The PadreCast - Faithful Catholic Homilies

A Recipe for Salvation | PadreCast Pentecost Sunday

Bread. It's the easiest way to understand these mysteries of salvation.

Today - Pentecost - the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the Virgin Mary and appeared as tongues of fire.

So, why is bread the perfect analogy, the perfect example that God has given us to understand all of these great mysteries?

It's because Jesus chose bread to be the main symbol to be used in the Eucharist, which is His Body, His Real Presence among us.

Jesus is the One Who chose bread to be used at the Last Supper, and that we've used ever since. But remember, He's God, which means He designed bread. He knew that once He created humans, they'd harvest wheat and grind it up, mix it with some water, and bake it. And voila: this great substance that everybody all over the world has eaten since the beginning of time. This most basic form of nourishment was the main tool He wanted to use in nourishing of His Body, and in making Himself present for the rest of time.

There's a basic rule about Eucharistic bread - and it comes from the Last Supper: there can only be two ingredients to this bread. Flour and water. It's forbidden to use any other elements. Because at the Last Supper, that's what Jesus used. Unleavened bread. This is the same bread the Israelites used at Passover right before their Exodus from Egypt - they had to flee quickly and didn't have time to let their bread rise. They didn't use yeast, they just baked it and ran.

Now, this isn't an accident, it's not a coincidence. Our Lord designs these things. . . . There's got to be a reason why He wanted this very simple form of bread to be used in His Real Presence.

It's because of what each of the elements of bread symbolizes. There are three main elements to this bread, even though there are only two ingredients.

The first element of course is the grain. But it's not just grain - you don't take the grain, mix with water and bake. You have to grind up the grain first, that's an essential aspect. Grind it into flour. The Fathers of the Church tell us that Our Lord, knowing - designing - the way to make bread this way, did so because He was going to use bread to symbolize His presence (I mean "symbol" in the sense that it looks like bread but it's actually His Body). And His Body was ground up in His Passion, was it not? The grinding of the grain was to symbolize the death that our Lord would have to endure to redeem us. Not just grain picked off the ear. It has to be crushed into powder. Like His own Body. This new flour symbolizes for us our Lord's redeeming act. What He endured in order to nourish us and give us everlasting life. But grinding the flour, that's just the first part of making bread isn't it?

You need water. If you don't have water, I'm sorry, you can bake that flour as much as you want. It's not going to turn into bread. So you mix in water. . . . Why would our Lord have designed it that way? Because for us to share in the Passion of Christ Who wants to redeem us, what do we need? We need to be baptized. What's the main element in baptism? It's water! That's not a coincidence! That's not an accident. These aren't just interesting connections, our Lord designed it to be the way.

So, His saving act: the grinding of the wheat into flour.

Our participation in that act - the water that washes away our sin and unites us with the Body of Christ.

But again, flour and water doesn't make bread. There's still one essential element that is required.

And that's fire. . . . .

 

You see the last gift given - the Spirit - to complete the work of Christ and to form the Church in the world, was fire.

 

 

Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 25:33

Call out in Confidence | PadreCast Ascension Sunday

So many people nowadays think they can just talk to God on their own and He's gong to listen? None of us - none of us - deserves to be heard by the Father. Yes, He hears everything because He's God. But do you think for a moment He's going to grant any favor that you've asked? What have you done for Him? How many times have you failed Him? And suddenly, because you're in need now, you want something. Why would He listen to you?

 

That's what today's feast is all about.

 

Because we have and Advocate Who sits before Him interceding on our behalf. Every day.

Not just the Advocate Who was sent, that's the Holy Spirit. But Christ Himself - our Mediator. He stands before his Father - in His human nature - pleading on our behalf. And the sacrifice, the sweet smelling oblation He offers, is His own Body. He's the unblemished Lamb that was slain. He is the High Priest of the New Covenant. Now forever before the throne of His Father, interceding.

If I pray on my own, my prayers are not heard. But if I pray with, in, and through the Body of Christ then they must be heard. Because: where is Jesus? He's at the right hand of the Father. I have no fear, no concern at all. I know my prayers are heard by the Father because Christ is praying on my behalf.

That's the beauty of the nature of Christ's Body. We know that the Church is His Body. We all, members of that same Body. . . . as long as I'm connected with that Body, when I pray, the Head prays. If the Head prays - the head is with the Father, and the Father hears the prayer. Not because of any merit of my own. The Father hears the prayers because the Head merited the grace for me. The Head was worthy. The rest of us body, well, we deserve what we get.

As long as I am praying with, in, and through the Body of Christ, I have no doubt, no fear, no concerns that my prayers are not heard and favorably answered.

Jesus says: Whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He will give you. Not on a whim, but in union with Me. Meaning if you have the mind and heart of Christ and you ask the Father for anything, He's going to grant it.

This is why our Lord had to ascend. He's never left us. He's still here in the Eucharist. But He's also at the right hand of the Father constantly interceding for us.

When we pray as a body, it is the prayer of Christ. When I offer this Holy Sacrifice, it is the sacrifice of Christ. The Father looks down on His Son's Body and He grants Her this grace, these blessings, this mercy that She asks for.

 

Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28:16-20

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 25:41

Explain Yourself | PadreCast Sixth Sunday of Easter

 

Without faith you cannot believe. Without faith you cannot hope. There is no hope without faith and belief: in Christ, in what He has done for us, in the gifts He has given us.

