From His Word to Our Hearts

As we enter into Holy Week on this Palm Sunday, we are given a stark reminder of just what Jesus was forced to endure in a very short period of time. From the heights of acclaim showered upon him during his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem to the abysmal depths of betrayal, abuse, torture, suffering, and death just a few days later, Jesus experienced an unimaginable range of human physical and emoti...

As we enter into Holy Week on this Palm Sunday, we are given a stark reminder of just what Jesus was forced to endure in a very short period of time. From the heights of acclaim showered upon him during his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem to the abysmal depths of betrayal, abuse, torture, suffering, and death just a few days later, Jesus experienced an unimaginable range of human physical and emoti...

On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, our readings focus on life and death. From Ezekiel’s prophecy that the Israelites will be raised from their metaphorical tomb to Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from his four-day sleep of literal death in the grave, our understanding of what it means to be fully alive is challenged. And we are reminded that it is never too late to turn away from sin and repent. God, who exi...

On this Laetare Sunday, we cautiously rejoice as we approach the end of the penitential season of Lent and draw nearer to the full joy of Easter. Just as water was woven through last week’s readings, sight and blindness – light and dark – are woven throughout our readings this week. These Scriptures invite us to open our hearts and see with the eyes of faith, to look not at the outward appearance...

On this Third Sunday of Lent, we are invited to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. Water, for us a common everyday item, becomes a source of transformation for the Samaritan woman at the well. The absence of water, something unthinkable for us, becomes the basis of a confrontation among the Israelites in the desert. The gentle movement of water, imagery so familiar to us, becomes a stunning me...

On the Second Sunday of Lent, we always hear the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus as a reminder to us that our time here on earth is fleeting and that our ultimate destiny lies in the kingdom of heaven. But heaven often seems far away and the demands of everyday life are unrelenting. That is precisely why Lent comes around every year! This season teaches us to devote more time and effort to o...

This week we enter into the penitential season of Lent. Each year on the First Sunday of Lent, we hear the story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness precisely because we are all tempted every day! Tempted to rely on ourselves rather than God, tempted to accept the flattery and empty promises of the world, tempted to overindulge ourselves while others go without, tempted by power, privilege, h...

Happy Eighth Anniversary, Saint Pius X Catholic Church! Well, it’s the eighth year in our NEW building. The parish is actually quite a bit older. We began by gathering at a humble farm just a couple of miles to the east, and have built three churches and a school. We have a rich history, built by the hard work and dedication of generation after generation of people in our local community, and deep...

Jesus tells us that there are only two ways of living and if we do not choose the path of generosity and love we are left following the path of selfishness and evil. Put that way, the decision should be simple and straightforward. But life is rarely simple. So, how do we ensure we’re on the right path? We begin by examining the types of things we put into our minds and hearts because those things...

Following Jesus, being his disciple, is not easy. It places demands upon us, upon our thoughts, our feelings, and our actions. Perhaps no demand is less well understood or more difficult to follow than what we call the Golden Rule. Jesus tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated, but that’s not as simple as it sounds. Each one of us has a lifetime of experiences that shape his or her...

As Christians, we profess that Jesus lived a human life, suffered his Passion, died on the Cross, and was raised in his Resurrection. If we have the faith to believe all of that, why can it be so difficult for us to understand that we must follow his teachings? Why do we struggle to accept that what Jesus tells us in the Gospels is the framework upon which we should build our lives? In the Sermon...

Jesus called Peter, his first disciple, to leave behind his job as a successful fisherman. Peter’s excuse was: I am a sinful man. Yet Peter left his boat and his nets and followed Jesus to catch men rather than fish. God called Isaiah in the temple. Isaiah’s excuse was: I am a man of unclean lips. Yet an angel purified him and Isaiah then enthusiastically said: Send me! On the road to Damascus, Je...

The presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary are the first public appearance of the Holy Family according to Jewish Law. In the Temple, they encounter two faithful Jews who had been awaiting the coming of the Savior. Both Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, but why were they able to recognize God’s glory when others couldn’t? Luke tells us they were devout, righ...

Luke opens his Gospel by addressing a person named Theophilus, meaning one whom God loves, and explaining that he intends to present the full story of Jesus. That’s a pretty bold undertaking! And it seems like something we should really pay attention to… which is precisely what we are doing through this bible study podcast! But listening is only the beginning! Yes, we have to listen but we also ha...

Imagine having Jesus and his mother as guests at your wedding! Although, truly, we shouldn’t have to imagine it because Christ is present in every marriage and it is through the gift of his grace that married couples are given the strength to live the vows they make to each other. Jesus’ presence at the wedding in Cana affirms the goodness of every marriage… so why do we still have so many problem...

John the Baptist points to one mightier than he, whose sandals he is not worthy to untie, who must increase as John decreases: The Beloved Son of God, Jesus. That required a tremendous amount of meekness and humility – from a well-known and fiery preacher! So, how can we adopt that same dichotomy in our own lives? How can we be strong and purposeful in our jobs, our relationships, and our families...

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 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 king led by a...

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, serves as a model on which to pattern our own families. That certainly sets a pretty high bar and it doesn’t seem like that goal would be easily achievable. But that doesn’t mean we can’t try! We may not all be perfectly holy, like Jesus and Mary, but shouldn’t we try to exemplify the love they shared? We don’t have to actually live in the Lord’s house,...

This is the final Sunday of Advent; our wait is almost over! It is finally time to join the rest of our modern culture in anticipating the coming of Jesus at Christmas. This week we look to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as our exemplar – she who is humble and generous, she who is full of grace, she who is carrying the Savior in her womb, she who is not sitting idly by but is travelling in haste to he...

This week is Gaudete Sunday, a day of rejoicing! John the Baptist is still preaching the good news to us and teaching us how to act to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Advent is inviting us to shout for joy, to sing in exultation, to be confident and without fear. But are we listening? Are we allowing the quiet of these long December nights to calm our hearts and quiet our minds so that we are...

John the Baptist preaches the forgiveness of sins to help prepare the way of the Lord, but are we listening to his message? Do we hold onto those valleys that divide us from one another? Do we build up mountains to separate ourselves from those who are difficult to deal with or who challenge us? The season of Advent is the time when we prepare for the coming of Jesus, but are we preparing ourselve...

This week we enter into the Season of Advent, a season full of watchful waiting, a season of anticipation and hope. Our culture tells us we should already be focused on Christmas, and there’s nothing wrong with decorating our homes, buying gifts, baking cookies, and sending cards, but what about focusing on the season of Advent at the same time? The end will come, whether we’re ready or not… the e...

Welcome to a Special Episode of the podcast! In this bonus episode, we will explore the various seasons of the Liturgical Year, what each season means for us, and the color (or colors) associated with each one. In addition, we will look at the three cycles of Scripture that the Catholic Church has established to determine the Sunday readings (1st Reading, Psalm or Canticle, 2nd Reading, and Gospel...

Our faith reminds us that this world, despite all its goodness, is not our final home, but we don’t always act as if we believe that. We devote too much of our time and energy trying to create a place for ourselves within the kingdoms of this world and we need to change that. How do we shift our focus away from the world and onto God’s kingdom? Acknowledging that Jesus is the King of the entire Un...

There’s plenty of darkness to be found in the world: natural disasters, the death of a family member or friend, work or school stress, financial hardship, loss of a friendship, loss of a job, homelessness, illness, or divorce.  How that darkness affects us depends upon our age, our background, our life experiences, and our faith. So, what gives us hope amidst all the darkness? Where do we turn to...