Pilgrim Priest

Jesus comes not only to restore us as as individuals, but also to heal our family. He does this by revealing that our four fundamental identities are rooted in the True Love of God the Father and Mary our Mother. Let’s turn to Mary our Mother.

No matter how far we wandered, we have never gotten out of our Father's back yard! When the time had come, God sent his Son Jesus into this cold, cruel world. He came to tell us that we have a Father who loves us and who wants us to come home.

Each of us is trying to be a star in our own show that is written, produced, and directed by ourselves. The Bible tells a different story. We each have a special part in the great "Theo-drama." Let Baby Jesus teach you how to play your part.

The ancient and medieval world was familiar with the example of the wheel of fortune: One minute you're on top of the world, the next minute you are on the bottom. We need to move from the chaos of the outside to the peace at the center.

We were made for communion with God, with one another, with ourselves and even with Creation. Communion means we want to dwell in God and have God dwell in us. Mary started from within God and then received God inside of her. We are the opposite.

A felt sense of safety and security is necessary for us to find peace. When peace is missing, there are many ways we might try to manufacture it, but God desires to make his people safe and secure. I share some ways to find peace and remain in peace.

We often think of Jesus as priest or as prophet. Today we focus on Jesus as King. We don't get to vote on the King, which is good, because we have a terrible track record when it comes to picking good leaders for ourselves. But we do get a vote…

Ancient people could count on the sun, moon, and stars. When everything else fails, we can still count on Jesus. His words are more dependable than heaven and earth. A constant reminder of Jesus' dependable love for us is the gift of our guardian angel.

Jesus is impressed not with the size of the donation; he is impressed with a generous heart. If you are generous with God, you will have some left over. Give God the chance to earn your trust.

The love of God should transform every aspect of our lives. The second level is the call to incarnate God's love in a unique and permanent way. The third level is the ongoing discernment of loving God and neighbor in everyday life.

I think people are leaving the Catholic church because being Catholic made them less happy. But they were thinking of happiness in terms of self-indulgence. There are forms of happiness that don’t disappoint. These are rooted in self-control.

Jesus is leading home to the heavenly kingdom all who have heard his call and followed him. We gather at Sunday Mass to experience ongoing encounter with God's love and truth that brings us into wholeness and communion. Keep calling for Jesus!

Which better describes you — the three S’s or the three C’s? Consumers excel at comparing, competing, and complaining. Stewards are famous for their willingness to serve, suffer, and sacrifice.

What can our scripture readings teach us about stewardship? Marriage is a shared stewardship. The two become "one flesh", sharing everything with one another, and together exercise a stewardship of God's children. These are God’s greatest gifts.

How would your life be different if you were able to live from your true identity as a child of God, temple of the Holy Spirit, and a part of the Body of Christ? Damascus Road Project loves trafficked women into their true identity.

Life begins at conception and that every child is a gift from God. Many parents nowadays don't want God to give them many of these gifts. Then we turn around and pay doctors and scientists or surrogate moms so we can buy ourselves a “gift.”

You don't have to look at every religion to find the true one, you just first have to answer this question: Is Jesus who he says he is? Jesus made a claim that no other founder of a major religion has ever made. And it means something for your life.

When working with foreign priests, I have learned that a "Yes" does not mean he has understood. I also need to not only listen to him, but try and truly understand. Let us pray that we can not only hear God, but also listen and understand.

Our external actions should show what is in our hearts. When there is a disconnect, the heart is the most important part. God wants to be with his people. Following his law leads to clean hands and hearts. From clean hearts flow clean actions.

Why have people left the Catholic Church? Because they want to be happy! Being Catholic gets in the way of having the things I want to have and doing the things I want to do. And it ends up revealing to us our heart’s deepest desire.

Catholics have started to lose a sense of God's presence in the Eucharist. But first we lost a sense of the sacramentality of the whole world. The Eucharist gives us sense of meaning and purpose and reminds us that we are not alone.

We, too, are well-fed slaves! We are always hungry for more. Only Jesus can satisfy the deep hungers in the human heart. This is why Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist. When I allow Jesus to be the master, I find that I am truly free. 

I notice three lessons from the multiplication of the five loaves and the two fish. First, we are hungry. Second, Jesus sees you and knows the desires of your heart. Third, learn what to do with the little you have when it is not enough.

Bad leaders confuse and scatter. Good leadership leads to clarity, unity, and peace. We see Jesus leading through the National Eucharistic Congress. I have three suggestions for how to follow your Good Shepherd more closely.

Jesus sends out missionaries and he intentionally prevents them from relying on themselves. They are equipped with their true identity and also with the help of a fellow Christian. We, too, are always tempted to fall back on self-reliance. Repent!