This week on the podcast we talk about the lenten practice of fasting. Fr Ian is fired up! The whole point of fasting during lent is to get our flesh in line with our spirit, since “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”. To fast from good things for a time especially food allows us to bring the reality of our emotions and discomfort to the surface and actually deal with them. We talk about the 1st reading from Deuteronomy that discusses why and how to make a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God and that it is important that these fasts are done also out of thanksgiving, not just penance. In the Gospel we talk about the temptations Jesus faces and how he undoes the sins of Adam and the Israelites by resisting the temptations. We have the ability to be with Christ in our temptations because he himself was tempted.
We are pleased to announce that our show Liturgy Live will now be a part of the expanding lineup of podcasts at Breadbox Media! We are happy to be a part of their team. Looking for the BEST in Catholic podcasting? Check out Breadbox Media!
Liturgy Live can now be found on iTunes, iheart, Stitcher, Podbean, Google Podcasts, and our dedicated Breadbox Media app, as well as YouTube!
Liturgy Live with Fr. Ian Van Heusen and Alanna Burg, join the conversation live on Monday’s at 3pm EST on our Catholic Link English Facebook page.
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“The priest shall receive the basket from you
and shall set it in front of the altar of the LORD, your God.
Then you shall declare before the Lord, your God,
‘My father was a wandering Aramean
who went down to Egypt with a small household
and lived there as an alien.
But there he became a nation
great, strong, and numerous.
When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us,
imposing hard labor upon us,
we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers,
and he heard our cry
and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.
He brought us out of Egypt
with his strong hand and outstretched arm,
with terrifying power, with signs and wonders;
and bringing us into this country,
he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey.
Therefore, I have now brought you the firstfruits
of the products of the soil
which you, O LORD, have given me.’
And having set them before the Lord, your God,
you shall bow down in his presence.”
R. (cf. 15b) Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Upon their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the viper;
you shall trample down the lion and the dragon.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and glorify him.
R. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Brothers and sisters:
What does Scripture say?
The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart
—that is, the word of faith that we preach—,
for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
For the Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written:
You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,
and:
With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.
Did you know that each month has a traditional Catholic devotion associated with it? This year, let’s focus on each devotion month by month to grow in our faith and traditions! Make a note of it, write it in your calendar, and pray a specific prayer each day of the...
October is full of some powerhouse saints. Can you guess these saints? Tip: All of the answers are listed as "St.", not "Saint." You'll get the answer wrong if you type out the word saint so be sure to abbreviate it for the sake of winning this fun game. Challenge a...
Jesus said to his disciples:"The person who is trustworthy in very small mattersis also trustworthy in great ones;and the person who is dishonest in very small mattersis also dishonest in great ones.If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,who will...
The drama of this saint’s story arrives to U.S. cinemas September 28 and 29. Every live theater lover longs for a remarkable and spellbinding connection during the show. Bernadette of Lourdes: The Musical offers exactly that—a spectacular work for both the faithful...
These family-friendly pilgrimage destinations offer faith, beauty, and hands-on experiences for young hearts. Living less than an hour away from the only approved Marian Apparition Site in the United States–the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion–I grew up...
Finding Creative Hope In The Heart of Hell - In Theaters September 26 Some movies simply captivate you, not just for their technical brilliance but for their ability to tell a story that feels both authentic and universally relatable. These are the kind of films that...
“It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels”. — St. Augustine My first memories of mature confessions, not centered around fights with my sisters and forgetting my bedtime prayers, are not very interesting. I was a...
It can be easy to see some pious images of saints and think that you have nothing in common. The truth is though, that the saints were people just like us–with a variety of talents, flaws, and interests. If you have a daughter or girl in your life, you may be...
Greed, or the older term avarice, is an excessive or disordered love of riches. To be clear up front; money, or any material good, is exactly that. Good. That’s why we desire them. Wanting to secure your physical well-being through financial assets is good. Greed...
Women's Catholic Study: The Chosen Season 2 Begins October 8th | 8:00 PM (EST) | Via Zoom Step into the world of The Chosen Season 2 and experience Jesus’ ministry like never before. This women’s Catholic study is...
The work our priests perform in “shepherding the flock” is extensive and often taken for granted. The vocation extends far beyond Sunday and daily Mass, weddings, baptisms, spiritual direction, funerals, and myriad blessings, among other things. The church we visit...
Alanna is a military spouse and mother of 2. She spends her time as a homemaker conquering the chaos along with serving her family and community. In her free time, she dives into learning all aspects of her faith.