Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Happy Father's Day! May God bless all those who fulfill the role of father. I thank God for my father who is ninety-two years old. My father taught me many wonderful things over the years like throwing a baseball, riding a bike, laying ceramic tile, and praying. He has also been a great role model and example. Recently my parents had a plumbing problem and I suggested my father call a plumber; he called an electrician. My dad is quite independent and has been used to fixing all kinds of things around the house. This job was just a bit too much for him. Well, the problem got fixed. Sometimes even our fathers need a little help. We pray on this day that God my bless all our fathers. We know that God will do a good job because we know he is a Father as well.

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The widow's story in the Gospel this Sunday is not unique. How many mothers witness their children being carried out to burial because of gang violence, war or civil strife? In cities across the nation and in countries around the world, mothers grieve for their children who are no more. Mercy, pity, tenderness, love, hope are all words that could be used to describe the actions of Jesus. Yes, Jesus brings back the son of the widow, who had become alone and vulnerable. Jesus reached out and restored this simple family at the edge of disaster.
Perhaps as we reflect on this reading we might reflect on how we need that gentle, life-changing touch of Jesus in our own lives. Where do Jesus' great compassion and concern need to touch our live and to bring its healing to our sometimes tired and weary spirits? The care that Jesus demonstrates in today's Gospel is the same compassion that he extends to each one of us every day.

The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

The Eucharist we share this day and every Sunday is the sacrament of Christ's body and blood broken and poured out for us. As St. Paul reminds the Corinthians in the second reading, this tradition comes from the Lord who commands that we do this in remembrance of Him. The Mass is more than just a memorial service to the life and death of Jesus. What we celebrate each week is the real presence of Christ among us. He promised to be with us always. And through the Holy Eucharist, He is. Our communion with Him nourishes us until the day we join Him at the heavenly banquet.

The Most Holy Trinity

The attorney for the rich woman opened the sealed envelope containing her last will and testament. His office was crowded with all the hopeful relatives who were eager to receive their inheritances. As the attorney began to read, they scooted forward to the edge of their seats. "And being of sound mind and body," he read, "nearing the end, I decided to spend all of my money on myself! There should be nothing left."

In today's Gospel from the Last Supper, Jesus bequeaths the gift of the Holy Spirit to all of us. He spent nothing on himself, giving all he had to those who were there that night, and to all of us down through the ages.

This Memorial Day weekend we thank all those who served our country in the military and who gave their all including their lives to protect our freedoms.

We also pray for our graduates who we recognize this weekend at the 11:00 a.m. Mass. May they have learned to give of themselves in service to God, family and country.

Pentecost Sunday

"Come, Holy Spirit, fille the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you shall renew the fact of the earth." Our Pentecost prayer recognizes the power of the Holy Spirit to fill us with the flame of God's love, reminding us of God's love for us and enkindling our love for God. Then the face of the earth will be renewed. When you look around our world, when you look around your life, do you see God's love, God's face? The face of the earth doesn't always reflect the face of God. Sometimes it seems we are surrounded with chaos and pain. Politics, economics, family dynamics can be disheartening. We need someone on our side to help us make it through. Can the power of Pentecost touch us? Can we allow the Holy Spirit to empower us?

Seventh Sunday in Easter

On this Mother's Day, I wish to extend to all mothers of our parish a very blessed Mother's Day. May our dear Blessed Mother Mary pray for all our mothers living and deceased. In the blessing at the end of the baptism rite, the priest blesses the mother, who holds her child in her arms, using these words: "God the Father, through his Son, the Virgin Mary's child, has brought joy to all Chrisitan mothers, as they see the hope of eternal life shine on their children. May He bless the mother of this child. She now thanks God for the gift of her child. May she be one with her child in thanking God forever in heaven, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As we honor women called to motherhood on this Mother's Day, we are certain that God will continue to bless our mother with His gentle strength to care for our families by using wisely the unique gifts found only in mothers. We pledge our support to all moms as we join them in seeing the hope of eternal life on us, their children.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

In the first line of our Gospel this weekend, Jesus says that if we love hime we will keep his word. That might be a tall order, since keeping our own word is hard enough. Napoleon said it well when he advised: "The best way to keep one's word is not to give it." The author of the bestselling book The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, knew about human weakness. He wrote, "Promises are like crying babies in a theather; they should be carried out at once." But the Gospel challenges us to do more than give a quick response. Keeping our word is a lifetime action. The Gospel also reminds us that if we do keep Jesus' word, the Father will love us and dwell within us.

This week our second group of second graders will receive Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion. We pray for them and for their families that they will always turn to Jesus to help them in times of difficulties.