Pilgrim Priest

Easter, 2nd Sunday (Divine Mercy) 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 Jesus for himself. Our eyes need to be opened to the ongoing presence of Jesus in our daily life. The most important way that Jesus is present is in Christians. People in the Acts of the Apostles are seeing Jesus in Peter. On February 11, 2001, I saw Jesus in Pope St. John Paul II. Most people will come to believe in the Risen Jesus when they see him in you!

(28 Apr 2025)

Going Deeper: Where, or in whom, have you seen the Risen Jesus?

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Easter Sunday • 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 God just because that's what you were told to knowing for yourself that God exists? For me, the death of Pope John Paul II was a time when God let me know he was with me.

The Risen Jesus is with us and he wants to walk with you every day. If some guy in India died and then rose again, it wouldn't impact you very much. But what if your best friend rose from the dead? That would change your life! The reason why many only experience Easter as a nice day is because they don't know Jesus personally.

Your friendship with Jesus is what makes Easter great. Easter is proof that, even after we have rejected him, God still desires Communion with us. We are often unaware of how deeply we desire communion. We were made for a life of Communion with God himself. The invitation of Easter is to die to the old life of self-reliance and isolation and rise to a new life of communion with God and reliance on God. The harder we try to live for ourselves, the less fulfilled we feel. The more we see ourselves as a gift and give ourselves back to God, the more fulfilled we feel.

Jesus desires a deep, personal communion with you. What do you want?

(20 Apr 2025)

Going Deeper: Our Communion with Jesus should transform us into visible images of his invisible love. If you're doing life well, your wife and kids should see Jesus in you. How much do you really look like Jesus?

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Good Friday • Our own Good Friday experiences can cause us to doubt that God is a good father. The Passion reading is full of people acting out of self-protection and self-reliance. Jesus, on the other hand, continues to trust in his Father's Presence, Providence, and Protection. Do you live like Jesus, trusting in your Good Father, or do you live like those who killed him?

(18 Apr 2025)

Going Deeper: How would your life, and your death, look different if you lived the way Jesus does?

Image Source | 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.

Holy Thursday • God is with us! He is with us in the happy Christmas times, the intimate Holy Thursday moments, and our tragic Good Fridays. No matter how much we run from him, abandon him, or choose everything else besides him, God is still with us! And he chooses us.

Jesus knew that Judas would betray him, but he still washed his feet and did everything he could to show love. If only Judas had been able to receive God's love. If only Judas had chosen Jesus.

The Christian life is not about trying to do well on the "final exam". It is, rather, that we need to learn to see that Jesus is walking with us. Sin has closed our eyes, ears, and heart to God's presence in our world and within us. We won't be able to share the love of Jesus with others if we ourselves have not received it.

I want to share with you a Eucharistic miracle I experienced at St. Wenceslaus. It was the Sunday after Fr. Kelly's funeral, and a number of large hosts were left in the tabernacle. I dumped the ciborium into the second host bowl on the altar and then thought, "That wasn't smart. Now all the large hosts are on the very bottom of the host bowl." I had wanted to use them up at Mass. I moved some small hosts to the first host bowl, and then when I looked back, all the large hosts were neatly on the top of the first host bowl.

This tiny miracle reminded me that God is with us. May this year's Triduum experience open your eyes, ears, and heart to God's presence. 

(17 Apr 2025)

Going Deeper: Do you live your daily life in Communion with the God who is with us, or do your daily choices and anxieties reflect a life lived as if God wasn't there? How have you noticed Jesus walking with you in your daily life? In whom do you most clearly see Jesus?

Image Source | 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.

Palm Sunday (C) Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, also known as "Passion Sunday." First we read Luke's account of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Then we read this same Gospel's account of the death of Jesus. God the Father calls Jesus to total self-giving love. We were made by love and for love. We only find fulfillment in self-giving love. So why can't we love like Jesus? Fear and selfishness become obstacles to truly loving. As we read the Passion reading, we notice how many of the characters are motivated by fear or selfishness or both. God wants more for us. He wants us to build our lives on the rock of His love so we can truly love as we were created to live. Our savior is not afraid to die for us. Let us not be afraid to live for him.

(13 Apr 2025)

Going Deeper: In what ways do fear and selfishness prevent you from loving others as Jesus loves you?

