The Vulnerability of God | #1531
Pilgrim Priest
We cannot have deep, meaningful relationships with other people unless we are willing to be vulnerable with them. When we know our own worth, then we will be able to open up and share with others even if they don't always receive us well. The Eucharist shows that God is willing to be vulnerable with us. Satan knows that God hurts when we are hurting ourselves and hurting others. God became vulnerable when he became human, and his vulnerability continues in the gift of the Eucharist. Jesus knows that a deep, meaningful relationship is not possible without vulnerability. So He chose to be...
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Mind, Body, Spirit | #1530
Pilgrim Priest
The Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. There are not three gods, but one God. We call this mystery, "The Holy Trinity". Human beings are body, mind, and spirit. When our spirit is led by the Holy Spirit, it can lead the body and mind into a harmony, a communion, a human trinity. The family is husband, wife, and children. When the husband listens to God and to his family, he can lead the family into unity. A healthy family balances the individual gifts of each member with the community. In Communism, the individual is virtual annihilated by the community. In modern...
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Every Member a Missionary | #1529
Pilgrim Priest
We are made for communion. We are called to communion. But you can't force anyone into communion. God respects our free will so much that if we say "No" to him, he won't override us. This is why we don't pray for the souls in hell; it's too late for them to change their minds. I firmly believe two contradictory things: 1) You need to be perfect, free of all sin and sinful habits, in order to enter heaven. 2) Jesus died for every person and God offers salvation to every person. We find ourselves right in the middle between the impossible goal and the impossibly generous gift. Will we allow God...
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Jesus Ascends and the Spirit Descends | #1528
Pilgrim Priest
• We know that the earth is a giant sphere suspended in outer space. The ancient people thought of the world like a snow globe. Jesus is ascending to the highest point of the universe. From there he can see everything and lead his people to victory. The cloud of God's glory leads the Israelites out of Egypt, meets Moses on the top of Mt. Sinai, and takes up residence in the newly-consecrated Temple of Solomon. The cloud appears at the Transfiguration. So when Jesus is hidden from their sight by a cloud, it means that he has moved into the presence of God. How can Pope Leo the Great say,...
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Dunked Into Communion | #1527
Pilgrim Priest
Easter, 6th Sunday (C) The and the . God's deepest desire is to be in communion with us. We can find happiness in many places. But we can only find fulfillment in communion. Our communion with God started with our Baptism when we were dunked into the very life of God. It deepened when we received our first Holy Communion. God is in us and we are in God. The consumer mentality makes me a black hole, endlessly pulling people, things, and experiences into my orbit. But grasping does not lead to lasting fulfillment. Communion happens when we can enter into a relationship of mutually self-giving...
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The Purpose of Our Parish | #1526
Pilgrim Priest
Our parish exists for one reason: Communion. Through Baptism we are "dipped" into God's love for us. When we receive Holy Communion, God enters us. So we are in God and God is in us. That's the very definition of communion! Today Jesus tells us, "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another." I think many of us nod and smile at these words without realizing what they mean. We think Jesus is telling us to be nice, to tolerate others, to be accepting and inclusive. In reality, Jesus is inviting us to first receive his love and love him back in the same way: total, faithful,...
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A Felt Sense of Safety and Security | #1525
Pilgrim Priest
Even from the very beginning, children need a felt sense of safety and security in order to thrive. Physically speaking, we live in a very secure country. And yet, we seem to be suffering from an epidemic of anxiety. Jesus offers a sense of safety and security that no one can take from us. Look how Paul and Barnabas feel safe even amidst persecution and riots. The Good Shepherd will lead them safely to eternal life. I want to take a little time to do an imaginative exercise. Pause the podcast and come back to it if you're driving or in the middle of something. First, start by picturing a...
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The Pope's Job Description | #1524
Pilgrim Priest
This Gospel is one of my personal favorites. It was given to me on a in 2004. John chapter 20 ends with these words: Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. It's a perfect ending. Roll credits. Then chapter 21...
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Where Can We See the Risen Jesus? | #1523
Pilgrim Priest
Happy Doubting Thomas Sunday! The early church fathers saw Sunday as the first day of the New Creation. Christians rest on Sunday as a preparation for the eternal Sunday, the great Easter that is heaven. Jesus appears on Sunday and offers his Apostles peace. He breathes into them the Spirit of life, a new divine life. He is, "the first and the last, the one who lives." Once he was dead, but now he is alive forever and ever. He I holds the keys to death and the netherworld. Our Almighty Lord is humbly walking with us in our everyday life. I hope that every Christian has experienced the love of...
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When Did God Become Real for You? | #1522
Pilgrim Priest
• We have three reasons to be happy for Easter. The first reason is what we move from fasting to feasting. Happy "feaster" everybody! The second reason is that we can dress up nicely and have a good day with family and friends and our church family. And the third reason to be happy is that Jesus has risen from the dead. The Resurrection means that we can find hope even in our most hopeless places. It is hard for us to appreciate how truly hopeless Good Friday looked to Jesus' first disciples. When did God become real for you? Did you ever have an experience that moved you from believing in...
info_outlineEaster, 5th Sunday (B) Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. We were grafted onto Jesus at our Baptism. We must remain in Him and draw much life from Jesus.
The branches need pruning. The gardener must get rid of overgrowth so the energy from the vine can go to making good fruits. Fathers need to be good pruners of their family. They need so start by pruning themselves. Prune your words, your actions, and your activities, and you will bear much fruit and become Jesus' disciples.
(28 Apr 2024)
Going Deeper: The priests recently attended a seminar on time management. We were told the time management is really priority management: you figure out what matters most and you put your time into that. Does the way you spend your time match up with your priorities? Ponder this question is you look over your schedule for the upcoming week.
Photo by Steve Matthiasson | Over 13 years of homily episodes available at PilgrimPriest.us/podcast | Like, subscribe, and share us with your enemies. | Find me on Facebook and Twitter| Powered by Patrons | give through PayPal or leave a nice review on your favorite podcast platform.