Podcasts about twenty seventh

Welcome to Episode #212 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our fourth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we discussed the Rain, Streams, and Wind, Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:25; which beat against the house built on the Rock. We ended the episode, hanging, as we observed the consequences of Peter doubting. We'll pick up where we left off and keep going deeper. As a sidebar before we do that, let me encourage all believers to dig deep into any text in the Bible, and you will discover its inexhaustibility. We are admittedly picking at the surface here, but even at the surface, a myriad of encouragements pop up to give us confidence and renewed hope in the faith we hold in the return of Jesus Christ. What is that? Is the return of Jesus Christ not what you are hoping for? We've still got work to do, and this is just the place to do it.Let's hear the full text under consideration for this mini-series: Matthew 7:24-27 – “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”I made the case on our last episode that Jesus was possibly harkening back to the flood of Noah as the reference when contemplating the severity of rain, streams rising, and winds that would come against one's house. I made the case two episodes ago that the house Jesus was referring to was not a physical man-made structure, but the house God created in our mother's womb (our bodies), into which God put an individual spirit he's known since before the creation of the world. Paul says that within us is a temple of God, and Peter calls it a spiritual house, where the Holy Spirit is the resident. What that temple or house is, soul, heart, etc. is a topic for another episode. Let's just agree that the Holy Spirit is resident in us and is our source of eternal life given to us by our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.On our last episode, I presented God's grievous state for making man. As a result of the wickedness of mankind, God sent a flood to destroy all living creatures on the face of the earth. Genesis 6:8-9 – But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. There was an earlier prophet, Enoch, who also walked with God, Gen. 5:24 – Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. God didn't translate Noah, as he did Enoch, to be with him, as God had other plans. It had never rained on the earth or flooded from the upwelling artesian waters that provided ample water for humans, animals, trees and crops alike. So what exactly happened? For that we go to the Scriptures.

In which we perform a postmortem on the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain to analyze Sherman's decision to order an attack on the Confederates' works on June 27, 1864. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Episode #211 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our third of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last episode, we discussed The Rock, Jesus mentioned in Matthew 7:24 upon which Jesus mentions in verse 25, the foundation had been laid. That Rock, being specifically Lord God Almighty of the Old Testament, and the foundation being Jesus Christ as identified by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:10-11. The house being built upon the foundation is according to Paul a temple of God and to Peter a spiritual house of God. Let's remind ourselves of these passages. Matthew 7:24-25 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16 – According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. …16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?1 Peter 2:4-5 – As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.On today's episode, we're going to look at the significance of what we discovered as it relates to the house not falling as the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew, beating against the house we're building. Let's first look to before the beginning of this current terrestrial existence we are now experiencing. I'm speaking of before the flood in Noah's days. Genesis 6:5-7 – The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”I think it would be reasonable to say that at that time, man was in full-out rebellion against God. Inflamed with the lusts and desires of the flesh, man was drunk with unsatiated madness, questing to fulfill his yearnings and passions. We know nothing of this type of life beyond what is written in the Bible, as the antediluvian world was totally destroyed by the flood. The surface of the earth dramatically changed, and the ancestry of all mankind is tied to Noah's three sons and their descendants. We could spend a whole lot of time here, but we won't beyond mentioning Genesis 6:8 - But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. The critical item we want to pick up about Noah is plainly stated in two short verses. Genesis 6:9 – These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. Genesis 7:1 – Then the LORD said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation.The teaching of Righteousness is presented throughout the Scripture. It is not something petty or unimportant, but is critical for learning if one wishes to become mature in their faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and the knowledge of God. What we know of here at this point is that Noah was righteous before God in the generation in which he lived. 

