The PadreCast - Faithful Catholic Homilies

Pray for the grace to repent | PadreCast Thirty-third Sunday Ordinary Time

Every Sacrament we participate in is a perfect prayer to God through which we receive, first and foremost and in proper measure, the forgiveness of our sins.

The Church teaches very clearly that, except in cases of danger of death, if you have grave mortal sin on your conscience, the only way to you can receive forgiveness is either: a perfect act of contrition, ... or, going to confession. Going to the priest, telling him all your sins, most especially the grave ones, and then him giving you a penance and absolution. That's it. That's the only way our graver sins can be forgiven.

We don't necessarily like going to confession. But speaking for myself, I always love having gone to confession. Once I walk out and it's over and done and I'm forgiven, I always feel great. And I'm happy I did it.

But every time I have to go into that box, I always have that dread, that little pride, maybe some shame that I feel. Confessing the same sins over and over again, falling in the same way.

I read something once from a saint who said we almost always feel some shame when we have to confess our sins, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. However, we can often use that as an excuse to justify not going to confession. Or use that to make other excuses: I'm just so busy, it's just not the right time, I'll go next week. I'll go next week. I'll go next week. All because of our pride, because we're embarrassed. So this Saint said, Jesus - who suffered so much humiliation to give you that Sacrament - deserves that you suffer at least a little humiliation to receive it.

Whenever I think of that, by the grace of God, I get over my pride and just go.

The beauty of the grace of all the Sacraments, ... is that it is in truth the only thing that can take away the fear of damnation.

Saint Paul says we need to work out our salvation "in fear and trembling." But once you know all your sins are washed away, you don't have to fear God, you don't have to fear the second coming.

 

There's this tension, so to speak, between the "fear and trembling" and the peace that is brought to your conscience when you're freed from sin. You're going to constantly flow between one and the other. Our Lord restores you to grace, you have peace in your mind and heart. Because of weakness, you fall back into sin, therefore the fear and trembling. You repent. Our Lord restores you to grace. So you have peace in your heart. Until our dying breath, that's going to be our life. And that's okay. That soul is not perfect, but they're working on it.

 

Our danger is when we don't know the extent of our sins so we are not repenting properly. Or we put off repentance or think there is no need. ... Pray for the grace to repent and to believe in Jesus Christ.

 

Dn 12:1-3; Ps 16:5, 8-11; Heb 10:11-14, 18; Mk 13:24-32

 

 

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 19:24

How often do you think of returning the favor?

Do you believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ? Do you believe that at the consecration, when the priest takes the bread and the wine and says the words of consecration over them - the words of Christ from the Last Supper -that they are no longer bread and wine. That it is in fact the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ? Now I would hope that all you Catholics would say, "Yes, Father we believe."

Do you act like it?

Does that belief at all effect your life?

You see, Satan believes in the Real Presence. All of the demons believe in the Real Presence. They tremble and are afraid to come into every Catholic Church because of that Presence. They believe more than you do. And yet it does them no good. They're still damned. They're still lost.

Belief alone in Jesus is worthless and cannot save you. James teaches us that faith without works is dead. Just like the faith of the demons. It's dead, it has no life.

If you really believed that Jesus Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament, what would that cause you to do different in your daily life? ...

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Savior of the world is actually physically here, 24/7.... If you really believe that this is Jesus, then when you have problems in your life, why don't you come to Him first? ... How many difficulties do you have in your life: with sin, trying to grow in virtue, weaknesses, broken relationships, and you'll talk to friends, or trusted family members all before even considering coming here and speaking directly with the Lord. Yet none of them can advise you as well as He can. Or give you the strength and grace to bear your crosses, as He can. None of them loves you as much as He does.

It's understandable why we make this mistake. You can't see Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. You can't hear Him speak to you with your ears.

But if you believe it is truly Him, you would still come. Just to be in His presence. How often do you think, "You know what? I should go and spend time with Jesus. I haven't been to see Him lately."

He made Himself bread for you just so that He could be here in this church every moment of every day. To be close to you.

How often do you think of returning the favor?

 

1Kgs 17: 10-16; Ps 146:7-10; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel.  Homily begins at 22:25

 

In the world, but not of it. Dressed appropriately.| PadreCast Thirty-first Sunday Ordinary Time

How can putting on make-up and a costume and going to people's houses and basically asking for candy be objectively evil? It's not, there is nothing objectively wrong with dressing up.

But does it matter how you dress up or what costume you wear? The trend typically in this secular celebration is spooky and scary.... ghosts and witches, zombies I'm sure are a big thing too. All these scary things, even little demons sometimes. Should we participate in those kind of decorations? Have those kind of decorations at our house?

You have to think about what it means.

