Ordinary Time, 33rd Sunday (A) In the Parable of the Talents, the master only cares about money. He is thrilled with his servants who have learned to do as he does. The third servant is terrified of losing his master's money, and gets exactly the thing he was trying to avoid. Our master is Jesus. What does Jesus love? He as certainly not a lover of money, power, pleasure, or popularity. Jesus loves God, and he loves God's people. If we want to be worthy servants of our master, we need to learn t...
Nov 20, 2023•12 min•Season 13Ep. 53
Ordinary Time, 32nd Sunday (A) The intellect is the faculty of the soul that is attracted to the truth. Everything looks true at first, but only that which as genuinely true will hold up to scrutiny. We need to develop good intellectual habits to scrutinize and retain only what is true. The will is the power of the soul that is moved by the good. Society seems to believe, "It is good because I want it." The reality is the opposite. I want it because at looks good for me . Before we do evil, we m...
Nov 13, 2023•17 min•Season 13Ep. 52
Ordinary Time, 31st Sunday (A) In today's reading, the priests have "...turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction." God says, "I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people." And finally, the people themselves, "break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers." Imagine what would happen if the doctors kept changing their teachings on healthy living to match whatever unhealthy habits were popular at the moment. We k...
Nov 06, 2023•13 min•Season 13Ep. 51
All Saints Day • St. Philip Neri was called the "Second Apostle of Rome." Most people in Rome in the 1500's were infatuated with worldly pleasures and the pursuit of power, fame, and wealth. They had decided being a Christian was boring. But there was one little problem: even though they had all grown up Catholic, most people had never met an actual Christian. Philip showed people that living for Christ was the most exciting adventure and the most fulfilling life. Nowadays, most people have deci...
Nov 01, 2023•10 min•Season 13Ep. 50
Ordinary Time, 30th Sunday (A) We should love God and neighbor. But what do we mean by love ? Too often the words, "I love you," actually mean, "You make me feel good," or "You look useful to me." Since God is love , we can only really learn true love from God himself. For God, love is sacrifice. The crucifix is the most perfect image of true love. The Christian faith is powered by the living experience of God's love. Priesthood, fundamentally, is about helping people fall in love with a Person ...
Oct 30, 2023•15 min•Season 13Ep. 49
Ordinary Time, 29th Sunday (A) The king of Persia doesn't know God but finds himself an agent of God's plan to restore the Jews. The leaders of Israel know the true God, but refuse to cooperate with His plans. If Jesus really speaks the truth, shouldn't they be listening to him? Cesar is not a god, but God allows him to exercise power, so we should obey him. What in nature as stamped in God's own image? We are! We who bear the image of God should be giving ourselves back to God. What will you do...
Oct 22, 2023•17 min•Season 13Ep. 48
Ordinary Time, 28th Sunday (A) The Wedding Feast of the Lamb is the greatest invitation we could possibly receive. So why does it seem that no one can be bothered to respond? Let me share with you my vision of heaven. Picture a playground where all the children get along and play nice. God can easily build a playground where no one will be hurt or die. He cannot, however, keep us from hurting each other. That's why you will only be allowed to enter the playground when your heart is completely fr...
Oct 16, 2023•16 min•Season 13Ep. 47
Ordinary Time, 27th Sunday (A) All parishioners are asked to turn in a stewardship pledge card on October 22nd. Our annual commitment to Stewardship is not about giving more, but being more intentional about what we give. Am I truly grateful for the gifts God has given me? Am I using those gifts in a way that glorifies God and blesses others? This is a question we don't just answer one time. Today's Gospel shows us tenants who have started to think they own the vineyard. All the produce belongs ...
Oct 08, 2023•13 min•Season 13Ep. 46
Ordinary Time, 26th Sunday (A) The chief priests and the elders of the people are living lives of selfishness and vainglory. Would you rather have a priest who tried to be good, even if he didn't always succeed, or a priest who was just good at looking good? When a bunch of guys get together, we tend to compare, compete, and complain. We all want to look good, so if I'm not looking good, it must be someone else's fault. Instead, can I see the face of Jesus in other priests? Can I be the face of ...
Oct 01, 2023•12 min•Season 13Ep. 45
Ordinary Time, 25th Sunday (A) It's not fair! We are perfectly happy with our lot in life until we compare ourselves with others. I feel blessed and grateful that I get to live here and serve all of you. Until I look at other priests and think, "He's got a better deal than me." God is generous. We need to be grateful and not envious. Bishop Barron reminds us: " One of the most fundamental statements of faith is this: your life is not about you. You’re not in control. This is not your project. Ra...
Sep 25, 2023•10 min•Season 13Ep. 44