Welcome to Episode #210 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our second of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last mini-series, we overviewed Matthew 7:24-27. In this overview, I pointed out how Jesus was saying something much greater than what appears on the surface. Of course, I could say this about any passage in the Bible, any word in the Bible, any Letter and even any space between the letters. While men and women have attempted to plumb the depths of what is hidden in the Scriptures, I can say without hesitation that no one has yet even scratched the surface of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge it contains. I doubt even the most powerful AI we could ever conceive would melt down long before the contents were fully revealed.All that to say, on this episode we also will only be scratching the surface as we look at the rock mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 7:24. Let's read the entire massage for context. Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”We got into this a little on our last episode when I read Paul speaking of the foundation of our faith in 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 – You are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.Each of us are building a house, God's temple, where the Holy Spirit indwells us. Once we are reborn by the Holy Spirit, he will never leave us. Our life now and into eternity will be by empowered by the Holy Spirit. We are now and forever experiencing eternal life. Although now still residing in a body of death, at God's time and choosing, he will take us from our bodies and bring us to paradise until we receive our resurrection bodies at the return of Christ. When thinking about this, being with Jesus rather than remaining in the body, Paul noted in Philippians 1:23-24 – I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.Paul notes our bodies being the temple of God also in 2 Corinthians 6:16 – For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.Peter also mentions Jesus as a living stone and we as living stones, each in spiritual houses of God. We'll see this stone imagery later in this episode. 1 Peter 2:4-6 – As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” This is a good time to repeat Matthew 7:24-25 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.Our foundation is Jesus Christ and him crucified for our sins/trespasses, raised from the dead for our justification, and ascended to the right hand of God in heaven. In 1 & 2 Corinthians, Paul says the house we're building is the temple of God. Peter, in 1 Peter 2,  says we are building a spiritual house and that we are a holy priesthood. John writes of Spirit Baptized believers in Revelation 1:5-6 – To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  

Welcome to Episode #209 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our first of eight episodes in our Twenty-Seventh mini-series entitled Response to Sermon on the Mount. In our last mini-series, we took six episodes to cover all of Matthew 7, except the sermon's closing passages, Matthew 7:24-27 and 7:28-29. We'll cover these passages in this mini-series.I encourage you to imagine yourself having just heard Jesus' Sermon on the Mount that began with Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; and ended with Matthew 7:23 – And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'.Imagine you just heard Jesus deliver this sermon; not a word slips past your mind or drops to the ground. Off the top of your head, what strikes you as most important? Or, did you sense Jesus was speaking to someone else? As I've mentioned a couple of times in prior episodes, I have changed my views on the Sermon on the Mount several times, each time taking a more conservative approach to the text's applicability to life in the kingdom of heaven now, and not yet. One of the keys to my changing views resides in the significant closing statement Jesus makes and the crowd's response. Both of which, when taken together, are worthy of exploring over an entire mini-series. We'll take them a verse at a time.On today's episode, we're going to introduce Matthew 7:24-27. Let's jump right in.  Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”What we will explore today is Jesus identifying the gateway into an intimate relationship with God our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus prayed to his Father the night he was betrayed, saying, John 17:3 – And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Jesus had said earlier of eternal life in John 6:40 – For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John says earlier in John 3:36 – Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.Did you note a shift in that third passage? Let me read John 3:36 again, Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.Let me restate this slightly to make clear. Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life. Those who do not OBEY Jesus shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on them. Why is that so significant?Jesus has identified in Matthew 7:24-27 two builders who both “HEAR” the words of Jesus (a wise builder and a foolish builder). The wise builder hears Jesus' words and puts the into practice. The foolish builder hears the words of Jesus and does not put them into practice. The wise man builds his house on the rock, while the foolish man builds his house on the sand. There are consequences to the choice of foundations, we will explore later. 

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The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Mr. Clement Harrold. Ordinary Weekday/ Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Reading: Joel 4: 12-21 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 97: 1-2, 5-6, 11-12 Alleluia: Luke 11: 28 Gospel: Luke 11: 27-28   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.