Without faith and hope, you can't love. You'll be so filled with anxieties and stresses and the problems of the world.

It is precisely faith and hope that empower Christian love to manifest in the world.

As St Peter says in our second reading today: Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.

What does he mean by this? He mans that we who are filled with God, with the Holy Spirit, should stand out from the rest of society to such a degree that people will approach us and say, "Hey, you're a little different, what's going on? Where is this hope coming from?" Some might walk away, but some will be curious. They'll think: "I want what you have. Where did you get it? How can I get it too?"

You need to be prepared to explain to them where this hope comes from.

Yet many Christians don't have hope. How is that possible? Why aren't you constantly, at least by your life, testifying to this hope? You look around; friends, family, coworkers, where ever you happen to be; you look around and there isn't much hope. This is a problem. Hope is an essential Christian virtue. . . . why doesn't it shine out in the world?

This world is in darkness compared to what we are offered as disciples of the Lord. Yet it doesn't seem to contrast that greatly when we are out amongst others in society.

Yes, we have hope in Christ. But we don't have enough hope in Christ. Not yet. . . .

The test to know whether all of your hope is in Christ, or only some of it, is: can you ever lose hope?

Everything will fail you in this world at some point. Everything. Your gifts, attributes, possessions, skills, relationships. Everything will fail you in this world at some point. If your hope in in those people, those relationships, or those things, when it fails, you will lose it. You'll lose hope.

But if my hope is in Christ, nothing effects that hope. If God is actually living in me, in reality living in me, then how can any of these worldly problems affect me? . . .

 

The moment hope is lost, you begin to doubt faith. . . . the reason you lose hope when you fall back into sin - even after leaving the confessional is this: your hope wasn't in Christ, it was in you.

If your hope is in Jesus Christ you can't lose it. No one can take that from you. No one.

 

If my hope is solidly rooted in Christ, His love for me, and His Church and her Sacraments, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, then the loss of anything in this world cannot take that hope from me. And that hope will manifest anytime someone sees me. It'll be even stronger light in the darkness when they know you are suffering. When something tragic or bad is happening, and you still have a smile on your face. . . . Peter tells us all: Be ready to give an explanation for this hope.

 

Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; 1 Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:56

The early Church created this ministry | PadreCast Fifth Sunday of Easter

The word "deacon" means servant. That's their job. They are there to serve. To serve the needs of the Bishops and the priests. And there to serve the needs of the faithful.

Deacons are ordained to "Christ the Servant". Priests and Bishops are ordained to "Christ the Head".

A deacon's role first and foremost is to serve in those areas of the Church where the Bishops and the priests just don't have the time and energy. . . .

So what does the Church look for when we interview candidates for the diaconate formation? We look for someone who is

• reputable / respectable
• wise / holy
• filled with the Spirit and faith
• already serving his local community in some way, has a service-minded heart
• has raised his children well

The primary role of the deacon is to proclaim the Gospel - he has that right. Because of that he can also preach with the permission of the priest celebrant. If Holy Eucharist is being distributed under the form of the Precious Blood, that is also his by right according to a deacon's role in the liturgy.

Deacons also teach; faith formation, catechism, they help prepare couples for marriage and their child's baptism. There are any number of things they do.

For any men discerning the diaconate, if you get accepted to the program, there are many years of formation - intellectual and spiritual. You want to make sure you're properly formed and prepared to be ordained to minister in the name of Christ.

There is another thing any man getting ordained to the diaconate must promise when he gets ordained. That is: if he is married, and his spouse dies, he is forbidden from ever remarrying. If he is not married when he becomes a permanent deacon, he takes a vow of celibacy like a priest and he's never allowed to get married.

Another thing to consider is that a man cannot be ordained to the diaconate - even if the Bishop wants him, even if he wants it - without his wife's permission. She must consent to it. One of the things expected of the wives in the diaconate formation program is that they - in so far as they are able - participate in their husband's formation. The role of the deacon's wife - though it is not liturgical - because of the husband's elevation in this official capacity in the Church, is elevated in the eyes of the people. What we find is that because of this, other women and people in the parish seek them for advice and direction. So we want to see that the wives of the candidate not only encourage and support their husband's calling, but are willing and able to accept the responsibilities of being the wife of a deacon.

Because the formation is so time-consuming, generally we're looking for someone who has already raised his children. If he has kids, for the most part they are out of the home, or almost. We wouldn't want him to be take away from his primary vocation which is his family. The scriptures attest to this. If a man is called, one of the signs you look for is: has he raised his children well?

The role of deacons in the Church is apostolic. Christ did not Himself create deacons. The Apostles did. The early Church created this ministry. They recognized a need and were guided by the Holy Spirit in doing this.

 

If any of you men have considered or may potentially consider this vocation one day, think about it, pray about it. And what you'll do as a community, if you see a man who could serve the Lord in this capacity, certainly pray for them. Maybe ask if them: Have you ever thought about being a deacon?

Pray for our deacons in the Diocese, for their wives and families. For them men and their families who are in formation.

And pray for a deacon for our parish too.

 

 

Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:03

AI, Masters of the Universe, and the Good Shepherd | PadreCast Fourth Sunday of Easter

Spiritual beings have no power to create anything spiritual at all. That power only exists in the physical universe by what we believe as God's design.

Why is this important?