If you don't believe in ghosts and witches and demons, then go right ahead. Because they're just fictional imaginary creatures, like any costume you could wear.

The problem is, as Christians we don't believe they're imaginary things. We know them to be real and we know what they are. And they're no joke. It's not something you play around with. You don't dress your kid up in a little satan outfit. "Oh look at that little devil. How cute." Really? That's what you want to teach? The message you want to express with your costume?

It's one thing for us as Catholics to dress up as something innocent or innocuous, and go trick-or-treating - there's nothing wrong with participating in these holidays if you want to - but you have to be careful not to be sucked into the midst of the world that does not appreciate what we know....

As adults we almost have to be more discerning in regards to Halloween because the parties that adults throw are usually quite sinful.... It becomes an excuse for drunkenness, an excuse for dressing up in lewd and immoral costumes. As Catholics, we have nothing to do with that. That is of the world.

 

Father uses costumes as a jumping off point for a talk on daily attire, especially at Holy Mass. Modesty in dress means not only covered so as to protect others form lust, but also to make sure your clothing is appropriate to the circumstances and place in which you find yourself. Please listen to this important topic, and discover what any of this has to do with why God asks the Israelites to offer animal sacrifices for sin.

 

Dt 6:2-6; Ps 18:2-4, 47, 51; Heb 7:23-28; Mk 12:28b-34

 

Due to technical issues, we were unable to live stream and record the Mass this Sunday. We apologize.

Where would we be without the Holy Priesthood? | PadreCast Twenty-ninth Sunday Ordinary Time

The Scriptures teach us that our Lord is the one Who prays on our behalf, Who offers the sacrifice on our behalf, as a man, chosen by God to reconcile us with the Father.

You cannot communicate with the Father except through Christ. It is not possible. There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ. That truth is still maintained in the present day.

If Jesus coming in the flesh two thousand years ago was the only way that we could be saved and communicate with God the Father in holiness, it's still true to this day. ... So where is He? How are you going to talk to Jesus?

Jesus teaches us in the Gospels that the way He saves us, the way He reconciles us with God the Father, is through His human nature. It's always tangible and physical. We Catholics call that "sacramental."...

The only way you can speak to the Father is through Christ. And the only way you can get to Christ is through His body. That's it.

No body of Christ, no Christ, no Father. And you are dead in your sin. ...

If Jesus is not physically here with us now in the world, then we cannot be saved.

 

Jesus gave us the seven sacraments of His Church to preserve His presence among us. Each one of those sacraments is necessary to maintain the Body of Christ in the world. ...

 

Consider if you will, that if there were no ordained priests - if Jesus had not given us the holy priesthood through the Apostles - you would only have two sacraments at best: baptism and matrimony. Every other sacrament requires a priest. You would not have the forgiveness of your sins in confession. You would not have confirmation or the anointing of the sick.

You would not have the holy Eucharist.

In order to give you these great gifts and preserve them, Jesus gave another gift: the sacrament of Holy Orders, the sacrament of the priesthood. These men, chosen and set apart, are empowered by Jesus to keep the life of Christ, Body of Christ, alive in the world.

 

How important it is to pray for your priests. For me especially because I've been given this responsibility to mediate between you and the Lord. You should be praying for me every day. Every day. And our Bishop since he reigns over me, and of course - every day - our Holy Father. Without your prayers it is not possible for us, your priests, to be holy. We're just not strong enough.

 

Jer 31:7-9; Ps 126:1-6; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52

 

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 18:47

The importance, the beauty, the necessity of the Cross | PadreCast Twenty-ninth Sunday Ordinary Time

The role of the priesthood - the nature of this communication with God - is always rooted in sacrifice. ...

But the priesthood doesn't actually begin in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. It begins in Baptism. Every baptized Christian is a priest.

So what is the nature of your priesthood? What are you supposed to offer in sacrifice?

The nature of this ministry that's been given to you, finds its fulfillment and its meaning in the sacrifice of Jesus.

What did Jesus offer?

He offered Himself.

You see, the gift of the holy priesthood that each one of you has received through these holy sacraments is to offer yourselves as living sacrifices.

That's your job. That's your role.

And every time you come to Holy Communion, every time you approach the altar, and you kneel down and you receive the Lord worthily, the Lord is offering Himself to you. "This is My Body. This is My Blood."

He's laying down His life for you once more. And what He expects of you is a similar act of love in return.

Your prayer should be: Lord, thank you for this Gift. I offer myself to You. I give my body, and my blood, and my soul to You Lord. ...

This mutual priestly offering symbolizes the beautiful unity that God wants to have with His holy people. We become one flesh, one Body with the Lord. Saint Paul calls us "the Body of Christ."...

