Know - Grow - Go: Recent Episodes
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Weekend homilies from Holy Trinity Parish, a vibrant, diverse community located in Beaverton, Oregon. Our mission is to KNOW Jesus more personally, GROW in that relationship, and GO forth into the world and make a positive difference.
Christ does not offer us material prosperity or worldly success. Christ offers us true happiness, true fulfillment, true joy, everlasting bliss. And His question to us is, "What are you willing to give – or, unwilling to give – to make that possible?"
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7–12 | Rom 8:28–30 | Mt 13:44–52
We have a choice whether we are going to be a problem or the solution, whether we will be a weed in the garden or the good wheat that the Master has planted. It is up to us to prepare ourselves. Instead of seeing the outside world as our garden and going around canceling, blocking, or cutting off other people, we must take care of the garden inside ourselves and pull out the internal weeds that get in the way of what God is trying to do in our lives.Readings at this Mass: Wis 12:13, 16–19 | Rom 8:26–27 | Mt 13:24–43
What fruit is God producing in your life? And through that fruit, what seeds are you scattering into the lives of others? There are parts of our lives where God’s Word has taken deep root and is bearing fruit. There are other parts crowded by anxiety, distracted by the world, or hardened by disappointment and sin. If that’s you, don’t lose hope: God is still in the business of cultivating hearts.
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:10–11 | Rom 8:18–23 | Mt 13:1–23
When the world, social media, or certain politicians and podcasters, would have us see one another as enemies, remember that this is demonic in the most basic sense of the word — “demon” from the Greek word meaning to divide or to scatter. As we celebrate 250 years together, my challenge to you is to resist that scattering. Cast out the demonic. There’s a lot of good out there, my friends, if we’re willing to claim it.
Readings at this Mass: Is 55:10–11 | Rom 8:18–23 | Mt 13:1–23
Our true freedom can only come from dependence on God, who has endowed us with the gift of life won through His suffering and death. And that it is only through our humble acceptance of Christ into our lives that we — ourselves and this dearly beloved country of ours — will not perish from the earth, but will truly inherit the freedom of the sons and daughters of God, and will have true and eternal life.
Readings at this Mass: 2 Kgs 4:8–11, 14–16a | Rom 6:3–4, 8–11 | Mt 10:37–42
The problem, as we know, is that we don’t get heaven until we get to heaven. There is no human solution to all of our ills and troubles. So here’s the question we all need to sit with: can we find peace living in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people? Can you be patient and trusting with the ups and downs, the insults and injuries, even the tragedies of life, trusting that God will accompany you through them all and, in the end – somehow – draw good from them?
Readings at this Mass: Jer 20:10–13 | Rom 5:12–15 | Mt 10:26–33
Sometimes, we slip into the mindset that Catholicism is just a strict recipe: a bunch of rules we must execute perfectly to get God to love us. Many of us still imagine that God operates transactionally. But God's love doesn't react to our behavior — it precedes our very existence. He does not love us only when we finally clean up our lives; we are only capable of changing our lives because He loved us first. Let's obey God's laws not out of a fearful desire to earn His love, but out of a joyful, overflowing gratitude because we are already loved.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 19:2–6a | Rom 5:6–11 | Mt 9:36—10:8
Christ is not inviting us to excess or self-indulgence, but in making Himself bread and wine, He is blessing the ordinary and the extraordinary. Sustenance and celebration. He comes to us through symbols of the fullness of life in every stage and season. And these elements of bread and wine become not only our life-giving food, but much more. When we eat this bread and drink this wine we receive Christ’s life – the life of the Trinity that is self-giving, self-emptying love, a love that gives everything and contains all suffering and sorrow as well as all happiness and joy.
Readings at this Mass: Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a | 1 Cor 10:16-17 | Jn 6:51-58
The way to protect our hearts from ever being broken is to seal them off and never take the risk of love; to close ourselves off. And that is the opposite of what the Trinity is. The Trinity is outpouring, complete self-giving. And that means being broken. It means taking a risk. Love means we are going to be hurt, but love doesn't care. Love is willing to take the risk. And love knows that life is better, that everything is better, when we pour ourselves out in love, even though that is painful and difficult.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 34:4b–6, 8–9 | 2 Cor 13:11–13 | Jn 3:16–18
Whatever obstacles you feel stand in the way, God has not given up on you. The Spirit placed within you is still there, waiting to be stirred into flame. But if you desire the Holy Spirit to become more alive and active in your life, then you must ask; He won't force Himself on you.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:1–11 | 1 Cor 12:3b–7, 12–13 | Jn 20:19–23
Today is the day when Christ wants to be united to us in a more fundamental and definitive way than we could possibly imagine. He wants to invite us to step out of all the small, partisan things we get so fixated on. The disciples were freed from all of that when they received the presence of God. They realized there is a bigger picture. This is not to say these small things don't matter or that we shouldn't care, but rather that we are part of a much bigger mission. Jesus wants to fill us with His life and His joy, and He wants us to go forth from here on fire with the love of God Himself.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 1:1–11 | Eph 1:17–23 | Mt 28:16–20
Regardless of how one experiences loneliness, abandonment, or loss, it is precisely here in today's Gospel where Jesus assures us, saying, "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." We are never alone; we are never orphans. God will never abandon us. He loves us and desires to guide us to a life of abundance.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 8:5–8, 14–17 | 1 Pt 3:15–18 | Jn 14:15–21
Fr. Bill speaks to the children celebrating their First Communion about how Jesus accompanies us every day, everywhere, through the Eucharist.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 6:1–7 | 1 Pt 2:4–9 | Jn 14:1–12
We are sheep, but Christ is our good shepherd and we can follow Him — and that is all that matters. That is what it means to be a disciple. To follow the Good Shepherd. Nothing else.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:14a, 36–41 | 1 Pt 2:20b–25 | Jn 10:1–10
Faith is a very personal, very particular, and very intimate relationship that God wants with each of us. And it makes all the difference, not because it removes all difficulties, but because it shapes the way we see those difficulties and the way we walk into them. When I find myself short on patience, anxious, angry, or eager to judge, I ask myself: "Whose voice have you been listening to lately, the serpent’s or the Lord’s? What’s been shaping your heart: prayer, scripture, and the Liturgy; or the news and internet, my ego or insecurities?". Who we listen to shapes how we see other people, the world around us, the events of our lives — even God Himself.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:14, 22–33 | 1 Pt 1:17–21 | Lk 24:13–35
The good news of mercy is that we are being given what we don't deserve, and aren't being given what we do deserve. That's mercy. Given such a gift, we are invited to give it away to others. In a way, love demands mercy, again and again. In marriage, in family, in friendship: love doesn't survive without mercy. Mercy doesn't ignore wrongs; it forgives even when it costs you something. It means letting go of resentments and vengeance. So ask yourself honestly: where is God calling you to be merciful?
Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:42–47 | 1 Pt 1:3–9 | Jn 20:19–31
Today we encounter the risen Lord in the Word, and our hearts burn within us. We encounter Him in the breaking of the bread. Christ is here among us, the deepest and most magical reality of all. We are not alone. We have been saved, and in Him we have been raised up.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 10:34a, 37–43 | 1 Cor 5:6b–8 | Jn 20:1–9
Today is 'good' because allows us to grieve the brokenness of our world, the wounds we carry, and the losses we endure. And through our faith, we can find hope, for the cross reveals that God has entered into our suffering and, in Christ, redeemed it.
Readings at this liturgy: Is 52:13—53:12 | Heb 4:14–16; 5:7–9 | Jn 18:1—19:42
We all have those parts of our life that we avoid looking at, hide from others, and even pretend God can’t see. But he does see — and He cares. His love for you is unrelenting and entire. He doesn’t want just the pretty parts of your life — He wants all of you. To take all the smelly, grungy, ugly places in your life and make them cleansed and healed and refreshed.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 12:1–8, 11–14 | 1 Cor 11:23–26 | Jn 13:1–15
It's hard to believe the message of the Cross. It's hard to trust that in letting go, we'll receive; that through suffering, we'll find healing; that it's in dying that we'll find life. But that's really the heart of Holy Week: life now comes through the Cross, because that's where Jesus has gone. Because of Jesus, because of what He's done for us, everything is grace. That's the truth we celebrate this week.
Readings at this Mass: Mt 21:1–11 | Is 50:4–7 | Phil 2:6–11 | Mt 26:14—27:66
Jesus didn't come to simply give us more of the same. He came to transform everything and everyone who belongs to Him. That is the resurrection promise: not a return to what was, but a life made whole — healed, restored, and made new in God. This is the heaven we long for, and it is worth the wait.
Readings at this Mass: Ez 37:12–14 | Rom 8:8–11 | Jn 11:1–45
Lent is not so much about doing external things, changing this or giving up that. It's about getting down to the heart of what's off in our lives. I'm not the only one who's not always following the correct road. All of us are driving our lives off course, and none of us want to stop and ask for directions. But God wants to come into each of our lives, give us the direction we need, point us on the right way, and get us back on track. We must only have the courage and humility to get down on our knees, roll down our windows and ask for directions.
Readings at this Mass: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6–7, 10–13a | Eph 5:8–14 | Jn 9:1–41
In an address given to graduating seniors, Harvard biblical scholar Dr. Peter Gomes said, "The future is God's gift to you." What good words, huh? When we find ourselves stuck, our lives in a rut — that's when Jesus wants step right down into our rut with us. Not with judgement, shame, or condemnation, but with truth, mercy, healing, and hope. He wants to lift us up, heal our hurt, and give us a fresh start — a future. That's what happens with the sacrament of Confession. Jesus is there, waiting for you: thirsty for your trust, hungry to heal your heart, and eager to offer you a new future.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 17:3–7 | Rom 5:1–2, 5–8 | Jn 4:5–42
We all have or will have trouble in our lives. Through it all, the key is to surrender to God and let Him take control. To be addicted to our own self-will is a tyranny that enslaves us — the only rescue from it is to trust God, trust Jesus, and let Him take care of it. Identify the most pressing thing that keeps you afraid from trusting God and His providence in your life, and ask God to take control while you surrender yourself to Him (the Surrender Novena is a great tool to help you in this).
Readings at this Mass: Gn 12:1–4a | 2 Tm 1:8b–10 | Mt 17:1–9
Lent is a time to enter honestly into our own hearts — to repent, to confess, and to grow closer to God. It is a season of freedom, when the Lord desires to lift burdens from us so that we may truly flourish. This Lent, do not be afraid of what God uncovers. He is not trying to diminish you. He is forming you. And if we let Him change our hearts, we will not merely endure these forty days — we will flourish.
Readings at this Mass: Gn 2:7–9; 3:1–7 | Rom 5:12–19 | Mt 4:1–11
Jesus talked about three different practices in today's gospel — praying, fasting, and almsgiving — which the Church has always recommended doing during this penitential season to help us to grow in our relationship with God.
Readings at this Mass: Jl 2:2–18 | 2 Cor 5:20—6:2 | Mt 6:1–6, 16–18
Friends, letting God work on our hearts is a dangerous and difficult business — because it means giving up control. It means saying 'yes' to people and to situations that you would never have chosen yourself. Most of us are terrible when it comes to changing our own hearts, so here’s my encouragement: give your heart to God. Submit to the slow and often painful work of His grace, and trust that He’ll get you where you need to be.
Readings at this Mass: Sir 15:15–20 | 1 Cor 2:6–10 | Mt 5:17–37
When Jesus says, "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world," He's not flattering us — he's giving us a mission. Just as salt prevents corruption and light dispels darkness, your life – lived in communion with God – is meant to preserve what is good and push back what is false or destructive. If someone acts only for recognition, then that recognition is the whole reward — and it lasts only as long as the spotlight is on them. But when a person uses their gifts with humility, gratitude, and faith – when their excellence becomes an offering – their performance points beyond themselves, becoming a witness to the glory of God.
Readings at this Mass: Is 58:7–10 | 1 Cor 2:1–5 | Mt 5:13–16
If we have the presence of God within us, if we bring the presence of God to every situation we encounter, if we're filled with the presence of God so much so that we don't think of ourselves — that's humility. Humility is not thinking less of myself; it's thinking of myself less. It's being filled with the presence of God, so that that presence of God might overflow into every situation that I encounter. And in this world of polarization, as Christians we are called to practice the presence of God: to bring the presence of God with love and understanding to every disagreement and to every situation.
The book Fr. Dominic refers to in his homily is The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection.
Readings at this Mass: Zep 2:3; 3:12–13 | 1 Cor 1:26–31 | Mt 5:1–12a
When we allow God to work on us — when we shift the focus from "what do I want God to do in my life/this person's life" to "what does God want to do in my life" — there’s a whole different energy that comes. Less fear, nagging, and anxiety; more trust, joy, acceptance, and a deep sense of peace. And for our loved ones who have no use for the Church in their lives — that’s how we ourselves become church for them, becoming instruments and images of God’s love for them.
Readings at this Mass: Is 8:23—9:3 | 1 Cor 1:10–13, 17 | Mt 4:12–23
Ordinary Time teaches us that holiness is not built on excitement, but on fidelity. God is not just waiting for extraordinary moments to meet us — He meets us in the quiet faithfulness of daily life. And when our restless hearts finally rest in Him, we discover something surprising: the ordinary is no longer boring. It is sacred. It is where joy takes root.
Readings at this Mass: Is 49:3, 5–6 | 1 Cor 1:1–3 | Jn 1:29–34
When we look at the challenges around us, do we feel anger, anxiety, frustration, or depression? Those are natural responses, but we are invited to activate the grace of our baptism to change that. We can choose to limit the negativity we absorb. We can gather in community to support, witness to, and lift one another up. We can actively choose positive alternatives to the world's negativity. This should be our project for the New Year!
Readings at this Mass: Is 42:1–4, 6–7 | Acts 10:34–38 | Mt 3:13–17
To live fully and freely is not to circle the wagons against every potential threat to our safe and comfortable little worlds. Some of the freest people ever were the martyrs, who laid down their lives — their actual, physical lives — freely, entrusting their well-being to God. That’s how we want to live, too: in the immense freedom of the Divine Will. God knows our needs, even better than we do. Look for the will of God in the events of your daily life and ask Him to be present there. Let that be your star.
Readings at this Mass: Is 60:1–6 | Eph 3:2–3a, 5–6 | Ma 2:1–12
As we move into 2026, let's make a resolution to increase our prayer life. Say 'yes' to having Mary in your "bucket of saints" that you go to for prayer and intercession, the closest and first disciple of Jesus.
Readings at this Mass: Nm 6:22–27 | Gal 4:4–7 | Lk 2:16–21
There is no such thing as a perfect family. But holy families do exist. It's not because there are no issues, but because they remain faithful to God through their imperfections and suffering. They have a joy that goes beyond their circumstances. Holiness is a function of faithfulness, not freedom from frustration, fragility, or failure.
