Fr. Steve Mateja's Podcasts

On Christmas we celebrated Jesus becoming man, today we celebrate His family. The reality is that we're all part of His family--but do we love everyone as brothers and sisters? In our world today there is much racial tension. Instead of pointing fingers we must love our neighbor. 

God didn't just have a gameplan, He became the gameplan. He doesn't want to lose you. He wants, more than anything this Christmas, for you to draw near and approach Him in the manger. Where are you on the journey?

So many of us are heartbroken, and many of us really hate this time of year. The great paradox is that this is exactly where God wants us because our broken hearts make the best of empty mangers! We must make them ready for the Lord's arrival.

"What do you get out of following Jesus?" This is a question that we all have to ask ourselves. Because this is the question that the world is asking themselves and answering for themselves why they are not Jesus. The real answer is simple.

God has a plan for all of us. His plan began long ago when he created the Blessed Virgin Mary sinless and without stain. She is the key to the treasure. 

John the Baptist tells us to make straight the path into prepare the way. What happens if we're heading in the wrong direction? We have to change and turn a new way--metanoia--repent! Repentance is the way in which we change directions in our life. Sin is a refusal excepting God's love, and we must repent of all of our sin but also in our relationship right now with God.

Fr. Steve talks to parents of children making their first reconciliation, first communion and confirmation. 

Three images help us to understand how this Advent can be different: a concert, Thanksgiving, and pottery. The fact of it all is that this Advent will be just as it always has been if we do not become men and women of prayer.

Today we celebrate the great scenes of Jesus Christ the King. A king has the kingdom, and a kingdom has boundaries. What is our king is doing is inviting us into his kingdom. Once we enter into his kingdom me realize that I am not The king of my own life.  But instead the king of all Kings must have Lordship over everything in my life. As we look further into our lives we remember what Jesus says here in the gospel and we must feed the poor, clothe the naked and, care for those in need. Or as Mother Teresa says, "The gospel can be summed up on five fingers 'you did it for me.'"

All things from God are gifts to us. We have to see everything in light of His gift. Now the question is, what will we do with these gifts? We must invest them by giving them back to God for the use of the building up of His body--The Church. To save souls for His glory is the greatest means of using our gifts. 

The story that Fr Steve referenced about Sir Nicholas Winton: http://youtu.be/c0aoifNziKQ.