Know - Grow - Go

This covenantal way of being requires us to see salvation as more than just reaching the end goal, heaven, but as new way of being, in which we see Christ in ourselves and in others. This week, in everything that you do and in every interaction that you have with others, see if you can identify whether it is transactional or covenantal. If it is transactional, ask God to help you transform your mi...

The wholeness, the peace, the fullness of life for which we all long only comes from being connected to God. Communion with Jesus is the key to our salvation; He unites in Himself both humanity and divinity. The more deeply we enter into relationship with Him, the more He can draw us into the Father’s embrace.    Readings at this Mass: Mal 3:1–4 | Heb 2:14–18 | Lk 2:22–40

It's easy to praise God when things are good and going our way. I want to encourage you to also do it when things are hard. Don't forget that the Lord can take anything  and use it for good. And when we turn to our loving God, He will help guide us and give us strength to endure.   Readings at this Mass: Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 | 1 Cor 12:12-30 | Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Jesus wants to to make things better for us, to bless you and me in abundance, but we must invite Him in to do so. How short sighted are we to only ask for his help when we are desperate and not to invite him in all things! Whatever you are willing to bring to Him, however unimportant or mundane, He will transform. So make a “new year resolution” to bring Jesus into it, whatever you do in your dai...

Jesus is real. His grace is real. He’s not sitting up there somewhere, watching to see if you can figure it all out on your own. He’s chosen to descend, to be your brother, to walk with you and face your deepest fears and failures with you. Resist the temptation to be a practical atheist. Don't just believe in God - live as if you believe. Sometime over the next few weeks, go to Confession and ope...

All of life is an epiphany - a revelation. Your very life is a gift from God, and none of us caused ourselves to come into being. When we embrace our role in God’s divine story and don’t fight against it, then we can see that everything - our lives and abilities, our world, our relationships - are a gift from Him. Give yourself away for God’s purposes. If it helps, put a sticky note on your bathro...

We honor Mary because she was given the gift to be the mother of Jesus - and he was the Son of God. It is right that we call Mary "the Mother of God", and we honor Jesus when we honor her. We don't confuse the honor we give her with the worship give to her Son. If we love Jesus, then we should honor all whom He loves. That includes Mary, his mother - the Mother of God.

We can make our home like the Father’s house if we make prayer the center in our home and family life. This week, formulate a plan to set aside some time nightly for prayer together, offering thanks and praises to God, asking for the strength to overcome whichever crisis comes your way and affects your family. Then put this praying plan into action, and discover the peace and grace that follows fr...

In our world that’s often shrouded in darkness, remember that the incarnation of Christ was the match that changed everything. And despite our own struggles, God can quietly strike a spark in our hearts that ignites hope and light. And our mission is to carry His light into the world. So during this Christmas season, ask yourself: ‘Where can I bring Christ’s light?’ Be that person through whom God...

Joy is deeper than happiness; more enduring. Joy isn’t the absence of sadness or worry. And though it’s found within, it doesn’t come from within. It comes from the love of God within. The Incarnation isn’t just something that happened 2000 years ago. Christ continues to come to us: in His word, in the Eucharist, in the events of our lives. Let Him lead, and you’ll discover His peace. Open your he...

We are called to "rejoice always," and it’s easy to do so when things are good. But when things are bad or dark or depressing or without hope? It's not so easy, and yet at those moments we should praise God all the more - not for the darkness, but so that the light of the world overcomes the darkness. By speaking and proclaiming light into that darkness, we are acting as agents of Christ. No matte...

Though none of us can live exactly as Mary did, being immaculately conceived and living without sin, we are called as Catholic Christians to lead a life filled with grace. How do we do that? Attending Mass, receiving the Eucharist, going to confession - all these things help return us to a state of grace.   Readings at this Mass: Gn 3:9–15, 20 | Eph 1:3–6, 11–12 | Lk 1:26–38

Each one of us is called to share the good news by imitating John the Baptist to be a missionary, helping others to encounter Christ and to prepare and straighten the paths for God. Joy, peace, suffering, and persecution are parts of any journey, including the journey of faith in God. However, only in the journey of faith in God with our missionary effort can we face suffering and persecutions gra...

