In Christ Every Sinner has a Future - Reflection 5th Sunday of Lent "C"

Praise God, Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

Can we all be saints?  Yes, of course…we can!

WE CAN ALL BE SAINTS. WE ARE PILGRIMS OF HOPE. WE ARE BELIEVERS. WE ARE SAINTS. We are all called to be holy; but, we must acknowledge we are sinners on a path toward eternity. We must admit the need for God’s mercy and that we need Jesus. And, God in his mercy and love makes a way.

I have had many people tell me that “God could never forgive them for the things they have done.” Those are words without hope. They are an excuse given for misery. They are an excuse for not coming to mass. Soon, they believe their excuse.

Every saint has a past and in Christ every sinner has a future. (Oscar Wilde) Friends we all have the capacity to become saints.  No one is so good that he hasn’t failed at some point, and no one is so bad that he cannot be saved. 

 In our gospel today, Jesus would show us that his mercy is greater than our sins.

The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. But they were not really concerned about this woman. They were concerned on how to bring Jesus down.

So they took advantage of the woman’s vulnerability and weakness in order to further their self-interest and their plot to get rid of Jesus.

They thought in their case about the woman Jesus would certainly be trapped. If, Jesus gave either a “YES or NO;” they already have an accusation against him.

If Jesus said “NO”, they would accuse him of breaking the law of Moses which commanded that a woman committing the sin of adultery had to be stoned to death. If He said “YES, stone her to death”, then they would accuse him of not living out what he preached, (forgiving 70 times 7 times, or that God is loving and forgiving God.”

If that would have been someone else there would probably be no way out of that situation.

Jesus knew better. He could see the bigger picture. If the path ended, Jesus blazes a new trail. By his answer, Jesus showed he is the Way. By his answer, Jesus’ truth and holiness was shown to be above the law.

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. The original Greek word used translates that Jesus was writing accusation in the dirts. Instead of writing with a stick, he was pointing at them with his finger.

Yet, they continued to ask.  He stood up to answer them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. Jesus does not only comfort the afflicted, he would also afflicts the comfortable.

Sometimes to become Saints, we have become uncomfortable. Paul tells us that in his letter to the Philippians,

”For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God,… I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus.”

Never say, never let a friend say, “God will never forgive me for the things I have done.” Those are words without hope. We are Pilgrims of Hope. We bring that hope to many.

God tells us through the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new! “The Lord has done great things for me.

Friends, sinners we may be, but we have the capacity to become saints. Paul attest that with and through Jesus we can achieve this potential. “Holiness is a gift, sharing in Christ is utter trust.“

Every saint has a past, but in Christ every sinner has a future. Friends we all have the capacity to become saints. Pilgrims of Hope on our journey to eternity.

Can we all be saints? Yes, and that is the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. We are pilgrims of hope. We are believers.

Be good, be holy, and always preach the Gospel of God’s mercy and hope by the way you live your life and love one another.

Praise God, Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

Twinkle Twnkle Little Star - Be Proud of who you are - OLF Elementary Service 4-2-2025

The first reading this morning said “Sing out Heavens and let the earth rejoice. Mountains break forth in song!”

Does everyone know “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?” Can everyone sing it with me?

Twinkle Twinkle little star, 

How I wonder what you are?

Up above the world so high, 

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle Twinkle little star, 

How I wonder what you are?

This song was written many years ago. People would look at the stars and not know what they were. A lot of people were not able to go to school. People could not read. So, they looked at the stars and would say “I wonder what they are?”

People asked the same question about Jesus.

In times when there was no hospitals and few doctors, He healed the sick. People who could not see, he touched them and they could see. People who could not walk, he told to stand up and they walked.

He fed thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and fishes from a little boys lunch. He did many many amazing things.

People saw all these and thought - Jesus, Jesus how I wonder who you are?

He knew people were asking his question and Jesus asked his friends “who do people say I am?” They had a lot of guesses. Peter answered correctly, “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

People did not like this. Especially, the people who thought they knew everything about God. These were the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Priests. They thought they were the only ones who knew what God wanted.

These people asked Jesus, “Who are you to do all these things you do?”

Jesus says “I do nothing on my own, I do the will of the one who sent me. The son does the will of the Father. The Father loves the Son.”

Jesus was telling them he was the Son of God. He was God.

And, they he says, “They should believe in Him.” Because, “You think what you have seen is special, wait you will something greater and be amazed.”

If Jesus is in us, we are something greater and amazing. We love like Jesus. We bring something greater to the world. We do the will of God’s work. 

Our dignity, our goodness, our love, and all the gifts we share with others are diamonds for the world to see.  

Jesus is the light that shines in each one of us. Twinkle Twinkle little stars. We give thanks to God for all that you are.

Amen

Reflection: The Prodigal Son - A Pilgrim of Hope’s Journey

Praise God, Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

Good morning, Friends my fellow Pilgrims of Hope.

Do you remember the young seminarian, Brother Michael Mongare who visited St. Lawrence a couple of years ago. He is from Kenya but in seminary at St. Meinrad, Indiana. 

He called me earlier this week and said he would be near for Easter. I said, call me and I will take you out to dinner.

He asked, “Deacon can you make me some Mtuzi Wa Samaki (M’too-zee wah sah-mah-kee)? 

My reply, “I don’t know what that is?

He said, “It is a fish stew from my country. Can your wife make it?”

I laughed, “Sorry, Michael. We’ll kill the fatted calf for you; but, it’s got to be fried or barbecued.

Today, we hear the parable of the prodigal son. What a great parable. It’s lessons are many and the truths are powerful. 

It is about the youngest son. It is about the oldest son. It is about a loving father. It is all these and all the truths that touch us individually every time we hear it.

That is why it is a difficult parable to preach. Not, because of God’s truth but there is so much this country boy deacon can get overwhelmed preaching it. 

But, considering this the Jubilee Year of Hope we visit this parable as a Pilgrim of Hope on a journey to eternity. It is one of the truths of this parable. 

This story of hope begins with a youngest son not happy with his life. He wanted more! The youngest son wanted to embrace life and live in the world. 

He asked for his inheritance, took the riches promised him, and left his father’s house. He left those who truly loved him and went to a faraway country. This young man with plenty of money squandered it all on loose living and things of the world.

