The Liturgy Podcast from Spirit & Song

"Are you envious because I am generous? Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last." The Lord has been gracious and generous with us. We hope and work so that others may come to know the Lord's immense generosity.

"So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart." Let us be mindful of God's infinite mercy that surpasses the limitations of the human heart.

"Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them." Jesus is with us! His love is the heart of our community.

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Losing regard for self, we offer ourselves in sacrifice to the Body of Christ: Jesus as head of the body, and all of the members.

"But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." A most unlikely disciple, Jesus allowed Peter to recognize his true identity and handed him the authority to lead the Church.

Jesus said, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done as you wish." God's merciful love transcends human boundaries and limitations.

"The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name." Mary leads us to her Son, our Risen Savior Jesus Christ.

"Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." The Blessed Virgin Mary heard the Word, observed the Word, carried the Word, and gave the Word to the world. During this solemnity, we celebrate her and the place that has been prepared for in the Body of Christ by God the Father.

"He cried out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter." In the face of all trouble, we can cry out to the Lord who hears us and saves us.

"He said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied." Jesus continues to feed the Church through the Eucharist.

"Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come. The glory of the Lord shines upon you." Be radiant! Be a light for your classmates, for your friends, and for your family through your enthusiasm for life and kindness to those around you.

"But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself." As we begin the school year with much uncertainty, we trust that God holds us and our future in his loving hands.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." Oneness with Christ lies at the heart of those who choose God's kingdom!

"If you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest." Weeds and wheat in our lives and in the Church grow side-by-side. God will make all things right at the harvest.

"But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear." We are to prepare our hearts to receive the Word of God in order for it to take deep root in our lives.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." Humility lies at the heart of Jesus and is the key for being a faithful disciple.

"Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me... Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches us that discipleship is a challenging life. But when we give our whole self to Jesus, God will provide for our needs.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Our cares and concerns are known by the Father and his care is always a single breath away.

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me." In the Eucharist, we are united in Christ Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, and sent to bear fruit.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." Saint Paul's iconic Trinitarian greeting expresses how the Christian community can live together in God's love.

"All were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim..." The Holy Spirit empowers us to proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ is Lord.

"Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink." Jesus has not left us alone. He has sent his Holy Spirit to us to satisfy every thirst we have.

"They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word." As Jesus prepared to take his place with the Father, we were not left alone because of his promise to send us the Holy Spirit.

"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." On his Ascension, Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission to bring his Good News to all.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves." After a very difficult year, we celebrate all that God has done in the life of our young people.