Ordinary Time, 21st Sunday (C) Tent-camping is the best kind of vacation, because when you come home, your ordinary life feels like a luxury vacation! Fr. Michael is a very disciplined camper. He taught me the importance of doing the important things first, then relaxing and enjoying yourself afterwards.

When we hear the word "discipline", we think of punishment. But the Latin word actually means, "instruction." Discipline is about teaching ourselves, and others, to put first things first. Whe first discern what is important. Then we train ourselves to say "Yes" to the good and important things and "No" to the bad and less-important things.

In this context, the other two readings make more sense. Jesus is telling us that we need to keep doing the important things regardless of how others are acting. Jesus himself is the narrow gate. The bar is high, but God is generous. Focus on the important things, and do your work well. That is how we strive to enter in.

(24 Aug 2025)

Going Deeper: Want to add more discipline to your life? Not eating meat on Fridays s a great place to start. If you already observe meatless Fridays, consider adding a fast day or two in your week.

Thank you Cathy who on August 6 celebrated 1 year as a Patron.

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Ordinary Time, 20th Sunday (C) Leadership isn't cool. People lead badly when they start trying to look good. Jesus wasn't worried about being cool. Jeremiah wasn't worried about being cool. When we are called to lead, we can't worry about trying to be cool.

Thank you, men, for coming to Mass today. The world tells you that you should be anywhere else but here: fishing, working, having fun, or sleeping off a hangover. But you are here because you know that you can only be a good leader for others if you let Jesus lead you.

August 17 is the feast day of St. Hyacinth. He teaches us that whatever Jesus calls us to, Jesus will also give us the resources to accomplish the call. If we are trying to lead with our own smarts, we will never be strong enough on our own. Let us heed the call to leadership by allowing Jesus to lead us.

(17 Aug 2025)

Going Deeper: How can being a follower of Jesus make you a better leader?

Listen to Patrick's podcast about not being cool and here's another one about the GOAT leader.

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Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mass during the Day) • Mary was assumed into heaven at the end of her earthly life. There have been many incorruptibles through history that are awaiting the resurrection. Mary is the ark of the new covenant. As David welcomed the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, so Jesus welcomes his Ark, Mary, into the Heavenly Jerusalem.

The Ark preserved a jar of manna, the tablets of the Law, and Aaron's rod. In a similar way, we need to preserve moments when we have seen God working in our life.

God is producing a great play, the "Theo-drama", starring Jesus with Mary as Best Supporting Actress. We each have a special and unique roll, which we discover and live when we let the Holy Spirit direct us. We need to allow Jesus to be the star of the play. This helps us escape our "ego-drama." Mary humbly fulfills her roll and God exalts her. Living our roll well lifts us up and everyone else along with us.

(15 Aug 2025)

Going Deeper: What would it mean to play your humble roll well?

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Ordinary Time, 19th Sunday (C) Today we hear a witness from one of our Diocesan seminarians. He helps us see that faith is not a made-up fairy-tale. When we see the world through the eyes of faith, WE SEE IT AS IT REALLY IS. The reason why faith is comforting is ultimately because it's actually true. Jesus is real. We can trust him. Jesus promised he would rise from the dead. And his promises came true.

"Walk with me," Jesus said. By faith, Logan walked away from his girlfriend and began attending daily Masses. By faith he joined the Kairos year. Logan has learned the incredible joy that comes from walking with Jesus every day.

Jesus is leading us somewhere. We are pilgrims; this is not our home. The things here and now are passing away and we need to use them in a way that prepares us for eternal life.

Some people think that faith isn't rational. That's not true; faith is above reason, but not contrary to it. IF you believe that God exists, AND that he offers a heavenly homeland, THAN the most rational thing would be to trade the pleasures and comforts of this life for the blessings and security of eternal life. It is supremely IRRATIONAL to believe that God exists and that heaven is our homeland and still live for the here and now. Jesus is trying to save us from living irrational lives. 

Jesus is real. You can trust him. Walk with him today. You won't regret it!

(10 Aug 2025)

Going Deeper: How are fear, selfishness, and shame preventing you from walking more closely with Jesus?

1. We walk by faith, and not by sight;
No gracious words we hear
of Him who spoke as none e’er spoke,
But we believe him near.

2. We may not touch His hands and side,
Nor follow where He trod;
Yet in His promise we rejoice,
And cry, "My Lord and God!"

3. Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
And may our faith abound,
To call on you when you are near,
And seek where you are found.

4. That when our life of faith is done,
In realms of clearer light,
We may behold you as you are,
in full and endless sight.

Consider participating in the Diocese of Green Bay's Annual Raising Vocations collection.

Over 14 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.

Ordinary Time, 18th Sunday (C) What's in God's wallet? Certainly not cash, credit cards, receipts, or insurance cards. The only thing in God's wallet is photos of his kids. Lots and lots of photos, because God has lots and lots of kids. And he knows each one's name and their story. God loves every child like an only child.

The Catholic Church believes that every person has a dignity and value that comes from God himself. There are so many temptations not to recognize the dignity and value of every human being. There are many obvious ways that human dignity is attacked: genocide and racism, abortion, suicide, and eugenics. Then there are less obvious ways, such as IVF and surrogate motherhood. Lying, gossip, the exploitation of workers, and the mistreatment of immigrants all attack human dignity. "There can be no true democracy without a recognition of every person's dignity and without respect for his or her rights." (Pope St. John Paul II)

"Holy Spirit, show me the true value of every person, starting with myself."

