Posts from 2026

Today’s Gospel story, “The Way to Emmaus” is my favorite story in the Bible. I even have this picture in my living room. Whenever I think of this passage or read it, I always ask myself, would I recognize Jesus and what would I ask Him? The two disciples in the story were perplexed as they have been talking about Jesus and his death. They were wandering aimlessly on the road. So much so, that when Jesus came up to…

We just finished a beautiful Holy Week. We were reminded of all that Jesus did for us, sacrificing His life on the Cross. We have much for which to be thankful. But as your pastor, I have much to be thankful here at OLV. I won’t mention people by name because I would run out of room in this bulletin. I thank Fr. Tom who has covered for me so often and is truly an important part of our parish.…

Easter, the feast of the Resurrection, gives us the joyful message that we are a “Resurrection people.” This means that we are not supposed to lie buried in the tomb of our sins, evil habits, and dangerous addictions. It gives us the Good News that no tombs can hold us down any longer – not the tombs of despair, discouragement, doubt, or death itself. Instead, we are expected to live a joyful and peaceful life, constantly experiencing the real Presence…

Today with the blessing of palms, we start Holy Week. It is the greatest week of the Church year where we are vividly reminded of all that Jesus did and endured for us. It is a week that we should all make special in our lives as we live out the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Savior. On Holy Thursday we bring the Last Supper to life where the Eucharist began as we have it today. We can spend…

Today we hear the story of raising Lazarus from the dead: “Roll away the stone; unbind him; and let him go.” This story is not simply about what Jesus once did, long ago, outside the village of Bethany. It is a revelation of who God is and how God acts. In this Gospel, Jesus does not explain death away; he is deeply moved, he comes to the tomb, and he weeps. But when he speaks, even what has been sealed,…

This is the fourth Sunday of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday. It marks the midpoint of Lent and offers us a moment of joy and hope amid this penitential season. The name “Laetare” comes from the Latin for “rejoice,” reflecting on the Church’s encouragement to look forward to the joy of Easter while continuing our Lenten reflection and penance. This Sunday focuses on our spiritual sight, light, and God’s mercy, inviting us to see things through the eyes of faith.…

Listening to the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, we need to allow Jesus free entry into our personal lives. Jesus wishes to come into our “private” life, not to embarrass us, not to judge or condemn us, but to free us, to change us, and to offer us what we really need: the living water of the Holy Spirit. Let us find this living water in the Sacraments, in prayer, and in the Holy Bible, especially during…

Most people can pinpoint the moment when the attraction they felt for someone turned to love. It usually has to do with seeing the person in a new light. As one man described it, “One night I watched as a woman who had been my good friend for many years gently stroked her dying mother’s forehead. I was struck by the sheer tenderness and beauty of the act. I knew then that my feelings for this woman were forever changed.”…

In our lives, we’ll all be tempted to commit prideful, selfish acts. For some of us, our greed and ego will reach enormous heights and lead to disgraceful acts of catastrophic proportions. For others our pride will be somewhat more contained: a white lie here, a bribe there. For most of the rest of us, no one would suspect that we were ever in bed with the devil. In our daily lives we’re good, upstanding citizens, hard workers, devoted friends,…

We have been listening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as he lays out for us some challenging proclamations on how to live faith filled lives. This Sunday, he lays all on the line: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. No, I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” His words following this are rigorous and demanding. He says, here’s what you heard and think. But this is what I say…

Two words stand out in today’s Gospel from Matthew. Those words are Salt and Light. Salt is used in most foods, one as a preservative and secondly as it brings out the flavor and enhance the taste of foods. Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth, and so we’re called to enhance the flavor and spirit of the people we meet. A little kindness brings out the goodness of others. Forgiveness can change a person’s life ridding…

John the Baptist says of Jesus in today’s Gospel: “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.” John stands between the Old and New Testaments as if he was a ‘pivot man’ on the basketball team. That’s the position I played back in my seminary days. You get the ball from one player and quickly turn to pass it to one another. John the Baptist was a key figure announcing a time…