Because it helps us to understand in our attempts to create AI (artificial intelligence) something simple should be clear: it will never become self-aware. That's impossible. Dogs aren't self-aware. Trees aren't self-aware. Only human beings are self-aware. Now, in the rejection of Judeo-Christian philosophy and theology, there is this heresy of "materialism" that believes that everything in the universe is the only thing that actually exists, and that human beings are just evolved monkeys. This is the lie.

But you have to understand something about human beings - something we know by revelation, but even philosophically, it makes perfect sense - that human beings can't create new persons. Did you know that? You mothers and fathers? You've never created a new person. . . .

You have to understand how you participate in creation. You see, since humans beings are not just animals, like dogs and whales, you're not just creating a material copy. That's all matter can do.

As mothers and fathers all you're doing is participating in the natural order according to material beings in the physical universe, to recreate a body. That's what the egg and the sperm do. They recreate a human body. But they can't make a soul, right? No spiritual being has the power to recreate spirits. God reserves that to Himself alone. Even the angels can't do this. . . . That's why to create another human being you need three beings. A mother, a father, and God.

God steps in at the moment the egg and sperm come together . . . and creates - out of nothing - a new soul and infuses it into that new body. Now there's a person.

But God made the person. You helped Him by making the body.

Let's assume for argument's sake, that we have the ability to create something in regards to artificial intelligence, that's incredibly advanced. Incredibly advanced. It can think like a human. And seem to make decisions like a human. Ok. Fair enough. But it will only be mimicry, because it will never have a soul.

We can't create souls. It won't gain sentience some day. That is actually impossible. So don't be afraid of the "terminators" taking over. It will only have so much power and control as we choose to give it since we - humans - are the greatest thing in the physical universe. We're the only thing in the physical universe that is not just physical.

We have this soul - this intellect and will - that is superior to anything else. Which is why we were given mastery over the universe. . . .

What is the thing we should fear about artificial intelligence? It's not that it'll become aware and who knows what will happen after that. That will never happen, you don't have to worry about that. The fear should be, one: who is programming it? And two: how do they plan to use it. But that's the same with any scientific advancement like the internet, or splitting the atom. It's just another human creation. Artificial intelligence will just be a very, very impressive hammer. . . . That's all it will ever be. What you should fear is human's use of it. . . .

So we need to pray for the people who are programming AI. Because it will simply mimic their views. Their philosophies. Their convictions. And it'll make decisions based on those premises. . . .

 

But we all said together in the responsorial psalm: "The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." Our Lord Jesus Christ is enough. Is that true for you? Regardless of what happens in the world around us. He is our Shepherd. He will take care of His sheep. All I need to do to be assured of my own safety and well-being in the grand scheme of things is: follow the Shepherd. That's my job. I seek to follow the Shepherd, wherever He may lead me, and I leave the rest up to Him.

 

 

Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b4, 5, 6; 1 Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 18:37

Lawless Men | PadreCast Third Sunday of Easter

The Jews saw this gift of Law as the greatest gift that God bestowed upon them. He did it through His prophets, through Moses, by speaking His Word to them. As Catholics, we understand that Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

What the old law symbolized, Jesus Christ is.

The difference between the Old Testament law, and the New Testament Christ is that one is verbal and the other, Incarnate. An actual living law. That's Who Jesus Christ is. He is the living Law of God. . . .

Jesus Christ is the completion of everything that was taught to the Israelites before. Remember what Jesus said: "Not a single letter or dot on a letter will pass away from the law. I did not come to remove the law, but to fulfill it." That's what He does. He is the fulfillment of the Law, and as we know, that law in Christ is love.

Saint Paul tells us that the summary of all of the law and the prophets as revealed in Christ is love.

He manifests that love most perfectly through His Death and Resurrection. . . .

Laws - rules - enable relationships. Without rules, there are no relationships. Some rules restrict the relationship, and some require action in the relationship. ultimately, that's the purpose of law and rules. And that's what Christ has come to give us. . . .

You need Divine Laws and rules to have a relationship with God. That's where we as Catholics have the greatest gift. In a sense - like the Jews of old - we can take great pride that we have been given God's own Law - His teachings, His life - so that we can have a relationship with Him.

And through that bring others - the rest of the "lawless" people of the world - to Christ.

 

These aren't just the Ten Commandments and the moral code. Yes, those are some of the laws, some of the rules. But first and foremost, the laws that enable us to have a relationship with God, with our Father, are the Sacramental laws. The Sacraments. . . . . they are the means by which we offer love and adoration to God.

 

Father proceeds to "break open the Scriptures" and explain how

the road to Emmaus resurrection account is

so important for us and how the Mass is celebrated.

 

 

 

Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35

 

Due to technical issues, we were unable to stream the Mass this Sunday.

Jesus is the Man | PadreCast Divine Mercy Sunday

If the Pharisees and Sadducees knew it was the Lord, then of course He'd have the power to forgive sins, He's God. But their objection was legitimate. Honestly, it's the same objection that Catholics and Christians in general have about priests hearing confessions and forgiving sins: How can a man forgive sins? Why do I need to go to a man to get my sins forgiven?

Jesus says you do.

Jesus is the man. The human through which our sins are forgiven. He is the only one through Whom our sins can be forgiven.

He has determined the mode by which we, His disciples, come to Him to have our sins forgiven. . . .

There is no doubt that Jesus Christ Himself has given this Sacrament - reconciliation, confession - to the Church as the "ordinary" means of the forgiveness of sins. . . .

