Ordinary Time

Jesus, the heart of the matter

In any relationship, it takes work, patience, and a dedicated back-and-forth to truly come to know the other person, not just know about the other person. Unless we’re talking to the Lord and letting His word work on us, regularly, we’ll never develop the strength, freedom, and trust to stand when the world’s storm winds blow against us. So talk to Him this week, and let Him talk to you. There’s nothing more important you can do.

You are the beacon of hope

Living out the greatest commandments - to love God and to love our neighbor - is a principle embedded deep within our hearts. This Christian way of life is driven by ourselves being Christian. You share the good news of Christ to others by just being you: your actions, your way of life, your being Christian makes you an authentic role model and a beacon of hope to those around you.

Whose are you?

Everything and everyone belongs to God. There's no possible way to "pay" God back for all he has done for you, but a sincere prayer of thanksgiving from the heart is priceless. So, when you wake up and put your feet on the floor, thank God for another day, a day which you did not create and is sheer gift to you.
 
This was recorded at the 11:15am Mass due to partial audio loss during the live stream at 9:30am.

Adorn Your Wedding Garment

We journey through life knowing that our goal is to be in the wedding feast of the Lamb (eternal life in heaven) and how important it is to be ready for the feast and adorn our wedding garment (our soul). But there are moments when we fall short and lose focus on eternal life; our wedding garment becomes stained and unfit. By reconciling with God in confession and receiving Christ in the Eucharist, we are continually cleansed and strengthened, adorned and ready for the feast.

Bearing Fruitful Lives

Among the greatest fruits we have received as members of Jesus' Church is the Eucharist. Our mission to "GO": go out into your neighborhoods, work, and social groups and share with other Catholics who you know have been away from the Church about the great fruit of the Eucharist in your own life.
 
Click here to read the CARA report that Fr. Bill refers to in his homily.

Late have I loved you

Jesus invites us to enter into a deep and abiding relationship with Him, and to share that experience with others. It doesn't matter how late you have come to this game. God's Church, his ballpark, is inviting each of us to enter into a deeper encounter with Him. Such an invitation will likely require a change about something in your mind, heart, or lifestyle. Let Him change you and so be open to the Holy Spirit.

Take the smaller piece of cake!

It is our tendency to compare ourselves and what we have with others, but that can lead us down the path of becoming envious. When we are envious of others, we forget the blessing that God has given us as unique individuals with our own gifts, talents, and abilities. We imprison ourselves with our envy and rob ourselves of the grace, peace, and joy that God is bestowing on each one of us equally. Instead of being envious of our neighbor's gifts and talents, let us praise God for the gifts that others have received and ask that the grace God has bestowed on them continues to be a blessing for us as well, as we receive what we give.

If you need mercy, practice mercy

To truly experience the healing power of God’s mercy in our lives, to have the sense of inner peace and well-being (shalom in Hebrew) that comes with God’s forgiveness, we have to share that forgiveness with others. If you want to experience the liberating power of God’s mercy in your life, then share that mercy with others. Forgive your brother or sister from your heart, that your heavenly Father might forgive you.