"4 Facets of Faith" — 19th Sun. in Ordinary Time, 8/10/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Release Date: 08/12/2025
"Christ, the Advent Thief" — 1st Sun. of Advent, 11/30/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
What are you giving up this Advent? In today's homily, Father Chuck reminds us of the importance of enriching our Advent to prepare for Christ's Mass, and tells us two stories to illustrate Jesus's role as the "Good Thief". Let us make way for Jesus to show us His love by taking away our sins, and leaving us the gift of His grace. Catholic Mass readings for the First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2025 First Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9 Second Reading: Romans 13: 11-14 Alleluia: Psalms 85: 8 Gospel: Matthew 24: 37-44
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"Bonus: Thanksgiving Day Homily" — Thanksgiving Day, Thurs., 11/27/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Listen now to consider how to give thanks to God in difficult times, as well as in delightful circumstances. Plus, hear about a delightful "God-incidence" from Fr. Chuck. He tells how the disappointment of a canceled European pilgrimage led to an uncanny East Coast encounter—at a Mass at a small mission church in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley—between him and the son and daughter-in-law of St. Elizabeth of Hungary parishioners, one of whom was the Lector at this Thanksgiving Day Mass! Catholic Mass readings for Thanksgiving Day Mass in the United States First Reading: Sirach 50: 22-24...
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"Everyday Stories of Jesus as Shepherd-King" — Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, 11/23/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Have you experienced Jesus connecting the dots in your life? Father Chuck connects today's readings in his homily about God's kingly power and concern for us. Let us trust in God's caring for us in every age and every little detail. Catholic Mass readings for Christ the King Solemnity, Sunday, November 23, 2025 First Reading: Second Samuel 5: 1-3 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5 Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20 Alleluia: Mark 11: 9, 10 Gospel: Luke 23: 35-43
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"Don't Over-or-Under-Spiritualize Life" — 33rd Sun. in Ordinary Time, 11/16/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Did you know that whatever work you do is spiritual? All work serves God as we follow the way of Jesus. Listen to Father Chuck's homily on today's second reading and the importance of work for God and the good of others, and hear this week's homework. Catholic Mass readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 16, 2025 First Reading: Malachi 4: 1-2a Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 5-6, 7-8, 9 Second Reading: Second Thessalonians 3: 7-12 Alleluia: Luke 21: 28 Gospel: Luke 21: 5-19
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"100,000 Multnomah Falls-worth of Grace" — Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, 11/9/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Do you think of yourself as having a small drip or a flowing stream of God's grace? In today's second reading we hear that we are each God's temple filled with the Holy Spirit, so God's grace flows from us. Listen to Father Chuck's homily to learn more and get your spiritual homework for the week. Catholic Mass readings for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, November 9, 2025 First Reading: Ezekiel 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9 Second Reading: First Corinthians 3: 9c-11, 16-17 Alleluia: Second Chronicles 7: 16 Gospel: John 2: 13-22
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"God's Universal Love Connects us" — The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), 11/02/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Thank you to Father Ted Frison for filling in for Father Chuck this weekend. In his homily, Father Ted helps us understand God's role as Creator of the Universe, in which we are connected to all of the souls who came before us and to the Creator's love. In today's Gospel, Jesus says that He should not lose anything that the Father gave him. Let us carry on God's love and treasure all that He has given us. Catholic Mass readings for The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), Sunday November 2, 2025 First Reading: Wisdom 3: 1-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 23: 1-3a,...
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"How to Assess Your Righteousness Rightly" — 30th Sun. in Ordinary Time, 10/26/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
When you're feeling good about something you've done, are you being righteous or self-righteous? In today's Gospel, St. Paul is confident in his rightful relationship with God. It's okay to ask God to guide us to be righteous, being grateful when we have pleased God. Let us ask God to work through us to become more righteous and to help the poor and suffering. One way to do so is to read Pope Leo's first official document, . Catholic Mass readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 26, 2025 First Reading: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 2-3,...
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"Our Help *Is* from the LORD" — 29th Sun. in Ordinary Time, 10/19/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Fr. Chuck "reviews," reads from, and recommends a book on the Psalms titled, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, by Eugene H. Peterson. At the Multnomah County Library website, patrons can put a hold on the ebook version or on the paperback—making Fr. Chuck return the copy he's borrowing! Learn more about it from its publisher by visiting . Do you ever need help with how to do something correctly? Listen to today's homily on how Psalm 121 shows us in a gentle voice the right way to lead a life of confidence in the Lord so God will strengthen us from within. Catholic Mass...
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"Thankfulness Has Powerfulness" — 28th Sun. in Ordinary Time, 10/12/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
Do you know that gratitude isn't optional? It's our duty to be thankful; grateful faith connects us to God and brings us joy. Let us think of all of the things we are thankful for, so that our gratitude is not chained. And let us help those who are isolated and stigmatized as the lepers in today's readings were. Catholic Mass readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 12, 2025 First Reading: Second Kings 5: 14-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3c-4 Second Reading: Second Timothy 2: 8-13 Alleluia: First Thessalonians 5: 18 Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19
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"Depending on God Depends on You" — 27th Sun. in Ordinary Time, 10/5/25
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church — Portland, OR; Homilies
How are you choosing to use the gifts that God has given you? Are you stirring them into flame to grow your love and faith in Jesus? God has given us gifts that we can't get anywhere else, and every day it's up to us to decide how to use them. Catholic Mass readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 5, 2025 First Reading: Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9 Second Reading: Second Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14 Alleluia: First Peter 1: 25 Gospel: Luke 17: 5-10
info_outlineDo you find the meaning of faith sometimes to be too big and unreachable a concept? Father Chuck helps break it down for us with an exploration of today's second reading. Let us reflect on these "4 facets of faith"—hearing God's call and obeying it, seeking God's kingdom, receiving God's gifts, and offering them back to God for the good of others. The idea for these "4 facets" arose from Fr. Chuck hearing the Formed Daily Reflection for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Dr. Tim Gray, President of the Augustine Institute (http://formed.org; http://augustineinstitute.org); thanks, Dr. Gray!
Catholic Mass readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, August 10, 2025
First Reading: Wisdom 18: 6-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33: 1, 12, 18-19, 20-22
Second Reading: Hebrews 11: 1-2, 8-19 or 11: 1-2, 8-12
Alleluia: Matthew 24: 42a, 44
Gospel: Luke 12: 32-48