Reflections on the Word

(2013/4/7) Fr. Jan preaches about the difficulty of fear - the great leveler of humanity, and about how entering into the Easter season and realizing that Jesus is present to us NOW can be the solution. // Readings (Cycle C) // Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16 Psalm 118:2-4,13-15,22-24 Revelation 1:9-11a,12-13,17-19 John 20:19-31

(2013/3/31) Fr. Jan preaches about scuba diving and how the Resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms chaos and death into life, allowing us to conquer our fears. // Readings (Cycle C) // Acts of the Apostles 10:34a,37-43 Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23 Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 John 20:1-9

(2013/3/29) Fr. Jan preaches about the most important truth of this day and the meaning of love. // Readings // Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1—19:42

(2013/3/3) Fr. Jan preaches about the dangers of gossip and spiritual complacency, as well as the need for taking a hard look at our own lives and undergoing constant conversion. // Readings (Cycle C) // Exodus 3:1-8a,13-15 Psalm 103:1-4,6-7,8,11 1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12 Luke 13:1-9

(2013/2/24) Fr. James encourages us to truly enter into prayer with a listening heart and shares the Archbishop’s message for the Catholic Ministries Appeal. // Readings (Cycle C) // Genesis 15:5-12,17-18 Psalm 27:1,7-8,8-9,13-14 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 9:28b-36

Fr. Anthony preaches about what was unique about God’s covenant with Abraham and God’s promise of fidelity to the Church, the bride that has been transformed by the glorified Christ. // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11

(2013/2/17) Fr. Jan preaches about Pope Benedict’ resignation and the need to dive into Sacred Scripture, spending time with God’s Word that He may transform us. What percentage of ourselves are we willing to give to the Lord? // Readings (Cycle C) // Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Psalm 91:1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13

(2013/2/10) Fr. Jan preaches about overcoming the clutter and fear in our lives to respond to God’s call. // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 6:1-2a,3-8 Psalm 138:1-5,7-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11

(2013/2/10) Fr. James preaches about how Jesus is not just in the church, but is in the “boat” of our everyday life, and how understanding this changes everything. // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 6:1-2a,3-8 Psalm 138:1-5,7-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11

(2013/2/3) Fr. James tells us that we all have the vocation of a prophet, and how friendship with God allows us to overcome our fears to speak His truth. // Readings (Cycle C) // Jeremiah 1:4-5,17-19 Psalm 71:1-2,3-4,5-6,15,17 1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13 Luke 4:21-30

(2013/1/27) Fr. James preaches about the need for community, how Jesus Himself needed community in His humanity, and how belonging to the community of the Church is actually a matter of life and death. // Readings (Cycle C) // Nehemiah 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10 Psalm 19:8,9,10,15 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

(2013/1/20) Fr. Jan asks married couples, “Why are you married?” and reflects on this beautiful sacrament. // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11

(2013/1/20) Fr. James preaches about how Jesus can work a miracle similar to the wedding at Cana in our lives. If we offer him our daily work and activities, He can fill us with His joy. // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 62:1-5 Psalm 96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 John 2:1-11

(2013/1/6) Fr. James preaches about the four events Epiphany relates to and how God calls us in our profession. To truly encounter Him, we need to abandon our comfort zone in some way, and a true encounter with Jesus will lead to us going home by a different road. // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

(2013/1/6) Fr. Jan preaches about our culture’s desire to imitate celebrities and invites us to ask ourselves: Do we really want to imitate Jesus? // Readings (Cycle C) // Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6 Matthew 2:1-12

2013/12/29) Fr. Jan teaches us how the family allows us to be authentically human and reveals God’s love to us. He also explains the importance of commitment in families and how this relates to the Church. // Readings (Cycle A) // Sirach 3:2-7,12-14 Psalm 128:1-2,3,4-5 Colossians 3:12-21 Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

(2013/12/29) Bishop Binzer preaches about how families exemplify a “genealogy of faith” and reflects on how the Holy Family and the words of St. Paul are models for our own families. // Readings (Cycle A) // Sirach 3:2-7,12-14 Psalm 128:1-2,3,4-5 Colossians 3:12-21 Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

(2013/12/29) Fr. James preaches about how the Holy Family is like our own and the importance of letting go of the Herod within us, allowing the Christ child to enter in and transform our lives. // Readings (Cycle A) // Sirach 3:2-7,12-14 Psalm 128:1-2,3,4-5 Colossians 3:12-21 Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

(2013/12/22) Even though obedience is a “bad word” in the culture today, Fr. Jason teaches us the value of this virtue, exemplified by St. Joseph. In spite of our sinfulness, through being obedient to the Lord, we can become true apostles in the world. // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-2,3-4,5-6 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24

(2013/12/22) Fr. James asks us if we feel prepared for the coming of Christ. If we are feeling unprepared or unworthy, he offers us three remedies from the life of St. Joseph. // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-2,3-4,5-6 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24

(2013/12/22) Bishop Binzer preaches about the example St. Joseph gives us of allowing God to work in our lives even (and especially) when things don’t go according to plan. // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 7:10-14 Psalm 24:1-2,3-4,5-6 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-24

(2013/12/15) On Gaudete Sunday, Bishop Binzer invites us to reflect upon the question: Are you ready for Christmas? // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 35:1-6,10 Psalm 146:6-7,8-9,9-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

(2013/12/15) Fr. James preaches about how Gaudete Sunday is a foretaste of Christmas and the importance of an “active” patience in this season. // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 35:1-6,10 Psalm 146:6-7,8-9,9-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11

(2013/12/8) Fr. James preaches on how knowledge of the Lord brings a surpassing peace. // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17 Romans 15:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12

(2013/12/8) Bishop Binzer preaches about the model that St. John the Baptist provides for us of humbly preparing the way of the Lord. // Readings (Cycle A) // Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17 Romans 15:4-9 Matthew 3:1-12