Ordinary Time, 17th Sunday (B)

I notice three lessons from the multiplication of the five loaves and the two fish:

First, we are hungry. Humans have many deep needs. We need to feel valuable, to know that we are good, to feel that we matter, to be seen and known by others, to live with security and a sense of justice, to have a life of meaning and purpose, to find peace and contentment, and to live in communion... to name some important ones. We are not honest with ourselves about how needy we are. We grasp at people and things around us to fill these needs. In doing so, we fall into the seven deadly sins.

Secondly, we see that Jesus is attentive to the peoples' needs. Jesus sees you. Jesus knows the desires of your heart, and Jesus intends to satisfy you. Instead of grasping at things, you can pursue a relationship with him. Only those who make the effort to follow Jesus are actually fed.

Thirdly, when we realize that we are needy, and what we have is not enough to satisfy us, the temptation is to grasp for more. Scripture invites us to take the little we do have and give it to God and others. God will be able to bless those gifts and make them more than enough. We will experience for ourselves that, "the hand of the Lord feeds us, he answers all our needs."

(28 Jul 2024)

Going Deeper: Do you realize that behind the seven deadly sins are actually healthy, normal desires? Take a moment to reflect on one of the sins that you struggle with and what good, healthy, but misguided desire(s) might be feeding your desperate grasping.

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Ordinary Time, 16th Sunday (B) Bad leaders confuse and scatter. Good leadership leads to clarity, unity, and peace. The clarity comes from a respect for truth. The unity comes from the love for the sheep. Being led according to truth and love leads to peace. The Apostles are being good shepherds by bringing people to the Good Shepherd.

Have you seen the news about the National Eucharistic Congress? The whole Catholic church in the USA went away for a weekend with Jesus. The news from the congress is full of peace and joy, unity, and clarity.

I have three suggestions for how to follow your Good Shepherd:

1. Realize that the Good Shepherd is walking with you. Learning to notice Jesus' ongoing presence in your daily life will lead to clarity, unity, and peace.
   
2. Pray for your leaders to be good leaders.
3. Each of us can lead our family, school, classroom, or friends. Lead like the Good Shepherd!

(21 Jul 2024)

Going Deeper: How have you seen Jesus' good leadership in the news about the National Eucharistic Congress?

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Ordinary Time, 15th Sunday (B) The whole human race has a long love affair with self-reliance. We are convinced that a good, happy, and successful human life will be the fruit of our hard work and intelligence. Repent!

When Jesus sends his missionaries out two-by-two, he precisely prevents them from relying on themselves. They can only carry what they need for the day and they have to trust God for the rest. God's power enables them to accomplish so much more than they could on their own.

They are equipped with their true identity and also with the help of a fellow Christian. Self-reliance leads to isolation. Trusting in God leads to community. Lastly, what do we do when people refuse to listen? We must shake the dust off our feet. We cannot allow their rejection to cause us to doubt the value of Jesus. We are always tempted to fall back on self-reliance. Repent!

(14 Jul 2024)

Going Deeper: How has self-reliance crept back into your life lately? Make a list, then create some strategies to stop being so self-reliant. Hahaha gotcha there. Your hard work won't get you out of self-reliance.

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Ordinary Time, 14th Sunday (B) Life is not meant to be easy. The more we try to live a comfortable life, the more miserable we become. When Jesus comes to save us, he doesn't come to take away our pain and suffering. He comes to suffer with us and to suffer for us.

Have you had a moment yet when God became real for you? For many, it happened when they experienced suffering. The very thing we run from, the very thing we try so hard to numb and avoid, actually is the place we are most likely to experience God.

God needs to give us suffering, hardships, and thorns in the flesh to shake us out of our self-reliance. The "perfect Catholic mom" is the one who accepts her weaknesses and relies on God's strength, not on herself. A Christian man knows that when he is too weak to rely on himself, it is then that he is truly strong.

(7 Jul 2024)

Going Deeper: When have you experienced weakness such that you had no choice but to rely on God?

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Ordinary Time, 13th Sunday (B) Disintegration, disharmony, dis-ease, destruction... this is spiritual death. Through the envy of the devil it entered the world. As long as we remain in the devil's company we will experience all these things.

It's not that Jesus hands out cures to this or that problem; Jesus himself is the cure. When we are in his company, we experience integration, harmony, freedom and peace. Jesus enters some of the worst possible human experiences: chronic illness and the death of a child. He touches the sufferers and restores them to their true identity as beloved children of God.

On this day 17 years ago, I was ordained a priest at the cathedral in Green Bay. The biggest blessing of priesthood is when I can help people share their difficulty, burden, or pain with Jesus: They experience healing, peace, love and freedom. I get to be in the room as Jesus is curing the sick and raising the spiritually dead.