Readings at this Mass: Sir 3:2–6, 12–14 | Col 3:12–21 | Mt 2:13–15, 19–23
Whatever darkness we carry, Christ wants to meet us there. He wants to transform our darkness into light, our despair into hope. He wants to enter our lives again and drive out that darkness with his grace and mercy. So how do we make room for him? That's your homework this Christmas season: give of yourselves. Not just material gifts. Give you. Offer small acts of forgiveness, generosity, patience, kindness, and compassion. Because in God’s hands, even the smallest gifts can change everything.
Christmas is supposed to be a season of hope — a season of joy and gladness, when everyone seems to be celebrating — and yet, sometimes in our own hearts, there is darkness. The Lord wants to give each one of us hope, especially at Christmas, but it requires openness and trust. We must be open to Him entering our lives. We must listen to His word in Scripture. We must spend time in His presence. We must allow Him to speak to our hearts. And if we do that — if we invite Him into the brokenness, the hopelessness, the darkness within us — He can cast out that darkness and give us light.
Readings at this Mass: Is 7:10–14 | Rom 1:1–7 | Mt 1:18–24
John and his disciples in today's gospel are confused because Jesus comes bringing not retribution, but restoration. Thankfully, God doesn’t think like we do. The world’s retribution may still come for those who reject Jesus, but for those who trust him, there is healing; hope; restoration. God’s intention is that we not walk alone; that we not wander, lost in the darkness. He comes to meet us, making a path for us to restore our well-being and our wholeness. All you have to do is make some room, open your heart to God, and see what He does.
Readings at this Mass: Is 35:1–6a, 10 | Jas 5:7–10 | Mt 11:2–11
With God, grace is eternal; it's not linear. And we, too, can become "full of grace" when we receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Readings at this Mass: Gn 3:9–15, 20 | Eph 1:3–6, 11–12 | Lk 1:26–38
Advent is not merely a countdown to Christmas, but also an invitation to let Christ’s light break into those dark places in our souls. If we’re honest, our lives aren’t where they should be. We are sinners; we’ve fallen short. Catholics sometimes get criticized for “guilt trips,” but the opposite is worse: pretending everything is fine and nothing is considered sinful. What we need is a reality check: yes, we do sin, but God’s grace is more powerful, and He can forgive and heal anyone no matter how deep the offense. That is the gift encompassed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Readings at this Mass: Is 11:1–10 | Rom 15:4–9 | Mt 3:1–12
Advent is a time to prepare ourselves for Christmas, to remember that Christ coming into the world is meant to drive out darkness. During these four weeks of preparation, we can join in His work by pushing back the darkness in our own lives. What can you do this Advent to drive out the darkness, even a little? Think of where it is coming from: your screens, your phone, relationships with patterns of negativity or sin? Choose one area where you will push back the darkness and stop letting it enter your life — and in your own small way, in preparation for Christ’s coming, put on the armor of light.
Readings at this Mass: Is 2:1–5 | Rom 13:11–14 | Mt 24:37–44
What are you thankful for? That’s the question Fr. Bill asks of our Thanksgiving Day Mass attendees, reminding us that we are called to be people of thanksgiving — the word eucharist itself comes from the Greek word for 'thanksgiving'. Consider what you are thankful for as you listen to their responses!
Readings at this Mass: Sir 50:22-24 | 1 Cor 1:3-9 | Lk 17:11-19
More and more, it’s becoming impossible for us to talk about our challenges as a country. It doesn’t matter if the issue is cultural, moral, economic, political, whatever — the conversation quickly gravitates towards the extremes. So our problems remain, our divisions deepen, and we don’t go anywhere as a people. Politics is not king. Tribalism is not king. Anger and fear, hatred and shame, cruelty and violence — they’re not king, either. Jesus is king. At least in our lives, it’s time we restore Him to the throne.
Readings at this Mass: 2 Sm 5:1–3, Col 1:12–20, Lk 23:35–43
There is no resurrection without the cross. The trials and losses we experience – our own mini "end-times" – can become the very means by which our lives are transformed, take on deeper meaning, and prepare us to meet Christ in heaven. Consider a loss or painful trial, past or present, and bring it to Jesus in prayer, asking, "Lord, how have you used/how are you using this trial in my life to deepen my faith and prepare me for heaven?" Then, being open to God's grace, watch how He moves you.
Readings at this Mass: Mal 3:19-20a | 2 Thes 3:7-12 | Lk 21:5-19
Each of us is a temple of God, a dwelling place for the Spirit. So perhaps the Gospel is inviting us to something deeper: maybe Jesus wants to help us clean out our own temple. We can’t do it alone. We need Jesus to help drive out the money changers: those fears, distractions, and habits that fill our lives with noise and confusion. If we let Him, He’ll cleanse our hearts so that what flows out of us is no longer muck, but clear, living water.
Readings at this Mass: Ez 47:1–2, 8–9, 12 | 1 Cor 3:9c–11, 16–17 | Jn 2:13–22
Purgatory is the purification, the liberation, the healing that we still need — even after death — to prepare us for the immense, tremendous life that God has in store for us in Heaven. Purgatory is very different than Hell; it’s not “Hell Lite.” It’s got nothing to do with condemnation, fear, or punishment. It’s about a Father who loves us so much that even after death, He refuses to give up on us and leave us incomplete, too weak to stand in the dazzling light of His presence.
Readings at this Mass: Wis 3:1–9 | Rom 5:5–11 | Jn 6:37–40
Jesus' parable of the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble tax collector illustrated well the destiny of those who are truly humble and those who are truly arrogant. Humility is not a weakness, despite what our culture says; it is a great strength. It takes a strong person to not let one's ego take over.
Readings at this Mass: Sir 35:12–14, 16–18 | 2 Tm 4:6–8, 16–18 | Lk 18:9–14
God wants to answer our prayers for ourselves not necessarily by removing the suffering, but by giving us His presence — relationship. He doesn’t always take away pain or magically fix our lives. He comes to be with us in those sufferings. And when we invite Him into those hard places, they’re transformed from within. They become something beautiful; something that can make us better, that can become a gift. That’s what God wants for us, but it all begins with prayer He's just waiting for us to ask.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 17:8–13 | 2 Tm 3:14—4:2 | Lk 18:1–8
We will never understand our faith in a deep way unless we’re willing to grapple with the inseparable relationship between Jesus and the poor. A familiar, comfortable, “me and Jesus” faith is never enough. If we really want to walk with the Lord – if we really want to know him – then we have to walk with the poor, on the margins. In a country as large and as affluent as ours, it takes special care not to lose sight of the Gospel’s demand that we care for the poor — and even more care to not merely lend material aid and then forget that the poor are also persons worthy of our time and respect.
Readings at this Mass: 2 Kgs 5:14–17 | 2 Tm 2:8–13 | Lk 17:11–19
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
True readiness for when Jesus comes again is about having a real, living relationship with Him. To abide with Him. And as we grow in that loving relationship, our hearts are moved to love and serve our families and neighbors, the poor and lonely. That’s how we keep our lamps lit and our hearts ready for the day when Jesus returns.
Readings at this Mass: Wis 18:6–9 | Heb 11:1–2, 8–19 | Lk 12:32–48
Our culture makes it hard to slow down. Depending on your stage of life, it might feel nearly impossible — jobs, kids, commitments, constant demands. So what’s the solution? Learn from the life of Jesus. Live at his speed — not a rushed speed, not a distracted pace. Can you picture Jesus cutting people off in traffic, or glued to his phone while talking to someone? Of course not! And as disciples, we are called to conform our lives to His: to slow down, to live attentively.
Click here to watch "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry"
Readings at this Mass: Eccl 1:2; 2:21–23 | Col 3:1–5, 9–11 | Lk 12:13–21
Fr. Bill has an unexpected conversation with God about the Lord’s Prayer.
Readings at this Mass: Gn 18:20–32 | Col 2:12–14 | Lk 11:1–13
True peace comes from having our hearts attached to the Lord’s and living out of that center. In letting His words speak to the deep places inside, letting them shape our thinking, our speaking, our choosing — even in our busyness. The Lord knows we lead busy lives. Jesus comes to us anyway and says, “I know you don’t have hours. How about just a few minutes. Can you give me that? Just a few minutes? Just for today?”
Readings at this Mass: Gn 18:1–10a | Col 1:24–28 | Lk 10:38–42
How desperately we search for peace in all the wrong places: our achievements, possessions, wealth, travels, and more. But true peace can only come from abiding with God. When we serve faithfully, God abides with us. We don't serve others because of who they are, but because of who we are. And when we serve from a place of faith and love, we find that peace doesn't disappear — it grows.
Readings at this Mass: Dt 30:10–14 | Col 1:15–20 | Lk 10:25–37
Generally in the world we think of peace as an absence. They used to say, ‘Visualize world peace’ and they mean nations not fighting each other. But that is not what Christ is talking about — not an absence of conflict or struggle. It’s a presence; it’s something that can be with you. That’s the peace Christ comes to give us. We can’t say, ‘May an absence be with you.’ It’s a presence within us. It’s a way of being. And that way of being is love.
Readings at this Mass: Is 66:10–14c | Gal 6:14–18 | Lk 10:1–12, 17–20
Fr. Anthony offers the homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 12:1–11 | 2 Tm 4:6–8, 17–18 | Mt 16:13–19
Fr. Anthony offers the homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi).
Readings at this Mass: Gn 14:18–20 | 1 Cor 11:23–26 | Lk 9:11b–17
The way we enter into the divine life – and the way we experience the joy and the sense of purpose that come from God – is by fixing our gaze on Jesus, who reveals to us the Father. Real life consists not in fixating on ourselves, but in forgetting ourselves, in letting go and losing ourselves in service to God and one another.
Below is a photo of Rublev's icon of the Holy Trinity, which is displayed in our parish.
Readings at this Mass: Prv 8:22–31 | Rom 5:1–5 | Jn 16:12–15
Using milk and chocolate syrup, Fr. Bill illustrates our need to stir up the Holy Spirit inside each of us and go out to make a difference with our God-given gifts.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:1–11 | 1 Cor 12:3b–7, 12–13 | Jn 20:19–23
Fr. Anthony offers the homily on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 1:1–11 | Eph 1:17–23 | Lk 24:46–53
When we praise God in the midst of our storms, we’re declaring that He is still in control – that darkness has not overcome the light. Praise pushes back against the darkness and becomes both a weapon and shield, guarding our hearts from anger, hate, resentment, and the desire for revenge or retaliation. It’s okay to cry out or be angry with God; He can take it. Even Jesus sweat blood in His anguish. By reaching out to God in our pain, we’re reminded that we are not alone.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 15:1–2, 22–29 | Rv 21:10–14, 22–23 | Jn 14:23–29
When you find yourself confronting something new or something seemingly out of control, and you wish your life was different or that things could just continue like they always have — resist that thought. Resist. Remember: God has known about this time and this situation from all eternity, and He’s known about you from all eternity, and He’s chosen this time and this place for you – from all eternity.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 14:21–27 | Rv 21:1–5a | Jn 13:31–33a, 34–35
Fr. Anthony preaches the homily on Good Shepherd Sunday.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 13:14, 43–52 | Rv 7:9, 14b–17 | Jn 10:27–30
Fr. Bill speaks to the children celebrating their First Communion about how Jesus accompanies us every day, everywhere, through the Eucharist.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 5:27–32, 40b–41 | Rv 5:11–14 | Jn 21:1–19
The first and most important job of the Pope is to help us walk together, as brothers and sisters of the Lord. St. Augustine is our guide here. He said, “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. And in all things, charity.” So, pray for the cardinals this week. Pray for an open and gracious heart. And pray, too, for our new Pope, whoever that will be. Being Pope is a weighty burden. Let’s help our new Holy Father to carry it with our prayers and affection.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 5:12–16 | Rv 1:9–11a, 12–13, 17–19 | Jn 20:19–31
Because of Jesus, no day is wasted. In Jesus, every season of life — whether it be joyful or painful — can become an opportunity for meaning and transformation. When we unite our experiences to those of Christ, life itself takes on new perspectives and meaning.
Readings at this Mass: Acts 10:34a, 37–43 | 1 Cor 5:6b–8 | Jn 20:1–9
Our Lord made the journey to Mount Calvary to take on the sins committed by every human being in the past, present, and future. Tonight, as we journey with Him, is the night to recommit ourselves to live out our identity as Christians; to yearn for the Eucharist, the life-giving and eternal food; and to lay down our lives for one another in service, forgiving faults, and creating peace.
Readings at this Mass: Is 52:13—53:12 | Heb 4:14–16; 5:7–9 | Jn 18:1—19:42
God wants to touch your life. To wash your feet. To change your heart. These days aren’t just about remembering what happened to Jesus 2000 years ago. In a very mysterious but real way, they’re about becoming present to Jesus, allowing him to draw us along the path of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 12:1–8, 11–14 | 1 Cor 11:23–26 | Jn 13:1–15
Jesus' ambiguous answer to the question of who He was should also be a challenge for us: do we call Him our King, our Savior, our God? Do we see Him in all moments of our lives? In whatever way we suffer, do we unite our suffering to that of His? Or do we glorify Him only in the good moments, and put the blame on Him when we are suffering, when we are alone and afraid, when we feel abandoned and rejected?
Readings at this Mass: Lk 19:28–40 | Is 50:4–7 | Phil 2:6–11 | Lk 22:14—23:56
Judgment is a very dangerous thing. I’m not talking about judging choices, attitudes, or actions, but judging hearts. Condemning and dismissing others. Ridiculing and dehumanizing them. Using them. When we do that, we put ourselves in God’s place — and God takes that very seriously. Only God can judge the heart, because only God can see the heart. Let’s remember that when we’re angry or frustrated or annoyed this week — for the sake of our relationships and for our own sake.
Readings at this Mass: Is 43:16–21 | Phil 3:8–14 | Jn 8:1–11
Our heavenly Father is always seeking us out. He made us for communion with Him and with one another. And when we sin, we break that communion. That’s why every Mass begins with a confession of sin — not because we’ve already made everything right, but because turning back to the Father opens the door for His embrace. God offers us second chances (and third, and fourth, and as many as we need) to come to our senses and return to Him. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was given to us by Jesus for exactly this purpose: to restore and preserve our communion with the Father. And when we turn back toward Him, He comes running toward us.