If we are the Body of Christ, and it was the Body of Christ that was offered on the Cross, then our bodies as well must be offered with, in, and through the Body of Christ.

 

What is pleasing to God about this? Why would He rejoice in this opportunity?

 

Is 53:10-11; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; Heb 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-4

 

The Mass may reviewed in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 19:35

What‘s on your bucket list? | PadreCast Twenty-eighth Sunday Ordinary Time

Our visiting priest today is Father Tom Edelen from Cross Catholic Outreach. Please listen to his homily and make your donation today to this worthy ministry which assists the poorest of the poor around the world.

 

We are called to be ready. In our whole life, to do the will of God. Are we doing great things?

We are called to be ready. In our whole life, to do the will of God. Are we doing great things? Loving our children whether they're little, or maybe they're bigger than we are. What are we doing for our family?

What about our community? What are you doing here in your parish? What am I going to do so that I can say I was a good parishioner? What are you going to do so that you can say: I followed Jesus. I followed his teaching.

you know, not everybody's designed to go visit nursing homes or minister in a prison.... but there are a lot of things we can do. What are we doing?

What's on your bucket list?

 

Wis 7:7-11; Ps 90:12-17; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 13:01

The mistake is assuming that love won‘t cost you that much | PadreCast Twenty-seventh Sunday Ordinary Time

Did you know that kids? Your mommy and daddy should live each other more than they love you. It doesn't mean they should love you less. But mother and father should put each other first. Before even the wants of the children. I'm not saying you don't take care of the needs of the children, but the child doesn't know the difference between its wants and needs, does it?

 

You are perfectly justified to ignore your child when your spouse needs you more. And even if it hurts their feelings, it will teach them a great and valued lesson. The lesson that our Lord is trying to teach us today: Spouse always comes first.

 

It makes sense when you think about it. This passage also says "the two become one flesh." Jesus is saying in marriage the husband and wife are so beautifully united, that they become one body.

 

If you don't take care of your own body, how can you use your body to take care of somebody else? It's a basic rule not only in our temporal life, but even in the spiritual life. If you're not healthy yourself, how can you take care of someone who may be sick? If you're not right with God, how can you help someone else draw closer to the Lord? Every parent knows you need to keep yourself healthy so that you can care for your children. It doesn't mean you love your body more than your love your children. Your body is just the tool you use to care for them.

Well, marriage makes these two bodies one. Therefore it's not enough for a father to care for his own body. His body is also his bride. And that goes the same for every wife. It will actually serve their children, and even their parents, best if they are putting their spouse first.

 

But we don't always do this.... we don't love as Christ is clearly commanding us to love in holy matrimony. That lack of love is what ultimately what leads to divorce.

 

This is what our Lord is condemning in the Gospel isn't He? The evils of divorce. This is not how God made you. ...

 

Why and how does our heart become hard toward the person we should love most in this world? It's because they make us suffer. That person who should love me more than anyone else might not be loving me properly. And it hurts.

 

We don't cope with hurt well. So what do we do? We harden our hearts so our hearts cannot be hurt any longer.

 

The problem is a hard heart can't love.

 

When we harden our hearts against our spouse because of our fear of pain, we stop loving them. And the relationship dies. Is it surprising then that people get divorced? Not surprising at all.

 

The example that Christ gives us is that He does not harden His Heart towards His people. He lets that Heart be pierced. He is the perfect example of marital love.

 

"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother

and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."

 

Gn 2:18-24; Ps 128:1-6; Heb 2:9-11; Mk 10:2-16

 

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 18:39

Now what do you do? You do what Christ did - you suffer | PadreCast Twenty-sixth Sunday Ordinary Time

The homily focuses on the Gospel of Luke chapter7, verses 1-10.

 

What is it about the centurion's faith that the Lord was so impressed by?...

Without a proper understating of the nature of authority as created by God, we will always have a weak faith.

Consider the Saducees and the Pharisees for a moment. They saw the miracles of the Lord. They witnessed it. And they still rejected His authority. That's illogical, that doesn't make sense. If you encountered somebody who had the power to simply raise someone from the dead, or heal a very serious illness, I would hope you had the right reason to be impressed by them, and realize that this person clearly has significant authority, at least in the eyes of God.

The centurion does - and that's how he manifests his faith. But it's all based on his understanding of authority.

Particularly in this country we have a problem because we do not understand authority as it has been handed down to us through Tradition and through the Scriptures. The Bible teaches us very clear things about authority as created and designed by God....

 

In nature, there is a hierarchy of authority which has nothing to do with the equality of persons. In the sight of God, all persons are made in His image and likeness. They all have the same dignity, the same inherent goodness and glory. But that doesn't mean they all have the same authority.

