"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy – à la German Cars" — 4th Sun. of Lent, 03/30/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Release Date: 03/31/2025
"The Trinity's Treasure in Jars of Clay" — Holy Trinity Sunday, 06/15/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Have you prayed to St. Anthony recently for his help in finding something lost? Jesus, the treasure we are all seeking, is hidden within each of our human "earthen vessels". The Holy Trinity is the model for our welcoming community of love, to help us when we lose our temper, patience, or hope. Listen to learn about the special x-ray vision we can use to see Jesus in others. Note: Father Chuck gave this homily at Saturday's mass, which was also Julia's baptism. Father Chuck refers to a supplemental reading from June 13, 2025, Friday in the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time, First Reading: 2...
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"Pentecost 2025 — More Holy Spirit Stories" — Pentecost Sunday, 06/08/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
What gifts are you receiving from God this Pentecost? Father Chuck continues his series of faith-filled, real stories of the Holy Spirit bringing gifts of discernment and healing all around the world. Listen to how the Lord is working through Sister Briege McKenna, O.S.C. (Sisters of St.Clare), and also through us with the gifts of Pentecost. Catholic Mass Readings for Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025 First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 Second Reading: First Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13 or Romans 8: 8-17 Gospel: John 20: 19-23 or John 14:...
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"The Ascension Promise in Everyday Life" — Ascension Sunday, 06/01/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
When you read or think about the Ascension of our Lord, do you picture Jesus looking up to heaven? That is how He often appears in artwork, but Father Chuck asks us to look at this Sunday's bulletin. It features an image of showing Jesus looking down with his arms wide open (photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.). We know that Jesus is looking at us with his arms wide open, continually pouring out the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is surrender to His love. Catholic Mass readings for Ascension Sunday, June 1, 2025 First Reading: Acts 1: 1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 47: 2-3, 6-7,...
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"Fun and Real Stories of the Holy Spirit" — 6th Sunday of Easter, 05/25/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
How do we recognize God's voice in our lives? Jesus promises in today's Gospel that the Holy Spirit will be "Advocate" and teacher, for us and Jayden Raphael as he receives the grace of Baptism today. Father Chuck shares some inspiring stories of the workings of the Holy Spirit in his life in today's homily. Gospel Catholic Mass readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 25, 2025 First Reading: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 67: 2-3, 5, 6 and 8 Second Reading: Revelation 21: 10-14, 22-23 Alleluia: John 14: 23 Gospel: John 14: 23-29
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"Thoughts on Pope Leo and on Being Catholic Now" — 5th Sunday of Easter, 05/18/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Bishop Peter Smith fills in for Father Chuck with this homily on his insights about the election of Pope Leo and his reflections on today's second reading. Did you know that the Holy Spirit is at work in our archdiocese, bringing an increased interest in the Catholic Church, particularly from young men? Our choosing to follow God will bring us to the new heaven and new earth when all creation is renewed. Catholic Mass readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 18, 2025 First Reading: Acts 14: 21-27 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 8-9, 10-11, 12-13 Second Reading: Revelation...
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"Bonus — Mother's Day, Good Shepherd Sunday on May 11 . . . *2014* (from Our Lady of the Lake's homily archive)"
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
We're posting this "Bonus" homily in place of the talk Father Chuck gave this Sunday about the Archbishop's Appeal. Father Chuck gave this homily in 2014 on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, which the Church observes as "Good Shepherd Sunday" It was also Mother's Day and was on May 11, just like this year. He preached this homily as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Lake Oswego. Since this archive homily only refers to the Good Shepherd theme and since the readings from 2014 were different from this year's, we're not listing the readings. Please enjoy this...
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"Turned Upside-Right by the Blood of Christ" — 3rd Sunday of Easter, 05/04/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Have you ever rejoiced to be "worthy to suffer dishonor"? While the Sanhedrin feared Jesus's blood in today's first reading, we join the apostles in welcoming it as a sign of His love and sacrifice. Jesus's blood transforms and renews us through the Eucharist so we can share His love with the world. Catholic Mass readings for the third Sunday of Easter, May 4, 2025 First Reading: Acts 5: 27-32, 40b-41 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 30: 2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 Second Reading: Revelation 5: 11-14 Gospel: John 21: 1-19
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"Rest in Peace, Faithful LIVING"— 2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday), 04/27/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
What would you like to receive from Jesus when He comes to stand in our midst, as He did in today's Gospel reading? Jesus brings us His peace. We can call down God's peace and mercy upon ourselves, the Church, and the world by faithfully offering up our joys and our struggles. To make this prayerful offering, Fr. Chuck suggests trying a twist on the traditional prayer "May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace." What's that twist? The epsiode title gives a hint; to learn more, listen now. Catholic Mass readings for the Second Sunday of...
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"Pope Francis and the Message of Easter Hope" — The Resurrection of the Lord, 04/20/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Did you know that "hope" is such an important concept in recent years that not only Pope Francis but also Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II wrote inspiring words about it? Fr. Chuck unknowingly pays an end-of-life homage to Pope Francis by quoting extensively from his announcement of the current Jubilee Year of Hope only a few hours before Pope Francis' death early on Monday of Easter Week. May we be not just pilgrims but also proclaimers of hope. . Catholic Mass Readings for the Resurrection of the Lord, Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 First Reading: Acts 10: 34a, 37-43...
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Good Friday Homily — Friday of the Passion of the Lord, 04/18/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Today, hear how the Passion according to St. John the Evangelist can be a means for God to grant you wonderful spiritual fruit and gifts. These blessings can be ours through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary who, with St. John, stood as the foot of the Cross. Listen as Fr. Chuck suggests prayers and actions which relate to this Gospel. These suggestions arise from the devotional prayer that the Gospel narratives of the Lord's Passion inspired, namely, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Catholic readings for Friday of the Passion of the Lord, April 18, 2025 First Reading:...
info_outlineDo 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 continues—and concludes, Fr. Chuck promises—with this homily.* Special thanks to parishioners who found messages of grace in other car names and passed them on to Fr. Chuck so we can all be more mindful of God at all times.
Catholic Mass readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year C, March 30, 2025
First Reading: Joshua 5: 9a, 10-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Second Reading: Second Corinthians 5: 17-21
Verse Before the Gospel: Luke 15: 18
Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3,11-32
*For the other episodes in this series, go to "German Luxury Cars as Reminders of Being Merciful" (Season 4, Ep. 14, posted 2/24/25) and "AUDI® Means Act Under Divine Influence" (Season 4, Ep. 18, posted 3/24/25).
Credit for special artwork visible on some platforms, which Fr. Chuck mentions in the homily [image cropped and/or border added]—Stained glass window in St. Mary de Castro Church, Leicester, England, photo by Fr. Lawrence (Paul) Lew, OP, on Flickr; license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/.