The Liturgy Podcast from Spirit & Song

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother." We ask for Mary to be with us as we begin a new school year and we ask that she lead us to her son, Jesus.

"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." In spite of doubts and the demands of discipleship, Peter came to believe that Jesus possessed the words of everlasting life.

"For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." Jesus gives his new and everlasting life to those who have united themselves to his destiny. In the Eucharist, we unite ourselves to him and remain in him.

"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 Mary and the place that has been prepared for her in the Body of Christ by God the Father.

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever..."

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures to eternal life." Jesus is the bread of life.

"Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining." As Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish for those who were gathered around him, he also continues to meet the needs of those who are his own.

"His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd." The Lord Jesus knows our frailty and is filled with compassion, not condemnation. Our response is to place all of our trust into his pastoral care.

The burden of ministry is lightened within community.

It is through faith that Jesus touches the world.

"Do not be afraid; just have faith." In the gospels, the opposite of 'faith' isn't 'doubt'. It is fear. Our belief in the healing and restorative power of Jesus gives us the courage to face every difficulty in life that comes our way.

Through his obedience to God's will, Zechariah's mouth was freed to proclaim the truth that God is faithful to his promise to save his people.

The birthday of Saint John the Baptist falls on Sunday this year. We celebrate his Vigil Mass with great joy!

Jesus uses parables to bring the Good News to all.

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand." The Eucharist is given to the Church to fill us with the Holy Spirit and to unite us as one body and one spirit in Christ.

"While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them" In the great Sacrament of the Altar, Jesus has given the Church a means to enter into his once and for all sacrifice for sin. In the Eucharist, the mercies of God are made new.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..." Through our baptism, we enter into the divine life of the Trinity.

The Holy Spirit empowers us as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We are made for a relationship with God and this is our deepest thirst. God more than satisfies us with his very self by pouring his Holy Spirit within our hearts.

On his Ascension, Jesus gave his disciples the Great Commission to bring his Good News to all the world.

Salvation will be complete when all of the elect of God have been brought into the fullness of unity in Christ Jesus. This is the prayer of Jesus.

The universality of the Church is rooted in divine love.

The Lord urges us to remain in communion with him. In the Eucharist, he provides the way for us to never be parted from him.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, the Church shows that Jesus is both the Shepherd and the Paschal Lamb. He laid down his life for the sheep and became our Passover sacrifice.