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Lent, 5th Sunday (C) The Pharisees have set a trap for Jesus. They can accuse him either of breaking Roman law or of breaking Mosaic law. Jesus cleverly escapes their trap by stating, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

But first, he starts writing in the dust with his finger. What was he writing? Scholars have been fascinated by this question. I have heard three different theories of what Jesus is writing. The first is that he was writing the sins committed by the scribes and Pharisees.

The second theory is that Jesus is writing the text of the law in question. I know of two places in the Bible that reference punishing adulterers: Lev 20:10: “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death." Deut 22:22: “If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall purge the evil from Israel." Notice that the law requires both the man and the woman to be put to death. The Pharisees are only selectively applying the law.

A third theory comes from the scripture scholar Jeff Cavins. John chapter 7 comes before John chapter 8. In that chapter, Jesus has secretly visited the temple for the Feast of Booths. Jesus starts teaching in the Temple. The chief priests and the Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus.

John 7:37 says, "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. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."

Afterwards, the officers return without arresting Jesus. They say, "No one ever spoke like this man."

The next day, Jesus is again teaching in temple area. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in adultery and interrupt Jesus' teaching. What is Jesus writing in the dust? Well, Jeremiah 2:13 says, "my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

Jeremiah 17:13 says, "O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake thee shall be put to shame; those who turn away from me shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water."

Jeff Cavins thinks Jesus is writing the names of the accusers. The names of the chief priests were listed in the temple from oldest to youngest. They all leave, beginning with the eldest.

The prophets were always reminding God's people that they had a covenant with God. When the Israelites worshiped false Gods, the prophets likened their unfaithfulness to adultery. Jesus is essentially telling the leaders of Israel that by rejecting him, they are guilty of the same crime that this woman is guilty of.

Let's look again at Jesus's words: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” There is, in fact, one among them who is without sin: Jesus himself. Jesus is the Lord of heaven and earth, the true judge, and the only one qualified to mete out justice. He alone can stone her. He instead offers her mercy and the chance at a new life.

As Pope John Paul II said, "We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures. We are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become images of his Son." Our true identity is God's love for us. Despite our sins, we have not erased our capacity to become images of the Son.

The offer of mercy costs Jesus something. In fact, when he dies on the cross, Jesus dies for her so that she can have new life. He pays her penalty so she can go free.

St. Paul was one of those Pharisees who was not afraid to throw stones at sinners. But then Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. He realized that he, too, was a sinner. He stood before Jesus as Jesus wrote in the dust, then straightened up and looked at him and said, "Go, and do not sin any more."

Imagine for a moment that someone died in your place. Someone offered his life so that you could live. Would you not feel a sense of gratitude, and responsibility? Would you not feel that you needed to make it worth his while? Jesus died for Paul. Paul now lives for Christ. He spends the rest of his life living, and dying, for the One who died for him.

Every time we put something else first in our lives, we too are guilty of adultery. Jesus remains faithful and he dies in our place. How will you live for him?

(6 Apr 2025)

Going Deeper: What do you think Jesus was writing in the ground? What would he write if YOU were the one being accused and condemned?

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Lent, 4th Sunday (C) We are not expecting the father to welcome his prodigal son home again. We can all be like the prodigal son sometimes. We waste the father's gifts on ourselves and our pleasures, only to find ourselves empty and unhappy. In our desperation we turn back to our Father and he loves us and welcomes us home. We often turn around and start wasting God's gifts all over again. 

Other times we are like the older brother. We do all the right things, but we do so out of duty or obligation. We don't realize how much God loves us.

God our Father is always gazing at us with love. We must learn to live in the gaze of the Father. His love reconciles us and entrusts us with the message of reconciliation.

The Israelites eat manna in the desert until they can finally eat from the produce of the Promised Land. We feed on the Eucharist as we journey to eternal life. There the Father will run to embrace us. He will give us a ring and sandals and a robe. We will shake our heads and say, "I was not expecting that!"

(30 Mar 2025)

Going Deeper: Can you work and play today, knowing that the Father is always gazing at you with love?

Welcome Pete & Patty as new Patrons. Shout out to Barb for today's joke.

AdobeStock_411825558 | 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.

Lent, 3rd Sunday (C) Moses is rescued from death by a mini-ark and is adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. When he witnesses injustice, he first tries to dominate and control, then he runs and hides. God meets him in the desert in the burning bush. He is terrified by the power of the Egyptian government, but he lets God lead him. His impossible mission is wildly successful.

We feel inadequate because we are inadequate. The world is too big for us and God asks us to do impossible things. We tend to respond by dominating and controlling or running and hiding. Instead, we can let God lead us. God sees you. God hears you. God knows well what you are suffering. And he has come down to free you from this land of slavery and lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey. Let him lead you.