Readings at this Mass: Jos 5:9a, 10–12 | 2 Cor 5:17–21 | Lk 15:1–3, 11–32
Praying, fasting, and almsgiving are the remedy for inner peace, helping us to imitate the good things that belong to God. Putting effort into praying, fasting, and almsgiving assists us in staying constant in our relationship with God, while also strengthening our conscience, soul, mind, and heart to be always at ease and in peace. If we consistently and intentionally fertilize our soul, our mind, and our heart with these three disciplinary acts, we will be freed from disordered affections and instead yield the beautiful fruits of a good conscience.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 3:1–8a | 1 Cor 10:1–6, 10–12 | Lk 13:1–9
Fr. Columba Jordan notes that most of us have little pauses in our day that pop up naturally: we're stopped at a stoplight, waiting for the kids to get out of practice, waiting in line at Starbucks, etc. Those are opportunities when we can practice turning our attention inward for just a minute or so, to listen to God. It’s not much at first, but when you make this a habit, you start to become aware of God’s voice.
Readings at this Mass: Gn 15:5–12, 17–18 | Phil 3:17—4:1 | Lk 9:28b–36
Just as nature has seasons and athletes have training cycles, Lent is our "spiritual training season" — a season to refocus and reset our hearts and minds on God. It gives us an opportunity to share and renew our faith with those around us through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Readings at this Mass: Dt 26:4–10 | Rom 10:8–13 | Lk 4:1–13
Our speech can act like a sieve that can filter out the bad and negative words a person can deliver to yield the beautiful and good characteristics about this person. In other words, when we listen to our own words/speech, we can filter out the ugly/unneeded husks to reveal the inner soul which should display what is a resemblance of the image and likeness of God.
Readings at this Mass: Sir 27:4–7 | 1 Cor 15:54–58 | Lk 6:39–45
What we say about Jesus matters because in the end, who Jesus is determines whether we’re able to really know God or only know about God. For the Arians and the Gnostics, knowing God was impossible; God was too far beyond us, inaccessible to mere mortals. For our Christian ancestors, knowing God was the very essence of faith, and the key was the direct, personal encounter with Jesus. In Jesus, God Himself entered our reality and sought us out — so, to know Jesus was (and is) to know God.
Readings at this Mass: 1 Sam 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23 | 1 Cor 15:45–49 | Lk 6:27–38
Gnostic thinking can creep into all of us, but the answer is simple — trust Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He sanctified both body and soul, and when we sin, our salvation isn't dependent upon some hidden, secret knowledge. We have something far greater — the Sacraments, where God's grace makes us new.
Readings at this Mass: Jer 17:5–8 | 1 Cor 15:12, 16–20 | Lk 6:17, 20–26
This covenantal way of being requires us to see salvation as more than just reaching the end goal, heaven, but as new way of being, in which we see Christ in ourselves and in others. This week, in everything that you do and in every interaction that you have with others, see if you can identify whether it is transactional or covenantal. If it is transactional, ask God to help you transform your mind and move toward seeing Christ in you and in others.
Readings at this Mass: Is 6:1–2a, 3–8 | 1 Cor 15:1–11 | Lk 5:1–11
The wholeness, the peace, the fullness of life for which we all long only comes from being connected to God. Communion with Jesus is the key to our salvation; He unites in Himself both humanity and divinity. The more deeply we enter into relationship with Him, the more He can draw us into the Father’s embrace.
Readings at this Mass: Mal 3:1–4 | Heb 2:14–18 | Lk 2:22–40
It's easy to praise God when things are good and going our way. I want to encourage you to also do it when things are hard. Don't forget that the Lord can take anything and use it for good. And when we turn to our loving God, He will help guide us and give us strength to endure.
Readings at this Mass: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 | 1 Cor 12:12-30 | Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
Jesus wants to to make things better for us, to bless you and me in abundance, but we must invite Him in to do so. How short sighted are we to only ask for his help when we are desperate and not to invite him in all things! Whatever you are willing to bring to Him, however unimportant or mundane, He will transform. So make a “new year resolution” to bring Jesus into it, whatever you do in your daily lives.
Readings at this Mass: Is 62:1–5 | 1 Cor 12:4–11 | Jn 2:1–11
Jesus is real. His grace is real. He’s not sitting up there somewhere, watching to see if you can figure it all out on your own. He’s chosen to descend, to be your brother, to walk with you and face your deepest fears and failures with you. Resist the temptation to be a practical atheist. Don't just believe in God - live as if you believe. Sometime over the next few weeks, go to Confession and open your heart to Him. Let Jesus make a difference and be part of your daily reality.
Readings at this Mass: Is 42:1–4, 6–7 | Acts 10:34–38 | Lk 3:15–16, 21–22
All of life is an epiphany - a revelation. Your very life is a gift from God, and none of us caused ourselves to come into being. When we embrace our role in God’s divine story and don’t fight against it, then we can see that everything - our lives and abilities, our world, our relationships - are a gift from Him. Give yourself away for God’s purposes. If it helps, put a sticky note on your bathroom mirror which says, "Life is not about you. It’s about God." Then, see what happens.
Readings at this Mass: Is 60:1–6 | Eph 3:2–3a, 5–6 | Mt 2:1–12
We honor Mary because she was given the gift to be the mother of Jesus - and he was the Son of God. It is right that we call Mary "the Mother of God", and we honor Jesus when we honor her. We don't confuse the honor we give her with the worship give to her Son. If we love Jesus, then we should honor all whom He loves. That includes Mary, his mother - the Mother of God.
We can make our home like the Father’s house if we make prayer the center in our home and family life. This week, formulate a plan to set aside some time nightly for prayer together, offering thanks and praises to God, asking for the strength to overcome whichever crisis comes your way and affects your family. Then put this praying plan into action, and discover the peace and grace that follows from uniting as a family unit in God.
Readings at this Mass: Sir 3:2–6, 12–14 | Col 3:12–21 | Lk 2:41–52
In our world that’s often shrouded in darkness, remember that the incarnation of Christ was the match that changed everything. And despite our own struggles, God can quietly strike a spark in our hearts that ignites hope and light. And our mission is to carry His light into the world. So during this Christmas season, ask yourself: ‘Where can I bring Christ’s light?’ Be that person through whom God can strike a spark that will ignite hope and light to those in darkness.
Joy is deeper than happiness; more enduring. Joy isn’t the absence of sadness or worry. And though it’s found within, it doesn’t come from within. It comes from the love of God within. The Incarnation isn’t just something that happened 2000 years ago. Christ continues to come to us: in His word, in the Eucharist, in the events of our lives. Let Him lead, and you’ll discover His peace. Open your heart to His love, and you’ll know His joy.
We are called to "rejoice always," and it’s easy to do so when things are good. But when things are bad or dark or depressing or without hope? It's not so easy, and yet at those moments we should praise God all the more - not for the darkness, but so that the light of the world overcomes the darkness. By speaking and proclaiming light into that darkness, we are acting as agents of Christ. No matter our situation, remember to rejoice, for the light will always overcome the darkness.
Readings at this Mass: Zep 3:14–18a | Phil 4:4–7 | Lk 3:10–18
Though none of us can live exactly as Mary did, being immaculately conceived and living without sin, we are called as Catholic Christians to lead a life filled with grace. How do we do that? Attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist, going to confession - all these things help return us to a state of grace.
Readings at this Mass: Gn 3:9–15, 20 | Eph 1:3–6, 11–12 | Lk 1:26–38
Each one of us is called to share the good news by imitating John the Baptist to be a missionary, helping others to encounter Christ and to prepare and straighten the paths for God. Joy, peace, suffering, and persecution are parts of any journey, including the journey of faith in God. However, only in the journey of faith in God with our missionary effort can we face suffering and persecutions gracefully on the way toward the eternal peace and joy.
Readings at this Mass: Bar 5:1–9 | Phil 1:4–6, 8–11 | Lk 3:1–6
The lesson that Advent holds out to all of us, in the midst of all the purchasing, planning, and frantic activity around us, is patience. Trusting that when life doesn’t look the way we think it should look, God is still in control. Remember: some things can’t be rushed. God has a plan, and if we open our lives to Him and let Him work, He’ll get us where we need to be - even if He doesn’t do it the way we would do it. Advent means remembering how to wait.
Readings at this Mass: Jer 33:14-16 | 1 Thes 3:12—4:2 | Lk 21:25-28, 34-36
What are you thankful for? That’s the question Fr. Bill asks of our Thanksgiving Day Mass attendees, after playing a video that reminds us not to take things for granted. Consider what you are thankful for as you listen to their responses!
Readings at this Mass: Sir 50:22-24 | 1 Cor 1:3-9 | Lk 17:11-19
Jesus is more than just an ordinary person or a religious leader. He is God, our creator, the reason we exist. The laws of physics and science depend on him. Our ultimate happiness resides in him. Our ability to go to heaven is only through him. He is the King of the Universe, our Lord, our Messiah - and He loves you. The king of all things loves you.
Readings at this Mass: Dn 7:13–14 | Rv 1:5–8 | Jn 18:33b–37
When it comes to preparing for anything, often we think of stocking up or loading up on things. The process of preparation often gives us anxiety, taking away our peace due to the unknowns. But as people of faith, being prepared is to not be in fear, to not let the idea of the end times frighten us. Being prepared is to let go of our sins, vices, unhealthy habits, and the things we do not need to gain peace and to be free of anxiety.
Readings at this Mass: Dn 12:1–3 | Heb 10:11–14, 18 | Mk 13:24–32
Right now, it’s far more helpful – emotionally, psychologically, relationally – to be proactive and focus on the things over which we have some influence, rather than to send ourselves into tailspins reacting to what we can’t control. Think about God’s initiative in your own life. Today, concretely, what can you influence? Who can you help?
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 17:10–16 | Heb 9:24–28 | Mk 12:38–44
When we love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, we become more like Him. As we grow close to God, we gain His peace and can extend His love to those around us. Because God is in control, unshaken by the world's troubles, we can be too, for the love of God calms our fears. Loving our neighbors, even those we disagree with, creates bonds that build unity. When we love as God loves, our neighbors stop being enemies and become brothers and sisters.
Readings at this Mass 1 Kgs 17:10–16 | Heb 9:24–28 | Mk 12:38–44
Jesus invites us to reject worldly standards and take on Godly standards with the Beatitudes. They are a kind of roadmap to sainthood, God's standards for leading a joyful, fulfilling life that also prepares us for our reward in heaven. Sainthood is not far from us, but is happening here and now: when we mourn, when we experience tribulations that cause us hunger and thirst for righteousness, when we show mercy, when we are peacemakers, when we are mistreated for the sake of peace for others.
Readings at this Mass: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 | 1 Jn 3:1-3 | Mt 5:1-12a
On being resilient and persistent in cultivating an upward movement toward God, Saint Cyprian of Carthage says that we must endure toil and fatigue while we are attempting to climb hills and mountains. However, the toil and fatigue are less if we set our eyes on heaven and consider the promised reward. This reminds us to continue to keep our focus on Jesus and remain resilient in inviting God to take part in our life.
Readings at this Mass: Jer 31:7–9 | Heb 5:1–6 | Mk 10:46–52
Real change requires radical honesty, and we could all do with a bit more honesty: in our public lives, our private lives, and in our prayer. Don’t be afraid of the truth when you pray. Don’t ignore what’s going on inside. Embrace who you are – and where you are. Tell it to God like it is. And then, let God go to work.
Readings at this Mass: Is 53:10–11 | Heb 4:14–16 | Mk 10:35–45
Take a moment this week and ask yourself: "What is one thing standing between me and a deeper relationship with Jesus? What is one thing that I am lacking?" Then, take a leap of faith and surrender it. Whatever it is, place it at the feet of Jesus, and then be patient. Wait and watch as joy, like a hidden treasure, reveals itself to you in ways you never expected.
Readings at this Mass: Wis 7:7–11 | Heb 4:12–13 | Mk 10:17–30
We heard of the call to bring children from what Jesus commanded the disciples today, ‘Let the children come to me’. When married couples bear fruits in bringing children into this world, they are not only bringing God’s love into the world, but also displaying the inner life of God, the love, which is the Holy Spirit, shared between the Father and the Son.
Readings at this Mass: Gn 2:18–24 | Heb 2:9–11 | Mk 10:2–16
Fundamentally, holiness is not churchiness or being theologically literate. It's not having our act together morally, and certainly not about judging other people. Fundamentally, holiness is about having the courage to let Jesus into the center of your life - and then hanging on for the ride! That might not always look the way we think holiness should look, but it's powerful when we see it. In the end, it's all about Jesus.
Readings at this Mass: Nm 11:25–29 | Jas 5:1–6 | Mk 9:38–43, 45, 47–48
What is greatness in in the view of God? Jesus makes it clear: "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Greatness can be a good thing, as long as it has love of God and neighbor as its goal. So, this week, put on your calling of being a disciple of Jesus. Find a way to lift someone up. Whether it be at school, work, home, or just being about. Be a good winner or loser. Help a friend. Help a neighbor. Help someone in need.
Readings at this Mass: Wis 2:12, 17–20 | Jas 3:16—4:3 | Mk 9:30–37
Each of us experience some kind of suffering every day, big or small. If we only see our suffering as a punishment from God, we miss that our suffering is also redemptive. In the Cross, we experience the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord, and we are given a promise of eternal life. Part of the fulfillment of that promise is embracing the crosses in our own lives. When you are given a cross to bear, look at the crucifix and ask Him to help you to embrace it.
Readings at this Mass: Is 50:4c–9a | Jas 2:14–19 | Mk 8:27–35
At the end of the day, it’s not our sinfulness that’s a problem for God. It’s the way we refuse to admit our sinfulness, or even to see it. The way we hide or minimize or rationalize it. That’s what makes us sick, unfree, and lonely. When we allow Jesus to open our hearts to truth, when we let him be our compass and measure, our lives change. This week, ask God for the grace and the humility to just be honest when you’re wrong and admit your fault - and see what happens.
Readings at this Mass: Is 35:4–7a | Jas 2:1–5 | Mk 7:31–37
Jesus made it clear that evil thoughts and acts come from within, but the opposite is also true. We heard from St. James today, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves" (Jas 1:22). In order to be doers of the word, we must begin from within our hearts. The next time you find yourself disturbed by something or someone around you, offer it up. Pray for that situation and person. They may not change - but you will.
Readings at this Mass: Dt 4:1–2, 6–8 | Jas 1:17–18, 21b–22, 27 | Mk 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23
According to C. S. Lewis, having faith is a commitment to and trust in Christian teachings in the face of daily distractions and doubts. Let this Gospel reading today remind you to commit yourself again and again when you come to Mass and receive a very tangible thing: the Lord’s body, blood, soul, and divinity in your hand and on your tongue. Nowhere else outside of the Catholic Church can this food be found, and with that recognition, we say, “Lord, to whom shall we go?”
Readings at this Mass: Jos 24:1–2a, 15–17, 18b | Eph 5:21–32 | Jn 6:60–69
Do you know the most common time for a person who prays to stop praying? It’s when they sense God asking them to change or let something go. But every great love requires at some point a willingness to say 'no' to what we want in order to say 'yes' to what love demands. If you’re finding yourself restless, fearful, stuck, or directionless, come to Communion. Open the doors of your heart to Jesus and let Him into those frustrated places inside. And then – listen, and do whatever he tells you.
