A message from Father Pete

For Sunday, November 1, 2026  Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 I remember hearing about the Jehovah’s Witnesses when I was in Catholic grammar school. They are defined as a non-trinitarian, millenarian Christian denomination that originated in the 19th Century Bible Student movement in the United States. Charles Taze Russell started the publication of Zion’s Watch Tower and formed the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society . Joseph Franklin Rutherford succeeded Russell and formally adopted the name Jehovah’s Witnesses. The organization is directed by a centralized governing body based first in Brooklyn and now Warwick, New York. They reject the concept of hellfire and immortal souls, teaching instead that unrepentant sinners face total annihilation. They believe an imminent Armageddon will destroy present human governments to make way for God’s kingdom on earth, which will be ruled by Christ and 144,000 anointed humans while other righteous believers live forev...

For Sunday, October 25, 2026 Exodus 22:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Matthew 22:34-40 Today we have the teaching of Jesus on the greatest commandment. When applying His principle to everyone in the world around us, we see that every person has great value and meaning. Do I treat people this way? Many don’t. For example, hedonism — or “eat, drink and be merry” — does not take life seriously, believing that life is for satisfaction, self-gratification. Likewise, the “American dream” approaches life differently in its concern with material success, possessions and status, which are all external qualities. Narcissism concerns itself with excessive interest and admiration of oneself: self-love, self-obsession, conceit; disregard to any “lower class.” Christianity is serious about this world and the value of life and all life in it. What one hopes to become is only accomplished here and now, taking seriously both God and human life and connecting the two inseparably. Jesus puts it this way...

For Sunday, October 18, 2026 Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21 Let’s begin with an age-old question: Who do I follow? God? Or the government, entity, person in charge? We would respond, tactfully, “Well, it depends.” We learned this long ago, mainly from our parents — we did what we were told and, if we didn’t, all sorts of repercussions would result. The bottom line, I guess, would be for each person to ask what the rules are and decide to follow them or not. But this would bring its own questions: Are these good rules? Are they too restrictive? Are they illegal or immoral? Who — ultimately — is in charge? Herein lies the conflict: As humans we feel that we are in charge. But difficulties arise when we are left to our own tendencies with the ever-present urges of evil — Satan . We do what we want to do because we want to do it. We have all gone down that road. So how do we address this? We seem to divide our lives into two halves. A deeper reflection can lead ...

For Sunday, October 11, 2026 Isaiah 25:6-10; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14 Down through our lifetimes we have heard that God created the world and all that is in it. The masterpiece of His creation is humanity. So often and for so long, philosophers, theologians and those interested in how the world began have come up with various thoughts on the beginnings of the world, creation, and humanity itself. While Moses wandered for 40 years throughout the Sinai Peninsula, the local tribes and cultures wrote “books” about the Beginnings . Since they were very conscious of the seasons and nature’s many twists, they felt that gods were in control — gods of thunder ... rain ... floods. Most of their theories maintained that creation started with a giant war between the gods, so the world and its people were bad. Moses counteracted, saying no, God is good: Out of love He created with the purpose that all would go to Heaven to be with Him forever. Today’s readings put a face and de...

For Sunday, October 4, 2026 Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 4:6-9, Matthew 21:33-43 What has my life been like? Interesting — I could answer that it’s been great, but then, if I was totally honest, I might qualify that. Lately I’ve been aware of people’s kindness — lately I’ve been aware of people hurting others — lately I’ve been aware of people not caring — lately I’ve been aware of what happens when envy, jealousy, anger seem to be the “be all and end all” of people’s lives. But lately I’ve also been aware of how beautiful and life-changing love can be when people care and give and help those in need. It makes Bishop Fulton Sheen’s TV program and life motto, “ Life is Worth Living ,” understandable and fulfilling! In studying Scripture we know that the prophets are known for delivering harsh rebukes and warnings to God’s people. We hear this in Isaiah’s prophecy today; we hear it in Jesus’ parable in the Gospel ... and we have also noticed it frequently in our own lives. These stories se...

For Sunday, September 27, 2026 Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32 It's a fact: God sent Jesus into the world to redeem us, save us, forgive us, and show His love for each and every one of us — and relay the promise that God has reserved a place in heaven for all! Our role is to believe and follow the commandments and live Jesus’ supreme law of Love: Love God, love all — especially those in need. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. [Matthew 22:37-40, the gospel to be proclaimed on Oct. 25, 2026, the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time.] In our study and training we have repeatedly heard the responsibilities of discipleship, where the words “must,” “should,” and “require” have appeared over and over again. When we think and reflect on t...

For Sunday, September 20, 2026 Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16 It’s amazing when we read Jesus’ parables and something stops us — and we say to ourselves, “Why did He do that?” I have found that this reaction often provokes strong responses. Now, why is that? Scripture scholars explain that we want Jesus to act more like we do . Well, God doesn’t . And when we study these situations we see that He is acting with all-embracing generosity . Look at the apostles when Jesus tells them to lower their nets after a long night of catching no fish ... and their resulting catch fills two boats. Consider when He falls asleep in the boat and a huge storm comes up and they’re afraid they’re going to drown — fear brings out many reactions — and Jesus stands up, the storm stops, the clouds disappear and the sun comes out — and there they stand, soaking wet. In our own lives, we experience so many examples of God’s huge, generous response to our fearful worries, bolstered by G...