Even a tiny mustard seed of faith, when lived out, can transform lives in ways we may never fully see. But rest assured that God works through our small acts to shape lives for eternity, often in ways hidden from us until the fullness of time. Be mindful of those who have inspired you in your walk with God, and go out and make a difference. Share your giftedness with the world and trust that God will take care of the rest.
 
Readings at this Mass: Hb 1:2–3; 2:2–4 | 2 Tm 1:6–8, 13–14 | Lk 17:5–10

Our hearts are meant to be wide and deep and powerful. They're meant to beat with the life and love of God himself. When God’s Spirit rules our hearts and when being God’s instrument is our compass, if you will, miracles can happen. It’s when we shrink our hearts by letting our possessions possess us that our vision narrows and God’s peace diminishes.
 
Readings at this Mass: Am 6:1a, 4–7 | 1 Tm 6:11–16 | Lk 16:19–31 

We are not called to be dishonest or gamify religion as if we get points for manipulating others. No, we are called to love people and use things, not use people and love things. When we live this way, others glimpse Christ alive in us. And that glimpse may be enough to spark faith in them, too. That is the kind of investment that pays eternal dividends.
 
Readings at this Mass: Am 8:4–7 | 1 Tm 2:1–8 | Lk 16:1–13

Christ showed us that suffering and death, hatred and violence, do not have the last word. He did so not by eliminating or fighting or destroying them, but by accepting and transforming them. That’s why we celebrate the cross: not because it is good, but because through the cross we have also received the power to transform suffering and death. When we respond to hatred with love and violence with peace, when we forgive those who do evil against us, we join Christ in pouring forth love in the face of evil, and it is this love that we celebrate today: the love that Christ poured out in response to the violence of the cross. There is no greater expression of love than the cross, and that is why it is central to our faith.
 
Readings at this Mass: Nm 21:4b–9 | Phil 2:6–11 | Jn 3:13–17

Putting Jesus first – yes, even above family – keeps everything in the right order and fills our lives with God's love and wisdom. This actually strengthens the love of spouses, families, and all of our relationships! Making Christ the top priority brings lasting peace and joy — but to do this, we must be deliberate about our priorities. May we all have the grace to rightly order our lives, let go of those possessions that posses us, and put Christ first.
 
Readings at this Mass: Wis 9:13–18b | Phlm 9–10, 12–17 | Lk 14:25–33 

When we de-center ourselves and re-center God, that’s when life becomes exciting and unpredictable and full of purpose — because God is exciting and unpredictable and purposeful. It’s liberating when we discover this! And it is a reminder that, at the end of the day, when our time comes, the most important thing that can be said about us is, “Here was a child of God, who was loved by God.”
 
Readings at this Mass: Sir 3:17–18, 20, 28–29  |  Heb 12:18–19, 22–24a  |  Lk 14:1, 7–14 

Jesus’ response to our complaints, our preoccupation with everyone and everything else, is 'What about you?'. Don’t worry about them. You strive to enter through the narrow gate. You come and follow me. You be my disciple. The essence of being a Catholic Christian is transformation: bringing that relationship with Christ into everything else I do. If I’m only focused on the things I do or everyone else around me, I miss the most important thing: the relationship Christ is inviting me into.
 
Readings at this Mass: Is 66:18–21 | Heb 12:5–7, 11–13 | Lk 13:22–30

Jesus is not tame; He is God. And His peace is not like that of the world. Today's Gospel demonstrates that He knew that following Him would cause division. But following Him will also set your heart on fire with the Holy Spirit — filling you with joy beyond understand and providing hope that, no matter what befalls us, He's got us.
 
Readings at this Mass: Jer 38:4–6, 8–10 | Heb 12:1–4 | Lk 12:49–53