A message from Father Pete

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...

For Sunday, September 13, 2026 Sirach 27:30-28:7, Romans 14:7-9, Matthew 18:21-35 We have heard about the Golden Rule for a long time. Remember what it is? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We see this in Matthew 7:12: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” Also in Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This covers not only external actions but interior dispositions; i.e., what is going on inside of me: retaliation, getting even, revenge, an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth), tit for tat. And: How about the prayer taught to us by Jesus that we pray at every Mass, in every Rosary: the Our Father, specifically: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The bottom line is that it is very difficult to forgive one who has offended us. Very deep feelings are involved. When we are hurt, we want to get even. However! Here's a big point to reflect on: Retaliation ...

For Sunday, September 6, 2026 Ezekiel 33:7-9, Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 18:15-20 I love Peanuts , my favorite comic strip. It’s so entertaining, instructive, and often holds a great Christian message. It’s amazing that, even though no adults ever appear in the strip, it really is viewed as a comic strip for adults. One memorable episode concerns Linus and his sister Lucy. Linus has just told her that he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. “You, a doctor? Ha, that’s a big laugh!” exclaims his loudmouthed sister. “You could never be a doctor! You know why?” As always, she answers her own question:  “Because you don’t love mankind, that’s why.” She skips merrily away. In the last frame Linus yells back, “I do love mankind — it’s people I can’t stand!” Paul’s short passage bears repeating: “Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ... Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillmen...

For Sunday, August 30, 2026 Jeremiah 20:7-9, Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 16:21-27 Growing up, a phrase somehow snuck into our vocabulary when we thought something happened unfairly to us — in school, at home, in our contact with “authorities” — It’s not fair! In the old days (I was born and started school in the ’40s) we had to be careful challenging those in charge. I guess it just seemed we were more afraid of being “killed” than being “right.” We’d cry out, “It’s not right” — “is everybody against me?” — “I don’t have a chance” — “the authorities are against me.” How easy it is to become bitter, even carrying it over to God: “God just doesn’t care” — “the world and God are wrong and certainly don’t love me.” Jesus gives His point-blank response: “Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny themself, take up their cross, and follow Me.” [Matthew 16:24] The reality is that the crosses we experience in life can, at times, feel as though God is as Jeremiah says: “You duped me, O Lord, and...

For Sunday, August 23, 2026 Isaiah 22:19-23, Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 16:13-20 Throughout most of our lifetimes we have held, at one time or another, a position of authority — and we have exercised this with the phrase, “I am your father (or mother)” … “I am the teacher, you are the student” … “I am the one in charge, you are not.” Finding ourselves on the receiving end of these admonishments was usually unpleasant ... we were “downgraded” … “too big for our britches” ... “journeyed beyond our roles.” Uncomfortable? Yes ... but educational, and the lessons learned were important. In the history of the Old Testament and God’s covenant, this lesson was point-blank: “I will be your God, you will be My people.” God reiterates His eternal promise to be close, caring and loving to His followers. This phrase is repeated throughout the Bible:  “I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God.” [Exodus 6:7] “So you will be My people, and I will be Your God.” [Jeremiah 30:22...

For Sunday, August 16, 2026 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 The need to belong is a deep and basic human drive. From it we form safe, lasting and positive bonds with others. Psychologists tell us that this need is just as powerful as hunger or thirst. It developed in ancient times because humans needed groups to hunt, find food and stay safe from danger. Living with this need unfulfilled actually hurts our health because our brains respond to social pain the same way as physical pain. When we are part of an “in” group we feel safe, happy and wanted. We all have experienced not having friends or community, which can lead to stress, sadness and poor health. We could all write a huge research paper on this subject just from our life experiences ranging from sad to pleasant ones. A life changes so fast — be it from a letter, a text or a phone call informing us of an accident or the death of a loved one. We remember the good times with friends and family and then ...

For Sunday, August 9, 2026 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 We may have said in passing, “It must have been wonderful living in the time of Jesus … just seeing Him, watching Him and those amazing miracles, listening to Him preach. I’m sure it would have been much easier to believe in Him and follow what He was doing.” A wonderful reflection and exercise is to put ourselves in the Scripture scene and imagine being right there, looking at the crowds and their reaction to Jesus — and seeing in our imagination the “freedom” side — let it loose — why not! Today’s three scripture examples can lead us to a deeper love and understanding of how the people were led into a true experience of God instead of a made-up fairy tale. We begin with the passage from Kings that shows how the people learn and progress in their knowledge and belief of who God is and what God is like. Elijah is told that he will encounter God. We wonder: What would that be like? Yet we have encountered Go...