St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies

Do you sometimes feel like you need some help along the way of your Lenten journey? You always have a chance for God to give you a new set of tires to journey deeper into belief. Let us surrender to Jesus' wise love for us like Mary and Martha did, on our everyday journey coming to believe in Him. Father Chuck gave this Sunday's homily at St. Henry Parish in Gresham, where he was parochial vicar (...

Do you realize there are actually two lost sons in today's Gospel? Jesus' parable, which we normally title, "The Prodigal Son," shows the wideness of God's mercy as a forgiving father. To practice this wide, godly mercy is a major part of the Christian call. And that call can come to us even through German luxury cars! Yes, the "German Luxury Cars and Their Hidden Spiritual Messages" mini-series c...

Did you hear Father Chuck's homily a month ago about how we can receive God's messages through Mercedes-Benz cars? Today we learn that God also speaks to us through Audis®! As the gardener's influence in today's gospel saved the fig tree, Jesus's loving influence is always there for us. Let us be open to and mindful of God's influence at all times, and be patient and merciful with ourselves and ot...

Did you know that Christ's apostles live right next door? St. John Society Mercy Missionary Lillianna joins us to talk about her outreach carrying Jesus's love to Portland's homeless through this apostolate hosted by St. Michael the Archangel parish.  You can learn more about the Mercy MIssionary ministry and how to support their work at: https://www.stmichaelportland.org/mercy-mission.

Did you know that Christ's apostles live right next door? St. John Society Mercy Missionary Gabriel joins us to talk about his outreach carrying Jesus's love to Portland's homeless through this apostolate hosted by St. Michael the Archangel parish.  You can learn more about the Mercy MIssionary ministry and how to support their work at: https://www.stmichaelportland.org/mercy-mission.

Did you know that Christ's apostles live right next door? St. John Society Mercy Missionary Ioane joins us to talk about his outreach carrying Jesus's love to Portland's homeless through this apostolate hosted by St. Michael the Archangel parish.  You can learn more about the Mercy MIssionary ministry and how to support their work at: https://www.stmichaelportland.org/mercy-mission.

Do you believe that only Jesus can be transfigured? We learn in today's second reading that Jesus "will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body".  The purpose of our Lenten practices is to help transform us to become citizens of heaven.  So let's follow Father Chuck's list and do more heavenly good for Lent, and less of our earthly bad habits. Catholic Mass Readings for the Second...

We hear in today's Gospel that Jesus refused to be tempted to turn a stone into food after fasting for 40 days. Did you know that God's grace can help turn stones into prayers for our Lenten journey? Those who attended Mass at St. Elizabeth of Hungary today asked the Holy Spirit to help choose a special prayer stone for themselves and to share God with others. We will keep them through the Easter...

Ash Wednesday usually prompts folks to ask one another what they are doing for Lent. This year the start of Lent prompted Fr. Chuck to recall the opening song of the hit 1960s musical, Camelot , "I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight." Listen now to hear why, and to get fresh ideas for how to approach this Lent with active receptivity to what the Lord wants to do for you, in you, with you, and t...

How can we know that God's love has been poured into our hearts? We learn in today's readings that how we speak depends on what is in our hearts. May we let God's love flow out in the words we share with others. Today's homily was for the First Communion Mass of a young girl named Clare who was also baptized at St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Catholic Mass readings for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, M...

We don't want to give you a spoiler alert, so you'll need to listen to today's homily to learn Father Chuck's explanation for why a German luxury car is a reminder of today's Gospel message. God's words breathe life into us so we can bring His mercy to those who have harmed us. Catholic Mass Readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 23, 2025 First Reading: First Samuel 26: 2, 7-9,...

How is it possible that the ancient words in today's readings can apply to us today? Father Chuck follows up on last weekend's homily on the "Wild Goose" series about the Holy Spirit by honoring a recently deceased parishioner who lived and faced death in the power and peace of the Holy Spirit. Listen to today's homily for a portrait of a person who lived the scripture readings and who knew that m...

Have you ever wondered just what exactly the Holy Spirit does? In today's Gospel, we learn that the Holy Spirit joined Simon Peter's work with God's work to yield the great catch of fish. The Holy Spirit joins our work with God's work to strengthen us and to bring God to others. Listen to Parish Leadership Council member Patty Frahler speak about the impact of our "Wild Goose" workshop on her life...