I don't obey somebody because they're a good person. I obey them because they have authority over me. In fact, that's the teaching of our Lord. He said in the Gospel of Matthew: "The Scribes and Pharisees have taken their seat on the Chair of Moses. Therefore do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example for they preach but do not practice."...

 

But we who are under authority do not have the option to disobey because they are not virtuous or holy. This is one of the challenges that we have in our country with authority. We think that if I disagree with the authority, or if they're treating me badly, I don't have to be obedient to them.

Show me in the Scriptures, Old or New Testament, where that is a teaching that comes from God. In fact it's the opposite.

Always, always obey those that have authority over you, in all things as to the Lord. That's what the Bible tells us....

 

This is where people get concerned. They hear this and they think, "Wait, you're telling me I have to do everything that they tell me to do?"

 

No.

 

This is where it gets interesting...

 

 

Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8, 10, 12-14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:37

This is a test | PadreCastTwenty-fifth Sunday Ordinary Time

"The wicked say: 'Let us beset the just one because he is obnoxious to us. ... Let us put the just one to the test, that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for in his own words God will take care of him.'"

 

"The greatest punishment God can give for sin is pleasure." — St Bernard of Clairvaux

 

Does it follow then that the greatest gift God can give for virtue is pain?

 

According to our faith, at least in this world, the Lord does not promise to delivery any of us. Now He does promise to deliver you after you die. After you've suffered. In My time, in My way.

 

So yes, it is true that we can put our faith in Him. But it doesn't mean that we won't be put to the test by the wicked. It doesn't mean that we won't suffer. It doesn't mean that we won't die - even unjustly.

 

But that still doesn't answer the question: Why would God give pain to someone who is actually doing the right thing, being virtuous? This is where God uses the wicked person to help bring about his will.

 

God wants His virtuous children to be put to the test. God chastises those whom He loves. His own children. He tests them. Why?

 

The only way to be sure of anyone's virtue or holiness is to test it.

We may be doing well, spiritually speaking ... when things are going well for us. But suddenly, some type of suffering comes into our lives and we start becoming impatient. Frustrated. Resentful. Judgmental. Selfish. ...

 

Where's your virtue now? A little suffering and suddenly your true self comes out. That's important though - we need to know how virtuous we really are. You can't be sure until you're tested.

 

The only way to be certain of our own growth in holiness, is suffering. God doesn't need to test us to find if we're truly virtuous or not, He already knows. He puts us to the test so that we know how virtuous - or vicious - we actually are. If you don't know where you are, you can't get where you want to go.

 

Out of love for you, to fulfill the very desire of your heart and prayer, God sends you suffering because you're doing the right thing, so that you can know yourself better and then continue to grow in holiness.

 

Wis 2:12, 17-20; Ps 54:3-4, 5-8; Jas 3:16--4:3; Mk 9:30-37

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 18:50

The demons tremble in fear | PadreCast Most Holy Name of Mary (24OT)

What does it mean that Her name is holy and that we can call upon Her by using Her holy name?

 

We heard in Mark's Gospel today, Jesus asks the Apostles, "Who do people say that I am?" He is basically asking: what do people think my Name is? ... Jesus asks them, "What do you men think is my name?" And Peter, speaking up on behalf of the Apostles says. "You are the Christ." For two thousand years, Christians have always called Him Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus is clearly revealing Himself to these men. He wants them to know who He is, and He goes on Mark tells us, to explain what it is to be the Christ. ...

 

If we go back to Genesis, what is the first thing Adam did after God named him? Adam named all the animals. God allowed Adam to do this because when you name a thing, you have power over that thing. You have authority over it.

 

When God reveals His name to us - His children - He is giving us power over Him. He says, now you can call out to Me by name, and I will answer you. That's the beauty of knowing someone's name.

 

This is most true with Jesus, but it's also so true with Mary. Jesus has given Her to us as our Mother. She has many names, but most uniquely She is: Mary. She is the Mother of God. She is the Immaculate Conception. These are Her three most powerful names.

 

When you call upon the Holy Name of Mary, two things happen. She comes to you. And the demons tremble in fear.

 

Is 50:4c-9a; Ps 116:1-6, 8-9; Jas 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35

 

Homily begins at 19:08. You may watch the celebration Mass and rosary procession in their entirety on our Youtube channel.

Each day, the greatest gift you can impart to your children is the faith | PadreCast Twenty-third Sunday Ordinary

Teaching is the primary obligation of every priest. Everything else, even the sacraments, is secondary. If you don't understand what you are receiving, then you won't be receiving what the Lord wants to give you.

 

Every parent has this same obligation in their own home towards their children. On the day of your wedding, before you were allowed to make your vows, you answered the question: Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God and bring them up (educate them) according to the Laws of Christ and His Church ? If you don't answer "yes", I don't let you get married. That's how serious it is.