Not only do we know that a man can forgive sins - because Jesus Christ is that Man - and not only do we know that Jesus Himself gave that power to other men, but we also know, even psychologically, why Jesus created that sacrament the way He did. . . . as a human, a personal, connection in order to restore a broken relationship. . . .

He created the sacrament of Confession, and He gave the Church this power because you need it. I need it! Because I'm human! It's my nature, it's how He made me.

 

You cannot receive all of the graces that you need if you do not go to Confession to the priest. You can't.

 

A Letter from Bishop Jugis:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Christ, our hope, has risen. Peace be with you.

Like Thomas in today’s Gospel, surrounded by a world of doubts and uncertainties, we have experienced the Lord in our midst, and proclaim with Easter joy, “My Lord and my God!”

This past year Pope Francis invited us to participate in a global synodal process in which we shared our faith, fears, hopes, and concerns. Although the national Catholic participation rate was only slightly above 1%, the Diocese of Charlotte exceeded the national average. After prayerful discernment and having listened to the lay faithful and the clergy of the diocese, I would like to share with you six pastoral priorities moving forward.

• First and foremost, I earnestly desire all to renew and anchor their lives in the Most Holy Eucharist. Busy lives bombarded by distracting and worldly messages can only truly find the peace for which they yearn in the paschal mystery.
• Second, while strengthening our communion with Christ, we must in turn allow Him to strengthen the communion within our families and the Church. Unlike the secular world in which we live, the Church cannot allow herself to be fractured by partisanship. The forces that seek to divide are not greater than the Holy Spirit who unites. We must follow Our Lord who prayed at the Last Supper, “that they may be one, as we are one.”
• Third, as a family of faith we must inspire the youth to find their home in the Church. Inherently drawn to authenticity, it is our responsibility to speak to the meaning of a true Christian life.
• Fourth, in a time of moral confusion, we must inspire lives of personal holiness highlighting the beauty of chaste love.
• Fifth, we must learn to proclaim the faith in a digital age, that we may better evangelize a culture teeming with secular and contrary messages.
• Sixth, we must meet the challenges of an ever-growing diocese. In just 50 years the Diocese of Charlotte has grown from 34,000 Catholics in 75 parishes to more than 500,000 Catholics in 92 parishes and missions spread across 46 counties.

As a diocesan family, relying upon the grace and mercy of God, I ask for your help as I shepherd the diocese to meet the challenges of our day. Finally, I entrust these pastoral priorities to the maternal care of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God, our diocesan patroness.

May the peace and joy of Easter be with you all.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte

April 16, 2023

 

Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:47

God is devoted to you. How devoted are you to God? | PadreCast Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection

The words that the angel spoke to Abraham are quite profound. He says: "I know now how devoted you are to God since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."

 

God chose Abraham because he was most like Him, like God the Father. We know this because God the Father perfectly offered His own Son in sacrifice. For love.

So if the angel says to Abraham: "You are clearly devoted to God because you are willing to sacrifice your own beloved son", then that means God is devoted to you.

Because he did offer his only begotten Son.

Think about that for a moment.

God is devoted to you.

That's the love that the Father has for us. So devoted He did not even hold back that which was most precious to Him.

That's the whole message of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That God loves us this much. He is this devoted to us.

How devoted are you to God?

Are there things in your life that you withhold from Him?

 

 

Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 27:05

You’re Going to be Tested. Pray. | PadreCast Holy Thursday

You'll recall that it was on this night that our Lord warned the Apostles to stay awake and pray. Stay awake and pray.

Every time He went off a little distance to pray, He'd come back, and there were Peter, James and John. Fast asleep. They were just so exhausted they could not stay awake.

He warns them: "Get up. Pray. You're going to be tested, you need strength. I've already given you My Body and Blood in the Eucharist. I've washed your feet as a sign of spiritual cleansing. But now it is time to pray."

He chides Peter: "Could you not stay awake one hour with Me?"

One hour. See, that's our Lord's teaching on the first holy hour. That's why it's been a long standing tradition at the Church - that's why we have a formal holy hour on Thursday nights. That's the night the apostles should have stayed awake and prayed. It's the night Jesus asked for an hour of prayer in His presence. . . .

It's not Jesus Who needs your time. It's not Jesus Who needs your prayers. He's the Lord. He doesn't need anything from us.

It's we who need to spend this time in prayer.

Prayer - like the Sacraments - is not a magic bullet. It doesn't take care of all your problems. But the graces that we receive in the Sacraments are actually strengthened and flower through our prayer.

When we're not praying enough, when we're not spending enough time in prayer, then all those grace we've received go unused. And eventually, leave us.

 

Especially this night. Take advantage of the opportunity you have. Spend at least some time with our Lord. Though He needs nothing from us, spend some time with Him trying to console His grieving Heart.

 

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:24

You must follow Me | PadreCast Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Men, as the heads of our homes we have a moral obligation to speak the truth to our wives and our children whether they want to hear it or not. Regardless of the consequences. Now, we should do it in love, but we have to remember that obligation. So often, like Adam in the garden, we let things go on because we don't want to rock the boat. We don't want Eve to get upset with us. That was Adam's first sin.

Adam's second sin, after not speaking up when he should have, after not defending the Lord's teaching, the Lord's laws when he should have; was following his wife.