How do we reconcile the prophesy of a majestic King of Glory entering the temple with the ordinary simplicity of the actual visit made by the infant Jesus? Let us pray for the grace to recognize Jesus in ordinary people and circumstances. And let us present our ordinary selves to the Lord so that we may show God's glory.  Catholic Mass Readings for the Presentation of the Lord, Sunday, February 2,...

Personal note from Fr. Chuck: This homily is in loving memory of Tom Brophy, Feb. 13, 1937 — July 4, 2024 Would you read the Bible more if you knew that the scriptures are God's love letters to us and also an instruction manual? Today's readings emphasize how important the Word of God is to His people.  God's Word brings us back from exile to how we were created to be. Listen now to hear Fr. Chuck...

What do you do when someone tells you to do whatever is asked, as Mary advised the servers at the Wedding at Cana? Do you give it your best? That is what we are asked to do as servants of God, growing in faith and trust of Jesus. Catholic Mass readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 19, 2025 First Reading: Isaiah 62: 1-5 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8, 9-10 Second...

What does it mean to be baptized with fire, as we hear John the Baptist announce in today's Gospel reading from Luke? Jesus baptizes us in a blaze of consuming love, destroying our destructive ways and transforming our life. Let us pray that through the fire of our baptism we will become the people that God calls us to be. Catholic Mass readings for the Baptism of the Lord, January 12, 2025 First...

Did you know that there is a religious tradition that the Star of Bethlehem was actually an angel, a Messenger of God who led the Magi to Jesus? For 2025, we can be a Star of Bethlehem for someone. Let us pray to be a messenger to bring someone closer to Jesus. We can be an angel for a family member or co-worker or others. We can also be a co-partner with a person's Guardian Angel to help bring th...

Listen now to hear and learn a blessing for this new year. Receive it as a prayer for you from our pastor, Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood. Then, pivot and pass it on as a blessing from yourself to others.  Catholic Mass readings for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, January 1, 2025 First Reading: Numbers 6: 22-27 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67: 2-3, 5, 6, 8 Second Reading: Galatians 4: 4-7 Gospel...

Today we listen to Archbishop Sample's homily from our archdiocese's Mass for the Opening of the Jubilee Year.  The Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee Year every 25 years as a special grace-filled time of prayer, pilgrimage, and reconcilation. This year's theme is "Pilgrims of Hope". You can learn about the archdiocese's Jubilee 2025 plans and find a link to the official Jubilee Year website at...

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta once named the one gift from God that she would choose for others to receive. Listen now to learn what that gift is. Then hear how Fr. Chuck applies it to the last lines of each of the scripture readings for Christmas Mass during the Night, which our parish proclaimed at all Christmas Masses.  Catholic Mass readings for the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass during...

Have you ever received a Christmas gift that made you leap for joy? In today's gospel reading from Luke, the Holy Spirit helps Elizabeth and John recognize the Messiah. God's gift of the Holy Spirit is constantly pouring out for us. May we be open to receiving God's gift, and be filled with the Holy Spirit to recognize the presence of Jesus with joy.  Catholic Mass Readings for the 4th Sunday of A...

What kind of rejoicing do you usually think of in connection with today's Gaudete Sunday? We rejoice because God is near, and can also rejoice in St. John the Baptist's message that "the chaff He will burn...". What does this mean for us in our lives today? The chaff is anything that keeps us from growing in holiness and becoming closer to God. It is also the loneliness or sadness of others that G...

The Reitrement Fund for Religious in the U.S. Catholic Church took up a national collection at Masses Dec. 7–8. This collection gains a fresh perspective in Fr. Chuck's homily. Listen today to hear how he connects this collection with the Second Reading from Philippians 1. Namely, he echoes Paul's confidence in Phil 1:6, that God "who began a good work . . . will continue to complete it until the...

Have you ever had something inconvenient happen to you that you later realized was actually an opportunity? God's guidance and timing may not always be what we would like, as Father Chuck points out in today's homily. Psalm 25 asks us to surrender to God's timing,"To You, Oh Lord, I lift my soul ... and for You I wait all the day." Catholic Mass Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, December 1,...