The Liturgy Podcast from Spirit & Song

"When the disciples saw [Jesus] walking on the sea they were terrified... and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, 'Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.'" The Lord can save us from the storms of life, but do we have the faith to believe?

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Who is Jesus Christ? Is he the central person in your life? Only YOU can answer these questions for yourself. And when you do, Jesus gently says, "Rise, and do not be afraid."

"The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." Oneness with Christ lies at the heart of those who choose God's kingdom!

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants." Our capacity to grow in God's love has no limits if we allow the Holy Spirit to leaven our lives.

"The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit." As disciples of Christ, we are called to listen to the Word of God and let it take root in the world.

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." Humility helps us transcend hardships and burdens that may come our way as we proclaim the Good News to the world.

"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." Are we ready to put aside things that get in the way of following Jesus?

"Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge... So do not be afraid." We will more effectively witness to Christ by our deeds, with kindness and compassion; and with a courage that is born of Jesus' deep and abiding love for us.

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." Jesus calls us each by name. How do we respond?

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." On this great solemnity, we celebrate Jesus' gift of himself in the holy Eucharist.

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life . . ." We might not fully understand the nature of the Most Holy Trinity, but love gives us a handle that helps us grasp the mystery!

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. . ." The Holy Spirit takes us as we are and empowers us to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ according to the gifts and talents that we each were given.

"See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life." The Pentecost Extended Vigil calls us to wait in hope for the Holy Spirit to renew our world.

"I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours, and everything of yours is mine. I have been glorified in them." We belong to Jesus, and he prays to his Father on our behalf.

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." At his Ascension, Jesus commissioned his disciples to go out and evangelize the world.

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth." As baptized Christians, we share in the divine life of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus invites us to be One with God. We invite others to this divine unity in the way we offer ourselves in service to those in need.

"He walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice." Jesus, our Good Shepherd, patiently seeks us and calls us to return to him so that we might have life abundantly.

"And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them." Easter joy! We recognize Jesus in each other, in the Word, and in the breaking of the bread.

"Peace be with you! When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord." The Divine Mercy of our Risen Lord brings healing and forgiveness.

"For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead." If death is the common door through which we all must enter, then the Empty Tomb gives us a hopeful glimpse of what lies on the other side.

"We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God the Father, we too might live in newness of life." The Sacred Paschal Triduum concludes with the Easter Vigil in which our RCIA Elect are received into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation.

"But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins; upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole; by his stripes we were healed." The Sacred Paschal Triduum continues with the solemn celebration of the Lord's Passion.  

"If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet." On Holy Thursday, we are called to love and serve God by loving and serving those around us who seek Christ's healing touch.  

"Truly, this was the Son of God!" Our solemn celebration of Holy Week begins with the commemoration of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, followed by the Gospel proclamation of his Passion.