From His Word to Our Hearts

God offers us the gift of faith, but each of us must accept it. We must allow it to take root in our hearts and grow but that doesn’t mean that our faith needs to become an imposing monolith; Jesus reminds us that faith the size of a mustard seed is sufficient. It’s not how much faith we have, it’s what God does with our faith that is crucial. God gives us the power, love, and self-contr...

Jesus tells us another parable this week, the story of the rich man who had good things in this life but was tormented in the next and Lazarus who suffered in this life but received comfort in the next. When we separate ourselves from others here on earth – when we neglect the poor, the sick, and the needy – we create a deep chasm between them and us that will follow us into the afterlif...

Jesus tells us we cannot pursue wealth and, at the same time, be his faithful disciples since our loyalties will be divided. He also tells us not to be consumed by the things of this world but rather use them to help the poor and the needy. If we are found faithful to Jesus amidst the things of this world, we will receive true riches in the kingdom of heaven. So, how do we accomplish tha...

This year we have a rare Sunday occurrence of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and each of our readings sheds some light on the mystery of the Cross through which Jesus accomplished God’s plan for our salvation. God created us and the world in which we live out of love; when we sinned, he sent his Son to save us out of love. We may not deserve such great love, but God showers it upon us ...

Jesus challenges us to love him more than anyone or anything else in our lives, even our own families. That is part of the cost of being his disciple, but only part! He also tells us that we must renounce all we have in order to pursue heavenly wisdom… and we must do it willingly, without compulsion, and of our own free will. That’s a tall order, but he promises us help in the form of th...

In a parable, Jesus warns the Pharisees not to assume places of honor lest they be shamed when someone of greater import arrives for anyone who exalts himself will be humbled. The Scriptures remind us, repeatedly, that humility and meekness are qualities most to be valued, but the world tells us the opposite. How can we be expected to navigate such conflicting messages? How do we reconci...

The path of discipleship is difficult and requires unwavering commitment on our part. Jesus assures us that, along the way, we will be challenged, chastised, and disciplined. But if we are faithful, if we carry our own individual crosses, and if we strive to enter through the narrow gate we find before us, Jesus promises us a place in the kingdom. We may not be the first, we may not be t...

Jesus tells us this week he came to bring division and cast fire upon the earth, but that runs counter to the gentle Savior we so often picture. That’s because we don’t rightly understand what Jesus means when he talks about fire. The fire Jesus means isn’t the destructive fire we might imagine… it's the fire of judgement, certainly, but it is also a fire that purifies us, that ignites o...

Last week Jesus told us that worldly riches don’t ensure heavenly happiness; this week he tells us to store up treasure in heaven… for where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. As citizens of the world, we are expected to behave in predictable ways and meet certain benchmarks: successful jobs, nice houses, good families, new cars, and the latest tech. But as followers of Jesus...

Jesus tells us that worldly riches don’t ensure heavenly happiness. He reminds us that our success cannot be measured by the abundance of our possessions, that building bigger barns to store more stuff won’t ensure happiness, and worldly wealth won’t impress God or gain us a place in the kingdom of heaven. So, what does make us right with God? Saint Paul advises us to seek the things tha...

Jesus taught us to pray boldly, persistently, and rightly. Abraham reminds us that our prayers should benefit others not only ourselves. God is perfect, faithful, merciful, and just… our prayers do not add anything to God’s glory, but they do help transform us. We are told to ask, seek, and knock, and are assured we will be heard. So, why do we still struggle so much with prayer? Because...

It is easy to resent the demands placed upon us by proper etiquette, especially in the privacy of our own homes. Yet in biblical times, hospitality was paramount! We hear two stories of hospitality this week, each with its own focus but the same central idea: that we must be open to God. We must welcome him into our homes, our families, our communities, and our society. But there are so ...

We tend to think of our neighbors as only those who live near where we live, people who look like us, who live like we do, who think and act the same way we do. Jesus challenges that notion and invites us to see every other person as a neighbor… regardless of who they are, where they live, what the look like, or how they think. That’s a big ask in a society, and a world, that has become ...

We are all called to be disciples of Jesus and that path can lead us in many different directions. Sometimes the way is easy, often it is not; sometimes we receive accolades for our efforts, often we do not; sometimes we earn earthly rewards… some of which are good, some are hard, but often our rewards will not be seen in this life – only in the next. Yet, we are still called… even if we...

This weekend we have a rare Sunday occurrence of the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, two very different men both pursuing the same mission… to share their witness of the Risen Christ and spread the Church established by Jesus himself. Peter was a simple fisherman, both imperfect and noble, a man chosen by Jesus to be preeminent among the disciples, yet one who denied even knowing Jesus t...

Jesus fed five thousand men starting with just five common loaves of bread and two fish – everyone present ate their fill with plenty of leftovers – no one can say the God isn’t generous! This miraculous event prefigured the Institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper when Jesus gave his Body and Blood as food for eternal life. Saint Paul, though he was not present for that meal...

The Holy Trinity, whose Feast we celebrate this Sunday, is one of the most confounding mysteries that we encounter in the Christian faith. The members of the Trinity – Father, Son, and Spirit – are one God and yet three separate persons, they share one divine substance yet are distinct from each other, each person is entirely God but all three are in relation to each other. It is a stunn...

Pentecost celebrates not just the descent of the Holy Spirit, but the birth of the Church as well! Accompanied by the spectacle of a driving wind and tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus to his disciples, descends upon those gathered together in the Upper Room and they are strengthened to preach the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Jesus offers us that same Holy...

This week we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. There is plenty of evidence for the historical person of Jesus and his Crucifixion is well documented. His Ascension, however, is a private affair and the only invitees are the Apostles – the ones who knew him best in life and so could offer reliable, eyewitness testimony regarding his Ascension. Yet, people still doubt… and that...