"Holy Spirit, how are you calling me to uphold the dignity of every person in my community, state, country and world?"

(3 Aug 2025)

Going Deeper: Thank you Fr. Paul Timmerman for helping with this homily. Reflect on the following quotes:

"The dignity of others is to be respected in all circumstances, not because that dignity is something we have invented or imagined, but because human beings possess an intrinsic worth superior to that of material objects and contingent situations. This requires that they be treated differently."

"Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter. This principle...underlies the primacy of the human person and the protection of human rights. ...the Church resolutely reiterates and confirms the ontological dignity of the human person, created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed in Jesus Christ. From this truth, the Church draws the reasons for her commitment to the weak and those less endowed with power, always insisting on "the primacy of the human person and the defense of his or her dignity beyond every circumstance."

"Furthermore, whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or wilful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society, but they do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury. Moreover, they are supreme dishonor to the Creator."

"There can be no true democracy without a recognition of every person's dignity and without respect for his or her rights."

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Ordinary Time, 15th Sunday (C) I was away on a Steubenville youth conference. I had the privilege of listening to Bishop Barron preach on how Jesus is like the Good Samaritan. My favorite part of the homily is that the Catholic Church is kind of like the inn. We are helping those wounded by sin recover from their injuries.

(13 July 2025)

Going Deeper: Can you find me in the picture? Learn more about the Steubenville Conferences.

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Ordinary Time, 14th Sunday (C) The Jews think that Jerusalem is invincible because they are the Chosen People and they have the Temple. But they fail to obey God and He allows Babylon to destroy the city. Many are tempted to adopt the lifestyle and beliefs of the Babylonians. But God calls his people to continue to be faithful to him while living in a foreign land.

The Christians of Galatia are living in a pagan world soaked in sex, violence, gluttony, and every kind of material excess. St. Paul encourages them to keep living for Jesus.

Today, our situation is surprisingly similar to that of the Jews in Babylon or the Christians in Galatia. We live in a secular pagan culture soaked in sex, violence, gluttony, and material excess. Many are tempted to adopt the lifestyle of our neighbors. But God is calling us to be missionaries.

How can married couples be missionaries? First, they need to be disciples of Jesus. Second, they trust in their Father to provide for their needs. Third, their trust in God allows peace to live in their hearts and their homes. Fourth, we cannot let the world's rejection of Jesus cause us to question his value. Fifth, we can trust that God will protect us.

Finally, you don't have to be the perfect Catholic married couple in order to be missionaries of His love. As long as you are a disciple of Jesus and abiding in his love, God can use your "yes" to serve his kingdom. May the peace of Christ reign in our homes!

(6 Jul 2025)

Going Deeper: What married couples have been missionaries to me? How can they inspire me to live more deeply for Jesus? How can I be a witness of the love of Jesus to the world around me?

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June 30, 2025 • Today I celebrate the eighteenth anniversary of my ordination as a Catholic priest. Babies born the year I was ordained a priest are now graduating from high school! I have a few thoughts to share about priesthood.

Blessed to be a Blessing

Saturday I attended the ordination of Fr. Nico Stellpflug. At the end of the ceremony, he gave his first priestly blessing to the Bishop who ordained him. After Mass, members of the congregation lined up to receive his blessing. A priest is blessed so that he can be a blessing to others. You, too, are a gift! And the gift that is you is a gift that was meant to be given away.

Not the Perfect Catholic Priest

I thought I was supposed to save the world by being "the perfect Catholic priest." Today's scripture reading (Monday of the 13th Week of Ordinary Time) tells us that Sodom and Gomorrah would have been saved if there had been just ten righteous people living there. My job, and yours, is to be in right relationship with God, ourselves, others, and the world. All God needs is our individual "yes" to his call and he will take care of the rest.

Lived in Community

My individual "yes" to God matters every day. But I am also called to be part of a community of love. My church family teaches me how to be a priest. Thank you for the ways that you have shaped and continue to shape my priesthood. My priesthood has been a blessing to me and I hope it has also been a blessing to you.

(30 June 2025)

Going Deeper: How are you a blessing? How do you use your gifts to bless others?

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (C) 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 vulnerable first in hopes that we will not be afraid to open up and be vulnerable with him.

(22 Jun 2025)

Going Deeper: The podcast I was referring to was Episode 157: "Grifter" from Darknet Diaries podcast. Jack does a whole intro about his Defcon party. A large number of these hacker types like Grifter grew up in divorced families, had ADHD, and spent unhealthy amounts of time on computers. Also notice that the trajectory of his life changes when he joins a community that is intentional about forming virtue in its members (in this case it was the Air Force). Later on in life, he continues to live by those same virtues.

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (C) 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 Western culture, the community is annihilated by extreme individualism. Society needs healthy families in order to recover a healthy balance of individuals in communion.

Christians are members of the Holy Trinity. From within the communion of the Trinity we can recover harmony in ourselves, our families, and society.

(15 Jun 2025)

Going Deeper: When do you experience harmony in mind, body, and spirit? When and how do you experience disunity?

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