Things got worse. A famine came so there was little food for many hungry people. He had no money or possessions. He had nothing. So he went to work feeding swine. 

Swine was considered unclean, sinful; but, the young man was desperate. He had no other option to make a living. 

Hunger took hold of him. He would have gladly eaten the pigs food if offered to him. But, no one did. The world did not care about him. His employer did not care. Those he worked with did not care. No one cared enough to even give him the refuse they fed pigs. 

The life he wanted to love did not loved him. 

The young man who once had everything now had nothing. He ran to sin experiencing the world. He squander everything he had. 

In desperation, the young man desired the pig’s food. Sin reduces truths we have learned. Sin makes us slaves to the world. 

It pervades our mind and heart. It pervades our being. The young man lost his morals. He lost his faith and all he learned from his family.

Yet, there was still hope. God used the young man’s troubles and trials to bring about a deep hunger. Through this hunger, the young man came to himself.

Friends, we fast during Lent because we need to become hungry. The gospels teach to fast. Jesus taught us that fasting can awaken a deep and profound spiritual hunger.

Although, the youngest son fasted involuntarily, he came to the truth. His heart was opened. He understood his reality. He missed his father, his father’s house, and all he took for granted. 

He began a journey back to his fathers house as a Pilgrim of hope.

Hope manifest, when the young man neared the house. Hope, his father saw him and ran towards him. 

Friends, everyone of us should recognize ourselves in that young man. He is all who has ever left their heavenly Father’s house, the Church. 

The young man is everyone who has felt they did not need God or the church. Everyone who thinks they can live their own rules and own ways in a world that does not love them. 

Everyone who never physically leave the Church, yet their hearts and minds left long ago. It’s not about things of God. They aren’t interested in prayer or speaking with God. It’s not about living a godly life or obeying Christ’s commandments.

Our heavenly Father loves us; but, he also gives us freedom. Freedom that allows us to take all He has given us and use it as we wish. He doesn’t force us to stay in His house, unhappy or miserable. We are free to pursue our hearts desire. 

In some way, each of us has drifted away. All of us need to return to Our Father’s house. 

We are blessed to be able to reawaken and come to ourselves. We are blessed to hunger for God and see the depth of our own fall. We are blessed that we can turn back towards home and run with haste towards the One who loves us unconditionally. 

God longs to see us come home! God longs to embrace us and forgive us and restore us. God is waiting for each of us.

We can not really comprehend how much God loves us. This love is the image of the father who sees his son at a distance and yet he comes running, not walking, running! God’s mercy and forgiveness is open wide to embrace those who will repent and return.

That is us, Pilgrims of Hope on our journey to eternal life.

Brother Michael Mongare has adopted Monroe as a home away from home. He sees us as family. Coming home for Easter, he wants some Mtuzi Wa Samaki. I will try to prepare him some.

Be good, be holy, and preach the gospel as Pilgrims of Hope by the way you live your life and love one another. 

Praise God, Praise be to Jesus Christ fore ever and ever. Amen.

Pilgrims of Hope - The Fish Fry Question - 3/28/2025

Here we are this morning, Pilgrims of Hope, preparing for a day of giving, sharing, and memories as volunteers and supporters of Christ the King/Catholic Campus Ministries Lenten fish fry.

Most of us are here for a reason. Maybe, the reason is this community of good loving people. Maybe, it is the importance of this ministry to the university and all those that it serves. Maybe, today is for the time you spent at this ministry and the university. 

You could be here for all these reasons or maybe you have another.

When I remember my here that started over 46 years ago and continues still today, I remember friends. I remember dorm & campus life. I remember the fun times. I remember searching for answers about my faith. 

But the thing I remember most were the test. There was a lot of them. Some I passed. Some, I didn’t. There were classroom tests. There were tests in life, faith, and right choices. 

Some were easier than others; a pop quiz for extra points that was a short T/F or multiple choice questions. Then, there were the tests I feared the most. The ones with essay questions. These were on the topics the professors thought the most important.  

In that time of a young person’s life the hardest test were not always in the classroom. It was tests about right and wrong; and sinfulness or righteousness. The ways I answered those questions were more important than the ways I answered the essay questions.

I failed a lot of classroom test. But the university stood by me, it took a while; but, I graduated. 

I failed a lot of test in life. But, Jesus stands by me. God loves me. One day hopefully, I’ll graduate to something better. 

We still face tests everyday. Test found in the choices we make in our lives, our faith, and our love. Test that ask us to make the right choices. The most important questions are the ones we want to get right.  

It has always been the case. That is why this man came to Jesus. “Teacher, tell me, what is the greatest commandment of all?”

This man was a scribe, a pharisee, a Bible scholar, a teacher of the law. He was a professor of theology. And he asked Jesus “What is the most important thing I should know. Tell me which command is the most important of all the commands? Tell me the one I should do?”

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

In my mind, I hear this professor voice say to Jesus, “Well said, teacher. You are right.” Then I hear the voice of his heart. “To love God and to love your neighbor is worth more than all the burnt offerings of the temple.”

Jesus hearing him answering wisely and from the heart said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 

In the gospel passage, this man came to Jesus wanting to know more, and he brings an honest question. 

Jesus answered him.

That is what CCM is about. That is what this ministry and this fish fry is about. Jesus used fish a lot.

We are here in this fish fry so that this ministry will be here for those who want to know God’s love though Jesus Christ. It is about us loving God in all we are and all we do and loving others so much we give ourselves in that love. 

As a community of believers, we share our love on our journey to the Kingdom of Heaven. We tell others of God’s lovingkindness, justice, compassion, mercy, and grace. We help others experience it in their lives. In that good news is found hope. We are Pilgrims of hope.

Jesus taught all who would hear the comprehensive love that God requires. This is what Jesus said and what the questioning professor understood. 

Jesus quoted the Shema (Dt 6:4-5), Israel’s confession about God and their life before God. Shema means to hear.

Hear, O Israel: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with your whole being, and with all your strength.

Then he quotes Lv 19:18. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, I am the LORD.”

The test for the people of Israel was to teach God’s greatest commandment to their children. It was to be recited every morning and evening, when at home or away. The people were to bind themselves to this commandment, literally tie it to your arms and your foreheads and write on the doorpost of your homes.

How many of us are passing that test? 

