Faithful & Authentic: The All Saints Parish Podcast

Are you willing to be hated?   Jesus says in today’s Gospel:   “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.”   Following Jesus does not always mean comfort, popularity, or approval.   Sometimes faithfulness means:   ➡️ standing for truth ➡️ defending life ➡️ protecting marriage and family ➡️ obeying God instead of culture   And not everyone will like that.   In today’s Rise Up reflecti...

What is Jesus’ commandment?   Jesus makes it very clear in today’s Gospel:   “Love one another as I have loved you.”   But what does that actually mean?   It means:   ➡️ sacrifice ➡️ self-gift ➡️ surrender ➡️ laying down your life for others   Jesus didn’t just talk about love.   He showed us love:   ✝️ on the Cross 🕊️ in the Eucharist 🫶 by washing feet ❤️ by giving everything   At every Mass, Je...

Did you know today is the National Day of Prayer?   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of Jesus’ words:   “Remain in my love.”   What would happen if we became a nation rooted in prayer?   ➡️ Families praying together ➡️ Spouses praying together ➡️ Friends praying together ➡️ Children learning to pray   Prayer changes hearts. Prayer changes families. Prayer changes nation...

What pruning does God want to do in your life?   Jesus says:   “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes so that it will bear more fruit.”   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer challenges us to honestly ask:   ➡️ What in my life is not bearing fruit? ➡️ What habits need to be removed? ➡️ What relationships or distractions are keeping me from holiness?   But there’s another side to pru...

Do you have peace?   Not the kind the world gives… Not comfort… Not distraction… Not temporary relief…   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of Jesus’ words:   “Not as the world gives do I give it to you.”   The world offers a false sense of peace:   ❌ comfort ❌ control ❌ distraction   Or it tries to force peace through conflict and power.   But the peace of Christ is d...

What do you need to be taught?   What are you still curious about? What do you not understand? Where do you feel unsure in your faith or your life?   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of Jesus’ promise:   “The Holy Spirit… will teach you everything.”   The question is:   Are we open to being taught?   The Holy Spirit teaches us in many ways:   ➡️ through Scripture ➡️ thr...

What is troubling you? Take a moment… and name it. In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of Jesus’ words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Whatever you are carrying right now: ➡️ stress ➡️ anxiety ➡️ fear ➡️ uncertainty God is bigger. God is bigger than your troubles. Today, bring it to Him: 🙏 Bring it to Mass 🙏 Bring it to Adoration 🙏 Surrender it in prayer Let toda...

How do you end your prayers?   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer shares a simple and powerful way to pray:   Address. Thank. Ask. Close.   But the most important question is:   Whose name are you praying in?   Jesus tells us:   “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do.”   When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are not just saying words—we are placing our trust in Him, in His power, a...

Do you define yourself by your work? In today’s Rise Up reflection for the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of a powerful truth: You are not your job. Work is good. Work is holy. Work provides. But work is not your identity. Your true identity is this: ➡️ You are a son or daughter of God ➡️ You are called to love ➡️ You are made for relationship, not just productivity...

How can you be a servant today? Not something huge. Not something overwhelming. Just one small act. In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of Jesus’ call to humble service: “No slave is greater than his master.” We are called to live like Christ—through self-gift and service. So what is one simple way you can serve today? ➡️ Open a door ➡️ Pick up trash ➡️ Encourage someone ➡...

How can we be more about saving and less about condemning? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer celebrates the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, who famously said: “If you become who you are called to be, you will set the world on fire.” And Jesus tells us: “I did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.” Imagine what would change if we spent less time: ❌ criticizing ❌ complain...

Have you been listening? Not just hearing noise… Not just going through the motions… But truly listening to the voice of Jesus? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reflects on the words of Christ: “My sheep hear my voice.” The question is: Do we only hear… or do we listen and respond? The Blessed Virgin Mary gives us her final recorded words in Scripture: “Do whatever He tells you.”...

