Today on the podcast… The Lord asks that our holiness exceed that of the Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-36). We recall that the Pharisees were a virtuous people who lived the moral law, prayed many times throughout the day along with fasting and almsgiving. But the Lord wants us also to love as He has loved—a love that reveals through our actions that we are His disciples. 

Desiring union with the love of Christ requires that we prioritize the formation of our heart's mission: to be humble, charitable, and pious in our actions and not just go through the motions.

There are three components to this formation: Ask the help of the Holy Spirit to assist in our formation to be effective right where we are—in our piece of the world—our family, workplace, social acquaintances, and fellow parishioners.  We must be a light to others. Be salt to those around you affecting change in their lives and a desire to live the words of Christ— “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock” (Matthew 7:24). Ask our Lady to help in your formation and you will be assured of being formed according to the heart of Christ; thus your actions will be such that it may be said of you: "This person reads the life of Jesus Christ"; "This person lives the words of Christ".

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On August 22nd the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On today’s podcast, we reflect on the coronation of our Mother as Queen of the Universe. And, how as children of this Heavenly Queen we can learn to follow her example of reigning: Mary our Queen trusted all that the Lord spoke to her, and her answer remained a constant yes. Teach us to respond to the Lord with complete trust. Mary our Queen serves-- for to reign one must serve. Teach us to be faithful servants. Mary our Queen walks with purpose and usefulness. Teach us to follow in your footsteps being useful to the Lord.

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Today on the podcast… How does God want us to view the virtue of faith?If we look to the Gospels, our Lord shows us many examples that will help us to see, like the Apostles (Lk 15:5-10), that the virtue of faith is connected to miracle working. Our Lord wants us to see that He needs our faith—our life of fidelity and self-giving—to work miracles: Our faith and correspondence to God allow us to become instruments in the ultimate miracle, which is conversion-- personal transformation through repentance and commitment to holiness.Miracles occur through deeds of faith: “So they said to him, ‘What can we do to accomplish the words of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent” (Jn 6:28-29).

The poor widow who “put in more than all the rest” (Lk 21:1-2) is the example of faith and fidelity that we want to contemplate.If you give yourself completely, you are going to be fruitful and spread the Gospel. It’s all about letting God work in you; He needs your self-gift.Whether we have two small coins or a million to give, the important thing is to unload it all—that gift represents your heart, your will, and all your efforts.You must believe, have faith, that the Lord will not outdo you in generosity and will multiply everything that you give and that you do for him. He’s watching and he knows that you are filling the containers to the brim (Jn 2:7).Tell our Lord: “I want to give you everything, but I cannot do everything at once. Where do you want that spurt of growth and love in me?”

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In a few days, on the 15th of August, the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Mother. She is the woman clothed with the sun, the moon is beneath her feet, and is crowned with twelve stars. We love her tenderly and through her actions she shows us what a life of faith looks like. What it means to become filled with trust and a joy that unable to be disturbed by difficulties.

How does this life of Faith begin? Follow Mother Mary’s example: When the Blessed Virgin Mary was in contemplative prayer she listened and received the Angel Gabriel’s message from God. She was open to the Holy Spirit allowing herself to be totally abandoned to the truth of the word of the living God. She listened to the word of God and responded with complete trust, giving God her life to do with as He pleased. We ask our dear Mother Mary to help us to become souls of faith as we nourish our faith through daily prayer and meditating on the Gospels.

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Today on the podcast...How can we achieve a constant dialogue with God to help us live our Christian vocation to discipleship?

Our Christian vocation by virtue of baptism is to spread the Kingdom of God--to attract people to Christ. This work of discipleship and evangelization is a work of a lifetime. To carry out this work, we need a daily plan to help us keep in constant dialogue with God--praying without ceasing--pushing ourselves realistically, expanding our hearts, to live a life in Christ:  God has a vision for our relationship with Him: that we be aware that we are always in His presence and that we remain in constant dialogue with Him. The person who is centered on Jesus Christ in everything he or she does will naturally attract others to Him.  There is an intangible glow, despite our sins and weaknesses, that reveals itself through our unceasing prayer, not because we are good but because Christ is good.- It doesn't work to have a daily plan and not live and abide by the plan. We have to say yes to our designated schedule and times of prayer. Our cooperation will lead to our goal, which is personal holiness. Our Lady helps us to see the urgency to be a man or woman of prayer by putting her Son first and implementing a realistic game plan to be a saint.

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On August 6th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On today's podcast, we listen and reflect on the “background” and meaning of the Transfiguration, and how contemplating the scene of the Transfiguration continues to transform us today:— The Transfiguration of Jesus encourages us in our commitment to discipleship.— When we commit to protracted prayer—deep, silent, concentrated—we can see God through the eyes of our soul and heart. — The Transfiguration helped the apostles to trust in the Cross—the raw materials that make up our crosses—and to believe that there is no such thing as failure when we follow Christ.— Contemplating this scene and Jesus’ words (Mk 9:2-10), we begin to see Him, to take on His capacity for self-giving love, and we become more empowered to give of ourselves with the heart of Jesus.

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Today on the podcast… We explore the characteristics of having true contrition for our sins:When we are truly sorry for our sins and receive forgiveness we have an interior peace; a serene joy. We are supple, joyful, and approachable.We not longer give excuses for our improper behavior.

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Today on the podcast…We look to St. Josemaria Escriva to contemplate what it truly means to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth: Devotion to the Holy Spirit to strengthens our love, joy, prayer, and our desire to be close to Christ. Personally give witness to the Gospel and bring it to others no matter what the cost. Desire that the Gospel be heard everywhere so that Jesus will be known by everyone.

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Today on the podcast… We look to St. Josemaria Escriva and consider what he learned from the divine inspiration he received on October 2, 1928: As a priest he would bring the Gospel to the world in much the same way the Apostles were commissioned at the Ascension.That Jesus desires to be with us; that is why he is in the Eucharist today. The importance of dialogue with Christ all of the time helps us stay united with Christ.

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Today on the podcast… We are invited to listen and contemplate:How eternal happiness begins here on earth and is brought to its fullness in Heaven. Why it is a good idea to study the lives of the saints. The meaning of the “revolutionary message” revealed to St. Josemaria Escriva: to bring Christ into the heart of the modern world. At the end of our reflection and prayer, we ask Our Lady to help us learn to live each day imitating the saints.

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