In this greatest commandments, God is asking us for complete undiluted love. Loving God with every ounce of our being. As you love God; love your neighbor. You cannot divide the two things.

To love as Jesus loved is the most comprehensive love God requires. He loved God with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus loved God so much He did what God asked. Jesus loved us so much, He did what God asked. In the freedom of his humanity and in the freedom of his divinity, Jesus gave His life as a ransom for many. He loved God and He loved us much more than we could never do.

We know the most important commandment. It is a difficult test. How do we answer? Will Jesus say to us, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” 

Here is today’s fish fry question: How close am I to the kingdom of God? 

Answer wisely and answer from the heart as a Pilgrim of Hope journeying to our eternal home.

My Wayward Self - A Pilgrim of Hope - 3rd Sunday Lent Year C

Praise God. Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

 

People can be stubborn. Have you heard the story about the family getting on the plane for vacation. The father was upset because one of his children was being stubborn. So he asked the gate attendant if he could check his little boy with his luggage? Or the father asked, “will I have to ‘carry on my wayward son?’”

 

If you are a fan of the group Kansas from the late 1970’s then you probably get the joke. 

 

The song’s writer, Kerry Livgren was the bands guitarist and keyboardist had just become a Christian when he wrote that song. As a Christian, he felt a profound urge to “Carry on” in his search for relationship with God.

 

The message of the chorus is “there will be peace” at the end of the journey. The last verse of “Carry on my Wayward Son” is “surely heaven waits for you.”

 

I often wonder how many people that song gave hope and were moved to seek a relationship with God. 

My friends, we are called to be Pilgrims of hope. But some of us are stubborn. 

Moses was out tending the flocks. He saw a bush on fire, yet it was not burning. Moses said to himself – This I got to see.

From that burning bush, God called out to Moses, "Moses! Moses!" 

Moses answered, "Here I am."

God sent him out as a Pilgrim of Hope. But, even though God spoke directly to Moses, he was kind of a reluctant pilgrim- stubborn. 

Moses said to God, "But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' if they ask me, 'What is His name?' What am I to tell them?" 

God replied, "I am who am. This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations."

 

It seems that in both examples the men embraced God and not the world. It’s like St. Paul says, “They drank from a spiritual rock and that rock was the Christ.”

 

They both had the choice like we all have a choice. We can chose to come closer to Him. We can chose to experience the love that is God reaching out to us and open our self to that love. Or we can go our own way, separate ourselves from Him to wallow in the cesspools of life.  

Despite what most believe, God is not going to punish us for our bad behavior or choices; but, He will not save us if we do not want to be saved or do not cooperate. God never directly punishes individuals or the world around them. Yet, people see the results of their behavior and the choices in their life that is of this world and they blame God. 

Their understanding of God is too much influenced by the world and the great deceiver. So people grumble about God. Instead of loving God, trusting God, and following God, most people in the world turn away from Him. Those who have chosen the world over God are suffering death by the destroyer. If you think you are standing secure take care not to fall to the influences and lies of this world. We in the modern world are no more guilty or innocent than those who came before us. 

One of the greatest sins and the biggest obstacle for repentance is people really don't want to believe God loves them.  God's love is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Thus He is to be remembered through all generations." 

That is the message of hope we are to bring. But, too many of us are like the fig tree in Jesus’ parable. We are alive but bear not fruit. 

Christ is the one who cultivates us. The Holy Spirit gives us strength to grow strong in our faith and bear fruit. The fruit is hope. The fruit is the message that God loves us. It is the fruit that redeems our life from destruction and crowns us with kindness and compassion. 

Our faith, the sacraments, scripture, prayer, and grace allows us be more fruitful. The fruit the world needs is hope. We are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. The choice is for each person. God's love calls to the stubborn child and the wayward son.

Be good, be holy and preach the gospel by the way you live your life and love one another.

 

Praise God. Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

2nd Thursday of Lent - Homily - Blessed Are Those Who Hope in the Lord - Pilgrims of Hope

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032025.cfm

My brother visited me recently. During our visit, he asked me, “Do you preach about hell?”

The first thing that comes to mind is that we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. “Blessed are those who hope in the Lord.”

So I answered this ways, “I’d rather preach about a God who loves me. I want to tell others about a God of mercy and grace. I’d rather preach about my God who loved me so much his sent his only begotten son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of the whole world.”

“I’d rather tell the world we are all made in the image and likeness of God. In want to tell everyone I meet - God loves us. He loves each and every one of us. Every person no matter what they look like, no matter what they believe, no matter what they do, no matter if they are rich or poor, smart or not so smart. Each one off us has the dignity that comes from being made in the image and likeness of God.”

My brother insisted, “But do you preach about hell?” He goes on “I see all these preachers on TV preaching ‘I’m good, your good, so, all is good. And, If you send money to my ministry God will be good to you.’”

I said, “Yes I preach about hell. Hell is very real.”

That is when I should have told him he needs to go to mass more instead of watching those preachers on TV. Hopefully, he will not hear a priest or a deacon preach such a worldly and untrue message. 

Instead, he would probably hear that God’s mercy towards us is closely linked to our mercy towards our neighbor; when our mercy towards others is lacking, God’s mercy cannot enter our hearts.

That is what today’s scriptures are about. 

They remind us that trusting in the Lord and following His Law and commandments are far more important and crucial than the ways of the world. 

Today’s scripture tells us to be careful of the temptations of the world which may lead us astray. Like the rich man in today’s gospel. He is not described as bad or a non believer. His sin was being only concerned with self, comfort, pleasure, and his own good found in the things of the world.

“Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD.”

“I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, to reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds.”

Our deeds must not be focused the comforts, pleasures and all the good things in this world for our self satisfaction. That can lead us into destruction.

Instead, we should be good role models of our faith. We should bring others to God by our love, charity, and hope. We should share the goodness of God’s grace with everyone around us.

Love for God is respecting the dignity of all persons who are made in the image of God. Our love for God is expressed in the way we bring hope to others. 

We are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. Blessed are those who hope in the Lord. I preach about hope in a God who loves me. Hope is found in God’s mercy and grace. 

But today, I warn you about hell. It is real. Hell is something we should fear.

Our road to hell begins when we put all the worldly things before God like the rich man. The rich man pleads “Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.”

But my God wants us all to bring the good news of hope in God who loves us so much he sent his only begotten son to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins and those of the whole world.