(23 Mar 2025)

Going Deeper: Notice this week when people around you use dominating-and-controlling tactics or running-and-hiding to address their inadequacies. How would your life look different if you let God lead you in these situations?

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Lent, 2nd Sunday (C) You shouldn't start a journey if you don't know what the destination is. Lent is a journey and today we are shown the destination. Where are we going? First, we are headed to Easter! We fast now because we plan to feast later. It's a little easier to be disciplined about our sacrifices if we remember that Easter is not so far away.

Easter is a celebration of new life. As the world comes to springtime, we also want to experience new life spiritually. Moses teaches us that new life comes from being faithful to the commandments.

Easter is a also a celebration of the most perfect sacrifice offered to God. Elijah reminds us of the importance of offering a pure sacrifice to the one true God. Each one of us joins our own sacrifices to the sacrifice of Jesus. The most perfect sacrifice comes from the offering of our hearts.

Finally, and most importantly, our destination is eternal life. This life is like a great Lent in comparison to the Easter of Eternal Life. The Law and the Prophets point us to Jesus Christ who is the fullness of the Father's glory. 

(16 Mar 2025)

Going Deeper: How does the "light at the end of the tunnel" give you courage and hope?

Image Source | 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.

Lent, 1st Sunday (C) On May 10, 1940, the Nazi German Army invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and France. By May 21, German forces had trapped the British, Belgian, and French field armies along the northern coast of France. The British withdrew to Dunkirk, the closest good port, in a desperate attempt to evacuate the army across the English Channel. German tanks and dive bombers were closing in.

Winston Churchill had just taken office. He was not known to be religious, but at the request of King George VI, a national day of prayer was declared in England. The people didn't really know exactly what they were praying for, as the media had not reported the desperate situation. Inexplicably, the German army halted for three days. They were worried about the marshy ground and getting over-extended. It gave the allied armies just enough time to build defensive fortifications.

Meanwhile, a massive sea operation was taking place. Ordinary people took their boats and yachts across the channel to assist the evacuation. Often very rough, the waters were as smooth as glass. German bombers assaulted Dunkirk and destroyed much of the town and the docks. But the smoke from the bombing hung over the beach, obscuring the operation. The RAF flew squadron after squadron across the channel to provide air coverage. A force of 40,000 French fought to the death against wave after wave of German tank attacks.

Imagine being trapped on the beach between the sea and the war. To calm themselves, soldiers started singing hymns. One had memorized Psalm 91 and recited it from memory. Many other soldiers knew it and they began saying it too. Soon whole companies were chanting, "He who dwells on the shelter of the most high, and abides in the shade of the Almighty..."

By the 8th day, 338,000 men had been evacuated. The evacuation is considered a miracle. Historians believe this was evacuation was one of the key reasons why Hitler lost the war.

Where do you turn when things look hopeless? Do you run and hide? Do you give up? Or do you turn to God's word? Jesus has spent 40 days in the desert. He's hungry, tired, and he feels abandoned by God. It is precisely when he is down that Satan pounces on him. Jesus responds, not with his own words, but with the Word of God. God's word is on his lips and in his heart.

A quarter-century ago, me and my fellow seminarians would pray Psalm 91 as part of Night Prayer every Sunday night . To this day, I know the Psalm by heart. It is there when I need it. Have you committed any favorite hymns to memory? Do you know any psalms by heart? When your back is against the sea and your enemies have you surrounded, where will you turn?

Going Deeper: Pick a psalm that speaks to you and recite it morning and night. The version I know of Psalm 91 comes from the GRAIL psalter.

Psalm 91
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High *
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: “My refuge, *
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”

It is he who will free you from the snare *
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions *
and under his wings you will find refuge.

You will not fear the terror of the night *
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness *
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side, *
ten thousand fall at your right,
you, it will never approach; *
his faithfulness is buckler and shield.

Your eyes have only to look *
to see how the wicked are repaid,
you who have said: “Lord, my refuge!” *
and have made the Most High your dwelling.

Upon you no evil shall fall, *
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels, *
to keep you in all your ways.

They shall bear you upon their hands *
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and the viper you will tread *
and trample the young lion and the dragon.

Since he clings to me in love, I will free him; *
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you,” *
I will save him in distress and give him glory.

With length of life I will content him; *
I shall let him see my saving power.

Image Source | 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.