The Liturgy Podcast from Spirit & Song

"Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope but do it with gentleness and reverence." If we allow the Spirit to dwell within us, that will be enough to change the world.

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.'" When things feel out of our control, God extends his hand to us and asks us to commit our destiny to him.

"A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." On this "Good Shepherd Sunday" the Church shows that Jesus has come to give everlasting life for the sheep whom he loves.

"Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?" Easter joy! We recognize Jesus in each other, in the Word, and in the breaking of the bread.

"In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit." God has chosen us to be his children. Being sealed with the Holy Spirit gives a share of eternal life that is to come.

"You might have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith... may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Divine Mercy sustains us through the trials and sufferings that life throws our way.

"Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb." Alleluia! Christ has risen as he said and, in him, we have victory over suffering and sin, pain and death.

"Do not be afraid! I know you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said." The Easter Triduum concludes with the amazing celebration of the Easter Vigil.

"Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured. He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. By his stripes we were healed." Jesus' suffering and death reveal a love that is beyond our capacity to fully comprehend.

"If I, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet." The Easter Triduum begins with the celebration of the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper.

"The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, 'Truly, this was the Son of God!'"

"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." In the Sacrament of Matrimony, we give our life away for another and become a witness of selfless love to the Church.

"He cried out in a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' The dead man came out..." Jesus stands in front of the dead areas of our lives and calls out to us to come into new life.

"You were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light!" Jesus helps us see the light and strengthens us to handle adversity and rejection.

"If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." Through our baptism, Jesus invites us to deepen our relationship with him.

"And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light." In Jesus's transfiguration, we see the glory that is his by nature, and that glory we will receive by grace.

"At that time, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." As the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so we are led into this season of conversion by the same Holy Spirit.

"Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God." On Ash Wednesday, we begin our Lenten journey of conversion and renewal.

"So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect." The call to holiness extends to all of the faithful, and the call is to reach the destiny for which we are created.

Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus desires for his disciples to have holiness that goes beyond external behavior. Our holiness is to flow from a complete transformation of our personhood.

"Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Christ the light has come. We wait for the promised Holy Spirit when we are aflame with the love of God and become the light of the world.

"For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people: a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel." On this blessed day, we join Simeon and Anna in proclaiming Jesus as the light of the world.

"I urge you, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose." On this Word of God Sunday, we listen as God's Word moves us from division toward unity.

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world... Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God." John the Baptist inspires us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

"After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'" The words spoken over Jesus when he was baptized are also spoken over us. In Christ, we are beloved and pleasing to God.