The St. Paul Center's daily scripture reflections from the Mass for Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time by Dr. John Bergsma. Ordinary Weekday First Reading: Joel 1: 13-15; 2: 1-2 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 9: 2-3, 6 and 16, 8-9 Alleluia: John 12: 31b-32 Gospel: Luke 11: 15-26   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 OnlineWhile Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”  Luke 11:27–28This short Gospel reading reveals much about what makes one “blessed” in life. Specifically, Jesus considers those truly blessed who do two things: “hear the word of God” and then “observe it.” Though this seems quite obvious at first read, it is often harder than it seems.The first step to a blessed life is hearing the Word of God. To “hear” implies that we do much more than become familiar with the Gospels. Hearing means we are not only aware of all that our Lord has revealed, it also means that we have truly internalized it, understanding all that our Lord requires of us.Have you heard our Lord? It's important to understand that the Gospel is alive. In other words, becoming familiar with the Word of God is not the same as reading some ancient book of lessons. Rather, hearing the Word of God means we hear a Person: the Son of God, speaking to us and guiding us each step of our lives. God's Word is something that must speak to us every moment of every day, inspiring us to do this and avoid that. It is accomplished through a lifelong habit of prayerful communion with our Lord through which we are attentive to His voice always.Hearing the very Person of the Son of God, the Word made flesh, necessarily implies that we also observe all that He speaks to us. In fact, failure to follow His continuous and gentle command to love will result in us being unable to clearly hear Him at all. We will become confused and will easily become directed by the many other voices in our world, unable to discern the glorious path chosen for us by our Lord. Reflect, today, upon whether or not you struggle in any way with both hearing and observing the voice of God. If this is your struggle, then recommit yourself to a time of humble and wholehearted discovery. Tell our Lord that you are sorry for not being attentive to Him and set yourself on a mission to seek and find Him. Reject the confusion and anxiety of life, reject the many other voices of “wisdom” within our world, and listen for His gentle but clear voice. He is always speaking. He is always calling you. He is always present. Open the eyes of your soul and give Him your full attention. And when you sense Him speaking to you, respond with the utmost generosity and obedience. Doing so will result in you discovering what it means to be truly blessed by our Lord. My blessed Lord, You are glorious beyond all things, and You invite me and all Your creatures to share in Your very life. Give me the grace I need to turn from the confusion and deceptions of life so that I will hear only You and respond only to Your voice. I commit myself to Your holy will, dear Lord. As I do, please bestow upon me every blessing You desire to give. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: A Woman Cries Out in a Crowd by James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum, Public Domain.Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

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.

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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.

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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.

No matter what the secular society says, how wonderful everything is, it is so important that we take the seed of faith that we have been given and that we plant it deep within our soul. And we water it by our faithful attendance like you all are here today. That we keep showing up and that we need to trust, as the Lord reminds us, we need to trust that faith is going to produce much fruit. (Read more…)Here is my homily email from the Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time. Please feel free to share this email with others.

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.

Fr. Eric's homily on the Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time | 10.5.2025 | Fr. CJ by Lourdes Denver

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary time | 10.5.2025 | Fr. CJ by Lourdes Denver

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.

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.

Send us a textCycle CLink to Bristol Hicks' Pastoral Letter

Homily for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time by Fr. Stephen Hamilton.Reading 1 Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9Reading 2 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14Alleluia 1 Peter 1:25Gospel Luke 17:5-10

