Listen to the homily here.
Monday, August 31, 2020
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Sails and the Holy Spirit: Sunday, 22nd in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
I praise God, that almost every day the Scriptures at Masses are simply popping out through the Holy Spirit.
· And the Holy Spirit is like the wind and I have loved an image in our hearts
· Sail boat
o Sometimes there is no wind, which makes us feel challenging
o Sometimes there is some great wind to sail, though we may forget to open the sails!
o But when the sails are opened with powerful wind, we move forward
So think of Jeremiah spiritually having some of these same challenges in his mission:
· “I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.”
o Here the closer we are to God, the more in which we are simply encouraged to keep going forward!
Or the Responsorial Psalm:
· “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
o Those moments are when we feel alone, or parched in our soul:
o “My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.”
Finally, what ag impressing verses from St. Paul, once again with challenges, but strength with God when we are opening our hearts to our mission:
· “Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Keep rolling with God, brothers and sisters!
· “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.”
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Monday, August 24, 2020
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Jesus Two Questions: Who do THEY who I am? Who do YOU think I am?21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus asked two questions today which is curious about what the question was, and who it was
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
“But who do you say that I am?”
Let’s start with Isaiah, another Isaiah and Matthew connection
· “…I will place the key of the House of David…”
· “…I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family”
o And in one Bible, according to Jeff Cavins, in a Protestant Bible pointed this verse to Matthew 16!
So who do people say that the Son of Man is?
· We heard about John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, prophets
· But what is he name today? Guru? Teacher? Philosopher? Relativism? Speaker? One of many other leaders?
But who do YOU say that he is?
· That’s where Peter spoke in correctly:
· "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”
During this time of the next political season, challenging times with a virus, who do YOU say that Jesus is?
· If he is not the Son of God, why are you even here?
· And if you do believe that Jesus is the Son of God, how do you live your life like that?
Parish Bulletin Article: "Encouragement": 8-23-2020
Earlier this week, we had a feast for St. Bartholomew, one of our twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. His name was Nathaniel as different lists for “The Twelve” show different names, which is standard in their culture. I also gave a homily about St. Bartholomew and preached that one of his nicknames was “The Encourager”! But alas, my culpa, my culpa, this patron saint is actually St. Barnabas! LOL!
Anyway, I preached about how crucial it is for encouragement during the times today. In this daily homily I asked our parishioners, and ask you today two questions, that hopefully support your journey:
1.) Who may you encourage someone else today? Spouse? Children? Teacher? Grandkids? Parishioners?
2.) Who have you recently experienced encouragement from someone else?
I know that in my life now, encouragement certainly supports my relationship with God, as all of our encouragement originally comes from God through you! And thank you for your encouragement to me. Praise God!
Earlier this week, we had another passage using that same crucial word:
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word” (2nd Thessalonians 2:14-17).
To conclude this article, let us grow by offering and receiving encouragement! Don’t we need that more than ever? And “stand firm” against any polarization, hate, anger, judgment, or gossip. Let’s keep rollin’ as a family as brothers and sisters!
God Bless!
Thursday, August 20, 2020
Purification, water, and cleansed heart: Ezekiel 36: Thursday, August 20th, 2020
Listen to the homily here.
Wednesday, August 19, 2020
"I do believe. Help my unbelief.": 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“I do believe, help my unbelief!”
· I love this verse that was not used today at Mass, but in Mark 9:24
· For me, I trust with these same words…yes, I trust in God as much as I can. At the same time, there can be times that I need his help as a human, with analogical thoughts and data, where God knows what I do not know
“Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom and cured every disease among the people.”
· And yes, Jesus did this
· Once again, we humans do the best ordinary ways to serve those who are sick—physically, mentally and spiritually
· Yet God, as God, may give extraordinary gifts!
So here we go with this parable that we may not understand the depths of Jesus teaching to a mother and her daughter who was suffering
· Is he a misogynist to this Samaritan woman as he didn’t answer her question?
o Well, no…remember how Jesus revolutionary visit the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel according to John? Or the women he mentioned carrying his cross? All of which was illegal in the Old Testament Law?
· Or, is he calling her a dog?
o Well, no…he is God!
· I think this woman was strong, yet also humble
· And Jesus was not being mean to this woman though the disciples probably was: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”
· How did this woman protect and seek help, continuing with perseverance, seeking healing, for her daughter?
o “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply,
“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.”
Jesus, I do believe, but help my unbelief! May we persevere, seeking for his help, and with him, help us to grow with faith!
Parish Bulletin Article: "Support Service!"
Brothers and sisters, our family needs support in a few different places. Specially, we have many people making decisions, according to their discernment and their health, as our service could always use more support. Here is where:
At our Tabernacle Society, we need several individuals. Many years ago, we had 8-10 different teams that took turns to clean our parish. Many of these men and women have served for many years. Now it is time for new generations to use your time and talent—stewardship, to continue to clean our parishes! This not only keeps us safe during Covid-19 but also saves money for our budgets. If you or your family would be able to serve this way, please contact me, Les Hendrickson, or Jackie Glowack.
We could also need support in our St. Thomas Aquinas cemetery. And if you love history, this would be a place for you! I mean, we have records for our cemetery and plots almost a century old! As we are very blessed with a crew of parishioners that have been cutting and trimming the grass, we could also use some muscle to fix some headstones and footstones to keep our buried brothers and sisters revered.
Also, we do have a Cemetery Board, which is also needed. Again, please call me, Les Hendrickson or Jackie Glowack.
Finally, as I want to connect to our families in our parishioners, please know that we continue to grow with students who have been registered at St. Thomas Aquinas School Saints—praise God! Please continue to pray for all of our (home)schools, public schools, and ours that God's will may be done. If you know anyone in your family, friends, or acquaintances who are still discerning where to send their kids to go, please pass our school's number at 283-3430.
God Bless!
Forgiveness, especially during Stressful Times: Thursday, August 13th, 2020
Listen to the homily here.
Elijah, Peter, and Ourselves: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Listen to the homily here.
Notes:
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Elijah and Peter have similar experiences
· Elijah on the high of a mountain, in a cave
o Seeing some dominant and chaotic stuff
o Wind, that crushed rocks
o Earthquake—what? Imagine that one…could you be crushed or falling down and simply die?
o Fire
o “After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.”
· Now Peter’s experience
o Jesus was walking on water and they thought he was a ghost!
o Peter, with his headstrong individual asked to walk on water: “Come”
§ He did so, then, similar to Elijah, “Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;”
§ By the way…isn’t this us today?
§ “…beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?””
§ And this too?
Now, aren’t some of us like Elijah, strong, faithful, and trust in what he saw and how he reacted?
· Aren’t some of us acting like Peter, wanting to walk on water, focusing to Jesus Christ, but realizing our fear with all the challenges we see, like the wind, like the storm, like the waves?
· Or, aren’t most of us doing both?
“Lord, save us!” And he will
Or, “Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.”
And he wants to do that too!
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