A message from Father Pete

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...

For Sunday, August 2, 2026 Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 How grateful am I? How much is “thank you” a part of my everyday language? Have I ever reflected on how much God does for me, cares for me, and leads me to be a person of love — because all I have has been given to me by our Loving God? People we meet have a colorful way of describing how they have made it through their lives: They are proud and somewhat thankful for those who have touched them in business, education, relationships and everyday life, and made them the people they are today. They are proud, grateful and encouraging, but often they appear to be more concerned with themselves. Sometimes we listen and wonder, maybe, where God is in their lives. We can — and should — reflect on the same question ourselves. Am I taking God for granted? Do I call on Him most often in times of need, desperation and emergency? Do I fail to say, “Thank You, God,” for the daily events in my life? Today’s readings re...

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...