Jeff Cavins (Audio/Video on Hallow app), Catholic evangelist, author, and biblical scholar
Daily Reflections by John Paul Thomas (Email or YouTube)
Bishop Barron (Email or Web), Bishop of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester MN
Fr. James Kubicki (Podcast), Spiritual Director at St. Francis de Sales Seminary in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Fr. Daniel Kim (Podcast), Catholic Missionary Priest with Maryknoll
Fr. Mike Schmitz (Hallow app - older, random day)
Daily Homily on Hallow
Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville
Fr. Boniface Hicks, Benedictine monk of Saint Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Fr. Pete McCormick, Assistant Vice President of Campus Ministry at the University of Notre Dame
Fr. John Burns, Priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and speaker/author
Fr. Mike Schmitz, Newman Center chaplain at the University of Minnesota Duluth, speaker/author
USCCB (Video on Web)
God loves us freely. God also lets us choose freely, even though we sometimes choose what is not God’s will. When we turn away from God, we are a bit like children who hide by covering their own faces and crying, “You can’t see me!” Of course God can see us! We are the ones in darkness. We are hiding from ourselves, not from God. Even then, God is with us, watching us, waiting with open arms. God loves us, even when we reject God. God is with us, even when we are not aware of it. That is what grace is. It is the sorrow God plants in our hearts when we sin. It is the desire God gives us for healing; it is our longing for love. Grace is God’s tireless offer to fill our emptiness—God’s tender urging that we drop our hands and open our arms. It is God, loving us freely.
KARLA MANTERNACH
Think about the biggest questions and struggles in your life. The correct question is how do I respond? Not to be frozen with the question, why? Or even the question, why me? Why do I have to be going through this? Because you could just as easily ask the question, why not me? But trust asks a different question, because trust is essential here. Why do I have to trust? Why is trust such a big thing? Why are there times when I can't know why until I act? And the reason is that if you knew why, then it wouldn't be faith. If you understood it, then it wouldn't be trust. And if you knew all the details, then you wouldn't need Him. You wouldn't need to have a relationship with God. But when I can't understand the process, I know I can trust the Father. Remember that obedience precedes understanding.
Paraphrased from FR. MIKE SCHMITZ Minute Homilies
“I am the Way.” Some of Jesus’s teachings are about doing, but many are about being. We prefer doing over being, because doing distracts us from the becoming we are called to and ignoring. That’s why we find it so difficult to be still and quiet. And that’s why all of Jesus’ doing teachings are preceded by being teachings. It is by simply being with Him that we are prepared to go out into the world and do something meaningful. Matthew Kelley, Difficult Teachings
Knowledge can make someone great, but only love can make someone a saint. Fr. Mike
From ignorance to knowledge is through truth. More important… from indifference to love is through repentance. Fr. Mike
The four substitutes for God are wealth, pleasure, power, and honor (St. Thomas Aquinas). Bishop Barron recommends the beatitudes to reflect…
Blessed are the poor in spirit, mourn, meek, persecuted.
We aren’t call to point out each other’s faults. The Holy Spirit doesn’t need our help in convicting of sin. Especially given our own plank.
Our job is to speak hope. We need to see how God sees others and find the work God is doing in them.
God’s perfect will: The original plan. What God desires for us all.
God’s permissive will: What God allows. Because God gave us free will, he does not control our lives. He desires us to cling to Him but doesn’t force us. God allows evil and bad to occur as a result of free will, but He will bring about a greater good.
Everything is a gift from God, therefore, we are expected to share. Both the Dead Sea & the Sea of Galilee have the same source, the Jordan River. The Dead Sea has no outlet and therefore has no life, while the Sea of Galilee is well alive.
Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
Those who… (Luke 6:27) (Mt 5:38)
… are your enemies? Love them and do good to them.
… hate you? Do good to them.
… curse you? Bless them.
… mistreat you? Pray for them.
… strike you? Offer the other cheek.
… steal from you? Give them more.
… ask of you? Give to everyone.
… borrow? Expect nothing in return.
Stop judging You will not be judged.
Stop condemning You will not be condemned.
Forgive You will be forgiven.
Give Gifts will be given to you. Overflowing, poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.
Fight back with love and prayer!