A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, July 26, 2026 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-52 What do we feel that heaven is like? I remember somewhere, in the early years of grammar school, I was told that heaven is filled with everything nice. I translated it as everything I like. Well, I had a “love affair” with potato chips. The rule in our house was that we needed permission to open up our “goody bag,” but if it was already open we could eat some. I remember coming home from school one day and all my siblings were “wherever” — and there was an almost-full bag of potato chips. I ate the whole bag — that's one problem that still exists with me — and I got sick and threw up. What I thought heaven would contain was now erased from my imagination — which was a terrible sight, if you know what I mean. There is an episode of The Twilight Zone (hosted by Rod Serling, who was born in my city of Syracuse, New York) that has a man going to what he thinks is heaven and everything he wants is there: Pr...

For Sunday, July 19, 2026 Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43 A common expression — so much a part of our interactions with people in our lives, maybe more especially among those who want to “get it right” — is: What is the bottom line? Growing up, I never used this expression when either of my parents told me to do something. I was told, I performed the assigned task, and I waited with bated breath — hopefully to be complimented or thanked. The bottom line for all people — Christians and non-Christians, those who belong to a specific religious belief, and those who have no belief in God or the afterlife — is: What happens at the end of my life? Is heaven open only to Christians? No, it’s open to all. Do the same rules for entry apply to all? Yes. Jesus prescribes following the Ten Commandments and the threefold commands of Love — the Great Commandment found in two of the gospels: In Mark 12:28-31, Jesus responds to a scribe’s question: “Which is the first of all t...

For Sunday, July 12, 2026 Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:18-23, Matthew 13:1-23 Today’s readings take us along a different path, but one in which we are very much familiar: We live in a world that is all around us. We learn about this world as we grow and become aware of the intricacies, amazing beauty and delicateness that God has given us as a gift. This gift tells us about God: Do we listen? Are we aware that this is a gift? Do we realize that this gift — like all of God’s gifts — is a prized possession and we are to use it to show others God’s care and love? Use, not abuse: Using shows gratitude; abuse shows our selfishness and dishonor for God’s love and care. The short reading in Isaiah is really an extended metaphor; the workings of the natural world become the vehicle for showing us something about the word of God. All was created at “God’s word,” showing the integrity of His creation. Isaiah takes one aspect we don’t think on — precipitation, in the form of rain and snow — and t...

For Sunday, July 5, 2026 Zechariah 9:9-10; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30 Six weeks ago on Trinity Sunday we heard one of my favorite passages, John 3:16: “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This passage gives an explanation of what God is like and how much He loves each and every person, just the way they are, in their lives at this moment. We might complain about God not answering us immediately and in the way we want. But God loves each of us NOW, as He always will, as time continues and moves into eternity. Today’s Gospel from Matthew describes more about His attributes: humility, humbleness, meekness. Matthew 11:25-28: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” The overriding disposition of the...

For Sunday, June 28, 2026 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42 Today’s readings go into more detail about last week’s readings. Last week we learned the Christian way of love and heard what it means to follow Jesus, and today an important ingredient is added: We are promised God’s help. Satan so often scares us with his assurance that God doesn’t care about us and hides things from us despite His promises. It’s amazing how this goes along with Satan’s temptation of Eve, who brings temptation to Adam who succumbs to Satan’s overwhelming appeal to listen only to him — he’s right; he knows — God never tells us or cares about us. When we look at the patterns of our temptations, they're the same. Today’s readings also emphasize the role of our own baptism. Paul explains that our baptism enables us to participate in the death and resurrection of Jesus. As we were “plunged” into the water we were buried with Christ in death; as we emerged from the water we rose with...

For Sunday, June 21, 2026 Jeremiah 20:10-13, Romans 5:12-15, Matthew 10:26-33 Today Jesus says to the Apostles: “Fear no one … and do not be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” [Matthew 10:26, 28] So what am I afraid of? Having enough money today to pay all the bills? This certainly exists for so many people we know who live in the United States. What else am I afraid of — continued worries about my health and the health of my family? My future in a hectic world? The many places around the world that are fighting rebellions, terrorists, failed governments — with no hope for the poor and those out of work? This is a lot to worry about. We live in a world where money too often is the standard of success. We live in a world of competition, where the world values possessions more than commitment. It is a sorry world where racial diversity, culture and even the environment are secondary to the desires of those in power. Our readings today continue to elaborate...

For Sunday, June 14, 2026 Exodus 19:2-6, Romans 5:6-11, Matthew 9:36-10:8 The great solidifying event of the Old Testament is the call of the reluctant Moses to save the Israelites and their continuance as God’s chosen people. The Exodus event is captivating. The Israelites go to Egypt to save their livestock from the plagues and weather that have devastated their land in the Middle East. Seeing their numbers grow so large, the King of Egypt says, “See! the Israelite people have multiplied and become more numerous than we are! Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave the land.” [Exodus 1:9-10] Egypt oppresses the Israelites, forcing them to build the Pharaoh’s garrison cities. Then the midwives are ordered to kill any Israelite male born. If the child is a girl, it may live, but by decree the males are to be killed — drowned — to control their growth. A man from the house of Le...