Amen

2nd Tuesday of Lent - Homily - Finding Hope in the Liturgy of the Word

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031825.cfm 

Today, because no priest are available, we are having a Liturgy of the Word. We will not have the Liturgy of the Eucharist. We will not have communion. Just a humble liturgy of the word where we read scripture, sit in moments of silence, and offer our prayers to God.

The Liturgy of the Word is the Church’s public proclamation of God's word.

It is a ministry entrusted to the deacon. At ordination, the Bishop presents a newly ordained deacon with the Book of the Gospels and says, "Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach." 

Deacons are called to proclaim the Gospel at Mass, deliver homilies, and teaching the faith; but, we cannot perform the the liturgy of the Eucharist. As Catholics we know that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. But the faithful should also remember the importance of the word of God proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word.

It is a beautiful and profound encounter with God's Word. It can foster a sense of wonder and understanding of God's love. A love that calls us to action, urging us to live out the Gospel message in our daily lives. The Liturgy of the Word is the Word of God. It is the teachings of Jesus Christ. 

Isaiah proclaimed, "Hear the word of the LORD, listen to the instruction of our God, let us set things right." ….“Put away your misdeeds, cease doing evil, learn to do good. Make justice your aim…”

The Gospel reading is a high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Today’s Gospel reading reminds us to remain humble. And in the Liturgy of the Word is our humble encounter with the Goodness, Truth, and Beauty of the word of God. It is a direct meeting with God himself.

We are called to be Pilgrims of Hope and the Liturgy of the Word is where we can find hope. Hope found in meeting God in the simplicity of His word. In the simplicity of love and scripture, silence, and prayer. 

In scripture, silence and prayer, we are humbled by the presence of God. God’s word humbles the Church. As Jesus says, "The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Some will be disappointed because we did not have the Liturgy of the Eucharist. If that is true, maybe we did not hear the question God asks in the psalms, "Why do you cast my words behind you?" 

Friends, don’t be disappointed there is no communion. Instead rejoice in the word of God.

Amen

A Map, A Guide & A Compass - A Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Lent

Praise God. Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen. 

Friends, we are all Pilgrims of Hope. As pilgrims on our journey towards eternity sometimes we need a little help. There is nothing shameful in asking the right one for help.

For our journey, God has given us all the help we need. He gives us scripture as our map, prayer as our guide, and Jesus as our compass. Jesus points us to our goal.

But most of us don’t think we need a map. We don’t need a guide. And fewer and fewer people are looking to Jesus as our compass.

It’s the same in everyday life. Just ask a married couple.

A man is never going to ask for directions. A man feels he doesn’t need a map. Every married couple knows that in a good marriage a man’s wife is his guide and always with him. Most of the time he does not listen to her.

It is the same way for people in their life of faith. 

People will not study scripture. If they study scripture, they find it confusing. They won’t ask for help. Instead, they go into the world lost and confused. 

Others take their ideas, thoughts, and circumstance to the map of Holy Scripture. Still, they can get lost, because it doesn’t show them to where they think they should be. Their minds are full of earthly things.

Applying scripture to your live is not wrong. There is nothing like Holy Scriptures to guide us. Scripture feeds us, comforts us, and encourages us. Scripture is alive even in the modern world. It is the inspired word of God. 

Like Abram, God’s will is part of our life. The OT prophets gave the earliest maps to those seeking the love and action of God. The NT writer show us to the one who is the compass point of this map, Jesus Christ.

Holy scripture is a map for our spiritual growth so what we say and do is in relation to God’s will. Scripture reveals our sin to us. It calls us to confess it and turn away from it. 

But, it is God’s will not ours. God’s will is not whatever we make it. It is the love of God in this real world, saving God’s real people.

It is not wrong to apply scripture to our thoughts, life, and circumstances if we have a guide. That guide is prayer. Through our prayer, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, comes upon us so we can follow God’s will.

As Jesus prayed, He showed the power of faithful prayer.“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.”

Transfiguration is a powerful image of how prayer can transform us. Jesus, on the mountain, praying, is transfigured in the glory of God. The Transfiguration marks a turning point in Jesus’s ministry. 

Prayer is the turning point in our lives. Prayer changes things! Prayer doesn’t change God. Prayer changes the one who prays. Through our prayer, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, comes upon us so that we can follow God’s will. 

Through our prayers, we are changed. Our prayers are the beginning of an understanding of the map of truth for our lives found in the Holy Scriptures. Our prayers are the ultimate realization of the compass that points us to eternal life, who is Jesus Christ.

Jesus, dressed in dazzling white. Emmanuel, God is with us.  

Friends, our future and the future of others depend on our prayers and the decisions we make. Reach out to God through Christ in prayer. Prayer changes our lives and the lives of others. Prayer can change the world through the change that comes to us.

God has given us a map in Holy Scripture. He has given us the guide of prayer and Holy Spirit. He points us in the right direction through his Son, Jesus Christ.

When we pray with holy scripture, God reveals his will for our lives. “What God says to us is full of living power….” (Heb 4:12). 

Pilgrims of Hope stand firm in your journey. Our hope is in Jesus Christ. Pilgrims of Hope changed to more fully reflect the image of Jesus Christ himself.

Through scripture, prayer and Jesus Christ, God never stops leading Pilgrims of Hope on their journey towards eternity.

Be good, be holy, and proclaim the Hope of the Gospel by the way we live our life and love one another.

Praise God, praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

Hope Among Temptation and Suffering - 1st Sunday of Lent

Praise God. Praise be to Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

Friends, We are Pilgrims of Hope led by the Holy Spirit on our journey to eternity. One of the things we are to do this Jubilee year is to proclaim to the we are Pilgrims of Hope. 

As pilgrims, one of the things we notice is the dangerous road of our journey that has low points of suffering and high and dangerous places of temptation. 

Welcome to life.

How do we stay faithful pilgrims on such a dangerous road?

When I was a little boy, whenever my brothers or I faced troubles, my mother would always tell us to bring our worries to God. Despite my own struggles with weight and my 2 brothers' struggles with dyslexia, she encouraged us to trust in God by asking Jesus for help. She would often tell us “Give all your troubles to Jesus.”