The lesson that Advent holds out to all of us, in the midst of all the purchasing, planning, and frantic activity around us, is patience. Trusting that when life doesn’t look the way we think it should look, God is still in control. Remember: some things can’t be rushed. God has a plan, and if we open our lives to Him and let Him work, He’ll get us where we need to be - even if He doesn’t do it th...

What are you thankful for? That’s the question Fr. Bill asks of our Thanksgiving Day Mass attendees, after playing a video that reminds us not to take things for granted . Consider what you are thankful for as you listen to their responses!   Readings at this Mass: Sir 50:22-24  |  1 Cor 1:3-9   |  Lk 17:11-19

Jesus is more than just an ordinary person or a religious leader. He is God, our creator, the reason we exist. The laws of physics and science depend on him. Our ultimate happiness resides in him. Our ability to go to heaven is only through him. He is the King of the Universe, our Lord, our Messiah - and He loves you. The king of all things loves you.   Readings at this Mass: Dn 7:13–14  |  Rv 1:5...

When it comes to preparing for anything, often we think of stocking up or loading up on things. The process of preparation often gives us anxiety, taking away our peace due to the unknowns. But as people of faith, being prepared is to not be in fear, to not let the idea of the end times frighten us. Being prepared is to let go of our sins, vices, unhealthy habits, and the things we do not need to...

Right now, it’s far more helpful – emotionally, psychologically, relationally – to be proactive and focus on the things over which we have some influence, rather than to send ourselves into tailspins reacting to what we can’t control. Think about God’s initiative in your own life. Today, concretely, what can you influence? Who can you help?   Readings at this Mass: 1 Kgs 17:10–16 | Heb 9:24–28 | M...

When we love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, we become more like Him. As we grow close to God, we gain His peace and can extend His love to those around us. Because God is in control, unshaken by the world's troubles, we can be too, for the love of God calms our fears. Loving our neighbors, even those we disagree with, creates bonds that build unity. When we love as God loves, our neig...

Jesus invites us to reject worldly standards and take on Godly standards with the Beatitudes. They are a kind of roadmap to sainthood, God's standards for leading a joyful, fulfilling life that also prepares us for our reward in heaven. Sainthood is not far from us, but is happening here and now: when we mourn, when we experience tribulations that cause us hunger and thirst for righteousness, when...

On being resilient and persistent in cultivating an upward movement toward God, Saint Cyprian of Carthage says that we must endure toil and fatigue while we are attempting to climb hills and mountains. However, the toil and fatigue are less if we set our eyes on heaven and consider the promised reward. This reminds us to continue to keep our focus on Jesus and remain resilient in inviting God to t...

Real change requires radical honesty, and we could all do with a bit more honesty: in our public lives, our private lives, and in our prayer. Don’t be afraid of the truth when you pray. Don’t ignore what’s going on inside. Embrace who you are – and where you are. Tell it to God like it is. And then, let God go to work.   Readings at this Mass: Is 53:10–11 | Heb 4:14–16 | Mk 10:35–45

Take a moment this week and ask yourself: "What is one thing standing between me and a deeper relationship with Jesus? What is one thing that I am lacking?" Then, take a leap of faith and surrender it. Whatever it is, place it at the feet of Jesus, and then be patient. Wait and watch as joy, like a hidden treasure, reveals itself to you in ways you never expected.   Readings at this Mass: Wis 7:7–...

We heard of the call to bring children from what Jesus commanded the disciples today, ‘Let the children come to me’. When married couples bear fruits in bringing children into this world, they are not only bringing God’s love into the world, but also displaying the inner life of God, the love, which is the Holy Spirit, shared between the Father and the Son.   Readings at this Mass: Gn 2:18–24 | He...

Fundamentally, holiness is not churchiness or being theologically literate. It's not having our act together morally, and certainly not about judging other people. Fundamentally, holiness is about having the courage to let Jesus into the center of your life - and then hanging on for the ride! That might not always look the way we think holiness should look, but it's powerful when we see it. In the...