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel  #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #hectormolina #awalkintheword  #catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

A homily for the 27th Sunday for Ordinary Time Year B 10/6/2024

Read OnlineThe Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” They were testing him. Mark 10:2The Pharisees were not interested in the deepest truths of God. They were only interested in twisting God's truths in an attempt to prove their own self-righteousness. The question they posed to Jesus was a trap, but Jesus doesn't fall into it. He asks them what Moses taught about the love in marriage and then explains that their understanding of Moses' teaching was based on the hardness of their hearts and not the original intent of God as was revealed in the beginning.Our Church's teaching regarding the indissolubility of marriage flows from the teachings found in the Book of Genesis, subsequently confirmed and clarified by Jesus in today's Gospel. When a true marriage bond is established by the free and total consent of a man and woman, that bond can only be separated by death.From a much broader perspective, the marriage bond of which Jesus speaks also reveals to us the depth of commitment that God has made to each one of us and the reciprocal commitment He invites us to make. God's covenant offered to us is freely given, total, and irrevocable. This is important to understand. God will never change His mind when it comes to the commitment He has made to each one of us. For our part, we must continuously seek to reciprocate that commitment by giving ourselves to the will of God in the same way.Though much more could be said about this exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding earthly marriage, we must also see in this exchange a common trap that we will encounter in our marital covenant with God and our love of others. Just as the Pharisees used the law of marriage to try to trap Jesus in His speech, caring nothing about the deeper truths that this teaching revealed, we can also use the Law of God in a way that reveals our own hardness of heart. Love, be it that of marriage or the love that is the basis of our union with God, can easily be used as a weapon rather than a source of unity. Regarding others, we can easily fall into the trap of using the precepts of love as a source of manipulation and persuasion. “If you loved me, then you would…” Regarding our love of God, we can often reduce our love into a reluctant following of God's most basic laws, such as “I have to go to church.”If love is to be pure and holy, it must rise above erroneous interpretations of love and be lived in the way it was intended to be lived. Pure love is always self-giving. It is sacrificial. It always looks to the good of the other. Love is total and must be irrevocable. Love forges a bond that should never be broken. It must endure everything and is possible only when it is grounded in the love that God has for us.Reflect, today, upon the way that you love. Does the hardness of your heart lead you to misrepresent the love God wants you to share with others? Do you minimize the requirements of love? Is your love total, irrevocable, and freely given? Is your love self-seeking or self-giving? Reflect upon the pure and holy nature of the love God has offered to you, and recommit yourself to offer this same depth of love to God and to others so that the covenants that result from your love will always endure. Lord of the Covenant, Your love is perfect. It is pure, it is selfless, self-giving, total and irrevocable. Please help me to love You with this same love so that I can share in the divine marriage covenant to which I am called. May this holy love also overflow into every relationship so that You will be the foundation of those holy bonds. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Christ among the Pharisees By Jacob Jordaens, via Wikimedia Commons

Read Online“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…” Mark 9:43–47Sometimes we need to wake up to the horror of sin. Sin and sin alone is capable of sending you to hell. Hell is real, and going there for eternity is a real possibility. Therefore, we must do whatever it takes to avoid that frightful possibility. This teaching from Jesus might not, at first, be thought of as one of His most inspiring teachings, but it should be. It's not inspiring in the sense that it is quite graphic. But it is very inspiring in the sense that it has the potential to motivate us to action.Are you motivated to do all that you can to avoid sin? Would you even go so far as to cut off your hand or foot, and to pluck out your eye so as to avoid sin? First of all, this should not be seen as a literal command in which Jesus is telling us to mutilate ourselves. But He is the one Who chose such graphic language. Therefore, we should not shy away from pondering these images in a prayerful way so as to more clearly see those things that lead us into sin. When we see them, we must take the radical step of completely eliminating them from our lives.Many of the Church Fathers say that the hand, foot and eye in this teaching refer to our friends. Just as a hand, foot and eye are good in and of themselves, so also are friends. We are made for friendship with God and with others. However, not every friendship helps us grow closer to God. Therefore, when an earthly friend becomes a source of sin, we must eliminate that friendship.Friendship is different from charity. We owe charity to all people, even those who are the most sinful. But acting with charity toward others is different from being friends with them. To be a friend implies mutual giving and receiving. And though we must always give of ourselves to others, we ought not always receive from them when what they have to offer is an invitation to sin. This is how we “cut it off” and “pluck it out.” When another person tries to relate to us in such a way that they lead us into sin, we must take that temptation very seriously and reject it with much vigor.The hand, foot and eye in this teaching also represent every situation in life that tempts us to sin. For example, consider material possessions. If buying a very expensive car, house, or electronic gadget tempts you to become more materialistic, then you must avoid buying it. People are drawn to nice things. But does possessing nice things help your soul to become holy? One could argue that they can have nice things, while at the same time remain spiritually detached from them. But this is difficult to live. The more luxurious our material possessions, the more tempted we will be to rely upon them for our happiness. Therefore, choosing to live simply is almost always better for your soul than choosing to live in luxury. This teaching also applies to anything else that could become a source of temptation.Reflect, today, upon those things or persons in your life that have become an occasion of sin for you. Do not fool yourself into believing that you can handle the temptation. If you have some source of ongoing temptation in your life, you need to eliminate it. Ponder this very graphic teaching from Jesus and try to apply it to your life. Identify those things that lead you into sin and eliminate them with much determination.My radical Lord, You call all of Your children to a life of holiness and perfection. Please help me to take Your teachings seriously so as to eliminate all occasions of sin from my life. May I have the eyes to see these temptations and the courage to reject them with all my might. Jesus, I trust in You.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.Featured image above: Jesus Christ preaching on a boat on the sea of Galilee By Fulcanelli, via Adobe