The parable of the landowner and the tenants offers sobering insights into how we live our faith. Everything we have is a gift on loan from God, and one day the Lord will come and claim it. How will we respond?
March 22, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus offer insights into how we live. By putting our trust in God and using the ordinary tools of faith, we find the grace we need to journey through this life until we reach Heaven.
March 21, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord offers us a profound insight into the path of discipleship: through suffering and service we conform our lives to Christ as we pour out our lives in love for one another.
March 20, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
We know very little about St. Joseph: he makes no speeches; indeed, he says nothing at all. Yet this hard working, faithful man carried out the task appointed for him by God...showing us that in the last analysis our actions are crucial as we follow Jesus Christ.
March 19, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Transfiguration of Jesus reveals the Lord's divine glory and majesty in the presence of Peter, James and John. This glory offers us the consolation of hope in eternal life, while at the same time challenging us to carry our crosses as we follow the example of Christ.
March 16, 2019 - St. William Catholic Church, Foxboro, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The command to "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" is perhaps one of the most challenging lines in the Bible. Yet when we strive to carry this out we begin to conform our lives to Jesus, allowing his grace in us to make it possible.
March 16, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord exhorts the disciples to seek a higher standard of holiness. How? By making reconciliation an essential ingredient for following Jesus Christ.
March 15, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Prayer is not magic. Rather, it is the way we grow in our relationship with God, listening to the Lord's word and opening our hearts to receive the grace we need to face the difficulties of life. May our prayer help us to draw nearer to Christ today, so that we can offer our lives for Him.
March 14, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus refers to the Book of Jonah as he speaks to the people about the need for repentance. We, too, have the opportunity every day to repent and call upon the Lord for the grace we need to follow as his disciples.
March 13, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
We say this powerful prayer so many times throughout the course of our lives. May we embrace this gift from Jesus as we fervently pray these words from our hearts and eagerly carry out its command to forgive one another.
March 12, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
As Jesus confronts the devil in the wilderness, his response to three temptations shows us how we can face the deceptions of evil in our lives with courage, faith and wisdom.
March 9, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
While spending time with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus' response to the scribes and pharisees offers us hope. The Lord's willingness to bring healing and forgiveness to those in need reveals Christ's longing for our redemption as well. May we follow the example of Levi and respond to the Lord's call.
March 9, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The prophet Isaiah shows how fasting can be spiritually fruitful or destructive. As a discipline of our body, fasting has the power to quickly cut through our selfishness and reveal a longing...not just for food, but for the Lord.
March 8, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Moses and Jesus exhort the people to make a choice for God - choosing life (and eternal life) over death. Every day we make this choice as we seek to turn our lives ever closer to Jesus Christ, the source of all life.
March 7, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Most of the time we avoid looking at our weaknesses, failures and sins. Not today. Today we take a long hard look, examine our conscience, and honestly admit that we are sinners. Why? So that freed from the slavery of temptation and sin we can receive the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
March 6, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
St. Peter's words "we have given up everything and followed you" can inspire us to consider how we offer our lives for the Lord. Recognizing that everything we have comes from God, we begin to see ourselves as stewards, not owners, who offer our lives for the glory of the one who made us.
March 5, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord's advice is both practical and spiritual. How do we know the secret of our hearts? We examine how we respond: under pressure, alone and with a subordinate...and we learn what's really happening on the inside.
March 2, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord's words are beautiful and moving: "Let the children come to me! Do not prevent them!" May we remove all obstacles and provide every opportunity to let our children come to know Jesus Christ.
March 2, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The discussion between Jesus and the Pharisees shows the reality that marriage and divorce have existed from the dawn of human history. As we recognize the challenges of these relationships we do what we can to help build strong marriages as well as help those who have suffered from divorce.
March 1, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
In light of the teaching of Jesus in the Gospel today, we can ask ourselves a simple question when confronted by any behavior, response, or action...is this leading me closer to Heaven, or farther away?
February 28, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
It's not complicated. Either we stand with the Lord or against him. No matter how difficult, how challenging, and however many times we fail...may we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ.
February 27, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The interaction between Jesus and the Apostles offers an important spiritual insight. When we keep the Cross of Christ before our eyes we are able to dispel petty disputes, irritations, and inconveniences as we focus on what is truly important.
February 26, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Yep, you heard that right. Love your enemies. Love one another when it's hard and unpleasant and we don't feel like it. Love the people who push all our buttons and make us see red. Love the people who have hurt us. How? By asking for the Love of Jesus Christ to dwell in our hearts.
February 24, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus is transfigured in heavenly glory before some of the disciples, and then he reminds them of the suffering and death that await him on the Cross. Both of these elements help us to understand how we confront the grim challenges of life with a real and powerful hope.
February 23, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
On this feast of the Chair of St. Peter, we hear how Peter acknowledges that Jesus is the Christ. The Lord affirms that Peter is the rock upon which the Church will be built, and while Satan will try to destroy it, the gates of the netherworld will not prevail.
February 22, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com