Episode 2774: Purity Hospitality and the Abundant Life in Christ - Morning Episode

Episode 432: St. Lucy

Sign up for "Word Made Flesh"

https://forms.gle/tuzqrhTXTZQuf7VH9

You can join via zoom. Please attend. I promise it will help you focus during the Advent season and make Christ the reason for the Season.

Nightly Zoom Coordinates for Rosary:
Meeting ID: 865 8978 0399
Passcode: Wjjv4960!

Speak Lord
Rosary

Word of the Day

Theology & Doctrine Deposit of Faith The body of revealed truth in Scripture and Tradition.

Before I get started “it was more than just a bad day” Nothing went right and bizarre things creeped into my day. Then I stopped and said “Sorry have I been taking you for granted or thinking I am actually in control?”. Stop! I am not!

On another matter, I did an Episode 2769 The Role of Catholic Men in Rebuilding Society and today I am doing its counterpart The Role of Catholic Women in Rebuilding Society.

Purity, Hospitality, and the Abundant Life in Christ

Today’s episode, where we’ll reflect on the call to purity, hospitality, and living the abundant life Christ offers. With the wisdom of St. Lucy, insights from Catholic thinkers Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering, and the words of Scripture, we will explore how to make our lives and homes reflections of God’s love in a world that desperately needs Him.
________________________________________
Segment 1: The Purity of the Heart as a Temple of the Holy Spirit
St. Lucy once said, “Those whose hearts are pure are the temples of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection
• Purity of heart is about more than just chastity; it encompasses our intentions, desires, and actions. It’s about living in a way that allows the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, unimpeded by selfishness or sin.
• As temples of the Holy Spirit, we carry the presence of God wherever we go. This is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Practical Takeaway
• Examine your heart daily. Ask yourself: Are my actions, words, and thoughts reflective of the Holy Spirit’s presence within me?

• Seek the sacraments regularly, particularly Confession and the Eucharist, to maintain the purity of heart needed to be a temple of the Holy Spirit.
________________________________________
Segment 2: Hospitality as Evangelization
Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering write, “We can open our lives and homes to people placed in our path from other walks of life and world views... With a greatly diminished number of people actually practicing the faith, it becomes more likely that our homes are a rare opportunity for someone in our acquaintance to be invited into the intimacy of Catholic family life.”
Reflection
• Hospitality isn’t just about entertaining; it’s a form of evangelization. In a society increasingly detached from faith, a Catholic home can be a beacon of light and a testament to Christ’s love.
• To represent Christ well, we must be deeply rooted in Him. Prayer, study, and the sacraments are essential to ensure that our homes reflect His presence.

Practical Takeaway
• Consider how your home can become a place of welcome and spiritual nourishment. Is there someone in your life who might benefit from an invitation to share a meal or a conversation in your home?
• Make time for family prayer and devotional practices that are visible to guests, demonstrating the centrality of faith in your life.
________________________________________
Segment 3: Christ’s Promise of Abundant Life
In John 10:10, Jesus says, “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
Reflection
• Christ contrasts His mission with that of the thief Satan, who seeks to destroy. Jesus offers not just life, but abundant life. This abundance isn’t about material wealth but the richness of a life lived in union with Him.
• Living abundantly means embracing the joys and sacrifices of the faith. It means finding fulfillment in God’s will and reflecting His love to others.

Practical Takeaway
• Reflect on areas of your life where you might be settling for less than the abundant life Christ promises. Are there habits or distractions that pull you away from Him?
• Seek ways to deepen your faith and share the joy of living abundantly with those around you.
________________________________________
Conclusion: A Life Rooted in Christ
As Catholics, we are called to be pure of heart, welcoming in our homes, and alive in the abundance of Christ’s love. These are not separate missions but interconnected facets of living as authentic disciples. By striving for purity, opening our homes in hospitality, and embracing the fullness of life in Christ, we become witnesses to the Gospel in a world that desperately needs His light.
________________________________________
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Fill our hearts with Your grace, that we may live as temples of the Holy Spirit. Through the intercession of St. Lucy, grant us the purity to reflect Your love in all we do. Bless our homes, that they may be places of welcome and a witness to Your truth. Help us to trust in Your promise of abundant life and to share that joy with all we meet.
We ask this in Your holy name, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
________________________________________
Thank you for joining us today. May you go forth as a pure, welcoming, and joyful witness to the abundant life Christ offers. Until next time, God bless!