Think about that ladies, for just a second. Why did Adam eat of the fruit of the tree? because Eve ate it first and offered it to him. Even thought Eve was first to eat of the fruit, it's still called "Adam's sin", not "Eve's sin". Why?

Because Adam was the head of the family, not Eve. . . .

One of the mistakes we men often make is, we'll talk with our wife about what we should do in a situation, and the wife will say: you need to do this, this is the best way, or this is my recommendation. Husband says, good idea, let's do that. And he does it. And it all falls apart. He says: It's not my fault. It was her idea. I was just going along with the plan!

The fact of the matter is, as the heads of our homes, we decided to go along with the plan.

If Eve makes a good choice, it's perfectly fine that Adam take her example. But Adam must lead her in the choice. Never follow her.

There's an order here to things. Adam is always to lead, even when he's leading based on Eve's advice.

 

What would have happened - think for a moment - what would have happened if Adam didn't eat the fruit but Eve did?

What should have happened if that was the case? You see, Adam became the example of all sinful men. But he should have been, even at that time, a type of Christ.

Jesus is the perfect "Adam". The sinless one. The perfect husband. His bride - His people, the Church - always sins, always does wrong (Ladies, I'm not picking on you, I'm using a metaphor).

The Church - we, the Body of Christ - we always sin. We're the guilty party here. He's the innocent one. He never goes along with our sin. Never. . . . How often does He say: hey, you should be following Me, not Me following you.

It's precisely because of His outspokenness that the Jews hated Him and wanted Him dead.

His own people who should have followed Him, rebelled against Him.

They gave Jesus an option. They said: look if you follow us, we'll let You live. Everything will continue status quo.

And Jesus said to them: I cannot do that. You must follow Me.

They said: Look, if you insist upon this, we're going to kill you.

He said: You must follow Me.

And they crucified Him.

 

Love inclines one to suffer for the beloved. Even when you are innocent.

 

 

 

Mt 21:1-11; Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 26:14—27:66

 

Homily begins at 39:15 . You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel.

Submission to a rightly ordered reality always precedes love | PadreCast Fifth Sunday of Lent

The Church has maintained this tradition of veiling because of what is symbolizes. Women, you are a "type" of the Church. Because the Church is the Bride of Christ, every bride represents the Church - especially every Catholic bride. To symbolize the Church's own desire for modesty, for chastity, and for submission to Christ, women wore veils.

That's why whenever you see a picture or a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, She's got a veil on. Even over the last two thousand years when She has appeared in mystical ways to people, She's always veiled. Always. Why?

Because of the theological significance. Mary isn't just a "type" of the Church. Mary, the Blessed Virgin, is the archetype of the Church. An archetype is much greater than a type. Mary, she is the perfect type. She perfectly models the Church. She was perfectly chaste. She was perfectly humble. She was perfectly submissive and obedient to Christ in all things.

That's why She said "yes" to the will of God. God had authority over Her and She submitted to Him in everything.

That veil was a symbol of that obedience, that submission, that humility, and that chastity. It's precisely those virtues that drew God to Her. That lead Him to want Her to be the Mother of His Son.

One of the things even Catholic women who wear veils don't know is what Paul specifically mentions in First Corinthians as to why Catholic women at Church should wear veils - why he required it. Again, it's not an official teaching of the Church today. . . . but the reason Paul says God wants you women to wear veils in Church is to be a sign of submission to your husbands. Their authority over you.

Paul is speaking on behalf of God through the Holy Spirit. The truth of what Paul is saying remains whether you wear a veil or not. That's the rub isn't it?

Whether or not you wear a veil, God expects you wives, you mothers, to be submissive to your husbands in all things as to God Himself.

 

 

Ez 37:12-14; Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; Rom 8:8-11, Jn 11:1-45

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 22:50

Open Your Eyes | PadreCast Fourth Week of Lent / Laetare Sunday

We know He is the Light of the world. Those that live in sin, live in darkness - they are the blind ones. Those who have been forgiven of sin, set free, have their sight restored to them. Now we know Jesus is not referring to physical sight. Yes, in the Gospel He performed a physical miracle, but that wasn't the point of the miracle. He even said to His apostles before He performed it: the reason this man was born blind is so I could do the will of God here. So I can reveal the Truth.

And what is the Truth? Jesus is the Truth. He's revealing Himself by performing this miracle, revealing that He is the Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. If you put your faith in Him, He can open your eyes.

These eyes are the eyes of your soul. This is why He was ridiculing the Pharisees in the Gospel. They claim to be able to see - and of course, they have physical vision - but they were spiritually blind because of their sin. They wouldn't open their minds and hearts to God, to Jesus, because they were closed off inside and rejected Him, they remained blind.

It's impossible for someone who is spiritually blind to find happiness or joy. How can you rejoice in the darkness?

I thought it appropriate today that we talk about happiness from the Church's teaching. . . .

 

Those who have sight - those who our Lord has healed and given spiritual vision - they see and pursue those things in this life those things which will help them obtain not only perfect happiness in the next, but even a taste of perfect happiness here on earth. And what are those things? . . .

There are 14 of them: the works of mercy. The works of mercy are the works that Jesus Christ Himself performs. And since He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we who follow Him do not walk in darkness.

Whenever we perform these works, we are beginning to live and love like Christ, and we begin to experience the love and life of Christ in Heaven even here on earth.

