Superior Priest

02OCT22 (22cO26). Do we have faith the size of a mustard seed? What is the bare minimum as a Catholic? We have the 5 precepts of the Church which give that bare minimum standard. Not an exciting homily, but still something.

https://cmvic.net/documents/2015/3/5%20PRECEPTS%20OF%20THE%20CATHOLIC%20CHURCH.pdf

18SEP22. Megan and I discuss about the 4 evangelists in this podcast. The four evangelists are pretty cool. I love the symbols and the uniqueness of each of them.

18SEP22 (22cO25). Little things don’t really matter, but they matter so much. It is a hard thing to completely understand that little things are important. We can easily lie to ourselves that we can do the big things, but we just won’t worry about the small things. We don’t run into large things often, but everyday we learn, grow, and prove our trustworthiness in the small things. It isn’t about perfection, it is about trustworthiness and faithfulness.

11SEP22 (22cO24). Human’s understand Justice, we don’t understand Mercy as much. God is perfectly Just, but also infinitely Merciful. He gives us Mercy because it is the only way to reconciliation and relationship. May we know that great gift and give it. This world does not need more Justice, but more Mercy.

10SEP22. Andy Bogen was an English Teacher at the Yokosuka Middle School. He died unexpectedly on the anniversary of John the Baptist’s own death. I was blessed to be able to offer the Mass for the repose of his soul. He was a fan of CS Lewis (I am too), so I drew a lot from CS Lewis’s sermon “The Weight of Glory” https://www.wheelersburg.net/Downloads/Lewis%20Glory.pdf .

09SEP22. Conversation with Megan McMechan the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Community at the Chapel of Hope in Yokosuka Japan. We talk about Education. Education in the early Church, monasteries, parishes, and in the US. Parents are the primary educators of their children as a whole human person which is more than just getting a job. Here is a great site to learn about Catholic engagement of reason, faith, and science: https://www.reasonfaithscience.com/ .

04SEP22 (22cO23). Jesus is not a good recruiter. He tells us not about all the good things of discipleship, but all the things we need to give up. The cost of discipleship is high. It is not a small call of what maybe we happen to give, but a call of all.

28AUG22 (22cO22). Humility is the virtue opposed to pride. Pride brought down Satan, Adam & Eve, and can easily bring us down. We pray for humility by recognizing the reality of our dirtness as well as our inestimable value. The Mass gives us plenty of moments of humility in prayer, let us engage in those prayers and grow in humility and combat pride so we may be the best of friends to God and neighbor.

21AUG22 (22cO21). Will only be a few be saved? We are the chosen few right? Everyone else won’t be saved, but we will. Actually, we need to strive! Enter through the narrow gate. It is not enough to just know Jesus or be an acquaintance. Jesus wants us to be disciples. The way we become disciples is through discipline. There are many ways that that we are disciplined. Mass, fasting, penance, service, confession, and learning. Let us not assume salvation, but strive for salvation and the Lord will provide.

14AUG22 (22cO20). St. Catherine of Sienna said “Without war there is no peace”. Combat and war is division and difficulty. We seek peace in this world, but not as the world gives. We may be in tension with ourselves and that is ok as long as you never give up. Pray for that blazing fire.