My father was not a wandering Aramian; but, he was a Baptist preacher and he gave me this advice when going off to college on avoiding temptation. “If Jesus is looking for you, don’t be someplace you’d be embarrassed to be found. Remember, Jesus is always with you.”

In life's challenges and my own ambitions, sometimes I may have forgotten my mothers words of faith and my father’s advice.  Too many times, I’d find myself physically and mentally in places I would have been embarrassed if Jesus found me there. 

But, those words of advice have always remained a part of who I am.  I have shared those words with my wife, children, grandchildren, and friends. 

And the crux of their advice is this, always trust in Jesus. Always remain close to him. For Paul reminds us, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame."

Now, as a Deacon and Spiritual Director, I truly recognize the wisdom of my mother's teachings and my father’s advice. The sufferings and temptations of life are real and inevitable. They are a part of a daily life and our fallen human nature, and a world influenced by the evil one.

Welcome to human life.

As humans, Catholics, and Christians, we often focus on avoiding suffering and temptations rather than facing them. But perhaps we should confront them head-on, just as one special human life. 

The Word became flesh; Jesus was God but also human.

Jesus was "led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted" (Lk 4:1). The Spirit led Jesus into the desert, indicating that this was part of God's plan.

There, Jesus faced suffering and temptations directly, enduring 40 days without food and experiencing hunger. And, Jesus faced his temptations, suffered from them. He endured those temptations as part of His human life. 

We rarely explore the reason behind it.

If we did, we would see that Jesus was tempted just like we are tempted. He was tempted where every human is vulnerable: the desire for prestige and recognition, the satisfaction of bodily needs, and the pursuit of power and wealth. 

Despite these temptations, Jesus never gave in. He endured and suffered the test. Showing us, He is strength and inspiration in the face of our own temptations.

Jesus is there to meet us in our own deserts, waiting for us, calling to us, and guiding us out. Just as angels ministered to Jesus, He sends angels to minister to us in our times of need.

1 Corinthians 10:13 assures us, "God is faithful, He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape so that you will be able to endure it." Even in our temptations God has established boundaries that Satan cannot cross. So, Satan tempts us when we are most vulnerable, just as he did Jesus after he had completed 40 days of fasting.

Jesus battled Satan using God’s scripture against the great tempter. Satan will find our weakness and customize his enticements to our individual temptations. In our temptations, we need the word of God. We need to find the verses that apply to our temptations. 

The prophet Nehemiah proclaims that we find our strength when we rejoice in the Lord. Scriptures are the power and promises of God that fights for us. 

Lent is 40 days that we will be tested and tempted. Will fall into Satan's temptations, or will we stay faithful with Jesus? The fact is that it was God's will for Jesus to be tempted reveals these things. 

Jesus was tempted for our sake, so we can have the strength to resist sin; our strength is in Jesus.

Another thing is that life on earth is a spiritual warfare, and we must expect to be tempted by the devil; 

And finally, we should avoid the near occasion of sin and not lightly expose ourselves to temptation.

Friends, Even times of temptations can be moments of faith. Luke tells us that the Devil waited until Jesus was weak from hunger, thirst, and fatigue to tempt Him. Jesus was again tempted in the garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross, during His most vulnerable moments. Yet, He turned those moments of temptation into moments of faith.

We are Pilgrims of Hope in this human life traveling on roads paved with suffering and temptation. 

Yet, as pilgrims we have all we need to turn our times of suffering and temptation into moments of faith and hope. 

All we need is God at the center of our life. 

We come to the Eucharist, seeking the presence of Christ for strength to face the sufferings and temptations of our human life. The by the strength of Hope that comes from faith in Jesus Christ, we continue, Pilgrims of Hope on a journey toward eternity.

Remember to always put your trust in Jesus, give him all your suffering. Face the temptations of life realizing Jesus and his angels are always there beside you.

My fellow Pilgrims of Hope, be good, be holy, and preach the gospel to the whole world by the way you live your life and love one another.

Praise God. Praise Be to Jesus Christ, 4ever & ever. Amen.

Dust & Lent - A Reflection for Children on Ash Wednesday

(Thanks to Fr Derek Larson for material and inspiration on dust & Pope Francis for inspiration)

Hello students! Good morning parishioners.

Today is a very important day. It’s “Ash Wednesday,” the first day of Lent. So today, I want talk to you about Dust and Lent. 

Let’s begin with dust.

You know what dust is right? Dust is the collection of fine particles that fill the air and settle on things like tables, shelves, and ceiling fans in our homes. Dust.

Here are some facts about dust.

Some of the dust around us and the dust in your home came all the way from Africa, or from a volcano in the middle of the ocean or a fire in China.

That’s right, it came all the way from Africa. Because in the Saharan Desert sand storms blow sand high into the sky and travels across the world and even ends up in your house gets in your house. It gets on your clothes and pets through open doors and windows. 

So there’s a little bit of another part of the world right beside you all the time. Dust is strong enough to travel all across the world.

Another fact is that dust makes sunrises and sunsets beautiful. 

When dust fills the air and sunlight touches it in just the right way you get beautiful shades of pink and orange and red. And it’s all because of dust. Dust is beautiful.

A 3rd fact is that scientist estimate that the average household produces 40 pounds of dust a year. That’s the size of a kindergartner. So even when you clean up the dust more dust comes back. There will always be dust to clean up. Dust can go on forever.

The last fact I want to share is that dust is made up of all kind of things. It’s made of dirt, sand, pollen, clothing fibers, dead bugs and dead bug poop! But probably 1/2 the dust in your home is made up of dead skin cells. Little bits of skin shed from your body goes into the air and becomes dust. Dust is made of you.

But did you know that dust isn’t just made of you, you are made of dust? 

The Bible says in the book of Genesis that God formed humans from the dust of the ground and breathed into their nostrils the breath of life and they became living beings. The first person’s name was Adam and in the Hebrew language, Adam is the word for dust.

It all started with dust. 

Today, we remember that God made us from the dust of the ground. 

And to help us remember, we put a little bit of dust on our foreheads. (Don’t worry though, our dust is made of the ashes of burnt palm leaves, not dead bugs). 

The dust on our heads in the shape of the cross. It is to remind us that we are connected to the earth. It is to remind us, we are connected to each other and are connected to God. And, it reminds us, we are all made of dust.