 

The Corporal Works of Mercy

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

• To instruct the ignorant;
• To counsel the doubtful;
• To admonish sinners;
• To bear wrongs patiently;
• To forgive offences willingly;
• To comfort the afflicted;
• To pray for the living and the dead.

I recommend each family have the works of mercy printed out, large, and posted somewhere; on the fridge, a bulletin board, where you can see it each day. Challenge yourself, your spouse, even your children, to look at that list and say: Which one am I going to try to do today?

 

 

1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 22:20

Water from a Stone | PadreCast Third Sunday of Lent

You see, hardness of heart is the main problem in our relationship with God and in salvation. But it's also the main problem in our relationships with one another.

It's most clearly experienced in marriage, when you harden your heart against your spouse. Why do you do this? Well, for several seemingly justified reasons: they keep hurting you, over and over again, in the same way. You try to get over it, you try to love, you try to forgive, you try to be patient. But after a while you say: I can't do this anymore. It's too painful, I'm done.

So even before you end the relationship officially, you close off your heart.

The heart is like a light switch - it's either on or off. You can't have your heart open to some and closed to others. It is either open to all, and God. Or closed to all, and God. The moment you close your heart off to anyone - especially a spouse - guess what? It's now hard. Like a rock. Nothing flows from a rock. At least not naturally. So your heart dries up, it dies.

It ceases to love the Lord. It ceases to love your spouse. It even ceases to love your neighbor and your children. All of it.

You can delude yourself for a time thinking "Oh, I still love some of these people." No. At that point it's all corrupted, tainted and perverted. None of it is true love. That's not how the heart works.

So how do you overcome that hardness of heart?

Well, in the Old Testament, what did God do? He struck the rock to break it open.

Is that what Jesus did with the Samaritan woman? Did he just walk up and slap her: "Repent you sinner!" No! No. So gently. He carefully won her over.

That's what He wants to do with each of you. . . .

 

There is a way our Lord can win over your heart. He does it in the same way He won over the Samaritan woman. He always does it gently. He doesn't come outright and demand repentance from you even though that's what He needs. He has the ability to change your hard heart into a fleshly heart.

But He won't do it against your will.

 

Ex 17:3-7; Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-42

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 24:30

Whose Rite? | PadreCast Second Sunday of Lent

One of the things (Pope Benedict) clearly explains in Spirit of the Liturgy is why he thinks God wants, at least for a while in the history of the Church, two different rituals to be celebrated in one rite of the Church. One r-i-t-e of the Church.

You see, the definition of a "rite" within the Catholic Church is a "way of celebrating the liturgy". So different rites are ways of celebrating the Mass. There's the Coptic rite, Ukranian rite... it's all the same Mass. The same Last Supper of the Catholic Church. But they're different rites.

We are the Roman rite. That's what we are. We're Roman Catholics.

Every rite should have a singular celebration of the Mass. It is illogical for any singular rite to have multiple celebrations. That doesn't make any sense! Those (different celebrations) would be separate rites. Ultimately, Roman Catholics can't have two rites in the Church.

Benedict XVI explains this in Spirit of the Liturgy. Why would God be allowing this right now in history? It's confusing.

Look what it's doing to the Body of Christ in the Roman rite. It's causing disunity and disagreements. . . .

Why would this be the will of God? To have two rites (within the Roman church) at least for a time.

It's because of the abuses and bad implementation of the Novus Ordo after the Second Vatican Council. There was nothing wrong with the Council, it was how its teachings were applied which was not always good. . . .

Pope Benedict XVI explains in his book that the reason the Holy Spirit is allowing both of these celebrations to go on in the Church - at least temporarily even though it is causing division - is because the Extraordinary form needs to "rub off" and correct the errors in the ordinary form. Meaning: the ordinary form has to pick back up the good habits that were lost after the Second Vatican Council.

Pope Benedict XVI clearly says that's why only for a time are we supposed to have these two forms. But it's supposed to end. (The Extraordinary form) is supposed to be abrogated from the Roman rite because we are Roman rite Catholics and there should be only one rite of the Mass. Not two.

Theologically, the last three popes are in agreement. And that has to be the will of God, there's no doubt about it.

Why is it happening at this time and in this way? Many of my brother priests and laypeople to whom I speak on this topic are struggling so much. To lose the ability to celebrate and experience the Extraordinary form, is a cross to them because they love it so much. It's like losing a loved one. It's like experiencing a type of death.

Why would God be asking this of them at this time? Why is this the will of God for them and for the rest of the Church?

 

Gn 12:1-4a; Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22; 2 Tm 1:8b-10; Mt 17:1-9

 

Due to technical issues, we were unable to stream this Sunday's Mass. We apologize.

Lent is not a preparation for Easter | PadreCast First Sunday of Lent

Lent is not a preparation for Easter.

It's a preparation for Good Friday, the death of our Lord.

When our Lord fasted forty days and forty nights in the desert, He was preparing for his inevitable death. And we - rightly following His example - we prepare for our own deaths by fasting forty days and forty nights each year. But since we don't know when our death will come, it's not enough to do that just once a year and then we don't have to think about death till next Lent.

No. Every day. Memento mori. Remember death.

 

Another Latin phrase: Carpe diem. Seize the day. Take advantage of today.

Often, in a secular word, that phrase is used to mean "Live it up!" "Get what you want." "Do whatever you want."

That's not the reason for the phrase. The reason to carpe diem is because today is the only day you know you have. Take advantage of today, and from our perspective, that means: Get ready for death! I may die tomorrow morning before I wake up. Am I ready for death before I go to sleep this night?

