Thursday, October 20, 2016

Peace and/or evilness: Thursday, October 20th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:
Visit on the phone with an individual to speak about voting
·      I hope that we have peace on earth in our lives
·      Jesus said: “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.”
Is Jesus Christ teaching us about peace in our world?
·      Yes and no
·      Yes—Jesus taught about no violence, (peace: “Do not resist one who is evil.  But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”)
But here is a “no” from Jesus
·      Our world is fallen
·      Each of us are sinful
·      We humans have killed each other from the son of Adam and Eve to every generation in our humanity
o   Sticks, bow and arrows, knives, guns
Yes…we must be peaceful as we follow with Jesus Christ
·      But at the same time, Jesus Christ knows that there is a fight with evil
·      Again, that is why Jesus taught us “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?  No, I tell you, but rather division.”


Stewardship of God’s grace: Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 (School Mass)

Listen to the homily here.

Sorry about the extra recording for this homily.  One of our students kept the recording going so you could listen to the rest of the Mass!

St. Luke as an evangelist: Tuesday, October 20th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

St. Luke
·      Doctor
·      Historical narrative for the Gospel and the Acts
·      As Luke was not an eye witness of Jesus he gathered information from the apostles
·      Followed St. Paul and Mother Mary
o   Luke is the only one with me.”  (2 Timothy 4)
Cool words this morning:
·      “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”
·      “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your Kingdom.”


Greed...one's life does not consist of possessions: Monday, October 17th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions…”

·      Visiting Ghana
·      I thought the poor was sad

·      Actually we are the sad ones

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Awesome homily from a priest in Phoenix!

Check out this intense, important and big issue with abortion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=881aDDE5qFY&sns=em

Faith, Disciples and 2 Timothy 4:1-5: 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:
Jesus gives us a challenge: “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
·      Will he find your faith?  Will he find your mission to follow Jesus Christ as a disciple?
·      Follow our true leaders who lead our Kingdom of God
When I was out of town last week we had a wonderful conversation about evangelization:
·      Sherry Weddell with a book called “Intentional Disciple”
·      Sharing the Good News of God
·      Sharing our own stories with others
·      I also wrote an article for our bulletin next weekend
This day I would like to walk through 2 Timothy 4:1-5
·      It is one of my favorite passages of evangelization, discipleship and truth
Let us begin…4:1
·       “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:”
o   Continue to allow God—Jesus Christ--to be present wherever you are
o   God and Jesus Christ are our leaders
o   Kingdom
§  Jesus Christ already won the game!
4:2
·      preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.”
o   Each of you…you teachers…you disciples
o   Preach the word”!  The Good News of God
§  Share your story to others
o   “In season and out of season”
§  Private with friends, neighbors, family
§  Public as well!
o   “Convince, rebuke, exhort with patience and teaching”
§  Walk where people are
4:3-4 (this is the next three verses that we did not hear today)
·      For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.”
o   Paul wrote this almost 2000 years ago
o   I have thought for many years…is this not about our country?
·      Itching ears…teachers to suit their own likings…turn away from listening to the truth…”
o   Is media, is politician advertisements on both sides not doing this?
·      Here is what we believe as Catholics to follow the truth in their teaching
o   God
o   Jesus Christ
o   Bible
o   Catechism of the Catholic Church
o   Pope Francis
o   Saints in history
4:5
·      As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
o   Boom!
o   Steady, endure suffering, work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry
§  We must follow Jesus Christ!





Saturday, October 15, 2016

Parish Bulletin Article: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few...": 10-16-16

Jesus taught his disciples: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…” (Matthew 9:37).  Jesus teaches the same words to us today.

When I was out of town, I had a wonderful four days at our Clergy Conference.  Our presenter, Sherry A. Weddell, spoke about intentional discipleship.  She wrote a book called “Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus” (a great book that I recommend).  She also spoke at our Diocese Assembly for hundreds of diocesan parishioners.

Three thoughts from this weekend for growing as disciples of Jesus…

First, disciple simply means “a personal follower of Jesus”.  How are you following Jesus?  How is your relationship with him?  How can you grow in your friendship with our savior?