We are made of the same stuff that is strong enough to travel around the world, even all the way from Africa. We are made of the same stuff that makes the sunrises and sunsets beautiful. We are made of the same stuff that God picked up in his own hands to make people. 

We are dust! 

It’s pretty cool when you think about it. All that God has given us in dust and the fact that dust is so cool. Remember that you are dust, and dust is strong and beautiful. God made each of us strong and beautiful in our own way. Like dust, with Jesus we can live forever.

The next thing is Lent. This is not the lint (L-I-N-T) that catches in your family dryer when your parents do the laundry. Lent (L-E-N-T) is the time that we prepare for Easter. 

Lent is also the time we give things back to God.

Remember when I was reading earlier. I read about fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Maybe you don’t know exactly what those are but they are ways to show God how much we love Him. These are the ways we can show God that we are strong and beautiful.

Fasting is giving up up something we love and giving back to God a love that is better.

Maybe we fast by giving up cookies. Maybe we can fast by not drinking sugary drinks and drinking water instead.

But there are other ways to fast.

Don't talk bad about others; instead pass on kind words. Don’t be unhappy; instead fill yourself with hope. Don’t get angry; instead fill yourself with happiness. Don't worry; instead trust that God is with you.

Almsgiving is a way to love others as a gift to God. Your parents may give to charities or help those who are homeless. But there are other ways of almsgiving.

Say hello always and everywhere - say hello to someone in the hall, your next door neighbor, your teachers, the ladies in the office. 

Say hello your neighbors and to people your know. Greet others with great joy like the people you see every day. Smile at your friends. Be happy when you get to school and see your friends.

Say thank you even for the smallest things. Tell your teachers thank you. Say thank you to the ladies in the cafeteria, the secretaries, librarians, and even say thank you to the person who waits on you at McDonalds. Tell your friend who hands you a pencil or holds the door open or even just smiles at you, thank you.

Remind others how much you love them. Tell your parents you love them. Tell your brothers and sisters you love them. Tell your aunties, uncles, and grandparents you love them. I am a papaw that is very special to us. Tell those you love how much you love them.

Help someone who needs help. Help your little brother and sister learn to tie their shoes. Help them get dressed. If they learn to do it themselves, Celebrate their wins. 

Help your parents or grandparents in simple ways. Take the garbage out. Clean up after yourself. Clean you room. Pickup your clothes and put your shoes away. 

Always pray. Say thank you to God and tell Jesus how much you love him. Prayer is talking to God like a friend. It is telling God how much we love him. Thanking him for all he has given us, like making us from dust. 

That is what Lent is about. That is the way we prepare for Easter.

I said today “Ash Wednesday” we were going to talk about Dust and Lent. But we haven’t talked much about ashes yet.

In a little while, each of us will have the opportunity to come to the front or rear of the church. And, someone will take some dusty ashes and mark a cross on our foreheads.

The person marking us with ashes will say some words from the Bible: Remember that ‘you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

Then we’ll each go back to our seats. Some people will leave the ashes on. Some will wipe the ashes off.

But those words from the Bible should remain in our hearts and remind us all of something very important. It’s something about who we are. 

Remember that you are dust, and dust is strong and beautiful. God made each of us strong and beautiful in our own way. By believing in Jesus, like dust we can go on forever.

Ash Wednesday - Welcome to Life

(Thank you Fr Karsh for inspiration)

In Genesis we hear how God formed humans from the dust of the ground and breathed into their nostrils the breath of life and they became living beings. The first person’s name was Adam and in the Hebrew language, Adam is the word for dust.

We were meant to live forever with God. But something happened and things changed. That is why later in Genesis - God told Adam - Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.

On Ash Wednesday, we wear across of ashes to remind us that we are dust. These ashes remind us of our humanity and mortality. 

Why do people have to be reminded? Well, welcome to life.

Whether it’s fear, arrogance, pride, delusion, ignorance, denial, wounds and pain, the illusions of success and accomplishments, or a thousand other things, something happens. People forget their dustiness. They forget that they are dust and to dust they shall return. 

In forgetting their dustiness, people forget their mortality and human nature. The church in its wisdom gives us these ashes on Ash Wednesday to battle that fault. Ashes bring people back to reality.

Ashes on our forehead remind us that human life has limits, that it comes to an end, and that everyone dies. Pope Francis said, the imposition of ashes “reminds us of who we are.”

Ashes remind us that our lives are fragile and insignificant: we are dust, from dust we were created, and to dust we shall return. The ashes speak of the virtue of humility, of knowing human limits, of knowing fragility and mortality. 

The ashes speak of knowing we need God. 

Ashes remind us of our mortality, but why ashes in the sign of a cross? Why not a heart or our initials? Why a cross in ashes? 

The cross of ashes reminds us of several important things. 

First, it reminds us of human sin and that brokenness and injustice are a part of life. The cross reminds us that our innocent friend and savior Jesus was abused and tortured and executed. The cross reminds us that Jesus loved us—and is loving us still—even unto death.

The cross in ashes is the counterpart to the cross that was traced on our brow when we were baptized, when the words— “You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” 

So, the ashes in the shape of a cross is to remind us that the cross is not the last word—the resurrection lies beyond it. 

The cross in ashes reminds one of all these very important things but it also signifies that we are marked for discipleship. Marked to be servants of God—as Paul states in his letter to the Corinthians to live in such a way that others will experience the love of God—which is salvation—through them—through their knowledge, their patience, their kindness, their holiness of spirit, through genuine love, truthful speech. 

All of this, Paul says, comes about not by their own honor or good reputation or righteousness and power but by the power of God’s grace.

The cross in ashes on our for heads, reminds us, we are connected to each other. It Reminds us, we are connected to God. It reminds us of our humanity. It Reminds us, we are all made of dust.

The cross in ashes on our brows is the "yes" to the kind of Lent Jesus desires for each of us. He wants us to accompany him boldly, saying "no" to that which would slow our steps and saying "yes" to that which would fill our hearts and actions with love for him and others. 

The kind of Lent, the kind of life Jesus desires is the kind that prepares our hearts for a Savior who rises from the ashes of death and injustice to bring a new life of justice and joy. 

Our new life begins with the cross on our brows and the promises of God fulfilled in our lives by faith.

It’s Ash Wednesday. Welcome to life.