 

Father explains how memento mori can help us maintain our Lenten sacrifices. 

 

Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 19:35

Bringing Love to the Other Person | Seventh Sunday Ordinary Time

Visiting Priest: Fr Philip Mackenzie, Food for the Poor

 

Being Christ for the other person means bringing love to the other person. The love is of course, serving others. A call to perfection, that's what it is. That your body is really a temple of the Holy Spirit. . . .

The Lord is saying, let the Spirit of the law exist - not adhering to the law in its strictest sense. Because, out of the Ten Commandments, it is said the Hebrews made over 360 different laws. So people were walking on pins and needles.

The Lord, in His moment, said no. If you keep those two commands, you'll have kept all. And what are they?

To love the Lord your God with all your mind, your heart, your soul, your strength, your entire being. And to love who? Your neighbor, as we love ourselves. And who is our neighbor? Not the person next door, really. Your neighbor is anyone we meet, as He is saying in the Scriptures today. And in loving the neighbor, sometimes, there's an enemy among. But love the enemy the same way. Pray for those who hate you and persecute you.

If you have kept these two commands, then you'll have kept all the commands. . . .

And the last commandment before He left: Love each other as I have loved you.

A very pointed charge. His love is a selfless love, giving His entire Being for justice and right. And then, there comes peace.

 

And so it is my dear friends in Christ that this morning I am here, speaking on behalf of Food for the Poor.

 

"Love, wonderful love. The love of Christ for me.

Love, wonderful love. So rich, so full, so free.

Wide, wide as the ocean,

deep, deep as the sea,

high, high as the heavens above

is His love for you and me."

 

Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:17

I can be your Brother. Or I can be your Opponent. You choose | Sixth Sunday Ordinary Time

Jesus is speaking here about our final judgement. He's saying we have to get ready before we die. If we don't "settle our debt" before we go to our judgement - "the court" - we're in trouble.

So how do we settle the debt? How do we take care of these issues, these sins, which offend God, while still here in this life?

Jesus gives us the answer. He's not trying to trick or deceive us, or make the Christian life impossible. He is setting for us a very high goal: perfect love. But He knows most of us aren't going to make it. Does that mean there's no hope? No. There's hope. That's why He came. That's why He died for us, so He could still offer us hope.

In our first reading, a beautiful reading from the book of Sirach, we are told that each of us has two choices: one leads to life, the other, death.

The path to life is obeying all of God's commandments. If you do that, you'll be saved. Don't worry. That's Life.

But if you break His commandments, that's Death. You're damned, it's over. But most of us fall into that second category. Does that mean that most will not go to heaven?

Apart from Christ? Yes. Apart from Jesus Christ, no one goes to Heaven.

But with Him, even if I'm not able to perfectly follow the commandments, the Old Testament Law, let alone the New Testament law, I still have hope. And the hope is this:

He says, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar. Go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.

The Fathers of the Church tell us Jesus is explaining to us that in order to approach the altar of God (as Catholics we know what that means) to present our gift - which is our self, that's what God wants from us, a gift of self - before we present ourselves before God, He says we need to reconcile with anyone - any "brother" - who has something against us. This refers not only to people in this life, earthly relationships and issues that you currently have, but more importantly, it refers to Jesus Christ Himself, who is our Brother.

Through baptism, we are united in the Body of Christ and Jesus call us "family". His brothers. His friends.

When we sin, we offend Him. As our God. As our Lord. And as our Brother.

He's the one we have to reconcile with before we approach the altar. He's basically saying: go to Confession.

We call Confession "reconciliation" because you are reconciling with your Brother, Jesus. He'll forgive you of your sins. Then when you come to the altar to offer your gift, it will be accepted by God.

If you refuse to do this, that's when He says: I will take you to court.

 

I want you to pay attention to this change of language.

In the first part of this statement, Jesus says that you have a problem with your brother, or your brother has a problem with you. So you need to go and reconcile with him. But if you don't reconcile with your brother, then he's not your brother anymore.

What does Jesus call him? Your "opponent".

If you refuse to humble yourself and reconcile with someone, you're not family anymore. You're not friends. You're not brothers. You're opponents.

God is saying if you don't reconcile with me, I am your opponent. . . .

Our Lord is offering you two options. What Sirach says: one of life and one of death.

"I can be your Brother. Or I can be your Opponent. You choose."

 

It is our choice.

 

 

Sir 15:15-20; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-37

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 23:53

There is nothing in this world I want more than our Lord | Feast of Saint Dorothy

What was it? What enabled Dorothy to be so willing, at such a young age, to not only consecrate herself to Christ in chastity, but also to freely throw away her life for her love for our Lord.

You see, our culture (and this is not new by the way, it happens generation after generation) has this basic heresy, this idea, that the only real things are what your senses can perceive. Touch. Taste. Smell. Hear. See. Only the physical things, only the world around you that you can touch and measure and evaluate, only that is real.

Of course we know better, it's a great error on their part. But it's a very common mistake. . . .

 

The only thing that would allow any human, at least on a purely human level, to be willing to give up the natural goods of this life is if they truly believe that there is something greater than anything in this physical world. That even their physical lives are not worth the reward that they will get for remaining faithful to Christ and sacrificing themselves for Him and for the Gospel.