Readings at this Mass: Prv 9:1–6 | Eph 5:15–20 | Jn 6:51–58
The Assumption of Mary is not only a celebration of her glorious destiny but also a powerful reminder of our own future hope of eternal life with Christ. Mary's Assumption encourages us to live our lives trusting in God, in His blessings and promises that prepare us for our own destiny, which Mary has reached: eternal life with Christ.
Readings at this Mass: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab | 1 Cor 15:20-27 | Lk 1:39-56
God will never abandon you. He knows your suffering; He knows your deepest mistakes and sins; and He desires greatly to receive you back and heal you. Don't be afraid to express your troubles, worries, and fears to Him. Invite Him into your heart, your mind, your soul - for the first time or the 100th time. Be open to His mystical presence here at Mass and beyond.
Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 19:4–8 | Eph 4:30—5:2 | Jn 6:41–51
In receiving the Body of Christ, you are transformed and filled with Him who came to unite you to the Father, to turn you from an ordinary individual to an extraordinary person in God. Let’s set the world on fire for the Lord through His presence in you, the living and walking tabernacle through the fire and power of the Holy Spirit! Be Christ-like to others, so that they may come to know Him and His presence in the Eucharist and be transformed.
Readings at this Mass: Ex 16:2–4, 12–15 | Eph 4:17, 20–24 | Jn 6:24–35
Our hunger for transcendent purpose is meant to connect us with God, THE source of meaning, power, and purpose who unites all things. But if God gets relegated to the margins of our lives, it’s easy for idols to take His place - idols that initially offer a sense of connection but in the end destroy us. Think about that as we enter the heart of election season, wherever you are on the political spectrum. Who are our hearts given to: the "right" crowd, party, or politician, or to Jesus?
Readings at this Mass: 2 Kgs 4:42–44 | Eph 4:1–6 | Jn 6:1–15
God is not far from us - He is always by our side, journeying along with us and accompanying us. “When two or three gather in my name, I am in their midst" (Mt 18:20), Jesus says. He is inviting us to help others experience Him through our accompaniment. And as the world is increasingly becoming individualistic, the need to accompany one another is most needed now more than ever. We are called to be a source of comfort, consoling, a helping hand to those who are alone in our midst.
Readings at this Mass: Jer 21:1–6 | Eph 2:13–18 | Mk 6:30–34
Each of you is Church, bona fide members of the Body of Christ, in whom Jesus lives and interacts with the world. Your relationships are potential vehicles of grace, windows through which God’s love can reach through and touch those who don’t know Him. Think about that when you’re online, or about to get into a political debate, or you run into that annoying neighbor. Your words, your thoughtfulness, your willingness to befriend, can be sacraments of the saving love of God Himself.
Readings at this Mass: Am 7:12–15 | Eph 1:3–14 | Mk 6:7–13
God is the author of all our hobbies; the director of our recreation and guide on our vacations; the maker of your loved ones; the giver of love, joy, and peace. God wants you to delight in these things and know they are His gift to you. But we don't always recognize His sacramental presence in them, whether due to pride, contempt, or fear. To admit to these weaknesses in our lives and surrender them to God, taking them to confession to be healed, leads to a renewed sense of awe and joy.
Readings at this Mass: Ez 2:2–5 | 2 Cor 12:7–10 | Mk 6:1–6a
God wants so much to save us from those moments of death and sin. "Do not be afraid," He says, "just have faith." He wants us to rely on Him and His Most Sacred Heart. He is here for you and me, so ask Him to carry you, to restore and renew you, to strengthen you and remind you that you are wholesome, you are imperishable, and you are created in God's image.
Readings at this Mass: Wis 1:13–15; 2:23–24 | 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13–15 | Mk 5:21–43
If 99% of our time is spent living for ourselves, focused on our agenda, relying on our own powers, it'll be hard to turn to the Lord or sense His presence when we need Him. So start training now, so you'll be ready. If you've gotten lazy, recommit to daily prayer. If it's been awhile, go to Confession. When you get out of bed in the morning, offer your day to God before doing anything else. Let the Lord into those broken places and allow Him to become your strength and still point.
Readings at this Mass: Jb 38:1, 8–11 | 2 Cor 5:14–17 | Mk 4:35–41
Our lives are a day-to-day movement toward or away from God. Like a child learning, it's a function of baby steps. Consider this your homework for the summer. Take measure of where you are in your faith today and again at the end of the summer. Try not to be in a hurry; instead, be patient, open to God's grace, and attentive to His still, small voice every day.
We ought to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to carry out the will of God for each one of us as brothers and sisters of Christ. How do we do that? In the moments of our daily life which we seem to be pulling away with temptations and discouragement, while asking whose voice it is that we are hearing, we can call upon the Holy Spirit by saying: “Come, Holy Spirit, Come!”
When God asks us to change, we tend to resist or ignore it and lose ourselves in worldly distractions. The tension that's created is an indicator of where God is pressing on us, where He wants to work. Fr. Bill has a phrase he likes to use: "Mine (as in, 'dig') for conflict". Search your heart for those places of conflict and tension and dig into them. Invite the Lord into those places and ask for what you need: the grace to forgive, the humility to ask for help, whatever it may be.
Remember the acronym Fr. Anthony gave us, FAMILY: Forget About Me. I Love You. Ask God to help you to stop fixating on your own wants. Seek out those around you and ask them how they are doing. Don't take yourselves so seriously, but rather lose yourself in the loving service of others, loving as God loves. In that exercise, we learn compassion. Then, you will be imitating and giving glory to the Most Holy Trinity, and your life will be full of a communion of love.
A mosaic is composed of multiple individual pieces that together creates a beautiful image. Similarly, we are each crafted unique and distinct with our own gifts, and unite as one Body sharing God’s love to the world. Consider attending a different Mass time or sitting somewhere different and introduce yourself to those around you whom you do not know. Get to know them and the gift they bring to this diverse and unified Body of Christ called Holy Trinity Parish.
None of us goes through this life without our share of disappointment and frustration. It’s our belief in the life to come that allows us to be okay with this. Recall this quote that Fr. Dave introduced a few years ago, from Fr. James Martin, S.J.:
"This isn’t heaven. You’re not God. Don’t be a jerk."
Repeat this to yourself when feeling frustrated or discouraged, to reframe your perspective and help you bear the day's burdens as we await the Great Day to come.
Receiving the Eucharist is an invitation as well as a commandment. Jesus told us to "remain in [His] love," to “take this and eat it for this is my body,” that all who struggle will be refreshed if they come to him. Jesus loves us deeply. He is a friend who wants to be with us always, through the good and the bad. So whenever you feel misunderstood, lonely, sad, or unloved, come to Mass and receive Jesus who loves you more than anyone else in the world, for the Eucharist is the most powerful way to be close to Him and His love.
We are the branches grafting to Jesus, the vine who pumps into us that sap/the spirit which is the nutrient to stay healthy, grow and bear fruits of comfort, familiarity, and peace so that we live and move, and have our being rooted in Christ, our love and anchor.
In the midst of an increasingly secular world, God continues to show up for His faithful people, calling them and accompanying them towards eternal life.
Sometimes, it takes a temporary eclipse of suffering and trial in our life in order to reveal what God is doing. Sometimes, we can’t just read about him or study Him; we need to experience Him, and that changes everything. Consider what things in your life are obscuring or eclipsing the light of Christ for you, and surrender it all to Him. Jesus deeply desires to move the obstacles that eclipse your mind and heart so that you can live this life to the full and be prepared for the next.
Jesus administered spiritual CPR when he breathed into His disciples to take away their disappointment and fear and give them His peace (Jn 20:21-23). He resuscitated and revitalized them, giving them strength to carry out the work of being instruments of God’s mercy. He does the same for us to take away our wounds, our shortcomings and sins. Examine your conscience at the end of each day to determine your weaknesses, failures, and sins, then ask God for His mercy or bring them to Christ in confession. This way we can widen the channels to our hearts so that the breath of Christ, our spiritual CPR provider, can continue to revitalize us, giving us the strength to carry out the work of being instruments of God’s mercy.
We proclaim "Christ is risen" not akin to a slogan like "Elvis Lives". No! It is the truth that this life has been broken into by eternity. Our destiny is not utter annihilation. It is a reality that is the complete fulfillment of all that is good here on earth.
Jesus was no helpless victim. The events of the Passion didn’t just happen to him. He chose freely, consciously, and deliberately to stand between us and the powers of Evil, undergoing torture and humiliation and an excruciating death in order to save us all. Good Friday is a day to remember his sacrifice and give our hearts once more to him who gave – and continues to give – everything for us.
Whatever it is you’re called to be, each of us is called to live as a servant leader, to be in charge of how we are carrying out and giving away yourselves in the service of others. To become like the Servant Christ is to give of ourselves for the good of the others. As Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us, in giving of ourselves we receive much more.
God is here with us not only in the good moments of our lives, but also when we are suffering, when we are afraid, when we are alone and feeling abandoned. And not only that, God is reaching out to us through his Son, through His death and resurrection.
Through our baptism, God has written his very name on our hearts and claimed us for his own. We are reminded of this fact every time we dip our fingers in our baptismal font and bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. Instead of just following rules, we simply need to look into what God has written in our hearts. And what do we find there? A cross: Jesus' cross. And with that cross, you are reminded that He loves you so much that he sacrificed himself for you.
We have three weeks of Lent still in front of us. Where are you falling prey to scattering, division, and discouragement? How might God be inviting you to open your life more fully to the power of graciousness, connection, and hope?
A heart is often used to represent emotional love, which involves feelings of deep affection, care, and emotional attachment towards another person. The crucifix also represents love - sacrificial love, doing what is best for others to the point where we are willing to lay down our lives. Jesus' sacrificial love is unconditional; He gives us His love even when we don't deserve it. Put your crucifix at home in a prominent place (or get one, if you don't have one already) so that, every time you look at it, your heart is filled with zeal for the sacrificial love God bestows on us, which we are in turn expected to share with others.
In Lent, the Church offers us ways to look at things differently. We are called to be open to a special indwelling of the Holy Spirit; to pray more, to fast, and to do works of charity. I also challenge you to make yourself available to mountain-top experiences. All of these things help us be more open to God’s grace in our lives - to change and transfigure us.
Lent, at least in the northern hemisphere, is one of those happy confluences of the exterior and the interior world. The world outside us waits for the new life of Spring; we wait for the new life of Easter. Those waitings enhance one another. God is in our hearts and in the church, and it’s important to attend to Him there. But He’s also out there. So this Lent, get up out of your chair and go meet Him.
Giving and receiving valentines (or, in Charlie Brown's case, not receiving valentines) is an example of the consequences of conditional love: if (fill in the blank), then I will love you/give you a valentine/etc. We are not called to practice conditional love, however, but unconditional love - because that is how Christ loved us. We live out that unconditional love through the three pillars of Lent - praying, fasting, and almsgiving - doing it not for the sake of being seen, but in order to show unconditional love to others for their benefit.
God calls each one of us to love and to care for one another. Human beings are made to be in communion with each other in physical and embodied ways. When we bring care, love, and support to others, we help them to experience Christ’s compassion and healing touch.
Jesus knows suffering. He knows doubt. He knows abandonment. In fact, by his suffering, he expresses in the most profound way that he is I AM. He is with us. Let his name reverberate in your mind. May it help remind you that God does indeed care, and that, in both your darkest moments and your greatest triumphs, I AM is with you always.
We don’t need to go searching in all these other-worldly places – or even in the more usual worldly places – for meaning and purpose and empowerment. God has a plan for each of us, a purpose he’s held for us since before the world began. You begin discerning your life’s purpose by being faithful to the duty of the present moment.
The great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky once wrote, “The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.” So, why not live for God?
“Come, follow me” is the call of Jesus for us to embrace our vocation as the beloved sons and daughters of God, to let go of what paralyzes us, and to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus. Spend some time this week in prayer recalling your baptism into Christ and give thanks to God for His invitation to come follow Jesus, knowing everything else will follow.
Regardless of our disappointments and failures in our relationships with others, God always offers us another chance, often in a way we never expected. While the world offers us guilt, shame, and accusation, Jesus offers us the hope that, with His help, it is never too late to resurrect those broken relationships.
This weekend's homily title is meant to be playful, but there is a point here. To be desirable, attractive, special - that's one of those deep desires of the human heart we all experience. In the end, the more we try to manufacture our own acceptance and attractiveness, the more we’re bound to be frustrated. Conversely, the more we open our hearts to God and His embrace, the more attractive we become. True loveliness isn’t found in how we look; it comes from loving God and letting Him love us.
There is only one person in Jesus who has two natures: fully God and fully Man. This is why we honor Mary as the Mother of God, and doing so leads us to her Son, our Lord. As he was born under the law to ransom those under the law, we now are the adopted sons and daughters of God. So glorify, praise, and give thanks to God always that He, through Christ, has intimately opened for us a way to be His children, made possible through the cooperation of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.
God gives us the virtues of contemplation, obedience, humility, and love to create harmony within our families. Consider how you are living out these virtues in your own family. In what ways could you improve and grow to create a more loving environment for your family?
The power of Christ in our hearts can transform all our insecurities and fears if we let go and let the "good news of great joy" steep in our hearts. The Good News of Christmas proclaims that the birth of Christ ushered in a new beginning where sin and death no longer have to dominate us. Remember how much God was and is willing to do for you. He loves you and is with you all the way, in the good times and the bad.
As Eucharistic people, we are called to reverence each other: to honor and show respect to each other, just as Jesus did, because all are made in the image and likeness of God. Through our reception of the Eucharist, let us reverence, honor, and show our love for God and those around us. Show them that we desire communion with them, to be helpers and healers, and through such reverence help build up the Body of Christ.
At Communion time, the Lord comes into our hearts; thus, whenever we receive others into our heart, the Lord is there to meet them whether they realize it or not. The Lord asks us to be Communion for those outside of Communion: to be the love by which others come to know and accept the love of Jesus, even if they don’t know it’s the love of Jesus. It’s as if Jesus uses our love to slip in past the defenses of those who may not know Him, have walked away from Him, or whose hearts, for whatever reason, are closed against Him. Because of who we receive at this table, our love can be not just our love, but an encounter with the Sacred itself.
Many of us have a go-to "comfort food" when we are sick. During the Last Supper, Jesus entrusted His disciples with the Eucharist, the ultimate "comfort food" that heals us and removes the distance between us as we come together to as one in the Body of Christ. We are entrusted with the same mission at the end of Mass, to bring that Eucharistic healing and comfort to others after having received it for ourselves. Invite someone in your life to go out for a meal, and ask God for the grace to share that healing Eucharistic comfort as you listen to them.