 

You promised God you would do this. That's why it's actually your primary responsibility as a parent to hand on to them the faith you yourself have received.

 

If I don't have a reasonable hope that you're going to raise that child in the faith, I cannot baptise. I'm not allowed. And yet baptism is the most important of sacraments because it's the first, and the one through which you're. made a child of God and enabled to approach the rest of the Sacraments and life of the Church.

 

So when I enforce these laws - and I must - I have to make a judgement call for each person that approaches when they want one of their children to receive any Sacrament. Is there a reasonable hope that they are being raised actively in the faith? Actively, faithfully, to the best of their ability, living their faith.

 

What does that look like practically speaking?

Mass every Sunday and Holy day of Obligation

Confession regularly, which the Saints typically recommend once a month unless you have mortal sin, then more frequently.

Praying daily as family. Daily.

 

That's the bare minimum right there. That's a good start. You do that and you'll be doing most of the things you need to do to raise your children actively in the faith.

 

When you stand before the judgement seat of God, you'll say: Lord I'm sure I didn't do a perfect job, but I did my best.

 

In comparison to the faith, anything else they could ever learn in their life is meaningless. Absolutely meaningless. In comparison to the faith that you are obliged to teach them.

 

The only thing the Lord cares about on the day of our judgement is how well we followed Him and His commandments.

 

Each day, the greatest gift you can impart to your children is the faith.

 

Is 35:4-7a; Ps 146:7-10; Jas 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 19:06

Why do women wear veils in Church? | PadreCast Twenty-Second Sunday Ordinary Time

The only way your soul can be tainted is from within - not from without. From your own heart Jesus says comes "evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, mallows, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly."

The only thing that can defile as soul, make it impure, is what that soul chooses. No external temptation, action, circumstance can cause us to sin. Sin comes from within.

It doesn't mean that external practices that we do aren't important. They may be important, but they're not necessary.

What is necessary, Jesus is trying to teach us, is the heart. What's in our heart? And is our heart conformed to the law of God?...

The Scriptures this weekend remind us that we should not be just speakers of the law of God, but doers. It's easy to say, "Oh yes, I'm a Christian" but do I act on it? Does it flow forth in my choices each day?

So what does any of this have to do with the veil?

 

Father shares a family story (names changed to protect the innocent) surrounding this Scripture passage....

 

From 1Corinthians Chapter 11: "I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God the head of Christ. Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered, brings shame upon his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not have her head veiled, then she may as well have her hair cut off; but if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman in the Lord. For just as woman came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things come from God." .....

 

There's a reason why these externals - not necessary, but important - there's a reason why they matter to us. Because they are not only a reminder, but a teacher of the truth. The deeper truth. The truth that's meant to abide in our minds and hearts. To come from within us.

 

Father then breaks the passage open further to help us see why God designed the natural order in this way.

 

 

Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Ps 15:2-5; Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27; Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 23:00

Decide today whom you will serve | PadreCast Twenty-first Sunday Ordinary Time

Peter realizes this is the Lord. The Son of God. I don't have to understand what He says, I believe Him. And he humbly submits to this teaching not yet realizing what it means. ...

 

Ephesians 5: "Brothers and sisters be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is Head of the Church." ... "Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed Himself over for her to sanctify her. ... So also, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. For no one hates his own flesh, but rather nourishes and cherishes it even as Christ does the Church because we are members of His body."

 

The body by its very nature is below the head. Sub-ordinate. Under the authority of, under the mission of .... Notice how Paul keeps emphasizing that the relationship between husband and wife is the same as the relationship between Christ and the Church....

 

Sarah realized - not that Abraham is God, not that he is the Christ - but that he stands in the person of Christ. In the person of the Lord. So her submission, her obedience, her humility towards her husband was given, not for his sake or because of him, but for the Lord. That's what gave her strength to be humble even when he was proud. To be submissive even when he was arrogant and controlling. Obviously that's not an ideal man and husband.

 

But if we do it for Christ, then even when we struggle, even when we're not being loved in return in the right way, we'll have the strength to do it. Husbands will die for their wives even when their wives are never subordinate to them. And wives will be subordinate to their husbands even when their husbands never die for them. Why? Because we do this for Christ.

 

Do we do it because we fully understand it, fully comprehend the mysteries of this design, these rules? No. We do it simply because Jesus says so. ...

 

This is the design God has placed in our natures for a spousal relationship. All of this in imitation, Paul tell us, of the relationship between Christ and His Church.

 

And it all comes back to the Eucharist.

 

You see, the real focus of the readings today is the Eucharist which is in fact the one flesh union between the Bride and the Groom. Between the people of God, and Jesus Christ. ...