But to have that kind of belief, to have that kind of conviction, is not an easy thing to come by. This is why, as Catholics, the Church requires us to do so many ritual things. Jesus Himself is the One Who gave us the seven Sacraments. All of our rituals are based out of that structure, that design, that theology, that philosophy. . . . There's a reason for the habit, for the action we perform. It's because we believe that this is really Jesus. This poorly tasting cracker is really the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ our Lord. And we have good reason to believe it. That's what informs our choice to genuflect for example. Those little actions and rituals that we as Catholics perform throughout our day - the little things the Church asks of us - are constantly trying to reinforce the fact that what we believe is real. It's not imagined. It's not just a nice idea. . . .

 

I find that I'm happier following the teachings of the Catholic Church - as difficult as they may be at times. But I'm happier with this than with anything the world has ever offered me. . . .

We know this intuitively. It's written on our hearts. Our patroness Saint Dorothy saw this so clearly. She realized: There is nothing in this world I want more than our Lord.

 

I encourage you on this day to reflect on her willingness to suffer and die. To sacrifice all for the Lord. What things are you holding onto in this life? What things would you not let go of for Jesus?

 

What would you be willing to sacrifice for our Lord? . . . It's hard enough to endure when God takes something from us. But how many of us are willing to give it up freely?

 

If there is something that you still inappropriately hold on to in this life, give it to Saint Dorothy. She will give it to the Blessed Mother, who will give it to Jesus. Then even if God never takes it from you while you're in this world, at least it won't have a grip on your heart. Your heart will open up, and there will be more room for the Lord to become the most important thing. So that if, God willing, He ever calls you to imitate the example of martyrs, you'd be ready and willing to do so.

 

1Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; 1Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Jn 12:24-26

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 27:00

Silence | PadreCast Fifth Sunday OrdinaryTime

In this passage from Isiah, we're told that not only are there certain things we have to do, there are certain things we have to remove to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world! Oppression. False accusations. Malicious speech.

You know, about a month ago I preached about gossip and it's come up several times because people keep bringing it up to me. It was one of those homilies that stirred up a lot of concern and conversation.

Notice for a moment: false accusations and malicious speech. You have to remove that from your life to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Why?

Because if you go around trying to do good, and yet you gossip and slander, then all of those virtuous deeds that you may do become useless and meaningless.

The Bible says if you gossip and slander then your praise of God is worthless, and your prayers cannot be heard. You're using the same tongue to call on God and praise His Name that you are using to tear other people down.

The gift of speech is one of the greatest natural gifts bestowed upon us after life itself. We can do something that God can do - in fact, what God is. God is the Word. He's given us this power to speak word ourselves. This ability - to speak words, to communicate ideas, truth - has to reflect the Truth. The Word.

Anytime I use this gift in a way that is contrary to God - God's own goodness, nature, glory - I pervert the gift of speech.

This is something we have to master.

You cannot be the salt of the earth and the light of the world without doing that. Why do you think the world is tasteless and in darkness?

So how do we master ourselves? The solution is not quick, but it is simple. Practice silence. . . .

If you can't quiet your mind, you'll never be able to quiet your lips.

 

Even if it's just for a few minutes, stop by the church and spend the time quietly with our Lord asking Him to teach you how to quiet your own mind. To practice the virtue of silence.

 

Is 58: 7-10; Ps 112:4-9; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16

 

Homily begins at 22:22

We See God | PadreCast Fourth Sunday Ordinary Time

You know the old saying: a picture is worth a thousand words. An image, a picture, is able to say so much . . . when this image is an image of Jesus Christ - a holy image of Jesus Christ, or the Stations of the Cross, or the Crucifix, the Word of God - in essence, it's like reading the Bible. It's like reading the Gospel stories. There's no greater mediation that you can do.

Having holy images and utilizing them is so important, so helpful in the Christian life. We can close our eyes and see that image in our mind. It brings us to a holy reflection on the love of Christ Jesus, on the suffering He went through to save us from sin. It can be very beneficial for you, for your children in your home. . . .

Having an image of Jesus is not breaking any commandment or teaching. In the Old Testament, God gave this law to His people: you are not to have graven images. Now, a "graven" image is an engraved or carved or sculpted image. A lot of Christians have thought that means you can't have any images, any pictures of anything. But if you look back through the history of the Jewish people, they had images of everything. If you went into the Temple , into the Hours of God, the walls were covered with images. Some of natural things: trees, animals, grass. Sun and stars and moon. And of angels. Gilded angels surrounding the immersion walls of the Temple. The images they were forbidden to have were images of God. . . . It's not just any image that's forbidden. It's an image of the Creator. . . .

We have this deep desire to have images of those whom we love because those images call to mind that love. They lead us to reflect upon the relationship. . . . The reason there are so many graven images in pagan religions is that humans want to know what God looks like. But our Lord told the Jews: you are not to create an image of Me. Obviously the Jews wanted to be able to see the face of god. That's even in the Beatitudes we read today: Blessed are the clean of heart for they shall see God.

We want to see Him. We want to be able to behold Him. It's a natural desire So why would God deny the Israelites this desire?

It's because he always intended to give them His image. Jesus Christ is the image of the Father. Jesus is the image of God. When we see Him, we see God. . . .

But the beautiful gift is that God is so much like us. He looks like us. He walks like us. He talks like us, because we are made in His image and likeness.

 

Zep 2:3, 3:12-13; Ps 146:6-10; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12a

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 15:28