While Mary is full of God's grace, since her immaculate conception, she is also obedient and faithful to the Father and eventually to her Son. Mary's humility and willingness to accept God's plan for her is an example for us to imitate in our own lives. May the Immaculate Virgin Mary intercede for us as we aspire to live an immaculate life: a life of total abandonment to the will of God.
We are all called to love in sacrificial ways. Be watchful this week to the needs of those around you who need to see the love of God through you. Be a catalyst of God's love and give yourself in service to another person in need - or, as St. Ignatius of Antioch described, pour yourself out like wheat to be crushed so as to be bread for the world.
We’d like to think that following Jesus, taking up the cross, just means “being good” and giving up things that are sinful. But there’s a bigger cross, a deeper invitation, to love your enemies and do good to those who annoy you. To love both those who deserve your love as well as those who don’t deserve it. Ask the Lord to show you the undeserving person in your life that you’ve been avoiding or who you’ve failed to love, and pray for the grace to do something concrete for them - to love them, do good for them, for the sake of Christ.
What are you thankful for? That’s the question Fr. Bill asks of our Thanksgiving Day Mass attendees. Consider what you are thankful for as you listen to their responses!
Hopelessness and suffering, for many of us, is what makes or breaks us spiritually. Many of us turn away from God because of such experiences. But God continues to pour His presence into our hearts so that, when we encounter the challenging moments of our lives, we can recognize that He continues to be with us and that we can call on Him. You have heard many times of the different ways we can rely on God. The simplest way to call upon God when you are at the lowest moment of your life is to say, "Jesus, help me."
There will be all kinds of obstacles, sufferings, and tragedies in our lives - things that can steal away our hope like war, terrorism, corruption, division, arrogance, pride, and cynicism (just to name a few). But Jesus isn't worried. Why? Because Christ crushed sin, death, Satan, and his demons when He died and rose again. Jesus has already won. The game of our lives hasn't ended, but our knowledge of the outcome is the reason for our hope.
In any relationship, it takes work, patience, and a dedicated back-and-forth to truly come to know the other person, not just know about the other person. Unless we’re talking to the Lord and letting His word work on us, regularly, we’ll never develop the strength, freedom, and trust to stand when the world’s storm winds blow against us. So talk to Him this week, and let Him talk to you. There’s nothing more important you can do.
As a saint in the works, it is a response of our faith to go out and help others. We each have a calling to do something, each day, to respond in faith to some need. Ask yourself: "What is that one need? Lord, help me to be aware and sensitive to the need when it presents itself to me." Then press into that need and give of yourself; you won't regret it.
Living out the greatest commandments - to love God and to love our neighbor - is a principle embedded deep within our hearts. This Christian way of life is driven by ourselves being Christian. You share the good news of Christ to others by just being you: your actions, your way of life, your being Christian makes you an authentic role model and a beacon of hope to those around you.
Everything and everyone belongs to God. There's no possible way to "pay" God back for all he has done for you, but a sincere prayer of thanksgiving from the heart is priceless. So, when you wake up and put your feet on the floor, thank God for another day, a day which you did not create and is sheer gift to you.
This was recorded at the 11:15am Mass due to partial audio loss during the live stream at 9:30am.
We journey through life knowing that our goal is to be in the wedding feast of the Lamb (eternal life in heaven) and how important it is to be ready for the feast and adorn our wedding garment (our soul). But there are moments when we fall short and lose focus on eternal life; our wedding garment becomes stained and unfit. By reconciling with God in confession and receiving Christ in the Eucharist, we are continually cleansed and strengthened, adorned and ready for the feast.
Among the greatest fruits we have received as members of Jesus' Church is the Eucharist. Our mission to "GO": go out into your neighborhoods, work, and social groups and share with other Catholics who you know have been away from the Church about the great fruit of the Eucharist in your own life.
Click here to read the CARA report that Fr. Bill refers to in his homily.
Jesus invites us to enter into a deep and abiding relationship with Him, and to share that experience with others. It doesn't matter how late you have come to this game. God's Church, his ballpark, is inviting each of us to enter into a deeper encounter with Him. Such an invitation will likely require a change about something in your mind, heart, or lifestyle. Let Him change you and so be open to the Holy Spirit.
It is our tendency to compare ourselves and what we have with others, but that can lead us down the path of becoming envious. When we are envious of others, we forget the blessing that God has given us as unique individuals with our own gifts, talents, and abilities. We imprison ourselves with our envy and rob ourselves of the grace, peace, and joy that God is bestowing on each one of us equally. Instead of being envious of our neighbor's gifts and talents, let us praise God for the gifts that others have received and ask that the grace God has bestowed on them continues to be a blessing for us as well, as we receive what we give.
To truly experience the healing power of God’s mercy in our lives, to have the sense of inner peace and well-being (shalom in Hebrew) that comes with God’s forgiveness, we have to share that forgiveness with others. If you want to experience the liberating power of God’s mercy in your life, then share that mercy with others. Forgive your brother or sister from your heart, that your heavenly Father might forgive you.
In a world that’s all-in on judgment, condemnation, and cancellation, we need to be a sign of something truer and better and far more difficult: the work of reconciliation. It’s not that there’s never a time for argument or speaking the truth, but until there’s trust - until the other person really feels heard and knows we care about them, not just getting our way - arguments only drive the wedges deeper. Reconciliation should be our goal, not the need to be right.
This means being willing to listen without planning a response or counterargument; being humble enough to admit that we may not have the whole picture; considering the possibility that there are things we don't know or understand - perhaps even things that we are wrong about. Look around your circle of family, friends, and coworkers. With whom are you at odds? This week, seek them out, listen to them, and begin practicing the hard work of reconciliation.
As Christ’s disciples, we are going to face stumbling blocks in our path. Our tendency is to assess the situations we face from a very human perspective and make important decisions based on our own logic - thinking in the worldly way and not the Godly way. Instead, spend time in prayer to discern God’s will and remember the transformative power that Jesus came to bring via suffering and the cross. Jesus does not want us to be afraid, but to be bold and stand solidly like a rock against the things that the world throws at us, knowing He is there standing at our side.
Beyond knowing the details of who Jesus was, we are called to enter into a relationship with him: to know him, not just about him. This week, concentrate on once again answering the question he has put forth to us: "Who do YOU say that I am?" Then, commit yourself to deepening that knowledge by inviting him personally into your heart. Yes, we must know about Jesus and his teachings, but far more critical is to know him personally and allow him to change your life.
Jesus isn't interested in a transaction with us, like He gives us a good life if we follow the rules. He wants a relationship that's honest, intimate, and capable of changing you, even if it involves a bit of friction between the two of you. So be bold with God. When He leads you into the dark places, grab His hand, tell Him exactly what you need, and then hang on for dear life. That's how we change and grow, gradually becoming capable of the freedom, love, and trust that the Lord wants for us.
Mary not only helps us to contemplate the events and mysteries of Christ’s life, but she is also a mediator and intercessor for us. She gives us the greatest example of surrendering to God, and her words to the angel Gabriel are words that we need to meditate on: “Let it be done to me according to your word."
There are two competing voices within each of us, attempting to influence us: the attractiveness of the world and the still, small voice of God saying, “Come; be not afraid”. But Jesus is not just any influencer. For two thousand years, he has transformed those whom he influences by being perfectly God and yet willing to die on the cross out of love for us. Jesus is reaching out to take you by the hand - follow him to get away from all the competing voices and noise and hear his still, small voice above all the others: "Be not afraid".
Ultimately, all the changes, conversions, reversions, and transfigurations we encounter in this pilgrimage of life are practices for the final transfiguration of our lives when we die to this world and pass into the next. Christ's Transfiguration was intended as preview of things to come for His faithful - of the destiny He desires for all of us.
There’s nothing God longs for more than your friendship; nothing he wants more than your well-being; nothing he searches for more persistently than your heart. God doesn't just love humanity - He loves you. You, with all your gifts, faults, and struggles. Will you believe that? Can you open your heart to that possibility? Will you take a chance to choose Christ, who gave up everything to choose you?
Dcn. Brett invites you to listen to an excerpt from "I Thirst for You", a letter written by Mother Teresa as the words of Jesus addressed to each of us (click the link to read the piece in full).
Jesus likens the Kingdom of Heaven to how the small mustard seed, once planted, becomes a large tree, a place of refuges for all the different kinds of birds. The "seed" is Jesus, planted by God, which died and rose again to give rise to a "large tree" - the universal Catholic Church. Holy Trinity Parish is a branch of that tree in which all of us - a diverse community of "birds" - take refuge, together becoming a place for all to come and worship.
As a parish community, we have the responsibility to give this place a sense of belonging not for just us but those coming to visit, to find rest in Christ not only in the liturgy but through relationship building and our interaction with one another. That is how we will find rest for our souls.
Start memorizing scripture verses that speak to your heart. God’s word is not empty. It’s not just words on a page; it’s living, powerful, effective. It accomplishes God’s purpose. And whether we have years ahead of us, months, or just days, God has a purpose - and it’s His word that will help get us there.
Through our baptism, we die and rise with Christ, and through the spirit of adoption we become the children of God. It is through Christ that we have access to the Father, and Jesus invites us to maintain that access by cultivating a deeper intimacy with the Father in our prayer. To increase intimacy in prayer is to enter into a dialogue with Him, heart to heart, in an encounter at the innermost center of our being.
God is the source of our very being and the ultimate fulfillment of our every desire. He places desires of all kinds in our lives - but he wants them to be enjoyed in their proper place or order so that we don’t become enslaved by them. When God is first, our hobbies, interests, desires, loves, and relationships can all be encompassed by God’s love; by doing so, we are not only free of the temptations of sin that can come with the things of this life, but those people, desires, work, and possessions are enjoyed in the right order, proportion, and place.
Fear is a part of life, and we have all entertained our own personal fears. Our fears are a matter of perspective, especially the fear of death - perhaps the greatest fear of humanity. For those of us with God in our life and faith in Jesus, we have certain hope in the plan of God for us after this life. Remember: sparrows, the simplest of birds, are not without God's divine care - so how much more, then, is His care for you?
Sometimes, bad things happen and we entertain thoughts of God punishing us. We ascribe to God a sense of quid pro quo or wrathfulness because of a sin or a bad decision we have made, but this is the farthest thing from the truth. Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and His love for each of us is perfect, unconditional, and unending.
Jesus wants to be your strength; to enter and redeem all the hurting places in your life. There is a powerful, healing strength in the Eucharist, if our hearts are open to receive Him. The next time you attend Mass, pay attention as you approach for Communion. Remember who it is that you're receiving, and then invite Him very specifically into the broken or lonely or hurting places in your life. Don't just consume a host; receive the strength, and the power, and the healing of the Lord.
Theologian G.K. Beale wrote about how we become like what we worship. By worshiping God, who is love, we are conformed into being the loving person God wants us to be. To love as God love forces us to examine how we deal with our relationships and the quality of our love in those relationships. Examine your conscience for where God is in your life. Based on that, reorient that which is blocking His love or increase that which is drawing you closer to Him.
The Bible lists nine “fruits of the Holy Spirit” (Gal 5:22-23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These “fruits” are the result of the presence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. By the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our behaviors change and our lives change as a result, regardless of the situations we find ourselves in. If you desire to have that Spirit more alive and active or just want to go deeper and be renewed, try praying the following:
Come Holy Spirit. Come into my heart. Open my mind. Clear away my distractions. Renew my life. Renew my faith. Renew my passion. Renew my behavior. Turn my pride into humility. Change my anxiety into peace. Change my sorrow to joy. Move my heart to love as you love. Come Holy Spirit. Set my heart on fire for love of you. Enkindle my desire for Christ. Move my heart for needs of others. Open my mind to your Scriptures. Inspire me to serve others. Come Holy Spirit. Sanctify me. Strengthen my will. Purify my conscience. Transform my mind. Come Holy Spirit and make me new. Amen.
Theologians urge caution about literally thinking of heaven as being "up," rather than an experience beyond our understanding of space and time. That said, we naturally find ourselves looking "up" when we lift our eyes toward heaven. Our calling is to strike a balance: always keeping our faith strong by looking "up" while always keeping our feet on the ground to do God's will here on earth.
We don’t all look the same way, think the same way, or vote the same way - and yet, here we are, gathered together by God’s love around this Table. All of us have someone in our life, even if we disagree with them or they make us uncomfortable, who needs encouragement, a simple hello, an invitation to go for a walk. Find that person; notice them; gather them in. Be their connection with the love of Christ.
You can read the full transcript and watch a recording of Admiral McRaven's commencement speech (referenced in Dcn. Brett's homily) at bit.ly/McRaven2014.
God wants us to be close to us, accompanying us wherever we go, through thick and thin. Jesus said he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When we receive Holy Communion, we receive Christ - which means the Eucharist is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This is the way we follow Him who is the way.
God, our Good Shepherd, has made us for Him. He's tuned our lives to resonate to his voice. If you feel as though God is not speaking to you, your life may be out of tune. We're a bit like a radio, in that way - God is always speaking to us, but we need to set our hearts and minds - indeed, our very lives - on the right channel.
All of us wrestle with the temptation to keep people, situations and even organizations in small, familiar boxes that we can understand, and maybe even control. And when they no longer fit in those boxes – when they change or grow or undergo conversion – it’s easy for us to not see it – or, worse, to resist it, not letting them change and grow. In doing so, we blind ourselves to the possibility that God is doing something new, and we become a hindrance rather than a help to God’s plan.
This week, sit with these questions:
- Where in your life are you resisting God’s initiative, the newness God might be trying to bring?
- Is it your skepticism in the face of a loved one who’s trying to change their life?
- Is it your resistance to truth in the words of those who may see something that we ourselves don’t want to see?
- Is it in demanding that your workplace or your team or even the Church conform to what’s personally comfortable or culturally acceptable?
- Is it in the anger or stubbornness with which you greet some change in your life?
- Where might God be saying to you, “Ooo! What’s over here?” and where might you be responding, “Eh. I’m good right here.”?
Someone once said, “The only predictable thing about God is that He’s unpredictable.” Where is this predictably unpredictable God working in your life, rocking your boat - and how can you learn to trust Him and enjoy the ride?
We all experience doubts; it's part of being human. How we handle our doubt is the key: doubts can diminish faith, but they can also be the catalyst to increase faith. But how do we move forward and have faith beyond our doubts? Fr. Bill suggests the following three things:
- Allow your doubt to be the catalyst for more understanding.
- Come to that understanding starting from a place of trust.
- Don't stop praying, going to Mass, or going to Confession.
No matter how deep your darkness gets, no matter how deep you feel buried by your sins, Jesus loves you and wants to dig you out. Jesus’ Resurrection proves that he is more than capable to rescue you. He desires that each one of us would be with him in heaven for eternity. That is not just good news - it’s the greatest news ever.
Watch the original footage of the tree well rescue that Fr. Bill talks about in his homily (contains occasional use of strong language).
