The invitation this morning calls us to three things. Number one, keep your eyes on the things that matter in life. Number two, let your Christian love continue to burn every day; Christian love has no break, has no vacation. And finally, the right time to do that is now. 

 Above and beyond every person on this earth who has the prerogative of any power over others, we have a Good Shepherd who has promised: I myself will look after and tend my sheep (Ez 34:11).
Download Transcript

Remember what is often said in athletics, ‘There’s no”I” in church.’ Okay, so that’s not often said in athletics, but it’s true. Jesus began His public ministry by calling together a group who would work together, pray together, learn together, and walk through the joys and sorrows of life together. Jesus hasn’t stopped calling His little flock, and that’s why we’re here together. There truly is no ‘I’ in church, and the witness we give to others (especially the kiddos who are at Mass) by our example goes a long way toward helping each person learn and walk with Jesus.
Download Transcript

You will have noticed that, as we come close to the end of the liturgical year, the Church begins to place before us readings that remind us of the need to be spiritually awake, the need for us to continue to take a step back and look at how we can deepen our relationship with God…. So the question is, what are you ready to change in your life today, in your relationship with Christ? 

‘No’ is not the answer we expect. We expect generosity. We expect outstanding generosity: ‘Yes, please, take all the oil you want.’ The disturbing part of this is that the parable is not about generosity. The parable is about the end of time and the return of the Lord. 

The Psalmist describes integrity as someone who stands by his oath even to his hurt or to put it another way, makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise (15:4). Integrity is someone who is willing to say, ‘I was wrong.’ Integrity is helping others at a cost to ourselves. The test of integrity is when the heat is on––when we are under pressure.
Download Transcript

Everything you do today, be a saint.

This faith of ours isn’t an academic discipline. Yes, it’s helpful to learn, helpful to know, helpful to study, helpful to have knowledge of its history, background, and meaning, but unless you can love, unless you can put this faith into practice in love, it matters not at all. 

You may have heard it said that love liberates. It’s not just a metaphor. When people say that love liberates, it’s not simply a metaphor. It’s real. True loves liberates an individual, it liberates a community , and, believe me, it liberates a culture. And that’s precisely why, in our readings today, we now see Jesus reducing everything about religion and religiosity to love of God and the love of neighbor.