The Liturgy Podcast from Spirit & Song

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." Following Jesus means being formed into the pattern of his death, as Saint Paul says. Taking up the cross of Christ also means that we will know his resurrection.

"When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." A heart transformed by the love of Christ extends that love to all for the very sake of love.

"I have come to gather nations of every language. . . They shall proclaim my glory." Today's readings teach us about the universality of God's kingdom.

"Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus." The author of the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us on our Christian journey.

"From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name." We stand as the newest in a long line of generations who rejoice in the work of salvation that God has done through a simple young girl who said "Yes" to God's will for her.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Mary, through her Assumption, shares in her Son's risen glory. She is our model of Christian hope.

"Be like servants who await their master's return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks." Being a disciple of Jesus requires us to be ever vigilant and never complacent. We are to be "ready to greet him when he comes again."

"The things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?" To whom do our hearts belong? To whom do our possessions belong? The Gospel challenges us to store up treasure in heaven.

One of the disciples said, "Lord, teach us to pray..." Jesus said, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name." The Our Father is our model for Christian prayer.

"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." Christian action must spring from hearing the Word of God.

"Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?' He answered, 'The one who treated him with mercy.' Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" The imitation of Christ is clear: We are to extend the mercy of God to everyone we meet.

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." The evangelized are not full evangelized until they become the evangelizer. Let us pray for all believers to identify as missionary disciples.

"No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God." If we are serious about following Jesus, it means no turning back. But that total commitment to Christ gives us the freedom to love.

"Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied." On this great solemnity, we give thanks for Christ's gift of the Eucharist.

"He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine." The triune God invites us to share and to participate in the divine life they share with each other. It is the very meaning of salvation.

"Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him." Through the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus Christ shares with us his divine nature as the love of God has been poured into our hearts and remains with us forever.

"'Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink...' [Jesus] said this in reference to the Spirit that those who came to believe in him were to receive." The Pentecost Extended Vigil calls us to wait in hope for the Holy Spirit to renew our world.

"Holy Father, I pray . . . that they may all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you." Jesus prays for unity among all who believe in him.

"And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." Christ remains with us even though he ascended. He remains with us in power as we await the promise of the Holy Spirit.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." As the Easter Season winds down, we look ahead to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit who will lead us to all truth.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever." We rejoice with our young disciples who receive the Body and Blood of Christ for the first time.

"This is how all will know that you are my disciples: if you have love for one another." Jesus is alive in our world today through the love that we share with each other.

"My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me." Easter joy continues! We renew our zeal to follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

"Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'" Seeing the Risen Lord, Peter was invited to share in the work and ministry of Jesus. We, too, are called to be missionary disciples.

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe." On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we remember St. Faustina's prayer, "Jesus, I trust in you." We are to probe God's mercy, to trust and believe just as Thomas was asked to believe.