Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they...
Thought of the Day October 31, 2017 The Cross and Discipleship
By spiritaflame 9:44 AM Thought of the DayAs we grow in the fuller life of the Spirit, we will experience the greater call by God to the total commitment of discipleship. The focal point of discipleship is the cross; the...
Growth in the Spirit is the fruit of a life of zeal for the Lord. In the letter to the Church of Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) the complaint of Jesus was lukewarmness and compromise in the...
As we grow in the fuller life of the Spirit, we may experience greater trials in our journey. The Church in Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13) was warned not to depend on their own strength during...
Thought of the Day October 26, 2017 Internal vs external Christian living
By spiritaflame 9:17 AM Thought of the DayWhat does the Spirit say to the Church of Sardis? Read Rev 3:1-4. What is the problem that is identified? External show of the Christian life but internal lack of real Christian living. It...
Homily for Thirtieth Sunday Year A Reading 1: In the first reading, God reminded the people of the Old Testament, and he reminds us today, not to forget what God has done for...
From the letter to the Church in Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-29) we learn that greater holiness comes from doing all things, even the ordinary things of daily life, with a deeper intensity of love and...
Thirtieth Sunday Gospel Reflections Year A When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher,...
Thought of the Day October 24, 2017 Faith in Jesus and the Church
By spiritaflame 10:10 AM Thought of the DayWhat does the Spirit say to the Church of Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17)? The people of that church community were applauded that they held fast to the name of Jesus and to faith in...
Thought of the Day October 23, 2017 Victorious over tribulations
By spiritaflame 11:15 AM Thought of the DayThe letter to the church in Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) stresses the need to be victorious over tribulations. Our life as human beings and our life as Christians is beset by trials, tribulations and...
The letter to the Church in Ephesus, found in Revelations: 2:1ff, commends the loyalty of the members, expressed in their deeds, labors and patient endurance in the midst of hardships as well as their...
The Spirit is given to us that we may become victorious conquerors over all that would prevent us from experiencing the fuller life promised and given by Jesus. Paul says in Romans 8:37:...
Homily Twenty-ninth Sunday Year A Reading 1: God reveals himself as the Lord of history. Cyrus was a pagan King, whom God raised to power for one purpose. The exile of the Chosen...
Ultimately, besides separation and suffering the cross means death. What must die? The false self which is like a little god. What is this false self? All that I cling to which is...
Twenty-ninth Sunday Gospel Reflections A Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. We have another confrontational story between the leaders and Jesus. The question that is...
Thought of the Day October 17, 2017 What is the fruit in our life?
By spiritaflame 9:51 AM Thought of the Day"We recognize a tree by its fruit, and we ought to be able to recognize a Christian by his action. The fruit of faith should be evident in our lives, for being a...
"Keep your heart in peace and let nothing trouble you, not even your faults. You must humble yourself and amend them peacefully, without being discouraged or cast down, for God's dwelling is in...
Not only do we experience sufferings from the daily situations of life and from the hands of others, there may be times we will be invited and graced by Jesus to suffer for...
Information Women's Monthly Mass Saturday, October 14, 2017 8:00am Bishop Jacob's house 107 Albany Dr. Houma, La. 70360 Bring a friend Fellowship afterwards ...
Jesus went through various trials and difficulties during his human journey, culminating in his arrest, trial and death on the cross. After his baptism in the Jordan and the anointing of the Spirit,...
Homily for the Twenty-eight Sunday Year A Reading 1: “On this Mountain” refers initially to Mt. Zion where Jerusalem is built. But ultimately it is heaven. The prophet Isaiah is calling the people...
"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what...
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY: YEAR A Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, This Gospel parable has a number of similarities with last Sunday’s Gospel, the parable of the tenants: a) two...
Thought of the Day October 10, 2017 Three levels of separation
By spiritaflame 1:50 PM Thought of the DayFor Jesus there were several levels on which he experienced this separation on the cross. The greatest of these was the sense of abandonment by the Father in the midst of his greatest...
Thought of the Day October 9, 2017 Separation and prioritization
By spiritaflame 9:48 AM Thought of the DayTo disciple one into the full life of the Spirit involves separation and prioritization. The cross defines each. When we are baptized in water this separation includes the death of the old self...
Thought of the Day October 6, 2017 The Spirit and the cross
By spiritaflame 10:03 AM Thought of the DayWe continue our reflection of growing in the life of the Spirit. The life-death-life cycle is evidenced in nature from conception to one's last breath of physical life. However, such evidence does not seem...
Homily Twenty-seventh Sunday Year A Right response to God's blessings
By spiritaflame 1:26 PM HomilyHomily Twenty-seventh Sunday Year A Reading 1: Two weeks ago, we heard in the First Reading: “My thoughts are not your thoughts. My plans are not your plans.” The prophet Isaiah specifies in...
Thought of the Day October 4, 2017 Four steps to happiness
By spiritaflame 10:25 AM Thought of the Day"Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon Your great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of Your will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow,...
Twenty-seventh Sunday Ordinary Gospel: A Jesus said: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower....
Thought of the Day October 3, 2017 Determination and Obedience
By spiritaflame 9:43 AM Thought of the DayIn reflecting on today’s Gospel account (Lk. 9:52-56), Pope Francis focused on two responses of Jesus to his mission from the Father: determination and obedience. Jesus knew that he must go to Jerusalem...
"'He has given his angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways.' These words should fill you with respect, inspire devotion and instill confidence; respect for the presence of angels,...