Because of Jesus’ cross, because of where he’s gone on the cross, there is now no sin, no illness, no misfortune, no cruelty, no pain, no suffering – no matter how deep or dark or lonely – where God has not already gone, and now stands there watching for us, waiting to lift us up. Dear friends, we were lost – but now we are found.
A new commandment was given to us and demonstrated in the life of Jesus: we are to reorient our hearts and minds to serve and not be served. Will you encounter strange people? Yes. Will the process be messy? Yes. Will you more closely live out the commandment to love as Jesus loved? Yes.
Through Christ's suffering and death, he bound himself to us - to our own suffering. As you move through difficult times, take solace in the knowledge that God is near to you, intimately close, regardless if you can feel Him or not. It is in His Passion and Death on the cross that He can bring you through your own passion and death into eternal life - for there is no resurrection without the cross.
Sometimes, like Lazarus, the Lord leaves us in the tomb for His own mysterious reasons. Rather than just lifting us out of our darkness, God asks us to remain and delays answering our pleas because Heaven’s timeline is different from ours.
In these times, there are things we can do to weather the storm: keep your eyes on the Lord, take solace in scripture, and lean on those who love you. When we're waiting in the tomb for God to act, we don't have to wait alone.
By giving God the glory and thanking him in good times and in bad, we humble ourselves and recognize that are not in charge. No matter what befalls us or the sins we commit, God is always there wanting to restore our sight and inviting us to reconcile with him. And, by exposing the darkness of sin in our lives, the light in each of us becomes more visible to those around us.
Our ultimate thirst and yearning is for God, who wants to pour his love into our hearts. Lent is a time to ask what we are filling our hearts with and how we are pouring ourselves out for others. Are we filling our hearts with murky, dirt-laden water; with soft drinks that are best enjoyed sparingly; or clear, pure water that begets more life when we share it? Jesus is the source of this life-giving water. May we drink deeply of his love and pour it out to others.
While the Sacrament of Reconciliation (a.k.a., Confession) is one of Fr. Bill's favorites, that's not the case for most people. Fr. Bill walks through some of the questions and fears surrounding this healing sacrament to explain its importance and show how we can experience a Transfiguration through it.
Lent is a time to retune the ears of our heart. That’s really the point of our fasting, prayer, and sacrifice: they’re invitations to weaken the ego with its incessant demands, to refocus our gaze back to God, and to hear Him say once more to us, “You are my beloved child. I know your heart. I know what’s best for you. I have plans for you. Come back to Me."
You don’t have to have your act together. You don’t need to hide anything. You don’t need to pretend your life is something that it’s not. Come as you are, warts and all. Find one thing to do this Lent and let God have your attention, even if it's just for 10 minutes a day. You might be surprised by what He says.
Lent gives us a special time to be keenly aware of our sins and our own selfishness. Jesus' challenge in the Gospel is not to stop doing righteous deeds or prayer altogether, but to do them for the good of others and the glory of God regardless if they will be seen or not by others. As you begin your Lenten journey and practice, measure it against the standard of how it will be good for others, not just yourself.
Living the commandment to love our enemies is probably the hardest thing we can do. Simply put, we cannot do this without the supernatural grace of God. Remember that "love" is not the same as “like.” Loving someone is willing good for the other, while liking someone is a much more subjective thing. You don’t have to like everyone, but you must love them.
This commandment is not a suggestion. It’s just the hardest thing to do. So, let us pray for the supernatural grace to love our enemies. Period.
The vocation to marriage calls an individual to imitate God’s love by dedicating oneself to service for their spouse and to be open to the children conceived from their love. In this covenant of love, husbands and wives strive to live out the promise to love as God loves in a particular way, by giving of each other without condition. Through the highs and lows, the ecstasies and crucibles of marriage, each spouse’s vocation is to help the other become more of what God desires for them.
Humility is knowing who we are as God has created us; knowing our true place in life, not more and not less. We are meant to recognize our God-given talents and tend those gifts to the best of our ability, not for the sake of ourselves but for God and others. To be ultimately motivated for our own sake is arrogance, empty, and vain. Our struggle is that we are prone to slip into the two extremes: “I’m pond scum” and “not worthy to be alive” or “I am the greatest” and “I know more about things than anyone else.” A truly faithful, humble life is one that gives ourselves away, to forget out our narcissistic ideations, and simply serve others without ulterior motives.
In the end, the Beatitudes are really about God’s love for us, hidden in the cross; God waiting for us in the difficult places. It’s not easy to trust that, to surrender to that. If you haven't yet, pray the Surrender Novena; there's strength and courage in that prayer, a peace that the world cannot give. All of us have those hard places in our life, places that are out of control, ugly, sad, hurting; places that we wish were different. Those places aren’t a barrier to God’s love. Because of what Jesus has done, God now waits for us there.
Borrowing heavily from the book Managing from the Heart, Fr. Bill offers these five principles when engaging with others, as we commit to and work towards greater unity:1. Hear and understand me2. Even if you disagree, don’t steamroll me3. Acknowledge the greatness within me4. Remember to look for my loving intention5. Tell me the truth with compassion
During this Ordinary Time, when you leave church after Mass, share your faith. Bring God into your conversations. Be an agent of Christ and his Church in the world in the small moments, even those perceived as insignificant. It is in these seemingly small, ordinary encounters in which Grace abounds.
Videos referenced in homily — "Newhart" final scene | Bob Newhart on "Newhart" finale
Darkness is everywhere. Sometimes it comes from evil actors or outside forces; sometimes it comes from us. But, as baptized Catholic Christians, do not lose sight of the good things born of God’s amazing grace which abound everywhere. His light has been entrusted to you by virtue of your baptism, and you are called to be a light unto the nations.
When you watch the news, pray for every news item, for the victims and the perpetrators of crimes. Give to those in need instead of buying something for yourself. Pray for healing and reconciliation where there are divisions. Strike up a conversation with someone who is struggling. In ways both big and small, you can be a light that overcomes the darkness.
When you became part of the Body of Christ, you became a child of God, and He loves you with the very same love with which He loves Jesus, His only-begotten Son. There’s power in knowing that, and even more power in making that the pole – the stillpoint – around which your life revolves. A parent's love is only a shadow of the love that the Father has for each of us – and we can trust in His love no matter what life throws our way. That's the secret to our lives as Christians: we're dearly loved sons and daughters.
If you are feeling down, left out, lonely; if you are struggling with selfishness, greed, envy; if you struggle with self-worth or are being too critical of yourself: give yourself over to God. Surrender to Him. Then, God can give you a profound gift, one that will set you free to love as He loves and to to be rescued from whatever binds you. Christmas is a time to celebrate what God did when He lowered himself to become a baby in a manger. Christ’s coming in a manger was the plan from the beginning! Yes; God desired that we would be rescued by a baby.
A litmus test of our faith can be, in part, how thankful we are. The Church even proclaims how giving thanks to God is ultimately the best response in the Preface at Mass (“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” “It is right and just.”). God is the author of all we give thanks for, so it is right and just to give that thanks back to Him after it passes through us. May we put our gratitude into action as a gift and response to each other and ultimately to God, who is the source of all our thanksgiving!
Do you find yourself captured or afraid? Does the weight of sin or its consequences feel like it will crush you? Know that Jesus sees you. He wants to rescue you from whatever pit you have found yourself in and carry your yoke together. He knows what you are going through - He too was mocked, lied to, felt abandoned, a failure, and wished that his suffering would pass him by. But while he experienced all that it was to be human, He pulled humanity to himself in order to heal it.
When you're struggling with something - including church teachings and dogma, like that of the Immaculate Conception - remember: nothing will be impossible for God.
Why is the world so broken? The short answer is because we've believed the lie that we are not okay as we are; that the life God has given us is not enough. Doubting God, doubting His care and His plan for us, we place our hopes elsewhere and set up new lords in our hearts. And just when those lords have their hooks in us, they turn on us, robbing us of our peace and freedom and leaving us unhappy, disgruntled, unruly captives.
Sit with the Lord and ask Him to help you see what attitudes may have captured your heart (click here to read Dcn. Brett's bulletin column on page three for a brief examination of conscience with the seven deadly sins). To what are you held captive? Then, surrender what God shows you and let Him begin the work of healing your heart and restoring your freedom and peace.
Our Advent homily series will focus on the kerygma — the basics of Salvation History. Salvation History is the story of God’s work in his creation, specifically how he interacted and saved us. It's the story of what God has done, is doing, and why.
God created us in his image and likeness, to have an eternal soul. Every person is called to live in harmony with God in heaven. As we gaze into the stars, all of humanity find themselves pulled. Whether we realize it or not, we all yearn for that which is beyond this world; God meant us for eternity, and our hearts know it. He created you out of love and with a purpose, and that he will do whatever he can to protect and rescue you so that you may be with Him in eternity.
What are you thankful for? That’s the question Fr. Bill asks of our Thanksgiving Day Mass attendees. Consider what you are thankful for as you listen to their responses!
God knows our sufferings. He knows our failures. And he wants to rescue us from these things, to heal us from our sins and transform our minds to know that we part of his plan regardless of where we fall short. What we need to do is reorient ourselves to let Jesus take over, abandoning everything else in favor of God's will. Thus, when failures come our way, we will not be shaken - for our hope is in God alone.
Spend a few moments each day this week praying to God and abandoning yourself to his will, allowing him to be your king, the Lord over your life. Here is St. Charles de Foucauld's Prayer of Abandonment to get you started:
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart; For I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself; To surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence. For you are my Father. -St. Charles de Foucauld
"Prayer of Abandonment". Text: Based on a prayer by Blessed Charles de Foucauld, 1858–1916. Text and music © 1998, Tom Booth. Published by Spirit & Song®, a division of OCP. Permission to podcast the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-737156. All rights reserved.
It's important to be "audit ready" now, for the end may come at any time. But let's not lose sight that there is life after death. We will experience trials, illness, and even death, but in the final analysis, God will completely restore his faithful to a state of perfection in heaven.
This week, make a point of thanking God out loud for accompanying you through the disturbances, catastrophes, and tribulations in your life, knowing that he is with you even when you don’t sense him. And, if you know someone who is struggling, share with them your joy and hope: that today could be your last day on Earth and your first in Heaven.
Pope Francis has said many times that at this time in history, there’s no more important job we have than to seek out the lost, remember the forgotten, and accompany the lonely. If we look, it wouldn’t be too hard for any of us to find a person in our lives that fits that description. Your challenge is to seek out that anonymous individual, to call them by name, and to be the hand of God stretched out to them in friendship.
We all have times when we are lost and distant in our faith. Think about someone (a friend, sibling, child, or parent) whom you know to be living in a way that is not of the faith. Seek them out. Invite them to a dinner or lunch. Rekindle your friendship regardless of the other person’s situation. Have no agenda other than love. Perhaps, if you yourself feel lost, both of you may be found.
Our lives aren’t meant to be a soliloquy; they’re meant to be a dialogue, with a Father who loves us. This week, take a look at your prayer; are you talking at God, or are you talking with Him?
If you struggle to find time to pray, start small: this week, strive to find just 5-10 minutes each day to be alone with God, pour your heart out to Him, and listen for His reply. Try the bathroom (seriously!) if you struggle to find a space alone. It doesn’t have to be rigid; you can open simply with, “Hey! God! It’s me. Here I am. Open my heart to your presence. This time is your time.” Then allow yourself to be quiet, listen, and be with God.
Every day this week, make a concerted effort to recognize someone and thank them - and then, thank the one who sent them (God, from whom all good things come). Watch what happens. Gratitude is contagious!
When the spirit is stirred in our hearts, the extraordinary becomes ordinary. Grandparents stepping in to raise their grandchildren; parent who stay at a job they dislike so they can feed their families; a teen giving special care and attention to another teen who is marginalized by others; those who go into harms way in order to rescue others trapped by devastating storms. Despite the destruction, violence, exhaustion, discomfort, or sickness, they step forward. All of these are extraordinary things that are considered merely ordinary by those who did them.
Go out this week and make extraordinary things ordinary in your life. When what you are doing is ordinary, do it in an extraordinary way. Take notice of someone doing an ordinary task with extraordinary care, then approach them and thank them. If you find that hard to do, then you've done something extraordinary.
When the spirit is stirred in our hearts, the extraordinary becomes ordinary. Grandparents stepping in to raise their grandchildren; parent who stay at a job they dislike so they can feed their families; a teen giving special care and attention to another teen who is marginalized by others; those who go into harms way in order to rescue others trapped by devastating storms. Despite the destruction, violence, exhaustion, discomfort, or sickness, they step forward. All of these are extraordinary things that are considered merely ordinary by those who did them.
Go out this week and make extraordinary things ordinary in your life. When what you are doing is ordinary, do it in an extraordinary way. Take notice of someone doing an ordinary task with extraordinary care, then approach them and thank them. If you find that hard to do, then you've done something extraordinary.
If we look, we all have a person or a situation in our lives that's prodding us, pricking our conscience a bit, asking us to step out of what’s comfortable, to buck the voice of the crowd, to take a risk. That’s often the Holy Spirit in disguise, nudging us towards a fuller, more abundant life - even if it’s a little painful to get there.
Notice those situations that make you uncomfortable; pay attention to those persons you’re tempted to avoid. In those moments, rather than immediately turning away, getting lost in your distractions, or saying 'Let someone else worry about it,' pray for courage and step in. Pray for guidance and take a risk. Pray to be able to say 'Yes' to your "Lazarus", whatever or whoever that might be.
If we look, we all have a person or a situation in our lives that's prodding us, pricking our conscience a bit, asking us to step out of what’s comfortable, to buck the voice of the crowd, to take a risk. That’s often the Holy Spirit in disguise, nudging us towards a fuller, more abundant life - even if it’s a little painful to get there.
Notice those situations that make you uncomfortable; pay attention to those persons you’re tempted to avoid. In those moments, rather than immediately turning away, getting lost in your distractions, or saying 'Let someone else worry about it,' pray for courage and step in. Pray for guidance and take a risk. Pray to be able to say 'Yes' to your "Lazarus", whatever or whoever that might be.
Let the steward in the parable in today’s Gospel remind us to always be ready to change our minds and reprioritize our lives, and allow others to do the same. As Christians, that means making sure God is first - and when we get that right, everything else will fall in their rightful places.
Let the steward in the parable in today’s Gospel remind us to always be ready to change our minds and reprioritize our lives, and allow others to do the same. As Christians, that means making sure God is first - and when we get that right, everything else will fall in their rightful places.
What is 'mercy'? The Latin root of the word means, literally, “misery of the heart." This speaks of a person who feels for those who are in misery, afflicted, or sorrowful, and acts to help remedy those individuals. In Jesus, we have the ultimate example of this through his suffering, death, and resurrection. Who needs mercy? We all do! We all have sinned and need to admit our faults (repent). Remember: God loves us beyond our comprehension, and he will not condemn us when we humble ourselves before him. He does not desire to destroy you, but lift you up and heal you with his mercy.
