The Lord uses the image of a banquet to teach us about the power, beauty and expectation of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our journey through this life provides countless opportunities for us to prepare our souls to join this heavenly feast. Are we ready?
August 22, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord's parable about the landowner who hires workers throughout the day offers us an insight into how God continues to extend grace and mercy to us throughout our lives.
August 21, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Gospel of Matthew highlights how the temptation of riches can undermine the central place of the Lord in our lives. Rather, we are invited to constantly examine what is most important in our hearts as we seek to put Christ first before all else.
August 20, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci
The Letter to the Hebrews describes our life as a great race before a cloud of witnesses. Life is difficult, yet with God's grace and the help of people, angels and saints we can face our struggles with the conviction that we will cross the finish line into Heaven.
August 18, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Rebuking the disciples, Jesus calls the children to come near so he can bless them. It's a powerful image for us as we strive to be a source of Christian faith so our kids can know Jesus and be blessed by him today.
August 17, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus speaks about the reality of divorce in the Gospel of Matthew. As we deal with divorce in our lives today, we constantly work to build up marriage even as we walk with those wounded when it doesn't work out.
August 16, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
On this feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary we see her swift response - in word and action - to God's call for her life. Mary example inspires us to do the same as we proclaim the greatness of the Lord in our lives.
August 15, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus offers three key insights that profoundly impact our spiritual lives in practical ways. The hard part? Putting them into practice every day.
August 14, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Matthew's Gospel offers a couple of key insights into God's love for humanity. The Lord seeks us out when we are lost and astray with a compassion that knows no limit; our task is to humbly receive this gift with the openness of a little child.
August 13, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Letter to the Hebrews stresses the power of faith in the life of a Christian. Faith strengthens both the head and the heart, and as we foster our faith we are empowered with the grace we need to face the challenges before us.
August 10, 2019 - St. William Catholic Church - Foxboro, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord teaches a key concept - the Paschal Mystery of death to new life - through the example of a grain of wheat. What needs to "die" in us today so that God's grace can raise up something new and blessed in our hearts?
August 10, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus speaks bluntly in the Gospel of Matthew, making it crystal clear that his disciple must take up his cross and follow the Lord in order to enter into eternal life.
Are you ready?
August 9, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
When Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" he is inviting them into a spiritual self-discovery that leads to personal change. The moment we claim Jesus as Lord we recognize our relationship to the Messiah and declare our allegiance to follow where he leads.
August 8, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord's interaction and subsequent care for the Canaanite woman offers us an insight into how we reach out to others...even when they are not part of our "group."
August 7, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The transfiguration of the Lord reveals the glory and power of Jesus to three of his disciples. The revelation is given to prepare them for the struggles to come, reminding us that God often gives us special graces to meet new challenges.
August 6, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord offers a direct warning about the sin of greed in the Gospel today. While we are often quick to perceive greed in others, the reality is that this temptation touches us all in great and small ways. Fr. Andrew's homily offers three antidotes to help us shake off the lure of this deadly sin.
August 3, 2019 - St. William Catholic Church - Foxboro, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The death of John the Baptist assaults our senses for its cruelty, pettiness and injustice. As John precedes the Lord in life, so also he precedes him in death...reminding us that the offering of our lives will include profound sacrifice.
August 3, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
What do we do to strengthen and nourish our faith in Jesus Christ? The Lord's response in his native place reminds us that being a disciple is a daily decision that demands our determined discipline.
August 2, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord teaches that our actions today result in eternal consequences. As we offer the gift of our lives may we be guided by the light of the Kingdom of Heaven.
August 1, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Like a hidden treasure or a pearl of great price, our faith is a precious gift that offers the most valuable return of all...eternal life in heaven. (I suggest that we all work for that...)
July 31, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
As the Lord explains the parable of the weeds and the wheat to the disciples, we are are reminded in a vivid way that our lives are accountable to the God.
July 30, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Our relationships with the Lord and one another form the foundation for all our interactions and accomplishments. In good times and bad, we build up these connections, recognizing the crucial need to keep them vibrant and strong.
July 27, 2019 - St. William Catholic Church - Foxboro, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
The Lord's parable of the weeds and the wheat makes it clear that at the end of time there will be an accountability of good and evil. May we be inspired to be counted among the wheat!
July 27, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples and unlocks for us the insights we need to confront our challenges and engage our faith.
July 26, 2019 - Cathedral Rectory - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com
As James and John were striving for places of honor while the other Apostles were indignant, Jesus uses the situation to teach that the call of his disciples comes from offering oneself for service...even to the point of suffering out of love for others.
July 25, 2019 - Cathedral of Christ the King - Superior, WI
Fr. Andrew Ricci - www.studyprayserve.com