From His Word to Our Hearts

Happy Ninth Anniversary in the current building of Saint Pius X Catholic Church! Our parish is actually quite a bit older… we began by gathering at a humble farm and have since constructed three church buildings and a school. Each year we are invited to recall our rich history, our deep connections to the University of Notre Dame, celebrate the growth we have already achieved, and continue looking...

Jesus tells his disciples he has come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it! By that he means, it is no longer enough that we don’t kill each other – now we must avoid anger; it is no longer sufficient to avoid adultery – we must now look with respect on everyone; we must not swear falsely; and our speech must be honest and true. Jesus is redefining evil and setting a higher standard for what i...

Jesus continues the Sermon on the Mount saying that we are salt and light, and that our good works bring glory to God. Isaiah also tells us that we must do good rather than evil so that our light shines like the dawn. The Psalm tells us that the light of those who are upright shines in the darkness. And Paul reminds us that our faith relies not on human wisdom but on the power of God. If we are ca...

Seeing the crowds that are following him, Jesus ascends the Mount of the Beatitudes and begins to teach his followers a new way to look at life, blessings, and what it means to be his disciple. It’s not about riches, or strength, or wisdom – it’s about being poor in spirit, being meek and humble, being reviled, persecuted, and foolish in the eyes of the world. These words are spoken to us as moder...

This week Jesus begins his public ministry in Capernaum, a small town on the Sea of Galilee, in order to fulfill yet another prophecy of Isaiah. It is there that Jesus preaches the same words used by the recently arrested John the Baptist – demonstrating the link between their two missions and ministries. It is the place where Jesus calls his first disciples, those who will be closest to him, thos...

This week, as we return to Ordinary Time, we hear John the Baptist declare Jesus to be the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sins of the world. But have those words become just that – words that are often heard but not often believed? What do those words really mean to us – in our heart of hearts?  If we really have God as our strength, if we really believe that we should be a light to the w...

Despite the fact that the rest of the world has already moved on, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is what really brings the Christmas season to a close! And Jesus’ Baptism should remind each one of us that we, too, belong to God – that we are chosen and beloved. It should remind us that every baptized person has the Spirit of God dwelling within us… even if we don’t always act that way! So, l...

Our modern culture has moved on! The Christmas season is over, decorations have been taken down, and stores are full of merchandise for football playoffs, the Olympics, and Valentine’s Day. The Church, however, has a different message. The Christmas season continues with this week’s Gospel which tells us the story of Wise Men from the east who left behind home, family, and security to search for a...

Every year, we are reminded of the perfection of the Holy Family: Jesus is the Son of God, Mary was conceived without sin, Joseph is a model of faith and obedience… but despite their perfection, even the Holy Family faced adversity. Our families can’t match their holiness, but we can learn from their example! There are plenty of things that will make us better people, better married couples, bette...

Merry Christmas! Today, the Savior is born and God’s peace has come to reign upon the earth! My wish for you is that your holiday be filled with joy, laughter, smiles, love, and happiness. The Christmas Gospels offer us many important lessons about the person of Jesus – who he is, what his heritage is, and how his birth came about. In the midst of our Christmas joy, we still need to ask ourselves...

Merry Christmas! Today, the Savior is born and God’s peace has come to reign upon the earth! My wish for you is that your holiday be filled with joy, laughter, smiles, love, and happiness. The Christmas Gospels offer us many important lessons about the person of Jesus – who he is, what his heritage is, and how his birth came about. In the midst of our Christmas joy, we still need to ask ourselves...

Merry Christmas! Today, the Savior is born and God’s peace has come to reign upon the earth! My wish for you is that your holiday be filled with joy, laughter, smiles, love, and happiness. The Christmas Gospels offer us many important lessons about the person of Jesus – who he is, what his heritage is, and how his birth came about. In the midst of our Christmas joy, we still need to ask ourselves...