Homily 8th Sunday: Pilgrims bearing Good Fruit

https://p.feedblitz.com/r3.asp?l=349490052&f=1093293&c=20275080&u=73884139

May All I do & All I teach give glory to God, in Jesus’ name. Amen 

Praise God! Praise be to Jesus Christ, forever and ever. 

My bonus granddaughter Lillian comes out of Children's Church last Sunday and says, “We are God’s Chosen people.”

My daughter asked, “Did you learn that in Children’s Church?”

Lillian says “No, we learned you are supposed to love those who are mean to you.”

So Sarah asked her, “How do you know we are God’s chosen people? The Bible says God’s chosen people are the people of Israel.”

Lillie answered in a matter-of-fact way, “God told me.” And she added “ They are God’s chosen people from Israel. We are God’s chosen people from Louisiana.”

 

Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you so that you might go and bear fruit.”

In this jubilee year of Hope, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. Pilgrims that go out and bear the fruit of Hope to those around us.

Jesus teaches, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” What message do we bring to the world, bad fruit or good fruit? The fruit is in what we say to others. The fruit is the examples we set for others to see and follow.

Over a century earlier, the Jewish sage Sirach shared the same message inspired in him by God. Sirach and Jesus teach this truth: the words we speak and the things that we do reveal our hidden thoughts and the secrets of our hearts. They taught this message in a lesson of everyday life. Everyday life where words and deeds are plant seeds that bear fruit in this physical world. The honesty of who we are is the fertilizer for all the fruit we bear in this world. 

The way we communicate who we are, can be compared to a sieve, a kiln, and a fruit-bearing tree. When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear, just as one's faults are revealed when one speaks or their actions. 

The fruit of a tree shows the care it received. What we say or do discloses our heart. What we share with the world is a direct reflection of our inner character. 

Like a tree bearing fruit, our words and deeds reflect the qualities we cultivate within ourselves. That is the fruit we bear. Is it bad fruit or good fruit? The fruits of the virtues of faith, hope, and love (charity) bring hope to a world that needs hope.

To know the truth of our character is like a potter's kiln testing the quality of a vessel; our conversations test our character. Our actions show who we truly are. 

Words and actions of good character have power. We should use that power to build up and uplift others. This is what it is to be Pilgrims of Hope. “For no good tree bears bad fruit, and a bad tree bear does not bear good fruit." 

It is our character that comes "out of the abundance of the heart” and Jesus says this is shown by our words and actions. He also tells is that “By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37). 

The words that come out of our mouths, the actions of our hearts matter. St. Paul reminds us that to share in God’s victory over death,“we must give our hearts and lips to what is good.”

We are in a time of change. Words and speech that come from despair and sadness can be hurtful. That same despair and sadness can unintentionally hurt ourselves and others. 

It is understandable, change is hard. Nothing was harder than what Jesus had to do.

And by his words and actions, Jesus gave hope to the world. The Hope of salvation. The Hope of eternal life, and the Hope that comes from knowing that He chose us. 

There is a saying that we reap what we sow. How true when what we say and what we do tells others who we really are. Our words and actions can build us up or tear us down. In the same way, they can build others up or tear them down as well.

Lillian was so right. We are God’s chosen people.

We are God’s chosen people not just because we are from Louisiana. Not because we are the Diocese of Shreveport. Not because we are part of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Not because we are here at St Lawrence/CCM. 

We are God’s chosen people, because Jesus chose us for himself. We are God’s chosen people because we love even those we think that have been mean to us. We are God’s chosen people, his church.

In faith, hope, and love (charity) as God’s chosen people we choose Jesus. We choose hope. And, we are transformed by God. 

We are transformed to go and bear good fruit. Our good words and good actions are those of Pilgrims that bear good fruit in the world. 

Pilgrims of Hope even in times of change.

Friends, as Pilgrims of Hope, be good, be holy and preach the good news of Jesus Christ by the way you live your life and love one another.

Praise God! Praise be to Jesus Christ, forever and ever. Amen.

Pilgrim of Bold Hope; Homily 1st Friday February 2025

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020725.cfm

Praise God! Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.

This week, I have preached on the theme "Pilgrims of Hope" at every opportunity. On Wednesday at St. Lawrence, the message was “Hope Begins When Jesus Preached”. On Tuesday, at Christ the King - Catholic Campus Ministries the message was “Bold Faith Comes From Bold Hope.”

Today, the focus is on a true “Pilgrim of Hope,” someone who had bold faith that came from a bold hope. This person’s hope may have come when he heard Jesus preach his first message of hope as an infant in his mother's womb. Knowing hope that Pilgrim of Hope leaped for joy. 

Yes, that. Pilgrim of Hope was John the Baptist.

John preached a powerful message of hope: "Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" He was the precursor of Jesus, a true “Pilgrim of Hope,” pointing to the one who would fulfill our greatest hopes and satisfy our deepest longings. 

John is not one you would normally think of when you picture hope. But truthfully, hope is not always picturesque. It is not rainbows, giggles, butterflies, and sugar candies. Hope is experienced in the world and hope is going to be smudged with little dirt. Its has bruises and chipped teeth. Its knuckles will be swollen and skinned, and its hair uncombed. 

Hope is even in the deepest and darkest places like the prison cell of John the Baptist as he was about to be beheaded. Hope lives in those who fight. When it is knocked down, hope gets back up and goes on. True hope is persistent and relentless. That is John the Baptist's hope.

Herod was called out by John concerning Herodias and all the wicked things Herod had done. John accused Herod, saying, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." For this, Herod imprisoned John and eventually had him beheaded.

Even while locked up, John continued to preach. King Herod liked to hear what John had to say, but he was very much perplexed by his words. Herod knew nothing about hope.

John's preaching about repentance, the Spirit and fire, and empowered faith gave hope. He told people about God's power and the hope to come. "I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness." 

John's message was one of bold hope, a hope that liberates and frees people. John’s hope had dirt smeared on its face, swollen and bloody knuckles, and more than one loose tooth. His message was echoed off iron bars, resounding against the condemnation of the world.

This is the hope needed when we face the evils of this world, when dealing with trouble, illness, loss, or any kind of trials. St. Augustine said, "Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are."

This is the hope of Christ, and no other hope is needed. The hope that Christ bring is not deterred by the messiness of the world. A “Pilgrim of Hope” does not stop his journey. Hope does not run from the fight. 