What is 'mercy'? The Latin root of the word means, literally, “misery of the heart." This speaks of a person who feels for those who are in misery, afflicted, or sorrowful, and acts to help remedy those individuals. In Jesus, we have the ultimate example of this through his suffering, death, and resurrection. Who needs mercy? We all do! We all have sinned and need to admit our faults (repent). Remember: God loves us beyond our comprehension, and he will not condemn us when we humble ourselves before him. He does not desire to destroy you, but lift you up and heal you with his mercy.
In order to live freely, we often have to say ‘no’ to some things in order to say ‘yes’ to others. This week, consciously choose to put Jesus before all else. Look around your home and consider what possessions possess you; then, pick three and give them away. When we put things in their rightful order - with God first and foremost - we become free to enjoy the affections and attractions of this world without becoming enslaved to them.
In order to live freely, we often have to say ‘no’ to some things in order to say ‘yes’ to others. This week, consciously choose to put Jesus before all else. Look around your home and consider what possessions possess you; then, pick three and give them away. When we put things in their rightful order - with God first and foremost - we become free to enjoy the affections and attractions of this world without becoming enslaved to them.
Christian love isn’t easy. Jesus takes humility and makes it the measure of how mature or real our love really is. Do we truly have a servant’s heart, like Jesus, or is our love self-seeking? Will we lay down our life, or will we protect our ego? It’s easy to love those who are attractive and agreeable. What about those who are insignificant, troublesome, or even offensive?
Take some time to sit with these 12 questions, like an examination of conscience, and see where your love still needs to grow or mature:
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Have I loved my enemies, turned the other cheek in order to embrace those who hate me? Have I kept silent when I could have cut with my words?
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Have I prayed for those who oppose or disagree with me?
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Have I forgiven those who’ve hurt me, and asked God to forgive them, too?
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Have I taken the high road when I’ve been slighted or ignored? Have I let go of grudges?
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Have I risked humiliation and rejection in order to love another? Have I resisted the fear of being misunderstood, of not looking good, of not appearing strong or in control?
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Have I stretched my heart in order to see those who are different or strange to me as fellow children of God?
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Have I preferred the company of the attractive and the influential to that of the poor, the troublesome, and the broken?
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Am I truly willing to lay down my life for friends and loved ones? How about for my enemies?
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Have I been willing to “sweat blood” in order to be faithful to my commitments?
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Am I willing to let my own heart be broken rather than violate someone else?
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Have I resisted the urge to judge others or to impute motives?
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Have I been willing to forgive myself, trusting enough in God’s love and mercy to pick myself up and begin again?
As Catholics, we know that we cannot “earn” our way to heaven, since salvation is a free gift, nor is salvation absolutely guaranteed, for we have free will and can always reject this free gift from God. Instead, we are to have faith. What we do with our lives may help or harm our faith journey. We are all sinners. We struggle with shame, addictions, or any number of sins or disorders. But one thing is certain, and it is this: God knows you and wants you to be with him for eternity.
How do we live lives of passion for our Lord while bringing others to him as well? We need to recognize that our attitudes and the tools we use to share the Good News matter - and some are better than others. To be effective in sharing the love of God and his Gospel, we need to get off our steamrollers and jump on our backhoes.
Satan, the accuser and father of lies, wants us to believe that God doesn’t really love us; that God can’t really be trusted and doesn’t want the best for us. That He’s just waiting for us to mess up, so He can punish us. Those are all lies, and we have to reject them and live in the truth that God does love us. He is trustworthy. He does want good for us. And coming to know Him and these truths is the path of healing, freedom, and a life of abundance.
With Fr. Bill on vacation, we had Fr. Jim Rigert, C.S.C., from the University of Portland preside at our 9:30am Mass this past weekend. He spoke of how we are meant to participate in the life of the Risen Christ through our faith, our hope, and our love when we love one another in the Lord.
Life on our beautiful but broken planet has always been threatened by dangerous natural forces, by chance, by sin, and by those mysterious dark powers at war with God and with life. Our mission as children of God is to "sparkle with self-forgetfulness": to stand in the breach, to intercede, and even sometimes to risk our lives out of love for our neighbor. So this week, as you’re offering your day to God each morning, insert this little petition - “Lord Jesus, give me an opportunity today to sparkle with self-forgetfulness.” - and see how He answers you.
Make an extra effort this week to be more attentive and hospitable to others - to welcome your neighbor and show them the love and care that recognizes their inherent dignity as a child of God.
We are called to love our neighbor regardless of our differences, which means we do not avoid, reject, or cancel others. Is this easy? No - but the most important things rarely are.
It's sometimes necessary to say 'goodbye' in order to say 'hello'. Last week, we said 'goodbye' to Fr. Dave and Fr. Tony; this week, we say 'hello' to our new Pastor, Fr. Bill Holtzinger!
For his final homily at Holy Trinity, Fr. Dave reviews the three major themes that developed and drove his ministry these past 15 years:
- Invite God into everything in your life. When we put Him first, all else falls into place.
- This is not heaven. Expect and accept difficulties, questions, and the cross.
- Learn to carry a dynamic tension, knowing that in real life with real people most issues are not simply black and white. Jesus calls us to meet people where they are and walk with them.
Sometimes we think we need to present a sanitized version of ourselves or of our lives to God, and then we wonder why we’re not healed. Why do we that? Jesus ate with sinners, willingly. He touched the sick, physically. He sought out the lost, intentionally. He’s comfortable with our weakness, our brokenness, our foolishness. And in the Eucharist, he waits for us, like a parent waiting for their hurt child to move their hands so they can treat their owie.
In honor of Trinity Sunday, and with his departure approaching at the end of the month, Fr. Tony speaks to his personal and ongoing experience of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit during his time here at Holy Trinity.
When our focus is on God, then it's possible for us to be united together with all kinds of differences in our midst. That is what Pentecost is about: the coming down of the Spirit, renewing us and helping us to stay focused on God so we can be united.
Invite Jesus in to your life and ask Him what He wants you to do. As you begin to sense that He is telling you something, you have to respond. Little by little, you will begin to see Him moving within you – and, in that movement, you’ll experience the joy that comes with having Jesus in your life.
Jesus promises us that, yes, we are going to have suffering and crosses that we will have to deal with - and that he will work with us in those moments and bring good out of it. Oftentimes, we don't see it; but God will never let go of any of us, and he is working especially in the challenging moments of our lives.
Church isn't a refuge; it's a raid on the kingdom of the enemy, designed to undermine his power. Every time we meet adversity, misfortune, misunderstanding, and hostility with patience, trust, forgiveness, and the strength that comes from God, Jesus' victory on the Cross spreads a little further.
God is love, and He loves us far more than we will ever comprehend, far more even than we can love each other or our own children (and that's a lot).
Fr. Dave reminds us that every time we receive Holy Communion, no matter what age we are, Jesus is saying directly to each of us: "Everything's okay, because I am with you."
More than a few of us are likely often tempted to ask the Lord if He's really there. While He isn't likely to appear to us as He did with the apostles, you can be assured that He is calling out to each and every one of us. Take your doubt to Jesus and begin a conversation with Him. Just as He did with Thomas, He'll meet us where we are at any given time - even (and perhaps especially) in our doubt and unbelief.
To be Eastered means that we accept and expect that our lives will have frustrations, setbacks, difficulties, and loss - along with many rich blessings - and that we accept and expect that we won't be exempted from any of that, any more than Jesus Himself wasn't exempted from that. That means that we must learn to live with the unknown and what we don't understand, trusting in God that He is actively present in the midst of everything that happens in our lives, the good stuff and the bad. Because of the Resurrection, it is our conviction that God's doors are never shut to us; that His mercy is never exhausted; that He always gives us another chance; that He will never, ever give up on us or on our world.
Think about some aspect of your life, or that of someone you are close to, that you would like Jesus - who intimately understands pain and suffering - to bring His light love to. It was His suffering and dying on the cross, and, ultimately, His resurrection, that transforms our experiences from being meaningless to being redemptive. And that's why, every year, we celebrate this particular Friday as "Good."
We all have parts of our life, of our personality, maybe even of our physical body, that reek, that we don’t like, that embarrass us, shame us, that we shield with anger or pride or defensiveness or other strategies. What the Lord shows to Peter - and to each of us, too - is that we don’t have to hide these things from Him. He didn’t come for the perfect; He works with who we are. And if we accept His mercy, His humble tending of our soul, we’ll find ourselves changing and our future opening up in ways we could never have expected.
As part of our daily prayer this Holy Week (and beyond!), let's pray that we can imitate Jesus and be the kind of filter that filters out the negativity and brings only kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, graciousness, and forgiveness. Let's pray that the Holy Spirit will do that work within us, so that we, the whole community of us, can go out and change this world one encounter at a time - the same way Jesus did.
What do we do with our loved ones whose lives are out of step with the Church? We love them; listen to them; accompany them. Share with them our own struggles and convictions. We keep them connected to Jesus through our love and prayers so that His grace can work in their lives. We can support those we love without celebrating every choice they make.
As difficult and uncomfortable as it might be, our call is to receive and to trust God; to create space in which His grace can work. We're speaking here about persons, not policies; Church teaching does matter. But love obeys the law of gradualness. Few of us reach the ideal to which we’re called all at once, whatever the virtue, and our culture only makes that harder, particularly in the area of sexuality.
Fr. Dave reads a contemporary version of the Prodigal Son parable and has the choir lead a response with the song "Hosea." The Prayers of the Faithful provide the application of Fr. Dave's core point: that God never gives up on us.
"Hosea". Text and music, Gregory Norbet, OSB, © 1972, The Benedictine Foundation of the State of Vermont, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Permission to stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #A-737156. All rights reserved.
Just as the gardener encourages patience and careful cultivation for the unproductive fig tree, God is patient and always willing to meet us where we're at - warts, defects, imperfections, and all. He needs only for us to open our hearts to His tender care.
The ultimate truth of our faith is this: when we die, Jesus alone will remain. Lent is about keeping that perspective front and center. Think about the Lenten practices you're committing to and use those as a way of remembering that He will be with you as you walk through every day of your life and into eternity, because Jesus alone remains.
Jesus gave us the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation because he knew that we would need help at times to correct our course and regain our closeness with Him. When we've moved away from God, we need to go back - and Reconciliation is the way to do it.
Lent reminds us that we cannot build our lives on our own; we need God in our lives and are absolutely dependent on Him. On our own, we are powerless; with God, we have everything that we need.
The way we speak to others is so important - our words can either bless others or curse others. Fr. Dave challenges us to be mindful and intentional with our words this Lent, speaking words that encourage and build apart instead of words that accuse and tear down.
Fr. Dave quotes the following passage from Pope Francis' encyclical Fratelli tutti (On fraternity and social friendship):
Approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground: all these things are summed up in the one word “dialogue”. . . . It involves “speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement” and not “words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn” [208, Amoris Laetitia]. (198, 223, Fratelli tutti)
We celebrated our Confirmation Mass this weekend, with 72 youth and adults receiving the sacrament on Saturday morning. Fr. Dave invited Chris Storm, our Director of Religious Education, to talk about confirmation and what it means for each of us.
Chris answers the question he poses - if you had to choose, Christ or Chicken Wings? - with the point that it isn't either/or; we don't have to make a choice. This is not where we are Church - this is where we come because we are Church out there. We gather here to become Church when we go out for chicken wings, or to the river, or to a movie. Don't take for granted what a beautiful thing it is to be Church together.
Our world is beset with serious problems, as are our personal lives at one time or another. But those problems don't have the last word. Every once in a while, turn off the screeching - the cable and talk radio and social media - and find a way to laugh, to play, to be delighted. This is still God's world, we are still His beloved children, and our Father's plan hasn't been derailed.
We are all called to be like Peter and rely exclusively on the Lord; to go out of our comfort zones and into deep, unfamiliar waters with the Lord commanding our boat. Think about a time when God showed up in your boat unannounced, and think of how you responded. Jesus has a plan for each of us, and the more we respond with trust in Him the deeper Jesus can take us into himself. Jesus told Peter, "Do not be afraid" - that message is for you, too. With that in mind, think about how you'll respond the next time He shows up in your boat.
Words and actions without love are only clanging cymbals. We live in a time where there are a lot of strong opinions and convictions that are often expressed in a very noisy way that's more like cymbals than it is like love. St. Paul defines that "love" as patient, kind, not jealous, not rude, not quick-tempered. It's relatively easy to have those qualities in our conversations with those who agree with us. It's difficult to live St. Paul's definition of love when we're in conflict or disagreement with someone - and even more so when you or the other is so entrenched in a way of thinking that there is no possibility of dialogue at all. That's when the clanging cymbals become noisier and noisier.
Our challenge is to be attentive to our conversations - at work, at home, at school, and elsewhere - and avoid being a clanging cymbal. Differences will always exist, but let's allow our words and actions to hold true to the Word of God so we can continue to build His kingdom on earth without caving in to the negativity and clanging of cymbals.
God has given each one of us gifts to be used for each other and in service to Him (and the rest of His family). No matter how old or young you are, there are times when you may feel you don't have any value or use. The truth is, God loves, values, and treasures each of us. Even if you do not know what your gifts are right now, that does not mean God wants to get along without you or that you're not important to him.
The attitude with which we approach all that life dishes out makes a huge difference. Inviting Jesus into our lives is key to maintaining a positive attitude, and He is constantly whispering to each of us, "Let me in."
"You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased." This is the truest, most fundamental thing about us. Claim that identity, let God in, and watch how your life begins to change.
The message of Christmas is that God is with us. Have confidence and trust in that, and when you sense that God has provided you a star to follow, follow it!
It can be difficult to recognize the people around you as being children of God when they live or believe differently than you. When you find yourself caught in difficult conversations or feeling irked, offer the following prayer: "Lord, expand my heart." The more we live our faith, the more He does expand our hearts to accept that we are God's beloved children, with all of our brokenness, and so are the people around us.
As Fr. Dave and Fr. Tony think back on memories of Christmases past, they remind us that God is eager to be with us in everything. Sometimes we forget to ask, but He will always come when we invite him in. He is eager to be with us, and when He's with us, life is a lot less scary and a lot more joyful.
How do we find God so we can connect with him? God frequently goes out, through the efforts of his creatures, his people, to others with whom he wants to connect. God often makes us his messengers without our even knowing it. God made us to be with him, so it shouldn’t be that hard to find him – but since his ways aren’t our ways, finding and connecting with him has to be our top priority, even when looking for him is the last thing you feel like doing.