Merry Christmas! Today, the Savior is born and God’s peace has come to reign upon the earth! My wish for you is that your holiday be filled with joy, laughter, smiles, love, and happiness. The Christmas Gospels offer us many important lessons about the person of Jesus – who he is, what his heritage is, and how his birth came about. In the midst of our Christmas joy, we still need to ask ourselves...

On this final Sunday of Advent, we hear an angel tell Joseph, in a dream, that he should take Mary, his betrothed who is already pregnant with a son, into his home since this fulfills a prophecy in Scripture. The faith required to undertake that mission, in the stark light of day, is astounding. We, too, are just days away from welcoming that same Jesus into our divided world, but do we have the p...

Even the greatest of prophets sometimes question their mission and John the Baptist is no exception. But Jesus is the Messiah, and he assures John that all the hallmarks of the Messianic age, promised in Isaiah, are coming to pass through him and that the kingdom is at hand. James urges us to be patient, to be at peace with each other, and thereby prepare our hearts for Jesus’ Second Coming. Adven...

This week, John the Baptist preaches repentance in the wilderness saying that one mightier than he is coming, meaning Jesus, the Messiah. Isaiah tells us that the Messiah will come from the stump of Jesse, meaning the house of King David, and that the Messianic era will establish a new era of peace. Paul reminds the Romans that all should live in harmony, including the Gentiles. The peace, righteo...

Welcome to Advent, the beginning of a new Liturgical Year! Every year, the readings for the First Sunday of Advent focus our attention on the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of time, when the living and the dead will be judged. Jesus, himself, tells us that he will come at an hour we do not expect. That can be a frightening prospect. So, let’s prepare ourselves… not to be frightened, but to be r...

As we bring this Liturgical Year to a close, please join me for this bonus episode explaining the various liturgical observances celebrated by the Church with special emphasis on the Solemnity of Christ the King. Special Liturgical Observances Explained Christ the King Explained Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction & Prayer (00:01:18) - Special Liturgical Observances Explained (00:14:05) - Solemnity...

Jesus is the king whose reign was not of this world, the Savior who did not save himself. Those who follow Jesus, who call themselves Christian, still struggle to live according to the radical message he preached. But why is it so hard? All too often we allow all the wrong things to have power over us… the internet, or influencers, or politicians, or social media. But what we really need to do is...

Listening to this week’s Gospel and looking at our world, it may seem that the end times are near… but Jesus tells us not to be led astray by the negative messages of our world, that many frightening things will happen before the end. He also assures us that this will be the time for us to give our testimony – to witness to our faith through the wisdom he gives us in Sacred Scripture. So, how can...

The Lateran Basilica in Rome is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. So, by extension, is it the home of every Catholic. Our readings this week remind us of how important it is to properly revere and respect all places of worship because they are where we encounter God here on earth. God’s goodness flows outward from those structures – through the waters of Baptism, through the wo...

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed is the one day each year that the Church sets aside to pray for all the faithful who have died. This feast reminds us that we will all face death someday, but that we should not be fearful of that reality. Instead, we must face it with hope and trust in God. So, how do we do that? How do we prepare ourselves to dwell in the house of the Lord forever?...

This week, Jesus warns us not to assume we are righteous! Such an attitude emboldens us to trust in ourselves while judging and despising others. That runs counter to what Jesus teaches, and we must be careful to avoid such thinking. Instead, Jesus tells us to acknowledge our sinfulness, to be humble, and to seek God’s mercy. Scripture tells us cares for the poor, the outcast, and the stranger, so...

In this week’s parable, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray and not lose heart. That message is especially important for us as well. Prayer is still the greatest weapon we have to counter the uncertainty, division, and darkness that is so prevalent in our world today. Scripture is still the most reliable source of truth to equip us for the good work we are to do. Our prayers may not be answered as...

Jesus is always ready to bestow his mercy upon us; all we have to do is ask sincerely and we will be made clean. Probably not cleansed of leprosy as we hear in this week’s readings, but cleansed, nonetheless. The proper response for such great mercy is to joyously love and praise God in return. But how do we accomplish that? We must live according to the Gospel, the good news Jesus taught – all of...