Pilgrim Priest

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C) · Confidence in Christ means we trust that: (1) He knows us (2) He knows True Life (3) He knows how to get us there. No matter how bad our life looks, the Shepherd can lead us to a better place.  The Shepherd calls his sheep to their unique vocations: priesthood, religious life, marriage. He continues to call His sheep each day. Listen and follow.

(17 Apr 2016)

Point to Ponder: Has Christ ever led you astray?

Point to Discuss: Talk to a friend about their vocation story: When did you  know that your spouse was “the one”? (or the priesthood, or their religious community)

Third Sunday of Easter (Year C) · The whole universe is praising God in the great High Mass of Heaven. Every one of us has a unique place in the Heavenly choir. We sing at Mass because God wants to hear his children’s voices. God and he is worthy of all glory and honor and praise. Your job is to praise and worship him. There is no gift, no sacrifice, no service that could be too much for God.

The lamb is worthy, but Peter realizes that he is not worthy. He has denied Christ. Peter must accept Christ’s merciful love. Christ’s love changed him. He became worthy to die for Christ. The Church wants us to remember Peter’s lesson at every Sunday Mass: Lord, I am not worth that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Give God permission to love you, and let His love transform you.

(10 Apr 2016)

Point to Ponder: Do I give Jesus permission to love me? Do I allow His love to transform me?

Point to Discuss: Read more about why Catholics don’t sing. Talk to a friend about a time when music helped you to worship God.

Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter) · Finally we get to see the risen Jesus. He offers us the gift of peace, a peace that comes from reconciliation with the Father. Jesus gives Thomas a second chance. If you are struggling with belief, that’s OK. Just don’t give up asking and looking. Thomas goes as far as India helping those who have not seen to believe. He received mercy; he shares mercy. Pope John Paul II brought mercy to the world. He offered mercy to his assassin. Let the risen Jesus meet you and offer you mercy and peace.

(3 Apr 2016)

Point to Ponder: Where did you see the Risen Jesus this past week?

Point to Discuss: How could mercy bring greater peace to this world? Talk to a friend about ways you could offer mercy right where you live and work.

Second Sunday of Easter (or Divine Mercy Sunday)  featuring Deacon Michael: Thomas struggles with turbulence but finds a safe landing in the side of Christ. This wound goes all the way to Jesus’ heart. Jesus says, “Whatever your turbulence is, I can handle it. Come to my heart.” Bring your wounds and fears and place them in his heart. Come in for a safe landing.

(3 Apr 2016)

Point to Ponder: What do you do with the turbulence in your life?

Point to Discuss: Share the Caravaggio image with a friend and talk about what you each see and feel.

Easter Sunday. God sent us a Savior to rescue us from sin and death. Instead of welcoming Him we killed Him. But then God raised him from the dead. Never underestimate the power of God!

The Resurrection changed everything, but only for those who chose to follow Jesus. They could let go of their past and their future, and live the present moment with and for Jesus. Begin to live the Resurrection by celebrating Easter every Sunday, and Good Friday every Friday. Die to yourself every night, and rise to the new you every morning.

Want to know why rabbits leave colored eggs full of candy? The egg with candy is like a tomb full of joy. Don’t stop looking for Jesus because he isn’t dead: He is Risen! And we can find him everywhere.

(27 Mar 2016)

Point to Ponder: Remember the Cold War, how we used to think it would last forever? Pope John Paul II consecrated the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart in 1984. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Ponder how you have underestimated the power of God.

Point to Discuss: Tell someone about how the Resurrection has changed your life. Try to do a better job than rabbits do.

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (Year C)

After the Palm Sunday Gospel — God chooses Jesus to be king. We get to vote whether we will be in or out of his Kingdom. We make our choice today and every day. If we want to choose him as our king then we must serve him. That means laying down, not cloaks or branches, but our lives before Jesus. If we serve with Him, we will reign with Him.

After the Passion Reading — Don’t let Holy Week pass by quickly. What do you have to cancel, turn off, or step away from? What can you do to participate with Jesus in His passion? The legend of the thorn bird reminds us that Jesus is singing his greatest song on the cross. Will you take time to stop and listen? Make this week a Holy Week.

(20 Mar 2016)

Point to Ponder: Mark today’s Passion reading in your Bible and reflect on it each day this week: Luke 22:14-23:56

Point to Discuss: We like the idea of Jesus serving us, but are we comfortable with the idea of serving Jesus? Talk with a friend about what it means to say Jesus is King.

Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C) · What if we knew the woman caught in adultery? What if I was the wo/man – how would I feel? Then picture yourself face to face with Jesus, the “Face of Mercy.” Nothing matters less than the score at halftime. Like this woman and St. Paul, I hope you come to see the face of Jesus during the Year of Mercy.

What was Jesus writing on the ground with his finger?

Jeff Cavins believes he was writing the names of the elders. He draws this from two places, John 7:37-38:

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. 38 He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’”

Jeremiah 17:13:

O Lord, the hope of Israel,

    all who forsake thee shall be put to shame;

those who turn away from thee shall be written in the earth,

    for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water.

Jesus is accusing the elders of adultery against God himself. They have rejected God’s offer of life through Jesus, and have sought righteousness in themselves and their own works. Despite their hard efforts they are not free from sin, and therefore have no right to stone another. They leave one by one in the order their names are written in the temple.

Jesus is talking about us. “I don’t need to go to Church to be a good person.” Are you trusting in Christ, or are you trusting in yourself? The adulterous woman is us. We the Church have not been faithful to our God. We have sought life elsewhere rather than turning to Christ.

How does Jesus solve the problem of our adultery?

ISIS hates adulterers and stones them. Hollywood welcomes sin and uses sinners. Only Jesus loves the woman. He loves her so much that he takes her place. Jesus lets the crowd accuse him and stone him to death on the cross. Jesus dies for sin. That is God’s answer to our sinfulness. How do we respond? Do we say, “That’s OK Jesus, I’m basically a good person. I’m not a saint, but I’m getting better.” Or do we say:

Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me,

a sinner.

(13 Mar 2016)

Point to Ponder: Listen to Jeff Cavins on the 5th Sunday of Lent (where I stole all my good ideas). What is the “something new” that God wants to do in your life?

Point to Discuss: Sit down with a friend and get out your Bibles and discuss the scriptures mentioned above: John 7:37-John 8:11 and Jeremiah 17.

Never get caught without a Bible again! Truth & Life Bible App

Lent, 4th Sunday (Year C) · ISIS doesn’t believe in a merciful God. The Calvinists didn’t either. They were responding to the immorality of their day but in a way that becomes severe and oppressive. God’s response is found in today’s Gospel. The younger son doesn’t think he deserves mercy. The older son doesn’t realize he needs mercy. Both are missing their Father’s love. The Father will run to meet you in the Confessional. Where will Hollywood and ISIS see God’s merciful love, if they do not see it in us? And how can we be merciful like the Father if we have not allowed the Father to be merciful to us?

Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

(6 Mar 2016)

Point to Ponder: Take a look at the BBC report Inside ‘Islamic State’: A Raqqa Diary. Pray for the people suffering at the hands of ISIS.

Point to Discuss: Tell your sins to priest and receive God’s forgiveness. Then pass it on by offering forgiveness to someone else.

Lent, 3rd Sunday (Year C) featuring Deacon Michael • The burning bush is the dramatic beginning to a rescue mission.  God says, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people… so I know well what they are suffering.” God knows well what we are suffering. God would not give us desires that go unfulfilled. Our desire for life without suffering is a sign that we are made for Heaven. St. John Paul II and Blessed Chiara Badano both found hope by uniting their sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus. The road of the cross leads to the Resurrection. If we embrace the cross with Jesus, we will come to know I AM as Our Father.

(28 Feb 2016)

Point to Ponder: What does it mean to unite your sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus?

Point to Discuss: Do you know someone who is suffering, yet still manages to remain joyful and hopeful? Talk to them about what suffering means to them.

Second Sunday of Lent (Year C) • Faith is believing in things we cannot see. Abraham believes God even though he cannot see the stars. The glory that radiates from Jesus on the mountain has already been radiating through his miracles, love, and mercy. Even when they cannot see the glory of Jesus, the disciples can still follow his voice. “Listen to Him” means more than just hearing, but also doing. It means letting the merciful of God shine through our words and deeds.

Pope Francis shared God’s love and mercy in Mexico. He warns us, “A person who only thinks about building walls and not bridges isn’t a Christian. This isn’t in the Gospel.”[ref] Is the love of God shining through Donald Trump? Is the love of God shining through fans at a basketball game? Is it radiating in your life and mine? It’s not easy to follow Jesus’ message in a dark world. But listening to Him allows us to become a light in the darkness. “When was the last time someone confused you for Jesus?“

(21 Feb 2016)

Point to Ponder: Is there something about Pope Francis that reminds you of Jesus? Is there something about you that reminds others of Jesus?

Point to Discuss: Get a copy of Rediscover Jesus and do a little book study with your spouse or a friend.

(this Lent my parishes are giving away free copies of the book)