Know - Grow - Go

Christ showed us that suffering and death, hatred and violence, do not have the last word. He did so not by eliminating or fighting or destroying them, but by accepting and transforming them. That’s why we celebrate the cross: not because it is good, but because through the cross we have also received the power to transform suffering and death. When we respond to hatred with love and violence with peace, when we forgive those who do evil against us, we join Christ in pouring forth love in the face of evil, and it is this love that we celebrate today: the love that Christ poured out in response to the violence of the cross. There is no greater expression of love than the cross, and that is why it is central to our faith. Readings at this Mass: Nm 21:4b–9 | Phil 2:6–11 | Jn 3:13–17

Putting Jesus first – yes, even above family – keeps everything in the right order and fills our lives with God's love and wisdom. This actually strengthens the love of spouses, families, and all of our relationships! Making Christ the top priority brings lasting peace and joy — but to do this, we must be deliberate about our priorities. May we all have the grace to rightly order our lives, let go of those possessions that posses us, and put Christ first. Readings at this Mass: Wis 9:13–18b | Phlm 9–10, 12–17 | Lk 14:25–33

When we de-center ourselves and re-center God, that’s when life becomes exciting and unpredictable and full of purpose — because God is exciting and unpredictable and purposeful. It’s liberating when we discover this! And it is a reminder that, at the end of the day, when our time comes, the most important thing that can be said about us is, “Here was a child of God, who was loved by God.” Readings at this Mass: Sir 3:17–18, 20, 28–29 | Heb 12:18–19, 22–24a | Lk 14:1, 7–14

Jesus’ response to our complaints, our preoccupation with everyone and everything else, is 'What about you?'. Don’t worry about them. You strive to enter through the narrow gate. You come and follow me. You be my disciple. The essence of being a Catholic Christian is transformation: bringing that relationship with Christ into everything else I do. If I’m only focused on the things I do or everyone else around me, I miss the most important thing: the relationship Christ is inviting me into. Readings at this Mass: Is 66:18–21 | Heb 12:5–7, 11–13 | Lk 13:22–30

Jesus is not tame; He is God. And His peace is not like that of the world. Today's Gospel demonstrates that He knew that following Him would cause division. But following Him will also set your heart on fire with the Holy Spirit — filling you with joy beyond understand and providing hope that, no matter what befalls us, He's got us. Readings at this Mass: Jer 38:4–6, 8–10 | Heb 12:1–4 | Lk 12:49–53

True readiness for when Jesus comes again is about having a real, living relationship with Him. To abide with Him. And as we grow in that loving relationship, our hearts are moved to love and serve our families and neighbors, the poor and lonely. That’s how we keep our lamps lit and our hearts ready for the day when Jesus returns. Readings at this Mass: Wis 18:6–9 | Heb 11:1–2, 8–19 | Lk 12:32–48

Our culture makes it hard to slow down. Depending on your stage of life, it might feel nearly impossible — jobs, kids, commitments, constant demands. So what’s the solution? Learn from the life of Jesus. Live at his speed — not a rushed speed, not a distracted pace. Can you picture Jesus cutting people off in traffic, or glued to his phone while talking to someone? Of course not! And as disciples, we are called to conform our lives to His: to slow down, to live attentively. Click here to watch "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" Readings at this Mass: Eccl 1:2; 2:21–23 | Col 3:1–5, 9–11 | Lk 12:13–21

Fr. Bill has an unexpected conversation with God about the Lord’s Prayer. Readings at this Mass: Gn 18:20–32 | Col 2:12–14 | Lk 11:1–13

True peace comes from having our hearts attached to the Lord’s and living out of that center. In letting His words speak to the deep places inside, letting them shape our thinking, our speaking, our choosing — even in our busyness. The Lord knows we lead busy lives. Jesus comes to us anyway and says, “I know you don’t have hours. How about just a few minutes. Can you give me that? Just a few minutes? Just for today?” Readings at this Mass: Gn 18:1–10a | Col 1:24–28 | Lk 10:38–42

How desperately we search for peace in all the wrong places: our achievements, possessions, wealth, travels, and more. But true peace can only come from abiding with God. When we serve faithfully, God abides with us. We don't serve others because of who they are, but because of who we are. And when we serve from a place of faith and love, we find that peace doesn't disappear — it grows. Readings at this Mass: Dt 30:10–14 | Col 1:15–20 | Lk 10:25–37

Generally in the world we think of peace as an absence. They used to say, ‘Visualize world peace’ and they mean nations not fighting each other. But that is not what Christ is talking about — not an absence of conflict or struggle. It’s a presence; it’s something that can be with you. That’s the peace Christ comes to give us. We can’t say, ‘May an absence be with you.’ It’s a presence within us. It’s a way of being. And that way of being is love. Readings at this Mass: Is 66:10–14c | Gal 6:14–18 | Lk 10:1–12, 17–20

Fr. Anthony offers the homily for the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles. Readings at this Mass: Acts 12:1–11 | 2 Tm 4:6–8, 17–18 | Mt 16:13–19

Fr. Anthony offers the homily for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (also known as Corpus Christi). Readings at this Mass: Gn 14:18–20 | 1 Cor 11:23–26 | Lk 9:11b–17

The way we enter into the divine life – and the way we experience the joy and the sense of purpose that come from God – is by fixing our gaze on Jesus, who reveals to us the Father. Real life consists not in fixating on ourselves, but in forgetting ourselves, in letting go and losing ourselves in service to God and one another. Below is a photo of Rublev's icon of the Holy Trinity, which is displayed in our parish. Readings at this Mass: Prv 8:22–31 | Rom 5:1–5 | Jn 16:12–15

Using milk and chocolate syrup, Fr. Bill illustrates our need to stir up the Holy Spirit inside each of us and go out to make a difference with our God-given gifts. Readings at this Mass: Acts 2:1–11 | 1 Cor 12:3b–7, 12–13 | Jn 20:19–23

Fr. Anthony offers the homily on the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Readings at this Mass: Acts 1:1–11 | Eph 1:17–23 | Lk 24:46–53

When we praise God in the midst of our storms, we’re declaring that He is still in control – that darkness has not overcome the light. Praise pushes back against the darkness and becomes both a weapon and shield, guarding our hearts from anger, hate, resentment, and the desire for revenge or retaliation. It’s okay to cry out or be angry with God; He can take it. Even Jesus sweat blood in His anguish. By reaching out to God in our pain, we’re reminded that we are not alone. Readings at this Mass: Acts 15:1–2, 22–29 | Rv 21:10–14, 22–23 | Jn 14:23–29

When you find yourself confronting something new or something seemingly out of control, and you wish your life was different or that things could just continue like they always have — resist that thought. Resist. Remember: God has known about this time and this situation from all eternity, and He’s known about you from all eternity, and He’s chosen this time and this place for you – from all eternity. Readings at this Mass: Acts 14:21–27 | Rv 21:1–5a | Jn 13:31–33a, 34–35

As we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday, Mother's Day, and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, it is important for us to remember that, when we hear the voice of the good shepherd, we not only follow him but we discover for each one of us the vocation that he has entrusted to us. Readings at this Mass: Acts 13:14, 43–52 | Rv 7:9, 14b–17 | Jn 10:27–30

Fr. Bill speaks to the children celebrating their First Communion about how Jesus accompanies us every day, everywhere, through the Eucharist. Readings at this Mass: Acts 5:27–32, 40b–41 | Rv 5:11–14 | Jn 21:1–19