"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified. . . By your perseverance you will secure your lives." With our lives and our hearts focused on Jesus, we need not fear calamities past, present, or future.

"They are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise." In today's Gospel, Jesus teaches about the meaning of the resurrection from the dead.

"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven." On this holy day, we celebrate our unity in Christ with the Communion of Saints.

"Today salvation has come to this house..." God makes us worthy, despite our sinfulness.

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Jesus teaches us to pray with humility, which opens our hearts to our need for God.

"When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

"Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." Our response to God's goodness is a heartfelt Thank You. Go out and proclaim God's praise!

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." Faith is God's gracious gift, unmerited by anything that we can say or do. We are merely servants, empowered by faith, to serve God and serve others.

"The Lord raises up those who are bowed down." In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus challenges us to care for the poor who are so close to his heart.

"Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor." Today's readings challenge us to act more compassionately on behalf of the poor by placing God above the values of the world.