Is unquenchable joy possible? Not entirely, but we can get glimpses of it here on earth by getting off of ourselves and giving thanks to God for the work He is doing in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. God is active in each one of our lives, and oftentimes we miss that. God works through even the hardest experiences in our lives specifically to help us grow, to help us be better people and to help make the world a better place. If we can trust in that (which, yes, is hard to do!) it creates a whole new freedom in us and around us.
We are constantly bombarded with messages of fear, outrage, anxiety, and division. It’s easy to turn away and shrink in on ourselves. But God is calling us to be His light in the world. To do that, start practicing gratitude daily, intentionally, faithfully - opening your heart to God so His light can shine forth even brighter.
The season of Advent is an opportunity for us to train ourselves to be spiritually stronger. Do something every day this Advent to focus on the Lord, even if it's just a minute or two, to help redirect you from the traps in our everyday lives.
Everything we have is a gift from God. The best response we can make to that is to live in a spirit of gratitude: to live our lives with sufficient depth that we ponder the blessings of each day and give thanks to God for those blessings — to not let them bounce off the surface of our thoughts and take them for granted.
There's a lot of misunderstanding about judgement, hell, and purgatory. So many of us hold an unhealthy guilt and fear of what judgement is going to be; that all the sins you've confessed will be held against you at the end. But God's mercy is everlasting and directed at each of us. Holding firm to that; understanding what hell and purgatory are, as defined by our faith, and practicing now the language and values of the Kingdom of God is the key.
We don't have to look far beyond the visible reality in which we live to find God and the hidden truths contained in day-to-day life. What's important is to adopt the practice of thinking about our life and experiences with the conviction that God is present, somehow, in all of it.
As you encounter the little (and the big) things of brokenness in life, remind yourself: This is not heaven. . . but heaven is going to blow my socks off.
So much of what we’re exposed to every day is geared to provoke fear or outrage or insecurity or guilt or inadequacy. The saints and their stories present us a very different picture, because they see life through a different lens. This month, make some time in your life for their stories. Learn to see through their eyes. Invite them to be part of your own walk. To get you started, click here for one of Deacon Brett's favorite saint stories.
How many of us can really see, spiritually speaking? In one sense, we're all blind beggars like Bartimaeus; we're blind to the light of faith. Like Bartimaeus, we need to ask the Lord for the gift of faith - not just for ourselves and our families, but for the world and all who walk in the darkness of not knowing who Jesus is.
We are not powerless when it comes to anxiety. Jesus is with us when we call on Him, and He gives us timely help to help us live fully and not get sucked in to that black hole of anxiety, fear, and depression.
When we read scripture, we encounter Christ in His inspired word. There is an infinite, inexhaustible character to it; it's deep. But there's also a quality in it that adapts to the person hearing or reading it. You'll be able to see what you need in it at a given time, but its contents will also grow with you as you grow in your spiritual life.
Every single one of us, as disciples of Jesus, are called to die to self; to take up our cross; and to live our lives fully and deeply, honoring God, because God is the one who has given us that life. Everything in each of our lives is entrusted to us and belongs to God; it came from God and is to be used in a way that honors God. Sit quietly with that word entrust and ponder how that fits with everything in your life.
The world thinks of wealth as ours; something we’ve earned; something we possess. But in God’s eyes, money is ultimately not a possession, but a trust. A trust is something given to me for a purpose; something for which I’m accountable. God entrusts us with wealth, but He then expects us to use it for His glory and for the welfare of His children - for our neighbor and those most in need.
Revisit this simple exercise that Fr. Dave gave us some time ago, to help us consider how well we’re putting our wealth at the service of God and neighbor. Find a quiet space, invite the light of the Holy Spirit, and then ask yourself honestly: right now, is my giving too much? Too little? Or is it just right?
Ask God for the grace to see the world as He sees it, to give you the vision to deal with the world as He would want you to do.
Genuine faith doesn’t allow us to run and hide from what’s uncomfortable or painful. This week, pay attention to anything that might be troubling, worrying, or frustrating you - especially if it’s something you’re trying to avoid, minimize, or put a wall between you and it. Ask yourself: "What might God be calling me to in this? What might He be asking me to do?" And then pray for courage and wisdom, put your hand into God’s hand, and step into it.
If we are going to listen clearly to the Word of God and let it shape our lives, that's going to dramatically affect the way we relate to the people around us and the way we accept our own foibles and weaknesses. Identify a person in your life that annoys you. Pray for their well-being, and pray for a softening in your heart, to have greater compassion and patience with yourself and those around you.
Spend time with any small piece of scripture (e.g., the Lord's Prayer, since so many of us know it by heart anyway). Read it and pray with it slowly, intentionally, allowing it to sink in and become part of you. Actively listen to the Word of God, allowing yourself to be shaped by what you hear and letting that guide your present and future actions.
There is a decision point for each of us in our faith, but we much consciously and deliberately choose to make that decision again and again, each and every day. This week, pray the Morning Offering (below) slowly and deliberately each day, pausing to specifically consider your prayers, your work, your joys, and your suffering, and be really intentional about offering all of that to God as a way of renewing your fundamental decision to follow Jesus.
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, work, joys, and suffering of this day for all the intensions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins and for the whole world.
We need our faith to be strong, and to do that we have to be anchored in the very food that Jesus gives us: His very self.
When God loves, He gives - and He gives us Himself. We in turn are to give ourselves to our brothers and sisters. We become what we eat, and in that way we take the Bread of Life to the world.
Consider the following quote, attributed to Rev. Hugh L. Hollowell:
"Every time we use religion to draw a line that keeps people out, Jesus is with the people on the other side of that line."
Jesus chose to associate with those who were marginalized; those who were broken and wounded; those who were unpopular and scorned. It's so important for us, it we're to be faithful to Jesus, to be really alert on times and ways we start drawing a line and separating people apart.
To argue in good faith, with conviction, but also with respect - this is a gift that we as Christians can offer the world right now, when we're so divided and at one another's throats. Remember that you are one in 700 trillion, chosen very particularly by God, and so when you run into one of those differences that seem so threatening and insurmountable, remember that God is with you. Create the space for Him to act. Listen, and affirm what you can.
Just as God sent Amos and Jesus sent his 12 disciples, so too are we sent out on the same mission: to preach repentance and the truth with courage, to banish evil with prayer, and to help the sick with our presence and healing love.
It is in our weakness and discomfort that we can more fully rely upon and experience God's strength.
Fr. Dave asks three questions: Why are we here? Where are we going? How do we get there? The answer to each question evokes the same response: wow.
The backdrop to accepting change with grace, and to being filled with Grace through the process of change, is recognizing and relying on a God who doesn't change - a God who is more powerful than the storm, and who cares for each of us, and who we can trust.
Memento mori – remember that you must die. Remember that your life here is passing. That, ultimately, you’re accountable only to God. That you have a destiny beyond this world.
We have a community around us, we have sacraments, we have the Word of God, we have the Holy Spirit - all of these equip us so that we are ready for whatever comes our way. We don't need to fold over or give in or give up. Instead, we hold true to Jesus Christ - a faithful presence in a less-faithful world.
The Father is my loving Father. I am His beloved child. You are his beloved child. And he is indeed well pleased with each of us, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who He is.
Continue to pray the words from Fr. Hans last week: "Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit." We need a renewal of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives in order to be everything that God needs us to be.
As we prepare for the celebration of Pentecost next Sunday, here are three simple words to say over and over again: "Come, Holy Spirit!" When I am comfortable: "Come, Holy Spirit!" When I am afraid: "Come, Holy Spirit!" When I don’t know what to say: "Come, Holy Spirit!"
This is how we will be a Faithful Presence and Influencers for Jesus: through the courage and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to say that prayer hundreds of times this week! "Come, Holy Spirit!"
We often think of faith as a comfort and a refuge, and it is. But that’s not the goal of faith. It’s more the by-product. Faith, first and foremost, calls us not to comfort, but to courage. To dare. Sometimes even to risk. And in all of that to trust.
God’s love doesn’t protect us from difficulties or shield us from suffering. What it does do is encourage us – literally put the courage into us – to embrace life with hope, painful or frightening as it may be sometimes; to seek out the lost and heal the hurting; to serve God in whatever way He gives us, with the gifts He gives us.
Deacon Brett reads a portion of the poem below at the end of his homily; it is attributed to Sir Francis Drake.
Even though we know absolutely that Jesus loves and knows each of us by name, we also know that he loves everyone throughout the world. Communion is not just about each of us individually and Jesus - it is about Jesus and every person, all of God's people. Communion reminds us that life isn't just about "me" - we see life from God's perspective, as all of creation is connected together in God's grand design.
Say the following out loud: "God has a special place in His heart for me." It’s true. God also has a special place in His heart for each of our family members and friends and so on, but let’s not lose sight of how He loves each of us individually, because He’s able to love all of us that way. Each of us is the most important thing in the world to God, and that’s possible because He’s God.
For today, I just want to leave you with this truth: Jesus loves you. Jesus values you more than he values his own life. Jesus treasures you in his heart. Jesus cherishes you. You are the most important thing in the world to Jesus.
All world religions speak in some way about mindfulness, about living lives that are looking beneath the surface and asking, "What's happening on a deeper level? How might God be involved in what's going on?". Take the time to do that in the simple, daily things - like prayer before meals, morning prayer, giving thanks to God in the evening - and don't just do them mechanically. Be really wide open to the beauty around, the beauty within, the people you see, and think about that intermingling of the visible and invisible - that we can be awakened to that deep, spiritual sense that is surrounding and permeating us every moment of our lives.
For those who want to be great Christians, or even just to be pretty good Christians, we can make the choice to pray daily, to put others first regularly, to willingly carry our crosses, and to love all those we meet. Repeated daily choices to follow Jesus will build themselves into habits, creating that 'muscle memory'.
Take a moment right now to choose something good you can do in your daily life, and then do it every day this week. It could be prayer or consciously speaking loving words; it could be specific actions towards specific people or something you’ve been putting off. Whatever it is, the key is to start building that Christian Muscle Memory.
It's important to practice an awareness of resurrection. There are signs of resurrection all around us, and we have to make the decision to see those signs in our day-to-day life. We ourselves are "previews" of the resurrection: the way we live, our ordinary acts of kindness and thoughtfulness, and at times those extraordinary moments when we are called to do something heroic for the people around us. Even in the midst of tragedies, we can live with joy and hope because we know that resurrection is real, Jesus is real, and He is present in our world today.
Permission to podcast the music in this episode obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-737156. All rights reserved.
Think about the crosses that God, in his mysterious wisdom and providence, has allowed to come into your life. Think about the persons in your life and in our world who most need God's grace. Give your cross to the Lord; allow Him to take it, to join it to His own; and offer it up: for you, for your loved ones, and for the transformation and renewal of the world.
Permission to podcast the music in this episode obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-737156. All rights reserved.
Jesus lowers Himself to serve those whom He loves. That kind of self-lowering can often offend our human pride; while many of us are willing (or want to be willing) to give everything for someone we love, we want to control how much others are allowed to do for us - even Jesus. But to truly receive the love of Jesus, we must not only be willing to give everything for Jesus: we must also be willing to allow Him to give everything for us.
After the homily (about the 06:55 mark) is the singing of "Pange, Lingua, Gloriosi / Tantum Ergo," which takes place during the Transfer of the Most Blessed Sacrament at the end of the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper. Permission to podcast this music obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-737156. All rights reserved.
Practice hosannas by allowing your words to be those of encouragement and support, your prayers to be of praise and surrender and humility. And be alert for any way that, instead, you are giving in to a kind of "crucify him" by your words and actions.
Embracing the cross is a "perishable skill" - you lose it if you don't use it. How do we practice, though? Deacon Brett uses "Mother Teresa's Humility List" (see image below), and challenges us to choose one or two to work on this week (and in weeks to come).
We are called to reach out to the lost, wherever they may be. Drawing in those who have wandered isn't about some kind of piety or moralizing people, shaking our finger at them for "being lost" - it means building relationships with people. It's about kindness. Sometimes it's not easy; often times it's messy; but it always starts with basic friendship and relationship. This week, let the Holy Spirit guide you to someone in your life that has wandered or is lost in some way, and make the effort to build a relationship with them.
Signs appeal to those seeking for power. Wisdom appeals to those seeking after knowledge. But the cross attracts those seeking after love. The cross is attractive because it demonstrates a total, self-giving, self-emptying love.
Lent is all about getting back to the basics of our faith: We proclaim Christ crucified. That means putting aside our search for signs or wisdom, and striving instead to give ourselves completely for Jesus as Jesus gave himself completely for us.
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We have a choice when we go through those really foggy times: to give in to doubt and discouragement, bargaining with God; or to live trustingly that God will provide. We are not spared the troubles of this world, but God promises that in everything He will be with us - and no matter what we face in our lives, God will provide.
The temptations Jesus faced are not much different than those we all face, and He not only gives us a model for how to respond to them with humility, but He also promises to stand with us as we face them and help us to reject them. And even when we fail, we can get up, go back to our Father, and be received with prodigious love.
The practice of giving things up for Lent is about learning detachment from good things, so that God can have His proper place in our lives.
It’s easier to put people into categories rather than see them as an individual loved in particular by God. As Lent begins, think of the people in your life that you have dumped into categories, and ask God for the grace to see them as He does.
We are not spared the crosses and hardships of this world, but God is right there with us in the thick of it. Look at your cross at home and let it be a reminder to you that in everything, our God is with us: not sparing us troubles, but promising to be with us in the midst of them and, ultimately, to bring hope out of them.
In any relationship, trust is built from coming to know someone. Read the Gospel of Mark this week (two chapters a day takes about 10 minutes) and get to know Jesus better by reading His story, and learn from Him that He is worthy of your trust.
Despite the world's uncertainties, Fr. Dave reminds us of the security we have in Jesus. Take time daily (literally every day) to release the anxiety that so easily robs us of living fully.
With the prevalence of social media, it’s easy to fill our minds (and hearts) with all kinds of (relatively) worthless words that we won’t remember even five minutes from now. This year, why not resolve to get to know God’s Word better, allowing it to shape your mind and heart so as to be better able to receive His life and His peace? Consider tithing your time you spend on social media and media in general - 10% of that time each day dedicated to reading God's words or praying.
We are God's children, and God's home (the Church) is our home. Each of us belong here, and none of us need a reason to visit. It is simply a place to be yourself and to be with God.
Take time each day to listen into your heart and hear Jesus say to you personally, "I love you; I'm fond of you; I value and treasure you" — and let that be the foundation for how we live our lives.
The Holy Family teaches us to be adaptable; to love each other, even when things don't go as planned, and to grow in that love; and to be open to whomever God sends to be part of our family.
Fr. Dave and Fr. Hans bring home the message that there is no substitute for baby Jesus in our Nativity sets, or in our hearts.
Take a few minutes this week to gaze at the Nativity scene (either at home or a photo online) and pray the Our Father, asking God to help us to see as God sees.