It is easy to be a "Pilgrim of Hope" when hope is found in rainbows and butterflies. The world needs "Pilgrims of Hope" who are not afraid to get a little dirty, to endure some knocks and bruises, or maybe a chipped tooth or two. Fighting for hope in this world is not easy.

John the Baptist was a “Pilgrim of Hope.” For “Pilgrims of Hope” this is God's promise through Jesus Christ to the world: "I will never forsake or abandon you."

Hope begins when the message of Jesus Christ is preached; that. message: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?"

Praise God! Praise be to Jesus Christ forever and ever! Amen.

A Bold Faith Comes From A Bold Hope - Homily 1st Tuesday February - Campus Ministry Mass

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020425.cfm 

There was once a television show called “Faith and Hope”. Although the show was a silly comedy about the lives of two sisters, it could contained tidbits of wisdom. 

These were thoughts that came from the theme song …“Sisters can’t imagine life without the other.., Sister there is no better way to you.” It was a song about sisters; but the sisters were Faith and Hope. Hope and faith are also 2 sister virtues.

Can you imagine faith without hope or hope without faith? True believers know there is no better way to faith than hope in Jesus. There is no better way to have hope than to have faith in Jesus Christ.

It takes a bold faith to boldly embrace hope. 

This year, 2025, Pope Francis has declared a Holy Year of Hope. He calls us to be "Pilgrims of Hope." In this year of renewal hope and faith intertwine like the complementary nature of the two virtues. 

A complimentary nature that resonates deeply in the heart of believers. St. Paul declares in Romans - “We are justified through faith… and we boast in our hope…”

That is the nature of faith and hope echoed in the hearts of many. But, for some, like students in the midst of the challenges of campus life, might lose sight of hope and ponder their faith. As a part of Catholic Campus ministry, all of us are called to be witnesses to others as an example of bold faith and hope in Jesus.

The Gospel tells us to be bold in our hope and faith and witness to the crowds around us. Jarius, a respected community leader, with faith in Jesus healing and the hope for the healing of his daughter, humbled himself before Jesus. Similarly, a woman who had suffered for years reached out in faith to touch Jesus' garment, hoping to be healed by just touching the hem of his cloak.

Their stories exemplified the bold hope and unwavering faith of two people in the crowd. All who were around them witnessed that bold hope and even bolder faith. To that hope and faith, Jesus responded. 

He said to Jarius and all those who would hear, do not fear only believe. Then He reached out to Jarius' daughter, who was at the point of death, takes her by the hand, and says get up little girl. When Jesus felt the woman's touch he honored her hope and faith. Daughter your faith has made you well.

In this modern world, on this college campus, we are surrounded by great crowds that witness all we do. As a witness for Christ, we are a witness of hope and faith. Set aside all that weighs us down and prevents us from reaching out to Jesus. For when we possess such faith, Jesus responds.

Hope and faith begins with Baptism. Our hope and faith in Jesus Christ is being constantly renewed by the Holy Spirit. It grows through our openness to God’s grace in our lives.

Hope and faith is nurtured through campus ministries. They grow when one attends Mass, goes to confession, prays daily, studies the Bible, and is part of a community of believers. Student can discover that having a hope in the challenges of campus life and college studies deepens and grows a bolder faith.

Bold faith comes from the bold hope. It is hard to imagine one without the other. Dear Jesus, there is no better way to you.

Amen

Hope begins when Jesus Preached - Homily First Wednesday mass - February 2025

https://bible.usccb.org/

In 2025, the Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis calls everyone to be "Pilgrims of Hope." Reflecting on what it means to be “Pilgrims of Hope”, one might think about hope often. 

Hope involves focusing on the positive and anticipating the best. The Holy Spirit inspires individuals to seek hope in prayer, daily mass readings, scripture studies, and in the Eucharist. We are to encourage others to do the same. That is how we are to be “Pilgrims of Hope.”

This is St. Paul's message to "strive for that Holiness without which no one will see God. See that no one is deprived of the grace of God and nothing or no one rises up to cause trouble, through which many may become defiled."

To be a “Pilgrim of Hope” understand hope. The dictionary defines hope as the "expectation, desire, and feeling of trust for certain things to happen." The Catechism describes hope “as the theological virtue by which people desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life, expecting and desiring happiness.” It emphasizes that "Hope is trusting in God’s promise" and that "Hope is the source of holiness one must have to see God, which comes from the grace of the Holy Spirit."

Hope is rooted in faith. Faith is to entrust oneself to another. Hope extends this trust into the future. The church teaches that Christian hope has been unfolding since the beginning of Jesus' preaching.

In today's gospel, Jesus questions the faith of those in his native place. We should also question their hope of those people in the synagogue. The people who take offense at Him because they see Him as ordinary, despite others speaking highly of Him. Jesus is not honored in His hometown because people cannot see past His human connections. Questioning where did He obtain His teachings and actions. This was Jesus, the carpenter and son of Mary. The familiarity of those who knew him leads to His rejection. They failed to recognize the wisdom and presence of God that had come to their everyday lives.

Familiarity breeds complacency. Today, many of Jesus' followers have become complacent. Jesus, Church, spirituality, and the divine have become the ordinary and familiar. People fail to see the wisdom and presence of God in everyday life. This complacency can sabotage hope. It affects Protestants, Evangelicals, and Catholics alike.

I recently came across a Protestant pastor's blog reflection on the struggle of celebrating the Lord's Supper. He mentions the routine and effort of celebrating the ritual of God’s greatest gift. He notes it must be difficult for churches that celebrate the Eucharist weekly. He said it is easy to become complacent and indifferent toward Holy Communion when it is a regular practice.

When we participate consciously and actively in the Eucharist we come closest to”Christ Jesus our hope. (1 Tim 1:1) There is no boundaries to hope.(Rm 15:13) "Do not deprive anyone of this hope. Do not allow anyone or anything to deprive us of this hope."

Hope from God is the fruit of our humility and perseverance in faith. Hope does not fit in a complacent heart. Hope is the virtue that protects us in our struggle for salvation. Maybe, this blogging pastor needs hope.

Hope began with Jesus' preaching. Ones hope is a relationship with Jesus. We celebrate that hope in the blessed sacrament daily. With the grace of God, persevere as Pilgrims of Hope for all to be saved and united with Christ.