 

This union is most perfectly expressed in Holy Communion, and in the roles that are designated by God for each one of us. And the better we fulfill those roles as husbands and as wives, the more holy the union.

 

So I challenge you with the words from our first reading today of Joshua to the Israelites:

"If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

 

 

Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ps 34:2-3, 16-21; Eph :21-32; Jn 6:60-69

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 19:20

This is also Our Feast Day | PadreCast Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

All She wants is to be with Her Son in Heaven. He's already ascended to the Father. She loves no one more than She loves Her Son. It was an agony enough for Her to wait the couple of decades after He ascended into Heaven. If you can imagine this Mother realizing fully Who Her Son is, watching Him suffer and die, being there at the foot of the cross, and then, forty days later He ascends into Heaven - how Her heart must have cried out for Him.

We believe she was assumed into heaven in her sixties. Imagine all those decades She had to live apart from Her Son....

 

The one consolation that the Blessed Mother had during Her time on earth was the Holy Eucharist. Jesus at the cross entrusted his Mother to the beloved disciple John. So for the rest of Mary's life on earth, John took care of her. Every day when he celebrated the Mass of the Last Supper, the Mass of the Lord, Mary was there, kneeling, receiving Holy Communion from his hands....

Each time She receives Him in Holy Communion, it's like She conceives Him again in Her womb. There He is, inside of Her. And what a consolation that must have been for Mary throughout Her time of waiting on earth.

If we consider this for the Blessed Virgin Mary, we can see ourselves reflected in that same reality. Every time we have the opportunity to come forward and receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of our Lord worthily, we, like Mary are able to, in a sense, conceive our Lord at least for a time and allow our Lord to dwell within us. It's a unique union and bond that we share with Her.

If we can see this bond in regards to her reception of Holy Communion, I would encourage you to think about the fact that each of the graces bestowed upon Mary - each of the singular and unique graces that She received in her life - ultimately, Jesus wants for each one of us. It just won't be in the exact same way. For example...

 

Listen as Father Miller beautifully walks us through all the graces Mary received from Her Son and likens them to the Sacraments we receive from Him and our Church and helps us see how Jesus is trying to form in us the image of His Holy Mother who is the perfect disciple.

 

 

Rv 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10-12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56

 

You can watch the Mass in its entirety on our Youtube channel. Homily begins at 21:01

If I really believe in these truths of the faith, how should I act? | PadreCast Nineteenth Sunday Ordinary Time

It's either Jesus or it's not. It's either really and truly His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity , or it's not. ... If we believe this - if we truly believe it - then it will effect our decisions, and our actions, not only when we come to Church and to Mass, but especially when we receive Him in Holy Communion. ...

 

"Unless you eat My Body and drink My Blood, you have no life in you". That is a terrifying statement from our Lord. ...

 

Jesus, Who designed our physical bodies, our nature, designed our soul; and designed the needs which are the same for each. For the soul to maintain the divine life that it has received in Baptism, it must eat His Body and drink His Blood. Only the Holy Eucharist, worthily received, can sustain divine life in us. Nothing else can. That divine life dies without the Eucharist. ...

 

He may have given Himself as food to you, but in fact, it is He Who is consuming you. He is changing you by that process into Himself. He can do this precisely because of the Incarnation - because He became a man. This is why He had to enter into our nature, to take on human flesh. When Jesus became one with our human nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary, when He united His Divine nature with our human nature, He created something new. The union of God and man.

 

When we become one with the Body of Christ, our same body is also, for the rest of eternity, bonded to the Divinity. We become bonded to the Divine as well. Our human nature now shares and participates in the Divine nature of Jesus Christ Who is God.

 

That's the life that we receive in Holy Communion. All because Jesus is really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

 

Take a moment and think about this. If I really believe in these truths of the faith, how should I act? What should my behavior be, not only in His presence, but even when I am out in the world?

 

When I have a need, where should I want to go for help?

When I'm struggling, Who can give me strength?

When I'm afraid, Who can calm me?

 

 

1 Kgs 19:4-8; Ps 34:2-9; Eph 4:30--5:2; Jn 6:41-51

 

You may watch the mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:02

The greatest good for any Christian is not giving, but receiving | PadreCast Eighteenth Sunday Ordinary Time

It's a very clear teaching. Jesus says it is better to receive from Him than to give to Him. He wants our love, but He prefers to love us first. ...

 

Every time we sin against Him? He will give us forgiveness in Confession. Every time we worthily approach the holy altar, He gives Himself to us in the Eucharist. These gifts are what enable us to love Him in return. Without His life in us, we cannot do it.

 

The greatest good for any Christian is not giving, it's receiving. But it's receiving the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the grace that He gives us in the Sacraments. ...