Second, we must be laborers for Jesus in our parishes.  We need several more disciples to serve as EMs, lectors, musicians, sacristans, ushers, servers, visitors, builders, painters, discerners, pray-ers, greeters, and more!

Third, our harvest is plentiful!  About 25% of our parishioners come to Mass regularly.  This means that 75% of us can be welcomed, visited, encouraged and invited back to God’s house with His family.  To those you know, share your relationship with God!  Give the Good News to offer your experience of Jesus’ love, mercy and compassion.  Take the step to walk with brothers and sisters to move forward in our journey with Jesus Christ. 

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few…”
Continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ as a disciple in our family, to serve the beautiful harvest of our faith!

God Bless!

Friday, October 14, 2016

The flesh vs. the spirit: Wednesday, October 12th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Note:
Flesh vs. spirit
·      “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.”
·      “In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

That is another way to prepare ourselves for forgiveness/confession

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Catholics and Evangelicals scorned with bigotry

Fr. Morris--serving in Bronx, New York--said some great words for those who dismay followers of Jesus Christ.

This priest said against both Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton.  Check out this video:

<http://video.foxnews.com/v/5166726470001/father-morris-clinton-camp-mocking-catholics-is-bigotry/?#sp=show-clips>

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

“For freedom Christ set us free": Tuesday, October 11th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

History in slavery in our country

How can we be “slaved” in our spiritual life?
·      Sin
·      We are sinful

Jesus Christ forgives us

·      Freedom

Intentional Disciples: Monday, October 10th, 2016

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Good words from God for us in our country
Intentional Discipleship
·      Sherry Weddell
·      What is your own story?

·      How could you share this with someone else?


Top Ten List: Parish Bulletin Article: 10-9-16

            I received a message through one of our volunteers in our Faith Formation program.  This individual wrote, “I would like to have our students know in their heart what I will call my top ten list.”  This will be shared with our students and I completely agree with it.  It is so good, it would be a great way for each of us to learn, read and grow with Jesus Christ.  As our parishioner wrote to a certain group of students, I tweaked it a bit for each of us.
            I hope you enjoy a “Top Ten List” through our Catholic Church:  

1.     Ten Commandments
2.     A basic understanding of the Bible including able to quote five scripture verses.
3.     Being able to recite the Creed with the understanding that is the declaration of what we believe as Catholic.
4.     The seven sacraments.
5.     Learn for a “patron saint” that you may connect with him or her.
6.     Have a good understanding of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
7.     Commit to daily prayer.
8.     Commit to attend weekly Sunday Mass.
9.     Understand and commit to work of charity.
10.  Initiate a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Thank you to one of our volunteers in our Faith Formation program.  I hope it serves each of us.

God Bless!

Sunday, October 2, 2016

How deep is Faith?: 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Listen to the homily here.

Notes:

Faith—faith is a central word as Christians
·      Several weekends ago I preached about faith
·      And here again we hear the same word
o   The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”  (Luke)
o   “…the just one, because of his faith, shall live.”  (Habakkuk)
·      Faith is like a thread in the quilt of our belief
This weekend I would like to speak of how God teaches us about faith
·      First, let us leave some of the unbelievers of God or religion or church with other words
o   Superstition
o   Unintelligent
o   Hocus pocus
o   Something less with science
o   There is betting reason
o   False…false…false…false…false
·      Our faith is different with these different positions
1.)  Our Catholic Church is both faith and reason
·      Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth- in a word, to know himself- so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves.”
·      St. John Paul II, one of our brilliant man in the 20th century in our world
2.)  Listen to God of what faith is
·      Jesus said: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”
o   Faith is stronger than our own reason
o   God is smarter than any human person
·      For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.  The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live.”
3.)  And how does God show us about our Church?
·      For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.  So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord.”
What is faith?  Study it…pray for it…learn it…share it
·      That is one way to grow in our Catholic Church to really see and think for the central belief and beautiful thread of God’s quilt of our lives