St. Wenceslaus Church – Scappoose, OR: Homilies

Hear what the Lord might say to you, about everyday endurance for Christian living, through Fr. Chuck's special message for parish children and teens in this year's First Communion Mass. Most of the parish teens who were confirmed on April 23 participated in this Mass on April 24, at which several younger parishioners received Holy Communion for the first time.

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday); April 24, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118 various verses; Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31

Gain consolation and hope by grasping how deep Christ's love is for you. How? Listen now and contemplate with Fr. Chuck the symbolism of the wound in Jesus' side being deep enough for St. Thomas the Apostle to put his hand in it.

Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday); April 24, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118 various verses; Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31

Do you dare to let God transform your life through that same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead? Hear Fr. Chuck's impassioned call to let Easter Sunday become a more meaningful, authentic, celebration for you. That can happen when you pray for this Easter gift: Newness of life, a life in which you daily experience how "Jesus is alive and that changes everything!"

Easter Sunday of the Lord's Resurrection, April 17, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118, various verses; 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20: 1-9

Blooper, 2 minutes, deleted from April 3rd homily podcast episode. Hear Fr. Chuck's frustrated reaction after the second time that folks in church don't respond the "right" way in his call-and-response use of scripture.

Lent, 5th Sun., 4/3/22; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; readings: Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8: 1-11

 

A Holy Week "Lesson for Life" arises from comparing and contrasting two disciples of Jesus. One, the impetuous disciple who cut off someone's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane; the other, a modern-day disciple who obeyed a Holy Spirit prompting to encourage a priest she didn't know in a grocery store in Scappoose, Oregon. 

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, April 10, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood, readings: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22, various verses; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14 – 23:56

Yes, in you God can fulfill this Sunday's First Reading, "doing something new." That's especially true of the particular power God imparts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Listen now to get inspiration for letting God hit your "Reset Button." Plus, learn why you might be glad to say, "As a matter of fact, I was born yesterday!"

Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 3, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; readings: Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8: 1-11

It's not unusual to describe the dad in the "Prodigal Son" parable—today's Gospel—as "loving and forgiving." Along with those virtues, picture him as patient. That image led Fr. Chuck to portray this classic story as an example of "Bearing Wrongs Patiently," a Spiritual Work of Mercy. That was in 2016 when a parish he served did a Lenten series on the Spiritual Works of Mercy. Enjoy this bonus archive episode. Plus, hear how to be more patient: Avoid feeling annoyed—in a way we hope will amuse you.

Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 27, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; readings: Josh 5:9a, 10-12; Ps 34:2-7; 2nd Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Imagine the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity in matching t-shirts that refer lovingly to you. That's the quirky-but-consoling Lenten suggestion you'll hear in this fresh take on God telling his name to Moses from out of the burning bush. Plus hear the related true story of a highly happy altar server; it's sure to spark a smile! Listen now. [Full disclosure: This audio blends segments from all three of the weekend's homilies.] 

Third Sunday of Lent, March 20, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; readings: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13: 1-9

"Standing in the gap" plus, letting God "open your eyes and shake you up with surprise and put your mouth in a vise" — Listen now to hear how all of that connects to the Transfiguration of Jesus, to Lent, and to your relationships with God and with other people.

Read a version of this message in the Lent 2022 blog of Eat the Scroll Ministry: visit https://www.eatthescrollministry.com/post/god-opens-eyes-shakes-up-surprise-puts-mouths-in-a-vise [Will open a new window].

Second Sunday of Lent, March 13, 2022; readings: Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14; Phil 3:20 – 4:1; Lk 9: 28b-36

"Emotional First Aid" is a Spiritual Work of Mercy? That's what Fr. Chuck discovered, reflecting on this Sunday's Gospel about Jesus' 40 days in the desert. Listen now to benefit from Fr. Chuck's discovery. You'll learn vital lessons he got from Portland's Trauma Intervention Program on how to best comfort the sorrowful—a Spiritual Work of Mercy—instead of afflicting them with guilt over feeling sorrowful. And you'll learn a bit about "Emotional First Aid" itself.

This bonus episode is Fr. Chuck's homily from the parallel Sunday of Lent in 2016. It's courtesy of Our Lady of the Lake Church, Lake Oswego, OR. Fr. Chuck served as Parochial Vicar there from 2012 to 2016. (St. Wenceslaus Church had no homily March 5 & 6; instead, we watched the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal 2022 video.)

First Sunday of Lent, March 6, 2022; Fr. Charles "Chuck" Wood; readings: Deut 26:4-10; Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13