Who has laid down their life for you? Who has sacrificed for you… given their time… their energy… their love… their life? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of the words of Jesus: “A good shepherd lays down his life.” Take a moment today to name one person who has loved you sacrificially. ➡️ A parent ➡️ A grandparent ➡️ A spouse ➡️ A friend ➡️ A priest ➡️ A mentor Then do...

Is Jesus a good shepherd?   Not just an average shepherd. Not just an okay shepherd.   But truly good… loving, faithful, merciful, and trustworthy.   In today’s Rise Up reflection for Good Shepherd Sunday, Fr. Jonathan Meyer invites us to ask an honest question:   Do I really believe, deep in my heart, that Jesus is good?   Sometimes life brings pain, disappointment, fear, or confusion. We may won...

Who do you know who has the name Mark? Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, the author of one of the four Gospels and a faithful companion of St. Paul. In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us that St. Mark’s Gospel ends with a powerful promise: “The Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” That means when we go out to preach...

How do you prepare for Holy Mass? Do you read the Scriptures beforehand? Pray on the drive to church? Dress intentionally? Arrive early to kneel and pray? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us that preparation is powerful. We prepare for weddings. We prepare for holidays. We prepare meals and celebrations. But how often do we intentionally prepare to receive the Body, Blood,...

What’s keeping you from going to Daily Mass? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer continues through John chapter 6, where Jesus proclaims: “I am the bread of life.” The manna came daily in the desert. Jesus gives us daily bread today. So what is the obstacle keeping you from receiving this incredible gift more often? Is it: ➡️ schedule ➡️ habits ➡️ distractions ➡️ comfort ➡️ prioritie...

Who do you know that feels lost or rejected? Maybe it’s a friend. Maybe it’s a child. Maybe it’s someone in your own family. Or maybe… it’s you. In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of the powerful words of Jesus: “I should not lose anything of what He gave me.” You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. You are not rejected. Jesus is searching for you. Jesus is chasing...

How is today a little Christmas?   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer connects the beauty of John chapter 6 with the mystery of Christmas.   Jesus says:   “I am the bread of life.”   And where was Jesus born?   Bethlehem — which means House of Bread.   This was no accident. God chose Bethlehem because Jesus came to give Himself to us as the Bread of Life in the Eucharist.   Today is...

What are you currently obsessed with that will not matter in eternity? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer reminds us of Jesus’ words: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life.” So much of life can consume us: ➡️ stress ➡️ drama ➡️ worries ➡️ other people’s issues ➡️ things we cannot control But in the big picture of eternity… how much of it tru...

What was the first Bible study like? On this Third Sunday of Easter, we hear the beautiful story of the Road to Emmaus—when the risen Jesus walked with two disciples and explained how all of Scripture pointed to Him. Imagine that moment. What prophecies did Jesus reveal? What Old Testament stories did He connect to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection? Did He speak of: ➡️ Abel’s lamb ➡️ Abraham’s...

What do you remember about your First Holy Communion?   The clothes you wore? The family gathered around you? The celebration afterward?   Or… the moment you received Jesus?   In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Meyer invites us to remember the beauty of that day—and to pray for all the children receiving their First Holy Communion today.   Let us also pray for:   ➡️ parents to keep the faith alive...

What small gift can you offer to Jesus today? In today’s Gospel, a young boy offers just a few loaves and fish… and Jesus multiplies it to feed thousands. In this Rise Up reflection, Fr. Meyer invites us to do the same. Your gift may seem small: ➡️ a few minutes of prayer ➡️ a kind phone call ➡️ time in Adoration ➡️ an act of generosity But when you offer it to the Lord… He blesses it. He multipli...

Is it possible for you to speak of heavenly things? In today’s Rise Up reflection, Fr. Jonathan Meyer invites us to reflect on the words of Scripture: “The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all.” So often our conversations revolve around everyday topics—weather, sports, work, or health. While these are part of daily life, we...

Happy Easter and Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! In this inspiring homily, Fr. Meyer reflects on the journey from “Doubting Thomas” to believing disciple, reminding us that God never defines us by our worst moments. Through the powerful witness of a 97-year-old parishioner devoted to Divine Mercy and a compelling explanation of the Shroud of Turin, this message reveals how the Resurrection transforms d...