 

Receiving the Eucharist is the greatest of all goods. Receiving that is greater than good you will be able to do yourself. You could sacrifice your life for God or somebody else and it would be nothing compared to one worthy reception of Holy Communion. Now, we're still called to charity. To imitate Jesus Christ in our love for one another and yes, to love Him in return to the best of our ability, but all of that pales in comparison to the worthy reception of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

 

There is no greater gift that has been given. And there is no greater gift that can be received.

 

In each of the sacraments of the Church grace is being received from God - the gift of Himself. The more we can avail ourselves of those graces, the better our life will be.

 

It's one of the great tragedies, especially when we put off the sacrament of Confession...

 

The greatest act of love that we can give to God is first allowing Him to love us

 

Ex 16:2-4, 12-15; Ps 78:3-4, 23-25, 54; Eph 4:17, 20-24; Jn 6:24-35

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 20:02

There is no other option for us | PadreCast 17th Sunday Ordinary Time

It's one of those issues that we struggle with, that we're surprised by all of the crosses that we're asked to bear. We always seem to question our Lord in this regard. Why is this? Especially when we consider ourselves disciples of Christ. It is because we still do not know Him. Not fully. Not yet.

 

In our Gospel today, Jesus feeds His sheep because they're hungry. He feeds His sheep. He proves to us He is a good shepherd - that He takes care of us in our need. That is why they wanted to appoint Him king. ...

 

We have this temptation, this desire, to appoint leaders over us who are going to feed us, and take care of all things for us so that we don't have to do any work.

 

Now our Lord, knowing the Israelites intention, knowing their heart, at the end of the Gospel does something that for us should be very sad. "He withdrew again, alone." He could not remain with the people because their desires for Him were wrong. They wanted Him to follow them: "Come with us, we will make you King." And our Lord says: no that's not how this works. I'm the shepherd. I lead the sheep. You follow Me.

 

And they could have followed Him. But where is He going? He's going to the Cross. And that's the last place any of us would normally want to go.

 

But to be a member of His flock, to follow Him, is to follow Him to the cross. There is no other option for us.

 

If we attempt to avoid or circumvent the crosses that the Lord has called us to bear, we do not follow Him. It's as simple as that. ...

 

Whatever it may be, we should not run from it.

 

 

2 Kgs 4:42-44; Ps 145:10-11,15-18; Eph 4:1-6; Jn 6:1-15

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 12:40.

Go out and live the Gospel | PadreCast Sixteenth Sunday Ordinary Time

Your job is to be humble, to be a simple sheep who seeks to follow Christ faithfully. And let God take care of the shepherds. God will deal with them. They're His shepherds first.

 

And that's what we hear in the first reading today from the Prophet Jeremiah. Listen carefully:

Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the LORD. Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, against the shepherds who shepherd my people: You have scattered my sheep and driven them away. You have not cared for them, but I will take care to punish your evil deeds. I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the lands to which I have driven them and bring them back to their meadow; there they shall increase and multiply. I will appoint shepherds for them who will shepherd them so that they need no longer fear and tremble; and none shall be missing, says the LORD.

 

The Word of God teaches us very clearly that the Lord will take care of His sheep, the Lord will do this.

 

It is difficult for us to stand by and wait while there are so many problems in the Church and in the world. But I'll tell you what, we don't need to be worried about the world whatsoever. We should never be surprised by the sinfulness of secular society. The number one thing that contributes to the sinfulness of secular society is the sinfulness of the Body of Christ (the Church). That's the real problem: when we as a Church are not truly following the Lord.

 

So our desire as members of the Body should be to pray for the sanctity of our priests and Bishops. For the holiness of the people of God. And to do everything on our part as individuals to be holy, so as to be an example.

 

Your job is to give an example of holy discipleship. The Lord will take care of the rest.

 

 

Jer 23:1-6; Ps 23:1-6; Eph 2:13-18; Mk 6:30-3

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel.  Homily begins at 17:23

Lord, what did You make me to do for You? | PadreCast Fifteenth Sunday Ordinary Time

(Please continue to listen at the end to Father's additional words which he gave at the close of Mass.)

 

The first of all vocations is holy matrimony. ...It's not a supernatural calling, but a natural one. Why? Because God made our nature that way: In the Beginning He made them male and female, and He said "Be fruitful and multiply." Marriage was part of God's design built into our bodies, our nature. What sets it apart as a vocation is that Jesus takes this natural vocation which He as God designed, and He sacramentalizes it. Now it is something supernatural which it could never have been before. There is no reason for God to "call" someone to marriage. You're designed for it.... We're taught by the Saints that every single human being is called to marriage. ... If it wasn't a vocation your job would just be to have some kids to continue the species. The vocation - for the purpose of Christ and His kingdom - is the salvation of souls. So when you enter in to the sacrament of marriage, your responsibility first and foremost is to get yourself to Heaven. Your second responsibility is to get your spouse to Heaven. Your third responsibility, to do everything in your power to get your children to Heaven. As a married couple, you're the living embodiment of the sacrament. ... your sacramental bond is the means by which you love the Lord.

