Pastor’s Post (Page 3)

The First Sunday of Advent quietly acknowledges a big difference in liturgical ministries in the church. It’s a gentle beginning of the Christmas season – a moment to pause, reflect, and look forward with hope. Whether we light a candle, hang a wreath, or simply take a breath before the December rush, this day invites a sense of anticipation and togetherness. In a world that often feels rushed and noisy, this First Sunday of Advent offers a rare invitation to…

What is the Kingdom of God? What is the Kingdom of Christ the King? Here is a beautiful explanation given by Gerald Darring (St. Louis University: The Kingdom of God is a space. It exists in every home where parents and children love each other. It exists in every region and country that cares for its weak and vulnerable. It exists in every parish that reaches out to the needy. The Kingdom of God is a time. It happens whenever…

Jesus’ words “by your perseverance you will secure your lives” call to mind the experiences of birds as they make a seasonal migration. Multiple times a year various species of birds travel thousands of miles in response to changes in food availability, habitat, or climate. Despite the threat of predators and exhaustion, every bird is biologically cued to make the migration with its species. During these migrations, many species work together as a team. Large birds, for instance, will often…

Today we celebrate a basilica in Rome named after Saint John and its original donor, the Lateran family. It is a consecrated place which withstood centuries of destructive forces and yet endured—like the universal church itself. We celebrate the Lateran basilica as a symbol of all the holy places in this world, communal and personal, that elevate our thoughts and move our hearts to the grand reflection of the universal church. Such sites help us to see as God sees:…

This week is National Vocation Awareness Week. It a week to remind us of what God calls us to do in our lives, from religious vocations, marriage, careers and the like. But today I reflect on a vocation to the priesthood. What attracts a man to the priesthood? For me, it was the priest in my parish growing up that was always working with the kids. He talked with us and challenged us in life. The ‘old’ pastor was even…

Three clergymen were deep in a discussion of the best positions for praying while a telephone repairman worked nearby. “Kneeling is definitely best,” claimed one. “No,” another contended. “I get the best results standing with my arms outstretched to heaven.” “You’re both wrong,” the third argued. “The most effective prayer position is lying on the floor face down.” The telephone repairman could contain himself no longer. “Hey, guys,” he interrupted, “the best praying I ever did was hanging upside down…

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to “pray always”. How can anyone pray “always”? We have to sleep or we will become “weary”. We have to work. We have to eat. How can we “pray always”? The fact that what Jesus says might seem impossible should tell us that He is trying to get us to think differently about what it means to pray, let alone “pray always.” Like today’s parable, God wants us to bring our problems and sufferings…

Reading today’s Gospel challenges us to think about how often we say “thank you” or show appreciation in some way to someone who has helped us, been kind to us or simply been with us sharing their time and interest. These actions can bring some healing to the “Leprosy” which may not be a physical illness but a loneliness and a separation from life and fellow human beings, which afflicts many people. I am sure we have come across people,…

Our theme for Respect Life Month is “Life: Our Sign of Hope”, which ties into this year’s Jubilee Year of Hope. Our ethic of life in the Catholic faith affirms that every human being bears the image of God and is deserving of dignity and respect. From the unborn child in the womb, to the person on death row in prison, from the elderly person in a nursing home or our neighbor who is struggling with mental health issues, poverty…

We are all rich enough to share our blessings with others. God has blessed each one of us with wealth or health or special talents or social power or political influence or a combination of many blessings. Today’s Gospel parable invites us to share what we have been given with others in various ways instead of using everything exclusively for selfish gains. We need to remember that sharing is the criterion of Last Judgment. When we face that judgement day,…

Today’s readings remind us that we are God’s stewards, and that God expects faithful and prudent stewardship from us. They challenge us to use our God-given talents and blessings, like wealth, wisely to attain Heavenly bliss. We need to be faithful in the little things of life: St. John Chrysostom’s said, “Faithfulness in little things is a big thing,” and Mother Teresa said, “Do little things with great love.” Hence, let us not ignore doing little things, like acknowledging a…

A young man, who, like many, felt the weight of life’s challenges. He saw the cross as a symbol of suffering, a burden he didn’t want to carry. He avoided anything that resembled sacrifice or hardship, preferring comfort and ease. He saw the cross on others, in their struggles and sacrifices, and felt a sense of resentment towards it, for he believed that this suffering was something imposed upon them not something they would choose. One day, during the Feast…