Read OnlineThe 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.” Luke 17:5–6Is it possible to completely uproot a tree and plant it in the sea? It's certainly hard to imagine how. It is especially hard to imagine doing so with a simple command of faith. Uprooting a tree is hard enough to imagine, but it is even more difficult to imagine a tree being planted in the sea. Though water is necessary, one cannot plant a tree in the sea and expect it to grow. But that's partly the point. We often underestimate the power of true faith. Saint Matthew's Gospel says that faith can move mountains. Saint Luke's says it can uproot a tree and replant it in the sea. All it takes to do so is faith the size of a mustard seed.How much faith is equal to a mustard seed? A mustard seed is small, very small. It measures only about one millimeter in length. People who worked the soil at that time would have known that it was among the smallest of seeds they planted. For that reason, Jesus uses this familiar image to teach the apostles that faith, even a little faith, is powerful.Jesus' teaching comes in response to a prayer on the part of the apostles. “Increase our faith,” they said. Jesus' response, inviting them to have only a little faith, implies that their faith was quite weak. To increase their faith to the size of a mustard seed suggests that they did not even have a little faith yet. Most likely they were aware of that fact, and that was the reason they asked Jesus to increase their faith. They perceived their lacking and turned to Him Who could help.One of the first steps to increasing faith is to humbly admit our lack of faith. In our pride, we often want to convince ourselves and others that we are filled with faith. But if that were the case, God would be doing incredible things through us. He would be doing that which is otherwise humanly impossible.Obviously, faith does not give us magical powers by which we can literally command a tree to uproot itself and plant itself in the sea. This imagery is meant to tell us that faith will work miracles of faith, not necessarily physical miracles. In fact, if God ever did use us and our faith to work a physical miracle, it would only happen because it was a motivation for the far more important gift of the increase of faith.What, then, can a little faith do? It can uproot sin from your heart and from the hearts of those around you. It can nourish you and others in ways that seem impossible. Just as a tree cannot normally be planted in the sea and survive, the gift of faith, even a little faith, will enable the soul to be nourished and strengthened in ways that otherwise seem impossible. A martyr perfectly illustrates this fact. Normally, persecution and death are not considered to be nourishing to a person. But when a person has faith and suffers martyrdom on account of Christ, then their soul will be fed by the persecution itself. And that is among the greatest of miracles possible. Suffering, persecution, illness, poverty, and every other difficulty imaginable are transformed by God into a source of nourishment when we endure them with true faith. Reflect, today, upon the prayer of the apostles: “Increase our faith.” Some of the greatest mystics taught that faith darkens the intellect. By this darkening, they mean that, by faith, God will lead us into the unknown, on a path that He alone is aware of. We will become instruments of His transforming grace in ways that are completely beyond our natural abilities. Pray for an increase of faith. When our Lord hears your humble prayer, by which you also confess your lack of faith, He will increase that faith, uproot sin and evil, and plant your soul in places in which you become nourished in ways that you could have never imagined possible. Most glorious Lord, Increase my faith. Give me a pure faith—a faith that enables You to lead me down the unknown path to Your glory. With this gift of faith, please use me to bring forth Your miraculous power by which sin is uprooted and souls are nourished by You alone. Jesus, I trust in You.  Source of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

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Get all set for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time with Father Byrd.SummaryIn this episode of 'All Set for Sunday,' hosts Scott Williams and Jeff Trailer welcome back Father Jerry Bird to discuss various themes related to faith, spirituality, and the significance of the Rosary. They explore the readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the importance of patience and trust in God, and the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Rosary. Father Bird shares personal reflections on his relationship with Mary and the transformative power of the Rosary in his spiritual life. The conversation also touches on the significance of Deacon promises and concludes with a light-hearted discussion about favorite musical instruments used in Mass.TakeawaysThe importance of patience and trust in faith.The Rosary serves as a conduit for grace.Developing a relationship with Mary enhances spiritual life.Personal experiences with the Rosary can transform faith.Faith can be as small as a mustard seed to achieve great things.Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Rosary is significant for the community.Deacon promises signify a commitment to the priesthood.The role of the Rosary in understanding the life of Jesus.Community and fraternity among priests are vital for support.Musical instruments in Mass can enhance the worship experience.Chapters03:28 Transitioning from Rural to Urban Life06:22 Exploring the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time09:16 Celebrating the Feast of the Holy Rosary12:09 The Role of Faith in Daily Life15:04 Personal Reflections on the Rosary18:27 The Impact of Mary in Spiritual Life27:12 The Power of Saying Yes28:09 Building a Relationship with Mary30:32 The Role of Vulnerability in Faith32:56 The Rosary: A Path to Clarity34:28 Understanding the Mysteries of the Rosary39:40 Mary's Intercession and Protection42:00 Life in the Big City46:43 The Significance of Deacon Promises51:03 Musical Preferences in Mass

A Bible study on Luke 17:5-10, the Gospel reading for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle C.