You wouldn’t be here if the apostles hadn’t gotten involved in ministry...

04-22-2018Weekly Reflection

The Easter season is an amazing time of change and growth in the Church. The liturgy spends a good deal of time inside the Acts of the Apostles where we see the Apostles transformed from scared and fearful to bold and evangelical. The season culminates at Pentecost where we see Peter step out of the shadows and, with the power of the Holy Spirit, he converts the hearts of 3,000 persons. The rest of the book of Acts focuses on how the Word was spread across the world from one believer to another. It was personal. It was sometimes hard. It was never unfulfilling.

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Disciple is an Action Verb!

04-15-2018Weekly Reflection

You’re correct; technically, it’s not a verb but bear with me…

As we move through the Easter season we see a transition in how the risen Christ instructs the disciples. The parables, metaphors and symbols have been replaced with clear directives. He "opened their minds to understand the scriptures," making known the connections between his own words and deeds and "everything written about [Him] in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms."

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Are You a Doubting Thomas?

04-08-2018Weekly Reflection

What does it take to believe that something is real? We live in an age of computer technology, with things like Photoshop and other programs that can enhance photographs, create realistic images, and mimic artistic renderings. When looking at a picture of something, we find ourselves wondering if what we are seeing is real or just the result of technological creativity.

Early believers came to believe because of what they witnessed in these new communities of faith. They saw people authentically living out Jesus' command to love and to show mercy. What do people witness when they see us in action?

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Palm Sunday

03-25-2018Weekly Reflection

Our humanity bleeds through today’s Gospel passages in more ways than one. We see both elation and fall, hope in the midst of the darker sides of our natures. If we allow it, these Gospels hold a mirror to our own fickle hearts. The crowds cry “ Hosanna” and the Apostles profess allegiance unto death. In a manner of days—even hours—-Jesus is betrayed, abandoned, denied, condemned, tortured, and executed. As God, he could have stopped this horrific narrative from unfolding, but he doesn’t. He allows free will to play itself out.

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No Dead Ends or Final Endings With God

03-18-2018Weekly Reflection

We all fear losing that which is familiar. We fear dying. When our securities and familiarities are threatened, the anxiety of uncertainty can lead us into fear and despair. We have difficulty believing that new life comes from death. This is the basis of what it means to Hope.

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Why Do We Do That?

03-11-2018Weekly Reflection

Who Invented the Stations of the Cross?

The first Stations of the Cross were walked by Jesus himself on the way to Calvary. Known as the “Via Dolorosa” ( The Way of Suffering”) or the “ Via Crucis” ( The Way of the Cross”), it was marked out from the earliest times and was a traditional walk for pilgrims who came to Jerusalem. The early Christians in Jerusalem could walk the same pathway that Jesus walked, pausing for reflection and Prayer.

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Can You Recite the Ten Commandments?

03-04-2018Weekly Reflection

Can you recite the Ten Commandments by heart? Several years ago a national US survey found more people could identify the ingredients in a Big Mac and name the children in the Brady Bunch television show than recite the Ten Commandments. Of course, being able to recite them is not nearly as important as living a life in harmony with them. However, if we simply live to not break them then we are only living out half of our discipleship.

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He Will Lead Us to Something Beautiful and Glorious

02-25-2018Weekly Reflection

How are your Lenten resolutions? By the time week two rolls around, plenty of well-meaning people have skipped, neglected, or outright forgotten their Lenten resolutions at least once. It can be easy to start excusing our Lenten commitments altogether.

Last week we saw Jesus driven into the desert. This Sunday, we see Jesus leading his disciples to an equally barren place: he "led them up a high mountain apart by themselves." But what happens there? "And he was transfigured before them and his clothes became dazzling white." Today's Gospel reminds us of the goal. We don't enter into the desert for the sake of suffering, but for the sake of transformation.

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Why do we always go to the desert?

02-18-2018Weekly Reflection

We see this example in Scripture time and time again. The Israelites wandered in the desert. King David and prophets were driven into the wilderness. And now Jesus is in the same place. Lent after Lent, we too are invited into a barren, desolate place. Why do we always go to the desert?

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What’s the fuss about Mary and the Rosary?

02-11-2018Weekly Reflection

As we continue through our Stewardship of Prayer season, I wanted to follow up my introduction of the Rosary with a little more explanation. I thank parishioner Rebecca Case for taking the time to write the following:

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Those Who Were With Him, Pursued Him

02-04-2018Weekly Reflection

For most of us, the dynamic between prayer and action is imperfect. Breakfast needs to be made and the kids dressed. Work demands our energy and additional responsibilities fill our evenings and weekends. Then there is the football game or a new TV series to stream. After all, don’t we need to relax?

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