logo
episode-header-image
Jul 19
15m 35s

07/20/25 The Reason Why

ASCENSION
About this episode

Homily from the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Do it for the love of Jesus.

We all have a lot to do. We may even be tempted to resent all that we have to do. But if we do it for the right reason, even the most difficult tasks take on new power and new purpose.

Mass Readings from July 20, 2025:
Genesis 18:1-10
Psalm 15:2-5
Colossians 1:24-28

Luke 10:38-42

Up next
Aug 2
08/03/25 Memento Mori
Homily from the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Remember you will die. Remember you have died. We are called to live a new life. But we cannot live a new life until we have allowed our old life to die. We need to remember that we will die in the future. Christians also have t ... Show More
21m 34s
Jul 26
07/27/25 Teach Us to Pray
Homily from the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The battle of prayer. Every one of us knows that we ought to pray. But not all of us know how. In addition, not all of us know that prayer can often be a challenge...it is a battle. Mass Readings from July 27, 2025: Genesis 18: ... Show More
14m 27s
Jul 12
07/13/25 Doing
Homily from the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Knowing is nice. Doing makes the difference. We can know exactly what to do, but unless we act on what we know, nothing will change. Mass Readings from July 13, 2025: Deuteronomy 30:10-14 Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37Colo ... Show More
12m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Day 207: The Lord Will Come (2024)
Fr. Mike points out the passages that highlight the coming of God, and asks us to reflect on whether our response is hope and excitement, or fear and dread. Today's readings are Isaiah 34-36, Baruch 3-4, and Proverbs 11:21-24. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpre ... Show More
28m 14s
Jul 26
Day 207: The Lord Will Come (2025)
Fr. Mike points out the passages that highlight the coming of God, and asks us to reflect on whether our response is hope and excitement, or fear and dread. Today's readings are Isaiah 34-36, Baruch 3-4, and Proverbs 11:21-24. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.c ... Show More
28m 14s
Oct 2024
Day 296: Know Your Heart (2024)
As we begin to wrap up 1 Maccabees, Fr. Mike directs our attention to how 2 Maccabees will tell the same story in a different way. In Sirach, we are encouraged to know our own hearts, so that we can know our strengths, weaknesses, and where we might need healing. The readings are ... Show More
19m 39s
Nov 2024
Day 309: Praying for the Dead (2024)
Fr. Mike breaks down the doctrine of purgatory as we read about Judas Maccabeus and his army praying for the dead in 2 Maccabees 12. We learn that purgatory is a process of purification that our hearts need in order to be ready to love God and to enter into his presence. In our r ... Show More
25m 48s
May 22
Day 142: The New Heaven and the New Earth (2025)
What will happen to humanity and the entire universe at the end of time? Fr. Mike shares with us the joyous hope of the new heaven and the new earth that awaits us after the Last Judgment. We learn that “at the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness,” and all o ... Show More
15m 58s
Dec 2024
Day 363: Forgive Us Our Trespasses (2024)
Forgiving those who have hurt us is a challenging call. Fr. Mike explains what it means to "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." We learn that forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing and that we can transform our hurt into interce ... Show More
25m 45s
May 31
Day 151: Wisdom and Folly (2025)
Fr. Mike delves deeper into the lessons Ecclesiastes teaches us today about living wisely by keeping the end in mind, enjoying the present moment, and not worrying too much about other people's opinions of us. Today's readings are 1 Kings 9, Ecclesiastes 6-7, and Psalm 7. For the ... Show More
21m 2s
Oct 2024
Day 289: Wise Influences (2024)
Fr. Mike contextualizes our readings from 1 Maccabees today which covers the beginning of Roman rule over the Jewish people. Additionally, he emphasizes the wisdom from Sirach about surrounding ourselves with influences that lead us closer to God and help us grow in holiness. Tod ... Show More
25m 4s
Jul 5
Day 186: Struggles with Self-Interest (2025)
Fr. Mike highlights Hezekiah's goodness as king of Judah, but also points out his failure to protect his people's future. While Hezekiah let his self-interest cloud his judgment, we are reminded to pray for those who will come after us, doing our best to preserve what will be the ... Show More
15m 10s
Aug 2024
Day 233: The Beatitudes (2024)
“The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ preaching,” the Catechism tells us. Jesus’ proclamation in Chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew purifies our hearts, sets a standard for earthly discernment, and directs our actions towards heaven. Fr. Mike invites us to choose God’s ways ... Show More
19m 40s