 

The second is actually the highest of all vocations, a religious vocation. When one chooses to give up a personal spouse and give their life solely to Christ. Instead of giving themselves to Christ through their spouse, their offering is a direct offering. ... In this way the religious man or woman actually embodies the life of the Church. That's why it's the highest vocation. ... In heaven, there is no giving and taking in marriage. ... There's only one marriage in Heaven and it's the Marriage of the Lamb. Christ is the Lamb and His bride is His Church.... These religious men and women who devote their lives to Christ even now in the world, are beginning to live that heavenly reality. Instead of participating in marriage, they forsake that for the heavenly lifestyle, even now.... Clearly, this is the highest of all possible vocations because it makes the most Saints.... Saint Paul, in speaking about this vocation, says, "I invite you to live as I live, in celibacy, devoting your life to Christ." Paul's language - which is the language of the Holy Spirit - is an invitation. All of you - especially you young men and women who aren't married - are being invited by the Holy Spirit to consider a vocation to the religious life. Every single one of you. If you can receive this invitation and follow my example, says Paul, then come and follow Christ in this way. ...

 

The third vocation is of course, holy orders, ordination, the priesthood. According to the Scriptures, this is the only vocation that is actually "a calling", in part because it is the most unnatural of the three. The most supernatural, the most set apart from the other two. Marriage is natural, we're designed for it. A religious vocation - while it may seem extreme - is how we'll live forever in Heaven. ... The purpose of this "calling" that a young man receives is to serve the body of Christ - the Bride of Christ - in the person of Christ, as Christ, in this life. What will be (in Heaven), we don't know.... What's unique about this calling is that God does put it on your heart. When you're a peace, especially in prayer, this hunger, this desire, begins to build in you.... When a young man is called - as long as he doesn't do anything irrevocable to prevent his being ordained - the call never stops. I remember my mother saying to me when I was young, "If you do God's will, you'll be happy." And this is absolutely true. ...

 

It's one of the lies of the evil one to think you'll be happier in this vocation or that one. No. You'll be happy in the vocation that God has designed for you. ... Regardless of which you choose, all of them are in service to Christ and His Gospel and for the salvation of our souls. ... In our prayer and discernment, and this is especially for you young men and women, you need to approach your vocation from the standpoint of "Lord, what do You want of me? What will make me happiest? What did you make me to do for You?"

 

 

Am 7:12-15; Ps 85:9-14; Eph 1:3-14; Mk 6:7-13

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 13:43

As Catholics, we have no excuses when we don't hear the truth | Fourteenth Sunday Ordinary Time

It's a danger that any of us can fall into - when we think we know someone, when we're familiar with them - to not hear the truth when it is spoken to us. "Familiarity breeds....contempt", exactly! Any time we think we are familiar, we think we really know someone: "Oh I know them, I know what they're really thinking. I know what they really mean," then we fall into contempt. And even if they speak the truth of God to us, we close our ears. We harden our hearts. And we miss it.

 

Why is this so dangerous?

 

It's because, more often than not, God chooses to speak to us through those people. The very people you don't want to listen to. ...

When we die and go to our judgement we may say to the Lord in our defense: "But Lord, I cried out to You so many times! You never responded to my prayer! You never directed me! How could I have known this, that or the other?" And the Lord will simply play before your eyes all the situations in your life in which He spoke to you directly through your spouse, your children, your parents, your co-workers. Even your enemies.

 

And you did not listen to Him. ...

 

It's a very powerful lesson: that the Lord may speak to me through the last person I would ever want. If I can't be humble enough to hear the truth when its spoken, regardless of the lips that speak it, then I may miss the voice of the Lord. ...

 

As Catholics, when we have the fullness of the faith revealed to us, and the fullness of grace in the sacraments. Among all human beings on this planet, we have no excuses when we don't hear the truth. It's always our fault. Always.

 

If you're struggling to hear the Lord, go to confession. If you're in the state of grace, pray for humility. Without this openness, this humility, to hear the Word of God as it comes to us - regardless of the messenger - not only could fail to grow in great sanctity, but we could lose our salvation.

 

 

Ez 2:2-5; Ps 123:1-4; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Mk 6:1-6a

 

You may watch the Mass in its entirety on our YouTube channel. Homily begins at 21:07