July 27, 2025: 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When the disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, His answer showcases how we can enter more deeply into a relationship with God.

God meets our greatest need of salvation, through the wonder of the Paschal Mystery by which we pass from life through death to newness of Life in the waters of baptism.

We can now draw near to God.  Furthermore, we are meant to constantly seek after God, putting ourselves int the presence of the One Who has made Himself powerfully present to us in Christ.  Because God has has revealed Who He is to us, we can strive after the greatest spiritual gifts, even the Holy Spirit Who guides us to live fully the reality of our relationship with God.

I reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in my life as I look back to 20 years ago, when I attended a summertime meeting as part of my Confirmation preparation.  The Holy Spirit truly is a great gift that draws us deeper into the Mystery of God and into His Kingdom as we pray for Him to bring it here on Earth by His great deeds.

This weekend is also an opportunity to celebrate our elders and grandparents, who have a wealth of wisdom to share from their lifetime experiences, wisdom that continues to be made new in each generation as see the new wonders God does in making Himself present.

July 20, 2025: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God comes to His people in wondrous ways.  We are called to embrace the closeness of His presence in our hearts.

Abraham had the sense that the three visitors were special, so he was quick to wait on them.  They rewarded him with the good news of the imminent fulfillment of the promise of a son who would fulfill God's promise for them.

In the Gospel story, Martha welcomes Jesus to her home.  Yet in her well-intentioned effort to serve the Lord, she loses sight of that purpose with so much to do while Mary fixes her attention, and heart, on the Lord.  When Martha vented her frustration, Jesus made a point to indicate that she should focus on what matters most, having a hear to welcome the Lord.

And so we are called to be present to the Lord Who comes to us, that He may continue the great work of Christ in us.

Today marks 250 years since the Day of Prayer that the Continental Congress called on Thursday, July 20, 1775.  As they navigated the circumstances and took steps toward the independence of the USA, these leaders acknowledged that God Almighty was at work in these circumstances and implored His aid in the midst of them.  That need for prayer rings true today as we seek God's guiding hand to live with righteous purpose in our own day as we keep aware of how He is present, active, and at work in our midst.

It was 1 year ago on the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time that the 10th National Eucharistic Congress concluded.  Nearly 60000 people gathered inside Lucas Oil Stadium for an encounter with God during the Closing Mass, an encounter that would make God powerfully present and send us forth on our mission.

July 13, 2025: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When presenting the Law to His people, God made it clear through Moses that the Law was something very near to them, and they just had to carry it out.

Jesus further describes what it means to live the Law when asked by a scholar of the law, who gives an answer about what the Law says, and then presses the matter to "justify himself". Jesus relates how a Samaritan helped someone in need, and shows what it means to be a neighbor.

Ultimately, Jesus, Who was present when all was created, has reconciled all to God by His Cross, and fulfills the purpose of the Law. We are called to live out the Law by meeting the needs of those around us, for they bear the image of the visible God, and we make Him real by meeting needs.

July 6, 2025: 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

God is doing something new, refashioning us in light of the Paschal Mystery.

By His Death and Resurrection, Christ has made us a new Creation, restoring us to right relationship with God.

And we are sent forth, just like Jesus sent forth 72 to do His work and, ultimately, to proclaim the Kingdom of God, which has been entering into the world.

With the power of God, we do mighty works, because it is the Cross that has the true power for us who confess faith in Christ.  And Jesus's words indicate a greater reality, that our names are written in Heaven, because God has chosen us to be part of this marvelous work.

June 29, 2025: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

God gave us the Church through Jesus Christ.  He handed on the authority of His teachings to those He specially chose.

St. Peter boldly made a profession of faith about Who Christ is, and Jesus Christ declared him to be the rock upon which the Church would be built and would be firm against its enemies.

Indeed, even when St. Peter was imprisoned, God provided a way out for him so that he could continue his mission.

Jesus Christ appeared to St. Paul, and he was radically transformed, turning his zeal from suppression of the Church to boldly edifying the Church.  He spread the Gospel message far and wide, by which it made inroads among the Gentiles.

They both testified to the Gospel, even to the point of giving their lives, because they knew their place in the Church and the power of the Gospel to continue building the Church.

So we rejoice this day that the Church continues to rise on the foundation of such noble saints who gave so much to build the Church.  We root ourselves in the same Gospel, the same profession of faith, and the same encounters with the Risen Christ so we declare to the world by our lives that God is at work among us.

A great story from 20 years ago at the 2005 conclave was when Cardinal George was seen staring intently out from the balcony as Pope Benedict XVI made his introduction.  When asked later about what he was thinking, Cardinal George said as he looked at the ancient Roman ruins, including monuments to emperors, he asked where the successors of the Caesars were.  Then he asked, who cares?  But the successor of St. Peter?  He was feet away from him.

Bishop Barron offered similar thoughts based on his experience in Rome during the 2025 conclave for his homily for this week.  It's a great insight that testifies to the power of the Church because God has been at work through people like Saints Peter and Paul, who were faithful to God's call in their lives to contribute their part.  It's a challenge and a gift to all of us in the Church today to contribute our part in response to the call.

June 28, 2025: Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mary the Blessed Mother was filled with love and devotion to her Son.

As the first disciple, she gives us an example of how to respond to the immense Divine Love God has for us. 

She pondered this great love deep in her heart, even as she bore Jesus and raised Him in the world.

We have had so many opportunities to ponder this Love, as we celebrated during yesterday's Solemnity, and throughout the past weeks from Lent to the Triduum into Easter and then the special feasts of June.

Indeed, we realize the unseen God has marvelously manifested Himself in tangible ways.

Recognizing how God is making Himself known to us, we live as a gift of love to bless others so that others may know God.

June 27, 2025: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

God's love is so beyond our sense of love.

Jesus gave a picture of it in teh parable of the lost sheep.  It doesn't make sense that someone would seek one lost sheep, yet the shepherd in this story rejoices in finding the lost sheep.

As our Good Shepherd, Jesus sought us when we strayed like lost sheep.  He revealed the depths of God's divine love by dying for us upon the Cross.

We can now stake everything on Him, because He loved us enough to die for us, and now, as our Risen Lord, leads us, as the Good Shepherd, into Eternal Life.

Indeed, we are called to be devoted to Jesus Christ by opening ourselves to the Love God pours into our hearts so we can bring that love to others that truly changes us and the world.

We furthermore rejoice that 350 years ago, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received visions of the Sacred Heart that drew us back to beholding the immense Divine Love revealed by the Sacred Heart.

It is so far beyond our comprehension, yet through revelations, we know it is real, especially as God works it into our hearts.