(30 June 2024)

Going Deeper: When have you felt spiritually alive? When have you felt spiritually dead? Do you know how to share your burdens with Jesus?

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Ordinary Time, 11th Sunday (B) What would you wish for if you only had one wish? I know exactly what I would wish for: that men would be good fathers. About 90% of the issues that wander in my office can be traced back to men who failed to be good fathers. We have a severe crisis of childhood, which is rooted in a crisis of fatherhood and motherhood.

The crisis of fatherhood came from a rejection of God's fatherhood. Men will only be good fathers to the extent that they are willing to be obedient sons of their Heavenly Father. Sometimes we see God as an authoritative father who is always disappointed, or an absent father who is never there for his children. God loves us unconditionally, but he also challenges us to be the best that we can be.

God takes young men and helps them grow into strong men and caring fathers. We, too, must help our young boys grow into men and our men grow into fathers. Today's Gospel speaks to the men who are trying hard to be good fathers but don't seem to be having an impact on their children or on society. The words that fathers speak are like seed planted in the soil. You cannot possibly know when they will grow and bear fruit. The mustard bush is like the good example of a father; it spreads imperceptibly but is unstoppable.

God has made us stewards of His most precious gift: the gift of human life. We must protect and defend the value of every human life. Father's Day is not just a day to celebrate fathers. It is also a day to call men to be obedient sons of God the Father and good fathers to God's children.

(16 June 2024)

Going Deeper: Do your words and example build up or tear down the dignity of God's children? Who has helped you to realize the true meaning of Christian fatherhood?

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Ordinary Time, 10th Sunday (B) We are the only critter in creation not comfortable in it's own skin. Why do humans wear clothes? The Bible says we started with original innocence. But then we rejected God's Fatherly authority and all started playing the Blame and Shame Game.

Jesus refuses to play the game. He lives a life of simplicity, innocence, and honesty. His lifestyle is so unexpected that people think he is crazy. If you follow Jesus, you too will become a scapegoat. But the power of this world is passing away. Those who do the Father's will become Jesus' family.

(9 Jun 2024)

Going Deeper: When do you feel naked and exposed? How do you respond to that feeling?

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Corpus Christi (Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ-B) This weekend the Diocese of Green Bay implements Bishop Ricken's pastoral instruction that allows the common cup on select feast days. We receive the whole Jesus no matter how we receive Communion, but Communion under both species is a fuller symbol of Jesus giving himself completely to us.

Jews don't eat blood because it was seen as the life force of an animal. St. Jean de Brèbeuf died so bravely that the natives who killed him ate his heart. They wanted his courage. It wasn't his physical heart that made him brave; it was his union with the Sacred Heart. He had learned to draw life from Jesus. When we enter into Communion with Jesus, the very life of God flows in our veins.

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage processions began just a week or two ago. A reporter was asking people what fruits they were hoping to see flowing from this procession. One perpetual pilgrim said, “The reason that I applied and then said yes to this was in the hopes that I would become more like Jesus." The Eucharist is given to us so that you can become like Christ. Become what you receive!

(2 Jun 2024)

Going Deeper: Consider joining one of the national Eucharistic processions. Or spend extra time with Jesus in these pilgrimage weeks.

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (B) God created everything, but nothing created God. God simply is. There is no other God but him. The Trinity means that God is love and he is always pouring himself out in love.

Made in the image and likeness of God, we are made for a community of love. We can only truly fulfill our calling if we learn to live from within the love of the Trinity. We need to draw life from within the Trinity and pour it out for others.

Like two homeless brothers, you are an heir to the kingdom of God. We can put up with much hardship because we await an infinite inheritance.

(26 May 2024)

Going Deeper: What does it mean to remain in God's love for you? What kind of suffering or persecution would you face if you knew that an infinite inheritance awaits you?

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Pentecost Sunday • God wants to breathe life into us so he sends the Holy Spirit. We may not realize that when we desire true love, community, peace, and guidance, we are really desiring the Holy Spirit. We can always draw more life from God, so our prayer each day should be, "Come, Holy Spirit!"

This weekend, Bishop Ricken ordained six men to the permanent deaconate. Next week, two men will be ordained to the priesthood. The Holy Spirit seems to respond to the real vocations crisis in the church, that is, a crisis of Catholic marriages. Let us listen and respond to the way God invites us to self-giving love. Our "Yes" will inspire those around us to say, "Yes."

(19 May 2024)

Going Deeper: How is God inviting you to self-giving love in your daily life and vocation?

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.